Learning a new language can be difficult process for the majority of us. However, the rewards for persistence can be vast; talking to visitors to your country in their own language, communicating with people while you are holidaying in their country, or interacting with business colleagues from abroad can be an extremely satisfying and enjoyable experience. You are able to learn about customs, find out information, or simply share a moment in a day with another person.
To do this successfully takes time and patience – in order to master another language you need to understand its grammar, style and dialects. Memorising words, or even sentences, will only get you so far. To develop a deep proficiency you must learn to comprehend the message, and context, as this will allow a fuller understanding.
To begin teaching yourself, or adding to an existing basic comprehension, you could consider reading in your target language; buy an Arabic book, download a Chinese newspaper, or purchase an autobiography of a famous person from your chosen country.
Once you have these tools you can then begin to translate them and this will give you a comprehension of the way the language is built.
Invest in a good notebook, or use notepad software then start to translate your chosen text. Once you reach a word you don’t understand jot it down and then translate it. Keep a vocabulary list to work on as you read and you can watch it increase daily. This will give you a basis from which you can start to structure sentences.
Alongside basic vocabulary you’ll also use the reading to teach yourself the grammar of your chosen language. By translating whole sentences you should gain an understanding of how sentences are structured, which words are verbs, which are conjunctions. Understanding individual words isn’t enough – the context must be considered.
Eventually, you will be able to master the language and improve your total comprehension. Your aim is to be able to construct sentences, communicate verbally, and understand both spoken and written forms of your target language.
The final stage is when you are able to consider the words you use, selecting from your new vocabulary, to ensure a deeper understanding – don’t use the first word that pops into your head, consider if there is a more fitting one you could use.
Enjoy your new language skills; put them to good use by expanding your reading lists, seeing a show in another language, or speaking to people from other parts of the world as this will give you the satisfaction you deserve for your effort.
