My process in learning a new language - Spanish
Phase One : Introduction
By introduction I
mean, getting the basics of the language or target subject. If it is a
language, as it is in my case, learn some common words and basic
grammar, getting used to its sounds, its rhythm, and its tones, being
able to recognize some words in that language's songs and rapid
conversation. By some words I mean at least two out of ten words.
This
phase can be tricky, it has the highest chance of drop out, and if you
drop out in this phase you forget whatever little you have learned yet
as if it was never there.
Duolingo is a great resource for this phase. After completing the duolingo Spanish skill tree,
- I know some vocabulary and some grammar.
- I can make out common words in Spanish songs and Spanish conversations between native speakers, though stringing the words together in my head and understanding the meaning still takes time.
- I am able to read Spanish and most of the time understand what is written.
- I can also translate basic sentences to Spanish from English.
So that takes care of my introduction phase.
Now for the second phase
Phase Two : Immersion
What I mean by Immersion,
is to deeply immerse myself in my target subject. Reading all I can
about it. If it is a language, then hearing songs in it, watching movies
in it, etc. and trying to focus on it completely for how much ever time
I can afford to.
I have seen many people on YouTube
doing this, by going to a Spanish speaking country, living there for a
few months and speaking and living as a native would, without using much
English. But I cannot do that, I neither have the time nor the funds
for that.
So for that, what I plan to do in the next
phase is, set half an hour to one hour in which I will speak only
Spanish, and even try to think in Spanish if I can. If I can't think of a
sentence in time, I will use Google translate.
As I said in my previous article, it is okay if you forget, repetition is the key.
My method may be slower, but it will suit my schedule just fine.
The other thing I am going to do is watch as many Spanish videos on YouTube as I can, and listen to Spanish podcasts and songs.
I have started with Spanish nursery rhymes :)
Phase Three : Application
By application I mean, use the skill in your daily life as if you have been doing it for years.
This
is going to be an ongoing phase, in this phase I will try to use
Spanish as if it were the most natural thing to me, in conversations,
inserting a word here and there, reading news and articles in Spanish,
etc. Remember the biggest hurdle in learning something new is your own
mind. As soon as it accepts the new thing as normal, the speed of
learning accelerates like crazy.
You can also use one of the many language exchange apps and websites and find a partner to practice with, I found mine in Spain. And I couldn't have asked for a better partner.
You can also use one of the many language exchange apps and websites and find a partner to practice with, I found mine in Spain. And I couldn't have asked for a better partner.
And above all, the most important rule in learning is repetition everyday,
even if it is for just a few minutes a day. Ten minutes of practice
everyday is way better than six hours of revision once a week. Keep it
up till you reach the tipping point in your learning, when you know
enough that you can afford to forget a little.
This is
the process I am following in my journey to Spanish fluency and it is
not limited to just learning languages, this is the same process I have
used till now for all my learning endeavors. Be it a new technology or
some other skill - Introduction, Immersion and Application.
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