I learned 9 languages – tips for success
How I learned 9 languages – the 10 best tips for learning languages
Matt Y,, himself fluent in 9 languages, explains his method
Matt is fluent in nine languages and understands at least a dozen more. We worked in the same office, so I’ve seen him in action on many occasions—Mat jumps effortlessly from language to language; he’s a veritable linguistic chameleon. For a long time, I didn’t even know he was British. When I told Matt that even learning a single foreign language was quite challenging for me, he gave me the following language-learning tips. If anyone else feels the same way, pay attention!
These tips will help you learn languages
- Be clear about your purpose
It may sound obvious, but if you don’t have a good reason to learn a new language, you’re unlikely to stay motivated in the long run. Wanting to impress someone with your French isn’t a particularly good motivation. Wanting to get to know a French person in their native language is another matter entirely. Whatever your reason for wanting to learn a language, once you’ve decided to do it, it’s important to stick to it: “Okay, I want to learn this language, and therefore I’m going to do as much as I can in this language, with this language, and for this language.” - Jump in at the deep end
So, you’ve made your vows. What’s next? Which method is the right one for learning a new language? Matthew recommends a 360° approach: No matter what, it’s crucial to use your new language every day:
“I want to absorb as much as possible from the start, like a sponge. When I learn something new, I really get into it and make it a point to use it all day. Throughout the week, I try to think, write, and even talk to myself in the language. For me, it’s about putting what I’ve learned into practice right away—whether that means writing an email, talking to myself, or listening to music. Surrounding yourself with the new language and completely immersing yourself in the new language culture is one of the most important tips for language learning.”
Remember: Ultimately, the best part of speaking a language is engaging in conversation with people. Just being able to hold a simple conversation is a rewarding experience in itself. Having these early successes makes it much easier to stay motivated and keep learning.
Language Learning Tips: 3. Find a Partner
Matthew has learned several languages together with his twin brother, Michael. They tackled their first foreign language, Greek, together at the tender age of 8! Matthew and Michael, or the Super Polyglot Bros, as I now like to call them, owe their superpowers to good old sibling rivalry:
“We were very motivated and still are. We encourage each other to really put in the effort. When he notices that I’m doing more than him, he gets a little jealous and tries to outdo me (maybe because he’s my twin) – and vice versa.”
Even if you don’t have a brother to accompany you on your language adventure, learning together will encourage both of you to push yourself a little harder and stay on track.
- Stick to the essentials
If your goal from the start is to be able to hold a conversation, you’ll be less likely to get lost in textbooks. When you actually speak the new language with other people, your learning process will remain relevant to you:
“You learn a language to use it, not to speak it to yourself. The truly creative thing about learning a language is being able to put it into a useful, everyday context—whether that’s writing song lyrics, a general need to interact with people, or a stay abroad. You don’t necessarily have to go abroad to do this—you can just go to the Greek restaurant down the street and order your food in Greek.”
- Have fun with it
Whatever way you use your new language, it’s a creative act. The Polyglot Bros practiced Greek by writing and recording songs. Think of interesting, entertaining ways to practice your new language: record a radio show with a friend, draw a comic strip, write a poem, or just talk to anyone you can. If you can’t think of ways to have fun with your new language, it’s likely you skipped step 4 of our language learning tips. - Be childlike
Not to throw tearful tantrums or smear food in your hair at a restaurant—try learning like a child. The assumption that children naturally have an easier time learning than adults seems to be a fallacy. New research shows no direct connection between age and learning ability. So, to learn as quickly as a child, simply try to adopt some childlike behaviors; for example, being uninhibited about speaking, being playful with the language, and not being afraid to make mistakes.
We learn by making mistakes. The fear of failing in front of others (or even just struggling with something under scrutiny) is a social taboo that doesn’t affect children. One of the best tips for language learning is to admit that you don’t know everything and accept that that’s perfectly fine. Free yourself from your adult self-consciousness!
- Come out of your shell
The willingness to make mistakes also means putting yourself in potentially embarrassing situations. It can be scary, but it’s the only way to improve. No matter how hard you study, you won’t learn to speak without stepping outside of yourself. The more often you put yourself in certain situations, the more comfortable you’ll feel and the more relaxed you’ll be when entering new linguistic territory:
“In the beginning, you’ll always encounter difficulties: It could be pronunciation, grammar, syntax, or maybe you don’t really understand the idioms. But I think the most important thing is simply to develop a feel for the language. Every native speaker has a feel for their language, and that’s essentially what makes a native speaker—the ability to make the language your own.”
Tips for learning languages: 8. Listen
If you want to paint something, you first have to learn to look properly before you pick up a brush. The same applies to language learning: To be able to speak, you have to learn to listen. Every language sounds strange and foreign when you first hear it, but the more you expose yourself to the new language, the more familiar it becomes and the easier it becomes to speak it:
“We can pronounce anything, we’re just not used to it. The rolled [r], for example, doesn’t exist in my version of English. When I was learning Spanish, there were words like perro and reunión, which have a hard [r]. For me, the best way to get a handle on this was to hear it constantly. I listened carefully and tried to imagine how it should be pronounced correctly, because for each sound, there is a specific part of the mouth or throat that we use to produce the sound.”
- Watch people speak
Different languages place different demands on the tongue, lips, and throat. Pronunciation is as much a physical as it is a mental phenomenon:
“It makes sense to look closely at someone while they pronounce words with a certain sound and then try to imitate it as best as you can. It may be difficult at first, but it works. It’s actually quite easy; it just takes a bit of practice.”
If there are no native speakers you can observe and imitate up close, foreign-language films and television are a good substitute.
- Talk to yourself
If you don’t have anyone to talk to, there’s nothing wrong with having a conversation with yourself:
“This may sound strange, but talking to yourself in another language is a good way to practice speaking a foreign language when you don’t use it all the time.”
This way, you can memorize the vocabulary and phrases you’ve just learned and become more confident the next time you speak with someone in that language.
Haven’t had enough language learning tips yet? Then here’s a bonus tip: Relax!
You won’t annoy people just because you don’t speak their language well. If you start a conversation with, “I’m still learning and I’d like to practice…”, most people will be patient and even encouraging. German is understood in only a few countries, and even if you already speak English well, it’s worth learning another language. Because although there are approximately one billion people in the world who speak English as a foreign language, most of them would prefer a conversation in their own language if given the choice. Taking the initiative and immersing yourself in someone else’s language helps to put your counterpart at ease and creates a positive atmosphere:
“Sure, you can travel abroad and speak your own native language, but you gain so much more by actually immersing yourself in the place—having conversations, understanding what’s going on, and being able to interact with people in every conceivable situation.”
Tips for learning languages are all well and good – but what’s the point?
We’ve covered the best tips for learning languages, but maybe you’re still wondering why you should learn a language? Matthew has another good argument:
“I think every language opens up a different perspective on the world. If you speak a particular language, you will perceive and interpret the world around you differently than someone who speaks another language. Even related languages, like Spanish and Portuguese, open up two different linguistic worlds – two different ways of thinking.
Therefore, I can’t choose just one language, because that would mean giving up the opportunity to see the world from different perspectives. Not just one, but many different ways. That’s why, for me, a monolingual lifestyle is the saddest, loneliest, and most boring way to see the world. Learning languages has so many benefits, I can’t think of a single reason why it shouldn’t.”
With this inspiring worldview and plenty of tips for learning languages, we wish you much success!
So, how can you easily learn a language?
With these tips, you’ll definitely be well prepared for your language learning journey!
Understand why
Jump in
Find a partner
Stick to the basics
Have fun
…
