People have different ways of building their confidence in learning a language. Still, it’s been my experience that there are useful tips from others that help. Here are 3 ways of building language learning confidence.
According to the Collins English dictionary: “If you have confidence, you feel sure about your abilities, qualities, or ideas.”
Most of us feel confident about some things we do and less optimistic about other things. For example, you may feel sure about playing soccer (which you’ve played since grade school) but not so much about playing tennis (which you’ve just started to learn).
Or, with the same set of skills, we feel confident in one situation and less confident in another. For example, speaking Spanish with a Spanish-speaking friend, no problem; but giving a talk in Spanish at a conference, maybe not so easy.
So in part, confidence has to do with having the skills that are needed for a particular situation.
But confidence is also connected to a belief that you can learn what you set out to learn. A person learning a new language needs to quiet that nagging little voice of self-doubt, that little voice that keeps sabotaging his or her progress.
Rest assured: Anyone can learn a foreign language at any age. And no, you don’t have to have a special talent for languages. Many articles on the web dispel myths circulating about foreign language learning. Here’s a good one: 9 Biggest Myths about Language Learning Busted
So, go for it!!!
1. Create a Confident Mind-Set For Learning
You want to set out with the belief (and the knowledge!) that you can learn what you want to learn.
A good trick is to draw on a successful learning experience that you’ve had.
What new skill did you learn as a child, teenager, or young adult?
How about learning to bike and drive, figuring out your first computer, tablet, or smartphone? Or a skill you use for work or as a hobby?
What got you through the early moments when everything felt a little awkward? Did you accept that making mistakes is just part of the learning?
What motivated you to practice your new skill and stick with it? Apply that self-knowledge to your language learning.
It’s clear that you learn a new language only by engaging with it. You have to practice what you want to learn. And you have to practice a lot.
One way to think about practicing something new and challenging is with “optimistic persistence.” You need to stick with it through the ups and downs.
And, banish any negativity out of your mind.
2. Building Your Confidence Through Practice
Armed with a good dose of motivation and the belief that you can learn what you set out to learn, you have to find a way to practice that works for you and brings results.
Here are tips that have worked for me over the years, now working on my 8th language.
Practice in a safe space.
An online program that gives you the correct answer as feedback is perfect for that. Working that way, you don’t need to worry about sounding “weird” or “saying something stupid.”
Don’t worry about making mistakes.
When you learn something new, you learn from making mistakes. Sometimes you’ll automatically make the same mistake many times before the correct form becomes automatic. Certain mistakes are typical because of interference from your native language.
For example, it’s taken me plenty of practice to see Danish words that end in “-en,” such as “drengen” (the boy), not as a plural. I get interference from German, which has a large group of plural nouns that end in “-en”: Frauen, Sachen, Wohnungen, Blumen, Taschen, etc.
Focus on what you want to learn.
Are you looking to master the so-called “survival language”?
Then it’s enough to learn polite phrases, numbers, and basic phrases to get information, ask for directions, shop at the market, etc.
Or do you want to engage in conversations with native speakers?
In that case, work specifically on vocabulary for the kind of topics you want to talk about. Plus, add words that are important for a conversational context: connecting words (and, but, or, although, etc.), adverbs of time (last year, yesterday, tomorrow, next week, usually, never, etc.), relevant adjectives, phrases that mark what you say as opinion (I think, it seems, I doubt, etc.).
Stick with it even if some of your practice is boring.
To get words and phrases into your long-term memory, you have to recall them, sometimes quite often. That’s okay, even though it can be a little boring.
Frequent recall helps to make your language production automatic; in other words, recall boosts your fluency. It doesn’t matter what recall method you use; it just has to work for you.
Your practice has to be effective.
The authors of “Peak – Secrets from the New Science of Expertise” (Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool) coined the term “deliberate practice.” That means you should use learning techniques that have been established as being effective – in your case in the field of language learning.
Advice abounds. And you may have already found your own favorite language “guru” – a successful language teacher and learner whose techniques you like.
Still, most language learning experts agree on several points:
- practice regularly,
- recall often,
- listen and repeat aloud,
- start reading soon and read a lot,
- listen as much as you can,
- engage in conversations with native speakers,
- push yourself to build each of the skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing).
If you are learning a language with sounds that don’t exist in your native language (such as Asian, Middle Eastern, or Slavic languages for English speakers) listening and repeating aloud becomes essential:
Adults’ abilities to hear and discern sounds different from their native language(s) decrease with age. It’s one area where young children have a significant advantage over adults.
But practice can even overcome this handicap!
3. Building Your Confidence with Real Conversations
Now comes the most challenging part: engaging with native speakers in real conversations. Even if you’re not in the country where the language is spoken, there are many resources available: live tutors, online tutors, online language groups, online or local language meetups,friends, or friend of friends, etc
Such conversations with native speakers are a very different kind of practice. In addition to dealing with vocabulary and grammar, you also have to manage your anxiety about speaking up in a foreign language, you’re not sure about.
Prepare for conversations.
Preparation for a conversation in another language is a powerful tool. You can look up words and write them down, practice as much as you want in front of the mirror, and record yourself and playback.
Get used to hearing your voice in another language.
Hearing your voice speaking a foreign language can be a little startling. And it can make you self-conscious about opening your mouth.
An excellent way to get used to hearing your voice speaking French, German, Italian, etc. is to record yourself reading short pieces of text that you’ve been learning. The more you do it; the more natural your foreign voice will seem.
Don’t worry about your accent.
It’s easy to forget that you can be quite fluent in a language even if you have a “foreign” accent. Think about people speaking excellent English with an accent: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, Former Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto; Or Americans speaking other languages: Bill Clinton (German), John Kerry (French), Jeb Bush (Spanish).
Ask questions while in a conversation.
Don’t worry about appearing “dumb.” You can always ask your conversation partner for explanations, for the meaning of words, for help with pronunciation. And it’s usually okay to ask for feedback, for tips on how to improve.
Build your Conversational fluency with small steps.
A real conversation is much more dynamic than interactive practice online. So much is going on at the same time. As you listen to your conversation partner and try to understand what the flow of sounds coming at you means, your mind is preparing a possible answer.
Engaging in real conversations is pretty complicated. Preparing for them will help. Start with short conversations, and increase the length and difficulty incrementally. Remember, you are in charge of your learning.
It may sound simplistic, but it’s true: You can’t learn to engage in foreign language conversations unless you have conversations. So, go for it in your way and at your own pace. But stick with it! The rewards are a more open world experience, a more interesting life, and greater self-confidence.
Bio: Ulrike Rettig is the co-founder of GamesforLanguage.com. She’s a lifelong language learner, growing up in Austria, the Netherlands, and Canada.
Read More PostsApproximately 20% of children in the United States speak a language other than English at home, with Spanish as the most common non-English language. The research on the benefits of bilingualism is constantly growing. Becoming bilingual supports children to maintain strong ties with their entire family, culture, and community—key parts of a child developing his or her identity. However, some big misconceptions about learning two languages persist.
Here are some of the common myths that parents may have heard—and set the record straight:
1. Myth: Exposing infants and toddlers to more than one language may cause delays in their speech or language development.
Fact: Milestones of pre-language development are the same in all languages. Like other children, most bilingual children speak their first words by age one (i.e., mama, dada). By age two, most bilingual children can use two-word phrases (i.e., my ball, no juice). These are the same developmental milestones for children who learn only one language. A bilingual toddler might mix parts of a word from one language with parts from another language. While this might make it more difficult for others to understand the child's meaning, it is not a reflection of abnormal or delayed development. The total number of words (the sum of words from both languages the child is learning) should be comparable to the number used by a child the same age speaking one language.
2. Myth: Speaking two languages to a child may cause a speech or language disorder.
Fact: If a bilingual child has a speech or language problem, it will show up in both languages. However, these problems are not caused by learning two languages. Bilingualism should almost never be used an explanation for speech or language disorder.
3. Myth: Learning two languages will confuse your child.
Fact: Some bilingual children may mix grammar rules from time to time, or they might use words from both languages in the same sentence (i.e., "quiero mas juice" [I want more juice]). This is a normal part of bilingual language development and does not mean that your child is confused. Usually by age 4, children can separate the different languages but might still blend or mix both languages in the same sentence on occasion. They will ultimately learn to separate both languages correctly.
4. Myth: Children with speech or language processing disorders can have more difficulty learning a second language.
Fact: Children with speech and language disorders may have more difficulty learning a second language but research shows many can do so successfully.
5. Myth: Bilingual children will have academic problems once they start school.
Fact: The school setting that best suits bilingual children depends on the age of the child. Immersion in an English language-speaking classroom is the best approach for younger children, but is less effective for older students. For example, older kids in high school would be better served to get instruction in the language they know while they're learning English. Research shows many academic advantages of being bilingual, including superior problem solving and multitasking skills, as well as increased cognitive flexibility.
6. Myth: If a child does not learn a second language when he or she is very young, he or she will never be fluent.
Fact: Although the ideal language-learning window is during the first few years of life—the most rapid period of brain development—older children and adults can still become fluent in a second language.
7. Myth: If a child is not equally fluent in both languages, he or she is not truly bilingual.
Fact: Many people who are bilingual have a dominant language, which can change over time, depending on how often the language is used. In the United States, it is not uncommon for a child's dominant language to become English—school-aged children usually prefer to speak in the majority language instead of the one that is spoken by their parents. Just because someone is not equally fluent in both languages does not mean he or she is not bilingual. Regular use and practice of verbal communication, along with writing and reading, will help children (and adults) retain their second language long-term.
Read More Posts1. Define it. Write out each word and their meanings. The act of transferring a word and its meaning to paper helps commit the information to long-term memory.
2. Draw it. Get creative! Pictures can help create a connection between a word and its definition. This is an excellent method for visual learners. Post your doodle on Instagram using #powerscore and don’t forget to tag us, we would love to see what you come up with!
3. Contextualize it. Write the word in a new sentence or two. Using words in context will help visualize and cement its meaning.
4. Type it. Type each word into a document or spreadsheet and try to define each word without looking at definitions.
5. Fictionalize it. Write a short story using 10-20 vocab words. This can help you contextualize and remember definitions on test day. Write us a comment below with the short story you’ve come up with using your vocabulary words!
6. Deconstruct it. Analyze the roots, prefixes, and suffixes to get a better understanding of the word. Learning to associate words with related words can help you solve even the toughest questions.
7. Group it. Organize commonly used vocab words so you can associate words with similar meanings.
8. Speak it. Read the word aloud and say it in a sentence. Some audio learners find it easier to retain information when its spoken. Bonus, record yourself to playback later or take it a step further and use the podcast method.
9. Share it. Ask someone if they could quiz you, listen to your short story, or let you teach them the words you’re learning.
10. Quiz it. Make your own vocab quizzes! Experts believe people learn best when they teach, so write your own quizzes and take them a week or two later.
Read More PostsExpert advice on how to upgrade endless chit-chat into a meaningful conversation.
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Real talk
Bonnie Todd runs 250 food tours in Victoria, B.C., a year—a job that puts her in contact with hundreds of new people every week. Food-lovers come to her for an introduction to the local tastes and flavours. And a large part of what keeps her guests satisfied, and willing to recommend her business to others, is the personal connection she makes with them.
“I try to get past the small talk and general recommendations pretty quickly,” says the 42-year-old owner of Off the Eaten Track. “It’s all about finding common ground within the group, and trying to make it a unique experience. So I’m always asking questions. And when I find that spark of commonality, I dig into it.”
The practice is key to Todd’s approach because, unlike many tours, hers require people to sit together sharing food and drinks. When groups don’t gel, or never get past the “Where are you from?” stage, what should be a stimulating experience can turn into an awkward and draining couple of hours.
We’ve all been there: trapped in a superficial exchange that bounces aimlessly from one meaningless topic to the next. It can make you never want to step foot into another party again. But don’t despair: there are some tactics that can help you turn boring small talk into an energizing conversation
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Put yourself out there
As a member of Second City’s Mainstage company, improv performer Natalie Metcalfe’s job is to keep a scene going—to create an exchange that’s compelling for both the people involved and for a live audience.
“In improv, it’s all about offers,” she says, referring to the act of bringing new information into the dialogue. Through these back-and-forths, the relationship between the characters is established and that kicks things off. “It’s the same thing in a regular conversation. You’re constantly making offers to see if you and the person you’re talking to can connect.”
An offer in real life can be as simple as complimenting someone on what they’re wearing, and asking them about it. You can try sharing something you recently learned, or an interest you’ve just developed, creating an opening for the other person to ask you a question. Or, you can describe a relatable problem you’re having—a noisy neighbour, a plant that’s not thriving, a question of etiquette—as a prompt for advice, or some cooperative troubleshooting.
One of Todd’s go-to approaches is to share a personal story of her own that relates to the other person’s experience. “If I find out someone has been to a place I’ve travelled, I’ll tell them an anecdote about what I did there, and ask them to share their own story.”
Of course, putting yourself out there can sometimes feel scary—even when you’re not on stage. But Misha Glouberman, who runs a course in Toronto called How to Talk to People About Things, says taking that leap pays off. “A lot of the time in conversations, there’s something we’re interested in, but there’s a part of us that doesn’t want to take the risk of revealing it because we think it might be boring or inappropriate.” But the result of following those internal cues of fascination has the opposite effect, he says. “People like learning about other people’s interests. So be more open about yours, and a little more curious about theirs as well.”
Stumbling over your words? Here’s how to be more articulate.Read More Posts
Having a successful career will offer you a lot of benefits and real profitable opportunities. As we live in a world governed by social status and money, working your way up to the top will definitely improve your quality of life. There are many possible reasons for which an individual would desire success.
I guess one of the reasons is that maybe by being successful in your professional life makes you feel better among other people. It offers you a feeling of security and accomplishment. Many people who went from zero to a successful career have reported that their lives were improved in almost all the aspects.
There are certain habits and activities that successful people from all over the world do. The best way of approaching success is by following and figuring out what are the strategies that professionals use, and model them according to your needs.
The follwoing seven working strategies will give you enough boosts to improve your career.
1. Identify with Your Goals
Before even considering following a career route, you must get to know yourself. A big majority of people go through life by following a well-established pattern. The sad part is, they don't even like what they do or they just don't really realize how many other things they could do.
In order to avoid this awful happening, you need to identify what are your biggest rational wishes. Then, start going deeper and make an in-depth introspection in which you should think about the connection between your inner desires and your rational goals.
They have to match. Otherwise, you will not be truly fulfilled with your professional life. Identifying with your goals takes some time and effort, but it is a truly important process in any successful person's journey.
2. Build a Professional Resume
Your resume is basically your way of saying "I'm good at this, good at that, and I can help by doing this and that". Well, that is why you should create a professional, neat resume.
By taking care of this aspect, you are making sure that you'll never be caught off guard. Opportunities are everywhere, and you should always be ready with a quality resume. I believe that letting professionals deal with your resume is a productive choice.
There are some amazing services like Careers Booster or VisualCV that can take care of your problem. They can help you to create a classic or an impressive visual resume.Read More Posts
