Stop Just Memorising Words! Here's How to Truly Nourish Your Foreign Language Skills

Does this sound like you?

Your phone is packed with vocab apps, your bookmarks are overflowing with 'grammar bibles', and you diligently tick off your study goals every day, feeling like you're working so hard you're practically impressed with yourself.

But then when it comes to actually using the language – trying to understand an interesting article, having a chat with an overseas mate, or watching a film without subtitles – your mind suddenly goes blank. Those "most familiar strangers" (words you know but can't quite grasp) float through your head, but you just can't string them together.

We all assume the problem is 'not enough vocabulary' or 'unfamiliar grammar'. But what if I told you the real issue might not be that at all?

Learning a Language is Like Learning to Cook

Imagine you want to become a master chef.

You've bought the world's best ingredients (words), you've thoroughly studied all the Michelin-star restaurant recipes (grammar books), and you've even memorised the origin and history of every single spice.

But you've never actually turned on the stove, never personally handled a ladle, never tested the oil temperature, and never tasted your own cooking.

Can you honestly say you can cook?

Learning a language is the same. Just memorising words and poring over grammar is like being a food connoisseur who only collects ingredients and recipes, rather than a chef who can whip up a full banquet. We collect too many 'raw materials' but rarely truly 'cook' them.

And 'reading' is the most crucial, yet often overlooked, 'cooking' process in language learning. It can transform those scattered words and cold rules into steaming, vibrant, 'cultural delicacies'.

An 'Annual Foodie Menu' for Your Brain

I know, mentioning reading might make your head spin again: "What should I read? What if it's too hard to understand? What if I don't have time?"

Don't fret. We don't need to start by chewing through hefty tomes. Instead, we can create an enjoyable and relaxed 'annual reading menu' for ourselves, just like savouring a delicious meal.

The core of this menu isn't 'completing tasks', but 'savouring flavours'. Each month, we'll switch up the 'cuisine' to explore different facets of the language and culture.

Here's how you can plan your 'menu':

January: Taste the 'Flavour of History' Read a history book or biography about the country of the language you're learning. You'll discover that many familiar words and customs have a fascinating story behind them.
February: A Sweet Treat of 'Everyday Life' Find a romance novel or light read written in your target language. Don't be afraid to sound 'childish'; just get a feel for how locals express love and romance through their language.
March: Savour the 'Soup of Thought' Read a non-fiction book, perhaps about study methods, personal growth, or a social phenomenon. See how another culture thinks about issues we all care about.
April: Try an 'Unfamiliar Flavour' Challenge yourself with a genre you usually wouldn't touch, like sci-fi, poetry, or detective novels. It's like an adventure for your taste buds, bringing unexpected delights.
May: Change the 'Chef's Perspective' Seek out a work by a female author you've never read before. You'll gain a fresh, nuanced perspective, and rediscover the culture and emotions of that country.

...You can freely arrange the following months based on your own interests. The key is to make reading feel like an exciting culinary exploration, rather than a burdensome study task.

Tips for a More Enjoyable 'Tasting Experience'

No Worries if You Can't Finish It All: Didn't finish this month's book? No worries! It's like going to a buffet; our goal is to sample a variety of dishes, not to clear every plate. Even if you only read a few chapters, as long as you've gained something, that's a win.
Start with the 'Kids' Menu': If you're a beginner, don't hesitate; dive straight into children's books or Graded Readers. Behind simple language often lie the purest culture and values. No one ever said you have to leap to the top overnight.
Leverage Your 'Smart Kitchen Tech': What if you come across words you don't know while reading, or you really want to chat with overseas friends who are reading the same book? This is exactly where technology can lend a hand. For instance, with a chat app like Intent that comes with AI translation, you can easily look up words and chat seamlessly with fellow book lovers from all over the world. The true magic of language blossoms through communication.

Stop just being a 'language ingredient collector'.

In the new year, let's 'turn on the stove' together, and cook up those words and grammar sitting in our minds, transforming them into a 'language banquet' that truly nourishes our minds and souls.

Starting today, open a book, even if it's just one page. You'll discover that the world is unfolding before you in ways you never imagined.