How to learn a new language: The definitive guide for 2026

Key takeaways:

• Learning a new language requires time and patience, but anyone can do it with the right motivation and methods.
• Speaking is one of the best ways to gain confidence in a new language, which is why it’s important to start speaking as soon as possible.
• Spaced repetition, immersion, shadowing, and comprehensible input are some of the best ways to master a foreign language.

If learning a new language is at the top of your 2026 bucket list but you’re not sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place. 

Trust me, I get it. I’ve been there. Picking up a brand-new language can seem scary, but it’s definitely not impossible. 

As a Promova expert, language learning is my specialty. I don’t just learn languages myself. I also help others build their language skills and navigate all kinds of real-life situations. And that’s exactly what I’m here to do now, too.

In this article, I’m going to give you an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide to help you learn a new language in 2026.

My journey in learning languages and helping others at Promova

Years ago, when I was just starting out on my language learning journey, I often felt lost. Languages always seemed so fun and exciting at first. But then I’d start browsing complex grammar textbooks and reading convoluted explanations of terms I had never even heard before. Suddenly, I’d feel stuck, intimidated, and completely unmotivated.

Luckily, I didn’t give up back then. I kept at it, perfected my techniques, and eventually achieved fluency in several languages. Now, I can confidently speak English, Spanish, and French. My Japanese isn’t too bad, either!

My journey was by no means simple. There was a lot of trial and error. I had to learn terms like spaced repetition and immersion. I had to give up on certain traditional methods that yielded no results. But in the end, I got there.

Now, I even get to use my language skills at work. At Promova, I help beginners and self-learners improve their speaking, grammar, and vocabulary. Over the years, I’ve been able to design language courses, create learning materials, and guide learners through several fluency levels.

This extra teaching experience is what makes me so confident that I can help you cross that language goal off your bucket list. I’ve been through all the ups and downs you may be currently facing, and I can help you navigate the complex learning process that is language acquisition.

How to Use This Guide for Maximum Results

Before I let you in on all my little tricks and tips I’ve picked up over the years, I wanted to give you some quick advice on how to get the most out of this guide.

1. Read each section carefully

You may be tempted to simply skim this guide and only read the headings. I understand. I’ve done this, too. But when it comes to language learning, skimming won’t always cut it. To get the most out of each section, read it carefully and think about how you could implement this advice in your own routine.

2. Write down anything that stands out to you

Language learners often become expert note-takers. That’s because we’re always writing down a new word, a phrase we just heard, or a grammar rule we want to look up later.

Start building your note-taking skills while reading this guide. If a specific tip or a piece of advice really speaks to you, write it down so you can easily return to it in the future.

3. Choose one or two steps to implement right away

For this article, I put together 15 steps that will help you learn a new language. This may seem like a lot, and it can be — especially if you’re trying to implement all these steps at once. 

Don’t overwhelm yourself. Instead, choose one or two steps from the list and put those to use first. Once you’re comfortable with those, slowly add more and more. Remember: slow and steady wins the race.

4. Be patient with yourself

This guide will help you with your goals of second language acquisition, but it won’t help you perform miracles. Language learning takes time, so remember to always be patient with yourself. Progress won’t happen overnight, and that’s okay. You’re allowed to make mistakes and only take one small step at a time.

But now, without further ado, let’s get into the 15 best ways to learn a new language.

1. Remember why you want to learn

We all have different reasons for wanting to learn a language. Some people want to improve their career prospects and make their LinkedIn profile pop. Others may be hoping to move abroad or connect with business clients internationally.

Whatever your motivation may be, put it front and center of your learning journey. The most successful language learners are always those who have the drive to keep going.

When I first started learning Spanish, I knew I needed to master the language to be able to secure a summer job in Madrid. I’ve always wanted to spend the summer there, and that motivation was what got me through the first few months.

Tip: Write down why you’re doing this and pin it somewhere you’ll always be able to see it. This constant reminder of why you’re learning a new language will help you through the tough moments.

2. Start speaking early to build confidence

When learning a foreign language for the first time, many make the mistake of focusing on vocabulary and grammar practice. Others simply opt for reading long textbook explanations.

But here’s the truth: speaking is perhaps the most important skill when it comes to languages. It’s why most people want to learn a language in the first place: to be able to successfully communicate in it.

Start practicing speaking as soon as you can. Even if you only know how to say two or three sentences, try to put them to use. You can speak to your language buddy, your colleague who’s your native speaker, or even practice your speaking with AI.

3. Immerse yourself in your target language

Immersion is one of the best ways to learn a foreign language. That’s how babies learn, after all. They’re surrounded by the language at all times, which helps them naturally pick up more and more words and structures.

Even if you can’t quite become a baby to pick up a new language, you can still use immersion to learn faster. Put on music in your target language when you’re showering or cooking. Change the language settings on your phone or computer to your target language. 

Or simply put sticky notes all over your flat with each note describing the item it’s on in the target language (e.g., put the Spanish word “refrigerador” on your fridge).

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4. Choose comprehensible input over intense grammar drills

Stephen Krashen’s comprehensible input theory is one that many experienced language learners swear by. Comprehensible input is what you do when you listen to or read material that is slightly above your current language level.

This is the sweet spot for learning a new language. When you understand about 80-90% of what you’re consuming, your brain has to work hard to understand the rest of the content. It’s connecting dots and picking up new words and grammar structures as they appear, without it being too overwhelming or difficult.

Comprehensible input is a much better way to learn a language than, for example, non-stop grammar practice. It’s more fun, interactive, and leads to more natural language acquisition.

5. Use a spaced repetition system

A spaced repetition system, also known as SRS, is another excellent way to learn a language. If you had to learn a foreign language in school, chances are that you were asked to do a lot of cramming. Likely, most of those words you tried to stuff in your brain didn’t stick around for long.

That’s because memorizing a large amount of vocabulary at once and then never revising it is not the best way to learn a language. The spaced repetition system, which is used by flashcard apps such as Anki, works with the human brain and helps you store new words in your long-term memory.

The idea is simple: the app shows you words that you find difficult more often, while you’ll only see the easy words every now and then. The system knows how much time you need before it’s time for a vocabulary refresher. 

If you’re serious about learning a new language and aren’t just looking for short-term results, spaced repetition is the way to go.

6. Practice every single day

How many times have you heard the phrase “consistency is key?” It’s a common saying for a reason. Language learning isn’t about having long, intense study sessions once every two weeks. That won’t yield many results. The better strategy is to practice your target language every single day, even if it’s for just a couple of minutes.

With apps like Promova or Duolingo, you can do simple, bite-sized language lessons that will easily fit into your busy schedule.

While longer sessions are also important, consistency is essential. It’s better to just do a little bit every single day than to do nothing at all simply because you don’t have an hour to spend on language learning on Wednesdays.

7. Shadow native speakers

Shadowing is another great way to improve your language skills. Pronunciation is something many new learners struggle with. It can lead to a lack of confidence when it comes to spoken language.

If you’re worried about this, try the following method: listen to native speakers (e.g., on the radio or on YouTube) and try to repeat what they say. Mimic their tone of voice, their pronunciation, and where they put emphasis in each word and sentence.

This is an excellent way to sound more like a native speaker and improve your fluency.

8. Focus on small, achievable goals (and update them regularly)

It’s easy to have these huge goals that we want to achieve. 

When I first started learning French, I knew I wanted to become fluent in the language. But if that was my only goal, I might have easily found myself feeling burnt out. Fluency doesn’t happen in just a few days or even weeks, and not being able to tick anything off my to-do list would’ve made me feel quite discouraged.

Instead, I created a list of smaller, more achievable goals. I focused on learning the 100 most common French words first. I learned how to count to 10. I figured out how to introduce myself in the language. 

Set yourself small goals that you can check off regularly. Update these goals when you’re done with them and keep going. You can do this!

9. Practice in the shower (or on the go)

There are so many small moments in our day-to-day lives that we spend in silence. Whether it’s showering or commuting to work in your car, these moments could easily be filled with some simple language practice.

Personally, I like to talk to myself in the shower about the day I just had. When I practice my Japanese, I always start by describing my morning, then my work day, and finally my plans for dinner. It may just be a simple 10-minute practice, but it helps me feel more confident when I have to speak to other people.

10. Forget about perfection

Perfectionism is the number one enemy of language learning. We all want to sound like native speakers and make no mistakes, but that’s simply not possible. Language learning comes with occasional missteps, and that’s completely normal.

In fact, insisting on perfection can cause you to get stuck in your learning journey. If you’re always afraid of making mistakes, you won’t speak and write as much as someone who decides to simply go for it. That other person gets a lot more practice in, and eventually, they’ll be the ones making fewer mistakes naturally.

At the end of the day, it’s all trial and error. So don’t be afraid of mistakes and misunderstandings. They will happen, and that’s okay.

11. Find a language partner

Learning a language on your own will only get you so far, especially when it comes to speaking. However, this doesn’t mean you have to sign up for expensive courses. Instead, you could find a language buddy.

The perfect language partner is someone who is a native speaker. You can look online for someone interested in a language exchange, or simply ask your international colleague. If you’re good at speaking Italian and they are fluent in German, you could set up a little language exchange club and learn more about each other’s languages and cultures.

12. Listen to language learning podcasts

Language learning podcasts are some of the best learning resources out there. When I first started focusing on French, podcasts were one of the first things I researched.

There is so much useful material out there. Whether you’re a complete beginner, an intermediate learner, or an advanced speaker, there’s a podcast there that you could listen to to improve your language skills.

The best part is that you can use podcasts along with some of the other steps we’ve mentioned. For example, they’re great for both immersion and shadowing.

13. Watch your favorite movies in your target language

I used to be obsessed with the popular TV show Friends. I knew all the famous lines and could tell you the exact timeline of Ross and Rachel’s relationship. Surprisingly, this came in handy when I was learning Spanish.

Friends, much like most popular TV shows and movies, has been dubbed in many languages, including Spanish. So I decided to rewatch the entire show in Spanish. I knew the context of each scene, and I knew what the characters were talking about. This helped me pick up more Spanish words and immerse myself in the language in a way that felt both comfortable and familiar, yet still new and exciting.

14. Read children’s books

When you first start learning a language, you can’t exactly read classic books in their original form. The language is simply too advanced for a beginner. 

However, reading is still an important skill to practice. One of my favorite things to do when I start learning a new language is to read children’s books. These short stories are often simple, fun, and adorable. They’re easy for me to understand and a great way to get into the habit of reading in my target language. 

You can read your childhood favorites in translation or even look for children’s books from the country where your language is spoken.

15. Practice with AI

Last but not least, I would recommend using modern technology to your advantage. AI is a huge topic these days, and for good reason. It’s completely changed the way our world works, and it has made a lot of mundane tasks much simpler.

Language learning is another area where AI can help you. You can try using ChatGPT to practice simple, text-based conversations. There are also many apps out there, including Promova, that use advanced AI features to help new learners become more fluent with personalized feedback and AI role-play scenarios.

Achieve your language learning goals with Promova

If you’re serious about learning a new language, try Promova to help you get started.

Promova is an excellent tool for individual learners, as well as entire teams. Here’s what you’ll get when you sign up:

• Promova app: Access bite-sized lessons, individual feedback, progress trackers, and more.
• AI tutor: Your personalized AI tutor will help you practice speaking, improve your grammar and pronunciation, and build your vocabulary.
• Specialized language courses: Whether you work in the medical field, in business, or are simply interested in learning ASL to be more inclusive, Promova has you covered.
• AI role-play speaking: Practice real-life scenarios over voice or text whenever and wherever you want.

Partner with Promova today to check that language learning goal off your bucket list!

From motivation to mastery: make it happen

Language learning may seem intimidating at first, but here’s the simple truth: anyone can do it. All you need is the right mindset, motivation, and methods.

When I first started learning languages, I had no idea what I was doing. I spent hours upon hours reading complex grammar books only to realize I was getting nowhere. Now, I know that there are better ways to learn, and that’s why I wanted to share them with you.

So what are you waiting for? Start learning your target language today!