If you are starting to learn a new language, then it’s good to consider where to start and which basics to pick up first. In this post we will discuss the essential parts of a language to start with. Over the years, I have consistently studied Spanish and ASL, and I hope my tips help you along your journey. This post will help to give you ideas for a curriculum, tools to use, and other tips for language learning!

What Are the First Things to Learn When Studying a New Language?

The first things to learn in a new language are the basic foundations of speech and conversation. This includes things like letters and numbers, actions, locations, and phrases that you will find in common sentences. When we think about where to begin when learning a language, it is good to consider the most essential words in phrases you already use, things like: “My name is” / “What is your name” “Where is the -?” and “How are you?”. Actions like eating, movements, and directions are great when building your understanding of a new language, along with emotions and feelings, but those details will come a bit later.

To best utilize these essential words and phrases, you’ll want to practice them in a conversational context. For example, a practice conversation may begin with “Hello, my name is -” and later talking about feeling hungry, foods you want to eat or have eaten, or other topics. This is a good way reflect on basic topics and groups like foods and simple words that might be discussed. Later, you’ll be able to include those essential words and phrases into longer form sentences and conversations. It is best to start small with basic words and work to incorporate those words into complex sentences later on!

Building a Curriculum

Building a curriculum will likely be based on the time you’ve set aside for your language practice and the kinds of tools you’ll be able to use in different situations (Check out this post about making time for language learning!). Once you know the times and environments you’ll be practicing in, you can start building a curriculum. To start, you’ll want to consider some of your larger goals, and break those down into smaller, actionable steps.

You don’t need to start with the largest goal (which is most likely fluency or being conversational in a language) but instead, let’s set goals for one year. First, the goal can be “I want to practice Spanish for 1 hour every day next year” or something similar, this is a great place to start and does not require you to set a proficiency goal – unless you want to have one! Next, consider how long you want to work on each topic, maybe you’ll spend one month on letters, numbers, and colors, another month on basic phrases, and another on locations. Write out these essential words and phrases you want to learn about and select which month to study them. Last, decide on your tools and get started! In our next post we will talk more in depth about building a curriculum for learning a language.

Tools

For the basics, some of the best tools are going to be flashcards, writing/notes, and videos. Repetition is Key! First, you can create your own flashcards from home or use tools like Duolingo or Rosetta Stone, which have many of the basics in their first lessons. Next, writing out these basic words and sentence clusters, then using your notes to review and test yourself will help you to remember what you’ve learned and easily practice on your own. Last, use tools like YouTube to review, reinforce what you’ve learned, and test yourself with videos to help you solidify those basics!

Tips

One of the best tips I’ve found when learning a new language is to practice thinking in your new language. Incorporating different questions from your target language into your day-to-day thoughts, like “What is this?” or “I am cold.” can help you to practice and remember phrases more easily. You can practice recognizing the colors in your surroundings with your new vocabulary, or practice counting different things in your target language throughout the day.

Conclusion

Beginning by setting goals will help immensely when learning a new language and learning those basics. Start by outlining what you’d like to achieve, build a basic curriculum, and start using your tools! Once you’ve reached your first goal, it’ll be time to reflect, check your proficiency, and set new goals! We hope this post has been helpful, and we’ll see you in the next one!