Picking Up A Language

Whether you are learning a language to communicate effectively with others, gain better career prospects, or acquiring an appreciation for foreign cultures, this skill can be highly valuable. Here are some ways to acquire new language skills, regardless if you are a novice or advanced learner.

Using Applications

Applications could go the traditional route of modules or the gamified experience. Babbel (n.d.) offers 14 language courses; it can be useful for those who prefer structure and grammatical accuracy (Multilingual Mastery, 2023). Alternatively, Duolingo utilises gamification: multiple choice questions, prompted phrase translation, and listening items. They also have 45 different language courses and are free to take (Blanco, 2021).

Attend a Course

If you learn best in a classroom environment, this option may be most feasible. Examples include taking up sign language at The Singapore Association for the Deaf, learning Cantonese at Yale-China Chinese Language Centre, and classes on Coursera that issue professional certificates.

Learning During Hobby-Time

The next time you watch your favourite show, consider switching the subtitles to the target language, or watch something in that language and retain your preferred subtitles. This can be useful since language learning entails encountering novel sounds, sentence structure, and inflections (Eckart, 2019). Another option is journaling a short entry every day in your target language. It can be useful in improving writing skills and forming coherent sentences, and doubles up as a progress tracker!

Consistency is Key!

“Distributed practice” involves multiple bite-sized sessions across time, instead of cramming a long learning session at one stretch. Research by Son and Simon’s (2012) discovered that this spacing effect is advantageous in long-term information retention. Additionally, this may alleviate the anxiety, information overload, and fatigue (The Learning Centre, n.d.) that may come from information cramming. 

Written by: Adalee Loh

02/2024

References

Babbel. (n.d.). Which languages can I learn  with Babbel? https://support.babbel.com/hc/en-gb/articles/205600508-Which-languages-can-I-learn-with-Babbel 

Blanco, C. (2021, February 16). Duolingo 101: How to learn a language on Duolingo. Duolingo. https://blog.duolingo.com/duolingo-101-how-to-learn-a-language-on-duolingo/#:~:text=We%20offer%20courses%20in%2045,education%20possible%2C%20all%20for%20free 

Eckart, K. (2019, September 5). Study shows exposure to multiple languages may make it easier to learn one. University of Washington. https://www.washington.edu/news/2019/09/05/study-shows-exposure-to-multiple-languages-may-make-it-easier-to-learn-one/ 

Multilingual Mastery. (2023, October 6). Babbel vs Rosetta Stone vs Duolingo. Retrieved February 2, 2024. https://multilingualmastery.com/babbel-vs-rosetta-stone-vs-duolingo/ 

Son, L. K., & Simon, D. A. (2012, September). Distributed learning: Data, metacognition, and educational implications. Educational Psychology Review, 24, 379-399. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271922215_Distributed_Learning_Data_Metacognition_and_Educational_Implications 

The Learning Centre. (n.d.). Learning languages. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/learning-a-second-language/