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Learning another language can be tough, and sometimes it’s not much fun  learning all the grammar, the correct sentence structures and memorizing the new vocabulary.  Here are 5  fun language learning techniques that actually make learning a new language enjoyable.

Language Learning Technique #1: Play Scrabble in Your New Language
Playing Scrabble in a new language is a great way to build your vocabulary.  It will also help you recognize letter patterns and of course help your spelling.  I’ve been learning German for just over 5 months in an intensive German class and I find I need to tweak the rules a bit to have any chance of playing.  I play with a dictionary, which my German friends are not allowed to use.  If that’s still too difficult, you could also negotiate having an extra letter or two.  Playing Scrabble in German is more difficult than I had anticipated, but it is fun and a good challenge.

Language Learning Technique #2:  Cook in Your New Language

For an added bonus, cook the local cusine in the local language

Most of us are motivated by food so if you buy a cookbook (or get an online recipe) in the language you are learning, you will be surprised at how motivated you are to understand the ingredients and ensure that you follow the recipe correctly, since of course you want to enjoy eating what you cook!  I’ve found cooking from German language cookbooks to be surprisingly simple if you choose the right cook book.  I have 3 cookbooks in German, and all the recipes are relatively simple and have pictures, but to be fair, I prefer these type of cookbooks even in English.  The other benefit of following a recipe in the new language you are learning is that after trying a few recipes, you will see that a lot of the instructions are similar, i.e. chop, heat, slice, bake.  Although I’ve just started cooking from German cookbooks a few weeks ago, my cooking and food vocabulary have already improved considerably, and best of all I’m rewarded with a good meal!  If you were really motivated you could just cook only in the new language you were learning!

Language Learning Technique #3:  Watch TV with Subtitles in Your New Language
Once your language skills are better, you won’t need the subtitles but when you’re just learning a new language subtitles in your new language are very helpful.  I started watching TV in German, but got frustrated as I was missing so many words.  But by also having the German subtitles on the screen, I can understand much more  than just by listening alone.  Eventually I plan to turn off the subtitles, but in the meantime the subtitles are encouraging me to actually watch German TV which is good for improving my listening skills.

Language Learning Technique #4:  Read in Your New Language

Read something fun in your new language

There is likely no shortage of reading materials in your new language, but the key is to find something interesting for you to read, that’s not too difficult.  It can be a comic book, a children’s book or magazine, or if you’re looking for something more adult, find something based on your interests that has a minimal amount of text such as a tabloid, decorating, or travel magazine.  I’m personally Learning German by Reading Celebrity Magazines.  If there’s a lot of text, this can be overwhelming  when you’re just learning a new language.  Once you have some basic language skills, books written in English and the language you are studying may be available.  I have one of these books where one page is written in German and the same page is written in English so if you don’t understand something, you can refer to the English translation.  I’ve found this to be very helpful and is a good way to make reading longer text achievable.

Language Learning Technique #5:  Trvia Game in Your New Language

Children's quiz games are a fun way to learn a new language

I happen to love board games and find playing trivia games in a  new language to be a lot of fun.  I recently bought one for children (since the language level is more suitable to my current level of German) and played it with an American friend, my German fiance and her German boyfriend.  We learned a lot of new vocabulary, practiced speaking (reading the question to the other person), listening, and learned some trivia about Germany as well.  It was a lot of fun and I also learned some German slang that I haven’t forgotten. We did this on a Saturday night, and  I can safely say I’m not motivated to learn German in the traditional boring ways on a Saturday night, but when it was fun, why not?

In a previous post, The Best Way to Learn a Language (Besides Speaking It) I had written that it is important to identify your learning style to make learning a new language easier.  These five language learning techniques are all hands on, as I am a hands on learner, but more importantly they’re fun.  After spending 25 hours a week in German class and doing 1-2 hours of German homework everyday, I’m often not motivated to learn more German on the weekends.  Partly also because I Choose the Wrong Language School.  But by finding fun language learning techniques I actually don’t mind learning German and these activities are making a huge difference to my German skills, since I’m learning German in a practical setting, which is Why I Quit German Classes, where not once did we play a game, or do anything fun.  What fun language learning techniques do you have?

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