There are some interesting tips when it comes to learning to speak languages. Regardless of your goal - whether it’s passing your Spanish GCSE, learning English as a foreign language or taking Italian lessons so you can travel, these tips will help you.
- Set aside time for lessons with your private tutor: If you take language lessons online, this will help you concentrate and having a specific time will help you develop your study routine. Don't forget to tell everyone at home that you need quiet for your language class.
- Watch series in your target language: Watching films and series or listening to music in your target language is perfect for learning a new language. It helps to increase vocabulary and improve pronunciation, especially in languages that are more difficult to speak, such as German and French.
- Read in your target language: If you are learning from scratch, you can start reading books you have already read in another language. You can also start with children's books, which have the simplest vocabulary and are a good way to complement your online language lessons.
- Language apps. On days when you don't have your language classes, you can continue learning with apps like Duolingo. There are many websites and materials on the Internet to help you reinforce when you have learnt.
- Language exchanges: Do language exchanges and get your doubts answered by private tutors. This way you can practise languages, meet people and learn about other countries. You can learn to speak languages on the Internet, without having to leave home!
What languages are the most widely spoken?
Did you know that there are between 3,000 and 7,000 languages in the world? This is an estimate, as some languages are very similar and others have disappeared. According to Statista, in 2022, these languages were the most widely spoken in the world:
- English: 1,500 million speakers
- Chinese Mandarin: 1,100 million speakers.
- Hindi: 602.2 million speakers
- Spanish: 548.3 million speakers
- French: 274.1 million speakers
- Arabic: 274 million speakers
Do you want to learn one of the most widely spoken languages? On FindTutors, we have English tutors, Chinese tutors, Hindi tutors, Spanish tutors, French tutors and Arabic tutors. No matter what language you want to learn, you will find a private language tutor on FindTutors.
How long does it take to learn a new language?
To learn languages quickly, you need to have as much contact as possible with the new language. For example, watch your series and films with Spanish subtitles to practise listening to the language you are studying with your private tutor. If you don't have one yet, on FindTutors you can compare profiles and find online private tutors to learn languages faster.
In summary, the time needed to learn a new language is usually between 5 and 6 months, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This reference is designed for each level, i.e. it takes 5 months to go from level A1 to A2, 5 more months to go from A2 to B1 and so on.
The frequency of language lessons also plays a role, as well as the proximity of the language to your mother tongue. A native speaker of Spanish will find it very easy to learn Italian, but not so easy to learn Korean, for example.
Where can I take language classes?
You can hire an online language tutor, or ask the tutor to come to your home or even go to a language school. In any case, the different ways of learning a new language all have the same objective. Find out where to take language classes:
- Language schools: The best option for those who want to learn a new language in terms of learning levels and time. Language schools also offer classes to help prepare for official language exams.
- Private language lessons: A great alternative for people who prefer to learn a foreign language in a personalised way. Private language classes are planned according to your needs and pace.
- Language exchanges: For the more adventurous, there is also the option of doing a language exchange. It is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture and also to learn a new language with native speakers.
How to find an online language tutor
If you are looking for private tutors to learn languages at home, online or even to take a course at a language school, you need to follow a few basic steps. There are many ads on the Internet if you are looking for online tutors, but it is not always easy to find the right one for you. Remember to keep these 3 points in mind when you are looking for a private tutor or language lessons:
- Filter the tutors according to your preferences. If you know your language level, on the FindTutors portal you can use this filter to facilitate the search for private tutors. Filter also by the language you want to learn, the city and the method: online or in person.
- Contact more than one tutor. You can contact several tutors for free. This will help you decide which language tutor is right for you. Ask specific questions, such as availability, teaching method, resources and anything else you need to know about the online tutor.
- Ask for a free trial lesson. Finally, you can almost start your language lessons. Once you have selected the right tutor for you, ask for the first lesson for free to get a feel for how they teach languages.
