Experts Reveal Their 2 Top Tips for Learning A Language - Part 3

But mastering another language can open up a lot of opportunities. You can communicate with more people, learn about other cultures, and be exposed to job opportunities that were previously unavailable.

So how do you tackle such a large project from the start?

We asked for help from the top language experts in the world, who have mastered not just one other language, but several other world languages.

These polyglots have studied and mastered different languages from different language groups. They have been language beginners many times over and understand how intimidating and difficult learning a new language can be.

So, they graciously offered up their top two most valuable tips to help you learn a new language.

The following are 6 more of these experts' advice.

Expert #13: Ellen Jovin | Words & Worlds of New York

1) Be really good at knowing when you are having fun, because if you are not having fun there is no way you are going to get as much done as you would if you were actually having fun.

If I am sick of conjugating verbs, I learn vocabulary. If I’m sick of vocabulary, I might chat with a native speaker online. If I suffer a sudden attack of misanthropy (disliking of other humans), I may switch to audio lessons. If I get tired of audio, then perhaps I watch court TV in the target language. Variety is good; it promotes fun.

2) Eat greens!

Expert #14: Bill Price | How To Languages

1) Learn what's most useful to YOU. There is a ton a vocabulary and grammar to digest in any new language, so make sure you don't waste your time and energy on learning things you know you won't use.

What do you talk about on a day to day basis? Learn those things. Learn words and phrases related to your interests and your needs. Just because you CAN learn the words for twenty different zoo animals doesn't mean you should.

This accomplishes two things: It helps you reach a level of comfort and fluency in the language more quickly AND it does wonders for keeping you motivated.

2) Listen to a LOT of the language. For me, the most frustrating part of learning a new language is understanding speech. Listening to the language should be at least half of your daily routine if not more.

The more you listen, the more you begin to parse individual words and the more your ear will naturally adapt. Of course, audio with transcripts and translation are preferable but I have found that even blind listening to foreign language audio (regardless of comprehension) is helpful long term.

Expert #15: Judith Meyer | Learn Yu

1) A language is not just learned, it is also taught.

Let teachers help you, let fellow students help you, research some stuff yourself, don't let anyone deter you from your goal.

2) When walking around speaking your target language, note down all the words that you're missing and that you might need again very soon (words like "reach", not words like "embryonic").

As soon as you have a chance to sit down, look up the translation of these words and try to memorize it. This will help you rapidly become fluent in "my-language", the 500 words that you personally are most likely to use.

Expert #16: Malachi Ray Rempen | Itchy Feet Comic

I have two useful tricks.

1) The first is to basically never stop practicing. Languages are skills, and like any skill, you get out of it what you put into it. Put in a lot, get a lot back. But get lazy, and you'll get bad results!

However, if you are feeling a bit overwhelmed (feeling of 'it's all too much'), I happen to have a foolproof, guaranteed, 100% success rate trick, and that's my second:

2) Fall in love with someone who speaks your target language. There's no substitute for raging hormones to give you the push you need to get fluent, and fast! Be sure to fall for someone who doesn't speak your native language, though. That's the trick.

Expert #17: Noel van Vliet | Smart Language Learner

The most important thing is that you stay the course. It comes before anything else. Some will say make sure you have fun while learning a new language. But even if you do that, some days or weeks are going to be tough.

Therefore my top two tips at this moment would be:

1) Measure your progress in some way. It doesn't have to be very elaborated, just come back to a few songs in your target language every now and then to see if you understand more than the last time you heard them.

This gives you the reassurance that you are progressing and therefore increases your motivation.

2) Never worry about progress on bad days. Just shift your focus to completing your language learning session(s). When we're a little bit down, our negative thoughts increase. And the majority of them are completely irrational.

If you give them power they will make stupid decisions FOR you. Wait until you feel a little more balanced emotionally.

Expert #18: Kerstin Cable | Fluent Language

1) Set goals and track your progress.

Goals! Projects! Missions! Whatever you call them, they are the lifeblood of sticking with where you are at as a language learner.

Since you are a busy person, being accountable for your own time is one of the best ways of feeling both accomplished and efficient.

Tracking your progress is not only a good way of structuring how you learn. It will also help you combat the dangers of motivation loss.

The longer you stick with what you've already studied, the easier it will be to keep going. In other words: It's easier to break a 2-day streak than to break a 2-month streak.

Tracking can work in many different ways. It can be as simple as keeping up with habit streaks on apps (Duolingo, Memrise, or just type "habit" into Play/App Store). Or it can be a detailed log and review base like your personal notebook.

2) Build Great Habits.

If you want to get a better handle about how to build winning habits, start with how you make habits stick in other areas of your life. For example, some people stay fit by scheduling regular workout times, while others need accountability and love tracking their runs online.

More next time. If you have someting to add, leave a commment below