Want to be able to order a beer while on vacation or ask for directions to the nearest train station? Armed with the right vocabulary, you’ll have no problem. In our globalized world of work, language skills also open up career opportunities and make it easier to understand customers and business partners from abroad. This avoids misunderstandings and strengthens your collaboration. Therefore, the ability to speak several languages can help you advance both professionally and personally and opens many doors.
Although learning languages brings advantages, many people find it difficult. Your native language also has a decisive influence over your learning success. As a German speaker, you will find it much easier to learn Germanic languages such as English, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Afrikaans or Dutch than Chinese, for example, with its characters that are exotic for us. In fact, Chinese is one of the world’s most difficult languages and it takes a German native speaker around 88 weeks of continuous study to acquire even a degree of facility in the language.
But don’t worry: with the right tools and tips, you can learn every language—sometimes even for free. This blog post provides more information on the topic.
Motivation: having the right mindset
Learning languages is enjoyable but does require some work. To ensure that you don’t lose interest after a short time, you should be aware of your motivation. Do you want to apply for a job abroad? Do you want to impress your international customers with your language skills at a meeting? Are you planning to travel abroad for an extended period and want to immerse yourself in the culture as much as possible?
Always remember the reason why you are learning the language. In this way, you will enjoy the journey to your goal. The motivation also defines the language level you want to achieve. Do you want to make small talk or impress during negotiation discussions? Do you want to be able to understand a movie or read a scientific publication? In most cases, it is not necessary to master a language to perfection. Choose your learning material accordingly.
This is how it’s done: language learning the easy way
Many people will remember cramming vocabulary and grammar during their school days. Unfortunately, you can’t learn a language without doing a little of this. Thanks to the Internet, however, there are various creative learning methods that make the process more enjoyable.
(Free) tools for learning languages
Our brain learns better when it is rewarded. Gamified learning apps such as Duolingo or Memrise will boost your motivation. The free versions will appeal to students with a limited budget. Babbel software can also put a complete language course on your cell phone. In so doing, the company also creates a cost-effective and efficient learning environment.
Constant repetition is the key to your learning success. Instead of attending adult evening classes once a week, you have the flexibility of being able to use language app for 10 to 15 minutes every day.
Integrating language into everyday life: podcasts, cell phone settings and post-its
The more you incorporate the language into your everyday life, the faster you will learn it. Listen to foreign-language podcasts and audio books, for example, on Spotify. You can also play radio programs in your target language in the background. Most radio websites allow you to stream these free of charge. Even if you are not actively listening, the continuous linguistic drip-feed will train your listening comprehension.
Do you enjoy listening to music? Then track down some songs in the target language and read the lyrics while the song plays. Spotify displays the lyrics as the music plays. Translate the lyrics into your native language and write down the new vocabulary.
Planning an evening watching Netflix? Then change the language of the movies or series. Subtitles in English or, ideally, in the language you are learning will help you follow the content. This will be easier if you have already seen the movie or series.
You should also practice your reading comprehension. You can do this by borrowing magazines or books in the foreign language from your public library and by reading the news on foreign news websites. As an added bonus, this will also keep you up to date with events in the target country.
Germans spend up to four hours on their cell phones every day. Make use of this fact by switching your cell phone language, which will also teach you important vocabulary. You can also use items in your home to learn new vocabulary. Stick post-its with the corresponding term in the foreign language onto your furniture. This will remind you of the word every time you walk past or look at the object.
Live the language
There is no better way of boosting your learning than communicating with native speakers. However, you don’t need to pack your bags for a journey right away. Instead, you can search for a tandem partner, for instance, on Tandem.net or at your nearest university. As well as benefitting from regular language practice, you will learn important things about the local culture and, if you’re lucky, make a life-long friend.
It is even more effective if you travel to the country, where you will be immersed in the language around the clock. Even if you find it difficult, try to suppress your desire to achieve perfection and just start talking.
Longer stays abroad in the form of internships, Work & Travel, working as an au-pair or a volunteer offer fantastic opportunities to immerse oneself intensively in the language and culture.
The tools and tricks for language learning are easily accessible. All you need to do now is get started. Not sure which language to learn next? Then the most popular languages will give you plenty of inspiration.
Using languages to boost your career
Are you learning a new language but have not yet reached the standard required for spoken or written communication at work? Don’t worry! Here at ACT Translations, our mother-tongue translators speak more than 150 popular, exotic and difficult languages. We would be delighted to assist with your work-related language projects.
