How quickly can you learn a second language?

How quickly you learn your second language will depend on different things. Firstly,

your fluency in your own first language is an important fact. The more fluent you are in speaking, writing and reading your first language, the easier you may find it to learn a second language. Reading fluency is important no matter what the language. If you are struggling to learn a second language, go back to your first language and start reading regularly. Learn something new in your first language, like a new hobby, or read some history or geography in a comfortable relaxed setting.

Secondly, your motivation to learn a second language is critical. Are you motivated to learn because you need to get a job in which English is important? Are you interested in improving your English because you wish to continue your education or because you wish to help your children in school? Use these types of motivations to help you pick up an English book and study.

Thirdly, the amount of stress or pressure you feel to learn the language can affect your learning success. When you learned your first language, it was in a natural and a relaxed setting. If you are now feeling under pressure to learn the new language, it will not help you in the learning process. Feeling pressured to speak does not make you speak well. Make sure to praise yourself for what you have accomplished so far.

Finally, the amount of time and effort you put into learning the new language is critical. You cannot learn the language if you don’t work at it. Make reading a priority any time you can. Use your local library to get books that are easy for you to read and then slowly work your way up to reading books that are more advanced. All libraries have a wonderful collection of bookson tape. These are recorded books that allow you to listen to the story while reading along. Books on tape are a wonderful way to advance your English proficiency skills. While you are listening to the tape, you can read the words in English. This means you are learning the sentence structure, the grammar structure and the pronunciation and intonation of the words. Spend as much time as you can listening to and absorbing the language.

When you are living here, you are listening to English that is not necessarily at your level of understanding and you may hear accents that are unfamiliar. It takes time and work and you have to study English very conscientiously to learn it as a second language when you are an adult.

You are trying to learn your second language while practicing output of that language, but when you were a baby, you learned your first language after only listening to that language for years before you actually spoke. You are learning your second language in a completely different way. Learning your first language was a very natural process and an experience that you did without thinking consciously about it. Now you have to consciously work at learning a language when you may be feeling pressured and humiliated about it. Getting involved in your Englishspeaking community is important to learning the language. Part of your success in learning your second language while living here is the desire to become part of the community – speaking your second language while still retaining your own identity and your own culture. This can be a challenging time but also a fun time of learning and change – embrace it and learn.

This article was written by Madeleine Monaghan, MBA, Director of SHELI Sacred Heart English Language Institute. For additional information about the courses they offer, please call the Fairfield campus at 203-365-7528, or Stamford, 203-323- 4959.