The idea of learning a language is so enticing. Listening to the foreign, and somehow musical, sounds of someone speaking a different language, it’s natural to want that for ourselves! We imagine ourselves in some exotic location (a tropical beach! a remote mountain cabin! a café in a bustling square!) exchanging ideas with new friends from diverse cultures – and it’s all made possible by the fact that we speak another tongue.
However, reaching this idyllic scenario means embarking down a complicated road. If only there were a pill we could take that would enable us to speak fluently in whatever dialect we wished! Unfortunately, that is not the case, so we are left with only one option: studying.
As most language students find, learning (much less perfecting) another language is a lot of work. Both partners at Breathe English, Erica and Sam, have undergone the journey of learning another language, and therefore know all too well what’s involved. So take heart – at Breathe English, we know that studying another language includes a lot of frustration, dedication, and time, but we also know how satisfying it is to express oneself in a tongue other than our own!
Our first piece of advice: start now! There is no “perfect” time to start language classes and there is no “perfect” language class. Studying a language takes time, lots of time, and the best thing you can do is to get started already!
How can you get started? First of all, we highly recommend enrolling in a language class. Is taking a class absolutely necessary? Maybe not. Studying on one’s own may work for some people, but language is about communication, and if you’re studying by yourself…who are you communicating with? Being in a class will also make sure you put in the necessary work. You won’t want to fall behind your classmates, and if you’re paying for it, you’re more likely to attend.
But which class? Like we said, there is no “perfect” class. There are lots of things to evaluate – schedule, price, level – but the most important thing is the teacher. A good teacher makes everything easier, so ask for recommendations from friends or former classmates. If you’re investigating a particular teacher or academy, contact them to ask some questions. Good questions to ask potential instructors may include: “What materials do you use, and why?” or “What is the structure of a typical session in your class?” You can also ask a grammar or pronunciation question that you have been wondering about in order to hear how well, or poorly, they can explain the answer. Doing a little research could go a long way to finding a great learning atmosphere.
We’ll be posting more blogs about language learning, and English in particular, but in the meantime we encourage you to pull the trigger (this idiom means, do it! Commit!). Whether it’s with Breathe English, another academy, or an official language school, we want you to achieve your language learning goals, and are here to help in whatever way we can.
