10 Language Learning Tips from Polyglots and Tutors at City Lit
City Lit is a vibrant hub of language learners and tutors who together speak over 50 languages—from Swedish and Greek to Arabic, isiNdebele, Turkish, and Japanese. We asked some of our language experts to share their top tips for mastering a new language.
While taking a language course and learning from a language expert is the best way to learn a new language, there’s so much more you can do to help you pick up the language faster and more effectively.
Speak it to keep it
Estelle Helouin, Language Tutor
“When you first learn a word, it goes into your short-term memory,” explains Estelle Helouin. “It’s perfectly normal to forget it unless you actively reinforce it. To move that vocabulary into your long-term memory—and develop automaticity (the ability to recall words quickly)—you need to speak it out loud.”
Helouin encourages learners to go beyond silent reading or writing. “Use the new words in full sentences and say them aloud without looking at the written form. This helps your brain connect the sound and meaning of the word, making it easier to recall when speaking.”
She also suggests creating your own mini-conversations: imagine a situation where you’d use the vocabulary and act it out—even if you’re alone. “Describe your daily routines in the target language, such as counting reps at the gym, saying the train times aloud, or narrating your walk home. If you feel self-conscious, headphones can help—you’ll just look like you’re on a call!”
The takeaway: The more you use words in real-life contexts, the more naturally they’ll come to you. Speaking out loud is one of the most powerful tools you have.
Train the tongue through ‘shadowing’
Jack Pulman-Slater, Language Tutor (Welsh & Swedish)
Mastering a new language may have more in common with learning a musical instrument than many realise. “When you take up an instrument, you’re training your body—your hands and breath—to move in unfamiliar ways. The same applies when learning a language. You have to recondition your mouth, tongue, even your breathing to produce new sounds.”
One effective method is shadowing, which involves listening to spoken audio in the target language and repeating it aloud simultaneously—word for word, beat for beat. It trains your brain and body to adopt the rhythm, intonation, and pronunciation of the language.
Jack’s steps for Shadowing:
- Choose the right audio: Select recordings with a clear native accent, avoiding children’s or learner-focused content.
- Start with passive listening: Familiarise yourself with the melody and sounds before speaking.
- Engage in active shadowing: Use headphones and speak along with the recording, imitating pace and stress. Record yourself to refine your pronunciation.
- Repeat and refine: Like practising musical scales, revisit tricky parts and fine-tune over time.
“Shadowing is physical training for fluency—building muscle memory and auditory sensitivity,” Jack emphasises.
Listen and sing along for better pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation
Brendan Gleeson, Languages Coordinator at City Lit
For language tutor Brendan Gleeson, one of the most enjoyable and effective ways to develop listening skills and pronunciation is as simple as pressing play.
“Find music you actually enjoy and try to decipher the lyrics just by listening,” he suggests. “It’s a fun challenge—and great practice for your ear.”
But Gleeson offers a word of caution: don’t worry too much about understanding every line. “Lyrics in songs don’t always make complete sense—sometimes they’re abstract or even pure nonsense. The goal isn’t perfect comprehension, but getting used to the sound and rhythm of the language.”
According to Gleeson, singing along can do wonders for pronunciation. “Slower songs help you focus on individual sounds, while faster tracks are brilliant for improving rhythm and intonation. You’re training your mouth to move the way it needs to in the target language.”
And the impact lasts far beyond the lesson. “Because melodies stick with us for years, you’ll find that lyrics you once struggled with will suddenly come back to you—even long after you’ve stopped actively studying the language.”
His advice is simple: “Pick music you genuinely like. The more you enjoy it, the more you’ll listen—and the more you’ll learn without even realising it.”
Use national radio as a language classroom
Francesco Bucciol, Italian and Ancient Languages Tutor
Radio can be an invaluable tool for sharpening listening skills and broadening vocabulary. Francesco Bucciol recommends using national broadcaster radio apps, many freely accessible internationally.
“It might not suit absolute beginners, but even at a basic level, it helps learners get used to the rhythm and flow of natural, unscripted language.”
Bucciol highlights the benefits of public broadcasters over private stations: “They feature more spoken content by journalists, so the language is clearer and more deliberate, with a broader range of topics—politics, culture, science—exposing learners to diverse vocabulary.”
To get the most from these broadcasts, try this approach:
- Select pre-recorded content: Choose podcasts or catch-up programmes that genuinely interest you. Pre-recorded material lets you pause to look up words.
- Pause and summarise: After listening, stop and try to summarise what you heard—aloud if you feel confident, or silently to yourself.
Among Bucciol’s favourites are Ireland’s RTÉ Radio Player, Germany’s Deutschlandfunk, and Sweden’s Sveriges Radio. These provide clear, articulate content learners can revisit.
Increase exposure and passive learning through talk radio
Brendan Gleeson, Language Tutor
For those looking to improve without extra effort, Brendan Gleeson suggests keeping talk radio in your target language playing in the background.
“Whether working, tidying, or cooking, just let it run. You don’t need to understand everything or pay full attention—the goal is to increase exposure to natural sounds, rhythms, and intonation.”
Passive listening trains your ear and improves pronunciation unconsciously. Over time, you’ll start recognising words and phrases used in real conversations, helping you remember and pronounce them more naturally.
This method also reactivates dormant vocabulary. “You might hear a phrase you learned long ago and suddenly understand it again.”
Best of all, it fits effortlessly into daily life—surrounding yourself with the language creates a subtle but powerful immersion.
Gain exposure to the culture and natural speech from podcasts
Claudio Guasti, Head of Culture & Communications at City Lit
Claudio speaks Italian, English, German, Spanish and Russian
With just a smartphone and headphones, podcasts offer one of the most effective and enjoyable ways to learn a foreign language. “You’re exposed to real conversations, stories, even comedy shows. It’s like having a personal tutor you can carry in your pocket,” Claudio explains.
Podcasts expose learners to authentic speech patterns and cultural nuances, making language acquisition feel effortless. There are shows suited to every level—from beginner to advanced—and since you can take your phone anywhere, it means you can fit learning into your daily routine: on the train, working out, or relaxing.
Guasti admits he listens regularly and looks forward to new episodes. His favourites include Hoy Hablamos for Spanish and Learn Russian with Max for Russian. Both are clear, engaging, and packed with useful language.
“Each episode is a chance to explore the language and culture a little more—it’s like going on a mini-adventure every day.”
Increase exposure and passive learning through talk radio
Brendan Gleeson, Language Tutor
For those looking to improve without extra effort, Brendan Gleeson suggests keeping talk radio in your target language playing in the background.
“Whether working, tidying, or cooking, just let it run. You don’t need to understand everything or pay full attention—the goal is to increase exposure to natural sounds, rhythms, and intonation.”
Passive listening trains your ear and improves pronunciation unconsciously. Over time, you’ll start recognising words and phrases used in real conversations, helping you remember and pronounce them more naturally.
This method also reactivates dormant vocabulary. “You might hear a phrase you learned long ago and suddenly understand it again.”
Best of all, it fits effortlessly into daily life—surrounding yourself with the language creates a subtle but powerful immersion.
Gain exposure to the culture and natural speech from podcasts
Claudio Guasti, Head of Culture & Communications at City Lit
Claudio speaks Italian, English, German, Spanish and Russian
With just a smartphone and headphones, podcasts offer one of the most effective and enjoyable ways to learn a foreign language. “You’re exposed to real conversations, stories, even comedy shows. It’s like having a personal tutor you can carry in your pocket,” Claudio explains.
Podcasts expose learners to authentic speech patterns and cultural nuances, making language acquisition feel effortless. There are shows suited to every level—from beginner to advanced—and since you can take your phone anywhere, it means you can fit learning into your daily routine: on the train, working out, or relaxing.
Guasti admits he listens regularly and looks forward to new episodes. His favourites include Hoy Hablamos for Spanish and Learn Russian with Max for Russian. Both are clear, engaging, and packed with useful language.
“Each episode is a chance to explore the language and culture a little more—it’s like going on a mini-adventure every day.”
No time for homework? Try ‘mental homework’
Virtu Tomas Rodriguez, Language Tutor
Whilst taking a language course you may be short on time or find traditional homework off-putting, Virtu Tomas Rodriguez recommends ‘mental homework’—a practical, low-pressure alternative.
“Before moving to the UK, I didn’t always have time for formal study, but by integrating language into my daily routine, I still built confidence and improved.”
The idea is simple: mentally rehearse how you’d carry out everyday interactions in your target language. For example, when buying coffee, ask yourself, “How would I order a latte with almond milk in Spanish?”
This approach helps you think in the target language, spot vocabulary gaps, and make learning relevant to your life. It creates an immersive environment, even outside the classroom or country of the language.
The key is consistency. The more you engage mentally with the language daily, the more fluent and confident you become.
Consistency is ke — practice daily
Magali Robert-Chung, Language Tutor
While flashy apps and intensive courses can support your learning, Magali Robert-Chung stresses that the quiet power of consistency delivers real results.
“To make steady progress in learning a new language, commit to regular practice—even just 15 to 30 minutes a day. Make it part of your routine, like brushing your teeth or having your morning coffee.”
Robert-Chung gives three reasons why consistency is key:
Builds Momentum: Regular practice helps you build and maintain momentum. Each session reinforces what you've learned previously, making it easier to retain new information.
Enhances Retention: Short, frequent study sessions are more effective for memory retention than longer, infrequent ones. Your brain processes and stores information better with regular exposure.
Creates a Habit: Consistent practice turns language learning into a daily habit, integrating it seamlessly into your routine. Over time, it becomes a natural part of your day.
Above all, consistency turns learning into a habit. “When you practise at the same time every day, it becomes part of your lifestyle. That’s when real transformation happens.”
“Remember, the journey of learning a new language is a marathon, not a sprint. Consistent, daily practice will help you reach your goals more effectively than sporadic, intensive study sessions. Happy learning!”
Repetition. Repetition. Repetition.
Brendan Gleeson, Language Tutor
While modern apps and immersive methods have changed language learning, Gleeson believes traditional grammar and vocabulary drills remain valuable.
“Repetitive exercises like verb conjugations or fill-in-the-blanks might seem dull, but they work. It’s like practising scales on a musical instrument—building muscle memory so using the language becomes automatic.”
Many free online resources offer grammar drills with answer keys, a reliable way to reinforce basics.
Drills provide a solid foundation—you can’t speak fluently if you’re always unsure about verb endings or sentence structure. A few minutes of structured repetition daily can go a long way.
Keys to success — show up, stay consistent, immerse yourself
Katja Parmar, Language Tutor
For Katja Parmar, successful language learning boils down to showing up, practising regularly, and immersing yourself where possible.
“Stick to a regular class schedule and be punctual. Arriving on time means you’re ready to engage fully.”
Homework is equally important: “What you do between lessons reinforces learning and prepares you for the next step.”
And if you can, travel. “Visiting a country where the language is spoken boosts confidence and shows how the language lives in everyday life.”
Her simple but effective advice: Be consistent, take learning seriously, and immerse yourself. That’s where fluency starts to come alive.
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