How to Learn a Language On Your Own

For all the languages that I have learned, I only attended school twice. However, in every case it was becoming an independent language learner that brought me success.

0:00 - The one thing you need to be a successful language learner.
1:14 - The three keys to language learning.
2:10 - How LingQ helps Steve to be an independent language learner.
2:46 - How to get started in a language you don't know at all.
6:24 - How to be an independent learner in a classroom environment.
7:24 - Moving past the beginner stage.
8:58 - How to combat the loneliness and frustration of language learning.

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My Podcast:

#languages #languagelearning #polyglot

[Thelinguist]

Language learning is an activity we do on our own and our success depends on our willingness to be independent. This is true whether we are at school or not.

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Social Media

[jillaroo]

Steve is the kind of person you would be lucky to have as a grandpa, father, son, husband, brother or friend. Not only does his passion for language learning make him special, but his variety of interests have made him this incredibly awesome person. We are all very lucky to have him share his experiences with us. I can't count how many times this man motivated me to continue learning languages but also to stay interested for many other things in life.

[kungfuman]

We all have to go through that Han Solo phase where we understand another language but can’t speak it. 😂

[ariamysore]

I'm learning German on my own! Everyone says it's a hell of a language to learn but everytime I go on my independent sessions I just enjoy learning it !

[footballfan]

Hello Steve. I have been studying English for about 2 years and 6 months. Before that I was approximately in level A2 and now I’m in level B2. I studied on my own. In my opinion everyone can learn a new language on their own, especially with internet’s help. All they need to have is willingness and patience. Now I speak 3 languages Greek, Albanian and English and I’m learning German and a bit Japanese.


I really enjoy watching your videos and I like the fact that you encourage people to learn other languages!

[youssefelmrabet]

there will be periods as an independent language learner where you're doubting yourself, doubting your ability, feeling a sense of frustration, and you just have to persevere.. I'm in this state of mind, you always upload your videos the time that I need them. Thank you

[selahstudies]

i totally agree with you that learning languages on your own is much more rewarding than in school!

[LOL-cringe]

Hello Steve. I have been studying English for about 2 years and 6 months. Before that I was approximately in level A2 and now I’m in level B2. I studied on my own. In my opinion everyone can learn a new language on their own, especially with internet’s help. All they need to have is willingness and patience. Now I speak 3 languages Greek, Albanian and English and I’m learning German and a bit Japanese.

[wminerva]

My motivation has been waning recently but this video has given me the push I needed to give it my all again. Thanks for these videos Steve!

[luolive]

You're inspiring a lot of people all around the world! So do I... Thank you so very much!

[ibrahimawad-kk]

you don't mention anything about the 4 skills what is the benefit of this video anyway?

[Irisman]

when I was a kid I thought I could not gonna learned English. but now I would challenge myself to learn it.

I take 5 min just to write this sentence LOL.

[simenrudsengen]

I started learning a third language about two years ago, and when I started, I was very much dependent on someone or something to teach me the language (classes, duolingo, programs). As I have watched your videos and other polyglots, I have realised just how important it is to take initiative in your own learning. Especially how important listening and reading is. Learning how to learn is not always obvious, and I feel like a much better learner after listening to you, and discovering good reading/listening content, like Piotr's polish stories. Dziękuję za radę!

[matildawolfram]

Good video! My brother studied languages at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in California. The pace of study was intense. Students had to master the language course in 36-64 weeks. Psychologically it was very difficult, but fortunately he was helped by Yuriy Ivantsiv's book "Polyglot Notes. Practical tips for learning foreign languages”. The book " Polyglot Notes" became a desk book for my brother, because it has answers to all the problems that any student of a foreign language has to face. Thanks to the author of the channel for this interesting video! Good luck to everyone who studies a foreign language and wants to realize their full potential!

[self-toughstudy]

English is so pleasunt for my ears. I spend much time for listening different youtube channels, and I can see progress that helps me not to give up. It's really necesary to get input from many different origins. Especially if you really interesting in that content.
Thanks for your job. Greeatings from Ukraine.

[kurtthecat]

Having studied German in school and on my own for many years, I do think when starting out from scratch, taking a beginning class would be more efficient. To me a beginning language class provides a foundation in pronunciation, basic grammar, answers to a lot of questions when starting off and importantly, avoiding early frustrations. From there the language learner can continue on with comprehensible input, etc.

[jamestays]

I just started learning Japanese about 34 days ago. I've felt exactly as you described "feeling like you're not getting anywhere" because the grammar doesn't want to click. Learned a lot of words, but I couldn't string the simplest sentence together to save my life.

Its nice to hear that you just have to preserver through those moments and that they do pass.

[mehdieng]

I started to learn english for one week ago. I hop improve my languages faster and thank you so mush for videos

[d.]

-Make the decision that you are an individual learner, and it doesn't matter wether you are learning with a class or on your own.
-3 things Matters in Language learning Theory
*Your Attitude
*The time you spent into learning the language
*Your acknowledge
-Content//books
Try to go for a one where they give a quick review of the Grammer Essentials, preferably a short one with no exercises/tests/quizzes. Just the grammer essential that you can flip through.
-then Start by listening and letting language wash over you at first. Dont fight with the language. Just get used to how it sounds with podcasts or short relatively less authentic stories
-Then move on to listening things where you are more interested into, more authentic listens.

[landriknansong]

Although I come from a country (Cameroon) where French and English get both official statuses. And I spent over 13 years learning English at school. But I couldn’t speak English fluently when I left school unfortunately. I must admire that I was studying from the French system then. So my main courses were in French. Then I left my country and went abroad. And I realize how important English was in fact. That’s how I decided 3 months ago to start learning English on my own this time. Things went completely different from what it was before. It only depends on the methods you adopt to study the language you want. I hope my experience will help...