7 ‘Fun’tastic Ways of Learning a Language

Learning a language is empowerment through the power of words.

If we keep this in mind, it will be an added inspiration and incentive for us, to keep learning languages – fresher and better.

Learning a language – be it our mother tongue or any other tongue – can be extremely interesting and enjoyable; not to mention rewarding, too.

Set a Goal

There was a time I had to learn two languages I knew nothing about, together. And I had to secure pass marks in both of them, in order to get promoted to the next class. I had about six months’ time.

Getting promoted to the class above was my goal.

I got there.

We need to set such goals for ourselves, first, as we decide to learn a language. If the goal is already set for us, as in: we have moved to this new country where they speak a language we do not know and the school exam comes up in four months which has this language that we must be able to get pass marks in, it is one case. If this is not the case with us, we still should set a goal for ourselves, like: we need to write at least a four-line rhyme in this foreign language, in six months’ time; or some such. So that we do not grow complacent thinking we have all the time in the world to pick this language up – what’s the hurry?

When we actually write that rhyme, the joy is beyond words. Let us work towards it.

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Surround Selves with that Language

‘Easier said than done’? Not entirely impossible, either! Let us say, we need to learn language ‘X’. There are many ways to surround ourselves with it:

• Live at the place where this language is spoken. This can be possible if we are transferred to such a place, we visit such a place, or we specifically reach such a place where this language is used majorly, to learn the language.
• Have the language ‘playing’ all around us. We can watch that T.V. channel 24/7, where this language is used as a medium of communication.
• We can keep playing songs in this language while we are travelling, too. Consciously, subconsciously and even unconsciously, we would be picking the language up.
• Read guide books that can teach us that language, and then keep books in that language all around us, too.

Read Picture-books in that Language

Yes; it could be ‘back to school’ time for us; and real fun!

Remember those books we studied as children, where we had a big, red picture of an apple with “A for APPLE” written, to explain the matter to us? It would be a great idea to procure such books in the language which we need to learn, now. It does not matter if we are not three-year-olds today.

Knowledge defies Time.

We could also watch videos teaching us the letters.

Another great way of learning a language is reading picture-books or what some people call ‘comics’.

The fun-advantage in ‘comics’ is that we actually have the words and expressions ‘illustrated’ for us – literally!

For example, if a character says, “That man there is holding a plough upside down!” You just have to look at the picture to realize (a) what the word ‘there’ could mean in terms of space and distance (b) what a ‘plough’ is, and (c) what ‘holding’ and ‘upside down’ mean.

Likewise, if a character says to another, “Stop grinning sarcastically at me!” You get to actually see what ‘grinning sarcastically’ looks like.

You can employ such instant information to identify things and expressions or be better with words, while talking about them.

What we pick up while gliding through a picture book could have taken us years to learn at a class. We could have never even encountered such words /expressions, had it not been for such books!

Imagine the treasure trove of language and its illustration a picture book could prove to be!

Watch Movies in that Language

Watching a movie in a language we wish to learn could help us grasp the nuances of that language well.

On the flipside, it could also confuse us considerably, if we did not follow the accent or the speed of the words and events. Subtitles could either help, or distract.

I would recommend watching a movie after we have some idea of the accent the language is spoken in, and the tone and speed of speech, usually brought into use.

Use the Internet

This, of course, goes without saying, right? You really did not need me to tell you about this method of learning a language.

The Internet is an extremely effective and enjoyable medium to learn a language through.

We have the Dictionary, Thesaurus, Videos… and so many sites and sources to help us in our mission or passion.

Listen to Songs in that Language

Listening to songs in a language lets you get acquainted with it in a soft, poetic, musical manner – without you even realizing just how much knowledge you are imbibing through the pleasant exercise!

Initially, you might just feel a mesh of music and lyrics. The lyrics you may not follow all or at all; but the music will give you an idea whether the feel they convey is a happy or sad one.

Ten songs down the line, and you will gradually be able to catch some of the words. Even grasp some meaning, here and there!

Twenty songs down, you will encounter some of the same words in multiple songs, and begin to understand how they can be used in different ways, to express different senses.

You can also realize how and which words can rhyme – ‘cause lyrics often rhyme.

Check out the meanings of these words next. You would learn a number of new words, their various usages, correct pronunciations, and even words that rhyme with them and the meanings they could collectively convey!

Learn the Language from the Right Sources

It is always best to learn a language from the right, correct sources.

If you need to learn a language quick and correct, you could definitely consider joining a class, or even seeking the guidance of a private tutor.

Joining a class would be fun and inspiring; with just the right dash of healthy competition.

On the other hand, learning from a tutor would also be a lot of relief and fun, as you would be learning at your own time and pace, on a one-to-one basis.

Whichever process/es we choose for learning a language, it would do us good to remember these guidelines:

• We need to learn the correct version of the language and see to it that we get it right.
• We have to make sure we pronounce the words correctly. We could refer to the Internet, our teacher/s or native speakers of the language to get the correct pronunciations. We could also pay attention to words as pronounced on the T. V. news channels or in the movies and songs – we can trust them to pronounce words correctly, there.
• No Malapropism. We should never, ever, use words the meanings or pronunciations of which we are not aware or totally sure of.
• We need to learn the grammar. Absolutely.
• We need to practise speaking the language in private first, before venturing out with it. My personal favorite way is to try thinking in the language. Construct sentences in it; speak them out aloud (in the privacy of a secluded place) and when in doubt, check with someone I can trust. Once I am totally confident about my grammar, pronunciation and tone, do I try using those sentences outside. This always helps.
• Avoid picking up or using slangs or words that are not so good or proper. Here, we should be safe to stick to words we meet in text books or learn from our teachers. When we get to know a language closer, we can realize for ourselves which words are to be kept away from our vocabulary.
• Make sure we are not given or made to use the wrong words, as a ‘joke’ or ‘prank’. One way to do this is to ask the giver of the idea to write the word or sentence down for us. People who want to play such ‘pranks’ on us usually back out on hearing such a request, for fear of getting caught.
• No spelling errors.

Guess these ideas and guidelines would be able to inspire you further to try learning a new language, right now. Who knows? Soon enough you could be writing poems or books in it, and we would be reading and loving the same!