Your best language learning/hacking tips | General discussion | Forum

One of the best language tips I can think of would be to sing to music in your target language. The number one area on which this works is pronunciation, which I like getting down to a science before starting to learn too many words if at all possible. It takes a lot of the average person's stress out of learning a language, being able to look at at least 75% of words and say "I know how to say that aloud".

I've also noticed that singing a song in another language can have a slightly different system from the way it's usually spoken (I'm looking at you, Japanese) so when it is pronounced that way to sound cooler (or for whatever other reason ) you'll be able to recognize what's being done rather than thinking the way you originally thought something is said is wrong. This process has indoctrinated me the pronunciation of Dutch, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. Sometimes you'll be pleasantly surprised; for instance, Japanese and Spanish have remarkably similar pronunciation on the vast majority of words, but you wouldn't expect that from a Latin vs. an Asian (more specifically Japonic) language!

To gain self confidence, I talked with my dog in Spanish. It does help. Guaranteed!

Others have mentioned using music.  I suggest you have a lyric sheet with that, too, to be sure the words you think you're hearing and singing really are the correct words.

As for a different tip, mock the language. Mock everything.  It's like getting into the mind set of it.  I can think of when I read Italian out loud.  I sound really Italian if I exaggerate the accent.  The thing about using exaggeration is that while you'll think you're being silly, you're more likely to fall into the place where the accent is just right.  So for a while, the language feels like a costume you put on until it becomes part of you.

As soon as I learn something new about the language I attempt to use it as much as possible, especially in conversation.  I try to find a way to get the conversation to a point where I can use it, or I just tell my language partner what I learned and even that seems to be helpful in getting things to stick.

Thank you for your suggestions Sacramentia and JWood.  I've used Google Translate to look up words or learn how to pronounce it in Chinese, but never thought to use it that way.  Great ideas!

I think I can start tackling Como agua para chocolate now using Google Translate.

Related to that – is some point of grammar giving you trouble? After learning it/doing an exercise or whatever, put it away and just read, watch TV/movies, listen to radio/songs/conversations, try it out in conversations mimicking it like in a phrase book etc. It makes so much more sense after you just encounter it naturally in full context than if you do a whole bunch of exercises over and over. Subjunctive is so much easier after you take it out of the context of a grammar rule, for example.

conormills said:

thanks guy's I've been using the google image tip the last few days and it really is a great way to remember new words, and to see them being used in so many different situations. Does anyone know any good websites to watch episodes of things like the simpsons, friends etc in your target language (mine is Italian).
 

Another good thing I do is put on the italian subtitles when watching films and find it a good way to learn common phrases.

Conormills, where are you getting the italian subtitles? Thanks a lot =D

Charlee said:

I label everything in my house with post its, I change all the settings on my phone, tom tom and computer to the target language.

 

I talk to myself all the time in my target language and make a note of words I am having recurring problems with.

 

Another good tip I use to help with grammar is to explain it to someone else (even if they are really not interested i use my daughter for this) if you can explain the grammar rules to someone else they seem to stick.

Poor daughter, nice tips…