When you are trying to learn a new language it can be quite difficult to start from scratch, understanding every basic foundation. The language lessons, grammar, and making a conversation practice can be a long and challenging process. Especially, the Nepali language can be quite difficult as the alphabets have a unique structure and the grammar is also pretty vast.

So, here we have prepared 17 simple tips that can be helpful if you are trying to learn the Nepalese language or any other foreign language. So, after reading, try sticking to the plan you are comfortable with.

1. Four pillars of learning

First of all, before you set out on an adventure to explore a new language, you should understand the basic components for conquering it.  Generally, there are four major pillars that make the study of a new language complete: reading skills, listening skills, writing skills, and oral skills. So, even if you excel at one or two and leave two behind, you have not mastered the language, you need to be proficient in all these skills to be the conqueror of the language.

Be mindful of the basic pillars, generally, when a person dives in the new language they try to master the oral skill as it is the major skill required to communicate with others. But, to be a qualified language learner, the other aspects like listening, reading, and writing skills are also very crucial. So, before you choose a course, decide what is your need and what skill should you master accordingly.

2. Stay loyal to your motivation

The Nepali language is a pretty difficult language with very vast grammar, even the basic writing format also can be quite challenging, and so, if you don’t have a strong motivation to learn the language, you are likely to give up on the mid-way. So, stay true to your motivation and give your best studying the language then, the outcome will also be more effective.

You should understand that consistent study of the language over a period of time is the only key solution to get perfect results, although it may take some time you will get a good outcome if you stay focused and regularly continue the course. There is also a possibility of you not being able to manage enough time to study the language and start losing interest after the course starts getting harder, so, instead of skipping classes or practice stay consistent with your study and look into the course when you have leisure time.

3. Start with 100 common words

Many experts suggest that before diving in the course, starting with the most common 100, words of the language will be quite effective. You can practice these words over and over making sentences with them; you can try doing this till you get comfortable using those words.

You could start by using simple phrases like Hello/ Bye--- ‘Namaste’, Welcome--- ‘Swagatam’, Good morning--- ‘Subha Prahbhat’, Good evening--- ‘ Subha Sandhya’, Good night--- ‘Subha Ratri’, Have a nice day--- ‘Subha Din’, How are you?--- ‘Tapailai Kasto Cha?’, Are you doing well?-- ‘Sanchai Hunuhuncha?’, What is your name?--- ‘Tapaiko Naam K Ho?’

After you start getting used to the most common words and using them in the sentence you will also begin to understand the basic sentence structure and how grammar works in the rudimentary conversation. Then, you can slowly start upgrading your level and diving into more complex words and phrases of the Nepali language.

4. Carry a mini-dictionary in your pocket

This is one of the most effective ways to grasp the concept of the language in a short span of time. Carrying a mini-dictionary with you or downloading the Nepalese language teaching application can be quite helpful in your language learning process. Like, when you have got some spare time or out for lunch, you can simply quiz yourself with words and meaning or phrases to see how much you remember from the course.

There is no doubt that the more you keep practicing the language the more you will start getting fluent in it. Especially, when you are in a hurry to learn the language, you can use this method to frequently test your skills in the language. It doesn’t matter whether you are out on a 45-minute break or got a few idle hours on your schedule, putting your free time to dive in the word meanings will definitely have an impressive development.

5. Find a partner to practice

One of the most effective ways to keep remembering the studied course is to frequently put it in the practice. It will be a lot better if you have got some Nepalese friends or someone fluent in the language with whom you can often keep practicing the learned course. Even if you don’t have friends like that, don’t feel bad, you can practice with someone from your own class which will polish the language speaking skills of both of you.

This method has also been proven to work like a charm if your partner is equally invested in teaching or studying with you. Similarly, you can join an online language learning community to be friends with the native language speaker which can be quite helpful to develop your oral skills. Also, they can suggest where you are missing out and your weak points; this way you can focus more on those points to increase your language skills.

6. Magazines, TV shows and movies can be quite helpful

If you got access to Nepali magazines and TV networks, you could use this opportunity to practice your reading skills as well as to observe the tone and pronunciation of people speaking the language. Rather than totally depending on the coursebook, you could shuffle a few hours to watch the movies or any shows in the Nepali language this way you will have a better grasp on making real conversation with the people.

You don’t have to invest your time every day watching movies or reading magazines, you could just separate a few portions of your time each week to study the language this way. If you understand the basic concept of the language, this way will help you get a good grip on the oral communication of the language.

7. Practice in your head--Talk to yourself

When you are out living your normal life or covering office hours, you can challenge yourself to think in the new language you are learning or describing something you see in the language in your head. This kind of fake practice of conversation in your head will lead to you having a perfectly fine conversation in actual life. You can also use this method to envision a conversation that you are likely to have before you actually have it.

This method has also been helpful in keeping the newly learned phrases and words fresh in the mind. It will also help you build confidence that you can properly speak the language as if you get nervous while making the conversation it can shatter the language form. So, keep practicing as much as you can and you will start getting the grip of the language in no time.

8. Develop a fun way to learn

Try making your learning process fun and creative if you want it to stick. You can think of some fun ways to practice the Nepalese language like using colorful flashcards, writing a poem, or singing your own version of Nepali song and comparing how much you got right.

Also, the sliding method of learning has been quite impactful in new language learning which you can even use to quiz yourself and reward yourself with some sort of special treats to keep yourself motivated. Further, don’t limit yourself to class and books, participate in the related events where you will be refreshed and will learn while having fun. However, don’t make it too funny that you will actually forget to make it about the study. Similarly, reserving a table at the native diner where you can enjoy the tasty delights while practicing your verbal skill with the guest or staff.

9. Set small goals

When you learn something new, it can be a demotivating factor that you aren’t excelling at the part you had marked to cover. So, don’t feel down as it takes time to grasp the concept of something new, thus, separate small portions of language as a goal of the and commit a certain period that you will cover the part in. In this way, when you complete a certain part, you will feel motivated and positively move onto the next chapter.

You can set goals like completing alphabets set of the language, learning 15 greetings and small phrases, or covering some portion of grammar. If you also set a tradition of rewarding yourself with something you love like chocolates or snacks after successfully completing the goal you have set. Rewarding yourself with sweet treats frequently for your successful attempts will naturally compel you to learn more and more.

10. Polish your listening skills

It is quite an essential skill you need to have if you have embarked on a journey to conquer the mountain of a foreign language. As the newly born infants pick up the language of their mother tongue just by paying attention to their surroundings and people’s tones, if you pay proper attention to the others while they are speaking, you can more efficiently understand the concept of the language.

Not just pronunciation, as a new learner you should also be proficient at the tones while mouthing words as if your tones are offbeat while making the conversations in some cases it can be taken as offensive action and a rude gesture. Especially, in Japanese and Nepalese cultures talking in a loud voice or high tones is considered rude. So, make sure to listen carefully to how people respond to question and communicate with each other whether it be an online training audio course or an actual conversation.

11. Find Something you love

Finding something you love when learning a new language can help you immerse yourself in the depth of the language. If you have something on the Nepalese culture, it can be movies, food, books, or music, find the core thing you love in that culture. This way you will be more passionate about learning language, for instance, if you have a passion for music, take the example of the Nepali music industry which has a pretty broad international market, find your favorite genre of songs and repeat the best track you find. This way you can compare how much part of the song you can relate to your current language skill. Also, if you like a song, in particular, you can search for its lyrics and truly understand the wordplay which will be undoubtedly helpful in your study.

So, try finding something that takes your interest which will keep you motivated in being consistent with the new language learning process.

12.  Don’t be afraid of mistakes

There is no doubt that at the beginning of your learning course you will stumble upon many words and make a lot of mistakes while pronouncing the words. So, don’t let the fear of making mistakes come in between you and your goal, if you hold yourself back and not openly ask questions or communicate then it will be hard for the instructor to understand your weak spots. Also, your instructor or friends will certainly appreciate your effort and help you where you need to improve.

You should understand that no matter how fluent you get in your new language, there will be a slight difference in words, phrases or idioms compared to a native speaker, so, don’t hold back and make the conversations even if you are missing something your language skill will gradually improve. And, the more you speak the more you will get closer to elusive ‘native-like’ fluency.

13. If possible choose one-on-one tutoring

This is one of the best and efficient ways of learning a language in a short period of time. When you are taking a crowded class or online class with multiple participants at once, it is going to be quite harder for your instructor to properly focus on each and every student. It will be worse if you are of shy nature and nervous to make questions, you will be always left behind in the crowded surrounding.

Yes! It can be slightly more expensive than a regular language class, but also you will have a lot of opportunities to learn the new language in depth if you have a solid teacher. This way the instructor also will be able to point out your weakness and provide you with sufficient tasks to fill those gaps. In terms of time, the one-on-one class will take a considerably short period compared to the months and months of regular class.

14. Travel if possible

One of the best ways to dive into the depths of a new language is to pack your bags and visit the county of its origin. It is not a mandatory method but, it can be quite helpful when it comes to the term of understanding a foreign language to a full extent. You can plan your vacation in the country and stay with a host family who will be helpful in teaching you the basic foundations of their native language. You will be rather surprised by the fact that how fast you will start taking in information and picking up the concept of the language if you spend time around that native language speaking surrounding.

This full-on immersion learning style will make you fluent in a matter of months. Even if you are just staying there for a few weeks, it will leave lasting impacts and you will leave at least with a respectable conversation making ability.

15. Pick morning time to study

It is a proven scientific fact that the morning time is an ideal time if you are looking to learn something new. The fresh clean air in the morning, the clear mind, and early morning motivation certainly play a great role in memorizing the early morning study.

The morning time is also quite a suitable period to achieve the goals you have set. So, if you have set a certain portion of the language to complete on a particular day, you will certainly complete it without any procrastinating. Also, if you prepared yourself for an evening study there the possibility of events of the day, exhaustion or stress can be obstacles in your learning process. Therefore, if it is possible, schedule a morning study in the morning which will be more impactful and you will find yourself easily grasping the contexts of the course.

16. Intense study beats the length of course

If you have got a few more free hours on your schedule, you could use this spare time dedicating to the study of the new language. Investing 3 to 4 hours a day straight for 2-3 weeks will be more beneficial than giving 1 hour a day for two months.

There is no doubt that when you are in the process of learning a new language, it needs a lot of repetition with continuous commitments and pouring in a lot of hours. So, even if there are a few days or a whole week gap in the study, there is a possibility that you won’t remember much of the course. So, if you have a strong motivation for learning the language, dive in with all your heart in the course and pour in all the extra hours you got in the study. Thus, giving 100% of your effort for a few weeks has a more effective result than the hourly dragged course over the period of months.

17. Choose a word for the day

You might not have heard this before, but mostly, a lot of language teaching applications and courses will provide you with a word for the day. Your duty will be to remember the word and what it stands for, this might seem like an effective way to grasp the full context of the course but it has been proven to be pretty helpful.

The word you will be given or you will choose yourself will be out of the part you have planned to study on that particular day, you can understand it as an extra bonus to help you make excellent in the language.

Also, if you can cover more words, you can incorporate a few more vocabularies in your list, and thoroughly study its meaning. The picked word for the day will be on your mind frequently and you will pretty quickly commit these words in your memory.