I had to learn a second language. For years, I tried to learn a second language in a country where the formal language was a different one. Later, I learned the language because I had no other option. I started living in a place where I only spoke a couple of words.
It took me at least three years to become a good speaker of my second language. It is not easy. I think we never learn a new language completely. In any case, if you want to learn a new language, or you are already learning one, I can give you some suggestions to make this experience better and easier.
1. Learning takes time.
You will not learn a new language in a couple of months. You need to understand it will take time. Also, I can say learning a new language is like to earn a degree. I do not want you to get frustrated. It is not easy, and it takes time. After months of hard learning, you will have days where you forget all the new language and other days when you will forget your native language.
It will be even more difficult is you are learning the new language in your country. For example, if you want to learn French in the US, it will be more difficult than if you go to Canada or France to learn.
The point is to be patient.
2. It needs practice.
Practice is vital in any learning process. You need to read, write, listen and study a lot. It means you must watch all the movies and tv shows in the new language; you must listen to many radio shows, podcasts and music; you must read books, magazines, newspapers, tweets and articles. The only way to learn a language is with much practice.
You start becoming a bilingual when you can think in the new language.
3. Discipline is a must.
You cannot expect to learn the new full language doing nothing. You need to go to class, to read books, to listen to a podcast, to watch TV and movies, to write a lot. You must take time on your agenda to learn to practice.
I will add; you need to take many hours to learn. Probably, one hour per day it is not enough.
4. Traveling is key.
The ideal is living in a country where everybody speaks the new language. When you are pushed to speak the new language every single second, you learn. It is hard at the beginning, but you will learn in six months what usually takes years.
Living in a different country is expensive. However, you can travel on your vacations to places where you can practice. If your budget is not big enough, try to find any town in your city where you can go on the weekends.
5. It will never stop.
In the same way, you will always know your native language; you must practice your second language for the rest of your life. It is too easy to forget the new language; then, practicing is the key never to forget it. As I said at the beginning, you will never stop learning the new language.
Make your decision, pick a language you will love, start learning a new language, find a better job because you are bilingual and keep learning and practicing the rest of your life.
