How did you learn so many languages. Do you have any tips?
Everything I wish I could tell myself before starting my language โjourneyโ lol:
Donโt be intimidated, specifically by doing listening or speaking practice. I know in the US (or for most English speakers), when we hear someone that speaks perfect English but merely has an accent we think โthey donโt speak Englishโ, but from experience this mentality is not shared with other languages. When you know even a little bit of a language or canโt speak it very well, natives speakers are really really encouraging. I think since we view not being 100% fluent without so much as an accent, as โnot knowing any of a languageโ we are hard on ourselves and give up pretty easily.
๐ฆฉListening practice is as important as studying vocabulary and grammar
When you listen to native speakers talk, you are training your ear even though you donโt understand it. Listen and listen, eventually your brain stops picking out English words that arenโt even there, but rather, starts to catch patterns in the language (for example, the same words sticks out to you over and over).
๐ฆฉSet realistic and doable goals or youโll get discouraged and quit
If you are a busy person, make small goals to fit language study in. Donโt tell yourself that you need to master _____ within a week. Instead give yourself 15 mins of reading in the evening, and 25 mins of language listening in the morning. Itโs also easier to add the language into stuff you do on a daily basis anyway. For example if you are religious, find your prayers you pray daily in the language you are learning.
๐ฆฉlearn to read the language first (obviously this tip might not be applicable for character based languages like Chinese)
I know everyone says โimmersion is the best and most important part of languageโ but honestly, a lot of our native speaking knowledge comes from our literacy education. When we are taught how to read, itโs through reading we can discover new words through context. Itโs also easy to pick up new language reading since itโs available anywhere, where immersion is only available when you are surrounded by native speakers. The first thing I do is learn how to read and write the language, then the entire language becomes accessible to me.
๐ฆฉSpend time perfecting the sounds of the language that are most difficult for you
The vocal sounds of a language is the foundation of a language. I know we are all impatient and want to simply learn as many phrases as possible as fast as possible, but if you get down the unfamiliar sounds of a language that donโt exist in English, youโll have a better foundation of the language and your speaking and listening will be better from the very beginning. So take the time to practice those weird sounds by looking into the position of the tongue and where the sound comes from, from the chest to the lips. Look into how tense the mouth is, how much air comes from the lips, what the sound is like next to other sounds. When you master this speaking becomes more instinctual and itโs easier to pick up the language.
๐ฆฉSearch YouTube, google, Instagram IN THE LANGUAGE YOU ARE STUDYING.
Donโt search โkorean musicโ or โkorean kids tvโ or even โkorean vegetablesโ in google. Just translate how to say them in a translator app, then copy and paste them into the search bar. This way native korean information, videos, posts will come up. For example, if youโre in the mood for some horror comics, and want to read/watch them in the language you are learning, go to the translator app, and figure out how to say them, then search it. It works way better, even if the translation isnโt correct or more natural, youโll still get the information, posts, and videos you want to see.
๐ฆฉFind ways to practice speaking the language (I use HiNative) and donโt be discouraged by corrections.
Getting corrected does not mean youโre wrong, corrections are the most useful part of learning a language. If you are the type of person who is sensitive to criticism, you need to remind yourself corrections are NOT criticism. They are NOT a reflection of your progress, they are NOT you failing! You will always be corrected as a language learner and the sooner you are gentle with yourself in learning the sooner you will learn more. Get those first corrections out of the way, allow yourself to butcher pronunciation, get corrected for the first 10 times, let it sting a little and move on. Eventually you will be begging native speakers to tell you every little detail in where you went wrong!
๐ฆฉTv and Books seems to be more useful for immersion and listening practice then music does
So far in my experience music is its very weird and abstract, and the things said in music arenโt really useful in speaking? Itโs good for gathering vocab, but if you want music listening practice thatโs music based try searching for rap in that language, although obviously youโll be picking up a lot of informal language in music/rap. Tv shows however are typically how people really do talk, so turn off English subs and just listen! Books are really useful for learning new vocabulary, but sometimes written language is different than spoken (often), although when you speak it the way youโve learned from a book the worst youโll sound is โformal and poeticโ.
๐ฆฉLook up โinsert language you are learning phrases and words that arenโt useful or correctโ
There so many programs and books that teach you phrases youโll never use or that are only appropriate in very specific situations. I donโt know why language programs do this, but learning which ones are weird or only in specific settings before you start learning really helps. Chinese Especially does this...like I learned so many phrases and words that natives will never use and have no purpose???
๐ฆฉKnow the different subjects of learning a language and which apps to use for that
Everyone uses Duolingo, but this app alone wonโt make you speak a language. Duolingo and Memrise are great for memorizing vocab, but, is it vocab that in the context of your reading and listening practice? Are you learning words you are hearing and reading all the time? Duolingo is a lot of fun but I feel like the vocab is so broad and it doesnโt go deep enough into the language. Feel free to use it at first to get used to the sounds of the language, but try using flash card apps like quizlet or Anki instead where you can write down and study words you are hearing constantly. Memrise does have actually study sets for many language books and lessons! So you can study words you are hearing in specific programs and books which is pretty useful in regards to vocab.
There obviously is more than just learning vocab. What about grammar, listening practice, speaking practice and reading? If you are wanting to use primarily apps find out which apps are available for your language. Here is an example of the apps I use for each subject. Be aware some languages are not available on them.
Grammar: books (printed or kindle), YouTube grammar lessons, websites
Reading: books (printed or kindle), beelinguapp, instagram (posts that have text), Netflix/YouTube with both subtitles in the language you are learning and spoken in language you are learning, epic app
Writing: just use paper and pencil/pen
Listening: audio books (beelinguapp/epic/kindle/YouTube), tv and movies (Netflix/YouTube etc with no English subs), conversations on YouTube (search in language you are studying, donโt search โSpanish conversationsโ or โJapanese conversationsโ)
Speaking: HiNative (pretty much all I use since itโs all languages, quick, and you get immediately answered and corrected by native speakers), get friends in language you are learning through lots of apps
Translator: itโs really hard to find a good one, most of them are really weird so only use them for words and the most basic or simple phrases and sentences, otherwise use HiNative to ask native speakers directly, or ask people on the apps that connect you to native speakers
๐ฑI should note that for talking to native speakers I only like HiNative, since itโs built to NOT be a form of social networking at all. Itโs not personal in anyway, and thereโs no way to private message or speak to other users outside a asking questions publicly. The people on there are only about learning or teaching a language, not usually making friends. Iโve found the sites that are built to make native speaking friends arenโt useful to me personally, as most of the native speakers are either dudes looking for a woman to date or people wanting to only practice English with you, so they wasted a lot of my study time. People who are willing to help you learn are there, but it takes time to filter everything else out. If you would find it helpful to make friends by all means use them but I donโt really use it myself.๐ฑ
You donโt want to really study EVERY SUBJECT every single day (unless you have the time). It can get really overwhelming, and you donโt really absorb information that if you are just cramming. While I would say itโs good to read and listen daily, spread subjects out over the week. Grammar on Monday and Friday, vocab on Tuesday and Thursday. Take one day to review all of what youโve learned all week. Pick a day you have the largest block of free time. Bi-weekly works fine too.
I have an old post on how I organize my study time for multiple languages: https://alwaysabeautifullife.tumblr.com/post/182817883372/what-do-you-use-to-learn-your-languages-im
๐ฆฉWrite sentences daily of everything youโve learned (no THIS I RECOMMEND DAILY)
Write as many as you can. Use all the grammar youโve learned, the words youโve learned, everything! Write them in your notes and submit them to be corrected in HiNative. The sentences they correct, put them in flash cards!
๐ฆฉItโs ok to abandon languages you arenโt passionate in
So youโve learned to read the language, and you know basic phrases, and now you just donโt want to do it anymore. If you canโt think of any reason to maintain it and donโt know why you are studying it, learning some of the language is good! Fluency does NOT need to be everyoneโs goal. You can hold a conversation, and thatโs good enough for you. Feel free to try out various languages, there will be one or some that really are your passion, itโs fine to have the goal of fluency in those and conversational in others.
Donโt abandon languages however because you feel discouraged. Discouragement is just a bump to get over, when you train your brain to maintain study habits through the days you feel discouraged, you make it habitual. Habits are harder to break and abandon! Evaluate your reasonings for wanting to speak a language, and your reasons for abandoning them if you want. Donโt let difficulty, disorganized, discouragement, or poor time management get in your way!!
๐ฆฉWith all that said itโs ok to take breaks
Itโs ok to get overwhelmed and take breaks from language learning. If you can still maintain what youโve learned by listening to music in your language or staying connected in some way thatโs good, but the โyouโll loose a languageโ isnโt entirely true. Iโve taken year long breaks and refreshing what I learned previously is pretty easy! Your brain really does go โoh yeah I do remember this!โ when youโre studying information you studied years ago.
๐ฆฉBe gentle with yourself
Be gentle with yourself. People that claim to be fluent in 6 months are selling something or want to be an influencer. Donโt compare yourself to them. Language learning even for natives is a lifetime education. Itโs not something you do for 6 months then stop. Itโs continual and that looks different for everyone (yes native speakers included). Donโt bother watching YouTube videos on how to learn in 10 mins or 3 months, youโll only get discouraged about your own amazing progress and all the work youโve done.
๐ฆฉPlan your โcan you say something in itโ phrase now
This one is just for fun but after hearing you are learning a language the first thing youโll get asked is โoh cool you speak (insert target language here)? Can you say something in (insert target language here)?โ It does not matter what level of fluency you are at, you will absolutely forget the entire language and your own native language when you are asked this because it sends your brain to another dimension. So think of some funny phrases to say to people who ask, master them, then when they ask what they mean you can have a laugh. Other wise you will say something stupid of jumbled words (my go to was โwe women are fruitโ for some reason thanks brain youโre incredible) youโve learned that donโt belong in a sentence, or even worse youโll run a blank and youโll just look at them like:
So think of inside jokes to tell your friends, funny phrases, even goofy insults! Memorize them and tell them at your friends and family to torture them because they canโt escape sound waves! Itโs a good way to memorize the language but also to become confortable speaking it!
Please excuse any errors I donโt wanna go over my mistakes so pretend u canโt see them ๐
