Level Up! Boost Your Language Proficiency

Growing up as an introvert meant that I was very shy and reserved and saved most of my energy by not talking to people. So much so, I’d avoid almost everyone just to not engage in conversation. It took me a couple of years to break out of my shell. And while I’m still very much reserved today, I can now exude an insane amount of confidence and energy when necessary. Improving my communication skills wasn’t easy, considering I spent most of my life avoiding conversations. However, I realized that effective communication is an important skill to learn. To communicate well in any language, you must understand how to use it. Simple everyday ways to enhance your language proficiency are to immerse yourself with proficient speakers, practice reading and writing, and consume media in the language you want to learn.

Our study revealed that people, such as family, friends, or peers, play a vital role in helping Filipino youth learn a language. Immersing yourself with others helps you learn more words, teaches you proper pronunciation, and how to construct better sentences. Many youth mentioned that their environment has played a significant role in teaching them language. Communication is present wherever people are, so you can practice almost anywhere, whether you’re out on the streets, window shopping in the mall, or ordering at a restaurant. If you’re a homebody, you can consider calling and chatting with family and friends online or signing up for an online language course. In this age of technology, finding people to talk to is easier than ever. So to be a good speaker, you must surround yourself with great speakers.

Reading and writing are just as important as speaking. Literacy is a basic skill every professional should acquire, and for most of us, this learning happens at school. According to the youth, school was where they learned the Filipino language better through subjects like HEKASI and Filipino, and English through Language studies. These subjects often include reading or writing homeworks and assignments, so if you’re eager to improve these skills, it’s already good practice to do your best in these subjects. Many youth prefer learning English subjects more than they do Filipino, because for them, the Filipino language can have words too deep and grammar too complex to master. This might be why they prefer speaking Filipino casually and English more professionally. According to our poll, for Filipino youth, the top 3 hardest components to learn in English are 1) Vocabulary, 2) Grammar, and 3) Speaking, and for Filipino are 1) Vocabulary, 2) Writing, and 3) Grammar.

Our study found that the mass media we consume can also help improve our language proficiency. Whether it’s books, films, TV shows, music, video games, the internet, or social media, the youth choose media based on their preferred language. So, if you want to improve your proficiency in English, you can consider watching English movies, or if you want to improve your proficiency in Filipino, you can try listening to more Filipino songs and study what the lyrics mean. Mass media is easy to access and indulge in, making it an attractive form of learning. Youth noted that their exposure to mass media helped them discover new terms, synonyms, and definitions to expand their language proficiency. According to our poll, for Filipino youth, the top 5 most consumed forms of media are 1) Internet or Social Media, 2) Music, 3) Shows or Movies, 4) Video Games, and 5) Books.

In time, learning how to communicate effectively builds up one’s self-confidence. But this requires one’s undying commitment to improving their language skills through dedication and discipline. With enough time and practice, you’ll certainly pick up your language proficiency in no time.

For other ways to learn, check out our list of learning resources here.