How I learn languages - My tips on how to improve your speaking skills in a foreign language

The number one question that I have been asked on YouTube and on Instagram and in private messages from you guys is how I learn languages and if I have any tips for you. I do! In this video, I share my tips on how to improve your speaking skills in a foreign language.

I'm also excited to share my How To Learn Languages digital course, in which you will learn even more how you can start learning foreign languages using my tips and techniques!

🌟My digital courses:

WATCH NEXT:

○

Learn languages with:
These are affiliate links that support my channel.
This video is not sponsored. All opinions are my own.

My social media:

VEGAN INSPIRATION:

#LauraMaliszewska #Laurenowa

[LauraMaliszewska]

Which languages are you learning right now? Let me know!

[ronniejamesdio]

Everyone: I am afraid of making mistakes when I speak foreign languages.

Me: I am afraid of making mistakes when I speak my native language.

[jakegomez]

These quarantine days is the perfect time to learn

[PadamaaPaadamaa]

"Talk to yourself", that is an amazing advice. I do that trying to explain something that happened that day in target language by myself. And it is very helpful.

[tammysegarra]

My native languages: Spanish and English
Currently learning: Korean
Will learn in the future: Japanese, French, Italian, German, Swedish, Russian and Mandarin.

[papacitoche]

Language is a key to open the different world's gate

[CouchPolyglot]

I have learned several languages by just "having fun" (reading Harry Potter, watching movies, talking to people - I am very extrovert :), reading stuff that interests me...).
If you have fun, you will stick to it and will even be looking forward to it, so it won't feel like something you have to do, but rather something you want to do. It changes everything!

[catsquad]

My native language: Norwegian
What I have been taught all my life: English, Danish & Swedish
What language I am currently learning: Spanish

I have felt very anxious about learning Spanish and I am afraid to make mistakes, because I tried talking to a friend of mine (who is and was very supportive as well when I spoke to her) and suddenly someone I know said, “you can’t even pronounce anything correctly and your grammar is so bad”. It really hurt me and I genuinly started crying a bit after because I felt so insecure about it as I had practiced so much, but I have instead lately began thinking like, “well you shouldn’t talk to them anymore as they will just dim your light, you will master Spanish one day and don’t let anyone ruin your dreams for you”.

[danielnoriegagarcia]

First thing I noticed was the color of your eyes. They are amazing!

[Jule-mmdr]

First few hundred sentences you say out loud when you start learning are going to be very hard to say. But it gets better.
The beginnings are the most exciting parts of the journey.

[MelissaJetzt]

When I'm speaking to a non-native speaker in English, I don't really care about their mistakes. If I can understand that they mean, that's fine with me! I try to remember that when I venture out to speak with anyone.

I've been doing this by speaking to my husband, who is fluent in two of the languages I'm learning. And by following Instagram accounts in my target languages to strike up small, simple conversations.

If they correct me, that's great!!! It's so much easier to remember something when you get it wrong. Even when I missed a question on an exam in college, I would remember those mistakes even more clearly than the rest of the content!

I also recommend speaking-based programs like Pimsleur or anything that is real conversation based. I like to listen to Easy German while walking around, cleaning up, or doing simple tasks.

Thank you for these practical techniques! You really hit upon what people struggle with the most!

[niavel]

Thank you for this video Laura! I’ve been studying English since i was in middle school, but without much progress, until in high school I proposed to learn it completely because I realized how much I loved it. I’ve been taking a course for about 7 months and I thought I’ve really gotten better. I understand 99% what you said. Now, I feel more confident and motivated. Thank you so much. I think I have to practice speaking more than grammar, reading and listening. So here we go! New subscriber!❤️

[naouikhalil]

The first comment, Thanks Laura ♡ I'm learning English and you always encourage me

[myjapaneselanguagelearning]

fun game: translating children's books from your native language into your target language. plenty of practice sentences with common words and easy sentence structures that help you identify the gaps.

[mjliu]

I've learned arabic language, im planning to learn next spanish language inshaa allah proud to be filipino.

[raha]

You know your words made me motivated😭😘. Sometimes I get tired but I dont really want to give up. I hope I can speak all languages I really like one day.

[Musicienne-DAB]

This is an excellent video, Laura. Personally, I always find it impressive when non-native speakers make the effort to learn a foreign language and even pursue education in it-- like yourself. The advice about confidence really demonstrates the link between Linguistics and Psychology. I have a long way to go in terms of building confidence, as I still succumb to mental blocks about speaking German. In fact, I can read German quite well, and can write at least a few paragraphs in the language. But the major issue is not having enough vocabulary, so your advice about saying something in a simple fashion really resonated with me. Thanks very much!

[evaklent]

I know that what i'm gonna say it's not relevant with your video (at the point point) but, I was asked once who is my favourite inspirational YouTuber and I answered that it's you.
I can't be more happier and genuinely interested in improving my speaking skills. I remember when we had a video call on Instagram, I asked you some tips to improve my american accent and sort of speaking more fluently. I think it hasn't been more than 2 months and i'm really making so much progress! I can't believe it!
I have already started not overthinking about my words and I think that is going really well, because i sort naturally speaking better and i'm more confident with my accent, especially when it comes to speaking english (as I would speak to myself) in front of other people.
I think that, speaking to myself had helped so much, i can't put in words. I found some templates that have questions that they can be answered and i'm trying to answer them all correctly and analysing.
Of course, YouTube has helped so much improving my general skills and using more "native" phrases and phrases verbs than I would learn in a textbook at my language school.
To make a long story short, thank you so much for inspiring and helping people improve their speaking skills in a foreign language by sharing this video.
I hope that your new start (creating lessons and all these stuff) will be helpful to willing english learners. Always loving youu❤

[mrfrog]

Góðan daginn! Ég heiti Jeffrey. Ég er frá Québec. Ég er að læra íslensku! Takk og bless! :)

[andreafonseca]

I'm spanish speaker and l love your english because obviusly is not my native language but l can understand you very well!!