When you decide to learn a new language, one of the best options available is to invest in an online course. For example, you may want to look into a course such as how to learn Portuguese that is of high quality and offers flexibility so you can fit the lessons into your schedule.
However, learning and mastering a new language is not an easy undertaking that can be accomplished in a few weeks. Having unrealistic expectations can lead to learners getting overwhelmed and frustrated.
This often results in learners quitting, and they may even think they are being scammed. However, learners need to understand that learning a new language requires lots of patience and perseverance to be successful.
Here are some of the pointers on why you may be struggling to learn a new language and how to overcome them.
Unrealistic expectations and misconceptions
When you sign up to learn something new, the expectation will be that you will accomplish what you are signing up for. Some learners are simply of the opinion that signing up for an online class will make them proficient. However, learning a new language requires discipline and commitment.
Mastering and learning a language will require much more than just attending an online class. There are also those learners that expect to be able to converse fluently in a new language once they finish studying a new language. However, this may be unrealistic since it takes longer to even master a native language.
Some learners think that to be able to learn and master a new language, one has to go to the country where the language is spoken. While this will provide an immersive language learning experience, it will still take time to learn and be proficient in that language. This means that visiting a place for a short time will not make you proficient in learning the new language.
There is also the misconception that if you want to learn a new language, you will need a native teacher. While a native speaker will help in learning some things such as slang or accent, the main factor is ensuring you understand a language better will lie in the ability of the speaker as a teacher.
Useful tips
When you want to learn a new language, you will need to set realistic expectations. Learning a new language just like any other skill requires a lot of time, perseverance, and dedication. This means that to learn a new language, you will have to be disciplined and consistent in the learning process.
You should also avoid setting high expectations. For example, you may want to set up small and realistic goals and increase them depending on how you are accomplishing them. If you are finding that you are having some downtime, you may take that time as an opportunity to practice.
You may also want to look at some apps that can complement your new language curriculum to make the process fun. You may also want to try introducing what you are learning into your everyday vocabulary. Whatever your goals of learning a new language are, make sure you do not stress yourself and have fun doing it.
