How to learn a foreign language effectively?
How to effectively learn a foreign language? In today’s world, knowledge of a foreign language is very important. If we want to appear in the world of work, knowledge of an additional language is a mandatory factor. English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and, increasingly, Mandarin…. Once we have decided to learn a language, we must ask ourselves a very important question: how to learn a foreign language effectively?
We sit down over the books and try to cram in all the rules, vocabulary and useful phrases. When we think we know everything on 6+ it turns out that during the simplest conversation with a foreigner we are not able to cough up a word! Embarrassed, we walk away and wonder what went wrong. Maybe we spent too little time on the book? Yes, for sure. We go home, open the book and read everything again. This time we are sure we know everything to the letter. We try to impress our friends with clever words in English and…. Not a single sound escapes from our throat! Again, something has gone wrong for us. We have already eaten shame twice in a row. After all, it can’t be like this! What to do?
Is it wise to sign up for extra English classes when we don’t have the time and resources to do so? We’ve already spent a fortune on useless books. What if English lessons turn out to be a complete flop? No one wants to sink their money without getting any benefit from a particular thing. We are angry at ourselves for not listening carefully to the teacher at school and for not wanting to put our hand to learning the language, because why should we? We live in Poland, so Polish is 100% enough for us whether for everyday conversation with friends, family and at work. Many of us did not foresee that Poland would develop at a surprisingly fast pace and knowledge of at least one foreign language would be a bargaining chip on the job market.
My dear perplexed compatriots. I think I’ll find an effective solution for each of you and in just a few months of solid work you’ll be dabbling in English, French and even Japanese, if that’s what you want! Let’s sit down together and think about my above question:
How to learn a foreign language effectively? Let’s consider how to learn English totally free.
First: Each of us has a favorite TV series or movie that we’ve seen many times with…. Polish voiceover. Let’s turn that movie on again, but this time with Polish subtitles. Let’s listen carefully to the spoken words of the actors, remember their pronunciation, and if we are not sure what they mean ? let’s glance at the Polish subtitles at the bottom of the screen. In this way we learn the pronunciation of the words. Now all that remains is to write them down in a notepad. I suggest writing down the word in Polish, and in the dictionary find it in a foreign language and write it down. Every day before bed, let’s repeat our written down vocabulary words aloud to ourselves. This will help us improve our accent! Let’s surprise our friends with a ponderous British accent, and let them envy us!
Second: For music lovers, I have the perfect solution. How many times have you read a ready translation of Rihanna’s or Eminem’s song lyrics? Or maybe you prefer Linkin Park? We go for the easy way, because who would want to translate the lyrics themselves? Let’s translate another song ourselves and give it a new meaning! Let’s write out vocabulary words we didn’t know before and surprise our friends again: Ah yes, I know what this song is about. The lyrics are childishly simple, just listen! Please? Don’t you understand a word? And you said your English is so good…? Let’s translate and interpret our favorite songs! Who knows, maybe you or you will publish your lyrics online, and thousands of users will praise you for your good work: Finally, there is someone who knows English well and writes a meaningful translation of the note!
Third: Not all of us can afford to go abroad. Earning a few pennies you can pick up the language pretty well, but not all of us have the opportunity to do so. The Internet is power so let’s use it for our wicked purposes of mastering a foreign language! Let’s find a so-called study-buddy group. Many foreigners are waiting directly with longing just FOR YOU! They want to talk to you in their native language, no matter if it’s Czech or Russian, help you learn new phrases and something that is an absolute nightmare for everyone ? grammar. Let’s teach a Briton our singing native language, and he in return will help us with learning English. Thanks to such conversations, we will have a chance to use previously learned vocabulary! Yet today foreign languages are taught in schools using Google Classroom.
Fourth: If not a study-buddy group, we are left with social networks. Let’s add someone from overseas or New Zealand to our friends and befriend him/her. If we are lucky we will gain a new good friend and who knows…. Maybe in the future this acquaintance will allow us to go abroad? Very distant plans, now let’s focus on learning the language. That still leaves us with Twitter. If you are a fan of a band or singer/songwriter find other fans and riddle them first! ?Hey, what do you think about the latest song of Nicki Minaj? Let’s combine the pleasant with the useful!
I leave the rest of the alternatives to your imagination. You probably have it, right? Learning a foreign language will open the door to this bigger world for you. With any luck, you will go abroad to better life prospects. You will write a book in English that will become a worldwide bestseller, and then Ridley Scott himself will translate it to the big white screen of cinemas. Your dreams can become a reality if you think about learning a foreign language right now, at this very moment. Remember that in order to achieve something you need to put both hands to it and devote a lot of time to it. Work hard, and in your old age lie on the white sands of Miami Beach and sip a colorful drink with an umbrella. Good luck!
