How to learn a new language or improve a language in 6-8 months?

I have been one of those lucky people to start working right after graduation from the university. I have worked for over two years as an interpreter in Automotive industry and now I am entering a third years a proud Construction industry interpreter of Chinese language.

Traveling in China

Traveling in China

Traveling in China - Ping Jiang Lu

It's been a very rough path. Changing one industry to another had many challenges. The major one I would point out is that interpretation in Automotive industry gets stagnant after a year and it can easily become your comfort zone. It became mine.

Construction industry on the other side, never does. As soon as you finish one small part of your factory, building or bridge, there comes another one with a million small complexities. But, I wouldn't change it for the world. The complexities bring fun and willingness to wakeup and happily show up at my job.

I know many people who don't have that kind of a blessing.

With all that being said, my Chinese language knowledge in construction is good and it is being improved daily, little by little, but my knowledge of the "pretty Chinese" - as I call it - is something I am not that satisfied with. I want to be able to freely converse about art, politics, history, food and culture on all of those fancy dinners and banquets. Construction industry has brought many connections in my life and I want to be eloquent and well prepared to never ruin an amazing opportunity with being scared or ashamed of topics outside of my comfort zone - the construction industry.

There is a test that, I believe, encompasses all of the topics that are my weaker point right now and I plan to pass it, and not only that, but destroy them by making a very good base. When you have a good base, you easily build on your knowledge.

HSK test is the official test of Chinese language proficiency for non-native speakers and even though some of my colleagues wouldn't agree with me, very valuable for the aforementioned areas.

It is a test, so it has it's little tricks (the reason for my colleagues' opinion), but I know that if someone gave me a test such as to pass in English, my score wouldn't be maybe 100 points, but a good 90 - it definitely would.

It's time to get my Chinese to that level.

I have been avoiding this, putting it on my goals' list and deleting it. The reason for my avoidance has always been the same - my "why" was missing. Every single time when I procrastinate on anything, the reason of procrastination always ends up being the same - I don't know why I actually want this.

Here is my why:

• I want to be able to freely converse about art, politics, history, food and culture in Chinese in any opportunity I get, outside my work in construction.

• I want to be ready for my Master's degree - if I decide to go back to study.

Now, in University we have a special class where they teach us how to teach language to other people. That class has many useful things, but there was always one thing that I highly disagreed with. That is not how any of us goes through the speaking or any other language barriers. And pushing through a language barrier allows you to speak the language freely.

In real life this never happens with a textbook or more grammatical rules or even better speaking exercises.

Here is my humble proposal.

This is how I plan to prepare for my test and what I recommend to anyone else to use who wants to learn or improve their existing language knowledge. There is one requirement - become obsessed with acquiring the new language. And there are three practical advice.

1. Get yourself a good Textbook - Mine is HSK6 - Standard Course

   You need a Textbook or a Course to understand and learn the basics, especially if you're just starting to learn a language. You can find amazing courses on Udemy, and they're even really cheap. - If you're trying to acquire a new language - I would highly suggest a course or an instructor because you need someone to explain to you how the new language actually works. - If you're trying to improve the language you're already speaking, then a good Textbook will be enough, but a course or a good tutor can never hurt.

2. Listen to the music & binge watch movies and tv shows

   You need to learn how to think and feel in the language you're trying to learn. You need to see from the movies what would an American, Chinese, German do in certain situations, how they express their opinions, how they fight or do they maybe avoid confrontation altogether.

   These things are presented in a Textbook, but it's very difficult to learn them from one. To breakthrough the language barriers fast, you need to become German a little bit, you need to feel the passion the French feel, you need to let out the Asian sounds (:D) .

   Practically - I suggest you write down in a journal or a notebook one to two songs weekly and listen to them on repeat. In order for this to be effective and successful, choose songs that spark something in you and you like. Music enhances our feelings, use this to your advantage.

   - Find tv shows or movies you like and for the next six month binge watch them. Yes, binge watch them. Don't watch anything that is not in the language you're trying to learn. Have yourself fully invested.

3. Have a clear reason for studying the language

   If you're learning a new language just because it's nicer to speak a foreign language in life, you're going to fail 100%. There needs to be a clear reason behind this. Is this going to push your company to send you to Italy for 3 months and allow you to gain valuable experience from the mother company? Is your boyfriend or girlfriend's "yia-yia" (grandmother) going to be happy for finally expressing her love to you without the broken English or someone translating it for her, when she would rather shower you with love in Greek?

   Be very clear on your reason and the learning and interest will follow.

Now, I have a crazy additional tip and I especially love this one!

While you're studying for the next six or more months (my test is in 8 months), pay yourself (in real money - it doesn't have to be a lot) each time you have learned a new lesson, written down a new song or finished a tv show in Greek when you would rather be watching Grey's Anatomy - then use that money to go to the country which language you're trying so diligently to learn.

Have a reward prepared for yourself that you're looking forward to!

It works like magic.

One last thing I would suggest is to start with a tv show and let it inspire you to pick up that course or a text book.

Learning a new language is the most common New Year's resolution. Let this be the year you finally do it. I have given you a practical way, the rest is on you now.

Good luck!