The amount of fun I’ve had with a language is directly proportional to how much I remember 10 years later: like the ridiculous Spanish curse words I learned listening to a friend’s salacious story, or the concerns stammered in Kichwa I heard when traversing some rapids on an ancient, rickety bridge.
The Italian vocabulary I stared down in a textbook in my university’s library meanwhile, lasted me just until the quiz. So give fun a chance! Here are some things I’ve found particularly fun and effective over the years that might be of service to you.
Make an account, explore and subscribe to “subreddits” (pages that are thematically-oriented to one specific region, interest, etc.) where people speak or study your target language. For example, if you’re learning French you might want to subscribe to the subreddits reddit.com/r/learnfrench, reddit.com/r/french or reddit.com/r/france—that last one being bilingual.
There, you’ll find great articles in your target language, along with comments from users. You’ll also come across memes, GIFs and fun images. Not only will you learn how other countries and cultures use these media—which is kinda fascinating all on its own—but you’ll also learn about a society’s favorite types of humor, plus ongoing jokes related to popular culture, current events and social issues.
You can also filter Reddit search results to only pull up posts in your target language.
You’ll just feel like you’re browsing away on Reddit, but you’re actively connecting with communities of language learners and native speakers.
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2. Use Region-specific Social Media
Yeah, Facebook is popular pretty much everywhere. But you may have also noticed that certain areas of the world have their own social media sites with intense regional followings. See what native speakers of your target language are using, then sign up and start chatting!
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3. Play Online Video Games
In terms of fun ways to learn a language, it’s hard to beat games like Minecraft, World of Warcraft and Team Fortress, which let you join group conversations and work cooperatively with others.
To get an idea of what gameplay will be like in your target language, check out the videos on Twitch. I’d recommend either searching the site by language (for example, type “German” into the site’s search bar) or by video game title—or both. Listen to how French trolls berate other players and work the word “n00b” into their sentences.
As for other popular games like Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto and so on, Google “party up” threads for speakers of your native language. Search for this using your target language! They often look to recruit more game companions on online forums, since gaming is always more fun when you’ve got buddies to chat with.
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4. Find Friends Online
Don’t just stop at language exchange sites for fun ways to learn a language. You may find it fun to use chat messengers and video conferencing to converse with native speakers, but that often involves stiff, formal conversation, awkward pauses and corrections. That adds a different level of pressure to the situation—you’ll still be in “learning” mode, trying to watch your words carefully and improve your speaking.
Want some more chill interactions? Try making friends in real life!
To get started, try Meetup. This is ideal if you’re living abroad and looking for more opportunities for casual interaction with native speakers or fellow learners. It’s also great while living in a country that doesn’t speak your target language—simply search for conversation nights and cultural activities related to the language, and you’ll be sure to find some like-minded peeps to hang out with. Discord is another great option for connecting with fellow language learners online.
5. Date in Your Target Language
Single and ready to mingle? Full disclosure—I got into something committed before the inglorious rise of Tinder and Grindr—but I know there are a lot of language learners out there looking to hook up. There are a few ways to go about finding matches who speak your target language, which may be the single most fun way to learn a language.
Set your region to a place where your target language is spoken.
Change your application interface to your target language.
Include your spoken languages in your profile, and attract native speakers like flies.
For sites and apps offering this option, filter potential matches by “languages spoken.”
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6. Set Your Phone to Your Target Language
Easy as cake. Navigating your phone in your target language forces you to use your target language every time you pick up that mesmerizing little device.
Eventually, you’ll learn all the key words you need to get to text messages, contact lists, emails and Facebook, and you’ll find that you’re swiping and tapping your device as quickly and easily as you did in your native language!
7. Apps
Ah, good old instant gratification. Apps are always there for you when you have a minute and can’t stand to be left alone with your thoughts. And they’ve largely “gamified” language learning, so you’ll stay hooked.
You can also try downloading your favorite smartphone and tablet games in your target language! For example, did you know that all those silly little games that you just can’t stop playing—take, for example, Plants vs. Zombies—are frequently available in Spanish, French, Japanese and many, many more languages? For some, you’ll need to do the initial download with the different language indicated. For others, you can simply change the interface language in game settings.
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8. Seek Out Recipes in Their Native Language
Can Paula Deen really make authentic fried plantains as good as any Ecuadorian mamita? Does Martha Stewart secretly have a Korean mother who taught her how to make that “ultimate” kimchi? Um, probably not.
If you want recipes that are authentic down to every last step of preparation, you’re better off searching for them in your target language. For example, few English plantain recipes will suggest you grab a rock from outside to smash ’em down after frying. That’s one beautiful little cultural detail you miss out on if you’re not finding recipes directly from their country of origin!
9. Cook!
Find some cooking blogs with authentic recipes in your target language, or watch cooking videos that somebody recorded of their mom and uploaded online for our benefit.
With videos, you can step right into an authentic kitchen, and let a native speaker of your target language take you to culinary heaven. Quality, step-by-step cooking videos are absolutely everywhere on the internet. Just search for your desired recipe in your target language on YouTube!
You’ll find everything from beautifully-lit and organized walk-throughs by professional chefs to normal people filming their home food preparation. Each type of video has its own advantages. The best part about any cooking video is that it was created for you to follow carefully. That means they’re usually very detailed. The cook will speak clearly, slowly and explicitly, which is perfect for language learners.
Cook along with them, or simply binge watch these videos when you’re hungry and daydreaming about delicious food.
10. Shop in Grocery Stores with Imported Goods
As a lifelong dawdler, I love leisurely strolling through grocery store aisles and mulling over the different items. This is even more fun when wandering around an ethnic grocery shop.
Any major city is bound to have Japanese convenience stores akin to those found on the streets of Tokyo. Latin grocery stores are arguably the most cost-efficient places to stock up on bulk bags of rice and beans. Most or all of the items in these kinds of stores will have labels written in your target language. It’s a language learner’s goldmine.
Make a shopping list based on the recipe you’ve found online in your target language—and write it out in that language too, of course.
Even if you live in a rural area, like myself, the nearest large town or small city should still offer plenty of options. Visiting one of these stores is really worth the occasional drive if you can swing it.
11. Order Imported Food Online
If you enjoy shopping online and get a rush of excitement when an Amazon box appears on your doorstep, try browsing online for foreign products related to your target language.
What do native speakers order while they’re abroad and feeling homesick? Is there a particular product their country is famous for?
Look for products with stellar reviews that offer little tastes of local cuisine. Try out sites like Amigo Foods, which specializes in Spanish and Latin American foods, or Gohan Market for Japanese ingredients and drinks.
12. Eat Out in Authentic Restaurants
If you’re learning abroad, eat where the locals eat. Avoid tourist-packed restaurants like the plague—they’re usually overpriced and serve food watered down to foreign palettes anyway.
If you’re in your home country, track down where native speakers of your target language own restaurants. This will introduce you to authentic food, and often the menu will be partially or fully written in their home language.
You can chit-chat with the hosts, waiters and busboys to your heart’s content, allowing you to try out your language skills and maybe even make friends.
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See? I told you these were seriously awesome ways to learn a language without studying. Now go have some fun and get started today!
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