Learning a language can be a fun activity. And more importantly, it can be a useful activity. Not only might you get to use the language, but just learning a language helps engage your brain in whole new ways. So let’s get started…
-Codeswitching. One of the most important principles to use when learning a new language is that of ‘codeswitching’. What this principle tells you is that you have to help your brain ‘switch’ over to the new language. You need to find some way of signalling to your brain that it is ‘new language time’. Here are some ways to do that:
1) Eliminate the old language from the space/time. Learn your new language in an area where you won’t be hearing your old language, you won’t be seeing it. Never ever, ever, ever use subtitles or translations.
2) Find some way of signalling. Maybe you use the old language in the afternoon between three and four. Maybe you learn it in a specific room. Maybe along with or from a specific person. Or maybe all of those together! But learn the language, and use the language, in that context… especially at first.
-Phonology. Languages come with sets of sounds and ways that those sounds are arranged. You do NOT have to study this; you have to allow your brain to absorb it. This is done from hearing, hearing, hearing the new language (and JUST the new language; see codeswitching above) for long periods of time. Lots of it, in context. Not individual words but sentences, paragraphs, and long passages that flow on without a break.
- Librivox.org. Librivox is a totally free website that has thousands of free audiobooks. The majority of these audiobooks are in English, but there are still many in other languages. Pick a book that you already know in English, like the Bible, or Heidi, or Aesop’s Fables, and listen, listen, listen. No, don’t *study*, listen. Be doing the dishes, or driving, or whatever, and listen, listen, listen.
-Youtube. It will be hard to find at first, but there are lots of foreign languages on YouTube. Find a show where they are *just speaking the language* and watch it. With the subtitles OFF!! (See codeswitching above). The best shows are shows, like cooking shows (one example), where what the show is showing (sorry for the pun) is reflected in what the show is saying. You know, like when you are watching a cooking show, and they say, “I’m going to take two eggs,” and they… take two eggs… “and crack them”… and they crack them, etc.
There are some good language learning shows, but be careful. Don’t watch ones that switch back and forth into English.
Watch, watch, watch these shows. The same ones, different ones, doesn’t matter, whatever keeps your interest. But *don’t* use subtitles. Don’t *study*. Just watch! Let your brain do the work.
-DVD’s. See YouTube. Turn off subtitles!
-Start Early. Small children learn languages best. And they listen well, and watch well, and don’t try to study :) Several children can be listening to the same librivox while they color or while you eat. They can watch the same YouTube/DVD (all in the foreign language, no subtitles), etc.
-Be part of a group. Several family members and/or friends learning together is much more efficient. It only takes one of you to find that good cooking show or language learning show. One of you might have a great Kids’ action DVD, and someone else might own a good language learning program.
Thanks for the great tips!
This sounds correct to me, thanks for this. What do you think it is that causes us to absorb information like new languages or music less efficiently as we age? Do you think it is possible for someone to build the skills, connections in the brain to continue to be a “sponge” as we age. Curious to what you think and enjoy your day.