Learning a language is perhaps one of the most interesting and rewarding experiences of life. Albeit challenging at times, that feeling of mastering a specific grammar rule or remembering new vocabulary is unsurpassed. As a language learner myself, both of French and Japanese, I have picked up some tips along the way.

I have found that mastering a language is not so much a ‘special talent’ but rather a combination of effort, flexibility, and motivation. This has translated in finding new ways to teach my students; ways in which I know they will grasp as much content as possible; learn something new and explore their interests. Keeping my students motivated and captivated by the material is paramount. My Ted talk lessons are very popular because they focus on different areas of language learning and the topics are always interesting, making it so much easier to stay alert and focused during class.

Out of the many Ted talk lessons that I have taught, one that stood out was Lýdia Machová’s ‘the secret of learning a new language’. Lýdia, a self-proclaimed polyglot aims to learn a new language every two years and has already managed to study eight languages. Impressive, right? She emphasizes the importance of making mistakes during the language learning journey and getting comfortable with speaking from day one. Most importantly, she highlights how important it is to have fun. Having fun while studying and learning is a necessary element – of course, it cannot be all fun and games, but it is important to master that balance!

Watch the Ted talk below:

https://www.ted.com/talks/lydia_machova_the_secrets_of_learning_a_new_language?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

And if you’re interested in discussing it with me, have a look at my Ted talk lesson on my profile!

All the best with your language journey.

Kind regards,

Sarah