With a huge decline in formal language learning at school and more A-Levels in PE than in French, German and classical languages combined, we’re looking at an increase in the number of young adults in the job market with little to no foreign language skills. But never fear: just because you didn’t take Spanish at GCSE doesn’t mean that you can’t learn the lingo later on in life! Here are our top 5 ways to learn a language on your own.
Netflix and chill
We’ve never had so much access to foreign language films and TV series as we do now with the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV and other streaming services. Watching a film or programme in its original language is a fantastic way to get your ear used to the rhythm, intonation and sound of a language. Just make sure you put the subtitles on instead of the dubbed version of whatever you want to watch: yes, you have to read the subtitles but the more you get used to the language, the easier it will be to focus solely on the action and just glance at the subtitles if you hear a word you don’t understand. You really are spoilt for choice with the likes of Squid Game on Netflix (Korean), Gomorrah on Amazon Prime (Italian – Naples dialect) and Krank Berlin on Apple TV (German), to name but a few. Let’s not forget the fantastic Walter Presents selection of curated TV shows from around the world on Channel 4 too. It tends to focus more on crime and police drama so if you’re looking for The Killing 2.0, Channel 4 is the place to be.
Turn up the radio
The internet has opened the doors to content in every language imaginable… even radio programmes in other countries. Like watching a film or programme, listening a radio show gets your ear attuned to the sound of the language. It also gives you a great insight into the country and its culture as you’ll listen to the national news, discussions between the DJ and callers or interviewees, pop music and classic tunes etc. If you put it on in the background whilst you’re cooking or working, you’ll soon see how quickly you pick things up!
The radio gives you unrivalled access to authentic spoken language, so you hear the natural speed and flow of the language you’re listening to as you would in a real-life situation. It also gets you used to “fillers” such as “um” and “er” in English, which are great little nuggets to slot into your conversation when you’re searching for your words. Search for the most popular radio stations in countries speaking the language you want to learn then stream them live online.
Hit the books
Now we’ve dealt with listening skills, let’s turn our attention to reading in a foreign language. Some people find reading easier than speaking or listening, others don’t, primarily because of the difference of how words are pronounced and how they look on the page. But don’t let that put you off: you still need to be able to read in your chosen language to get by in real-life situations in the country when you visit it. So read anything you can get your hands on. Most libraries have good foreign language sections with books of all kinds in different languages. Read the news online. Read blogs about subjects that interest you in a foreign language. Read Tourist Information websites for the destinations you want to visit in their original language. It doesn’t just improve your reading skills in a foreign language, it also broadens your vocabulary as it opens you up to more formal written language. If you’re struggling to understand anything, WordReference.com is a fantastic dictionary handling most European languages.
Join a conversation class
Listening? Check. Reading? Check. Speaking… This is the one that requires the most confidence and guts. Making yourself understood in a foreign language is scary and puts a lot of people off giving it a go when your overseas. If you want to gain confidence in your speaking skills, the best thing to do is seek out a conversation class or hire a private tutor. They provide a safe space for you to practise among like-minded people who just want to improve like you. Knowing that you can understand what people say and be understood by other people gives learners a massive boost which can only be achieved by practice and experience. Active Languages now hosts conversation clubs in Rossendale which you can sign up to or ask your local café to host. Contact us on info@activelanguages.co.uk
Study abroad
The absolute best way to learn a language is to visit the country where it’s spoken and learn it there. Spend the mornings and/or afternoons at a language school in the country with international students with the same linguistic objectives as you, then spend your free time soaking up the local culture and language among natives. An immersive experience like this helps “push” any English out of your head and switch your brain to the language you’re learning. If you or any exam takers among your friends and family are looking for a study abroad experience in French, get in touch with Active Languages and ask about our General French, A-Level French and Business French courses in Paris and on the French Riviera.
