Engaging in language learning can sometimes feel like a challenging task, but it doesn't have to be! By incorporating activities you already enjoy into your learning routine, you can make the process not only more enjoyable, but also more effective. From listening to music and watching movies to exploring podcasts and social media, there are countless ways to supplement your language learning and keep your motivation high.
Listen to music
Most songs have a repetitive structure that makes it easy to commit new vocabulary to memory. Start by creating a playlist of songs exclusively in the language you’re learning and then follow along. Once you’ve got the words down, try singing along to get more comfortable speaking your new language! Singing with music is also good pronunciation practice since accents are more forgiving in songs.
It's normal to zone out to music - especially in another language - so really focus on active listening. You can also supplement your listening by reading the lyrics to see if you can discover any unfamiliar words.
Watch TV and movies
Watching movies and TV in another language can be equally entertaining and educational. For starters, films and shows have a lot to teach learners about language and society. They provide a relevant social context for language that textbooks often lack, especially in terms of cultural norms.
Next, on-screen dialogues can help prepare you for real-life conversations, especially in terms of phrases and talking speed. You’ll encounter colloquial phrases here that you wouldn’t find elsewhere on your learning journey.
If you're just starting out with a new language, try watching a simple movie with subtitles (in the language you're learning!). Write down any unfamiliar words, then incorporate them into your daily practice.
Listen to podcasts
Podcasts are centred around active listening, which is incredibly useful for language learning. Listening to a podcast will challenge you to understand without any visual cues.
Better yet, entire podcast series are made for the sole purpose of language learning. Babbel produces several podcasts that use the art of storytelling to introduce new vocabulary in different conversational contexts. If you're an intermediate to advanced learner, listening to podcasts is an easy way to immerse yourself in another language - the more you surround yourself with a language, the better.
You can also take podcasts with you just about anywhere, so listen while you're commuting to work or doing chores around the house!
Using YouTube and social media
If you don't already consume a lot of online video, you're probably overlooking YouTube as a learning resource. Like movies and TV shows, YouTube can give you a great insight into how a language is used in everyday life. YouTubers speak at a conversational pace and cover a variety of topics, so there are videos for every learner.
More broadly, social media is full of language learning content just waiting to be found. Follow an account or blog of someone who is learning the same language as you. Fill your news feed with posts from foreign media or jokes in your new language.
Plus, social media isn't a one-way street: You can connect with people from all over the world. Reach out to fellow language learners in online forums or find a virtual tandem partner!