Language is a skill one cannot master overnight, it takes time and dedication, but despite these challenges, learning a new language can be a rewarding experience. With dedication and effort, anyone can learn a new language and open a world of new opportunities: whether you want to travel, advance your career, or simply broaden your horizons - knowing languages definitely helps. In small countries, like Latvia, people are very pleased to hear that someone is learning the Latvian language, and it could help to open more doors and make your time in Latvia even more amazing.
Knowing Latvian can make your travel here more enjoyable and immersive. You can communicate with locals, understand signs and menus, and gain a deeper understanding of the culture. Not to mention that knowing a new language in general can help you connect with people from different backgrounds and cultures, allowing you to make new friends and broaden your social circle. Latvian might seem like a hard language to master at the beginning, but once you start you will open up a treasure box and want to dig deeper and deeper. So don’t be afraid of the challenges of learning Latvian, the most important is the first step - to start, and for you to not lose motivation here are some suggestions that can help you on your language-learning journey:
Set realistic goals: Decide what you want to achieve in learning the language and set achievable goals for yourself. It could be anything from being able to hold a basic conversation to achieving fluency. These could be only 10 minutes a day that you practice new words. Don’t try to set unrealistic goals, nothing kills motivation as unachievable goals.
Practice consistently: Regular practice is critical to learning a new language. Set aside sometime every day to practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Latvian. If you are currently living in Latvia - don’t be shy about using the phrases you already know everywhere - in a shop, in public transportation.
Immerse yourself in the language: Surround yourself with the language as much as possible. Watch movies or TV shows in the language, listen to music, and read books or news articles. Take the opportunity to be involved in social activities with the target language users - take up a hobby together with native speakers - sign up for a choir or dance lessons, and maybe get involved in a book or other interest club.
Find a language partner: Practice speaking with someone who is fluent in the language. You can find a language partner through language exchange websites or apps. Maybe the university where you are studying or the organization where you voluntarily work has a buddy program? Maybe you can be involved in mentoring activities? You can exchange language learning lessons with someone who is willing to learn your language in exchange for training you in their language.
Use language-learning tools and resources: There are many language-learning resources available that can help you improve your skills in a fun and interactive way. OLS is one of them. Here you can find the Latvian language learning community, train your skills and practice your language through forums like “Practice your Latvian”.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes: Making mistakes is a natural part of the language-learning process. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and keep practicing. As Albert Einstein once said: "A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new."
Take a class or get a tutor: Taking a class or working with a tutor can provide structure and guidance in your language-learning journey. It can keep you accountable during your learning process and help you to stay on track. Find out if the university offers Latvian classes where you can participate.
Remember, learning a new language takes time and effort, but with consistency and dedication, you can achieve your language-learning goals. We are here with you if you need any help!