For many of us, the start of the new year is the time we often dust off our language dictionaries and workbooks and resolve to learn a new language. We conjure up dreams of communicating seamlessly with locals during our next trip and impressing our friends with newfound skills. But most of the time, as we get caught up in work and life, our plans get shelved along with our books.

對很多人來說，新的一年是吹去詞典和筆記本上的灰塵，學習新語言的好機會。我們總是夢想著在下一次旅行之中可以毫無障礙的和當地人交談，讓朋友們對自己大為贊嘆。但大多數時光，我們還是深陷工作和生活之中，很多的計劃也只是束之高閣。

But the truth is, learning a language shouldn’t be a chore. After all, reading, listening, and chatting with others are all great, enjoyable activities, and learning should be, too. And it also can be easy—if you approach it in a fresh way.

實際上，學習語言不該是個累人的活。畢竟，閱讀、聽力以及和別人交流都應該是很棒很享受的事情，那么學習也應該這樣。如果你能有全新的學習方法的話，那么學習語言也可以很簡單。

1. Learn as if You’re (Really) Young

像孩子般學習

When I start to learn languages, I often approach it through the eyes of a child. Children’s books and learning materials start with the basics and break them down into small fragments—and when you’re pressed for time, that can be much easier than getting into a dense workbook.

當我開始學習語言時，我總是用孩童般的眼光去學習它。孩子們的書籍以及學習資料都十分基礎，還分成了很多的小單元——如果你時間緊張，這會比你翻一本厚厚的筆記本簡單多了。

When I first started learning Korean, I learned my numbers in 10 minutes with the Korean Numbers Song. Later, I used children’s books and music videos to help gaugewhen I was ready to move past an introductory level. When I got to Korea, I gained confidence by speaking to nieces and younger students—they understood my basic words, and I wasn’t so worried about messing up. These conversations gave me the foundation to learn “formal” Korean later.

我最先開始學韓語時，十分鐘就學會了數字，這多虧了韓語數字歌的幫忙。接著，我用孩童的書籍和音樂視頻為標準，來檢測自己是否已度過了初級階段。當我到了韓國，和侄女們以及學生聊天讓我充滿信心——他們能聽懂我的基礎詞匯，我也不需要擔心說的亂七八糟。這些對話是我后來學習正式韓語的基礎。