Posted 9 November 2023

Learning a language versus being an introvert?

I've spent some time learning a few different languages over the years and although learning new languages is interesting, my motivation isn't to speak with people, it's more of a private hobby which makes it difficult to stay motivated in language learning.
Learning to speak a new language is hard when your gut feeling is that you don't actually want to talk with strangers in the outside world. How does one successfully stay motivated in learning a language?
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  1. Ferris's avatar
    Do you currently enjoy any kind of media in translation? Being able to enjoy books, movies, shows in their original language is a big motivation for me.
  2. ChelseaRae's avatar
    If you watch shows on Netflix and the like you can change the language/subtitles. If you’re a beginner at learning the language, then watching the show with the language in Portuguese, for instance, with English subtitles should help begin familiarise you. If you’re more advanced, simply watch the show in another language but without subtitles to test your understanding and ability to follow a plot. You could also watch in English but change the subtitles to the language you’re learning to practice reading.
  3. themachman's avatar
    Only way you're going to improve a language is to speak to someone using it
    Try skyping foreign students who are coming over to study
    or, better still go on holiday to the places and use it. You'll soon find out, like I did, you've been speaking it wrongly
    Failing that I leant load by listenig to music in the language you want to learn. (edited)
  4. saraye's avatar
    Are you learning new languages so you can understand others when they speak that language without engaging with them? I'm learning French via duolingo, not always motivated tbh but the challenges keep me going even if I spend 5 minutes a day...
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