Language-learning tips

Learning a new language can be one of the greatest things you accomplish in your life.

It's rewarding, insightful and inspiring, but if it isn't done correctly, it can also be one of the most intense, overwhelming and frustrating challenges you'll ever undertake.

As I continue my challenge to learn Chinese in a month, here is Part 2 of my 10 tips to learning a language in 30 days.

Practice Practice Practice

if you want to be great at anything, you need to practise, but in the case of learning a language it's not just that you practice, but how you practice.

Recognition, Recall, Repeat

After creating some super strategic flashcards, you can maximize your retention potential by practising your words with recognition and recall. 

Recognition is seeing a word or phrase in its native character and then being able to identify it.

Through repetition, your brain will eventually be able to recognize the symbols and you will be able to easily bring them to mind. 

Recall is the opposite practice. Here you are looking at an image or English word and attempting to recall the translation from memory. 

Recognition may help create the foundation of memorization but it's your ability to recall that will truly cement's words into your brain.

Listen and learn

When it comes to memorization, everyone's brain works differently, so your strategy has to cover all basis. 

Sticking to reading or writing is not only less effective for true memorization, but also boring. Spice up your learning by watching videos or listening to audio.

One strategy is to find an MP3 or CD version of whatever textbook you're studying and listen to it on repeat.

Another option would be to simply tune into some local cultural radio or TV from your chosen language origin.

Even if you don't pick up all the words, your brain will get used to hearing them and begin to make associations from context. Plus you can learn a lot about a culture from their media (just look at the United States).

Act like a kid again

Unlike adults, kids aren't afraid to fail, they don't care if they sound stupid when pronouncing new words and they don't need to be perfect with everything they do.

We could all learn a thing or two from our younger selves.

You have to realize that you're not going to nail your pronunciation on the first try. You're going to sound silly, goofy and dumb, but it's through these comical attempts that you learn how to say these foreign tongue twisters properly.

The goal (especially in the beginning) shouldn't be perfection, but to simply get the ball over the net.

If you're close and you understand the meaning of the word that you're trying to say, the context will usually get you the rest of the way.

Saturday morning cartoons

What do we have our children do when we're trying to teach them their ABCs and 123s? We have them watch simple, but fun TV shows like Sesame Street, Curious George, and Paw Patrol.

Since you are basically the language equivalent of a toddler, you might as well try the same kind of simple brain training. Look up some kids TV shows from your languages origin country or even American shows dubbed in your new language.

They will teach you all the basics of your Ä“i bǐ xÄ«s you'll ever need to know.

Make an intro

This is the simplest and most valuable thing you can do to help you learn a language. 

What if someone comes up to you and says, in their native language, "Hello, what's your name? Do you speak (insert language)? Tell me something about yourself? How long have you been learning (insert language)? Would you like to get a drink?

All of this can be easily built into a friendly introduction and knowing how to understand and answer someone will raise your confidence up to another level. 

Even if everything you say from then on is broken and disjointed, just having made this effort will demonstrate will give you a stronger respect moving forward.

Bonus: Know your why

Why are you learning a language? More importantly, why are you learning the language you've chosen?

Learning a new language is not something to be taken lightly. It's a difficult pursuit into the culture, history, and people of your chosen language. 

Maybe you want to travel and learn to communicate on a global level. Maybe a new language is about stepping outside your native culture and experiencing the world through a completely new perspective. Or maybe you just want to impress girls at parties.

Whatever your motivation, make sure you know exactly what it is. It's this motivation that will drive you forward when things get tough and it's this motivation that will lead you toward your learn a new language goals.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.