The Best Way to Learn a Foreign Language
Thanks to the internet there are so many amazing ways to learn a foreign language that don't involve being stuck in a classroom! We’ve put together top tips for learning a foreign language from scratch and give access to some of the best resources in the business — you can thank us later. 😉
Like most things, learning a language involves regular practice. Practice helps to refresh your memory and in turn maintains steady progression. This doesn’t mean you have to carve out hours of your day to learn a new language. Instead, spare at least 10 mins of your day for your language studies. This is a far more practical way to approach language learning and also a great way to maintain motivation by challenging yourself to meet this goal each day.
Top Tip:
If you use Gmail, consider blocking this time into your calendar. This way you’ll get automatic reminder notifications to prompt you to get studying. Alternatively, you can always set up a reminder function on your phone and pick a time when you know you are least likely to be able to make excuses. Why not try half an hour before you go to bed or 20 minutes before you start work or school?
Up next are some of our favourite ways to incorporate language learning into your daily routine.
Learn by listening to a podcast
There are thousands of language-focused podcasts out there that can help you structure your language learning for free. If most of your day involves staring at a screen, why not give your eyes a break and tune into an educational podcast. There are literally hundreds of language podcasts to choose from! Whether you are interested in developing your conversational French, or are interested in Mandarin, we guarantee you’ll be able to find a podcast to suit you.
Here are 3 of our favourites:
Get yourself an experienced language tutor
We offer 25 different languages for you to choose from. Personalised 1:1 tuition is the best way to go if you are serious about your language studies. With regular lessons with a dedicated language tutor, you can learn at your own pace and get all the questions you need answered in real-time.
Many of our tutors are experts in their field and have years of language teaching experience under their belts. Why not explore the following:
Use other resource sites to give yourself a varied way of learning. Sites like Study Spanish for example are great for beginners and intermediates alike. Resource sites like these often combine interactive lessons with blogs or longer chunks of content to help you better familiarise yourself with the culture of your language of choice.
Other modern language sites you should check out include:
- https://www.thefrenchexperiment.com/
- https://mangolanguages.com/
- https://www.busuu.com/
- https://www.openculture.com/freelanguagelessons
Language Apps
We spend more time on our phones than ever! Instead of endlessly scrolling through social media, why not download a couple of language apps and spend your time more wisely?
Here are a few of our top choices:
Duolingo: this site has made a name for itself being the most colourful and fun of the language apps. The free version includes:
- Ability to progress through the levels building on your knowledge at your own pace
- Offers 21 languages
- This gamification of language learning is addictive to start with, but be sure to keep it up if you are serious about learning a foreign language
Rosetta Stone: a pillar in language learning! The Rosetta Stone app offers:
- Concise 10 minutes lessons short enough for you to add into your daily routine
- Focuses on conversational learning, teaching you everything from basic phrases to everyday vocabulary used in real-life conversations
Babbel: offers language fun for 13 different languages. This resource might not be the best choice if you plan on dipping in and out of studying as there is a subscription fee. However, the plan includes:
- Well structured ‘lessons’ to build on each other
- Realistic scenarios and interactive sections
- Costs around £12 a month
MemRise: this approach to language learning is to provide you with digital flashcards to help you teach yourself. They offer:
- 22 different languages on their free subscription
- A great choice to supplement a language you are already learning at school or with a tutor
Hopefully, this has inspired you to start learning a new language. At Tutor House, we are firm believers that you are never too old or young to learn something new. Explore our range of top-quality tutors on our site and receive a free online trial call today.
