Neil Wolfe Barnett works in real estate as a commercial and residential building developer. In his free time, Neil Wolfe Barnett enjoys traveling and learning new languages.

The ability to speak a second or third language is a useful skill, whether in preparation for travel, for use in your career, or for personal growth. However, many people find the process of learning a language difficult and intimidating. Here are a couple of tips to help you enjoy the process:

- Try to take on the mindset of a child when learning a language. Recent research has found that children do not learn languages better than adults because of their age - it is their ability to explore a new language with little self-consciousness or embarrassment that allows them to learn the language faster. Therefore, give yourself permission to make mistakes and go beyond your comfort zone.

- Plenty of practice is important. This practice might include listening to native speakers and focusing on how they make different sounds. Learning to make new speech sounds takes time. Be patient with yourself and recognize that learning a language is an ongoing journey.