How I learn a Foreign Language at Home on My Own

by Reem - February 05, 2022

Hello everyone! 🌸

I have written a post here before about why I am learning Korean. It was back when I was about to finish my last year in university with all the pressure to ace my finals and graduate. Even though it was really stressful, I found so much relief in taking an interest in something that has nothing to do with my studies and slowly learning it without having any expectations or putting any more pressure on myself. I would take some time before bed, after a long day of studying and cramming for finals, to focus on something else and take my mind off all the stress.

In the middle of finals, though, I kind of decided to stop learning Korean because I'd started to get an idea of how hard it was, especially the grammar. It's such a shame because I had a genuine interest. I just thought I'd be better off focusing wholly on my studies. The thing is, I just ended up replacing language learning with some social media (not my studies) but I went on YouTube and watched a vlog. One of the comments under that vlog was in Korean and it was a short sentence. I was just quickly scrolling but was really surprised and happy to realize that I actually understood the comment! A comment in a completely foreign language that I thought was too hard to learn was fathomable to me! This gave me the motivation to keep going, even if at a super slow, expectation-free pace.

So here I am again, writing about how I got to this point and how I plan to keep going.

I have been using a language learning app on my phone called "Ling," and I am so glad to have discovered it. Before getting Ling, I knew I had an interest in learning Korean but I just didn't know where to start. There are so many resources out there, but this too can be a distraction and can get overwhelming when you're just starting out. But when I tried Ling, I found that it contained almost all aspects of language learning anyone would want. I was surprised to see that I could learn vocabulary, read, write, and listen then take a test to make sure I applied the knowledge all in one place without having to look for different resources online. When I found this out, I decided to simplify my study routine and narrow it down to just this app.

When I am bored, I just open the app and start a lesson. It is surprisingly so entertaining; I don't even feel like I am learning until I recognize the words later and understand some text (like I did with the YT comment). This is the tricky part, though; oftentimes I'd feel that I was just wasting my time and that I was not actually learning anything, but being able to read and recognize some words has helped me understand random Korean text and I can even make simple sentences now. This made me realize that small steps can actually be effective in the long run, so I picked up the app again.

What I like about this app, in particular, is that it is so interactive and fun; it is a whole experience. When you start a lesson, the words are read out to you and you can repeat them as much as you want, you see pictures associated with the words (great for a visual learner like me), and you are tested as you are learning to consolidate the information. You arrange the new words and make some sentences as you go. The grammar is slowly introduced in simple dialogs and short lessons, and it is generally just really smooth and fun to learn with.

The lessons range from family members to food and eating out or going to the café. It is really versatile and I enjoy the variety of lessons and dialogs in there. The feature I found most interesting is the "speaking" test, where you repeat a sentence/word, and the app measures how close you are to the correct pronunciation (which I am still struggling with).

Another feature I really like is the writing test, where you follow the instructions to draw the characters and listen to how each character is pronounced. I find this particularly helpful because Korean characters are really distinctive and need some practice before you get the hang of writing them. They look really interesting and with this feature, I was able to practice them easily.

I had the premium version for over 2 months and now I am on the lifetime premium version. I enjoy this version better since it unlocks so many cool features and I find the lifetime one so much easier to have because you don't have to worry about renewing it, especially when you've made up your mind that you'd like to keep using the app. I keep it on my phone and reach out for it instead of scrolling on social media or playing some game sometimes. It is helpful to have around for when I'm feeling bored and can really help me get a sense of achievement.

Getting the premium version was so helpful in that it unlocked so many languages (some you wouldn't even think of) and I can share my account with my siblings when they want to learn other languages! It also unlocked various lessons in the language I am learning and I don't see any ads nor do I have any limitations on my account; basically, no interruptions.

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This app has honestly made my laid-back language learning journey so much easier and less complicated. I only have to use it and don't have to worry about practicing on my own or finding a native speaker to practice with, especially as a beginner who can't communicate with native speakers yet. The app already takes care of practice by constantly testing me in a fun way mid- and post-lessons and ensuring that I use what I learn regularly. The app also shows me when I hadn't revised a lesson in a long time so I can go over it again to "repair" it. It is really fun to use and I like how user-friendly and smooth and game-like it is compared to many other boring language learning apps/resources.

If you'd like to give it a try, you can download it here.

This is an affiliate link but the post is not sponsored; I just decided to write it because the app has been genuinely helpful and improved my Korean without making any crazy effort. Let me know if you try it.

Take care