Are you considering learning a foreign language? There are so many reasons why learning an additional language is an attractive option. First of all, it’s fun and can help you connect with more people, especially if you love to travel or want to live abroad. Secondly, it can help open up job opportunities for you around the world. In our increasingly connected world, a bilingual employee is a hugely attractive option for employers.
There are many different ways that you could choose to learn a foreign language. Below are the top three options.
- One on one tutoring. This can be a great option, if you can afford it. With one on one tutoring, you can really learn at your own pace. You can practice your conversation skills with your tutor straight away and you’ll have more opportunities to practice than in a larger class.
- Audio and online courses. There are many apps and programs out there these days that can help you learn a new language. The upside of learning this way is the flexibility that it offers you. You can earn in your own time, at your own convenience. However, this does mean that you really need to be self-motivated to keep up with your learning consistently. The downside is you won’t have a chance to practice with others or to get feedback from an instructor. This lack of interaction can make it more difficult to improve your pronunciation and master conversational skills.
- Study at a language centre or institution. This is the most popular choice, by far. It offers you the opportunity to learn in a group setting and most courses usually adopt an interactive form of teaching. It helps if you can study within a country that speaks the language you want to learn e.g. if you want to learn English it’s a good idea to study English in London or another English-speaking location (for more information visit languagelink.co.uk).
Whether you’ve already made the choice to study English in London, or just considering it, read on for some of our top tips to help you learn:
- Practice, practice, practice. If you’re hoping to truly become fluent in your new language, then you’ll have to keep on conversing with people who speak that language. Though you may not feel confident about it at first, struggle through and force yourself to practice with others. This is probably the number one thing you can do to improve your skills. Let’s face it, it’s far more fun conversing with a live person than just learning words and phrases off a book. There are conversational nuances and additional words and phrases that you can pick up from someone who is fluent in that language.
- When you learn a new word or phrase, start to use it right away. During your studies, you’re going to be learning new words at a fast pace. To really ingrain it in your brain, make a point to use the new word in the next few sentences that you say. The repetition of placing it in the right context will make it much more likely to stick.
- Find a way to make the learning process a little more fun. If you decide to study English in London, it’s likely that the institution you choose will include fun elements in your learning. A bit of interaction makes it a lot easier and more exciting to learn. There are various games to help aid language learning that you can do in a group and in your spare time at home. Ask your teacher for some fun ideas that have proved successful in the past.