Learning a new language brings new adventures and excitement, but stepping out of our comfort zone is never easy.

If you make a mistake, you’re a failure – Right? WRONG! At Bilingual Bridges, we view failure as a First Attempt in Learning, and we hope that you see it that way, too!

Below are some tips we adapted from an article on avoiding mistakes while developing English fluency. These tips, however, can be applied to whichever language you’re aiming to master, so be sure to take a minute to check them out!

Recognize that mistakes are how you learn.

One of our teammates had a memorable experience learning a new language in high school. When she created a Jeopardy game for her Spanish class, she meant to say, “Welcome to Jeopardy!” at the beginning of her presentation, but instead said, “Welcome to danger!” This mistake certainly caught her classmates’ attention. However, it helped her remember the meaning of “peligro” (danger) and taught her not to rely solely on Google Translate. Plus, it gave her a funny story to share.

Immerse yourself in a new language by observing proficient speakers’ pronunciation and sentence structure.

Moreover, their expertise can inspire and guide you in your language-learning journey. Importantly, you don’t have to travel to a foreign country to learn a new language. Instead, you can watch YouTube videos, talk to fluent speakers, make friends who speak the language, listen to songs, watch movies, and engage more with your teacher. Additionally, ensure that whatever you do aligns with your interests. For example, watch your favorite movie in the language you want to learn rather than a children’s movie just because you think it will be easier.

Ask a trusted individual to kindly point out the mistakes you repeatedly make when learning a new language.

Shortly after those mistakes occur, have that person teach you how to fix them. Fixing common mistakes will quickly improve your language fluency, and focusing on one area at a time will prevent discouragement. Moreover, giving that trusted individual a role beyond just pointing out errors will help them be more patient and give you both the chance to build stronger bonds. Lastly, being made aware of the mistake soon after it’s made will ensure what you’re learning stays relevant

Looking for some more language learning tips? Click here to meet our teachers and learn about classes.