Here’s why language learners are still using bad study methods. Make sure to avoid it!
Bad study methods
The world is digital, with access to information on almost any topic at our fingertips. This means that learning new languages has never been more accessible.
However, it’s also opened up the floodgates for poor-quality apps and programs to emerge, giving students everywhere a false sense of security when learning languages. One of the biggest issues with learning a new language is its challenges.
It’s something you need to put consistent time and effort into to see results, rather than just relying on apps or other gimmicky methods that don’t help you retain the information.
As such, we thought we’d share some insights from native speakers about their experiences trying to learn new languages.
Why are people still using bad software to learn languages?
There’s certainly been a surge in people looking to learn new languages in recent years.
This could be due to several reasons, such as a desire to travel more, increased cultural awareness, or even a greater desire to start a business with people from different countries.
Whatever your reasons, there are more options than ever before to learn a language, but unfortunately, not all of them are as effective as they should be.
While there are many great ways to learn languages, most people still rely on software and language apps.
Unfortunately, these methods can often lead to false confidence, as you’re often just answering multiple-choice questions and completing rudimentary exercises based on your level.
This means that you’re not truly learning the language, which can make it challenging to use when conversing with a native speaker.
Lack of time and money
Perhaps the biggest reason people are still using bad software to learn languages is that they don’t have the time to commit to other methods.
You often have to invest a decent amount of time learning a language, whether attending classes or studying at home.
You also have to be committed to studying regularly, meaning that if you have work or other commitments, you often can’t commit as much time as you’d like. While this isn’t an excuse not to try and find better methods, it is worth considering.
This can be particularly true for self-employed people who have more flexibility in their working hours but don’t have the same support networks that others might have. For example, work in an office environment.
You might find a group of people who are also learning a language and can support each other, but if you work for yourself, this might not be as feasible.
Confidence in language learning methods
Another reason people might use bad software to learn languages is a lack of confidence in other methods. You may have tried out language-learning apps in the past, had limited success, or hit a plateau and weren’t sure where to go next.
While these are still poor excuses not to try and find better methods, it’s understandable why you might be hesitant to change.
You might have had teachers in the past who didn’t inspire you to learn or weren’t truly invested in your progression, which can make it difficult to find the motivation to continue studying.
This is particularly common with people who have been learning languages for a long time and have hit a plateau.
You may have tried out software in the past but found that it didn’t work for you, meaning you’ve just given up and assumed it was the only option for learning languages.
Incorporating new habits into your routine
One of the most effective ways to learn a language is by creating new habits and routines, which can be challenging. To truly commit to learning a language, you must integrate it into your daily life.
This means you’ll need to find time to study, work out where to study, what resources you will use, etc. It can be not easy to juggle at first, especially if you’re juggling a career or other commitments simultaneously.
You might have tried to learn languages in the past but given up as they’re such a long-term commitment. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try and find better methods again, but you may need to start small and take it stage by stage.
It’s important not to bite off more than you can chew and then give up. It can be useful to start with a language that’s easier for you, such as a romance language, or try a new method that’s more suited to your personality.
The problem with massive vocabulary apps and flashcards
Although vocabulary apps and flashcards can be useful, they’re not a truly effective way to learn languages. They’re pretty much useless if you’re using a massive vocabulary app and don’t understand the words they’re providing.
Flashcards can be useful, but you need to understand the words and sentence structures they’re presenting. You won’t truly remember or retain the information if you don’t understand it, meaning you won’t be able to put it into practice.
This can be particularly problematic for people who are learning more complex languages, such as Mandarin but want to speak English.
You may know the words in English, but you won’t know how to put them together to make a grammatically correct sentence.
Language communities and blogs are more effective!
Another reason people might be using bad software to learn languages is that they want to keep up with what’s happening in their country or region.
They may want to learn a new language to be able to engage in conversation with someone they meet while traveling, or they may be interested in the culture. Unfortunately, this is often an area where people are lacking.
They may want to learn the language but aren’t sure where to start, or they may feel unable to commit time to learn a language or have no idea where to begin.
One of the best ways to learn a language you’re interested in is to join a community or message board where people who share your interests are discussing and learning languages.
You can also follow bloggers learning and sharing their experiences, which can be a great resource for beginners.
TL;DR
The world is digital, with access to information on almost any topic at our fingertips. This means that learning new languages has never been more accessible, but it’s also opened up the floodgates for poor-quality apps and programs to emerge.
One of the biggest issues with learning a new language is its challenges. It’s something you need to put consistent time and effort into to see results, rather than just relying on apps or other gimmicky methods that don’t help you retain the information.
Fortunately, many better options help you learn a language more effectively. You can find language communities online, where people discuss the languages they’re interested in learning and share their experiences.
You can also follow language learning blogs, where you’ll find tips, tricks, and advice from people who know what they’re talking about. But the most ijmportant thiing is DO NOT PRACTICE BAD STUDY MEDTHODS.