OCTOBER 17, 2022 – One of the appeals of military service and employment is the chance to travel the world and explore different cultures. However, it can be difficult to connect with people (other military employees or locals) if you can’t speak the language of the local population.
But, being on deployment on foreign land has its perks. For once, you can learn a new language and practice with native speakers (the locals).
So, if you’re interested in broadening your linguistic horizons, here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Take Live Online Lessons
Learning a new language is quite a personal journey, as everyone has a different approach. However, most specialists recommend diving right into it without worrying too much about grammar.
Once you understand how sentences work and hear the differences in accents and sounds, you can start working on the more complex issues. Until then, choose a list of the 50 most used words and start using them in conversation.
For instance, if you want to learn Spanish, it definitely helps to hear locals speak. However, if you’re too self-conscious about speaking broken Spanish with someone you just met, try a live Spanish course at Lingoda. All you need is a reliable internet connection and the openness to feel silly for a couple of sessions.
2. Set Clear Goals
Learning a new language as a military employee is not just a hobby – people with extensive linguistic skills are valued more because they can facilitate communication and break barriers. So, if you take this seriously, chances are you’ll be next in line for a promotion.
Now that you’re hyped about it, it’s time to draw a sketch of your linguistic journey and set clear goals. Start by setting a timeframe (6 months, for instance) and divide it into small segments. Also, don’t focus on becoming a fluent speaker right from the start – fluency takes years to achieve and requires consistent practice.
Learn to celebrate small victories, like going to the local bakery and ordering something in the new language. Did you manage to get the item you wanted without using English? Then this is definitely a victory!
3. Passive Learning
This one is a bit of a controversial method because the internet turned it into an Active vs. Passive debate, and now everyone seems to think that if you’re not carrying three dictionaries and seven grammar books, you’re wasting your time.
But passive learning is about listening to the language and internalizing it – just like we all did when we learned our first language as babies. Start by listening to music, podcasts, or the news in the target language. Next, move on to TV shows with and without subtitles. Read books and magazines for kids.
There are a few other great methods to practice passive learning, but the idea is to immerse yourself in the language and let your brain do its job. Of course, you can’t rely on passive learning alone, but this is a big part of the process.
4. Practice, Practice, Practice
If you are in a situation where you can talk with locals, don’t miss even a single opportunity! If you’re on a stroll to discover the area, don’t shy away from asking for directions in the local language. Do the same when you’re buying something, ordering food, or having a night out at the local pubs.
In most cases, the locals will love your effort and will try to help you out. And who knows, you may even make a friend or two.
Wrap Up
These tips will help you get started, but keep in mind that it takes time to properly learn a new language. Also, it depends on whether it’s similar to English or not and if you have where to practice.
Overall, as long as you are consistently investing time and brain power and you keep up with your goals, you should see enough progress to keep you motivated.