Why we learn a language? The answer is as simple as the question, to have communication with people. For some people learning a new language can be a hobby, but for others it is mostly a need. Knowledge of any second language acts as an additional advantage and helps in achieving greater divergent thinking, creativity, and cognitive development. It greatly helps if you know a foreign language. You will face no problems in that country and will easily communicate with local people. Knowledge of the second language is also helpful in getting better jobs and gives the candidate a competitive edge over others. The process of learning a language can be easy for some people whereas for others it could be a knotty job. The learning process is based on number of factors and one need to clear several hurdles to learn a new language. These problems differ from person to person and can be influenced by the understanding and source of learning. Some of the most common problems in learning a new language are pronunciation, grammar, word order and cultural differences. But patience and consistency is the key. Learning a language may demand a little effort, but it is worth a try. Here are some problems that you may face while learning a language.
Problems In Learning A Language
Approach
Learning a new language is not easy and it takes more than just will power to master it. Learning a new language is dependent upon how you approach it. The biggest deterrent towards mastering a new language is your commitment and seriousness in the learning procedure. Visual learners, especially who have started late in their age, face more problems due to their inability to learn in class room settings. One more problem with the visual learners is that they try to visualize every word they are learning. For such learners, it is advisable to spend some time in classroom setting, so that they can see what they are saying. While learning a new language, you need to be extra attentive in what you learn, associate it with your every day life and practice it more often.
Pronunciation
Pronunciation is one of the biggest hurdles for most people who are learning a new language. People from different backgrounds are habitual to their local accents, and speaking a new language fluently can be a challenge for them. One should keep in mind that fluency is a skill that only comes with the right kind of intonation and accent, and requires a lot of practice to develop it. Most languages come with irregular rules, many of them will not even make any sense to you but the central point is that you need to rise above your reservations and try to understand how a word is perfectly pronounced. Start off with the same in the initial stages itself to grasp the language better.
Word Order
The next step in mastering a new language is to get your words right. Words, if not properly arranged, can sound like puzzling jumble to others and hinder communication. Every language in the world is heavily dependent on words to convey the right meaning, which is why it is very important to choose the words carefully. Next step in this process is to clearly fit them into a sentence to make more sense and less confusion. You need to have a strong grasp on the words to make meaningful sentences.
Grammar
Every language has its own set of grammar rules which can be a great hurdle for learners of a new language. For example in some languages the verb comes before the subject, while in some others it is reversed. A good command over grammar is necessary to learn a new language. Without the proper knowledge of grammar, a person is likely to commit major bloopers most of which would be unintentional.
Visual Reinforcement
It is a fact that if we visualize everything we hear, we are likely to remember it for long. Visual reinforcement is one tried-and-tested way of effective learning and can be greatly helpful in learning new language. The basic idea is to connect the words with the objects and establish a basic relation between the two to have a better understanding of them.
Cultural Differences
Different regions in the world have different cultures and traditions. Languages are greatly influenced by these traditions. It could be a problem for non native speaker to get confused due to these different traditions. So it is advisable for people learning a new language to have a basic understanding of other culture. This will immensely help in understanding the basic idioms and phrases of the language and will eventually help in having a strong command over the language.
Speak it!
Many of us hesitate to speak a new language due to the fear of getting embarrassed in public. But you should not fear to speak the new language as it will give you a better understanding of the same. You may fumble at first but you should understand that people will already know you don’t speak their language, so it will be no surprise to them. Some people are really patient and can be very appreciative over your efforts. They might help you by correcting you or by giving you new phrases to use. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, as you will learn more you speak.
Now as you have learned what it takes to learn a new language, so why wait? Learning a new language is worth enough to take the pain of tackling some of these problems!
