How to Learn Your Dream Language Without Studying (Advice From a Polyglot)

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[netta]

Consistency is probably my biggest issue.

[infinitelifedivineheartmed]

Learning languages makes one a truly global citizen. At different levels I can understand 12 languages speak 9 languages and write 5 languages. The trick is to keep listening to the language. So Watch as many movies in each language as you can. Don't be sacred of making mistakes.

[rhondanelson]

Thanks for the tips. I’m learning Korean. I’ve only been at it a couple of weeks but I hope to learn enough to visit Korea next year and not be totally lost in understanding and speaking.

[Sum_mers]

I completely agree with Duolingo, I learned to be consistent, learn new vocabs and enjoy it. Honestly, since I started Duolingo, may Hangul and Japanese have improved a lot but I use other apps and ebooks, listening to podcast while working and youtube to understand better of the grammar. Although, it quite slower pace because I also a bit lazy and busy still, I see the progress whenever I watched variety shows and lives and able to understand even 15% of the convo 😊 also, imitating people and animes how they speak helped me a lot ❤😊

[hollowedboi]

So what I heard was :

Consistency in small chunks daily of about 30min-1hour early in the morning is important.

At an early stage just learn the essential grammar and words with an app or online guide of most frequent words with example context and sentences (I’d say if on your own, chunk words together based on concepts and put them in sentences with the grammar you are learning.)

Once you’ve learned a bit, start watching youtube, streaming services, tv, movie, books, anime, whichever that has your language, preferably something with audio and text of both languages.

And then repeat multiple times.

Personally I’d add to not think about time, instead just finish a lesson or a 5-10 minute video and then add more stuff from there based on your schedule.
And excessive note taking is a lot, but it may help to take notes as if you were making shopping lists or journaling, something that would put it in use rather than constant exercises and word lists. This can also help find what words you’d actually be using often as you keep needing to find and use the same words and phrases.

[BigHeavyLove]

Bro, your english is insane. That alone justifies your merit.

Im similar to you in the sense that i just do whatever i want in the language and reduce stress as much as possible. It's slow but there's a far more significant chance that i will stick to it, and in the end that is the main thing.

[rachelledellavecchia]

I watch Chinese Drama's consistently everyday. 😅

I just got a book to help with 汉字 and try to learn 5 - 10 characters a day. I'm also using an immersive chinese app for reading and speaking right now. I do a lesson a day.

Been also watcing children's tv shows that available in mandarin for me here in Australia.

[raquelfigueroa]

You are 100% correct. Consistency is my biggest problem in learning the languages I have started to learn.

[cradicalcompassion]

For me only a small part of why I take notes (in any subject, not only but including languages) is bc I may revisit them in the future. It's mostly bc the act of writing, plus saying the words aloud as i write, multiple times since speaking is quicker than writing, improves my pronunciation and helps it stick in my brain better.
I often am able to remember words or concepts bc i visualized (without necessarily trying) where and how I wrote it the first or some other specific time.

[BetterEnglish_]

Hi there! I've been learning English for a while. I'm not perfect, and I make mistakes every once in a while. Almost everything you said in your videos is true, and I think the best method for learning a language is consistency over time. Keep it up; you're doing a great job!

[JustAnotherNameYo]

I was taking notes with every lesson of Russian and Korean and I didn’t realize how much it was slowing down my progress until I decided to take a break to study Portuguese six months ago. I take no notes in Portuguese and I was forced to make a lot of mistakes that actually helped me because I had to repeatedly do these lessons or questions before I finally acquired the word. I am now reading teen books in Portuguese. The way I have studied Portuguese has changed how I will study Russian and Korean moving forward, starting with reading more even if I don’t understand half of what I read. I went from highlighting 12 to 15 words a page down too about 3. The book reading ending up being like another flashcard system as many words are repeated over and over. And of course I am having fun as I understand and enjoy the story. I know this is not for everyone but it works for me. I’m almost done with Portuguese Duolingo path so I will return to studying Russian and Korean full time.

Thanks for this video!

[sayuri_lyssa_channie]

Thank you for sharing this with us <33 I’m also happy about the fact that you’re studying Italian too :D

Personally I created another YouTube account and tried to watch Korean videos there but I stopped… just reading the comments under the videos I watched, made me kinda sad and confused because of how toxic and closed some community were… so now I just watch Korean content meant to be consumed by learners :, )

[rayeshih]

i was somehow skeptical about the lazy learning method (just seems way too easy to hit the goal compared to those traditional ways) until hearing you speak mandarin in this video... really impressive. your pronounciation and tones are just so good. comment from a native mandarin speaker.

[boomshakarlaka]

Consistency is key. My first language is Spanish, and even when you don’t use it consistently (I teach English in Japan 😅), you forget it. (Good luck!! 😊) I’m learning Japanese the traditional way currently, I listen to Chinese and Korean.
Maybe it depends on the person, but I have to write things down unfortunately 😭. Learning is localized to specific brain areas, so when you use more ways to learn (reading, listening, writing, etc), you remember in different parts of the brain. The likelihood of recall is higher. My Chinese and Korean suck 😂 since I only listen to it. I also have ADHD so it’s much harder for me to learn any subject. I wish I could learn as easily as you! Keep up the good work. 😊

[BlackFate]

It's always nice seeing someone who's learning my language, which is Italian! If you're at a good level with it, it'd be easier for you to learn Spanish 😊
Anyway, thank you so much for your tips! I'm currently learning Korean and I hope I can reach a decent level soon 🙏🏻

[missmmaria]

I'm learning chinese and duolingo is also helping me a lot with word and character memorization, I think it's the best way for me to remember characters because since I already know some words I avoid using pinyin there to force myself to remember.

[letyanjos]

Great tips, I'm studying three language at now, English, Italian and Spanish, in English I'm in intermediate level but in Italian and Spanish I'm in basic level. My priority is English so that's why I'm in intermediate level.

[colilaobalioca]

Consistency-the main key
Duolingual- a language practice app
Watch Youtube-find a video that is above your level
Finf your tutor-talk to her/hi, more often

[rahisascussel]

I felt so comfortable watching this video! It seems to translate how I think and how learning language works for me. I'm Brazilian and because of that learning English always seems so challenge and I spent so many years doing it, and I feel I still need to improve a lot. It's hard sometimes keep doing it. Thank you very much for sharing it. :)

[maceawilder]

My rule is always read and listen to something in my target language everyday. Even if it is a page or a 5-10 minute podcast/video. It helps me on average days to maintain my level and on better days I further myself.