10 Errors in Language Learning and How to Avoid Them

10 Errors in Language Learning and How to Avoid Them 10 Errors in Language Learning and How to Avoid Them Learning a new language can feel like youre walking in a minefield and trying to avoid errors at all costs.Theyre everywhere, and if you stumble on one, youre sure that everything you know about a language could blow up.Well, language errors might not be life-threatening, but its important to stay on the right path.There will be forks in the road and the wrong decision could lead you towards errors that will make you stumble in the learning process.Knowing what they are might help you dodge them.Thats where we come in!Keep your eye out for these 10 common errors, and you can safely enjoy the language learning journey ahead! Whats the Difference Between an Error and a Mistake?Its important to distinguish between mistakes and errors. Mistakes occur when you know a rule but violate it accidentally.  Hopefully, youll notice when this happens and correct yourself.Committing  an error means  unintentionally deviating from whats true.  These are a bigger issue.This post will be discussing the following two types of errors:Linguistic errors â€" A linguistic error happens when we lack knowledge of the rules of the language were trying to learn.  We havent learned enough about that language so we incorrectly implement rules.Much academic research exists on how and why these errors occur. If youre interested in the topic, you might read this article about the  types, causes and treatment of language errors.Perspective errors â€"  There can also be errors in the way we think about learning a language. Without knowing or understanding the process of learning a language, we assert false beliefs.Both of these are detrimental to language learning and should be avoided at all costs.10 Errors in Language Learning and How to Avoid ThemLinguistic Errors1. First language interferenceFirst language interference occurs when rules from your native language sneak in and affect your second language.Positive interference can actually improve your language skills. This occurs when you a ccurately apply rules from your first language that line up correctly with the rules of your second language.Negative interference is what you need to worry about. This occurs when you apply rules from your first language that dont match rules of your second language. This interference can create errors in your second language.Typically, these will show up in your speaking and writing when you try to implement structures from your first language like word order, grammatical gender or certain verb tenses.And although its impossible to know everything there is to know about your target language when you first start studying, you do want to find answers relatively quickly.That means that the best way to avoid these errors is through focused study. Ask yourself whats giving you the most trouble and make sure to set some time aside to get answers to your questions.As you get further into your language education, youll have an easier time distinguishing between the rules of your first and second language.2. PronunciationSome sounds in one language dont correspond to sounds in another, so these unfamiliar sounds can be hard to pick up.For instance, you may have noticed that many native Spanish speakers from Latin America struggle to make the th sound. Although you might hear this sound in Spain, the th sound doesnt naturally occur in Spanish in other regions.Whatever your target language might be, most native speakers will probably understand what you mean even if you dont pronounce every letter correctly. However, (especially in languages that use tones),  mispronouncing some words can cause confusion and will certainly be a clear signal that youre not a native speaker.The best way to combat these errors is through listening practice. The more you hear the sounds, the clearer theyll be. For particularly tricky sounds, you might even look for targeted lessons that focus on problem sounds. Many YouTube lessons cover tricky sounds, even going so far as to explain where to put your tongue.3. GrammarGrammar errors are the bane of any language learners existence. Theyre often a result of incomplete or inaccurate studying.For instance, Latin, Russian, German and Greek use the case system, which basically means that word endings change depending on each words role in the sentence. Since modern English has no equivalent, case systems are often difficult for native English-speakers to grasp.All the words can be the same between sentences, but if one word is in the wrong case, it can completely change the meaning of the sentence.To avoid grammar errors, its important to study not only grammar rules but also exceptions to these rules. Many languages have irregular verbs or other tricky rules that seem to violate the basic rules of grammar. While we can adjust to this fairly easily in our native language, it can be harder in a second language.The only way to learn and remember these rules is through careful study.4. VocabularyVocabulary errors occur when y ou lack a clear understanding of specific words. Even if youre an expert in grammar rules, not having enough words in your arsenal, or a clear understanding of a term, will impede understanding (false cognates, anyone?).While circumlocution (describing the word when you dont know the exact term) is one tactic when youre unsure of a word, more vocabulary study is a helpful way to prevent vocabulary errors. To ensure you use vocabulary properly, its particularly helpful to use resources that show you vocabulary in authentic contexts.FluentU is an ideal way to learn new vocabulary in context. FluentU uses authentic videos like movie trailers, music videos, news and more to improve your language skills. Each video is captioned, and the captions are annotated to provide you with a definition, associated image and example sentences. This is a perfect way to see how vocabulary is used in context. You can download the FluentU app for iOS  and Android or use FluentU online.5. Imbalance of sk illsBalance isnt just for yogis. Language learners need it, too.Lets pretend that you dont know how important each component of language is, so you skip over one entirely when you study. You prepare for your trip to Russia by speaking with a native speaker on a language exchange platform almost every day, but you neglect your reading skills. After a frustrating day around Moscow, you almost have a meltdown in the middle of Red Square. You cant read any of the signs!Be sure to make reading, writing, speaking and listening a priority in your target language studies in order to communicate fully. This is especially important if youre teaching yourself. You can do this by combining several resources or by finding a resource that focuses on a well-rounded education.Perspective ErrorsYou might have had a poor experience trying to learn a language before and need a slight attitude adjustment or some clarification. Some of the errors below might sound familiar to you and, hopefully, we can clear the air!6. Wrong languageWhen you choose what language to learn, youre choosing a life partner, so dont make the decision lightly.Choosing the wrong language can be demotivating and lead to you never meeting your goals. Thats why its important to consider your goals carefully before you start your learning adventure.For instance, if youre looking to learn a language for business, you might select a different language than you would choose if you were learning a language for travel. Motivation is key to language learning success and choosing the right language will keep the experience engaging.To ensure you select the right one, it helps to take some time to assess your objectives. If you need a little help, you might try this  advice from the Washington Post.7. Unrealistic expectationsIf youve tried to learn a language before and were unsuccessful, you might have unrealistic expectations. A lot of people expect immediate result, but this just isnt going to happen.So you werent able to have a full conversation with that German exchange student in college after one semester of German, and that upset you. But learning a language is a marathon, not a sprint.As long as you keep this in mind at the beginning, you can celebrate your successes rather than dwelling on how long it can take. If you go into it expecting immediate fluency, youre likely to be disappointed.How long it takes to learn a language will vary based on the difficulty of the language and your skill, focus and commitment. However, the Foreign Service Institute  estimates that languages take between 575 and 2200 hours of study to learn.8. Huge financial or time commitmentA lot of learners are turned off by perceived obstacles. Language-learning can seem too expensive or too time-consuming.However, this error in thinking can be quickly resolved. There are a plethora of options for language learners. If you truly want to learn a language, you can find the right resource for your needs.There are op tions for learners on a budget  and there are options that take only minutes a day. You dont need to let time or money stop you from fluency!9. Inability to understand native speakersThe first time you listen to a native speaker speaking your target language, you might just have an anxiety attack. Youre sure youll never understand them. This is particularly true if you listen without any supportive texts or translations.Language barriers exist, but you can overcome them. Its important to remember that everyone starts somewhere. Michael Phelps swam for many years before receiving any Olympic medals.Similarly, natural rates of speech seem significantly slower the more you study a language. What once seemed impossibly fast will one day feel like a normal pace.10. Dull resourcesSome learners have no idea that there are a variety of resources to choose from for learning languages and make the mistake of choosing the wrong one. You think about that old high school or college language text book and you shudder.Fortunately, youre not restricted to that anymore. Technology advances every day, which gives us an endless supply of resources to choose from. Or, if you prefer resources like that old  textbook, you have more than one option to choose from.Whatever you choose, its important to select your resources carefully. Youll want resources that exercise your reading, listening, speaking and writing, but youll also want to make sure these resources hold your attention and appeal to you. If you like a personal touch, you might try a private tutor.Watch out for these errors as you begin your studies in your target language.If you carefully weave your way through the treacherous path to learning, fluency will seem like a walk in the park! And One More ThingIf you really want to kick the dullness and problematic artificiality out of your language learning routine, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news a nd inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that real people speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.