academic weapon: world languages
i plan to make this a series! so this is part one:
if you don’t practice, you’ll never learn.
when learning a new language, practice is your best friend. leaving it alone and cramming for test days not going to make the material stick in your head in any way, shape, or form. especially in the lower levels, languages build.
and yes, i know. it sucks. but you gotta do what you gotta do.
if you don’t know the material from unit one, you’re not going understand a damn thing in unit two.
so. how do i learn a language?
the best way to learn a language is to speak and be surrounded by said language twenty-five/eight. but that’s obviously not feasible, so instead try:
journaling or writing a diary in your target language. this way, you’ll learn to speak how you think, but in a different language.
sing/listen to music in your target language. you’ll learn proper pronunciation and be able to see the difference between formal and casual speak.
watch documentaries in your language! the narrators speak slow enough for you to understand without subtitles (which in itself is an extra motivator), it gives you an idea of how people talk, as well as allowing you to learn new things about the culture of where your language is spoken.
it is ok to not understand everything at first.
it is ok to make a bad grade or not be a professional fluent speaker right from the start.
your inner perfectionist is not always right.
it will come, eventually, with practice.
