10 TIPS HOW TO LEARN SLOVAK

When people find out that I was able to learn six languages on my own, they tell me that I have great talent for it and that I am lucky in this way. They wish languages would come to them as easy as they do to me. But did those languages really come to me easily, and do I really have some talent? I’m sure they have no idea of how I learned those languages, what I did, or how much time and afford I put in it.

My opinion is:   … it is not about the talent at all!

Hello! Have we meet yet?

I am Božena, a native of Slovakia, Slovak language teacher, coach, and mentor.

I remember the day I started to learn my first foreign language outside of a school. I was excited, enthusiastic, and … overwhelmed. There was so much to read, write, memorize … I didn’t know how and where to start, what to do first, what next. But I knew that the old traditional method of memorization did not suit me at all. So, I got to work and tackled down the whole process of learning a foreign language. It resulted in my own method that was fun and very engaging. Six months into my learning I was able to participate in a conversation.

Ever since, I’ve been teaching others how to repeat that process on their own.

As a foreign language teacher by profession with many years of experience, I’ve helped hundreds of people acquire the Slovak language.

I can help you, too.

So, let’s start with some tips that will help you with your Slovak.

Tip #1:

Start with choosing proper learning tools

But what are the proper learning tools? And why do we need them?

In general, learning tools are supposed to help us with our learning. There are many, many, many different learning tools, like books, flash cards, audios and videos, software, apps and so on. I suggest finding something that you would enjoy using.

For learning the Slovak language, I would recommend using language learning tools in the following order:

1.  Listening tools

Listening tools are the most important tools in your language learning. Choose resources like audios and videos that you’re actually interested in. If you are a beginner, choose something that is appropriate to your level, otherwise you might get frustrated with it. And please, be an active listener! Make sure that you pay attention to the content during the listening. 

2.  Reading tools

Reading tools are the most stress-free way to learn the meaning of the words. Reading is a very important language skill because it can improve your verbal communication skills. But silent reading in your head will not do it, you have to say the words out loud! 

3.  Vocabulary-building tools

Vocabulary is the building block of language learning. The better vocabulary the better is reading and writing. It also increases speaking confidence in conversations because you understand better in the first place, and then you are able to form your thoughts faster.

4.  Writing tools

Writing in Slovak is not easy, but you should do it because it helps reinforce some of the connection between listening and reading. It also gives you a safe space to trial and error while you are trying to write down new words, phrases, and grammatical constructions.

5.  Pronunciation tools

Pronunciation might be tricky, especially in the beginning of the Slovak language learning, but it’s important. You want to be understood, right? And no, your pronunciation doesn’t need to be perfect. Just so the natives can understand you. By the way, adults can learn a good pronunciation as well as children, so start practicing it, no excuses.

Tip #2:

Speak from day one with the right input.

You can get input by reading, or by listening or watching something in Slovak. Choose what YOU like the best. Or choose all of them! Remember: You cannot start speaking if you don’t have any input because you will not know what to say. And yes, even a beginner can start speaking with repeating single words after hearing them.

Tip #3:

Go for comprehensible input.

That means - it has to be at your level, and you should understand most of it. If you are just starting to learn Slovak, chances are that you will understand very little or maybe nothing. It depends on how much time you spent previously on listening to authentic content. If you are a complete beginner and you don’t know a word, start with input for beginners and learn those first words and phrases so you can start understanding Slovak language. Gradually you will be able to understand more and more.

Tip #4:

Vocabulary is more important than grammar.

Vocabulary is the key to learning Slovak language. To be able to take an active part in any possible life situation, you need to master a variety of topics, that means you have to have a pretty big storage of words. Learn words that are relevant to you and learn them in context, from situations. It will be easier for you to recall them later. Do not worry about the grammar at the beginning of learning, focus on it at the right time, that means, when you really need it.

Tip #5:

Don’t worry about making mistakes.

Be like a child. When little children learn their first language, they make tons of mistakes every day and they don’t care. And nobody around them cares. They are just learning a language. Making a mistake is a natural part of language learning. Don’t sweat it and move on.

Tip #6:

Get used to the language.

You need a lot of exposure to the language in order to understand it. In order to understand it, you need to notice the language. If you are a complete beginner, postpone it a little bit so you don’t feel overwhelmed.

Now, don’t get me wrong here, to notice the language doesn’t mean that you should hurry up and memorize grammar rules.

To notice the language means to notice what is the same, what is different, how it is structured, is there a certain pattern, are words similar to your language words, etc. The more you notice, the more you will understand, and the easier it will be for you to construct sentences.

Tip #7:

Be a responsible learner.

Do not rely on anybody else but yourself for learning. You don’t need talent for learning Slovak. You can do it! You just need to know what kind of learner you are, what way you like to learn, then choose the appropriate tools for you and go for it. If you need some help with that, I would be happy to help you.

Just send me an email to [email protected] or connect with me through my Instagram https://instagram/@bozenasslovak

You can also check out my website www.bozenasslovak.com  

Tip #8:

Multitask!

Improve your listening skills by putting on Slovak music or Slovak language podcasts while doing other tasks, like household chores, hobbies or workouts.

This allows you to learn outside of your designated study hours. On days where you’re really busy to study, try to at least listen to a podcast, like my podcast Learn Slovak and More, while you’re driving or taking the dog for a walk.

Tip #9:

Connect to natives

Language is about communication, so try to connect with somebody. What good is it if you don’t have anyone to speak to? If you are shy to talk to a native speaker, find another learner of the Slovak language and start a conversation to practice what you learned.

And while you are learning the language, try to also learn something about Slovakia and Slovak people. You cannot take the culture out of the language learning. I think you can learn a lot about natives’ lives from local TV, radios, newspapers, movies or literature.

Tip #10:

Be patient and positive!

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Learning Slovak is not an easy task. It doesn’t happen overnight. I know, there are some books or courses out there promising that you can learn a language in 21 days, or one month. I don’t think so! Yes, you can learn some words and phrases but learn it completely? That’s not possible. So, give yourself a break. Start to learn Slovak gradually, make it meaningful to you, and enjoy every bit of this journey.

Plus, have some fun with it!