Should I take language classes or teach myself?

You’ve heard all the reasons why some people don’t learn languages, many of these founded on long-held myths and misconceptions. The truth is, in today’s increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, proficiency in other languages is a vital skill that gives you the opportunity to engage with the world in a more immediate and meaningful way—whether in your neighbourhood or thousands of miles away—while better preparing you to compete and succeed in the global economy.

Language skills can be a significant competitive advantage that sets you apart from your monolingual peers. They are among the top eight skills required of all occupations—no matter your sector or skill level—and the demand for bilingual professionals is rising exponentially. Whether you’re hustling to land a new job or expanding your horizons, learning a language can open the door to opportunity. In addition to improving your career prospects and love life, science has suggested that speaking another language can unlock intellectual potential and may strengthen cognitive abilities.

Classroom teaching:

• In-person language classes are generally available in larger towns and cities throughout the world, either at colleges or private language schools, and in places popular with tourists as well as immigrants.
• Taking language classes as an adult can feel like going back to school, which might not always be a good feeling! The structure and the need to memorize and follow rules can feel restrictive to some.
• If you can’t travel to learn a language right now, or are just starting out and experimenting with learning a new language, you can also take online language classes. These offer the best of both worlds, as you can fit language learning around your other commitments, learn from the comfort of home, receive tailored lessons, and have access to language classes that you might struggle to find in your hometown.

Self-teaching:

• Don’t expect results to be that fast. Mastering fluency takes plenty of patience, practice, and repetition. In fact, experts we spoke to at Babbel surmise that even the easiest languages to learn if you’re a native English speaker—Spanish and French—take 24 to 30 weeks, respectively.
• Some apps encourage this with repetition tasks. Listening to podcasts and watching TV and movies can also be great supplements for learning.
• You never even have to step foot in a formal classroom—you can take entire courses by yourself, right from the comfort of your couch. That said, some languages are inherently more difficult than others.
• For language learning to stick, it’s important to practice regularly, with no more than a couple of days in between lessons, says Bowles. For best results, she recommends at least 30 minutes per day, four to five days per week. If it helps, set yourself a reminder for the same time each day.
• Reviewing can be a chore compared to learning new things, says Mentele. But if you actually want to learn a new language, rather than just memorize some fancy sentences, you need to review what you’ve done.

Any language learner can attest to making his or her share of mistakes while discovering a new language—often in front of an audience. It’s a necessary part of the learning process! Learning a language means putting yourself out there and moving out of your comfort zone. It’s up to you which method you think is better for you.