Introduction:

Learning Kannada is a rewarding, fascinating, and occasionally frustrating experience. Yet sometimes the most challenging thing can be finding good learning resources and – especially if you’re not in Karnataka – practice opportunities.

Some focus on the fulfillment of self-goals, while others look for guidance from others. Some people are lazy even when they know how to read or how long to read. Here are some tips for those who are self-motivated to read Kannada.

• Identify your goals:

What do you actually want to do with the Kannada language? If your aim is to speak with the Kannadiga side of your family, then you’ll need to hone in on your speaking and listening skills. It will also make sense to learn some of the vocabulary specific to the topics your family likes to talk about.

• Create a study plan:

Now you know what you want to study, decide how and when you’re going to do it. But be realistic! If you’re a busy person, you’re unlikely to have two hours a day, seven days a week to study.

Go at a manageable rhythm. You don’t want to dread your study sessions.  It will be more effective than a long, intense session of cramming once a week.

• Decide how you’re going to study:

We’re going to explore a huge number of courses, textbooks, apps, podcasts, YouTube channels, online classes, and more in this article. We’ll tell you our honest opinion of them, and for many of them, you can click through and read a more detailed review along with a rating.

• Track your progress:

It can be hard to see your progress on a day-to-day basis, and this can make learning a language demotivating. Some days, you’ll feel like your listening ability has deteriorated. Other days, you’ll struggle to remember the “basic” vocabulary that you learned and drilled five months ago, only to never use it again. (After all, how often do you say the words “mouse,” “accountant,” and “ice” in everyday life.

• Reward yourself by doing fun things in Kannada:

We’re not talking about reading a level-appropriate book to practice your reading. Sure, it’s a great way to study – but we want you to actually reward yourself, not just add to your homework list.

Try watching a movie because the trailer looks amazing. 

• Learning the Kannada script:

Even if your main goal is to speak Kannada, you’ll need to learn the script in order to decipher bus timetables, read menus and prices, and understand street signs. Fortunately, it shouldn’t take you too long.

• Kannada classes:

A teacher can guide you through grammar rules, give you personalized feedback, and help make sure you’re speaking as well as studying Kannada.

• Community feedback:

Sometimes, you just need a fellow learner or native speaker to offer a helping hand. Perhaps you’ve come across an idiom that isn’t in the dictionary, or you’d like someone to tell you if a sentence you’ve written is grammatically correct.

• Language exchange.

There’s nothing like speaking Kannada with native speakers for improving your fluency, response time, and confidence. Fortunately, you don’t have to go to Karnataka to do this.

• Kannada language courses: online, App-Based and audio:

Signing up for a course will give your learning structure and make it easier to measure your progress. You might find it keeps you motivated. And while you won’t find Kannada courses on Rosetta Stone, Duolingo, Busuu, or Babbel, we’ve found plenty of alternatives that are worth trying out.

• Kannada textbooks

Using a textbook can add structure to your studies, especially if you haven’t signed up for a course or classes. Bear in mind that while textbooks can give you a good foundation in grammar and vocabulary, you might need to look elsewhere to practice listening. Plus, your spoken Kannada will definitely benefit from a language exchange.

• Learning Kannada via youtube:

If you feel like you’re too focused on textbook Kannada, or are simply more of an aural learner, YouTube can be a great option.

• Kannada fiction books and poetry:

As a Classical Language of India, Kannada has a rich literary history that stretches from the ninth-century Kavirajamarga through to the modern-day. But while there are numerous classic poems that are worth reading, you’ll probably find it easiest, to begin with, something more modern.

• Conclusion:

There’s a surprisingly large number of ways to study this beautiful language.

So, try out a Kannada course, book classes with a teacher, and start reading the imaginative novels of some of Karnataka’s greatest authors. It won’t be long until you’re speaking Kannada with confidence.