If your target language uses a different keyboard layout, script, or character set, you'll need dedicated practice to build typing speed. Even if the script is the same (like a Spanish speaker learning English), the letter combinations are different and your fingers need to learn them.
Why It Matters
Writing practice only works if the physical act of typing isn't a bottleneck. If you can only type 5 words per minute, you'll spend all your mental energy on finding keys instead of thinking about the language.
Aim for at least 25 words per minute before moving on from Phase 5A.
How to Practice
- Choose to focus on either a physical keyboard OR mobile keyboard. Learn one, then move on to the other
- Use typing practice websites (many exist for specific languages)
- Copy texts that already exist rather than trying to compose your own
- Depending on the language, you may need to learn a very new way of typing (Chinese or Japanese have very different methods than European languages)
- You do not need to buy a physical keyboard that matches the target language. All modern computers allow you to add new input methods via settings
Tips
- 10 minutes of dedicated typing practice per day adds up fast
- Set up your keyboard with the target language input method and switch between them (standard hotkey is
Command + Space) - If you're moderately techy, consider setting up your own custom keyboard input. Most foreign keyboards also change the position of characters like # or % or ! Relearning these is rather annoying and you likely will never need to use another person's keyboard
- If handwriting is important for you personally, see handwriting practice
