So, for those of you who fall in this second boat: how do you learn a language when you don\u2019t actually like learning a language? <\/strong>Here are a few of my best tips, but I\u2019d love to hear yours as well in the comments!<\/p>\n If you find textbooks a little too contrived or boring, well, you\u2019re not alone. The good news is that there are other materials out there for you! Resources don\u2019t need to be designed for learners to be effective for learning. In fact, authentic materials\u2014materials created for some social purpose and not<\/em> intended for language learners\u2014can expose you to aspects of the language you can\u2019t find in a textbook, like slang or idioms. (And those are sometimes the most interesting parts!) So if you\u2019re miserable using it, put the textbook back up on the shelf and swap it for something a little more authentic:<\/p>\n You can also bookmark a few blogs or watch commercials on YouTube, among myriad other authentic approaches to language learning. Don\u2019t be discouraged if you\u2019re a beginner, just start out small with resources aimed at younger audiences, like children\u2019s books and movies.<\/p>\n Image by The Italian Voice on Flickr.com<\/p><\/div>\n A pen pal is another authentic resource you can turn to, but it comes with the added bonus of not being such a solitary activity. If you\u2019re motivated not by learning <\/em>but by using<\/em> a language, corresponding with a pen pal is great practice. Services like InterPals<\/a> can link you up with someone who speaks your target language, giving you a chance to practice both reading and writing in a meaningful way. You\u2019re not filling out worksheets, reading fake dialogues, or writing for an assignment. There\u2019s a living, breathing human on the other end of your letters waiting to hear and learn from you! What could be more motivating than that?<\/p>\n Part of the reason sitting down to read a chapter in your textbook, diagram sentences, or write up endless piles of flashcards is so dull is that there\u2019s nothing memorable about it. You need a little extra something to motivate yourself, and what better way than to engage your senses? Listening to a song or watching a movie is a good step in the right direction, but what about making a traditional meal using a recipe in the target language<\/a>? You\u2019ll be interacting with the language (learning some interesting culinary vocabulary, for certain), but you\u2019ll also be doing something memorable.<\/p>\n Whether you scarf down the entire meal or have a hard time putting down a single bite, you\u2019ll be able to recall working with the recipe, preparing the dish, sharing it with your friends or family, etc. If you don\u2019t enjoy the learning process, you need to look at language as a means to an end. You may not be able to put it to use with a native speaker every day, but at least you can do something useful and exciting with your new language.<\/p>\n Learning with a software program may sound just as boring as a textbook, but hear me out. We talked about engaging your senses in the last point, and a good language-learning program will do just that, building your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. An even better language-learning program will do so in a way that\u2019s easy and fun. And I don\u2019t mean easy as in \u201cyou\u2019ll learn a language in 10 days with our software\u201d easy. That\u2019s just ridiculous. I mean easy as in the program packages together and presents you everything you need\u2014vocabulary with text and audio, game-like activities to keep it interesting and appealing, tracking and analytics to show you how you\u2019re doing and keep you on track, etc. What\u2019s more, in this age of all things digital, learning on your tablet or laptop can make for a more natural, interesting, tolerable experience in and of itself. Sound too good to be true? We offer all of this and more in Transparent Language Online\u2014sign up for the free 7-day trial<\/a> and see for yourself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For some people, the process of learning a language is just as exciting as being able to speak it. They enjoy researching word origins, discovering conjugation patterns, comparing vocabulary and expressions from one language to the next, and meticulously perfecting their pronunciation. Then, you have the rest of us who just want to put the…<\/p>\nUse authentic materials<\/h2>\n
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Find a pen pal<\/h2>\n
![\"Image](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/language-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/12\/2281708720_e51616aac7_o.jpg\")
<\/a>Make it sensory
![\"russian_vinegret2\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/language-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/12\/russian_vinegret2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/h2>\nLearn with software<\/h2>\n
![\"TLO](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/language-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/12\/TLO-New-UI-Devices-1024x498.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/language-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/12\/6756420231_7d45a5abdf_b-350x233.jpg\")