There are many approaches to learn a new language script. Here’s a way that works for any new script.

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I love to learn a new language script because it’s like a whole new layer to the language. Sure, I get that that might feel overwhelming in a “What?! More to learn!” sense, but truly, it’s something we should appreciate when we get it.

For starters, we have to acknowledge that not all languages have a writing system in the first place. So when we do, that’s an incredible new way to learn languages we’ve just got access to.

On top of that, when the writing system is different to what we’re used to, chances are there’s plenty we can learn from the writing system about the language.

For example, what does the script tell us about the history and perceptions of this language?

Is this a script connected to a former presence in the country (think Cyrillic in Kazakhstan)?

Is this a script that’s fading out of use as the country changes towards a new future and looks to realign itself? (think Latin in Kazakhstan!)

To sum up, enjoy a different language script when you get it. Here’s how to learn them without losing your mind.

1) Check for Similarities

You may get lucky and not need to “learn” everything from zero.

For example, when I first taught myself the Russian Cyrillic script, I grouped the letters into three categories:

1. Looks and sounds like English equivalent

2. Looks like but doesn’t sound like English equivalent

3. Completely New

This helped to eliminate any time wasted learning the already ‘accidentally’ familiar new letter, and gave me more time to focus on the new ones more likely to need more time and attention.

Even if a script feels completely new, it’s still worth including this step.

You might spot something you didn’t expect that will save you time down the line.

For example, I’d never really ‘learnt’ a language with the aspirated/unaspirated k, kh, g, gh, n pattern before learning the Hindi script, but I had dabbled.

Burmese, Thai, Lao, Khmer and more all follow a similar pattern, so I was able to quickly get a feel for the flow and know what to expect.

Related: How to Learn Multiple Languages At Once

2) Pick Your Own Logical Order

A, B, C or K, KH, G, GH, N may make sense sometimes. Especially if you’ve found yourself a catchy kids rhyme to help you out.

But if you’re learning a new script alongside the language itself, it’s not always the most logical order.

Use AI tools like ChatGPT to figure out the most logical order to learn a new language script for you.

Try a prompt like the following, which I’ve used for Georgian:

“Starting with the most frequently used letters first and finishing with the least commonly used letters, what’s the most logical order to learn the [insert language script name here] for a native [your language] speaker who wants to learn the language in an efficient manner?”

Or something like this, which I’ve used for Malayalam:

“I am an experienced language learner, but I don’t have much time to learn the writing system for Malayalam. Can you provide me with a logical order to learn the alphabet so I can get a reasonable grasp on written Malayalam before a trip to Kerala. Please provide me with a day by day plan for 5 weeks of study time.”

This will give you a fresh perspective starting with the most common letters.

That means you can begin to spot them more easily, because they’re used more!

Related: How to Start Learning a Language Without Changing Your Routine

3) Set Realistic Three Tier Goals

There’s nothing less fun than trying to live up to other people’s goals.

Just because someone on the internet says they learnt Hangeul in 2 hours doesn’t mean you’re a failure if you don’t.

We each learn in our own ways, and the more we can align with our own expectations and show ourselves some self-compassion, the better we learn.

To help balance this for yourself, set realistic three tiered goals.

This means that you have a bare minimum Buffer Goal to start.

Perhaps it’s simply revising one letter daily. It can be more than that, but it must be something you know (not just ‘want’, but know!) you can commit to.

Then set yourself an Average Goal.

This is what you’re aiming for most days, but your Buffer Goal is there to keep you moving forward without the negative self-talk if you can’t do your Average Goal one day. Perhaps this is something like ‘5 minutes every morning reviewing letters’.

And finally, set yourself a Stretch Goal.

This is for those days when you’re really feeling pumped up and have more energy in you to go further than a usual day. In our example, this might be ’10 new letters’.

I love this set up for different scripts because it’s one aspect of language learning that’s really easy to get hung up on. Feeling like we can’t move forward until we “finish” or we’re “perfect”, both useless measures by the way, because you’ll likely never be good enough if that’s your measure.

Related: How to Set Mistake Goals for Language Learning

4) Learn the Language Simultaneously

Speaking of not waiting to learn the language…don’t wait to learn the language!

A writing script can play that same mind trick with us that pronunciation does – we need to do it all first before we even attempt to learn ‘hello’.

That’s a myth.

You can (and should) learn the language simultaneously as you learn a new language script.

Why?

Because you’ll see examples in real time using the script. And gradually that will become easier!

This is also why we ask ChatGPT to give us a logical order. It gives us lots of places we can spot those common letters quicker when we’re learning simultaneously.

Related: How to Manage Daily Habits for Multiple Languages

5) Take Advantage of Similar Words

Don’t make your life harder than it needs to be.

As part of your script practice, rather than the default (and, frankly, rather boring) repetitive copying of letters, play detective with familiar words.

Grab a list of cognates from the internet, switch your Google Maps to the language to read place names, try and write the names of you and your friends.

Use cognates, names, and other familiar words to practice your new writing script.

This will also save you time when learning vocab. Because really, who has time to memorise a list of similar country names when you can just use that vocab for script practice instead?

Related: How To Learn Vocabulary Better In Any Language (& Remember It)

6) Bring It Into Every Skill

Don’t let your language script live on the side lines.

There’s plenty of ways to bring it into your whole process to give yourself extra chances to get familiar and confident with it.

Listening.

When listening, try to transcribe even just one word and see if you can spell it right (or close enough!).

Reading.

Reading always takes more time when you’ve got a new script in front of you. Start small and try to read aloud even just one word to see if you’re putting the pieces together correctly.

Speaking.

A new script isn’t just a tool for literacy.

Visualise the written form of a word in your head as you speak it to bring it into your speaking.

There’s lots of research that suggests we learn well when we attach imagery, so why not use the new script for that?

Writing.

Unless your focus is on ‘accuracy’, always attempt a word before checking a word.

That way, you get used to sounding things out and bringing to mind different letters/characters, some of which may be less familiar.

If you resort straight to checking before attempting, you’re missing out on a chance to form an extra connection with the new script.

Join Language Life

Whichever language you’re learning, I can help you learn it your way inside Language Life.

When you’re struggling with a different script, we can work together to figure out the specifics of what you need to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible.

Language Life is the coaching program for learners of any language at any level that finally teaches you how to learn languages.

Were you given a list of 10 vocab words in Spanish class at school and told to learn them for the test on Monday? But not told HOW to learn them? This is why learning a language is so often harder than it needs to be.

That’s why in my program Language Life, drawing from my experience as well as knowledge from my MA in Applied Linguistics, I work directly with you to create your custom language learning plan to learn ANY language, one that centres you rather than guilt-trips you.

Want to finally learn languages your way?