How to Learn a Language in 3 Months 3 Swift Strategies for Rapid Fluency

How to Learn a Language in 3 Months 3 Swift Strategies for Rapid Fluency How to Learn a Language in 3 Months: 3 Swift Strategies for Rapid Fluency Theres more than one way to learn a language quickly and effectively.As  with any other learned skill, theres no secret formula for learning a language. Theres no rule that specifies that learning  takes exactly 3 years, 280 hours, 6 months or 10,000 flashcards.So, anyone can learn any language in three  months under the right conditions.Its not about having the right genes or the most expensive course, but instead about adopting  the right language learning mindset  and putting energy into your studies.Depending on your motivation and your circumstances, the path to casual comprehension and conversational confidence may look quick and easy. You might want to learn a language in this specific amount of time because youre planning a trip, entering the job market  or any of a million other reasons. For someone with less immediate motivation, the path may look arduous and following it may take more time.So, instead of telling you the way to learn a new language in three short months, we ll give you three different and highly flexible  ways you can go. Well focus on the core features of these strategies that will translate into success for  any three-month language learning mission. Learning a Language in 3 Months: What It Means and What It DoesntBefore embarking on your linguistic journey, ask yourself what you mean when you say you want to learn a language in three months.Youll need to set reasonable, concrete goals.  Fluffy words like fluency with abstract, subjective meanings, make for equally fuzzy motivation. Instead, try to define your goals in terms of linguistic feats youd like to be able to perform 90 days from now.Are you looking to be able to have pleasant everyday conversations? Read the news? Make new friends? Give a rousing speech, pen a great novel or pass through society masquerading as a native speaker?In thinking about goals like these, try to form them in terms of your four core language skillsâ€"listening, speaking, reading and writingâ€"and o n linguistic actions rather than arbitrary benchmarks (e.g., being able to talk to strangers at the bar, rather than something like  learning 500 vocabulary words or memorizing the past perfect tense).Most learners who are able to study their language full-time (or close to it) for three months can reasonably aim to navigate everyday conversations successfully, understand the majority of what they hear, be able to express themselves clearly in simple terms and be able to engage with media like TV and newspapers.Every learner and situation is different. Whats important is that you focus on your defined goals, use your language every day and take an approach that works for you as an individual learner.Here are three of those possible approaches.How to Learn a Language in 3 Months: 3 Swift Strategies for Rapid Fluency1. Take a 3-month Language Immersion TripImmersion learning is popular for a reason: It works.For most aspiring language learners, and especially those who want to make gi ant leaps in progress in just a few months, it doesnt get better than immersing yourself in your target language. Not only will you be presented with endless daily opportunities to strengthen your speaking and listening skills, but youll also have an unrivaled chance to  amplify your language skills by learning about the culture surrounding the  language.Before starting an immersion trip, do a bit of initial research into your target language. Learning strategies can differ greatly depending on how closely related your target language is to your first language or one that you already speak well.So, if youre heading off to spend three months in French immersion and your native language is English, start by brushing up on the similarities in sounds and word parts between your two languages. If youre studying Chinese or Arabic, on the other hand, start by learning about the most challenging differences between these languages and those familiar to you, like their different written scri pts and difficult sounds.And then fasten your seat belt, put your seat back in the upright position and prepare for takeoff.Month 1: getting comfortable with your languageIn your first month of immersion language learning, your main objectives are learning to recognize words and phrases in your language, overcoming the initial anxiety and discomfort of speaking  and starting to use your language right away.The primary goal is to become more familiar and comfortable with the language.So, heres your game plan:Begin with a basic vocabulary list and start learning the essentials of everyday communication immediately.Hang out in parks, cafes and restaurants, spending as much time as you can listening to people talking in public places.Immediately get started watching TV, movies and other videos to see and hear what your new vocabulary actually sounds like and how its used.Watch  childrens shows where the characters  speak slowly and articulately  about practical  topics like shapes, colo rs and animals. Want an alternative to the purely authentic? Muzzy BBC has created animated video series for children that teach a variety of languages, and they may just be a great option for adult learners who enjoy going the fun and colorful route.Put yourself in situations where you have to navigate typical customer service conversations.Seek out at least one conversation partner  early in your first month who has the patience to have slow, simple conversations with you as you build your skills.Most important of all in your first month is to make mistakes freely and overcome your speaking anxiety. The shy and the introverted can find this part more challenging, but youll never start truly learning your language until you accept that youre going to be making a lot of mistakes in the next three months. Each mistake  is a crucial step in your learning process.Month 2: structure and experimentationBy the start of the second month, you should have a few  hundred words and several doz en handy  phrases youre able to use confidently in one-on-one conversation. Take a moment to congratulate yourself on your first linguistic baby steps, and get ready to break into a jog in your second month.As soon as you feel like youre understanding a (slight) majority of what you hear on your childrens shows or other beginner TV shows, raise the bar.Try out some documentaries and familiar animated films dubbed into your target language. The documentaries will usually employ a slow, exaggeratedly articulate speech thats easier for learners to understand, and revisiting your favorite childhood Disney movies will help your comprehension by letting you hear your target language in a very familiar context.As your vocabulary grows, pay  closer attention to grammar and basic rules that will help you be better understood. Refer to a good book or website to learn basics like the past tense or noun gender, but try to do most of your learning by actively paying attention to native speakers and making mental notes about when they use different verb forms or articles.Strive to have new and different conversations every dayâ€"repeating the same coffee order every morning is good for warming up, but it doesnt count as learning anymore when youre just repeating it over and over again. Try ordering some new things off the menu every day!Input-based learning is the priceless result of immersion. You get to soak your brain in linguistic material every day, and opportunities to listen and speak are unlimited.  Since by now you should be  completely unfazed by making mistakes, push yourself harder and abandon your remaining conservative impulses.Month 3:  sprinting to the finishBy now youre used to speaking your target language every day. Even though you still make errors at nearly every turn, and even though youre still fuzzy on the details a lot  of the time, you get the gist of whats said to you more often than not, especially when someones speaking to you clearly without to o much background noise or other distractions.The third month of immersion is all applied learning. Youve been soaking up the language for two months and practicing it as you go, but now its time to start really using it organically like a native speaker would.Heres what youll be doing in this third month:Totally shut down your first language, both inside and outside your head. Switch all your electronics to the language youre learning, forego your favorite English-language series, go on a social media hiatus and strive to think in your target language whenever possible.Soak your ear in your language every single day. Watch TV,  listen to the radio  and continue  eavesdropping in public parks.Strive to find TV and video content that challenges you. If you understand more than about two-thirds or three-fourths of whatever youre watching or listening to, its time to bump up to the next level.Most importantly, seek out conversation at every turn. Find as many one-on-one conversation pa rtners as will have you, and when youre feeling extra ambitious, sit down in a small group conversation and do your best to offer some on-topic interjections while you follow along.After three months of immersion, some learners will still struggle to understand rapid native speech or to express their thoughts clearly, while others may have more trouble with reading instructions or writing texts and Facebook messages. Thats normal!Remember that your goal was never to be perfect at the end of three months. Check back in with the goals you set before starting, then give yourself a giant pat on the back for the past three months.At-home alternative: living room language immersionJumping up and spending three months in a foreign country might not accommodate everyones schedule, budget or life all of the time, but thankfully there are a few substitutes that offer a viable alternative for the most motivated and dedicated.Jump into the 21st century and take advantage of all the digital and analog  hacks available today for creating a language immersion environment without leaving home.2. Spend 3 Months Learning a Language with Authentic VideoNot so long ago, time and money were the biggest roadblocks cutting off would-be polyglots from their language learning dreams. Then the Internet came along and basically took care of those two things, just like that.If you like the structure of a formal course but relish the freedom of individual study, learning online could be right for you.If you need the flexibility of studying whenever your hectic schedule coughs up 20 free minutes or if you cant justify spending hundreds of dollars on language courses, its time to think about learning a language online.FluentU uses real-life video to help you learn vocabulary and usage in context, which is exactly how  you learned your first language.  FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language lea rning lessons.As you browse and watch video content sorted into six levels (from Newbie to Native), you can click on the interactive subtitles to view in-context definitions of unfamiliar words. Enter the learn mode  for each video  for dynamic, memory-boosting activities. Practice the words youre learning with FluentU flashcard decksâ€"you can even import your own vocabulary and design your own digital flashcards.FluentU goes beyond grammar and vocabulary to help you actually learn to speak and use a new language naturally, and its an effective, efficient and enjoyable  strategy for learning a new language in a matter of months.Month 1: getting your newbie feet wetIn your first month using FluentU, start out with some of our Newbie videos and get ready to start exposing your ears and brain to your new language.Before watching your first videos, be sure to review the Vocab tab beneath each video, where youll find key words and phrases from the video along with  their definitions.If it helps you getting started, download the video transcript and read along with it. You can even print it out and take notes on it.Review your vocabulary in video flashcards, where youll find short video clips with transcriptions in your target language and English, along with contextualized definitions above.Find speaking opportunities and start practicing what youre learning early! Check out  our essential guide to Skype language exchange for tips on where to find conversation partners online.Once youve spent a few weeks calibrating your ear to recognize the sounds and words of your target language and have tried it out yourself in a few Skype sessions, its time to start putting your language to work.Month 2: exploring real-life situations and developing real-life skillsIn your second month of using FluentU, fast-track language learners can bump up from Newbie to Elementary videos. As you strive to become competent in understanding and using your language, try to focus on videos o f real people in real-life situations, and imitate their language use when youre practicing.Start challenging your ears by watching some of the Newbie and Elementary level videos without subtitles. Dont worry about understanding every single word, but do strive to follow the main ideas and the flow of the conversation.Beef up your vocabulary by developing a reading habit in your target language. Weve got  all the best recommendations.Ramp up your conversation time and aim to speak your language for an hour or more multiple times a week (or more whenever possible). If youre getting burnt out on Skype exchanges, try finding local language exchanges through websites and social networks like Meetup and Couchsurfing.You could also  consider finding a language tutor for extra practice. WyzAnt is a great option for finding a tutor in your area. You can see how much each tutor charges per hour as well as some of the ratings that other people have given them. If youre all about online langua ge learning, check out Verbling. It allows you to explore hundreds upon hundreds of language teachers from all over and find the one who’s perfect for you.In the second month of online language learning, youll want to find as much conversation time as possible alongside your continued study through video and vocabulary lessons on FluentU. This should be the period where you feel that your vocabulary and listening comprehension both really take off, preparing you to jump into the deep end in your  third month.Month 3: applying your intermediate skillsAfter two months of FluentU, you should be more comfortable hearing and understanding your target language than you ever were  after two tortured years of high school language classes. Pushing through to the intermediate level will depend on constantly and actively exercising your language muscles and doing heavier lifting  every week.Start watching Intermediate level videos on FluentU, and make a point to explore the menus and watch v ideos on multiple topics (like arts and entertainment, business and health and lifestyle) and all formats (such as music videos, news and TV shows).Turn off the English subtitles. After watching each video once with the target language subtitles alone, watch again with all the subtitles off.Make sure that you play your way through each videos learn mode, learning new words in context as you go.Use your active skills every single day. Speak or write in your language as often as possible to exercise the part of your brain that produces (rather than interprets) language. For feedback on your writing from native speakers, try a penpal exchange site like Lang-8.  LingQ is another great online practice option that provides you with the support of native speakers, who can give you feedback on your writing or pronunciation.Find a series in your language to get way too  into. Whether its a sitcom, drama or thriller, getting emotionally involved in the characters and their storylines helps yo ur brain process the language more naturally and gives you a fun way to use your language skills.The fantastic thing about FluentU is that it doesnt matter how fast you progressâ€"you can move easily from Newbie to Advanced and everything in between according to your own pace and interests. The interactive subtitles make any video at any level approachable to every learner!It works because its organic. Memorizing and repeating verb conjugations from a workbook is helpful for some, but any learner learns better and more efficiently when they engage with the natural language just as its native speakers use it every day.Throw in a couple cool mini-movies and TV shows and youve got a language learning program youll actually look forward to working on every day.3. Mix and Match Language Learning Strategies with Self-studySometimes youre your own best teacher.Theres no rule out there that says you must follow one particular program, trademarked method or exact formula to learn a language. Especially for experienced language learners and those in touch with their own preferences  and learning styles, cherry-picking the best parts of existing programs, websites, apps, books, podcasts and social networks to design an individual learning plan can be the best way to go.You know how you learn best, but keep in mind that youll want to address a few key areas if you want to reach overall competence and comfort with your language. Focus on training yourself in your four main linguistic skills:1. Listening. A good listener is a good language learner. If you hope to use a language effectively, youll need to train your ear and brain to recognize things like unfamiliar vowels and identifying where one word ends and a new one begins in everyday speech.2. Speaking. Use it or lose it. As you listen and take in more linguistic input, using that new knowledge to form your own words, sentences and conversations is the practical application that makes the learning stick.3. Reading. The emphasis on reading in a second language will differ from learner to learner. For some, learning to read captions and public signs will suffice, and others may want to be able to follow a trending Twitter hashtag or read the latest political news in their target language.4. Writing. Like reading, the amount of time you devote to writing in a foreign language will differ based on your own learning style and preferences. For most, chatting on Facebook and keeping a daily journal are good ways to ensure you practice your active skills every day.As you design your own language learning routine, keep these four skills in mind, never neglecting the first two. Heres an example of how you might piece together a self-study routine to learn a language in three months.Month 1: laying your linguistic foundationsIn the beginning stages, build up the basics.The basics include recognizing and understanding spoken sounds, using your guidebook phrases and working towards mastering the basic vocabul ary of 500 or so words you need to navigate everyday life successfully.Start out with Duolingo  or a  flashcard app  like  Memrise to begin building your basic vocabulary, and be sure to practice every dayâ€"even if its only for a few minutes. You need to start building a habit at this stage.Soak your brain in the sounds of your language. Explore language learning channels on YouTube, watch simple childrens shows and  listen to podcasts.Start speaking the language daily within your first week. You can find conversation exchange partners on sites like iTalki or ConversationExchange.com.Read a Wikipedia page about your hometown, your favorite band or your professional field. Use your familiarity with the subject to learn as many words as possible in context and look up the rest.By the end of the first month, hopefully you will have rooted out the parts of your routine that arent working for you, identified the areas that challenge you most and gone Googling for extra online resources to help get the language down. Then its time to take your basic vocabulary and finely attuned ears into month two.Month 2: picking up the paceWhile you continue studying your language from every angle, its time to focus on speaking and conversation and let the rest follow.Speak your language daily or as close to it as possible. Aside from online exchanges and social networks, you can check around places like your local university or community college or immigrant resource center to search for more real-life conversation partners, or you can post ads on sites like Reddit or Craigslist.Create a customized feed with Feedly to follow your favorite blogs and websites in your target language.Prime yourself with periodic grammar lessons from books or web pages, but dont try to memorize the rules you read about. Instead, try to notice when native speakers use the forms or words discussed, look for patterns related to when they do or dont use certain verb endings or definite articles. Then i mitate them.When youre studying on your own, you can make people and social interaction the focal points of your learning  rather than learning a certain number of vocabulary words or a particular verb tense.In the second month, challenge yourself to understand as many new kinds of input as you can.Then comes the home stretch.Month 3: broadening your linguistic horizonsYour focus in your third month may depend on your particular goals with the language (like whether youre prepping for a backpacking trip, a job interview or an exam).Even so, all learners will benefit from getting as much speaking and listening time as they can.Broaden your linguistic horizons with these tips in your third month of self-study:Widely diversify the kinds of video content youre watching by using a site like Streema to find and watch local TV stations all over the world. Be sure to include videos of real people having realistic conversations like on talk shows or sitcoms (as opposed to animated cartoons o r newscasts).Continue to speak every day via Skype or other exchanges, and focus on using what youre learning from your TV and video time. Discuss topics youre learning about on TV shows or in documentaries. Strive to use the new phrases and words youve learned while watching them.Add to your Feedly feed some news sites, pop culture blogs and other written material that challenges you. Practice writing about these topics by chatting with native speakers on an app like HelloTalk.How to Keep Learning After 3 MonthsRegardless of the method you choose, your language learning will hardly  be done after three months.After those first three months, youll still find yourself frustrated that you cant understand whats being said at times. You might find yourself speaking beautifully and confidently one day only to return to stammering and struggling the next.Even though you can certainly learn a language in three months, the truth is that youre never really finished. As you continue on your l anguage learning journey, remember to use the same principles discussed here to keep building on your progress.Keep watching TV and movies, use the best websites and apps for refreshers and, above all, keep using your language, listening to it and speaking it whenever you can.If done right, learning a language in three months will just be the beginning of a lifelong linguistic journey, the benefits of which will continue to grow throughout your multilingual life!