How to learn grammar in a foreign language

Grammar, grammar, grammar… I’m sure some of you hate the idea of it. And some of you even hate the word itself! And that’s fine – not everyone has to love grammar. And it’s not true that you need to learn grammar all the time if you want to be fluent in a foreign language.

How is that possible, you may be wondering. Well, I’m about to explain.

You can read on if you want, or just check out my video instead! If you like getting my language learning advice in video format, make sure you’re subscribed to my YouTube channel!

So, here we go. How to learn grammar in a foreign language. And, should you even bother?

First, let me tell you something. Learning a foreign language is a bit like learning your native language as a child. Children learn to speak their native language by being immersed in it. They absorb it, so to speak, and they don’t need grammar books to master it.

Am I saying that it’s possible to learn a language without reading about grammar as a child but not as an adult? Not at all! What I’m saying is that learning a foreign language can be a bit like learning your native language and you can sort of replicate this process in your own study routine.

Here’s how.

How to learn grammar in a foreign language: tip #1

My first tip for you is to get a feel for the language you’re learning. Instead of learning the rules first, do some reading and listening.

Even if all you read is a three-word sentence, that’s good enough! Familiarise yourself with what the language looks like, how different words go together, what the sentence structure is like. This will help you get a feel for the language without worrying about the grammar rules.

Once you’ve done that, you can move on to the rules and they will feel much less overwhelming because you’ve kind of seen the language in action before.

This won’t, of course, work for everyone, as some learners prefer to read the rules first, but it’s an interesting strategy to try out. So, see if it works for you and let me know in the comments below!

How to learn grammar in a foreign language: tip #2 

My second tip relates to learning phrases. You can learn phrases/sentences in a foreign language without necessarily understanding the grammar behind them. And that’s perfectly fine.

Let’s take the English phrase ‘How is it going?’. You can learn it – and understand its meaning – without understanding why the verb ‘go’ is in the gerund form, or why the verb ‘to be’ is in the singular rather than the plural. And you will be able to use the phrase without knowing the grammar rules!

Language is all about communication. As long as you can communicate, that’s what matters. It doesn’t matter that you can’t recite the grammar rules that govern a sentence, as long as you can convey your message and the other person understands what you meant.

I need to make another disclaimer here. If you do learn the rules, you will find it easier to create your own sentences based on that rule, of course, so your learning may become more efficient. But, like with the first tip above, it’s an interesting approach to try out so give it a go if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Don’t let grammar put you off 

The bottom line is, don’t let grammar put you off. Grammar is not everything. There are so many more aspects of learning a foreign language. And sometimes, you learn grammar without even knowing it. When you read and see the same structures over and over again, for example. They become familiar and you begin to understand how they work instinctively, even if you can’t explain why something is the way it is.

Anyway, I will be making more videos about grammar learning tips on my YouTube channel so make sure you’re subscribed!