Learning another language in your 30s? Most people will tell you not to make that mistake.
Three years ago when I met the love of my life, things started changing for me. I, a total American with no exposure to any other language, thought about learning Spanish as a wedding present for my partner.
When I told my family I was learning Spanish, everyone thought it was impossible. To be honest, I don’t blame them. At one point, even I thought it was a mistake.
I saw a PMC study that showed that when you age, the brain becomes less flexible as it struggles to create new neural pathways. Consequently, where a child in their teens takes just a few years to master a language, a post-30 individual might take much longer.
But surprisingly, within just two years, I can confidently say I am fluent in Spanish.
How I did do it? Here are my unconventional hacks for mastering a language.
Starting our list with an obvious one – get an app. Most people start with this step but give up mid-way, so it is crucial to invest some time while choosing the right app.
You need an app that is built on gamification, so you can stay motivated. Some apps even offer video classes as well, where you can get language training from a teacher.
To make sure your learning experience is smooth, it is important to have reliable internet. If you are living in the U.S., I recommend Optimum Internet. This ISP does not just stop at affordable and reliable internet, but also caters to the Spanish-speaking audience with their Optimum servicio al cliente, where you can speak to a Spanish-speaking representative.
Keep in mind that apps are great for beginners who want to perfect their vocabulary. However, if you want to work on forming sentences or understanding grammar, these apps might be the best choice.
So, how are you going to learn that?
One simple answer – YouTube.
YouTube has plenty of free courses that can help you learn Spanish. Most native speakers understand that Spanish is becoming a popular language. This is the reason why Hispanic content creators and YouTubers are earning a lot of attention worldwide.
Moreover, if you do not end up opting for a free course, you can start watching vlogs, cooking shows, and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) videos by Hispanic content creators. This will help you learn the accent, pitch, tone, and pronunciation of words.
Since you will be listening to native Spanish speakers, you will also get to know about the differences in accents based on region, area, and country.
Now that you have practiced listening to Spanish through Hispanic YouTubers, what is next?
Well, it is time to practice speaking.
Practicing with a friend, family or colleague is an ideal way to learn different styles of speaking. If you are fortunate enough to have Spanish family, friends, or just a colleague, try to practice with them.
Ask them questions about formal words, or just start a basic conversation. Carrying out a conversation will help you build confidence and become fluent. Moreover, you will get to know which words are difficult to pronounce and differentiate between formal and informal phrases.
Speaking makes a lot of difference because it will help you use the words, phrases, and expressions in real-life situations where they matter the most.
Listening is a skill that most people never get to develop. However, in real life, kids learn by listening, which is the reason parents start talking to kids long before they start speaking.
While most people think that listening is a skill that can only be practiced if you have someone around who speaks Spanish all the time, I recommend otherwise.
One thing that truly made a difference for me was Netflix, Amazon, and other OTT platforms. On these content streaming platforms, the viewer can listen, read, and understand the context at the same time. Moreover, it offers you full control over the pace of the content.
You can pause, rewind, switch subtitles, change language, or slow down the speed at any time. Moreover, if you want to revise an expression or sentence, simply save it for revision.
So far, this tip has helped me the most in my Spanish learning journey. From vocabulary to learning expression and even asking questions, AI will do it all for you.
The best part of using AI for practicing Spanish is that you can ask anything without fearing judgment. My favorite way to use AI is by simply asking basic-level questions, and asking AI to check the pronunciation. In most cases, AI helps you master your accent but also helps with grammar and overall expression.
Learning a new language is a daunting process. However, make sure to stay consistent, even if you feel like giving up. Keep in mind that learning even one word a day is still considered progress, so keep going.
