Quais são as estratégias de aprendizagem de línguas mais eficazes para adultos?

Don't set goals... Setting goals isn't the first step towards successful language learning. Instead, set motivations! Your WHY is very important if you must learn a new language. In fact, apart from few adults who grasp second language competency based on their geographical location, one thing I've found is that motivations behind language learning outweigh other parameters You would most likely abandon the language if you do not have a strong reason for learning it. List out your reasons for learning the 2nd language; example: - Fear of losing your job or promotion to a bilingual professional. - competitive edge in your industry - migration etc. The longer your WHY list, the better. So before you set goals, set your motivations!

Language is not the goal... Language is the path... To set a goal in something, you would usually benchmark and make references, but that approach doesn't quite apply to language learning. My advice is: Enjoy the journey. However, if you want to set goals, you should ask yourself these questions to estimate the effort required: 1)Familiarity: How close is your target language to your mother tongue or other languages you know? 2)Time/Resources: How many hours per week are you willing to invest, and what resources will you have at your disposal? 3)Language Blocking Ability: Neuroscientific language acquisition research suggests that the ability to suppress other languages you already know when speaking a new language is a crucial factor.

Whilst setting goals are important, what is key would be having authentic use of the language itself. What's not used will eventually be forgotten. Thus, it is imperative that language learning for adults be situated in authentic contexts. This would then allow us to practice and experience language in its interactional form!

Beyond understanding your reasons why you want to learn a language, I personally like to start with one very easy task and do this daily while I build the habit and make it a part of my lifestyle. I try and make this really quick so it's impossible to fail. After this you can start thinking about how you currently spend your free time, and look to alter an activity you already do, so you aren't giving things up/feeling like you don't have time e.g - Reading books? Choose graded readers - Watching Videos? Find popular Youtube channels by native hosts in that language, watch netflix in another language etc.. - Listening to Podcasts/Music? Start with a beginner language podcast on spotify, listen to favourite song playlists in that language

In my opinion, Immersion is the most effective language-learning strategy for adults. It involves surrounding yourself with the target language through activities like watching movies, reading books, and conversing with native speakers. Immersion provides real-life context, improves listening skills, and enhances vocabulary and grammar acquisition, making it a powerful and natural way to learn a language.

Graded readers are one of the best ways to integrate incidental and deliberate learning. It should be easy to find topics of interest. Many collections include fiction and non-fiction options covering a wide range of topics. It's easy to choose books specifically for your level or stage of development. They are typically categorised by the number of base words used to tell the stories. For example, beginner books often use 200 of the most common words, while an intermediate book might use 1200. If the stories/information needs a few rarer topic-specific vocabulary, definitions are included in a gloss. Deep and tailored learning.

A variety of resources is important - and including resources that actually interest you is essential! I always ask my students a simple question: outside of learning this language, what actually interests you? If you enjoy reading, then read your favourite books in your target language. If you have a passion for horses, then find content about horses in your target language. Everyone has their own unique interests, and we should take this into account on our language learning journeys. And as an added bonus? You’ll be exposed to authentic language (i.e. language that is created to communicate ideas, not manipulated to teach specific language forms), which is one of the pillars of language acquisition!

Variety is great, but I think it is important to keep one thing constant e.g. a single app, a flashcard deck, a textbook or a class with a teacher This way you have a foundation that is always being built on and you have a place you can measure progress. Incorporating other resources around a core will 100% help make things more interesting... but it's not always possible to maintain everything, so having the constant core helps me not fall off personally

One of the helpful resources in language learning for adult is listening to online news in the language being learnt. I used to listen to RFI (Radio France Internationale) back in my university days. I realised that the vocabularies learnt in class were repeatedly used on the radio, serving as a reminder and improving my listening comprehension and fluency level Since most adult like to know what is going on in their country and across the globe, listening to online news in your language of choices is quit interesting although it might be difficult at first, as you would only understand few words. This strategy also helps in neutralizing linguistic interference of your native accent and allows you to gain near native speakers' accent.

Barriers to learning a language as an adult can be overcome by firstly identifying the need for the language. Is it to communicate with a new community? To understand your child's learning, and to help with homework? Or to navigate the new environment? Or to engage globally? Audios and videos provide practice in listening to, and speaking the language. Repeated oral practice of the language builds confidence in the adult learner, and encourages them to communicate without fear of using words wrongly. Pictures, reading games, books and magazine boost the adult learner's vocabulary. Once the learner has mastered listening, speaking and reading, they are ready to begin writing. Online learning platforms have varied activities for the learner.

Speaking with native/near native speakers has a double benefit when it comes to language learning: first, you're absorbing the most natural-sounding pronunciation, cadence, and vocabulary, as well as idioms and slang that rarely make their way into more formal classroom settings. Second, you get to experience the main benefit of learning the language: connecting with others. This is fulfilling on a personal, human level and is a great motivator for continuing to practice the language.

Set clear goals: Write down your language learning goals and create a plan of action. Identify specific milestones you want to achieve and set deadlines for yourself. Break down your goals into smaller, manageable tasks that you can work on each day. Immersion: Surround yourself with the language as much as possible. Watch movies and TV shows in the target language, listen to podcasts or music, and read books or news articles. Find native speakers to practice with in person or online using language exchange platforms like iTalki or Tandem.

Quand je penses à ça, je penses immensément à l’effort et la force de se mettre dans le milieu des gens qui ont comme langue maternelle, la langue qu’on espère apprendre. C’est vachement important d’utiliser la position géographique pour se submerger dans l’ambiance. Il s’agit d’engagements sociaux, culturels et professionnels qui permettront à développer la confiance en soit pour pouvoir maîtriser la langue.

Apart from reviewing and revising it's important to make an active use of your mental lexicon, i.e. the vocabulary we store in our mind is mostly "passive", we understand those words when used by others or read but we don't use them when speaking that language we're learning. You can store hundreds of words but only make a limited active use of them. Therefore, forcing oneself to use as many words and, by extension, structures and expressions, that we don't tend to use is the key to make that review and revision effective. In a nutshell, put all your vocabulary in action!

Regular practice: Make language practice a part of your daily routine. Set aside a specific time each day for language learning activities. Use flashcards to practice vocabulary, read news articles or books in the target language, or practice speaking with a language exchange partner. Use a variety of resources: Experiment with different language learning resources to find what works best for you. Try using language learning apps like Duolingo or Memrise, sign up for an online course like Babbel or Rosetta Stone, or hire a private tutor for personalized instruction.

Learning from your mistakes is essential. However, there is one that comes before it. Deal with the fear of making mistakes. This fear might want to hold you back from practicing what you're learning. But that is where growth and perfection lies. So you should make up your mind to continuously practice, even if people laugh at you or you just feel embarrassed by your own mistakes. I recall how I consciously built my confidence and dealt with the fear of making mistakes when I started learning French. I'd pick up French journals and read like a newscaster. There were times I mixed both French and English in my sentences and when others laugh, I laugh along to catch fun. Speak it, write it, read it, listen. Just keep at it!

Focus on communication: Practice speaking and listening as much as possible. Find opportunities to speak with native speakers, even if it's just ordering food at a restaurant or asking for directions. Listen to podcasts or watch videos in the target language to improve your comprehension skills. Review and revise: Regularly review what you have learned to reinforce your knowledge. Use flashcards or spaced repetition software like Anki to review vocabulary and grammar rules. Revisit previous lessons to refresh your memory and solidify your understanding.

I want to add as well that it is okay to make mistakes. Too often we are too concerned about perfection, and that does not exist when we are speaking a language. So be okay in the mistakes that you make.

Enjoying the process is what keeps you going when the going gets tough. It's important to find enjoyable ways to learn, but it's equally important to notice the small achievements along the way that take you to the finish line. For the past couple of months, my Korean learning has consisted mostly of watching Korean dramas - an enjoyable way to learn - and I've noticed that I can now understand many common phrases without the subtitles. It's also important to note that being consistent along your language learning journey doesn't necessarily mean studying 5 hours every day. It can also mean studying 1 hour once a week, or 15 minutes every other day. Find the way that works for you. That's how you can make the process enjoyable for yourself.

Stay motivated: Find ways to stay motivated and make language learning fun. Set up rewards for yourself when you achieve certain milestones, like treating yourself to a favorite food or activity. Join a language learning community on social media or find a language exchange partner who shares your interests.

It’s also important to consider that adults are often driven by practical motivations, thus task-based learning (TBL) can be a powerful strategy, immersing learners in practical situations that mirror authentic linguistic interactions. Benefits of TBL: Relevance: TBL provides this by focusing on real-world tasks, like attending a business meeting. Such scenarios render the language immediately practical and relatable. Context: By embedding linguistic structures within real-life contexts, learners grasp the grammar and understand when and how to deploy it. Confidence: Successfully completing tasks provides a sense of accomplishment. This can be a confidence booster, reinforcing learners' belief in their ability to use the language.

I don't believe there is a one-size-fits-all strategy for language learning, but one effective approach could be to connect your language learning to something you already know. For instance, making the learning experience more relevant to your life, particularly within your line of work, can be highly beneficial. As an IT professional, for example, you could focus on learning vocabulary and phrases commonly used in your daily tasks and engage with professionals in the target language in your field through social media. Additionally, integrating language learning activities into your daily routine can be helpful. By consistently taking small steps, you will make progress over time and achieve your language learning goals.

The most effective language learning strategies for adults often involve a combination of traditional and modern techniques. One highly effective method is reminiscent of the old Italian approach, where students repeat excerpts of texts in the foreign language after their professor. This method emphasizes learning through active participation, encouraging adults to read without constantly relying on a dictionary. Additionally, listening to peers and repeating phrases constantly helps in honing essential language skills, including reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Writing under supervision provides constructive feedback, enhancing the learning process further. This approach ensures a well-rounded language learning experience.

Target Language Competency Exams One of the most effective ways of learning new language as an adult is to boost your motivation by registering for that language competency exams. The anticipation of an upcoming exam fuels your dedication to study persistently, steering you towards success in language mastery. It goes without saying that certifications confirm your competency level in any profession or skills; Language isn’t an exception. Certifications, such as DELF, DALF, TEF for French, IELTS, TOEFL for English, or CELPE BRAS for Brazilian Portuguese, are more than just credentials. They are your voice, speaking loudly about your language proficiency long before you get the chance to showcase it. Certifications boost commitments!

If you are looking for a coach or teacher, find one that suits you. We have all had the experience in school where we didn't like a teacher, and that impacted our liking of the subject. Well, the same goes for an adult. I have a specific way of teaching which I know not everyone likes, but it is my style.