Language mistakes are not just learning wrong grammar, vocabulary or pronunciation. These mistakes, although common, are not as huge as they can be amended quickly. The big mistakes are the ones that can hold you back as a learner and have a negative effect on your entire experience. If you are learning a new language, have a look at these mistakes that you should never make.
1. Thinking That You Cannot Pronounce It Right
You will have trouble with the pronunciations in the beginning because you have to jump from one language, your first language, to a target language that you have never spoken. The phonemes, phonetics are going to be different, but you do not have to be scared about it. The best way to control your fear is to practice and listen. For example, the pronunciation in Spanish is not something you can learn from a dictionary. When you start listening to songs in Spanish, or when you watch the TV shows, you will get the hang of how the sounds are produced.
2. Get Scared Of Making Mistakes
Let’s get real! You are learning a new language, so you are bound to make mistakes. There is no way that you can avoid that because before you succeed, you have to fail. Many people are scared of speaking in the target language because they think other people may judge them. The truth is, everyone knows you are a learner and no one cares if your grammar is a bit faulty in the beginning. The time when you make mistakes is the time you learn the most. It is an excellent reminder for you about what mistakes to avoid and how to correct them.
3. Making Grammar Complicated
Every language’s grammar is complicated, but many learners make the mistake of making it more difficult than it already is. Many people ignore the aspects of the grammar that make the learning easier, somehow thinking that it will be better for them. The reality is, learning a language the hard way is never going to help, and it will only prolong the learning time period. Grammar is always going to be hard, but it is your choice how you want to handle it.
4. Wrong Vocabulary
There are thousands of words in a language, but only a few hundred that are commonly used in conversation. There is a chance that you are not even aware of all the words of your language. It is better to start with the words that are very common and related to you. That way, even at the beginning of the learning process, you can carry out small conversations with the native speakers.
5. Studying Too Much
When it comes to acquiring a language, learning more is not always better. Burying yourself in books will never help unless you are studying for a specific exam. Learning a language is not about gaining knowledge but about building communication skills.
If you steer clear of these common mistakes, you can easily learn any language!
Lara Smith has worked for Wall Street English for 20 years. After studying at Stanford University and subsequently doing a CELTA course, she began her career in teaching. She is obsessed with languages and currently writes blogs at https://www.mimicmethod.com/. |
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