Stop Mugging Up! Learning a Language is Actually More Like Being a 'Foodie'

Does this sound familiar? You've worn out your vocabulary books, maintained a 365-day streak on language apps, but the moment you meet a foreigner, your mind goes blank, and after much struggle, you can only manage to squeeze out a "Hello, how are you?"

We often treat language learning as a daunting chore, much like the dreaded maths classes in school, filled with formulae, rules, and exams. We desperately mug up vocabulary and grind through grammar, believing that once we've mastered all the 'knowledge points', the doors to the language will automatically open.

But what if I told you that the right approach to learning a language is actually more like being a joyful 'foodie'?

Treat Language as an 'Exotic Feast'

Imagine you develop a deep interest in French cuisine. What would you do?

A poor learner would buy a 'Compendium of French Ingredients', rote-learn the names of every ingredient – 'thyme', 'rosemary', 'veal sweetbreads' – until they know them by heart. The result? They still wouldn't be able to prepare a decent French meal, nor would they truly appreciate the essence of the dish.

This is like how we learn languages: we only know how to frantically memorise vocabulary lists. We learn countless isolated 'ingredients' but have never truly 'cooked' or 'tasted' them.

What would a true 'foodie' do?

They would first go and taste. They would step into an authentic French restaurant and order a classic Beef Bourguignon. They would experience the rich sauce, the melt-in-your-mouth beef, and the complex aromas.

Then, they would start getting curious: What's the story behind this dish? Why do dishes from the Burgundy region taste this way? They would watch documentaries about French gastronomy and delve into the local culture and 'terroir'.

Finally, they would roll up their sleeves, enter the kitchen, and try to replicate the dish themselves. The first time, they might burn the pan; the second time, they might add too much salt. But that's perfectly alright, because each attempt deepens their understanding of the dish.

What Your Language Learning Lacks is 'Flavour'

You see, this is the true essence of language learning.

• Vocabulary and grammar are like the 'ingredients' and 'cooking steps' in a recipe. They are important, but they are not everything.
• Culture, history, music, and cinema are the 'terroir' and 'soul' of a language. They give the language its unique 'flavour'.
• Speaking up and making mistakes boldly is your process of 'cooking' yourself. It's alright if you burn the dish; what's important is that you learn from the experience and enjoy the pleasure of creation.

So, stop treating language as a subject to be conquered. Instead, see it as an exotic feast that sparks your curiosity.

Want to learn Japanese? Watch Hirokazu Kore-eda's films, listen to Ryuichi Sakamoto's music, and explore the aesthetics of 'wabi-sabi'. Want to learn Spanish? Immerse yourself in the passion of Flamenco and read Gabriel García Márquez's magical realism.

When you begin to savour the culture behind the language, those dry words and grammar rules will suddenly become vivid and meaningful.

Find a 'Meal Buddy' to Savour the Language Feast Together

Of course, 'eating' alone can be a bit lonely, and progress might be slow. The best way is to find an authentic 'meal buddy' – a native speaker – to 'taste' and 'cook' with you.

"But trying to find a foreigner to chat with is like trying to find a Michelin-starred chef to practice cooking with – it's too difficult!"

Don't worry, technology offers us new possibilities. Tools like Lingogram are your best 'gourmet guide' and 'kitchen assistant'.

It's a chat app that helps you connect with friends from all over the world. Even better, its built-in AI translation acts like an attentive 'sous-chef', always ready to lend a hand when you can't find the right 'seasoning' (words). This allows you to drop all inhibitions and boldly chat, experience, and learn the vibrant language that textbooks can never teach.

From today, stop being a 'word-memorising machine' and try being a language 'foodie'.

Explore, taste, and enjoy. Embrace every 'mess-up' as a minor interlude before creating something delicious.

You'll discover that language learning can be so flavourful and enjoyable.