You have been learning a foreign language and would like to make steady progress. This doesn’t have to be a boring or tedious process. Having been a student of the French language, I am familiar with the struggles of language learners. I am going to share some ways to make rapid progress in learning a foreign language that my students find helpful.
You have to fall in love with the language and make it part of your daily life. Learning should be engaging and entertaining. That is the key to making progress. Simple thought out steps could take you a long way in mastering a language.
Listening: Commuting time could be effectively used to improve English. You could listen to podcasts, audiobooks, or some music in English on your way to work or to the university. You may initially find it difficult but over time you will see the benefits of this exercise. You will grasp the correct intonation and pronunciation in English. You are most likely to recall later English expressions you heard on the podcast or audiobooks.
Reading: Reading an English novel may not make one jump with joy. It may appear daunting or downright boring to some. You don’t have to get depressed when it comes to reading. All you have to do is find something related to your hobbies and interests. For instance, if you are interested in fashion you could look up some fashion websites in English which could help you enrich your vocabulary in English. You may be into cars and you could get a subscription to an automotive magazine. This way you can merge your love for the language and your hobbies together. Reading doesn’t have to be drudgery. We can find short fun write-ups which are a pleasure to read.
Writing: Do you consider writing in English tedious and difficult? To get over your fear of writing you could start simply by writing your grocery list or to-do list in English! Baby steps count however insignificant they may appear. This process will push you to think and write in English. What better way to make concrete progress!
Serials, films, songs: What if you started watching movies or Netflix in English? You could start with a series or movies you have already seen in your native language. So you don’t have to worry about getting the storyline. This could keep you focused on listening to the language. If you love music you could also sing along with your favourite singer! An easy way to gain fluency!
When I was teaching English to teenagers in Paris I found they spoke more confidently and fluently compared to adult learners. On observing them closely, I noticed that most of these teenagers were regularly listening to and singing English numbers! They acquired fluency while enjoying what they liked to do.
I hope you found these ideas helpful. It’s worthwhile to make language learning fun!