How to learn a foreign language quickly. How to learn a foreign language correctly

Instruction

To successfully master any language, you must have a strong motivation. Without it, as a rule, it is impossible to learn a language. It also plays a big role if it is worth choosing which one at a given time. Therefore, always choose the one that you need right now.

To learn it quickly, you need to get rid of the belief once and for all that a person cannot do it. Very often, it is precisely such an incorrect attitude that nullifies all efforts to master it. If you constantly think that it is too difficult and impossible, then it will be so.

It is also important to choose a course of study that will bring pleasure and not cause much difficulty. Focus on what type of memory you have developed best: written, visual, auditory or speech. The best option would be to use all types. You can learn a foreign language using the Internet, tutorials, courses or television programs.

Once you start studying, don't try to study for several hours a day. The desired result in mastering the language can be achieved only due to regularity, and not due to the amount of time spent. Even repeating the studied material for 10 minutes a day, you will achieve more than with 2-hour classes 3 times a week.

In order to learn a foreign language, it is very important to immerse yourself in the culture of the country where it is spoken. Think about the images and associations that come up when you mention a foreign language that you want to know. This will help you immediately remember all the structures on which the language is built, and which you have managed to learn by this time. In the future, this will allow you to immediately rebuild to communicate on it.

Having studied the main structures on which a foreign language is built, learn to add not just new words to speech, but whole turns. This is how young children learn their native language, trying to repeat not only the words they hear, but also entire phrases.

To quickly memorize foreign words, get acquainted with the history of their occurrence. For example, the days of the week are not associated with the names of the gods. Saturday is the day of Saturn - Saturday, - the day of the sun - Sunday, Monday - the day of the moon - Monday, - the day of the goddess Freya - Friday, the definite article "the" is an abbreviated form of the pronoun "this", which is why it is used when the subject, which is spoken about is known, and the indefinite article "a" is an abbreviated form of the word one "one", and simply means one thing. Every language has its own stories related to the origin of words. The more you know such interesting stories about a foreign language, the faster you get used to the rules for constructing phrases and unfamiliar words in it.

Watch movies in the language you are learning. Today it is not difficult to find a foreign film in the original language with the help of the Internet and the purchase of licensed discs. Choose movies that you like and that you won't get tired of watching several times. First, watch the film in Russian, and only then in the original language, so that it is easier to understand and remember what they are talking about. It is better not to watch films with subtitles, as they distract attention from speech, which prevents the desired learning effect from being achieved.

You should not rush to complex and ornate sentences as soon as you take up a textbook. Most likely, you will only confuse yourself. There are basics that will help you quickly and easily master a foreign language.

• At the very beginning of the journey, you will have to do a very simple, but boring thing by the standards of an adult - working with the alphabet. At this level, you will not only need to know how which letter is called, but also how it is pronounced. Usually, along with the alphabet, there are rules for reading syllables. You should also pay attention to them, otherwise it will be difficult to perceive words later.

Every language has an alphabet, even Japanese. Children in Japan first learn hiragana and katakana, and only after that they move on to hieroglyphs, over which, in fact, letter inscriptions are made to facilitate learning.

Do special articulation exercises to better pronounce sounds. It is better to pronounce them correctly from the very beginning, otherwise you will get used to it later and you will be tormented by retraining yourself. .

• ​Once you have mastered the alphabet, you will need some initial set of vocabulary, from which the stubborn conquest of the language will begin. At first, you need to choose the simplest and most useful ones so that you can use them in a future dialogue.

Usually textbooks give you the initial base, but you can easily diversify it if you find it too simple.

• Now that you can say and read a few words, it's time to get started on grammar and syntax. Here, too, there is no need to build three-story proposals. Start with simple greetings and move gradually towards more complex designs.

Don't try to cram all the rules at once. It is better to work on one, as soon as you feel that you understand how and where to use it, move on to another.

Don't use just one tutorial. Gather information from various sources. Sometimes they complement, and sometimes point to each other's mistakes.

Tip 2: How to start learning a foreign language on your own

At first study of new language may seem like a very difficult and impossible task. Immediately after opening the first textbook that comes across, you see a lot of incomprehensible rules that often beat off all confidence and desire. However, all these difficulties will seem less serious over time, and you will quickly master all the basic concepts.

Instruction

Ask yourself why are you learning this language? Can it come in handy when looking for a better job, or do you have the opportunity to move to another country that you have been dreaming about for a long time? Or maybe it is the language of your friends or relatives? Or do you just enjoy learning new things? The answer to this question will be the strongest motivation for you, which will give you strength and help you overcome the first and most difficult steps.

At first, turn a blind eye to specific difficulties. It is much easier to study the fundamentals, on the basis of which it will be easier to pay attention to all the subtleties.

However, it is not always possible to attend courses. In this regard, the worldwide network will come to the rescue. On the Internet you can find a huge number of portals for distance learning

Many people dream of learning a foreign language, but not everyone has the time and money to attend courses. For this reason, the question becomes relevant, where to start to study in order to master the technique of speaking and writing at home. It's no secret that patience and perseverance are the best guides, they set the tone for the whole process and do not allow you to stop there. In order to properly approach the study, it is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations. We will analyze the important aspects in order and give step-by-step instructions.

Step #1. Set goals

First of all, you need to set a specific goal. You must clearly understand why you need to start learning a foreign language. Perhaps you are planning to visit a certain country or start traveling around the world, you are going on an “exchange” tour, you are going on a business trip.

It is not uncommon for people to start studying on their own as a hobby, and not out of necessity. It is important to identify this moment, because a person is suffocating without a purpose. Such a move will allow you to create a specific program for learning a foreign language, tailored to specific needs. A goal is a great motivator that helps you move forward.

Daily workouts will serve as an additional support. It doesn’t matter if you came tired from work or spent your nerves in a traffic jam. Practice is fundamental to successful language learning and is inextricably linked to a specific goal. Engage in self-discipline to develop memory every day. An ideal assistant is a diary in which you need to draw up a detailed schedule of classes.

Step #2. Love the subject

You will not be able to learn a foreign language if you are not imbued with this area. It is important not to force yourself to work on the program, but to do it for pleasure. Try to tune in to a wave in which the process of studying will act as a hobby, without unnecessary nerves. It is necessary to drive the thought into your head: learning a language will help you reach a new level and improve the quality of life. Such a move will not allow you to shirk from daily activities.

The right attitude does not involve memorization, but the analysis of important aspects in order. For example, initially it is necessary to master grammar, punctuation, style, the technique of forming words and complex sentences. When an understanding of the elementary basics comes, feel free to start cramming. As for “blind learning”, even partial language acquisition is impossible without this. Understanding words alone is not enough, it is important to be able to pull the right thing out of your head in time.

Step #3. Immerse yourself in the realm of language learning

You can often hear the phrase “Language must be learned in a natural environment”, and this expression is not accidental. If, for example, you decide to learn English, the procedure is best done in America. In such an environment, everything improves: articulation, the compilation of competent “conversational” sentences, the ability to memorize entire phrases.

For the most part, people do not have the opportunity to leave for the specific purpose of learning a language. There is only one way out - to create a natural environment for the curriculum at home. To do this correctly, you need to hang posters on the walls with inscriptions in an unfamiliar language; after memorization, you need to replace one poster with another.

Of course, it will not be possible to achieve the maximum result, but this method should be considered as an additional incentive. Read textbooks adapted for Russian-speaking people, watch films in a foreign language, listen to audio books, chat with users of a particular country. Surround yourself with the material being studied from all sides to make adaptation easier.

Step number 4. Follow the daily plan

As in any other business, you need to start from the goal. Tune in to memorize 25-30 foreign words every day, while at least 7-10 of them should be verbs.

Foreign language teachers unanimously say that it is better to start learning in alphabetical order. For example, today we learned 5 words starting with the letter “A”, tomorrow - with “B”, and so on. After that, go to the second round. But, as a rule, this process is too long, so it is not necessary to make such a structured choice. You can write out the words in random order, the main thing is to focus on the verbs.

Cards will help to present information correctly. Write a Russian word on one side, a foreign one on the other. Look through the version in your native language and try to remember the translation, then check yourself by turning the sheet over. You can also download a special program on your smartphone, which automatically covers a foreign transfer. You must enter the word yourself. This option is much better, because it develops not only memory, but also written literacy.

Step number 5. Copy the pronunciation

Listen to audio and video recordings in a foreign language, if possible, start communicating with a native speaker. Pay attention to the pronunciation technique, fix the sounds in your head and try to repeat them. Over time, you will be able to catch the pronunciation trend and understand that one sound should be sharp, the second soft. It is necessary to pay attention to even the slightest features of pronunciation, and then try to try this technique on yourself.

Such a move will help to easily enter the field of linguistics, as well as to adapt to the technique of articulation of native and foreign languages. The indisputable benefit of this technique is the expansion of the vocabulary, as a result of which the correct pronunciation will be developed at an arbitrary level. Soon you will stop obsessing over sounds, it will become a kind of norm.

Step number 6. Delve into what you read

When you have mastered a certain number of words, start reading light books in a foreign language. Do not set yourself the goal of translating the entire text. Run through it thoughtfully, try to capture the essence at least partially. No need to look up the translation of each expression in the dictionary, you will spend a lot of time and remember nothing.

If you want to know how a word is translated, do not use an online translator. It is better to spend time, find a picture that will depict this or that object. Visualize the process.

After 2-3 such manipulations, you will be able to identify the meaning of the word from the context, this will be the starting point - a guess, but you will understand the general meaning. In addition to developing inductive and associative thinking well, visual memory will improve, as a result of which grammar and writing will be learned faster. It is important to understand that this technology is only suitable for people who have already learned the basics of a foreign language.

Step number 7. Use a phrasebook

In every stationery store you can buy a phrasebook in a certain language. As a rule, such literature includes not only words, but also whole sentences. It is enough to choose the simplest phrases and memorize them, gradually combining with each other and making up a dialogue. Start with the usual forms of greetings and farewells, wishes, introductions, standard questions “How are you?” and answers to them.

If you are planning to visit a new country in the near future, the phrases “How to get to the street ...” or “How much does juice cost?” will not be superfluous. Adapt the acquired knowledge to specific needs, choose phrases for all occasions. Interesting is the fact that working with a phrasebook is an exciting activity. You will not have time to look back, but you will already begin to absorb the material like a sponge.

If possible, say phrases/words out loud so that you are not embarrassed about pronunciation and can get used to unfamiliar speech. You should not be put into a stupor by the misuse of sounds, this is a matter of constant practice.

It is easy to learn a foreign language at home if you have basic knowledge regarding the preparation of the program. First, decide on a goal, and then try to create a “natural environment” in your apartment. Memorize 25 words a day, focus on verbs. Start communicating with the native speaker, memorize and interpret the method of pronunciation of sounds in your own way. Do not try to keep up with everything at once, act gradually, use a phrase book.

Video: how to learn any foreign language

How to speak your chosen language today? How to achieve fluency in just a few months? How to impersonate a native speaker? And finally, how to learn several languages ​​and become a polyglot in just a couple of years?

Many people think that every person either has the language learning gene or not. But there are tricks and tricks for faster learning. Let's get started!

1. Learn the right words with the right method

To start learning a new language, you need to learn new words. Lots of new words. Of course, many people think that they do not remember new words well, and give up before even starting. To learn to speak, you do not need to know all the words. Come to think of it, you don't know the entire vocabulary of even your native language.

In learning languages, you can use the Pareto law. 20% of the effort you put into memorizing new words will give you 80% of your understanding of the language. For example, in English, only 300 words make up 65% of all written material. We use these words very often. The same thing happens in any other language. You can find ready-made "stacks" of cards with the most frequently used words (or words on topics that you will talk about most often) in the application Anki app. This application is freely available and is suitable for all operating systems and smartphones.

All good flashcard learning methods use the spaced repetition system (SRS). Anki applies this system automatically. Instead of going through the same list of words in the same order every time, you see the words at regular intervals before you have time to forget them.

2. Learn words of common origin: your friends in any language

Believe it or not, you already – right now – have a huge head start in learning your chosen language. Before you even start learning a language, you already know some of its words. It is impossible to start learning a language from scratch, because you most likely already know a significant number of words of common origin. These are words that have the same spelling and meaning in your native language and the language you are learning.

For example, in Romance languages ​​such as French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, there are many words similar to English. English “borrowed” these words during the Norman Conquest of England, which lasted several hundred years. “Action”, “nation”, “precipitation”, “solution”, “tradition”, “communication” and thousands of other words are spelled the same and have exactly the same meaning in French. And to a new pronunciation very quickly adapt. By changing the ending -tion to -ción , you get the same words in spanish. In Italian, the ending would be -zione, and in Portuguese -ção.

Many languages ​​also have words that share a common (Greek/Latin/etc.) root. Such roots may have a different spelling, but it will be very difficult for you not to recognize them. These are words like hélicoptère (French), porto, capitano (Italian), astronomía, and Saturno (Spanish). German goes one step further: it has many words that it shares with English.

To find related words in the language you are learning, simply try searching for “[name of language] related words/loanwords/words of common origin”. All this is great for European languages.

But what about when learning more distant languages? As it turned out, even in languages ​​as far from English as Japanese, there are whole groups of words familiar to us. Many languages ​​simply borrow English words and adjust them for themselves by changing pronunciation or stress.

3. Use a new language every day

People often say they don't learn languages ​​because they can't travel to countries where those languages ​​are spoken. They don't have money for it, they don't have time, etc. You can believe that there is nothing in the air in other countries that will suddenly magically help you to speak their language.

Living abroad and immersing yourself in a language is not the same thing. If, in order to immerse yourself in the language environment, you need to hear the language all the time and use it, then why not immerse yourself in it virtually? Thanks to technology, the language environment can come to you - you don't even have to buy a plane ticket.

• To hear the language, try using TuneIn.com- this site gives you access to a huge number of radio channels of any country of your choice. The free app also gives you access to a list of radio channels divided by language.
• To watch programs in your preferred language, see which Youtube videos are currently the most popular in the respective country. Go to that country's Amazon or Ebay site and buy your favorite TV series dubbed in the language you want, or find another popular local show. You can save on shipping if you find a TV series dubbed in the desired language in your city or on the Internet. Many news channels such as France24, Deutsche Welle, and CNNEspañol provide online shows in their respective languages.
• To read in the language, try using news sites. Visit the website Alexa and find out which blogs or sites are currently the most popular in the country you need.

And if full immersion in the language environment is not yet for you, then install a translator plugin on your browser. It will help you tune in to a new language by translating some of the sites you normally read in English and gradually introducing new foreign words into your daily reading.

4. Talk and practice on Skype every day

So, you have already started listening, watching videos and even reading in your chosen language - all from the comfort of your own home. It's time to take a big step forward. You can start talking with a native speaker. If you want to speak a language, start speaking it from the very first minute of learning. There are seven days in a week, and "someday" is not one of them.

For the first conversation, you only need to learn a few phrases. If you immediately start using them, you will immediately see what is missing, and you can add to your list. If you study alone, you will never feel ready for a real conversation. In the first few hours, learn the most frequently used phrases, such as "Hello", "Thank you", "Could you repeat that again?" or "I don't understand."

But where can you find a native speaker if you are not in the country where the language you are learning is spoken? Today this is not a problem at all! Thousands of native speakers are ready and waiting to talk to you right now. There are social networks where you can get private lessons for a small amount. For example on italki.com.

If you still think you're not ready for a one-on-one conversation, think again. Lessons via Skype will allow you to gradually immerse yourself in the language environment. During a conversation, you can keep a list of key words in front of your eyes (for example, in Word), which you can refer to until you memorize them. You can also use Google Translate or any other dictionary during a conversation to immediately learn new words that you may need. Can this be called a "scam"? No. Your goal is to learn how to operate functionally, rather than follow traditional methods.

5. Save money. The best resources are free

Why spend hundreds of dollars on learning a language (unless, of course, this is the absolute attention of its native speaker). There are a lot of great resources on the internet. For example, DuoLingo is a wonderful and absolutely free course that gets better and better over time. These resources will help you learn a language without spending a single cent. We offer you several other alternative sources: Foreign Service Institutes, Omniglot Intro to languages, BBC languages, articles about languages ​​in About.

You can also try My Language Exchange and Interpals. Start talking offline. The Polyglot Club will help you find conversation clubs in your city, and Couchsurfing, meetup.com, and Internationals they will tell you where the next meetings of language learning enthusiasts take place. Such meetings provide an excellent opportunity to meet both other people who are learning languages ​​of interest to you, and with native speakers. And that is not all. There are other absolutely free auxiliary resources:

This may seem like a long process to you. Try to learn words in this way just a few times, and you will immediately realize how effective it is. Plus, you only have to use this hook a few times. After that, the word itself will become part of your vocabulary.

Part 1. To be continued...

If you're an English student, you've certainly heard of the polyglots who managed to learn 5/10/30/50 languages. Which of us does not have the thought: “Surely they have some secrets, because for years I have been learning only one and only English!” In this article, we will present the most common myths about those who successfully learn foreign languages, as well as tell you how polyglots learn languages.

A polyglot is a person who can communicate in multiple languages. Some of the most famous polyglots in the world are:

1. Cardinal Giuseppe Mezzofanti, according to various sources, spoke 80-90 languages.
2. The translator Kato Lomb spoke 16 languages.
3. Archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann spoke 15 languages.
4. Writer Leo Tolstoy spoke 15 languages.
5. Writer Alexander Griboedov spoke 9 languages.
6. Inventor Nikola Tesla spoke 8 languages.
7. Writer Anthony Burgess spoke 12 languages.
8. Luca Lampariello
9. Sam Jandreau
10. Ollie Richards is contemporary and speaks 8 languages.
11. Randy Hunt is a contemporary, speaks 6 languages.
12. Donovan Nagel is a contemporary and speaks 10 languages.
13. Benny Lewis is a contemporary, speaks 11 languages.

It should be said that basically all polyglots know 2-3 languages ​​at a high level, and the rest they speak at the level of "survival", that is, they can communicate on simple topics.

Another interesting feature is that the first foreign language is always the most difficult and takes a long time to learn, while subsequent ones are mastered much faster and are easier. It is especially easy to learn the languages ​​of one group, for example: Italian, French and Spanish.

7 common myths about polyglots

Myth #1: Polyglots are people with a special aptitude for languages.

Some people believe that polyglots do not need to strain at all: languages ​​themselves are assimilated in their heads without effort and practice. There is an opinion that those who know many languages ​​have a different brain structure, they easily perceive and reproduce information, grammar is given to them without studying, by itself, etc.

Truth:

A polyglot is an ordinary person who likes to learn several languages ​​and does his best to do so. There is no such person who could not become a polyglot, because this does not require any special knowledge or mindset. All you need is hard work and dedication.

Don't be in a hurry to be fluent (you'll frustrate yourself). Just enjoy the process. It's slow and not always easy, but it can be enjoyable if you take the pressure off yourself.

Don't rush to freehold right away (you'll only get upset). Just enjoy the process. It will be slow and not always easy, but it can be fun if you don't push yourself.

Myth #2: Polyglots have unique memories

It is believed that all polyglots have a phenomenal memory, so any language is easily given to them. People believe that polyglots memorize the meanings of absolutely all unfamiliar words and grammatical constructions from the very first time, therefore, subsequently, they easily speak the language they are learning.

Truth:

Polyglots do have a good memory, but many people confuse cause and effect: it is the study of languages ​​that develops memory, and not the unique innate abilities that make it possible to learn a language. Indeed, there are people who can boast of a unique memory, but this does not make them polyglots. The fact is that simply memorizing words or phrases for a full-fledged study of the language is not enough.

Myth #3: Polyglots started learning languages ​​at a young age.

Another popular myth goes something like this: “Polyglots are people who were taken to language courses by their parents from childhood. It is easier for children to study, so today these people can easily speak several foreign languages.”

Truth:

For the most part, polyglots are people who are in love with foreign languages. And this love came already at a conscious age. Those who learned foreign languages ​​in childhood do not have any advantages over adult learners. Most linguists and psychologists are convinced that languages ​​are even easier for adults, because an adult, unlike a child, consciously takes this step, understands why you need to read texts or translate sentences. Read the article "", you will see that adults have their own advantages over children in learning foreign languages.

Myth #4: Polyglots can learn any language in 3-5 months

The question of the need to learn English and other languages ​​is especially relevant today, so almost every day we read another article or watch an interview with a polyglot. These people sometimes claim to have learned a foreign language in 3-5 months. At the same time, many polyglots in their interviews or articles immediately offer you to buy a language course that they themselves invented for money. Is it worth spending money on it?

Truth:

In fact, polyglots rarely specify what they mean by the phrase "I learned the language in 5 months." As a rule, during this time a person manages to learn the basics of grammar and basic vocabulary in order to explain himself in everyday communication. But in order to speak on more complex topics, for example, about the life and structure of the Universe, any person needs more than 5 months. Those who speak several languages ​​really well will tell you that they have been studying them for years, constantly improving their knowledge. Therefore, if you plan to move beyond the level of “reading, translating with a dictionary”, get ready not for 3-5 months, but for at least 1-2 years of learning the first foreign language “from scratch”.

Myth #5: Polyglots have a lot of free time.

When we read articles about polyglots, it seems that all they do is give interviews from morning to night and tell how they managed to achieve success in the field of learning foreign languages. From this arose the myth that those who do not work learn languages, they say, they mastered English simply “from nothing to do”.

Truth:

To confirm our words, watch this video by polyglot Ollie Richards, he talks about life hacks that will help even the busiest people learn the language:

Myth #6: Polyglots travel a lot.

Many people believe that “really” learning a foreign language is possible only abroad, in the country of native speakers of this language. There is an opinion that abroad you can completely “immerse yourself” in the subject being studied, create an ideal language environment, etc. It turns out that in order to become a polyglot, you need to constantly travel around the countries.

Truth:

In fact, most polyglots say that they communicate a lot with native speakers of the language being studied, are interested in their way of life, culture, etc. However, this does not mean at all that people who study foreign languages ​​travel 365 days a year. Technology allows each person to communicate with people from any country without leaving home. Visit the language exchange sites listed in this article. On them you can find an interlocutor from the USA, Great Britain, Australia, any other country. Polyglots use the same opportunity and successfully learn new languages ​​for themselves. In the article "" we have given 15 tips for creating a language environment for learning English in your native country.

You can recreate an immersion environment at home, by streaming movies, listening to podcasts, playing music, and reading in your target language... all you need is an internet connection.

You can immerse yourself in the language environment at home by watching movies, listening to podcasts and music, reading in the language you are learning... all you need is an internet connection.

Myth #7: Polyglots have a lot of money

This myth is closely related to the previous two: people believe that polyglots do not work, but only travel. In addition, people think that polyglots constantly spend large sums on learning materials: they buy self-study books and dictionaries, take expensive lessons from native speakers, travel abroad for language courses. People believe that polyglots have a lot of money and therefore opportunities to learn foreign languages.

Truth:

At the time of this writing, "millionaire" and "polyglot" are not identical concepts. As we have already found out, polyglots are not on a continuous journey, and among them there are many ordinary working people like you and me. It's just that those who want to know many languages ​​use every opportunity to gain knowledge. It should be said that we have a lot of such opportunities: from various courses to thousands of online learning resources. For example, you can learn English online for free, and to make it easier for you to find the sites you need, we constantly write articles with collections of tips and useful resources for developing certain skills. Subscribe to our newsletter and you will not miss important information.

Secrets of polyglots: how to learn foreign languages

1. Set yourself a clear goal

Learning a foreign language "because everyone is learning it" won't last long, so decide why you need to know it. The goal can be anything from serious, like getting a position in a prestigious company, to entertaining, like “I want to understand what Sting is singing about.” The main thing is that your goal motivates you and in every possible way strengthens the desire to learn English. To strengthen your desire to learn a language, we advise you to read our articles "" and "".

2. Take at least a few lessons from a teacher at the beginning of your studies

We've all read about how polyglots learn any language on their own. However, many polyglots blog and often indicate that they started learning the language with a teacher, and after learning the basics, they moved on to self-study. We recommend that you do the same: the teacher will help you lay a solid foundation of knowledge, and if you wish, you can build the next “floors” yourself. If you decide to follow this advice, we suggest you try it with one of the experienced teachers of our school. We can help you "advance" English to any level of knowledge.

3. Speak out loud from day one of learning a new language

Even if you are learning your first ten words, say them out loud, so you will better remember the vocabulary. In addition, you will gradually develop the correct pronunciation. From the very first day, look for interlocutors for communication. For beginners, a professional teacher will be an ideal “partner” for the development of oral speech, and from the level you can look for an interlocutor on language exchange sites and hone your speaking skills with a native speaker. Please note: almost all polyglots claim that the most effective and interesting method of learning a new language is communication with native speakers. At the same time, polyglots say that during communication, words and grammatical constructions are easier to remember: you do not force yourself to study them, but memorize them in the process of an interesting conversation.

My absolute favorite language learning activity is talking to people! And it turns out, that’s pretty convenient, because that’s the whole reason we learn languages ​​anyway, right? We learn the language in order to use it. And since language is a skill, the best way to learn it is by using it.

My favorite activity in language learning is talking to people! And it turns out that this is quite convenient, because this is the reason why we learn languages, right? We learn a language in order to use it. And since language is a skill, the best way to improve it is to use it.

4. Learn phrases, not single words

Watch this video by Luca Lampariello, he tells how to learn new words (you can turn on Russian or English subtitles in the settings).

5. Don't get into theoretical grammar

But this advice must be understood correctly, because recently the opinion that English grammar is superfluous knowledge has been actively discussed on the Internet. Allegedly, for communication it is enough to know three simple tenses and a lot of words. However, in the article "", we explained why such an opinion is fundamentally wrong. What do polyglots mean? They urge us to pay less attention to theory, and more to practical exercises, the use of grammatical structures in speech and writing. Therefore, immediately after getting acquainted with the theory, proceed to practice: do translation exercises, grammar tests, use the studied constructions in speech.

6. Get used to the sound of a new speech for you

I love to listen to podcasts, interviews, audiobooks or even music in my target language while walking or driving. This makes efficient use of my time and I don't feel like I'm making any particular kind of effort.

I like to listen to podcasts, interviews, audiobooks, or even music in the language I'm learning when I'm walking or driving. This allows me to use my time effectively without feeling like I'm putting in any special effort.

7. Read texts in the target language

While reading texts, you see how the studied grammar “works” in speech and new words “cooperate” with each other. At the same time, you use visual memory, which allows you to remember useful phrases. On the Internet you can find texts in any language for beginners, so you need to start reading from the very first days of learning the language. Some polyglots are advised to practice, for example, to read the text in parallel in Russian and English. So you see how sentences are built in the language being studied. In addition, polyglots argue that this allows you to unlearn the habit of translating speech verbatim from your native language into the target language.

8. Improve your pronunciation

9. Make mistakes

"Get out of your comfort zone!" - that's what polyglots call us to. If you are afraid to speak the language you are learning or try to express yourself in simple phrases in order to avoid mistakes, then you are deliberately creating an obstacle for yourself to improve your knowledge. Feel free to make mistakes in the language you are learning, and if you are so tormented by perfectionism, take a look at Runet. Native Russian speakers write words like “potential” (potential), adykvatny (adequate), “pain and numbness” (more or less), etc. without a shadow of hesitation. We urge you to take an example from their courage, but at the same time try to take into account your own errors and eradicate them. At the same time, polyglots remind us of how children learn to speak their native language: they begin to speak with errors, adults correct them, and over time the child begins to speak correctly. Do the same: learning from your mistakes is okay!

Make at least two hundred mistakes a day. I want to actually use this language, mistakes or not.

Make at least two hundred mistakes a day. I want to use this language, with or without errors.

10. Exercise Regularly

The main secret of polyglots is hard work. Among them there is not a single person who would say: "I studied English once a week and learned the language in 5 months." On the contrary, polyglots, as a rule, are in love with learning languages, so they devoted all their free time to this. We are sure that everyone can find 3-4 hours a week for learning, and if you have the opportunity to study for 1 hour a day, any language will submit to you.

11. Improve your memory

The better your memory is developed, the easier it will be to memorize new words and phrases. Learning a foreign language in itself is a great memory training, and to make this training more productive, use different ways of learning a language. For example, guessing is a fascinating and useful activity for both learning and memory. - another good idea for training: you can learn the lyrics of your favorite hit by heart, so you will remember a few useful phrases.

12. Take a cue from successful people

Polyglots are always open to new ways of learning, they do not stand still, but are interested in the experience of other people who successfully learn foreign languages. We have dedicated several articles to one of the most eminent polyglots, you can read about the experience of learning languages, or study.

13. Moderate your appetite

A variety of materials allows you not to get bored and enjoy learning a foreign language, but at the same time, we advise you not to “spray”, but to focus on some specific methods. For example, if on Monday you took one textbook, on Tuesday you grabbed the second one, on Wednesday you studied on one site, on Thursday on another, on Friday you watched a video lesson, and on Saturday you sat down to read a book, then by Sunday you risk getting "porridge" in the head from the abundance of material, because their authors use different principles for presenting information. Therefore, as soon as you start learning a new language for yourself, determine the optimal set of textbooks, websites and video lessons. There should not be 10-20 of them, limit your “appetite”, otherwise disparate information will be poorly absorbed. You can find ideas for choosing materials that suit you in our article "", where you can download a list of the "best" materials for learning a language for free.

14. Have fun learning

Among the famous polyglots, there is not a single person who would say: “Learning languages ​​is boring, I don’t like to do it, but I want to know many languages, so I have to overpower myself.” How do polyglots learn languages? These people enjoy not just understanding that they know a foreign language, but also the very process of learning. Do you think studying is boring? Then use interesting language learning techniques. For example, or hardly anyone will find it boring.

Languages ​​are not something one should study, but rather live, breathe and enjoy.

Languages ​​are not something to be learned, but rather something to live, breathe and enjoy.

Now you know how polyglots learn languages. As you have seen, everyone can learn foreign languages, regardless of "giftedness" and the number of banknotes. There is nothing complicated in the advice of polyglots for learning languages, all techniques are available to any person and are easily applicable in practice. Try to follow the given recommendations and have fun learning.