The Best Methods For Learning Languages ​​

In this article, you will learn about the best methods for learning languages.

A language refers to a language of a people or a nation. It is a system of signs that enables a community of people to communicate through language and signs. When it comes to learning languages, it is important to differentiate between a mother tongue, the language of the country in which one was born, and the foreign languages ​​that one learns through life.

Learning another language gives you the opportunity to know and adapt to a new system of characters, its rules and the way it works.

According to language learning,  we need to look at specific procedures to determine the most appropriate methods to achieve this goal.

Methods of learning languages

GT method

The oldest method of learning languages, and possibly the most traditional, is what is sometimes called the GT method. The name refers to the fact that  it focuses on grammar and translation of texts and phrases from one language to another. 

This method pays special attention to the grammatical rules and structures shared between languages. It emphasizes equivalents with respect for universal, grammatical patterns. This involves remembering thousands of words and rules, as well as sentences taken out of context.

The direct method

In the late 19th century, the direct method emerged. This method focuses on verbal communication, independent of the specific grammar of the phrases being used. The idea is that the people who learn the language can make themselves understandable, even if the grammatical structures they use are not perfect.

In this method, the grammar is perceived intuitively. The mistakes are eliminated by learning until one establishes the correct relationship between foreign words and the situations to which they are related. This is where the term “direct” comes from.

The audio-linguistic method

Meanwhile, the audio-linguistic method has much more in common with the direct method. Both prioritize the spoken language with a focus on linguistic expression and listening. The difference is that this method uses repetition of words, phrases and exchanges as a learning strategy.

The best methods for learning languages

Over time, the various methods have been developed and used to learn foreign languages. While it is impossible to say that one method is clearly the best, certain methods are, presumably, better than others.

Take, for example, the communicative method. It is more than a method as it is an approach in which other languages ​​can be learned using a process that is more functional than structural. In other words, the most important aspect is communication, as opposed to simply learning the grammar of a foreign language.

The communicative methods take each of the previous methods into consideration and it  focuses on the practical necessity of learning another language. It also focuses on a permanent acquisition of the ability to interact communicatively and contextually.

According to language learning, the communicative method involves  activities that center on problematic situations that degrade grammatical rules in the background. It is still important that the student internalizes these rules, but communication is the primary objective.

These problematic situations refer to different scenarios that a person may encounter in daily life. These can be at work, at the airport or on a trip. They may include making various kinds of purchases, and some require one to be able to ask for help in difficult situations. To deal with these situations, one has to, gradually, develop the ability to use the foreign language.

Communication is the primary thing when learning languages

We need to emphasize that any method you choose to learn a foreign language should be sufficient. However, you need to take into account the peculiarities of each student and his or her learning needs. Educators need to be flexible according to the choice of method,  and even combine relevant aspects from each.

Repetition, memorization, and knowledge of grammatical rules can be valid strategies for learning another language. However, they must be used in problem-solving and decision-making situations, such as those we have presented in the communicative method. The goal should be to enable people to understand and be understood in different languages.