Welcome to another week of Dear Duolingo, an advice column just for learners. Catch up on past installments here.
Hi, learners! I’m Dr. Emilie Zuniga, back this week with tips for supporting someone who’s learning another language.
Our question this week:
Learning a new language is exciting, but it’s also awkward, tiring, and surprisingly emotional. 😅 If someone in your life is learning a language, your support can make a huge difference. And no, you don’t need to speak the language yourself to be helpful!
Here are five ways you can be an excellent language-learning sidekick.
Let them choose which language to use
Even highly motivated learners don’t want to practice their new language *all* the time. You’ll especially notice this if you speak the language your pal is learning. Sometimes they’re energized and ready to try, but other times they just want to communicate easily and rest their brain. Here are some examples of things you can say if your pal is learning French.
Examples of things to say:
- “Do you want to speak English, or do you want to practice French right now?”
- “We can speak French, or if you prefer I can speak French to you and you can respond in English.”
Giving learners the choice lowers pressure and helps them use the language more often because they want to, not because they feel obligated. That sense of control goes a long way toward preventing burnout.
Overlook small errors
Yes, you might know the correct word or grammar rule. No, you don’t need to point it out every time. Constant correction can interrupt conversation and make learners anxious! 😬 Most of the time, your pal will benefit more from finishing their thought than from learning to express it perfectly now.
Examples of things to do:
- Let small mistakes go unless they cause confusion.
- Repeat back the correct form in the flow of conversation:
- Learner: “Yesterday I go to store.”
- You: “Oh, you went to the store? Nice!”
This way, the learner can continue building confidence while receiving a manageable amount of feedback.
Be their practice audience
You don’t need to understand a word to help someone practice. Learners often benefit just from saying things out loud to a real person. 👂
Examples of things to do:
- No matter what they want to say (even if single words or expressions), you can just listen.
- Rehearse a story or dialogue with them.
- Quiz them on new vocabulary.
By being an easy, low-pressure audience, you make it simpler for learners to practice more often and with less anxiety.
Ask them to teach you one tiny thing
Teaching reinforces learning—it helps learners organize what they know, notice things they’d like to know, and lock new information into memory. It also flips the usual dynamic by making them the expert, which can boost their confidence! ✨
Examples of things to say:
- “Can you teach me how to say thank you in the language you’re learning?”
- “What’s one word I should know in your new language?”
These quick exchanges fit easily into everyday life—and over time, those moments add up.
Celebrate every effort
We all want to do well, and it’s natural for many of us to judge ourselves by visible achievement (even though language learning is built on mistakes at every stage!). Keep the bigger picture in mind—learning a new language takes effort and courage, and that alone deserves to be celebrated!
Examples of things to say:
- “This is hard, but you’re doing it.”
- “Mistakes or no mistakes, it’s inspiring to see you learning a new skill!”
When learners are reminded of their own resilience, they can relax and feel good about their language-learning journey!
A little support goes a long way
Supporting a language learner doesn’t require expertise—just empathy, patience, and encouragement. 💬💚 With a little curiosity and kindness, you can help turn language learning into a shared, motivating experience!
For more answers to your language and learning questions, get in touch with us by emailing dearduolingo@duolingo.com.