Are you learning a language from scratch? Here are five tips that can help you get started:

• Define your motivation
  
  Having a strong motivation is one of the keys to acquiring a foreign language. Learning a language from scratch takes a lot of time, so make sure you have a good reason to learn it. It sounds contradictory, but I chose to learn a totally random language that I never thought of learning before and for the moment, this is exactly my biggest motivation.
  
  As a Chinese saying goes, to learn a new language is to have one more window from which to look at the world. Print this and hang it on the wall in case you suddenly lose your motivation. 😉
  

• Learn more about the language
  
  Make an overview of your target language. What are some of the most important aspects of the language? What is typical for the culture where the language is spoken? Find some interesting content in order to get familiar with the language, without expecting to learn much. Remember, it’s just an introduction, make sure you enjoy it. 
  

• Listen and Read

You may ask yourself, how can you listen if you don’t understand?

Indeed, you may find it boring and useless to listen to something you cannot understand. However, you can always find some short content with a transcript, designed for beginners.

Of course, no one expects you to listen to podcasts about global warming. Don’t be ashamed to watch some cartoons or listen to some kids’ songs. In fact, learning a language from scratch is like being a newborn baby in the country where your target language is spoken.

Authentic content in your target language is extremely important if you want to get a sense of the language.

Listening is definitely the first step in acquiring a language. Think of how you learned your native language? Was it by learning how to write the alphabet or by being immersed in the spoken language?

When listening, focus on expressions and phrases that can become part of your vocabulary later on. 

•  Speak
  
  After listening to your favorite content in your target language, be it music, tv shows or podcasts, you might want to produce some content yourself. Again, don’t forget you’re a beginner and what’s most important at the beginning are the essential phrases you’ll use in a conversation.
  
  Try to present yourself, using the key words or some typical expressions that you’d like to learn.
  
  You can record yourself speaking and try to correct yourself each time you make a mistake, and if possible, find a tutor who could give you some tips on improving your pronunciation.
  
  

• Write – Writing is a very important element of language learning, especially if you have a photographic memory. Again, write only the key words and expressions you find important. You can always use flashcards for reviewing the new vocabulary.
  
  Nosce te ipsum! At this step, you need to ask yourself if you need a visual representation to memorize a word, or if you’re a person that retains information more easily if it is presented orally. In any case, these five steps are essential at the beginning and extremely important during the whole learning process.
  
  Once you’ve defined your motivation, you may want to regularly review your goals and progress. Whatever level you reach, you’ll constantly discover something new about the language.
  
  Finally, you never really stop listening, reading, speaking and writing, but make sure you practice these four important components more intensively at the beginning of your language learning journey.