English speakers are fortunate that their native tongue is among the world’s most common, so travel often allows communication in English. Yet picking up a second language brings numerous advantages—richer cultural experiences and improved brain health—making it a missed opportunity not to give it a try.
My first attempt at language learning occurred during a study-abroad year in Barcelona. Returning with passable Spanish, I realized that mastering a language requires a certain technique. So when I later moved to Paris to learn French, I adopted a different approach.
Below are the insights I gained on accelerating language learning:
Photo credit: Esther Baseme
Preserve Brain Health by Mastering a New Language
Embrace Uncomfortable Scenarios
Research indicates that language acquisition speeds up when survival depends on it—when you have no alternative but to speak the language, your brain works harder to understand.
My Spanish was limited when I arrived in Barcelona, but it was enough to get a job at a bar in the Gothic Quarter. Anyone who has worked as a server in a busy bar or restaurant knows the stress involved. Now imagine doing that while catching only half of what customers say, deciphering the rest over loud music and lively chatter. I nearly quit after my first shifts, convinced I would never understand anyone. Yet each day, comprehension improved as my brain entered survival mode, forcing me to learn out of sheer necessity. Before long, I could follow nearly every conversation and even picked up colorful local expressions.
Develop the Ability to Laugh at Your Own Mistakes
Being a perfectionist, I initially hesitated to speak Spanish unless I was certain every word was correct. But as in many endeavors, growth requires willingness to err. Once I overcame my fear of being wrong, my language abilities advanced significantly—though not without embarrassing moments. After months at the Barcelona bar, I noticed that whenever I asked a coworker for a cloth to clean tables, they would suppress a laugh. Eventually I realized I had been requesting ballena (whale) instead of bayeta (dishcloth).
Vintage household items embellished with cross-stitch embroidery are being revived as exquisite art pieces.
As in many aspects of life, growth only comes when you are ready to make errors.
Being able to chuckle at my own blunders in such instances dissolved my fear of mistakes and gave me an advantage when I started French. People rarely mock someone who is making an effort—would you ridicule a non-native English speaker?—and they usually appreciate the attempt. If you let friends know you welcome corrections and feedback, your progress will accelerate.
Photo: Esther Baseme
Maintain Consistency
When exhausted, overloaded, or anxious, attempting to converse in another language can make your mind feel sluggish. A major error I made in Spain was resorting to English whenever possible. Although my friends were fluent in Spanish, I frequently chose the simpler path and spoke English with them. It was easier in the moment, but I was depriving myself of countless chances to hone my speaking abilities.
Upon relocating to France, I vowed to use French at every opportunity, even when someone clearly could speak English. The essential rule is to attempt—you can switch back to English if you genuinely cannot express yourself, but practice is the only route to learning.
Immerse Yourself in the Language in Every Format
You don't have to be abroad to learn a language—it can be an enjoyable pastime at home through classes or a daily ten-minute session on an app such as Duolingo. Whether driven by interest or need, the key is to keep the experience engaging.
Mastering a language involves multiple skills—speaking, listening, reading, writing—so practice each one. To improve reading, obtain a magazine in that language that aligns with your hobbies, such as Italian Vogue or French Architectural Digest (often available online).
Credit: Esther Baseme
Another strategy: read your favorite book in the target language. Knowing the storyline makes comprehension far easier than starting from zero. Additionally, watch foreign films (to check understanding without subtitles, focus on the actors' eyes), attend local conversation groups, listen to podcasts, or arrange a language exchange with a native speaker who wants to improve their English.
Are you currently studying a new language? Share your own strategies for faster acquisition.
Feature photo by Chloe Rey
