How to succeed at Language Learning

Sep 29
Want to learn more French through immersion and context? Read the Yale article below about why this is the best method.

Then...trying reading an article in our collection "La Vie Francaise". There are a variety of posts on culture, history, food, wine, music, films and current events. Often there are short articles accompanied by videos. This is a great way to learn new vocabulary and test your reading and listening skills.

Don't expect to understand it all, but pick out a few words you may already know or can understand by the context of the article (subject, place, etc). Then see how many new words you can learn. 

According to the editor at the Yale Ledger

Learning a new language improves cognitive abilities, enhancing memory, attention span, and problem-solving skills. Research also suggests that being bilingual or multilingual can delay the onset of dementia and other age-related cognitive decline. And in today’s globalized world, linguistic proficiency can significantly boost career prospects, making you a highly sought-after candidate in the international job market.

Researchers have employed a variety of methods to study how people best learn languages. They have conducted experimental studies, where they apply different teaching methods and observe the results. Such studies often involve control groups for comparison, and the performance of the learners is measured through tests and evaluations. Another widely used research approach is observational studies, where researchers visit language classes in action, taking notes on teaching techniques and their effectiveness. Some researchers also rely on case studies, delving into the experiences of individual language learners over an extended period. These case studies provide insights into the personal factors that affect language learning, including motivation, learning environment, and cognitive abilities.  In addition, meta-analysis, which involves statistically analyzing results from multiple studies, helps researchers draw broader conclusions about the most effective language learning methods.

According to research, immersion is one of the best ways to learn a new language. This method requires you to fully immerse yourself in the target language environment. This could be achieved by interacting with native speakers, watching and listening to content in the target language, or even living in a foreign country for a certain period. Immersion helps you learn a language quickly since you get to practice speaking and listening to the language daily.
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