Introduction:

If you’re struggling to learn a new language, breathe, you’re not alone. Adults famously find language learning more difficult than children, whose super-flexible brains actually grow the connections necessary to learn an additional language. But, why is it so hard to learn a foreign language, anyway? Put simply, it’s hard because it challenges both your mind (your brain has to construct new cognitive frameworks) and time (it requires sustained, consistent practice). But there’s more to it than that. 

Research shows that when we communicate, we spend around 40-50% of our time listening, 25-30% speaking, 11-16% reading, and only 9% writing (although that last one might have changed in recent years due to the rise in social media). Listening seems like it should be simple, or secondary to other more active language skills. To the surprise of many new learners, listening to a foreign language is difficult. If you’ve ever had to sit for a second language test, you’ll know that the listening section is almost always the hardest. But, listening is a vital skill for language learning. Having some kind of plan when just starting out can make the whole experience more enjoyable. There are lots of resources out there, just pick one that fits your learning style and budget.

In this article, we’ll learn why listening is the most important yet hardest part and how can you overcome this:

• The “Silent Period” is precious

 Children who learn a second language often go through a “silent period” where they don’t say anything. Language teachers and researchers haven’t totally agreed on whether it’s a necessary stage of language learning, or how long it should be. But, they do agree that many children experience it. However, speaking successfully in a foreign language can also be very rewarding. Speaking motivates us to continue learning.

• Learning Thousands of New Words

Do you think you can remember 6 words today? What about tomorrow? And the day after? If you learn only 6 words a day, you’ll learn over 2000 words in the next year. That’s the vocabulary equivalent of a five-year-old. When you break down your goal into smaller parts, it doesn’t look nearly as daunting. A language has lots of words. You certainly won’t have to learn all of them, but you will eventually need to learn thousands of them. For the vast majority of people, this is a huge challenge and it can sound nearly impossible. The truth is that learning lots of new words is not all that difficult, it just takes time. You have to remind yourself that baby steps do add up very quickly. Let me ask you this: 

• Speaking with Strangers

There are ways to minimize this dreaded feeling. For the first few conversations, find someone who is very patient and knows what it’s like to learn a new language. You can easily find people online who speak with language learners all day long. Their job is to help you practice in a safe environment and make you feel comfortable. Even if you feel a bit anxious, you have to fight it. It’s a very rewarding feeling. A few conversations like this will boost your confidence a great deal and the anxiety will quickly decrease.

Ways to overcome this:

• Listen to the language you’re learning in the background

 Even if you’re busy, it’s easy to listen to a podcast, the radio, or have a TV show playing in your target language while going about your daily activities. Here, the goal is to develop an ear for the speed, intonations, and common expressions used by native speakers.

• Get surrounded

 Come face to face with new input as much as possible! Change the language on your social media accounts, computer and phone. Download movies, listen to music and podcasts; read novels, non-fiction, and magazines; watch documentaries and cook from foreign recipes.

• Before you listen, prepare

Take a few minutes to think about your upcoming listening experience. What do you already know about the subject? What could be some useful words to look up in advance? Research has shown that taking time to focus on expectations before listening, determining whether the content matches those expectations while listening, and finally assessing comprehension post-listening helps learners more effectively develop their listening skills.

• Keep a journal of new phrases

If you hear something unfamiliar, jot it down phonetically and note the context. That way you can look it up later or ask a knowledgeable resource (like a language teacher or native speaker) for aid. Remember, you’re learning a skill, not an object. Relish the ridiculous moments, especially during the first months, and do not fear failure or embarrassment. Make peace with the fact that your accent isn’t perfect and you don’t understand everything. None of this matters in the long run. What matters is commitment!