Tips for Learning New Languages While Driving
Can you really learn a language while driving? Can you actually develop conversation skills, practice sentence structure, and perfect your accent on the go? Absolutely! An audio-based language-learning app like Pimsleur’s is the ideal tool to help you learn another language while driving.
In this post, we’ll cover smart, safe, and effective strategies for language learning while driving that go beyond the app to immerse you in your target language. From choosing the right tools to staying focused on the road, our tips will help you build fluency mile after mile.
Can You Really Learn a Language While Driving?
How can you learn a language while driving? Don’t textbooks and flashcards get in the way of driving safely? They certainly would!
The only safe way to learn a new language while driving is with a language learning app based on listening. The Pimsleur method of learning languages does not rely on textbooks or diagramming sentences. Instead, it is designed to help you learn to speak the language of your choice, the same way children do – by actively listening to native speakers. You’ll practice the principle of anticipation: listening to what the person says and anticipating what they’ll say next.
The best app for learning a language while driving is one that speaks to you in the language you’re learning, prompts you to reply, and guides you through real-world sentence construction. The Pimsleur app does all this and provides real-time feedback powered by AI to help you polish your pronunciation. The app is built for mobility and your pace of life. It syncs your progress across all your devices, helping you learn while you’re on the go. It’s all about speaking, listening, and engaging, rather than reading and writing – which, of course, should never be done while driving.
Best Way to Learn a Language While Driving: Key Tips and Techniques
The very best way to learn a language while driving is to combine the power of an audio-based mobile language learning app like Pimsleur’s with strategies that further your immersion in the language without distracting you from the road.
Keep reading for smart, safe techniques to help you learn another language while driving.
Choose a Language Learning App Designed for Drivers
Not all language learning programs are designed with drivers in mind. The best app for learning a language while driving is one that prioritizes active listening and speaking – not visuals. Look for audio-based lessons that prompt you to respond aloud, provide interactive conversation practice, and offer real-time feedback to help dial in your accent. The Pimsleur app does all this, guiding you to speak in complete sentences and gradually absorb grammar and sentence structure through repetition and context, without ever needing to look at a screen.
Talk to Yourself in Your Target Language
It may sound silly, but it’s true – talking to yourself in the language you’re learning while driving in the car (or anywhere for that matter!) is an excellent way to practice. Whether you review your to-do list out loud or narrate every turn along your commute home, creating opportunities to use the language you’re learning is a fantastic way to boost your recall and fluency.
Mix in Audiobooks, Podcasts, and Music
Another great way to learn a language while driving is by listening to audiobooks, music, or podcasts in your target language. Listening to native speakers in casual or cultural contexts is one of the best ways to learn a language. It helps you tune your ear to the natural flow of native speakers and exposes you to slang, idioms, accents, and dialects.
Use Shadowing
When learning a language, shadowing means repeating words and phrases out loud right after you hear them. It helps reinforce vocabulary, rhythm, and pronunciation. This kind of active repetition strengthens your memory and helps you internalize the natural flow of the language. Practice shadowing outside the Pimsleur app by repeating phrases you hear in music or podcasts in your target language.
Take a Road Trip!
Many languages – over 350! – are spoken right here in the United States. There is a wealth of culture to explore and opportunities to connect with and immerse yourself in your chosen language. Check out our best road trip ideas for language learners for a fun and interactive twist on ways to learn a language while driving.
Reinforce What You Learn
Your commute is a great time to practice your language lessons, but you’ll retain more if you follow up afterward. A quick review of new vocabulary or phrases – on paper or in the app – can help commit them to long-term memory. For additional practice, consider ways to integrate language learning into your routine.
Safety First: How to Make Language Learning While Driving Both Effective and Safe
Language learning while driving is a terrific option, so long as you prioritize safety. With a little planning and the right tools, you can learn a language while driving and stay focused and safe behind the wheel.
Stick to Audio Only Content
Do not attempt to read, type, or navigate menus while driving. Stick with audio-based language learning apps like Pimsleur’s that are designed to be hands-free and that move at the pace of natural conversation.
Prepare Before You Drive
Download your language lessons, music, or podcasts before you hit the road so you’re not distracted while driving. Bonus points for reviewing a transcript of the podcast ahead of time to give you a head start on unfamiliar vocabulary and help you follow along.
Use Voice Controls When Possible
If your vehicle has smart assistant integration, such as Siri or Google Assistant, use it to control audio playback or to skip a language lesson track without taking your eyes off the road.
Choose the Right Lesson for the Right Drive
Long, low-stress drives are ideal for learning new material or shadowing an engaging podcast. In busy city traffic, consider reviewing familiar lessons or listening to music instead. Matching your language content to your driving conditions helps you stay safe as you learn a language while driving.
Driving Toward Fluency
Learning a language while driving can transform your commute into a daily language lesson. With the Pimsleur app, the right tools, and a bit of planning, you can stay safe while turning your drive into an immersive language learning journey.