5 Non-standard Ways to Learn a Foreign Language That Won’t Be Written About in Textbooks
If you’ve been trying to learn a foreign language for several years but still can’t speak it confidently, the wrong approach is probably to blame. According to polyglots, almost the entire success of the endeavor depends on which method to use when learning. So it’s time to put boring textbooks aside and find out what unconventional methods you can use to speed up your own progress and leave some time for other activities you enjoy, like betting on 22bet Italia or chatting with friends.
Exercise by Alexander Argüelles
This exercise is recommended by a man who already speaks 50 languages. He draws our attention to the fact that when learning a language, writing in it is much easier than speaking or understanding the pronunciation because during writing, the brain has more time to think things through.
Alexander recommends that when working with a text you should always say all the words aloud and, when you get to a point, read the whole sentence aloud. According to the polyglot, seeing, hearing and pronouncing foreign words, the brain will quickly perceive and remember familiar structures.
Learning While Moving
It may seem strange to some, but the same Alexander Argüelles recommends repeating words from audio lessons and learning dialogues only while driving. According to him, it is important to observe 3 conditions:
- You must be out in the fresh air and move as fast as possible (cardio exercises, running or walking will do).
- You must maintain a straight posture.
- You should formulate sentences in a clear voice.
The polyglot notes that being in a classroom or room makes us slouch and mumble, and can interfere with concentration. Alexander has repeatedly tested his method on college students, and those who studied while running or walking, the process of language acquisition was much easier than those who were trained in the classroom.
The Mini-story Repetition Method
Manfred Spitzer believes that it’s not the amount of material that’s important, but the amount of repetition. For example, when practicing language comprehension, it makes no sense to listen to as many audio texts as possible, trying to understand every one.
Spitzer recommends listening to mini-stories and constantly repeating them. That way, as you learn the language, more nuances of the text will be revealed to you, and the constructions will be better remembered.
Improving Your Memory With the Dual N-Back Method
Learning a language is much more difficult for those who have a poorly trained working memory. This is the type of memory that allows a person to keep the information he or she is working with in his or her head.
But fortunately, it is possible to train working memory. The exercise Dual N-Back, a kind of game in which you have to memorize letters and squares for a few moves and react if you notice a repetition of the position shown 2 moves ago, has shown a high efficiency.
You can train your memory online on the website or with your smartphone by downloading the free app from Google Play or the AppStore.
You Can Drink a Little
Despite the fact that alcohol interferes with concentration and has a negative effect on memory, scientists have proved that its moderate consumption helps in learning foreign languages. According to the results of the study, people are particularly good at pronouncing foreign languages when they are drunk.
Of course, no scientist would advise you to drink alcohol every day, but it is something you can try if you need to improve your speaking and pronunciation skills in a hurry.