YouTubers: Three tips for learning a language – transcript
Transcript for Three tips for learning a language
Welcome back! My name’s Sophia and this video is for the British Council’s LearnEnglish teens website
and their YouTube channel.
In today’s video I wanted to share some useful tips for learning a new language. As a language student I
completely understand that sometimes it can be difficult, especially if you’re teaching yourself a language
from home by yourself and you’re not attending any classes. It can be discouraging and you can be a bit
lost as to what to do. Whether you’re a complete beginner or you’re looking to improve your language
foundation, I’m hoping that this video will be useful in encouraging you all on your language journeys.
So, I myself am learning French at home by myself. I don’t go to any classes or I don’t have any extra help
besides the internet and some books that I have. So, a great website that I’m using at the moment to learn
French vocabulary is called Memrise and the idea behind Memrise is really cool. Basically, each word is a
seed that you plant and every day you need to water the seed so that it grows into a beautiful flower and
once it’s grown big enough then it moves into the greenhouse or your long-term memory. And, the website
is really good, it’s free. All you need is an email account and you can set yourself daily goals, you can do
timed activities and you can just keep checking your progress, as well as interacting with other people who
are studying the same language as you. You can send them friend requests and you can send them
messages. So it’s a great website and of course it’s free, which is what language should be about.
Listening to music and watching TV dramas in your target language is a great way to improve your
listening and also speaking skills because you’re listening to people speaking in their native tongue and
you’re also learning the correct accent, so YouTube, of course, is a great platform for this. There are
hundreds of songs, hundreds of videos that you can watch, of course, again, for free. If you’re watching
this video you’re already doing this. You’re already engaging with your target language, which is great.
What I personally like to do is to find YouTubers who talk about things that I’m interested in. So, if you are
interested in make-up or fashion, for example, why not try and find a YouTuber who does make-up tutorials
or fashion videos in your target language, so that way, you’re watching something that you enjoy but you’re
also learning a language at the same time. Isn’t that great?
My last tip is to try and read in your target language. Of course, when you’re learning any language there
are four skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing. So, reading, erm, in your target language will help
with your reading and writing skills. Make sure you’re reading material which is suited to your level. If
you’re a beginner and you’re reading intermediate material – intermediate books, magazines – that can be
very discouraging because it can make you feel like you don’t know anything, which isn’t true. You’re just
not reading for your level. So, the British Council has a great website, which of course will be linked below
in the description bar, and there are so many different topics to choose from. Again, if you’re interested in
travelling, in food, in books, whatever it may be, find something that interests you and is targeted to your
level. Choose a topic that you’re interested in and there is lots of extra reading to be done.
So, guys, that’s the end of this video. I hope these tips have been useful and perhaps even encouraged
you to start learning a new language. Who knows? Please comment below. Let me know what your
language-learning tips are, because as ever I’m also always looking to receive some advice and some
help. I hope you have a great day and good luck with your language learning. See you in the next one!
Bye, guys!