Unlocking the Ukrainian Language: Proven Methods for Learners
Practical tips and techniques for learning Ukrainian
When it comes to learning a language, especially one as beautiful but challenging as Ukrainian, remember that this journey is more about perseverance, motivation, and regular practice than about having a 'talent for languages.' It is definitely a marathon, not a sprint. Embrace every step of the process, celebrate your efforts along the way, and find joy in the entire journey rather than waiting for a specific milestone to feel accomplished. Ksenia Golubytska, Director and founder of Language Lab, shares with Mind some concrete tips on how to learn Ukrainian successfully.
Start with Apps
If you started this journey with self-learning vocabulary on Duolingo, Ling, Promova, or any other app, keep it up! Practice regularly, and don’t be afraid to repeat words and phrases aloud, even if it’s difficult or you make mistakes. Repetition is the first step to overcoming the language barrier and fears in general.
Once you’ve learned a number of phrases, ask someone who speaks Ukrainian as a native language or who simply has a higher level than you to listen to your pronunciation and point out words that need extra practice. Make sure to clearly ask your Ukrainian-speaking friend not to be too harsh or to become a pronunciation-correcting fanatic (because we often do :)
Simply ask for help with words that they really couldn't understand. Even if you speak with an accent, being understood means the communicative purpose has been achieved, and you did a great job!
You can start your journey to Ukrainian fluency here: Promova
Learn in Context
Don’t just learn separate words; learn them in phrases or full sentences, as that’s how you’ll use them in speaking. If you’re just beginning, think of the first 30-50 phrases that are most necessary for you personally and ask your Ukrainian-speaking friends to help you translate them into correct and simple Ukrainian. Then, memorise them like a poem. This won't make you fluent, but it's a good starting point.
Balance Your Learning
Remember, it's not only about vocabulary! In language classes, we were often taught vocabulary, grammar, more vocabulary, much more grammar, and... that's it. Then, you suddenly realise that you know many words and grammar rules, you've done all kinds of exercises, but you still can't speak. This realisation is common but makes perfect sense. You’ve learned language material, but you have never or very rarely practiced speaking as a skill, nor have you practiced other skills.
Learning a language in full is a complex process with several elements, and to master the language, you need to work on all these elements. These include vocabulary, grammar, phonetics as the language material, and speaking, listening, writing, and reading as skills. You, alone or with your teacher, need to work on all these elements to truly know the language.
One great way to practice listening is with this podcast: Ukrainian Lessons.
Books for reading even with a very basic level can be found here languagelab.ua.
Embrace Grammar
Grammar is crucial in learning Ukrainian. Ukrainian is a synthetic language with 7 morphological cases, which means that almost everything changes in a sentence. You won't be able to memorise all the forms for all cases for all parts of speech. It's much easier and makes perfect sense to learn the rules to understand what changes, when, how, and why. So, learn grammar – it is the key. Not the only key to Ukrainian, but it is important.
Get a Tutor
Get a professional Ukrainian tutor or sign up for a class at a good language school. Individual work and efforts are very useful, but they don't work for everyone. Your learning style and preferences play a significant role, but the vast majority of language learners (myself included) need guidance. A good instructor is the best help you could get on this journey!
Practice with Ukrainians
Ukrainians will be really happy to help you and feel grateful that you're making such an effort to speak their language. Whatever your level is, proudly state that you're trying to learn Ukrainian and would appreciate their help practicing. However, there are two very important BUTs here:
First BUT: Ukrainians will most probably switch to English at some point as they want to practice it too. Make an agreement about when to practice Ukrainian and when to practice English, and get them to stick to it. Yes, even if your level of Ukrainian is much lower.
Second BUT: Ukrainians are often taught not to make mistakes and might apply this attitude to you. To avoid discouraging you, ask them to correct you only when they truly don’t understand what you're saying. After you finish speaking, you can ask for corrections.
Remember, being a native speaker doesn’t mean they’re a professional teacher. They might not be able to explain why something is wrong and could suggest advanced topics not suitable for your level. Consider this practice and be okay with making mistakes. Your tutor will handle tasks appropriate for your level.
Train Your Brain Regularly
Like any muscle, your brain needs regular training. Practice frequently, even if only for 15 minutes a day. Consistent short sessions are more effective than infrequent long ones. Regular practice helps internalise Ukrainian.
I hope these practical tips help you on your journey to mastering Ukrainian. Motivation is the greatest power, and I wish you all the best in becoming a fluent Ukrainian speaker. And yes, you can do it! I believe in you!
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