Top 3 strategies to improve your language skills lightning-fast!

Are you learning a foreign language and want to become proficient and sound native-like after dedicating so much time and hard work to your studies? Language learning is not only about acquiring grammar knowledge and vocabulary, but also developing your productive and receptive skills and, crucially, practising them!

The most effective way to learn a new language proficiently is to sign up for a face-to-face or online course with a professional tutor, but what if you cannot attend your classes on a regular basis? Some people have very busy schedules and can only dedicate a few hours a week to studying, for example.

If that’s true for you, don’t despair: you can still reach your goals of obtaining language fluency. Keep on reading to find out more about the top 3 strategies you can apply to become fluent in a foreign language in a short time!

 

Study using real-life materials

 

We have all experienced lessons planned entirely around a boring textbook, but this is not the only way to learn. On the contrary, experts recommend foreign language students to learn with real-life materials (including TV series, books, films, the news, interviews, TED talks, and more) for two main reasons:

 – It’s more engaging. You’re not likely to remember a lot if you’re bored, while the contrary is true if you are interested in the resources you are using in class. This is why we subconsciously pick up new words and understand unfamiliar accents in foreign films faster than if a teacher asks us to revise a list. It also keeps lessons interesting, which keeps you motivated to learn.

 – It’s real. By using the same resources that native speakers use to absorb information and entertainment, you learn the language that is actually used, as opposed to the overly formal or old-fashioned words and phrases sometimes taught in course books. Not only will you pick up regional specific expressions, but slang, too.

 

Practise, even if you are alone

 

Practising at least a few minutes every day will make all the difference if you want to become fluent in a foreign language. Of course, speaking to your partners and/or teacher during the lessons is essential, but maybe you’re too busy to take classes every day.

Even if you only study once a week and don’t have anyone else around who can speak the language, you can still talk to yourself! Grab a mirror (so you can observe your body language and the position of your tongue and lips, as well) and speak about anything you like, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Don’t worry about making mistakes: nobody is watching! Well, nobody but you. The main objective of this type of exercise is to analyse your body language and improve your range and pronunciation while taking note of “the gap” (that is, realising there are words or structures you need to express your ideas but which you haven’t learned yet). Later, you can inform your teacher of any holes in your knowledge, so they can prepare a class to target the areas that need the most attention.

 

Surround yourself with your target language

 

It is common knowledge that immersing yourself in a language and its culture is the fastest way to pick it up. But what if you can’t go abroad for a while or there is no one in your community with whom you can practise regularly? This is where the internet can be of immense help!

 – Set your social media to display in your target language. This is great because you’ll probably already know all the functions of the apps you use every day, so it will be easier for you to recognise and learn new vocabulary while doing the same things you usually do. For instance, if you’re learning Spanish, soon you’ll know that a “Like” on Facebook is Me gusta, “Story” is Historia and “Profile” is Perfil.