Tips to learn an additional language as an adult, especially if you are dyslexic

First and foremost, I think the most important thing to remember about dyslexic language learning – is that you must see and hear the words at the same time. This isn’t something that is 100% always possible in every language learning moment but try to focus on keeping the dual sensuality consistent during your study sessions. I think using a seeing and hearing sandwich is vital for keeping the words and phrases concrete in the brain.

Use Color

Using color increases retention, and there are many ways in which you can use color in your study. A popular option is to use a variety of colors when taking notes or writing flashcards. Some strategies have the note taker use multiple colors when initially writing their notes. Other strategies have the note taker color code notes after class/tutor time in individual review. You can visit https://study.com/blog/5-tips-for-color-coding-your-notes.html for a color code notes method.

Another option highly recommended for individuals with dyslexia is using colored background paper or a transparent overlay. Studies indicate that using a non-white background helps increase retention in dyslexic readers. In one study https://juniperpublishers.com/jojcs/pdf/JOJCS.MS.ID.555591.pdf Men showed better recall with yellow paper, where women showed better recall with blue paper.

There has been a lot of discussion around color theory and how color impacts emotions while learning. Blue is generally thought of as calm and increases productivity. Whereas red is very stimulating and increases attention. (You can see more on colors here https://www.aop.com/blog/what-colors-help-children-learn) However, the way we interact and understand colors is very different in different cultures (https://newprairiepress.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4001&context=aerc).

Essentially, using color is really beneficial for anyone in their studies. It has been proven to increase recall and retention in learners. A very useful tip for dyslexic learners is to focus on using non-white background paper or transparent color overlays to increase learning. We also know that color can have an impact on the individuals emotional learning journey, however color psychology is complex and varies with culture. Therefore the best color-coding-study method is highly personal and may take time to perfect for you.

Use Flavor

This is such a simple tip- but chew gum while studying. Chewing gum while studying can help activate the learning processes of your brain https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/acp.3467. Chewing gum while learning has shown to increase alertness and test grades of students. A trick I used a lot in college was to chew a specific flavor gum while studying and then chew the same flavor while taking the test (or just before the test if food wasn’t allowed during the test). This little trick always helped to put my brain in the right frame of reference for the material.

Utilize Your Entertainment

Making study time fun can sometimes be a challenge, but an easy way would be to use your favorite movies and TV shows. Here are four ways to utilize your entertainment to maximize language learning.

1.We all have our favorite TV shows or movies we re-watch. Take a well known show or movie and switch the language to the language you are learning.

2. Alternate your languages on your TV shows or movies. Do one episode or movie in language A, then in the next episode or movie – switch to language B.

3. Watch your show with one language in audio and the other language in subtitles, then re-watch it and flip the languages.

4. Or- just turn on a show or podcast in the language you are learning and fall asleep to it.

Do Spelling Lists

Take it back to elementary school and give yourself spelling lists. Do spelling lists of words that sound similar. Do spelling lists of words that mean similar things. Do spelling lists of words that look similar and maybe just have one or two letters different. Do spelling lists of words you just can’t remember. Do spelling lists of new vocab each week. Do spelling lists of conjugations. Do any kind of spelling list that seems like it will help you, or of anything thing that seems too difficult to remember.

Write

Use your creative writing skills and put your language knowledge to the test by just taking a stab at writing whatever you want in your learning language. You can write stories or letters or journal entries and check with your tutor, or google translate, to make sure you are writing correctly. Going slow, and using your critical thinking skills to guess your writing first – then double checking correctness – will absolutely help your learning progress.

Create Charts or Graphics

Doodle on your notes to help remember what you learned.

Doodle on new words to remember what the words mean.

Make graphics for language rules.

Use images on your flash cards.

Make tables for conjugations.

Make tables for words that are similar, sound similar, look similar, mean similar things.

Use graphics and tables for anything that links up in your mind or will help you remember what you have learned.

And don’t forget to use color!

Use This Creative Drawing Trick

Piggy backing off of the tip before, here is a specific graphic tool that will help. To practice memorizing words in your learning language – make a graphic using the word that you are trying to memorize. The first option is to use the lines of the letters in the word to create an image of the meaning of the word. For example: in the above image, the “g” forms the head and foot of the cat. The “t” forms the tail and the hind foot of the cat. The “o” is drawn as a yarn ball for the cat’s toy. The second example: write the word very small, repeatedly, to create the outline of the meaning of the word. In the second drawing of image above, the word “gato” is written all the way around the drawing of the cat, to create the outline of the drawing. Using creative skills and repetition will solidify the meaning of the words in your brain.

Make Flash Cards

Flash cards are a classic brute memory tool we’ve been using for a long time. However, you can increase the probability of retention by making your own flash cards. Bonus tip: use color and graphics, as discussed above – color really helps recall and is absolutely a tool that you should use in your study. Some flash card methods include:

Side 1: Word or phrase with graphic – Side 2: Translation with graphic

Side 1: Word – Side 2: Graphic for translation

Side 1: Word and graphic – Side 2: Translation

Side 1: Graphic – Side 2: Word

Or any variation! Make it interesting by getting other students involved and/or make it a game.

Grab A Tutor

It is well known that grabbing a coach or tutor for anything you want to learn will drastically improve your learning. So much so that there is a theory called the “Rubber Ducking” theory – which suggests that when you are studying or stuck on a problem – teach a rubber duck. By focusing on details and explaining the material, you often work through the lesson or problem yourself. You can check out more about this here https://medium.com/@jkarma0920/rubber-ducking-what-it-is-and-why-it-works-5d026fd9ae58.

Doing a quick google search you find that there are so many sites dedicated to teaching languages. Here are a few: Verbling, Preply, iTalki, Verbal Planet, Lingoda, Rype, Live Lingua, Myngle, Lingoci, Upwork, or just using facebook groups to connect with a tutor. Each online teaching system will have their own way of teaching and you will need to do research and trial & error to find a system that works for you.

Another option is to find a tutor at your local college. You can reach out to the language college at your local university and ask if they know any graduate students looking to make a little money on the side. Give your email to the college and have the students contact you.

Use a Language App

I think the first thing to do when you are looking into learning another language is to download a free language learning app and to just go for it. The apps are created with science backed learning strategies to help you memorize and retain the language learning material. Here are some language apps to look up: Memrise, LinguaLift, Rosetta Stone, Duolingo, HelloTalk, Mindsnacks, Busuu, and Babbel. All of these apps have different price ranges, some are free, some have a free trial, and some cost a little money. The good news is that you can try one or try them all. Also, this isn’t an exhaustive list – there are more language apps out there to choose from.

• Also, you don’t have to just stop at standard language learning apps. You can also look for language learning apps that focus on games. Check out this
• site with recommendations on language learning games https://www.tandem.net/blog/best-language-learning-games.

Utilize the Library

The library is such a great tool for anything you want to learn in life. While the library will have a lot of useful books and tools to help you learn another language, don’t forget kids books. Grabbing kids books in the language you are learning is a fun colorful way to spark your inner child and help you learn your other language in a similar way to how you learned your first language. While the library is free and a fantastic public tool – you can also buy these books online too – just don’t forget to utilize your local library and library apps!

Surround Yourself With Words

Creating an environment where you are constantly looking at your new language will help your learn faster. Some ways you can surround yourself is by labeling everything, re-label everything in your pantry. Label your lights, light switches, furniture, beauty products, plants, etc… . Go crazy with it. Label everything and maybe add a wall of phrases. The bathroom mirror is also a good whiteboard for specific things you want to look at every day. You can tape up flash cards, words, or even use dry erase markers on the glass ( it easily washes off). Think outside of the box in your own home to help you push your learning forward.

Practice!

Get out of your comfort zone and practice! You can practice with friends or family who already speak the language or are learning the language. You can use online communication tools by speaking with other students all over the world – or fluent speakers who are interested in helping you learn. You can challenge yourself daily by translating things you say every day or co-workers or family members in your head after the fact. Or, maybe even book a trip somewhere and practice the language in a real setting. The truth is- you will never really learn a language until you actually speak with others in the language. Good luck and have fun!