5 mistakes everyone makes learning a new language
We all make mistakes when learning a foreign language. This is nothing new or unusual. You will be surprised though, to learn how many of our mistakes can actually be very productive if we learn how to correct them.
The best way to improve our language skills is to be able to recognise our mistakes so we can learn from them and avoid them in the future.
1. YOU TRY TO MEMORIZE A TON OF NEW WORDS ALL AT ONCE
While learning, it is unnecessary and almost impossible to memorize all the new words. Even native speakers use only about 2000-3000 words. An adult native English speaker can have tens of thousands of words stored in their brain, but using only about 3000 of them they can successfully read modern English literature.
Tip: using visual elements is the best way to learn new languages. Also, repetition is the mother of all learning.
2. YOU TRY TO MEMORIZE ALL THE RULES OF GRAMMAR
Grammar is, of course, important and no one will ever tell you you don’t need to learn it. No matter the language, it’s always difficult for those who are not native speakers. All those tenses, infinitives, and conditionals are very important when writing essays, emails…however, if you want to work on your communication skills, don’t spend too much time trying to force yourself to memorize all those rules.
Tip: Write something every day- a blog, journal entry, shopping list, notes… using grammar in real life is going to help you improve it.
3. YOU FORGET TO LISTEN
Usually, while learning a language, we constantly pay attention to vocabulary and grammar because our goal is to learn how to read, write, and speak. That is all good and great but we often forget to listen despite the fact that that is the key to understanding and communication. Don’t underestimate listening, do it every day by listening to songs or watching movies in the language you want to learn.
Advice: In order to develop your listening skills, watch movies and TV shows with subtitles, listen to radio shows, play games, and try to understand the song lyrics of your favorite songs. Relax and have fun!
At Ace Language Academy, we teach English using the Callan Method - we correct your mistakes as soon as you make them.
Learning’s fast, the classes are organized, efficient, and fun, and you’re constantly speaking with local English teachers!
4. STUDYING FROM A BOOK
Trying to learn a language from a book is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Books can give you the necessary basics, but nothing else. While learning, the most important thing to do is to listen a lot and speak to native speakers. The only way to learn different phrases, idioms, and dialects is through the real understanding of native speakers. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t use books at all. They give us useful content and guidelines for studying, especially if they also offer audio options that follow the book.
Tip: Don’t use books as your only source for learning your target language.
5. RELYING ONLY ON SCHOOLS
This is the most common mistake among students. You rely only on what you learn at school or university. When you are learning a language, it is important to have a teacher who will help and support you, but that doesn’t mean he/she can do everything for you. Teachers cannot pour knowledge into your head because, in the end, you are the only ones responsible for how much you learn. If you feel like the book and materials you are following at school aren’t efficient enough, try to find a different way of learning, such as listening to music, watching movies, visualization, etc.
Advice: The most important thing is to be dedicated to learning every day and stay optimistic. There will always be situations in which we will feel like there is no progress in spite of our hard work and strong will. When that happens you have to stay persistent because learning is a lifetime process.
