Are you wondering why there is a buzz around the idea of learning a foreign language? With everything that is going on around the world, we can all admit that businesses are starting to expand globally with the goal of reaching a new set of international customers. However, this rapid shift in going global is not as easy as it seems- companies may have protocols and engaging marketing materials, but without people who can “localize” the approach then the global appeal will not be possible.
Through learning a foreign language, you get to help in widening the reach of your chosen company while ensuring that you are bridging the gap between cultures and clients. While not all industries require you to speak another language, listing it on your resume and adding it during your personal interview will make you look even more attractive and smart in the eyes of business owners. With this being said, having a multilingual brain allows you to land your dream job and negotiate better salaries. For instance, if you are planning to work in the aggressive field of business process outsourcing companies, you might be surprised to know that becoming an agent under specific foreign languages will pay more! Some of these languages include Mandarin, Spanish, German, Russian, and French.
Now if you are really interested in advancing your career or are a student with enough time to learn a few words here and there, then we highly recommend that you invest time and learn a new language today. It is true that undertaking this is easier said than done, but with the right motivation and consistency, we bet that you will achieve full fluency in no time! To help you navigate this better, we have listed here the easiest steps you should follow to provide more structure to your learning journey.
Step 1: Setup Language Learning Goals
You see, it is not enough that you just state a vague goal like “I want to learn a new language” or “I will buy books and learn a foreign language today.” Our advice? Break everything down to bite-sized but clear learning goals.
In order to really create an actionable set of language learning plans, you must make sure that you follow Rubin’s SMART goal so that you can get a clearer perspective of what you actually intend to accomplish in a few months’ time or in the years to come. This goal setting acronym suggests that each of your objectives must be:
- Specific – Ask yourself questions like what it is you want to achieve, why it is important to achieve, and what resources you need to use.
- Measurable – Clarify to yourself how will you assess your progress and what exactly are your deadlines.
- Achievable – You must address how you can accomplish your language goal and the challenges you might face.
- Relevant – A goal without alignment is a waste of time which is why you need to be sure that your target language is worthwhile to learn.
Time-bound – Specify realistic deadlines as you cannot really reach full proficiency in foreign languages in just a short amount of time.
Step 2: Get Your Hands on The Latest Resources
Considering the complexity of language learning, you must prepare exactly the ways by which you will accomplish your goal. The reality here is that there really is no one-size-fits-all type of strategy as we all have different learning techniques. For instance, if you are someone who enjoys gamified content then installing free language learning apps for your mobile devices can be a solid choice. However, if you want a more structured and formal setting, you might want to consider enrolling in language schools where you can earn verified certificates.
If you are still a student, we highly suggest that you specify what type of competency you are trying to achieve: is it to be able to speak in informal discourse, or are you learning for a better career? If you are after informal conversations, then searching for free content resources and language applications are the best. On the flip side, if you want to sound diplomatic for future business discourse then enrolling in online courses from MOOC platforms created by real universities can be the best decision.
No matter what path you choose, remember that you do not have to burn through a lot of money just to be able to learn. By simply taking advantage of online resources, you can teach yourself and learn a thing or two in an instant!
Step 3: Establish Connection with A Native Speaker
Aside from listening to the radio and watching movies with subtitles to practice your foreign language development, one of the things you should consider is trying out your skills with a native. With people being afraid of isolation due to the pandemic, a lot of netizens are willing to reach out and talk with you. You can simply find a language learning buddy via social media or by signing up with online discussion boards for free. However, if you are interested in something much more personal, then you can also hire a freelance native speaker through Fiverr.
As we end this post, we sincerely hope that you will be able to focus on learning your dream language without breaking the bank. So, what are you waiting for? Go and do your research on which foreign language you are most comfortable learning today! Who knows, you might be able to master it by the end of 2021!
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