What are the best ways to learn a language on the go? You might be surprised to find there are lots of moments throughout the day we can transform into language learning opportunities. These might be on your commute, during an exercise session, or even just when you're trying to kill some time. |
In this video, we'll introduce you to three tips for learning on the go! |
Number 1: How to learn a language on the go |
Many of us are probably used to studying when we have time to sit down and concentrate. We take out textbooks and notepads and prepare to focus our attention for an hour or so, like in a classroom. It might be hard to think of studying in other settings, like when you're sitting on a bus or are stuck in traffic. But, there are still things you can do, even if your hands are full! |
For example, think about your commute. How much time do you spend traveling to and from work, school, or other activities throughout the week? If you have a one-hour commute every day, that's a lot of time you could be spending working on your language skills. Even if you're not ready to devote your whole commute to study, a little bit every day will help! |
But how do you study in environments like these? By changing the way you approach your learning. These days, many people now have a computer right in their pocket; smartphones make it easy to access many different kinds of study materials. Depending on our needs and the time we have available, we can watch YouTube videos, listen to podcasts, study vocabulary, review infographics, and more. There are many different ways to build our language skills, and we can choose study methods that work for our schedules, our personalities, and our goals. |
There are a lot of different methods to consider, so in part 2, we're going to share a few ideas to help you get started. |
Number 2: 5 easy ways to learn a language on the go |
If you’re standing on a crowded train, you can’t pull out a book or do workbook problems. If you're exercising, it's probably impossible to review textbooks or take notes. If you're driving, you need to make sure you're watching the road. So, how do you transform times like these into study opportunities? |
Situations like these are great for audio and video lessons. We have huge libraries of both, so you can choose whichever is best for you. All you need to study is a smartphone, a lesson, and a pair of earphones. Just press play and watch a video or listen to an audio lesson, like you would with music. During your commute or exercise session, you'll hear a simple conversation focused on a specific goal (like introducing yourself or ordering food). Then, our teachers will explain the words and phrases. In just a few minutes, you'll be working on mastering an entire conversation. |
Our second study method suggestion is our app - Innovative Language 101. |
You can download it for free for the iPhone, iPad, and Android. This will allow you to take your lessons with you wherever you go! |
Study idea three is for those of you who want something super quick and easy. You can use it to kick off your studies each day. It's our Word of the Day email. |
Every day, you get an email with a new word, example sentences, audio, and a picture (to help make it stick in your mind). If you check your email during your commute, you can also check the Word of the Day. |
Our last two study method ideas are about tools that can help you remember what you study. |
First is our Vocab Slideshow tool. This study tool is available on all vocab lists and lessons. Just press play and listen to words and phrases one by one. You can even set the slideshow on a loop and listen to the words over and over. |
Finally, our last suggestion is our smart flashcards. These flashcards use spaced repetition to help you study and remember words, and the cards are mobile friendly. |
The cards remember your progress and quiz you on words at the right times. This helps ensure you don't forget the things you study. |
To access these, visit the site on your phone, and find the flashcards in the vocabulary menu. Swipe through as you study. Our system will remember your progress. If you get a word wrong, you’ll see it more often. The flashcards know to quiz you again and again until you remember that word. |
Number 3: Be consistent |
If you can find new ways to use your time and work towards your language goals, great! But remember to be consistent! Using all or even part of your commute or your downtime to study can be a fantastic way to make progress, but you need to make sure to do it regularly. Try to build a habit of starting a video lesson as soon as your commute begins, or pressing play on an audio lesson as soon as you begin a jog. Creating these habits will help you stick with your study methods long-term, and will lead to greater progress. |
For the tools we've talked about in this video, and much more, check out our complete language learning program. Sign up for your free lifetime account by clicking on the link in the description. Get tons of resources to have you speaking in your target language. And if you enjoyed these tips, hit the "like" button, share the video with anyone who's trying to learn a new language, and subscribe to our channel. We release new videos every week! I'll see you next time. Bye! |
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