Learning a new language as a working adult: Self Study or Language Lessons?

Learning a new language can be tricky, especially if you have to juggle a full-time job. While some may find it easier to manage their time by self-studying, others have found language lessons the more beneficial approach.

If you’ve been self-studying but unsure whether you should enrol yourself into language lessons, we’ve got you covered.

Self Study

1. Learn at your own pace

Students who opt to self-study often enjoy the flexibility of being able to learn at their own pace. If you prefer to set your own schedule and pace, self-study is going to work out great for you. However, having this much flexibility may deter you from progressing as fast as in a language course.

2. Little to no financial investment

If you are on a budget, there are numerous language apps and a vast library of YouTube videos you can take advantage of to learn a new language. Some premium features to advance your language learning may require a small fee but these never exceed the amount you might spend on language lessons. However, sometimes less is more and you may find yourself overwhelmed by all the free learning materials available.

If this is you, language lessons with a dedicated teacher can provide the structure you need.

3. Learn based on your own interests or needs

Different people absorb information differently. Learning a new language by self-studying will allow you the freedom to decide how you want to learn. Be it through watching your favourite show or listening[1] to podcasts, there are no limits to which content you choose to consume. The downside to this method of learning is it might become cumbersome along the way as you won’t have a way of knowing which content is suitable for how far along you are in your studies.

Language Lessons

1. Support of a teacher and peers

Being in a classroom environment will allow you to have access to a professional who is qualified enough to teach you a new tongue. Their expert understanding of the source language can help you understand complex sentence structures or phrases much faster than if you had to do your own research. Another advantage of being in a class with others is that you can learn from each others’ mistakes. Sometimes it’s difficult to notice your own mistakes and the occasional constructive criticism will be able to get you much further along unlike when you are on your own.

If you are someone who does not do well in group environments, online classes can be a comfortable alternative.

2. Discipline and keeping on track

Discipline plays a huge role when it comes to learning a new language. If you find yourself skipping your own self-study lessons, being in a class can keep you disciplined in your studies and keep you on track with the progress you are making. You are less likely to procrastinate[2] when you are enrolled in a language course. Even though each student learns at their own pace, having some friendly competition with others in your class might even motivate you to put more effort into your language learning.

3. A structured curriculum

Learning is one thing, but being able to retain information is another. Language lessons with a school use a structured curriculum that is most likely tried and tested for success. You learn what is necessary at the right time without spending hours finding the right materials. This ensures that you spend more time learning, practising and retaining what you learned.

Whether it’s for personal development or to level up your career, there are innumerable benefits of learning a new language. If you’re still unsure if language lessons are for you, let us be your guide.

Contact us to let us know what you’re looking for and us folks from Lingo School of Knowledge will be in touch as soon as possible.

References

1. PhysOrg.com. (2009). Phys Org. Retrieved from New study may revolutionize language learning: https://phys.org/news/2009-01-revolutionize-language.html

2. Jaffe, E. (2013). Association for Psychological Science. Retrieved from Why Wait? The Science Behind Procrastination: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/why-wait-the-science-behind-procrastination