Five Tips for Learning Languages

Nov 2020

I taught myself German from scratch using Harry Potter. Here are five tips I can share:

1. Read on a Kindle. I had to look up every word at first, but definitions were just a tap away.
2. Keep at it. Chapter 1 is the gauntlet, but soon words like Blitznarbe (lightning scar) become old friends.
3. Learn grammar later. After six months soaking in patterns, I was actually glad to dive into a textbook.
4. Immerse yourself. I added German everywhere in my life, from video games to flash cards to poetry.
5. Create output. I wrote awkward stories at first, then progressed to talking weekly with a native speaker.

Fun is the secret sauce that makes perseverance effortless. Stay creative about how you learn.