#JustStart — Start learning a new language

My goal is to start learning a new language, I just don’t feel content with the languages I know already. I want to learn another language, for myself, no ultimate goals behind it. I wanted to do it since a long time and now when I studied about SMART goals, I realized starting to learn a language is a SMART goal which I can achieve. I’ve been passionate about the Japanese language for a long time now, I want to learn the language. I have developed the strategy for it too. I went through a couple of blogs, some podcasts and a ted talk. Ted talk is my most favourite, why? because it allowed me to think I can do it within 6 months time. I have seen that ted talk a couple of times and made some notes out of it.

I’ll start with the four keywords which are linked to each other.

• Attention
• Relevance
• Meaning
• Memory

Learning a language might have many other ways and I guess it might take me more than 6 months or maybe less than 6 months. I’m not sure yet, but I can’t be until I try.

According to the strategy I’m going to share, I’ll first sign up for the course which is longer than 6 months, I start with the introductory lessons and get the gist of the course.

I want my learning to be based on 5 principles and 7 actions which I’ll follow religiously in order to master the language.

I’ll list down the principles first;

• Focus on the language content relevant to you.
• Use new language as the tool of communication.
• When you first understand the language you’ll acquire the language unconsciously
• Speak, practise speaking — stretch your facial muscles.
• Practice until your facial muscles hurt.

Now the actions that you need to do;

• Listen a lot — regardless of the understanding just listen to it.
• Focus on getting the meaning first.
• Start mixing (it’s my favourite strategy of them all which actually made me think yes, I can do it) Start learning — 10 verbs, 10 nouns and 10 adjectives and you’ll practically be able to form 1000 possible phrases.
• Focus on the core.
• Get a language parent — take help from your guide, even if you speak 3 words from a sentence that parent guide will get you. It’s exactly how kids communicate with their parents.
• Copy the face
• Direct connect

The guide above is what I picked up from the ted talk. It might not be the best way but it seems SMART to me. When I studied about SMART, this technique clicked in my mind right away. This is what I’d like to #JustStart.