You can find information on sentence structure by reading study books or by searching for free language lessons online. For example, English follows a subject-verb-object pattern, such as in “He ran to the store. ” Japanese uses a subject-object-verb pattern, so “ran” would appear at the end of a sentence.
For example, if you’re an exchange student in Greece, you might need to introduce yourself, ask for directions, and order food. While you might need to know the Swahili word for “aardvark” someday, you can learn it at a later date when the time comes.
Speaking the words out loud can help solidify them in your memory. Eventually, you will be able to translate the words automatically without saying them.
Start out small. When you’re starting out, you might stick to simple descriptions like, “Hi, my name is John Doe. I am 18. I am from America. ” Writing involves fluency you can’t get from reciting flashcards, so use it as an opportunity to expand your vocabulary and make your language skills more dynamic.
Remember that being a polyglot means using languages in conversation. If you only memorize lists of words, you may find yourself unable to form sentences in a conversation.
Look online for phrasebooks or lists of phrases. Also check at bookstores or your local library.
For example, if you want to learn how to say “cat” in Russian, put a picture of your cat or find a funny cat picture online to put on the back of the card. This makes the word far easier to recall than when you write “cat” on the back.
For example, try Duolingo or Anki. Both are available for Apple and Android devices.
Ask the teacher any questions you have, including about how to improve your study sessions. Also engage with other students so you can learn faster. You may also be able to find classes online. Read up about how the class works, the cost involved, and how other students rated the class.
Choose books that are relatively simple and straightforward. For instance, books like Harry Potter or The Hunger Games are designed to include younger audiences, so they are much easier to translate than a philosophical treatise. You may be able to purchase books that include a built-in translation to your native language. If this isn’t an option, keep a copy of the book in your native language nearby and use it for reference.
TV is a good place to find dialogue. For instance, watch American shows to learn English or Spanish soap operas to learn Spanish. You may be able to find podcasts that contain spoken dialogue in the language you want to learn. Also look online for Youtube videos or other media.
Esperanto speakers, for example, host gatherings across the world. These meetings are the perfect place to learn and practice your language. Also look for online websites or apps like HelloTalk that allow you to connect with others from afar.
Sign up on a site such as CouchSurfing, then register as a host. You can invite people you are interested in meeting or attend community events in your area.
You can download translation apps, such as Google Translate, on your phone, but try not to depend on it. Make it your goal to learn how to speak fluently on your own.
When choosing a language, look for the grammatical structure of a sentence, what kind of alphabet the language uses, and other distinctive features that can challenge a new learner. For example, many English speakers start with Western European Romance languages like Spanish, French, and Italian because they are all very similar. Proximity is an appropriate way to choose a language. Many people in China, for instance, learn both Mandarin and Cantonese. For a simple choice, try Esperanto. Although it is an invented language, it is used everywhere and doesn’t have complicated grammar or vocabulary rules.
If you don’t have the desire to learn a complex language like Japanese, for instance, you may not study often or remember words. Being passionate pushes you to learn. For example, someone in Belgium might learn French, German, Dutch, and English because it helps them communicate with the people around them.
Give yourself plenty of time to gain a good understanding of how to speak your first language. Avoid rushing through it. You will learn more in the long run if you take your time.
Aim to study your chosen language about 15 minutes a day, if possible. If you can study at least a few times a week, you should have a much easier time remembering and using what you learn.
For example, if you can have a casual conversation in French, chances are it won’t interfere with your English studies. You know French well enough to not confuse it with English. Think of being at an intermediate level as being at a conversational level. You may not be a professional translator, but you know how to use verb forms and conversational phrases.
For example, Northern European languages like Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian are similar. Once you learn 1 of them, the rest become easier to pick up. If you are passionate about a particular language, you should study it even if it isn’t like the first language you learned. Learning it will likely still feel easier because you have practice mastering foreign languages now.
If you translate everything from the language you know best, you may quickly get confused. Visualizing a ladder can help you keep words separate so you don’t mix up languages when trying to speak. For example, if you speak English, imagine the word “dog. ” Place the Spanish translation “perro” above it. Do the same for any other languages you learn.
An important part of being a polyglot is being able to use the languages. Memorizing a few vocabulary words isn’t enough. If you’re ambitious, you can set your sights on becoming a hyperglot. Hyperglots are fluent in 10 or more languages.
