When learning a new language, it is easy to get lost or confused in the grammar, spellings, vocabulary and pronunciations. In addition, some might even struggle to keep up with the style of teaching they currently have access to. That is why spring-cleaning your language is an essential part of refocusing your mind and knowledge and creating a more effective way of learning.
Did you know there is so much free content and resources available at the tip of your fingers? All you need is an internet connection, a device and some idea of what you are looking for. On that note, here is a list of ways you can spring clean your knowledge of language using these resources.
1. Watch Language Videos
There are many sites that provide you access to free resources, and YouTube is a major one. Looking for language videos about cooking? It is definitely there. Need to know the cultural etiquette of a certain country and how to speak in their colloquialisms? That’s there too!
Here is a list of 6 Language YouTubers for you to check out!
2. Listen to Podcasts
In recent years, podcasts have made a strong come back from all genres, including comedy couple shows to political rants. Within the hundreds of thousands of podcasts out there, Language podcasts are present too. These can cover spellings, grammar and common sentences to help you practice.
If you’re the type of learner who learns from hearing natural conversation, movies and songs, any podcast in the language you’re learning, is an excellent opportunity for you to improve on your listening and speaking skills.
3. Listen to Audio Books while You Read
Similar to the previous point, audiobooks are another great alternative to improving your listening, speaking AND reading skills by allowing you to listen to the words of the book in front of you while you read along. You also get to practice hearing the correct intonation. A bonus to this spring-cleaning trick is that you will be entertained at the same time.
Here are some tips for reading novels, as well as some English suggestions.
4. Begin a language club with your friends and family
Learning a new language is a great opportunity for you to use your own skills and teach those around you as you go. By creating your own language club with some friends and family, you both improve your language skills through conversation and teaching and offer the opportunity for your loved ones to embrace another language. If you don’t want to make your own, join one! Language exchanges are popular everywhere, just google for one in your area.
5. Listen to popular music in that language
You may have heard that learning the lyrics to a song is easier than learning from a book or conversation. Therefore, listening to music with lyrics in the language you’re learning is a great way to learn simple sentences and words. You can also use this to replace the lyrics with your own words if you have to remember something for a test.
Try lyricstraining.com! It’s great for learning in any language, not just English!
Whether you’re a visual, auditory or physical learner, spring-cleaning your knowledge is a fantastic way for refocusing your mind on the information in front of you. Taking on new ways of learning, through podcasts and YouTube videos, can benefit your style of learning greatly and improve the skills that are difficult to achieve in a classroom environment.
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