Many people make the mistake that they can only learn languages by traditional routes. These people sit in front of lamp light with dense textbooks trying to study their target language. However, there is nothing that says that you cannot spice-up your studies and still love language learning. Here are three ways you can mix other activities with language learning.
Google news to the rescue!
One of the easiest ways to mix your activities with language learning is to listen to or read the news in your target language. Google news now offers “editions” which will automatically collect news, even personalized news, and give it to you for consumption. Likewise, tunein.com is a site with several radio stations from around the world ready for you to listen to in real-time. Take advantage of these things, and get outside of your news bubble, all in one swing.
Mix your interests with learning a language
I am privileged to be part of a group that helps me to develop two of my loves: public speaking and Spanish. My bilingual toastmasters group is a great opportunity for me to speak and learn/practice the art of gab. While you may not have a bilingual toastmasters club in your town, chances are that you can mix and match what you love with language learning, especially online discussion boards on topics you are good at/passionate about: love to work on cars and are learning Portuguese? Why not jump on a Brazilian gearhead discussion board and start answering some questions, Do you have a passion for learning Mandarin Chinese and have a background in income tax accounting, why not find a discussion board for Chinese expats living in your country and need income tax advice. You are more than just a language learner, you have other interests and skills, use those to boost your language learning capabilities.
Don’t be afraid to practice your target language
https://www.youtube.com/user/laoshu505000Moses McCormick is the man when it comes to finding new and interesting ways to get involved in a language. Living in Columbus, Ohio, McCormick is not surrounded by a swath of languages like someone from a cosmopolitan town. Does that keep Moses down? Hell no, Moses just walks up to people and speaking their language in the mall.
We are surrounded by many people that speak the language that we are trying to practice. We just have to take a chance and (not caring about embarrassing ourselves) walk up and speak. Note: some people are a little apprehensive about speaking their native tongue in public, especially if not asked first. So, I suggest asking them first if they would mind just taking a few minutes to speak to them in their native language (bonus if you say it in their language).
Likewise, if they are an employee and working, ask if they have a minute or two to speak to you in the target language. Benny Lewis and Moses discusses this concept, which McCormick has labeled as “leveling up”, the idea of pushing yourself to approach people to practice your target language. Take the opportunity, if you are going to a restaurant or store and you know that the employee’s) speak your target language, strike up a conversation.
As you go about learning your language, you should not deprive yourself of the opportunity to have fun in the process. Mix in, and up, your activities with language learning; these could include reading/listening to your news in the target language, attending a bilingual public speaking group in the language, joining an online discussion group in your target language, or just finding someone in your town that speaks the language and strike up a conversation.