Language learning doesn’t have to be a chore, or remind you of being a middle school student. Maybe exercise books don’t go a long way in helping you become proficient in the language you want to learn, and that is perfectly understandable. As a rule of thumb, one of the best things you can do whenever you’re trying to learn something new is to make the learning process fun, and that definitely applies to learning languages.
1. Watch TV in your target language
The great thing about TV streaming services is that a lot of them offer subtitles in various languages. This can be an invaluable tool for TV addicts and cinephiles on their language learning journey. There are even browser extensions meant to help people learn foreign languages while watching Netflix, for example – you can check out this link if you’re interested!
2. Play video games in your target language
Most video games give you the option of changing the language of the game; you already know that if you’re a gamer. It might be a little challenging to perform well in the game while it’s set in a language you’re not fluent in, but failure is a natural part of the learning process. Speaking from personal experience, my own language learning journey started with the video games I used to play as a child, and I wholeheartedly recommend gaming as a language learning tool!
3. Read books in your target language
Typically, this is something that will help you if you already have a solid grasp of your target language’s basics, such as the alphabet and the grammatical structure of the language. For beginners, start with children’s books and work your way up with more challenging books as your proficiency in your target language increases. Obviously, you want to pick books that spark your interest!
4. Follow content creators who speak your target language
Social media has a huge presence in our lives, especially now, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some may say it’s a waste of time, but social media apps can be incredibly helpful in language learning, if you use them right. If you’ve made a habit of scrolling on Instagram and TikTok, why not follow some pages that primarily post content in the language you want to learn? You get to familiarize yourself with the language on a daily basis and get entertained at the same time!
