Ten Common Language Learning Myths You Should Stop Believing -

Ten Common Language Learning Myths You Should Stop Believing

October 20, 2019 No Comments

Communication is an inseparable part of our lives. The preferred means of communication is verbal, and you need a language to communicate with people. Therefore, language is an innate part of our personality. It is one thing you find everywhere. The mother tongue is one language that comes to you automatically. You learn other languages as you progress in life. We shall now burst ten common language learning myths that people believe in.

1. It is challenging to learn a language as you grow older

Nothing can be farther than the truth. There is no specific age for you to learn a language. Anyone can do so at any age. Yes, children can pick up new words quicker than old people, but that does not make language learning difficult as you grow old. One can learn a new language anytime.

2. If you know English, it is as good as knowing everything

English is one of the thousands of languages in the world. Yes, knowing English is beneficial, as many people in the world know and understand English. Do you know that Chinese is the most commonly spoken language in the world followed by English and Hindi? There are places in the world where no one speaks in English.

3. You need a lot of inborn talent to learn a new language

You do not need much talent to learn a new language. All you need is a lot of dedication, hard work, and practice. Talent is necessary, but you should have the interest and inclination, as well. People who speak in a variety of languages are not necessarily the most talented people in the world.

4. It is necessary to learn how to read and write while learning a language

Many people believe that one should know how to read and write in the language if you want to learn it. It is not at all true. Many people do not know how to read or write in their mother tongue. However, they can converse with others beautifully in the language. Yes, reading and writing are useful but not necessary when you learn a new language. Putting your point across effectively is what matters in the end.

5. You cannot learn a language without learning its grammar

You learn a language to communicate with people and converse with them. You are not writing a thesis or studying for a PhD degree, or are you? You can speak any language effectively without knowing its grammar. Grammar comes into play when you want to put your thoughts into black and white, on paper. Oral communication does not necessarily have to be perfect in grammar.

6. Books or apps are the only ways to learn new languages

People think that they need books and apps to learn new languages. Would you believe that the best way to learn a language is to watch films in that language? The point is that you should know to use the right word at the right time for effective communication. Books or apps do not teach you these aspects.

7. You should live in the area where the language is spoken

If this is true, then you should stay in France if you want to learn French or in Germany if you wish to learn German. Many people in the world do not know what France or Germany looks like but can still speak fluent French and German.

8. Intelligent people are better at learning languages

Learning a language requires you to be street-smart, not necessarily intelligent. It does not require you to have a high IQ. One needs to have a lot of dedication and the will to learn. At the same time, you also need to have a lot of patience while learning a new language. You need guts, as well. You will make mistakes, but persevering with the language will help you learn it.

9. I can learn a language in a couple of months.

It is difficult to master any language because the possibilities are endless. Yes, you can try to learn a language quickly, but it is not possible to do so in a couple of months. You get hundreds of books that advertise, ‘Learn XXX language in 30 days,’ and so on. You can learn the essential communication skills in a couple of months, but you need practice to become fluent at it.

10. You need a super memory to learn any language

Human beings have a fantastic memory but use very little of it. Our brain can hold unlimited data, but nobody uses the brain to its full capacity. Hence, you do not require a super memory to learn any language. When you speak in a language, the words automatically flow out if you are good enough in that language.

Conclusion

We have busted ten common myths that people believe in while learning new languages. Remember, anyone can learn a language with dedication and will power. You will make mistakes while you speak, and people might make fun of you. However, you should take it in your stride and continue practicing. You can learn any language in the world.