Make sure you have the keyboard of the language you're learning already selected. Then, activate the accesibility tools. These are typically used by blind people, so that the contents of their phone are read out loud to them. Whenever there's a paragraph I would like to read on a certain language, but I'm struggling with the correct pronunciation, I simply make the selection of the paragraph and click on the button that says "enunciate", then select the language I want.
This is for iPhone but i'm sure it would work in a similar way for any type of phone. I also use it when I need to corroborate that I said something okay or when I'm in need of repetition, which is very useful, as it works with native accents. The best way you could take advantage of accessibility tools is through reading things, like articles or newsletters on the language you want to learn. That way you have a reference point that is very visual and can also help you on the spot with your listening and oral skills. In my opinion, I think it can even help you improve your memory, as this particular method is very mechanical.
Aug 4, 2024
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I’ll switch my phone interface to that language to help recall better. Flash cards, translating from one language to another mentally, also works. Also making music playlists and definitely watching films/shows in that language help too
Jul 20, 2024
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1. Learn the basic building blocks for your language of choice (i.e. pronouns, action verbs, common objects– literally the essential words you’d need to formulate the most basic sentences to communicate simple ideas). That can be done by googling things like “essential verbs in (insert language of choice here)” or “100 essential words to learn in _______.” Pair that up with any beginners grammar language book that you can take out from your local library. At this point, you don’t need to know how to speak the language, just have a general idea of how different elements come together to form coherent sentences.
2. Once you’ve acquainted yourself with those principles, the fun and most critical part comes into play: immersion. Since you’re not at the talking stage just yet, you need to treat yourself like you’re a baby hearing words for the first time and trying to associate meaning to them via their context. The best way I’ve found to do this is by watching kids tv shows in the language you want to learn and also finding YouTubers who are native speakers of that language. Turn on the subtitles and also keep them in the same language. This will allow you to start matching visuals with words and understand how sentences are composed in more organic ways. It will also force you to make language connections the way children do when learning their native tongue. You want to remove the buffer of thinking in your mother tongue and then translating the word in the new language. Instead, you want to start making immediate semiotic connections to the things you’re seeing. Like 🍎 is manzana in Spanish, but you wanna avoid thinking “oh that means apple in English which translates to manzana in Spanish.” It’s an extra loop you have to jump through that makes the language learning process less natural and more arduous imo.
3. In tandem to immersing yourself by listening to the language being used, here’s where you can start applying it bit by bit. This can be by either repeating the sentences you see in the tv shows you’re watching and start challenging yourself to write & say very basic sentences with your knowledge from step 1. In an ideal situation, having a friend or acquaintance who speaks the native language and can start talking with you is also incredibly useful since they can actively correct you while you practice. Though very beneficial, I know that that may not be an option for many people, so practicing on your own with the aid of the media you’re watching in the native language still works very well!
This is a very long response, but I hope that these suggestions can help create a more structured approach to learning your new language. Good luck!! ✨
Feb 19, 2024
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A guide to follow the right people who'll help you learn:
1. When it comes to technique, I think it's better when people stick to a single creator. Preferably one that has credentials as a teacher. On YouTube, there's plenty and they facilitate free content for their students as well. I think it's easier to keep track of your learning progress when you're seeing a single person explain things to you.
2. Booktubers: they typically have good pronunciation, precisely because they read a lot. A lot of them speak slower than their counterparts in other niches and since they're speaking about books, it's more likely the topics will be diversified because they're reviewing books, explaining to you the synopsis, etc.
3. Singers: people who sing also tend to have a good pronunciation. I would say, look for someone who's a content creator first, singer second. That sounds very specific but it could benefit you in the long run when it comes to your oral and listening skills.
4. People who do storytimes: I genuinely think that the best way of learning is through storytelling. This can look differently for everybody. For some people it's vlogs, for some is true-crime, for other is podcasts. Do whatever suits you.
Obviously the preferred platform is YouTube in this case, as I think TikTok doesn't help you process a lot of information and it can become overwhelming to be on the app, which worsens your will to learn.
Nov 19, 2024
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