7 Proven Tips on How to Learn a Language in 6 Months

Do you think it is possible to learn a foreign language in 6 months?

In other words, that’s half a year.

Or 183 days.

Succeeding in learning foreign languages can’t happen overnight. It, however, doesn’t have to take years and years either.

After all, many people can confirm that they learned languages in 6 months, even as adults or older people, and even continued learning languages that way pretty successfully.

What’s their secret? Is there some special catch?

Or those who have learned foreign languages in only half a year are simply talented and good at languages?

That’s what we’re going to find out in the following lines.

Let’s get started.

7 Proven Tips And Tricks How to Learn a Language in 6 Months

Don’t Think Only Talented People Can Succeed

The story where only people who have an ear for languages can learn them that fast is just a myth.

Anyone can learn a foreign language, even in 6 months (or, in other words, in 183 days). They just need the right approach, good teachers, and useful learning resources and tools.

For a start, don’t think you won’t make it just because you are not a polyglot, for example. 

Before you even start wondering how to learn a new language, fill your brain with lots of positive energy and positive thinking. Tell yourself that you can do it and you will, undoubtedly, succeed in it.

So, let your first tip be about positivity and believing in yourself.

The rest will be a lot easier.

Use The Language From Your First Day

The whole point of learning any foreign language is to beagle to talk to native speakers and locals.

Whether you start learning a language from scratch or already have some previous knowledge, using the language every day in different situations makes you acquire the language better.

Speak the language as often as you can with others who speak it or with native speakers. Talk about your favorite food, the weather, what you usually do during the day, or anything that comes to your mind.

Focus on Relevant Vocabulary

Instead of learning all the words in your target language that come to you, focus on those words and phrases you will actually use.

Make yourself a relevant vocabulary, which means to include words such as everyday expressions, talking about interests, food, things you like and don't like, expressing your feelings, and so on.

If you learn Spanish, for example, make sure you are familiar with the 1000 most common Spanish words. If your choice is to learn Chinese, for example, you should have at least 99 common Chinese words and phrases so that you can start with real practice.

It is more likely that you will both use these words often and remember them faster.

Don't lose your precious time by memorizing expressions you will use once or twice in your life. Of course you can learn them if you want to, but you should rather put aside those words when you have a time limit.

Use The Benefits of The Internet

In the 18. and 19. century, it was quite hard to learn a foreign language, finding proper books in the first place. But people managed somehow.

Today, we are blessed with an internet connection and the possibility to use it from any place in the world.

Therefore, using the internet to benefit language learning is something you have to make your priority.

Not only will you find excellent language learning resources, but you will also have the chance to practice the language with real people, in real-time, such as with Justlearn tutors.

At any moment, you can ask for help on one of the many discussion language forums or social media and quickly get an answer.

The benefits of the internet in using and practicing a foreign language are numerous. You only have to recognize those benefits and use them from day one.

Immerse Yourself In The Language

Perhaps the most demanding, but also the most efficient way to learn the language is through an immersive approach.

This approach in language learning means that you are fully exposed to your target language. The best example is spending some time in a country where your target language is spoken. There, you are exposed to the language all day, every day. If you want to go to the store, you have to use the language; to go to a restaurant- the same; to meet some people- speak the language.

From the moment you wake up until you go to bed at night, you have to use, listen and practice the language.

It can be quite hard at the beginning, especially if you start learning a language from zero, but this way, you will quickly learn some common, everyday words and phrases as well as practice your pronunciation, meet with slang and colloquialisms and learn about the culture and tradition.

Luckily for you, you can combine this and previous tips and use the benefits of internet connection, the possibility to communicate online with people from any part of the planet and immerse yourself at home.

Forget About Translating

One of the common mistakes language learners make is to translate sentences, even whole paragraphs to or in the target language.

That's a big mistake.

By translating, in your mind or on paper, you can easily get confused. More importantly, your brain can't get used to learning another language and using words and phrases it already knows.

So, stop translating but give your best efforts to think in your target language. No matter if you know only 50 words. Use them.

Use the question 'How do we say?' or 'What does that mean?' in your target language. It will help you boost your vocabulary, but also to use your target language and make your brain get used to the new language and its system and logic.

Use Body Language

Body language in different cultures exists for a reason. Besides expressing your thoughts with non-verbal communication with others, it also helps you learn how to say certain words and phrases in a foreign language.

Use hand gestures while talking to native speakers, show your feelings with facial expressions, or express your thoughts or things you don't quite understand with these gestures, especially when you aren't familiar with appropriate words.

This can be especially important if you learn a language where these gestures are an inevitable part of the communication to get the whole picture.

Final Thoughts

Now, do you see that you don’t have to be supernatural or super talented to learn a language in 6 months?

You should only follow our tips and tricks and you’ll easily learn your desired language in 6 months or even less!

Good luck!