10 unusual language learning tips !
i see a lot of the same (sometimes unhelpful) tips being thrown around, so hereâs my two cents:
1. write shopping lists/to do lists in your target language - often you donât learn this vocab but itâs conversational & v useful! also writing yourself notes (lil pep talks on the bathroom mirror, for example) can work.
2. buy a small whiteboard and practice verb conjugation (esp. romantic languages) or script writingÂ
3. talk to pets in target language if possible!
4. look for quotes in your target language - often the turns of phrase are more colloquial, and is a good opportunity to see how things are translated from your native languageÂ
5. find a fairly easy news headline (in target lang) and try to re-write it w/ vocab you already have. youâll quickly find gaps - this is a good thing! (if youâre feeling extra spicy, try writing a small subheading or description about the article).
6. create an imaginary friend who you speak with on the shower, or on the train, doing the laundry etc. talk w/ them in your target lang (in your head, obvs) about your day, future plans, etc etc.
~for more advanced learners~
7. when youâre more advanced, and have some grasp of past/future tenses, buy a childrenâs/tweenâs/YA book that youâve already read. highlight and annotate the shit out of it. youâll know the general gist already, which makes context clues easier to find.
8. change wikipedia settings into target language - same goes for any social media site. this can be a mega challenge, but is so good for vocab, plus youâre more likely to remember the info since you worked so hard for it.
9. write a review for a book/film/record/whatever youâve most recently consumed. maybe start a diary of them, or just have an ongoing word doc.
10. find a bilingual edition of poetry/literature if possible. you might find you can spot translation differences, but youâre sure to find some new vocab.
