By Krystian Aparta
They say that children learn languages the best. But that doesn’t mean that adults should give up. We asked some of the polyglots in TED’s Open Translation Project to share their secrets to mastering a foreign language. Their best strategies distill into seven basic principles:
- Get real. Decide on a simple, attainable goal to start with so that you don’t feel overwhelmed. German translator Judith Matz suggests: “Pick up 50 words of a language and start using them on people — and then slowly start picking up grammar.”
. - Make language-learning a lifestyle change. Elisabeth Buffard, who in her 27 years of teaching English has always seen consistency as what separates the most successful students from the rest. Find a language habit that you can follow even when you’re tired, sick or madly in love.
. - Play house with the language. The more you invite a foreign language into your daily life, the more your brain will consider it something useful and worth caring about. “Use every opportunity to get exposed to the new language,” says Russian translator Olga Dmitrochenkova. Label every object in your house in this language, read kids’ books written in it, watch subtitled TED and TEDx talks, or live-narrate parts of your day to an imaginary foreign friend.
. - Let technology help you out. Dmitrochenkova has a great idea: “A funny thing like resetting the language on your phone can help you learn new words right away,” she says. Ditto for changing the language on your browser. Or you can seek out more structured learning opportunities online. Dutch translator Els De Keyser recommends Duolinguo for its gamified approach to grammar, and Anki for memorizing vocabulary with its “intelligent” flashcards.
. - Think about language-learning as a gateway to new experiences. To Spanish translator Sebastián Betti, learning a language has always been about focusing on the experiences that the new language would open up, from “visiting theme parks, attending air shows, enjoying cowboy poetry and folk-rock festivals, to learning about photo-essay techniques.” In other words, he thinks of fun things that he wanted to do anyway, and makes them into a language-learning opportunity. Many of our translators shared this advice. Italian and French translator Anna Minoli learned English by watching undubbed versions of her favorite movies, while Croatian translator Ivan Stamenković suddenly realized he could speak English in fifth grade, after years of watching the Cartoon Network without subtitles. So the next time you need a vegan carrot cake recipe, find one in the language you’re trying to learn.
. - Make new friends. Interacting in the new language is key — it will teach you to intuitively express your thoughts, instead of mentally translating each sentence before you say it. Find native speakers near you. Or search for foreign penpals or set up a language tandem online, where two volunteers help one another practice their respective languages.
. - Do not worry about making mistakes. One of the most common barriers to conversing in a new language is the fear of making mistakes. But native speakers are like doting parents: any attempt from you to communicate in their language is objective proof that you are a gifted genius. They’ll appreciate your effort and even help you. Nervous about holding a conversation with a peer? Try testing your language skills with someone a little younger. “I was stoked when I was chatting with an Italian toddler and realized we had the same level of Italian,” recalls German translator Judith Matz. And be patient. The more you speak, the closer you’ll get to the elusive ideal of “native-like fluency.” And to talking to people your own age.
Comments (137)
learnsimple33141 commented on Dec 29 2014
Reblogged this on Pursuit of Language and commented:
I’m a strong believer in finding new ways of learning or strengthening a language. Great article!
bernardop commented on Dec 29 2014
What most helped me learning French was listening to French radio for 8 hours a day every day for about a year. In the beginning it was annoying, I could barely understand anything, but you start getting used to sounds, words, intonations and then you realize you can identify the subject people are talking, etc. When I first tried this, I was a beginner French student. I had French classes once a week with a private teacher. I had this idea after a class and didn’t tell my teacher that I intended to immerse on French radio like this; one week later, on my following class, as soon as we started talking he looked surprised and asked me what had I done that my skills had evolved like that in a week. According to him, I was using new words and structures that he hadn’t taught yet and I honestly didn’t realize I had learnt all that from the radio.
I just started studying German about one week ago. As soon as I have enough vocabulary to form full phrases, I will try to start this immersion again and see how fast it goes!
Thomas Medina commented on Dec 29 2014
Reblogged this on Into History and commented:
I need to learn Spanish, and my classes in high school and the junior college did not help, so I will be implementing some of these strategies.
merveb1c3 commented on Dec 29 2014
Reblogged this on PROJECT CLASS – B1C3 and commented:
May be useful for those who plan to learn a new foreign language…
kaylynhlavaty commented on Dec 29 2014
Reblogged this on Expatriate in Lebanon.
Gary Zamchick commented on Dec 29 2014
Thanks for the great post.
I’ll never forget “Interrigozione” in secondo media (5th grade) at Tartini Scuola di Musica in Trieste, Italy at age 11. I had to stand in front of class, answering questions I didn’t understand, about material I struggled to get, in a language I hardly knew. I’m pretty sure I understood the amusement of my classmates.
I continue to tap that experience — from being comfortable in think tanks where the language is foreign to teaching a class at an institute of mathematics, despite failing to meet my own class entry requirements and a poor grasp of math. So, I highly recommend #7, making (and living) with mistakes.
WordsEye, my startup, has developed a technology that lets anyone create pictures by simply describing them. And I believe that “play” in the form of visual banter, will be enable adults and children alike to benefit from it as a language learning tool.
Bianca Stewart commented on Dec 29 2014
Reblogged this on Becoming A Tea Person.
phschwager commented on Dec 29 2014
Reblogged this on Paul H. Schwager, Ph.D. and commented:
This has been in the back of my mind for years, but there always seems to be something more pressing. Perhaps 2015 will be the year?
Berkan Düzgün commented on Dec 12 2014
Awesome tips I also translated the article to Turkish :
https://ingilizcekafe.com/yeni-bir-dil-nasil-ogrenilir-ted-cevirmenlerinden-7-ipucu/
Elizabeth Braun commented on Dec 8 2014
Good ideas! One comment though: Apparently, research has shown that adults learn new languages far better and faster than children do given the same opportunities. The reason that adults tend to learn more slowly is that they have so much more going on that crowds out language learning. For example, whilst the kids of a new expat couple are busy soaking up the local lingo at school and playing with their new chums, their parents are too busy dealing with the new home, new job(s) and practical matters to devote even a small amount of time to the language. If they can devote as much as the kids, they’ll learn faster and better. There’s a definite adult advantage, so NEVER let the fact of being already grown up fool you into thinking you’re automatically handicapped when it comes to a new language. :)
mymelodii commented on Dec 6 2014
Reblogged this on English Thai Thai แปลให้อิน ๆ.
f123ag commented on Dec 4 2014
Reblogged this on The Objective and commented:
Maybe now learning German and Finnish won’t be so hard… hmmm– yeah right… :/
kang myeonghee commented on Dec 3 2014
I’m studyiing English, and I found that Geting real,Playing house with the language really helps. I know the letter names to each of the letters of the english alphabet and how to write each letter, and what they sound like. BUT I cant speak english like native speaker because it was scary and difficult for me. I played the song and watch american drama help me. Making new friends is good for me too. “Interacting in the new language is key” This state ment impressed me . It teach me to intuitively express your thoughts, instead of mentally translating each sentence before i say it. I find native speakers in this TED. And TRY to search for foreign penpals . IT is not easy but so pleasure .
Narin Tanyeli commented on Dec 3 2014
Girl Games playing, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are usually held at a friend environments. different ones, and it shows in more aesthetic and philosophical elements represent friends. and many games or Dress Up Games http://girlsgamess.com/all-games/dress-up-games example, card games, http://girlsgamess.com/all-games/cards-games or work of art is considered as an artistic layout including Cool Math Games, http://girlsgamess.com/all-games/cool-games
Games are key components of goals, rules, challenge, and there are interactions. Games usually often includes both mental or physical stimulation, and so on. Many games training, simulation, or otherwise perform psychological role, or help develop practical skills, serve as a form of exercise.
marielatodika commented on Dec 2 2014
THank you, it is very helpful!
marielatodika commented on Dec 2 2014
Reblogged this on marielatodika.
Arief Rakhman commented on Nov 27 2014
this tips remind me Scott’s Year Without English project: http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/the-year-without-english/
Silent Learner commented on Nov 26 2014
Great article. I think true mastery only comes by speaking with native speakers but there are only a handful of places to do this for any language. Example http://www.spokenenglishpractice.com if you looking improve English speaking skills by practicing with natives.
Linguaculture commented on Nov 20 2014
Reblogged this on Linguaculture.
zyrral commented on Nov 13 2014
Reblogged this on 寻求命定的旅程 and commented:
有些道理。其实学习一门新的语言没有什么捷径,就是重复,但是要找到适合自己的重复的方法,最好顺着自己的长处把要学习的外语结合进自己的生活。从简单且用得着的词语开始,像小孩子一样去模仿和重复,享受讲用另一种鸟语表达的乐趣。