Photo by Felicia Wong
Even if you don’t feel linguistically-inclined, it’s possible–with patience, diligence, and a sense of humor—to become fluent in a language in six months or less.
Although English is my first language, I learned Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese Chinese as a child, picked up French in high school, and have recently became conversant in Spanish as I travel through South America. Over the years, I’ve picked up the following tips for expediting language acquisition.
1. Immerse yourself
It’s almost impossible to learn a new language, or at least to learn it rapidly, unless you begin thinking in that language. But how do you think in a new language you can’t yet speak?
Ingratiate yourself with the community and you’re halfway there!
The answer is to simply immerse yourself in it. Traveling in a foreign country allows you to continuously hear the sounds, rhythms, and inflections of a new language–spoken on the streets, in buses, on television, etc. Your brain will already start to process and interpret a new language.
Even better than simply traveling is being forced to “operate” in a new language by participating in a volunteer program, or working abroad. Best of all is being completely immersed with locals (such as living with a host family) and completely isolated from other native speakers of your language.
Immerse yourself with the locals, their music, culture, media, politics, sports, family, etc. Ingratiate yourself with the community and you’re halfway there!
2. Forget translating: think like a baby!
photo by Felicia Wong
How do babies learn language? Through imitation, repetition of sounds, and above all, by not being shy or self-conscious.
So what if your pronunciation is a little off, or you can’t remember the proper conjugation? Just start talking, even if it seems like babbling. Resisting the urge to translate everything into your native language can be the single fastest shortcut to fluency.
Rather than walking up to the restaurant or giving your host family a pre-memorized phrase for what you’re going to order, simply listen to how the locals order their food, and then imitate them as best you can. The same goes for greetings, small talk, etc. Watch their facial expressions as they say the words; study how they move their mouths.
Copy these expressions and sounds just like a baby would. Whether you understand what they mean exactly or not, eventually you will begin simply calling upon these sounds / phrases / words in appropriate situations. They’ll appear, as if by magic. This is the gateway to thinking in a new language.
3. How do you say?
Besides common greetings, the one phrase you should memorize and always have at the ready is the phrase is “How do you say that / what is that called?”
By being an inquisitive traveler, one who is always asking questions, you befriend the local people. You’ll find that over time they’ll open up to you, making it easier to initiate conversations. These daily interactions with the locals are your best teachers: set a daily goal for yourself of having X number of conversations each day–asking people about things you’re interested in, but don’t know the words for. Even if you can’t finish the conversation, you’re on the way.
4. Write it
After having conversations, jot down the things you remembered hearing but didn’t quite understand.
After having conversations, jot down the things you remembered hearing but didn’t quite understand. (This can serve double duty if you’re also taking notes for your travel blog).
Then go back and use your dictionary. Look up the words, piece the conversation back together in your mind. Then, next time you have a conversation, use what you learned.
When studying French and Spanish, I also used “grammar sheets” where I wrote down the various verbs to learn their conjugations. Besides helping me focus, they also became handy reference guides.
5. Use cognates and draw links
Ever noticed how some words appear exactly the same across various languages? These are called “cognates.” Unlocking the usage of cognates instantly gives you several hundred more words to your vocabulary. For example, most words ending in “ion” in the Latin languages are the same in English.
For example: information / información, donation / donación
Similarly, words across different languages often share the same root word, so drawing on what you already know will make it easier (e.g.: cheese is fromage in French and fromaggio in Italian). Studies have also shown that when you have mastered a second language, your brain becomes becomes better wired to learn subsequent new languages. Fret not, it gets better!
6. Local TV, movies, music
photo by Robert Paetz
Watch movies, listen to music, sing songs, and browse newspapers and magazines. It’s fun and helps improve your pronunciation and comprehension.
I often stumble when trying to read Chinese script because I don’t use it enough and there are no phonetic cues in Chinese characters. But by watching Chinese music videos and following the lyrics, I learned many new characters and also began pronouncing words more accurately.
In the same way, I attuned myself to rapid French prattling by watching French movies on DVD without subtitles and improved my Spanish by paying attention during the dubbed action movies on long bus rides in South America.
Salsa classes have also ensured I know my izquierda (left) from my derecha (right)!
7. Non-verbal cues
Beyond words, observe locals when they talk. Be it the Gaelic shrug or a slight tilt of the head, combining body language with a new tongue helps you communicate better.
This is especially important in cultures where language is closely linked to gestures. For instance, appropriate bowing and greeting in Japanese are inseparable, as with the hand gestures and intonation in Thailand. Picking up on non-verbal cues added a new dimension to my interactions with Thais, as I learned the appropriate bowing of the head and a deep enough wai (palms together) to accompany my greetings.
8. Get emotional!
photo by Robert Paetz
Emotive experiences often etch impressions onto our memory. Make full use of embarrassing / funny / angry experiences by linking them to the new language.
I learned, quite unfortunately, the importance of the special “ñ” character in Spanish because saying “Tengo 24 anos” instead of “años” meant I told everyone I had 24 anuses rather than being 24 years old.
Needless to say, the embarrassment helped correct my pronunciation for good! Similarly, negotiating with shady cab drivers or nasty vendors also helps you learn numbers rather quickly so you don’t get ripped off.
9. A world of friends / then going solo.
While individual classes can be highly beneficial for unsurpassed attention, group classes with friends can greatly aid learning. Having a friend to practice with helps you get better, and you can also learn from the different mistakes different people make.
On the other hand, venturing out solo in a foreign country forces you to speak with local people–say the person riding next to you on the bus, or standing in line at the market. It also prevents you relying on a friend with stronger language skills to do the talking for you in key exchanges such as asking for directions or buying food.
10. Practice at every opportunity before and after you travel.
Ever felt really “rusty” and lacking confidence in a language despite having taken classes or used it (or even mastered it) at some other time in your life? Languages are alive and require exercise. Find avenues to practice wherever and whenever you can.
For instance, I don’t get to use French very often in my daily life, so I found a French penpal to exchange emails. I also keep in touch with people I met in France and French travelers I met in the course of my travels. Writing in French on FaceBook (www.facebook.com) walls does wonders and even helps you learn some local slang!
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102 Comments... join the discussion!
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Chiming in on #6. Watching game shows in another language works wonders. While waiting out several rainy days in NE Madagascar, I latched on to the evening broadcasts of "Jeopardy" in French. With a dictionary in hand it definately helped with my vocabulary.
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One suggestion: Kids!
Kids often speak more slowly, with less complicated grammar, and so are easier to understand. Teach a local kid to speak some English in exchange for teaching you his / her native language.
It’s easier to lose your ego around kids, to not care how you “sound.”
They can be your best teachers.
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I travel to quite a few European countries in my work and find that if you shop in the local shops and have a drink in the bars off the main streets you'll have to speak in the local language. As you get older you get less self-conscious too. A smile and a little hesitation invariably brings out sypathetic help and brightens everyone's day.
Another tip – speak to older people. The young just want to practise their English↵ -
Chiming in on #6. Watching game shows in another language works wonders. While waiting out several rainy days in NE Madagascar, I latched on to the evening broadcasts of “Jeopardy” in French. With a dictionary in hand it definately helped with my vocabulary.
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I travel to quite a few European countries in my work and find that if you shop in the local shops and have a drink in the bars off the main streets you’ll have to speak in the local language. As you get older you get less self-conscious too. A smile and a little hesitation invariably brings out sypathetic help and brightens everyone’s day.
Another tip – speak to older people. The young just want to practise their English↵ -
Great tips! Currently trying to learn Swedish. Hopefully I can master it in 6 months
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Sorry I did'nt really think while typing that.
How can I prepare myself, language wise, before going to Spain.
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Great tips! Currently trying to learn Swedish. Hopefully I can master it in 6 months
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Im moving to London in the next month or two. From there on I want to go to Spain just after the High Season. What would be a good why for me to prepare before embarking?
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Sorry I did’nt really think while typing that.
How can I prepare myself, language wise, before going to Spain.
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Hello,
totally true, my first language is not english and im here writing and reading thanks to the steps mentioned above.
I am originally from an Spanish speaking country and since three years ago i moved to an english speaking country. I did learn by my own self , and I have found spanish people around me that cant speak or understand english because they dont interact with sociaty , or the locals , or media that is not spanish.PErsonal efford is also an essencial key to succes!
Gracias
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Thanks! These practical tips will help me – and many other readers – take the plunge and learn another language!
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Hello,
totally true, my first language is not english and im here writing and reading thanks to the steps mentioned above.
I am originally from an Spanish speaking country and since three years ago i moved to an english speaking country. I did learn by my own self , and I have found spanish people around me that cant speak or understand english because they dont interact with sociaty , or the locals , or media that is not spanish.PErsonal efford is also an essencial key to succes!
Gracias
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Thanks! These practical tips will help me – and many other readers – take the plunge and learn another language!
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Hey this is a cool and great share! Very inspiring. I'm planning to brush up on my languages and this really helps!
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Interesting article – i want to learn spanish and I think this will help a lot!
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Hey this is a cool and great share! Very inspiring. I’m planning to brush up on my languages and this really helps!
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Interesting article – i want to learn spanish and I think this will help a lot!
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A great site! The first I have seen like this.
As an Englishman living in France, a great tip is: Don't look to see how to spell a word and then think you know how it is pronounced. Listen, Listen and Listen to the locals. Ah! That's how it is pronounced. Now look at the spelling. It works.↵ -
A great site! The first I have seen like this.
As an Englishman living in France, a great tip is: Don’t look to see how to spell a word and then think you know how it is pronounced. Listen, Listen and Listen to the locals. Ah! That’s how it is pronounced. Now look at the spelling. It works.↵ -
When I was learning Swedish, I found that reading comic books and joining a local choir helped immensely in my picking up the language. Music especially can help ingrain a language into your operating system.
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ehm.. cheese is FORMAGGIO in italian, not FROMAGGIO
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Great tips, but I actually read this article for its title – fluent in 6 months! I think for the average person (ie not a linguistically gifted person – some people are just good with languages, but most of us aren't) 6 months isn't really realistic. I teach English in Australia and have a lot of students who come to my classes who were told by their agents in their home countries (in Europe or South America) that 6 months is definitely enough to become fluent and then they could study postgrad degrees or get a job using their qualifications from home – and a lot of them end up very disappointed and in great financial strife because they just can't manage it in 6 months, even immersed in the country.
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Great tips, but I actually read this article for its title – fluent in 6 months! I think for the average person (ie not a linguistically gifted person – some people are just good with languages, but most of us aren’t) 6 months isn’t really realistic. I teach English in Australia and have a lot of students who come to my classes who were told by their agents in their home countries (in Europe or South America) that 6 months is definitely enough to become fluent and then they could study postgrad degrees or get a job using their qualifications from home – and a lot of them end up very disappointed and in great financial strife because they just can’t manage it in 6 months, even immersed in the country.
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i never ever heard Russian or Persian but I learnt both or atleast understand most of it
I already knew 6 more languages before so it added to my language skills↵ -
i never ever heard Russian or Persian but I learnt both or atleast understand most of it
I already knew 6 more languages before so it added to my language skills↵ -
Very good post. Many thanks !!
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Very good post. Many thanks !!
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Hello =),
I've been living in France for a year now, I'm 14 and am never allowed out
. Even though I've had so little emmersion through this year, I've learnt an enormous amout. I wouldn't say that I'm fluent, but I can say everything that I want to and if not, locals are always happy to help. This year I hope to be getting out and (since I am home-schooled, I have a limited amout of friends here) making more friends. Hopefully, given another 6 months, I'll be speaking and underderstanding perfectly, thanks =). I'll keep your 10 steps in mind =)!– Bianca
http://www.kissmyfishy.blogspot.com
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Hello =),
I’ve been living in France for a year now, I’m 14 and am never allowed out
. Even though I’ve had so little emmersion through this year, I’ve learnt an enormous amout. I wouldn’t say that I’m fluent, but I can say everything that I want to and if not, locals are always happy to help. This year I hope to be getting out and (since I am home-schooled, I have a limited amout of friends here) making more friends. Hopefully, given another 6 months, I’ll be speaking and underderstanding perfectly, thanks =). I’ll keep your 10 steps in mind =)!- Bianca
http://www.kissmyfishy.blogspot.com
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I live and work in Andalucía, Spain and I have been learning Spanish for the past 4 years and I think all the tips are fantastic – for me, points 2 and 6 were the fastest way to fluency.
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I live and work in Andalucía, Spain and I have been learning Spanish for the past 4 years and I think all the tips are fantastic – for me, points 2 and 6 were the fastest way to fluency.
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I have to agree with Amanda: it's impossible to achieve proficiency in six months.
As an English teacher I would say it takes most good European students until they are in their late teens or early twenties to achieve proficiency. If they ever do. Asian students often take longer as English lessons start later in most Asian countries (or at least have until recently).
Having the advantage of learning some languages as a child, the author has a big advantage over those of us who where never exposed to another language. As the pre-frontal cortex develops it becomes less and less easy to learn a second language. If you already have a second language under your belt, on the other hand, it is much easier to learn a third, fourth, fifth…
There are some solid language learning tips here, but fluent in six months? Perhaps.
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I have to agree with Amanda: it’s impossible to achieve proficiency in six months.
As an English teacher I would say it takes most good European students until they are in their late teens or early twenties to achieve proficiency. If they ever do. Asian students often take longer as English lessons start later in most Asian countries (or at least have until recently).
Having the advantage of learning some languages as a child, the author has a big advantage over those of us who where never exposed to another language. As the pre-frontal cortex develops it becomes less and less easy to learn a second language. If you already have a second language under your belt, on the other hand, it is much easier to learn a third, fourth, fifth…
There are some solid language learning tips here, but fluent in six months? Perhaps.
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Loved this article – and totally related to number 8. After telling someone that I was embarazada (pregnant) because I didn't speak Spanish better when I actually meant I was embarazosa (embarrassed) because I didn't speak Spanish better, I never made the same mistake again. I also once managed to ask a furniture salesman for a bedside table with cojones (testicles) when I actually wanted one with cajones (drawers). Again, not a mistake you make more than once!
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Loved this article – and totally related to number 8. After telling someone that I was embarazada (pregnant) because I didn’t speak Spanish better when I actually meant I was embarazosa (embarrassed) because I didn’t speak Spanish better, I never made the same mistake again. I also once managed to ask a furniture salesman for a bedside table with cojones (testicles) when I actually wanted one with cajones (drawers). Again, not a mistake you make more than once!
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As a person who speaks Bahasa Indonesia, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkian, Hakka, Tio Ciu, English and Spanish (the first two are my natives languages), I agree with the points. I learn English at schools and I teach myself Spanish with help from online friends. It took me about 8 months to be able to talk quite fluently in Spanish. Two tips I'd like to share:
1. Speak, speak, speak
Even if you don't have a partner with whom you can practice the language, talk to yourself. When you feel like cursing someone in the bad traffic
, swear in the language you're learning.2. Write a diary
Try to write a journal of your daily activities using the language you're learning. You'll learn a lot of new vocabularies and you'll run into grammatical problems which will make you curious how it should be written. Solve it!3. New words? Remember it but don't force too hard to remember.
It's useless to keep saying, trying to plant the new words in your mind. Instead, remember it for a while and let it go. When you encounter it next time, slowly it will emerge from your memory. The next time you see it again or when you'll need to use that word, you'll have it forever.Just my two cents.
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get rosetta stone the fast way to learn!!!
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Interesting, but you made a mistake: in Italian, the correct word is 'formaggio' not 'fromaggio' as you stated.
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As a person who speaks Bahasa Indonesia, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkian, Hakka, Tio Ciu, English and Spanish (the first two are my natives languages), I agree with the points. I learn English at schools and I teach myself Spanish with help from online friends. It took me about 8 months to be able to talk quite fluently in Spanish. Two tips I’d like to share:
1. Speak, speak, speak
Even if you don’t have a partner with whom you can practice the language, talk to yourself. When you feel like cursing someone in the bad traffic , swear in the language you’re learning.2. Write a diary
Try to write a journal of your daily activities using the language you’re learning. You’ll learn a lot of new vocabularies and you’ll run into grammatical problems which will make you curious how it should be written. Solve it!3. New words? Remember it but don’t force too hard to remember.
It’s useless to keep saying, trying to plant the new words in your mind. Instead, remember it for a while and let it go. When you encounter it next time, slowly it will emerge from your memory. The next time you see it again or when you’ll need to use that word, you’ll have it forever.Just my two cents.
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Interesting, but you made a mistake: in Italian, the correct word is ‘formaggio’ not ‘fromaggio’ as you stated.
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I love these tips. Thanks you so much.
I'm from a Spanish speaking country and I landing in the USA with no ENGLISH at all. I was first afraid and trying to translate everything. NO WAY.
Just go, try to listen and get involve with the culture and yes, I did fool myself and I still do hahahaha but I learned it and I'm loving it. Now, I'm trying to learn Japanese and again paying attentions to the culture, how the say things and asking a lot of questions helps a lot. And thanks to KIDS I'm learning too…
Let's see how the Japanese goes. Wish me luck. Great Article.
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Ok, I can see that I wrote this very quick and with a very poor grammar. My apologies.
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I love these tips. Thanks you so much.
I’m from a Spanish speaking country and I landing in the USA with no ENGLISH at all. I was first afraid and trying to translate everything. NO WAY.
Just go, try to listen and get involve with the culture and yes, I did fool myself and I still do hahahaha but I learned it and I’m loving it. Now, I’m trying to learn Japanese and again paying attentions to the culture, how the say things and asking a lot of questions helps a lot. And thanks to KIDS I’m learning too…
Let’s see how the Japanese goes. Wish me luck. Great Article.
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Ok, I can see that I wrote this very quick and with a very poor grammar. My apologies.
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Great suggestions for any language learner. "Think like a baby" is my favorite piece of advice from this list, and possibly the most useful – especially if you have few resources to help you learn a language in an unfamiliar land.
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Great suggestions for any language learner. “Think like a baby” is my favorite piece of advice from this list, and possibly the most useful – especially if you have few resources to help you learn a language in an unfamiliar land.
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So the difficulty of the language should not matter. I am supposed to be trying to learn Spanish this summer!
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So the difficulty of the language should not matter. I am supposed to be trying to learn Spanish this summer!
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