There are so many reasons to start learning foreign languages. Everyone understands that knowing a foreign language provides numerous benefits and opportunities in a variety of areas. When a person has the motivation and genuine desire to learn a new language, he is more likely to succeed in mastering it. The most essential thing is to avoid being lazy and to understand that everything is in your hands. There are a number of major issues that can obstruct language learning, the following are the most common:
- You think in your native tongue. Naturally, when learning a new language, you think in your mother tongue. However, this is a common mistake made by those who have been studying for a long period of time. Communication is tough when sentences are too literal when thinking in one’s own tongue and translating it into another. That is why it is critical to learn to overcome this mental language barrier; otherwise being fluent will be nearly impossible.
- You don’t bother with self-study. Some individuals believe that all they need to do is to find a skilled teacher who will teach them a new language. They believe that simply attending lessons and being a hard worker during them is enough. Of course, this is insufficient. You will not be able to master your target language without continual self-education. Spend at least half an hour each day learning and repeating new and learnt words and phrases, reading articles and books, exploring language learning websites, and watching local movies. And you’ll see results a lot faster.
- Criticism directed at yourself. Setting the bar too high and expecting immediate results is not the greatest strategy. If you don’t achieve what you thought you had to, there’s a good possibility you’ll be disappointed in your language abilities. You should be aware that speaking fluently does not happen overnight. That isn’t to say that you can’t learn a language. Don’t be scared to make mistakes, either. Practice makes perfect, everything will come just in time.
- Ineffective teaching methods and teacher’s lack of knowledge. Whether you choose language courses or private sessions with an instructor, you may occasionally encounter inefficient presentation of learning material, mispronunciation, and incorrect accent. As a result, you develop incorrect skills from the start. Communication with native speakers can assist you in resolving this problem. The COVID-19 pandemic has made travelling more complicated, so you will need to look for other education strategies to communicate with locals.
- There is a strong emphasis on grammar. Of course, grammar rules are crucial in foreign languages, but grammar isn’t the only factor to consider. You must learn to recognize speech by ear; otherwise, you will be unable to communicate in a foreign language. As a result, studying grammar rules should not be separated from other learning processes.
- A lack of drive and motivation. As previously stated, if circumstances force you to learn a new language rather than your own desire, this is not the strongest motivator and you will not last long. The brain instinctively rejects receiving new information if you aren’t interested in what you do.