Pennsylvania State University senior Ryan Elantri has a unique skill
set: he’s mastered Mandarin Chinese, and he’s currently minoring in Arabic. Elantri has always seen the value of learning foreign languages,
which is why he began pursuing Chinese in the third grade. Mastering a
second language can open up tons of new opportunities for you, and it’s
never too late to start. Here are some tips to make learning a new
language a little bit easier.
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- If you have a commute, listen to
podcasts or audiobooks in the language you are learning. It’s an easy
way to fit just a little bit of practice into your day. You can access a
huge amount of audio content in foreign language for free online.
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When you are watching a movie on Netflix, see if you can add subtitles
in the language you’re learning, or for an extra challenge, switch the
audio into that language. Learning a language from pop culture is often
more effective and fun than learning from books.
- See if you can
find an online community where you can practice speaking and writing
with others who are learning foreign languages. too. The best way to
really test your skills is to interact with another person, and in this
environment, you won’t feel judged or overwhelmed.
- Make a habit
of learning a few new vocabulary words every day. Even if you don’t
have time to do any other practice, you’ll still be maximizing your
vocabulary, which is something that is important in every language.
Ryan Elantri has mastered foreign languages with lots of dedicated practice.
