Gurmentor_Encore

Many language learners struggle to achieve fluency. Perhaps because all information is too easy to obtain, the technologies have made us expect that we should somehow be able to "hack" anything and become fluent in a new language in a short time. Unfortunately, our brain is not just a digital device and there is no simple button to press for becoming fluent in a new language.

There are two main challenges in learning a new language:

1. We need to use a new word or phrase 100 to 150 times to embed it into our long term memory. The need for repetition is a way for our brain to prioritize the importance of an item of information. An item that is repeatedly used tells our brain that this item is very important. Language learners and teachers are frustrated when a student can't remember recently covered vocabulary. But you shouldn't forget about language learning apps like Encore!!! The choice of “repetitions” in Encore!!! is especially designed to allow one to hear and speak a word or phrase dozens of times till it becomes “usable”. 

2. The rules of the new language are almost never the same as the rules we use in our known language. The process of learning new rules allows you to really think differently in all other aspects of life. When we are learning grammar rules of the new language, our brain rebels and questions why, why? Maybe we accept the need to learn new words, but we are not prepared to accept that the way the words change their form can be so different from our known language.

Source article - https://gurmentor.com/what-are-the-challenges-in-learning-a-new-language/.

The answer to this such popular question "How long does it take to learn a new language?" depends largely on the following factors:

1. Your attitude and motivation. Everybody knows that if you are forced to do something that's not the best way to achieve the goal. The role of personal attitude and motivation is very important. If you look forward to each and every study session, you’re far more likely to memorize new vocabulary and understand difficult grammar points than someone who dreads studying.

2. Your language background. Some languages are so similar that their speakers can easily understand one another. On the other hand, some languages are so distant, like English and Chinese, that they require learners to internalize a completely different way of thinking about the world around us.

3. Your learning style. All language learners are different. Some enjoy practicing their conversational skills in small groups, while others prefer to study alone, some like to attend real classes, some prefer language learning apps on their devices. That’s why it’s important that the learning method you select matches your preferred learning style. Only then you’ll be able to enjoy your study sessions and remain motivated until you reach your goal.

4. Study frequency and duration. You need to repeatedly review everything you’ve learned over a long period of time, if you wanto to commit vocabulary to memory and learn grammar.