Honestly, I haven’t written a ton about learning another language because it has been rough. I haven’t known what to write about because there have been so many ups and downs, so many moments I questioned if I’ll ever get it, if I’ll ever be truly comfortable with the language, or have a 10 minute conversation without messing up a tense or a postposition. Don’t get me wrong, there have been victories too, but overall it hasn’t been as fun and exciting as I thought it might be.

But the best part is that there is grace–grace in the Father and grace we can give ourselves. I am making progress and striving to be faithful with what I’ve been given. Praises!

Before we get started with the helpful hints, REMEMBER…

Fight the lies & negativity

The biggest battle with language has been in my head. Whether comparison or simply believing lies that I’ll never learn a grammar point or things will never click, it’s easy to become discouraged. I am truly my worst enemy when it comes to language learning. Staying thankful and positive, dwelling on truth, and celebrating small victories are what I’ve done to combat this dilemma.

Celebrate the Victories

When in the thick of discouragement, just think of where you started or the barriers you have already crossed.

• greeting school children on the side of the road in the local language as they wait for the bus at 7:00 am
• connecting with a lady who is begging by asking what her name is and asking about her life
• introducing yourself in front of a group of people
• understanding what people are talking about without them knowing you even know the language 🙂

Seven things that are helping me learn a 2nd language

• Before I moved overseas, I was a Montessori teacher. In Montessori, there are different symbols for each part of grammar (nouns, pronouns, prepositions, ect…). Applying these same symbols to language study has greatly helped me in making sense of the completely new sentence structure I’m trying to wrap my mind around.

2. Using the Pomodoro Method (for individual study)

• Pomodoro is a time management method that uses a 25 minute timer for focused increments of work with a 5 minute break before the next block of time begins. After four blocks of focused work, a longer break is taken. My husband and I both use the Focus To-Do app to time increments and stay focused while independently studying language.

3. Having a Language Helper

• You might think of this as a given but this truly helps you get in language practice. A helper is different than your main teacher and it is mostly guided by what you want and need to work on. Over the course of a year, I have had four different language helpers and it has made learning more enjoyable and allowed me to build relationships in the community.

4. Making Picture Flashcards for Learning Vocabulary

• The perk of drawing a picture, instead of writing the English word on the back of the notecard, is that your mind can then associate a picture for a word, instead of a word for a word. You are able to associate the object or action directly with the word in the language you are learning, rather than think of the object, then translate it to the English word, and finally to the language you are learning.
• I do NOT have the gift of drawing, so I look up google cartoon images for each word and draw or trace the image for the vocab picture. For example, the photo in the top left means is for the verb “to stop.”
• Since notecards don’t really exist in the county I live it, I just buy boxes of blank business cards and use those as notecards for studying.

5. Recording Myself Saying Grammar Points and Example Sentences

• Although I don’t love listening to my voice and recording myself, its better than re-listening to my lessons and all the errors I made in class. I try to take good notes and record examples in class and then record myself saying the grammar point along with the correct sentences. I tend to listen when I’m cleanig, cooking, or doing dishes.
• My main notebook that I take notes for class is the black journal but I have condensed each lesson from the black journal and written in miniature brief form in the tiny grey journal. I then record each of the “mini-lessons” that I wrote in the tiny grey journal using a recording app called Voice Recorder & Audio Editor.

6. Getting Out in the Community (hanging out with friends that only speak the language –no English)

• I am not a natural at going to meet strangers and just practicing language, especially when I felt I could barely even speak the language. But, when I have gotten out it has always lifted my spirits, connected me with locals, and brought adventure.
• I even experienced a homestay and now have a super sweet friend that I probably never would have met if I hadn’t randomly gone out to meet strangers & practice language in the community.

7. Inviting friends to my house to hang out and chat (while cooking something delicious)

• I put this one last because honestly it has taken me a year to actually do this one consistently and feel comfortable with it. Don’t get me wrong, I love hosting and having people over but I didn’t feel like myself for a quite a while. I remember thinking, “I just can’t be myself. I am really not a shy person. I just don’t know how to say what I want to say in their language.”
• I am just getting to the point, a year in, where having locals over is enjoyable and even if I don’t say everything correctly, I can communicate and we can just laugh together. I’ve showed people how to make ice cream, they’ve taught me how to make chai and chapati, and I’ve educated everyone about kombucha. Which, several of my friends want to start making. Holla!