Polyglot Reveals Way to REALLY Learn Languages (surprisingly simple) @Thelinguist

I spoke to famous polyglot Steve Kaufmann who shares his experience of language learning and how we can approach it to ensure success.

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[Englishallthetime-qbgb]

The most honest people I’ve ever heard on YouTube about language learning, I think his success is also because that. Steve is not afraid to talk about his level in every language, most people do.

[creektraveler]

Terrific interview! During the pandemic, I decided to add French to my English and Spanish, where I have native fluency. I decided it would take three or four YEARS to get to a conversational level, which is realistic for a non-full-time student. Never believe the marketing baloney “learn a language in three weeks or months.” I am now at a conversational level in French.

[jeffreybarker]

The traditional method persists because it makes money. Major publishers make a lot of money on text books. Universities get students to pay a lot of money each semester. Apps make money with monthly subscribers.

It’s not about money—it’s ALL about money.

[wombat]

1) you cant be fluent in every language
2) you can be conversational in many languages
3) you can be motivated if you enjoy learning
4) you can immerse yourself to read and listen
5) you have to study and practice to make it reflexive
6) you have to make alot of mistakes without being ashamed
7) do it wrong everyday to be able to do it right a year from now

[qn]

The thoughts articulated here by Steve are truly exceptional in general, and even stand out among the many videos and interviews with him I have watched. One reason is that they seem to apply to any type of learning and the moderate, at best, contributions that teaching is making to it. I’m a retired professor who was teaching some specific kind of information technology, and I always tried to get at what helps learning, rather than teaching. It is hard, of course, for a teacher, and not least with undergraduate students, may of whom seem to have been brainwashed into requesting traditional approaches to teaching, mainly optimized for teaching, rather than those optimized for learning. I failed at convincing those, while graduate students tended to love the approach. The difference between them is roughly one of learning to test vs learning to understand. In hindsight, Steve is helping me to understand my own experiences, in both learning languages (working on my 7th) and teaching other skills. Thank you both for this great interview!❤

[philipdavis]

LingQ is a great learning source, maybe the best single one out there for multiple languages. Kaufman really knows what he’s talking about. Thats a good interview, I’m glad you just let him talk on his favourite subject.

[stevesmith]

Two of my favorite language YouTubers!

[AhlamAcademy]

Thanks for this interview. I always enjoy hearing what you guys have to say.

[mbrochh]

Here's a ChatGPT summary:

- Steve Kauffman, a polyglot, speaks more than 15 languages and has been conversant in 20 languages at different times.
- Kauffman emphasizes that language learning is based on motivation and that traditional methods are often ineffective because they focus on teaching and testing rather than exposure and habit formation.
- He suggests that language learning should be an enjoyable experience, focusing on exposure to the language through reading and listening rather than theoretical grammar explanations.
- Kauffman recommends starting with simple content with a lot of repetition and gradually moving to real content that interests the learner.
- He believes that explicit grammar study can be helpful but should not be the main focus; instead, usage and exposure are key.
- Reading is highlighted as a powerful tool for language learning, with Kauffman suggesting that it helps with vocabulary acquisition and should be paired with listening.
- Kauffman uses AI tools like ChatGPT to create simplified summaries of books in different languages, which he finds helpful for language learning.
- He stresses the importance of habits in language learning, both in terms of daily routines and creating new language habits in the brain.
- Kauffman advises learners not to be frustrated by mistakes or what they can't say, as improvement comes with continued practice and exposure.
- Main message: Language learning should be an enjoyable, habit-forming process focused on exposure and practice rather than traditional methods of teaching and testing.

[ruiseartalcorn]

When Steve Kaufmann has something to say about language learning, I think it's a good idea to listen :)

[KeedsLinguistics]

Awesome content! But I feel like people waste too much time on vocabulary lists. Instead of memorizing thousands of words, we should focus on mastering the most common 500 words and actually using them in conversations. It’s way more effective than trying to learn everything at once. Anyone else agree?

[petrosstefanidis]

I decided you're a very good interviewer on top of uploading interesting videos (like the one about using AI to study languages). That's not as easy as it sounds 👍👍👍

[raymondblake]

When I started learning French, I spent two months explicitly studying, chapter by chapter, a 'complete french grammar' book. Most of my listening was the content from the grammar book I was using. In that first two months, I also added words to a vocabulary list that I reviewed through efficient self-testing and 'making up sentences in french' with the words I was reviewing.

I got through the whole grammar book.
After that, I went to school to study something else for eight months. I kind of just sat on the French I had learned and did a little bit of it during the eight months. After the eight months, I started studying french full time again and started watching kids shows in French and I progressed really fast.

Anyways I have two points about grammar:

1) learning the grammar was relatively easy and I found it helpful to know what verb tense I was listening to, and also how to express myself correctly.

And
2) since I learned complete french grammar I basically knew Italian grammar and Spanish grammar. Knowing the grammar allowed me to progress in spanish and Italian much faster... Although I would say it is the fact that I had gotten used to speaking with french grammar (as opposed to having explicit knowledge of it) that helped spanish and Italian feel a lot easier than it would have been without my french experience.

Indeed, it is the habituation to the language that is key and not the explicit knowledge.

[stewste]

great video <3 very helpful interview

[marktodd]

My sister told me that the English saying Practice makes perfect is not true. Practice makes progress !! as perfection does not exist.

[Officialheatrecords]

Wow informaccion excellente.
Gracias Amigos por me ayuda otra estillos a aprender un lengua Nueva. Tengo 36 mes mas o menos con Espanol. Para me cuando yo llegar en un pais Espanol yo aprender mucho palabras en El calle. Tambien cuando tu va por otra pais, tu leer muchos en restaurante y Otra negocios!

[peterreid]

I'm finally starting to get somewhere in Korean after 16 months but I haven't enjoyed the process!

[Ocklepod]

The cliffhangers in the beginning are actually ruining this for me, I've listened to Steve Kaufmann's opinion a lot already so i kinda now what he's gonna say. So that actually made me not interested in the rest of the video anymore

[piripi]

The sign of a good language learner is [soft booming noise]

[properpolymath]

Wait, Steve is Eric Kaufmann's dad?