Summary

The article discusses the language learning strategies and mindsets of polyglots, emphasizing that talent is not a prerequisite for success in learning multiple languages.

Abstract

The "4 Secrets of Language Learning" article delves into the approaches of successful polyglots like Matthew and Michael Youlden, who learned Spanish at age eight and now speak over nine languages. It highlights that enjoying the learning process, picking effective methods, creating a consistent system, and being patient are key to language acquisition. The article suggests that memorization techniques like spaced repetition and methods like Assimil can be more effective than traditional language learning apps for achieving fluency. It also underscores the importance of integrating language learning into daily routines and celebrating small victories along the way.

Opinions

The author believes that enjoying the process of learning is crucial for language acquisition and that a strong purpose can be a powerful motivator.
According to Lýdia Machová, most polyglots do not possess exceptional intelligence but rather have found joy in learning languages.
The author has found that memorizing single words is ineffective for long-term retention and advocates for methods that involve active recall and spaced repetition.
Personal anecdotes suggest that immersion, such as living in a country where the language is spoken, and using the language in practical, real-life situations can greatly enhance fluency.
The article posits that consistency and patience are essential, as even polyglots like Ioannis Ikonomou must practice their languages daily and have the patience to gradually achieve proficiency.

The 4 Secrets of Language Learning

Spoiler: talent is not one of them.

Image by JACQUELINE BRANDWAYN on Unsplash

Matthew and Michael Youlden are two identical twin brothers from Manchester, England. At the age of eight, armed with only a dictionary and a phrasebook, Matthew and Michael decided to learn Spanish for fun.

Today, the brothers can speak more than nine languages each and have achieved worldwide fame as “The Superpolyglotbros”.

The Youlden brothers are not the only polyglots alive: the list of notable people who speak six or more languages is long, and there are probably many unknown others.

Polyglots have always existed and have been subjects of marvel for centuries. Cleopatra, the last ruling Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, knew nine languages. John Milton, the author of Paradise Lost, could speak English, Latin, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Spanish, Aramaic, Syriac, and Old English. In the 18th century, the Italian cardinal Giuseppe Caspar Mezzofanti, who was described by Byron as “a monster of languages”, knew 39 languages, speaking many fluently and even teaching some.

A notable contemporary example of a polyglot is Ioannis Ikonomou, a Greek translator and interpreter who works for the European Commission. He arrived in Brussels in 1996 and decided to learn all the 12 official EU languages. He kept going and now speaks 32 living languages. When asked how long it took him to achieve fluency, he replied: “I don’t look at my watch. It’s like when you have sex: you enjoy it rather than looking at the time”.

As a person who speaks five languages (a polyglot, according to Merriam-Webster), I am often asked if I have a secret, or a special method, to learn a new language. To be honest, I don’t. I learned English and French in school and became fluent in German by living in Austria and making friends with native speakers. I started learning Greek after moving to Greece, using nothing but a textbook. I am just a person who loves foreign languages and is strongly motivated.

Having said that, I often wonder how other polyglots learn languages. How is it possible that there are people like Ikonomou who learn one language after another, while others struggle for years to learn just one, never achieving fluency?

Enjoy the Process

According to Lýdia Machová, polyglot, and language mentor, most polyglots are no geniuses and have no secret shortcut to learning languages: they simply found ways to enjoy the process. (Or, I may add, they have a strong purpose — think about Colin Firth as Jamie in Love Actually, who learns Portuguese in a few months to declare his love to Aurelia). Either way, polyglots are capable of finding enjoyment in the process of learning languages.

Although enjoying the process is crucial to acquire a new language, it is not enough. According to Machová, you need to apply three more principles if you want to achieve fluency in a foreign language.

Pick Effective Methods

I tried to learn Greek using Duolingo, but I soon realized that its approach doesn’t work for me: it’s great to learn new words, but not to achieve fluency. By the way, memorizing single words is not really effective for language learning; words will be stored in your short-term memory, and you’ll forget them after a few days. If you want to keep words long-term, you should use other techniques, such as the spaced repetition. This learning method involves actively recalling learned material at systematic intervals (you can use Anki and Memorang for practice).

You should find the method that is most effective for you based on your personal goals. I recommend the Assimil method because it has helped me achieve fluency pretty fast (and that was my objective), but you may find other methods more helpful (e.g. Linguaphone, Colloquial, YouTube video tutorials, or random Skype chat conversations with strangers).

I Learned Greek in Less Than a Year

A few key takeaways from my learning experience with the Assimil method.

giulia-penni5.medium.com

Create a System

One of the resolutions I made this year was to read one article in Greek per day. It’s January 6 today, and so far I managed to read only two articles. Truth is, we’re all very busy, and it’s hard to find time to learn a language, but we can all create a system to make language learning part of our everyday life.

Instead of scrolling through Instagram while I drink my coffee in the morning, I can read an article or at least half of it. Create a plan in the learning: listen to a CD while driving to work, meet with a friend every Wednesday to practice, read your textbook for 10 minutes every day before you go to sleep. Make language part of your daily routine.

Image by Emma Matthews Digital Content Production on Unsplash

Be Patient

Most people think that polyglots are super talented, and this is why they learn languages so fast. Well, this will blow your mind — learning a language requires practice and patience, even for a polyglot. Ikonomou practices his languages on a daily basis, reading extensively, and watching foreign television. Polyglots found effective methods which they enjoy and use systematically over for a long time, and this is how they learn languages within months and not years. Still, they need patience too.

I remember the moment when I first understood the lyrics of a Greek song that I like after listening to it many times. It made me feel extremely proud of my progress. The beauty of learning a language lies in these little victories.

Conclusion

The whole polyglot secret is about finding an effective method that you enjoy and that can be part of your daily routine. There are many things you can do to make room for learning without needing to find that extra time. Remember to be patient: Rome wasn’t built in a day!

And if you’re struggling to learn a language because you think you don’t have the talent, maybe you just haven’t found the enjoyable method that works for you. Keep looking.

Reference: Lýdia Machová, “The Secrets of Learning a New Language”