Language Learning - Learn Effortlessly

Full transcript for this video:

I am not convinced that hard work and deliberate learning is more effective than taking the easy way.

Timelines:
0:02 I do things taking the least time.
0:34 Effortless English by AJ Hoge.
0:59 Taoist principles applied to language learning.
2:24 I don’t like looking words up in a dictionary.
3:19 Don’t try to remember any grammar when you read explanations.
3:42 Never do the grammar questions, read the answers instead.
4:40 Don’t spoil the pleasure of reading with comprehension questions.
5:30 An effortless way of working with flashcards.
6:05 Gold list.
6:37 Don’t use a monolingual dictionary.
7:39 Don’t worry about things you don’t understand.
9:21 Trust the brain.

[Arphaea]

"Trust the brain." That's the best piece of advice.

[blazstempelj]

That's how I learned English and German as a kid. I just binge watched a lot of cartoons :)

[ManuelLanguages]

I love how you destroy all the language learning myths, and by the same token (idiom acquired through your videos) you still learn lots of languages efficiently.

[Tehui]

I feel validated watching this video. I've been reading short stories in my target language and have been avoiding answering the questions afterwards. I'd rather just re-read the short stories again.

[rsloma]

The information about not doing exercises and not using monolingual dictionaries are unbelievablely honest. Only best learners can afford such recommendations ! Pleasurable video.

[vincentaurelius]

"Trust the brain" .. Brilliant!

[Thelinguist]

@jomboeric386 Unlikely that as an adult you can learn to speak another language so well that natives will take you for a native. Just the way things are. In children under the age of 12, the brain is less set in it's ways, more flexible I believe. But so what? The thought that no one will mistake me for a native does not prevent me from learning and enjoying foreign languages.

[Josecon]

Steve, you're a genious! Thanks a lot for the great advice. These are the best tips I ever heard! The traditional school system does totally the contrary.

[hewzip]

Hi Steve, my name's Philipe, I'm from Brazil,
You talked about AJ Hoge and I always wondered when I would see you guys together, you should make a video conference with him and record it, you guys have such a good experience about how to learn languages, by the way I used AJ Hoge method to learn English and now I can speak normally with native speakers !! THANKS STEVE !! I read your book, good stuff !! congrats! I'm always sharing your videos on the internet !! have a great day !!

[Thelinguist]

@AnAmericanlinguist I am indeed talking about all people. If they step back from exercises and other kinds of tasks that others impose on them, and pursue the things that they find pleasant, they will learn better in my view. With regard to Russian grammar, a pleasant way to learn it is to study the lessons in our LingQ library created by Evgueny called ПРАКТИЧЕСКАЯ ГРАММАТИКА.

[BryanAJParry]

One of the best videos on language learning ever?

[rockett]

Learning language like a baby.It's a really effortless. You just listen and you don't force youself to remember anything. Just let the languae come into your ears. you also can read easy book a lot. it's good for your language learning.

[Thelinguist]

I have more energy when I am in good shape so I am sure it helps with all activities, including cognitive activities.

[Thelinguist]

@vinayaka70 I assure you it works, a concentration of the patterns that you want to learn. And try doing the flash cards with all the answers on the front!

[MrOoglebog]

On my English Japanese dictionary app, I can favorite/heart words. So the first time i look up a word during active immersion i always "heart it" that way if i ever look it up again, I can see that it is a word I've looked up before and that excites me to remember it more, I feel.

[Thelinguist]

@AnAmericanlinguist I don't think you are right. I don't play the piano, but when it comes to language learning, I think those that enjoy their learning do better then those who study in ways that they do not enjoy.

[Thelinguist]

@AnAmericanlinguist When I learned Chinese I had the luxury of spending all day on it. mostly listening and reading. I also had to write and speak in class. Nevertheless I believe it is the concerted time, that is important. In Chinese I avoided grammar terms and focused on patterns. I avoided the questions that I found in the books I used. The classroom was different of course.

[Thelinguist]

@AnAmericanlinguist It depends on your goals. My goal in Russian and in Czech has been to acquire as much vocabulary as possible in a short time in order to understand what I read and hear. If I wanted to become more accurate I would write and send my writing to be corrected. I would not write lists. But if you enjoy doing lists then it works for you. I do not see how this relates to medical knowledge which is more in the way of facts and not getting used to a language.

[enle]

Excellent! Steve, I completely agree with all that you say in this video. I've always thought that is the best approach to learn a foreign language.

[Thelinguist]

@supermonk3y07 You will need English and the local language of each country.