What Are Some Unexpected Ways to Learn Languages?

Imagine being stuck in your high school Spanish or French class. Lost and confused, because the lesson lacks stimulation or creativity. Many of us had to take a language class as a requirement, which made it feel so boring and useless. 

Learning a language doesn't have to be like that, trust me. It's not about memorizing long lists of vocabulary or doing repetitive exercises in a textbook. Rather than wasting time and impeding progress with useless exercises and grammar drills. You want to aim to put a fun and creative spin on learning a language. Here are some unexpected ways to learn a language, that makes it not only fun but also meaningful in your everyday life.

Movies, TV Shows, and Music

Netflix, Youtube, and music are part of our everyday lives. This is a full-proof method to integrate authentic language into your usual activities. In this way, you get to immerse yourself in how native speakers use the language. The more you do this, you will recognize the pattern, tone, and rhythm of spoken language. Language learning blogs are a great source to find the perfect movie or TV show that fits your level. You can also watch reruns of your favorite shows/movies because you already know what they're saying. While subtitles are great for this method, try to get comfortable without them.

Youtube Channels for Spanish learners:

• Dreaming Spanish

• Extra en Espanol (think the Spanish version of Friends)

• Why Not Spanish

• Butterfly Spanish

Change the Language on Your Devices

This is another great way to integrate language into your everyday life. Change the language settings on your phone, laptop, and social media accounts. It's a natural change of pace that you'll get used to it in no time. You already know how most apps and your phone is set up in your native language. This is a subtle change that won't be hard to adjust to.

For example, if you have Twitter, you can see the trending topics for countries that speak your target language. That's full immersion at it's best because social media uses language in a casual way that is valuable for the process

Read the News

We all read the news to stay informed about the world. Whether we like it or not, the news is always there and in our faces. Why not take this everyday aspect of our lives and use it as an opportunity? Many media outlets offer news in another language such as CNN, BBC, and Telemundo (Spanish media outlet). If you watch the news and read the top stories, you're practicing reading and listening skills. As with social media platforms, news uses the language in an authentic, realistic way.

Related article: Learn English With News: 8 Great Resources to Help You Boost Your English

Language Apps

Instead of mindlessly scrolling through Facebook and Instagram. Use your phone in a more productive way to learn a language. There are dozens of mobile apps out there to learn any language. As an avid user, I can vouch for an app called Duolingo. While it does have a structure with varying levels and grammar explanation. It also has a game aspect to it through the mix and match activities and a reward system where you can buy different items. There's also an adorable owl mascot that will definitely keep you motivated to practice.

Learning a language is no easy task, but don't let that get you down. As a fellow language learner, I know that it is important to be consistent because that's how we operate as humans. Make it a habit to practice, but be realistic about how much you can handle. Most importantly, make it relevant to your life. That is where the motivation will come from.