Aloha! こんにちは! Hola! Bon- wait.. how did you say it? Saying hello in another language can be rather challenging. But when learning that language? That can be downright formidable, especially for a credited class that colleges will see the results of. Now that is really unnerving.
Learning different languages is a challenge most high schoolers face in order to graduate high school. Each student at Mid-Pacific needs about two years of language credit in order to graduate high school. But you are also required to have two years of maintaining a passing grade. This can be quite challenging as students can have negative mindsets, they don’t believe in themselves, don't study, and there’s just so much to memorize!
But there are four key tips in learning a language: talking to native speakers, practicing frequently, listening to the language in songs or movies, and do not be afraid!
Who said you have to learn the language on your own? Learning a new language should encourage one to reach out to their friends who can speak it or make some friends that do.
“When I came here, I knew how to speak English but I was not so good at it. But if you have friends around you, you should be able to ask some questions, ask for help, and ask what this word mean[s],” junior Sana Kawabata said.
Having friends that speak the language you desire to learn can be very helpful. They can give you advice on some do’s and don’ts, help you with pronunciation, offer cultural context, and make you feel more comfortable when speaking it.
But what else is helpful for a language learner? Practicing frequently of course! And what better way to do that than to use apps like Duolingo and Gimkit? Those apps are found to be most helpful for students and even teachers to learn a language.
“[Duolingo is] really helpful, it allows you to practice your audio speaking and your listening skills, and it sets up in kind of a fun way. It also lets you learn other languages; I have friends that have used Duolingo to learn not just Spanish but Korean and other languages,” high school Spanish teacher Mr. Joshua Golter said.
Duolingo is a language learning app that helps people of all ages learn a language of their choice using games, rewards, and fun characters. This app is one of the most popular worldwide, used by many students and curious individuals. Another helpful app to use is Gimkit, which also has fun characters and provides multi-choice and short answer questions, with fun games like fishing or snow ball fighting.
“I speak Spanish with my mom sometimes, like when we’re in the car or at home in order to try to practice,” sophomore student Linnaea Keir said.
Speaking out loud is also a good way to practice as it forces the brain to remember grammar and vocabulary to strengthen memory. Having everyday conversation with someone who understands a bit of Spanish, Japanese, or any language can help improve one's fluency and helps with conversations in class.
Another helpful way is to listen to songs or watch movies/shows in the language you want to learn.
“I had a student who became very fluent just by watching all the anime over and over,” high school Japanese teacher Lisa Asato said. “Myself too, I think I learned conversational English watching ‘Friends’.”
Although watching (for example) a Japanese anime may not make one sufficient in grammar, it can help strengthen listening skills, vocabulary, and pronunciation. It is more of a tool than a primary learning source, so perhaps watching Japanese dramas and anime along with what you learn in class can make you more knowledgeable in Japanese!
“I found some Spanish songs. I’ve worked on trying to translate it while I’m listening to it, like translating it in my head. Because that's more fun ‘cause you can listen to music and you can try to practice Spanish,” Keir said.
Listening to music in that language can also greatly help you learn it. Studies show that doing this method is highly effective, and like watching shows, is highly enjoyable for most music listeners. Listening to music in lets say Spanish helps enhance vocabulary and is a shorter way to listen instead of watching a full drama.
But the most important language learning tip of all: don’t be afraid! Learning a language that is not your first can be pretty intimidating. You feel like a baby learning how to walk or speak their first words. But the only way you will learn how to take those first steps is to be confident and not to shy away!
“My advice would be don’t worry about how you sound, just try it,” Golter said.
A lot of students tend to shy away from the language they are trying to learn because they are afraid of how they will sound or they are embarrassed of messing up.
“Don’t be afraid and try to speak up,” Asato said.
The only way a student can learn a language is to not be afraid of failing or making a mistake. Be confident and speak up! Do not be too hard on oneself and try again if you find your efforts unsuccessful.
You can not learn a language when you are scared to fall. After all, who said learning a language was easy?
“Its okay to make mistakes, and you’re still practicing, and with time you get better,” Golter said.
