the actual SECRET to learn MULTIPLE languages at the same time. #languagelearning

Summary

In this video, Alina shares her personal experience with language learning, highlighting the challenges she faced when mixing Italian and Swedish after moving from Italy to Sweden at the age of 13. She introduces the 'used, unused principle' to explain involuntary language mixing and suggests using target languages together to improve learning. Alina provides practical exercises like switching languages every minute during speaking exercises and writing essays in multiple languages to enhance linguistic skills and code-switching abilities.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Alina, the speaker, is a lifelong language learner who experienced language mixing after moving from Italy to Sweden at the age of 13.
• 🗣️ Initially, Alina was fluent in five languages but faced challenges in keeping Italian and Swedish separate, leading to confusion and mixing of words.
• 🤔 Alina's realization that she learned Swedish 'on top of' Italian without revisiting Italian, which might have contributed to the language mixing.
• 🏠 The 'used-un-used principle' was introduced as a concept to explain why certain languages were not mixed up, such as French and Swedish, despite less proficiency in French.
• 🔄 The importance of using target languages together to prevent involuntary mixing and the concept that the brain doesn't work like a dictionary in language learning.
• 📝 Alina suggests an exercise where one switches languages every minute or two during speaking exercises to improve language separation and fluency.
• 📚 Writing essays in different languages about historical figures or artists to practice using target languages together and enhance understanding of grammar and flow.
• 🔍 Encouragement to use target languages to search for word meanings rather than relying on translation to the native language, promoting deeper learning.
• 🔄 The benefit of using more advanced languages as a fallback when learning a new or less proficient language, aiding in the learning process of both.
• 💡 The exercise of translating between target languages to reinforce learning and understanding of different languages simultaneously.
• 🌟 Alina emphasizes that this method of language learning led to significant progress in her own language abilities, beyond what traditional methods offered.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Alina's video?

The main topic of Alina's video is language learning, specifically discussing the phenomenon of mixing languages and how to address it as a lifelong language learner.

At what age did Alina move from Italy to Sweden and how many languages did she speak at that time?

Alina moved from Italy to Sweden at the age of 13 and she was already speaking five languages.

What issue did Alina encounter with her Italian language skills after moving to Sweden?

Alina found that her Italian language skills had deteriorated to the point where she was mixing Italian words with Swedish, causing confusion in her speech.

What does Alina refer to as the 'used, unused principle' in language learning?

The 'used, unused principle' refers to the idea that if a language is not actively used and practiced, it may be prone to mixing with another language that is being learned simultaneously.

How does Alina differentiate between 'used, unused principle' and 'code switching'?

Alina explains that 'code switching' typically occurs in bilingual households and is a deliberate act, whereas the 'used, unused principle' is an involuntary and confusing way of mixing languages that feels like a lack of capacity to speak the language clearly.

What exercise does Alina suggest to help with language learning and preventing language mix-up?

Alina suggests an exercise where you do a general speaking exercise for about half an hour on a specific topic, switching languages every minute or two.

What is the purpose of switching languages every minute or two during the speaking exercise?

The purpose is to train the brain to use the target languages together, which helps in preventing the involuntary mixing of languages and enhances the learning process.

How does Alina recommend learning languages in written format?

Alina recommends writing essays in different languages about historical figures or artists, using the information gathered in the target languages, which helps in improving grammar and language flow.

What does Alina suggest doing when you don't remember a word in your target language?

Alina suggests searching for the meaning of the specific word in English or another language you are more proficient in, rather than using your native language or relying on Google Translate.

How does Alina use her more advanced languages to assist in learning a weaker language?

Alina suggests falling back on a more advanced target language when trying to learn a weaker one, using it as a tool to understand and translate concepts that are not yet known in the weaker language.

What benefits does Alina claim to have experienced from using her language learning exercise?

Alina claims to have experienced significant progress in her language learning, feeling as though she took a hundred steps forward at once, and gained a better understanding of how the brain works in relation to language learning.