What’s a Polyglots' secret about learning languages
I like learning languages. I really do. I grew up bilingual and have been speaking two languages until the age of 6. One more language entered my life when school started. And by the time I turned 11, I already could speak 4 languages freelys. Nowadays I use 6 languages on a daily basis. There are 4 more languages that I know well enough to make conversations with native speakers. Most of the time, when people find out about the number of languages, their first question is “How did you do it? What’s your secret? ” Honestly, I have always answered that I don’t have a secret. But, of course, nobody is ever satisfied with this particular answer. People want to know why they have been learning one language for years, but haven’t succeeded, and I’m learning one language after another just like that.
Everybody wants to know the secret of a polyglot. How do different polyglots actually learn a language? What do all of those who learn languages with ease have in common? And what allows them to deal with foreign languages faster and easier than the rest of the people? Each one has its own unique way of learning a language.
Reading another article about a polyglot, people often think about how did he or she manage to learn so many languages. Does he/she really have a particularly developed brain, or does he/she have some secret methods of learning languages that ordinary people never heard of? I personally have never thought that I have a special gift or a special brain. My answer was always this simple — there are no secret methods. It’s not that I was born with a special gift, received magical abilities from my parents, or, that special skills are needed to learn a foreign language. I had the opportunity and I used it.
In my case, I grew up in an environment where we used both languages at home, in school, with friends, relatives, and neighbors. It all came out naturally, effortlessly. But when school years started, there also came the learning methods and plans. You have to learn and study something in order to know it. That’s why I never considered myself a genius and said so many times that I have no secrets about how to learn a language quickly. One just has to find the option that works best, turning the process of learning a foreign language from a boring school subject into a great pastime. And practice it every day!
If you are an introvert and find it challenging to communicate with other people, try the technique of talking to yourself. Any topic you want — about plans for the weekend, how your day, describe a picture, discuss a book or a movie. But, of course, just enjoying the idea of speaking a new language isn’t enough. If you want to speak the language, you must follow the principles described below.
Have a clear goal and motivation
Most people will say that they don’t have enough time, they have a job, a family to take care of, etc. But let’s be honest — is this true, can’t you find even 10 minutes a day? I bet you have time to scroll social media though. So why not use it to your advantage — you can follow people who teach a language in a fun and easy way so you don’t get bored. Polyglot will never say that they don’t have enough time. Even working on two jobs or more, one finds 5–10 minutes a day to dedicate to learning simply by implementing it into everyday life or a hobby he always liked.
When learning a language, it is very important to set specific goals. They must be realistically achievable. For example, the goal of “learning a language” is too abstract. But “reach the intermediate level and take a test to confirm the knowledge” — is very specific and achievable. Without understanding why you are learning the language, enthusiasm will quickly fade. To warm it up, you need to know what benefits it will bring you. Think about the purpose. Always remind yourself of what you can achieve by learning the language when you feel like giving up. The reason can be any — from cognitive and entertaining (“I want to be able to see movies in the original and understand them”) to quite serious ones (I want to get a job in a foreign company, move to another country, etc.).
Conduct at least a few classes with a tutor
Most polyglots claim to have studied languages on their own. While it still can be true, many of them will say that they worked with tutors in the beginning just to have an idea of how the language works and where to start. After a few classes, they move on to study on their own. A tutor will help you understand the basics of the language, and then, you can take it from there. At some point, most polyglots still need a teacher (and they seek the help of a tutor or go to language courses) — much depends on the person itself, the learning process, and initial knowledge.
Start talking from day one
Even though it may sound obvious, most language learners skip this part, or just delay it until a better time. But in reality, the sooner you start speaking, the less likely you are to have a language barrier in the future. Even if you are only taking the first steps in learning a new language — try to say every word and phrase you’ve just learned out loud. You can start with easy and simple chats. Find someone with whom you can put your knowledge to practice. Beginners can practice with a tutor, and from the Intermediate level, you can already try to start having a dialogue with a native speaker.
Every single polyglot will tell you that the best way to hone your knowledge is to communicate. They also point out that conversational practice is the best way to memorize new grammatical constructions and words. Thus, you do not memorize them on purpose but learn during an interesting conversation.
Learn phrases, not words
In order to be able to speak a foreign language, you don’t just need to know the words and have a rich vocabulary, but also to be able to use those words correctly in a conversation. You can learn a language much faster if you learn whole sentences, rather than just individual words. I always found it rather boring and a waste of time learning words that I won’t be using in a usual daily conversation. I’ll just learn complete phrases instead and then, with time, I not only know a specific word but also how and when to use it in a sentence.
Learn to perceive language by ear
Polyglots advise you to start listening to small texts, dialogues, and lyrics of a song, in the language you are currently learning, even if you are just starting out and barely know 50 words. This is called passive listening, it helps you get used to how the new language sounds. Some people think that such listening can discourage you to continue learning the language because you may get upset that you don’t understand anything or that you will never be able to sound like a native.
You can accustom yourself to a language in so many different ways. Beginners can listen to what individual words or simple phrases sound like. You can listen to simple learning dialogues while looking at the translation of this very dialogue. The audio perception must be adapted to a comfortable level: the language must become habitual. Putting on a movie or a TV series while cooking or cleaning helps a lot. It is important to find something that you have already seen before, in order not to panic that everything is unclear.
Read books and articles
Reading allows you to see examples of the use of vocabulary and grammatical constructions you’ve learned in practice. This involves visual memory, which helps memorize phrases and spelling words. You can start with simple and easy texts. Some polyglots recommend practicing parallel reading, that is, simultaneously reading the text in the language you learn and in your native one. This reading allows you to get rid of the bad habit of translating everything literally.
Make mistakes
I remember how scared I was when I first had to be in an environment where everyone spoke English. It was a summer camp, and I just finished my second year at the university and it was the second year I was studying English. It was the first time I had the possibility to speak with native speakers that didn’t know my native language. And upon arrival at the camp, I had a brief chat with a guy from the UK and I remember how nervous I was about making a mistake or saying it wrong. And before we even started to chat he told me not to be scared of mistakes because that’s how I will get better. And it turned out he was right. I pass this advice to all the language learners I encounter over the years.
It’s completely natural to make mistakes, they are a common thing. People make mistakes even in their native language. So why should you be ashamed to do them in a language that you are just started learning? You won’t learn something without making a mistake. Every time you say something wrong, remember your mistake, correct yourself and try not to make it next time.
Exercise regularly
The main secret is regular classes. It’s hardly possible to find a person who would claim to have learned a language in a few months by practicing for only an hour a week. Polyglots enjoy learning languages and study them almost all their free time. The more you practice, the better you will get.
Develop memory
Naturally, learning a language is a great way to improve your memory. And memorizing new constructions, phrases and words will help you achieve the level you want. There are different memorization techniques, such as memorizing favorite songs and poems.
Don’t overload
A large number of language learning manuals can make your head spin. Of course, the variety of educational materials allows you not to be bored while learning the language. However, if you constantly grab different textbooks — you can only get yourself a headache. In addition, ignorance of what to grab first can lead to procrastination. Choose a few resources and work only with them.
Enjoy the process
No polyglot will tell you that learning a language is boring. One of the main secrets of their success is genuine interest. Enjoy not only the idea that you can speak a foreign language but also the process of learning. Fortunately, thanks to a variety of teaching methods, nowadays, learning can be a fun hobby. Look for fun in any aspect of the learning process, integrate it into your daily life and entertainment (watch comedies in the language you study), communicate with native speakers for the sake of communication itself, etc. You choose what works for you best.
