They say that children learn languages the best. . We asked some of the polyglots (通晓多种语言的人) in TED's Open Translation Project to share their secrets to mastering a foreign language. Several basic principles are as follows.
Get real. Decide on a simple, achievable goal to start with so that you don't feel confused. German translator Judith Matz suggests: "Pick up 50 words of a language and start using them on people — ."
Play house with the language. The more you invite a foreign language into your daily life, the more your brain will consider it something useful and worth caring about. "Use every opportunity to get involved in the new language," says Russian translator Olga Dmitrochenkova. , read kids' books written in it, watch subtitled TED and TEDx talks, or live-narrate parts of your day to an imaginary foreign friend.
. Dmitrochenkova has a great idea: "A funny thing like resetting the language on your phone can help you learn new words right away," she says. Ditto for changing the language on your browser (浏览器). Or you can seek out more structured learning opportunities online. Dutch translator Els De Keyser recommends Duolinguo for its gamified (游戏化) approach to grammar, and Anki for memorizing vocabulary with its "intelligent" flashcards...
Make new friends. — it will teach you to naturally express your thoughts, instead of mentally translating each sentence before you say it. Find native speakers near you. Or search for foreign penpals or set up a language connection online, where two volunteers help one another practice their own languages.
A. Let technology help you out
B. and look up them in the dictionary
C. Do not worry about making mistakes
D. and then slowly start picking up grammar
E. Communicating in the new language is key
F. But that doesn't mean that adults should give up
G. Stick every object in your house in this language
