how to learn languages in a LAZY way (advice from a polyglot)

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares their 'lazy' daily routine for learning languages, emphasizing the importance of enjoyment over strict schedules and memorization. They discuss their fluency in Mandarin, Hakka, English, French, and Japanese, and their current focus on Arabic and Spanish. The routine includes watching French YouTube videos during breakfast, listening to podcasts while doing chores, and practicing speaking aloud. The speaker also uses Duolingo for Arabic and reads French books, even engaging with French social media to immerse themselves in the language.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker advocates for a 'lazy' approach to language learning, emphasizing enjoyment over strict schedules and rote memorization.
• 🌐 The speaker is fluent in five languages: Mandarin, Hakka, English, French, and Japanese.
• 📚 Consistency is highlighted as the key to mastering a language, rather than the intensity of study.
• 🍳 The speaker incorporates language learning into daily activities, such as watching YouTube videos in French while having breakfast.
• 🎥 A preference for videos with clear speech, interesting topics, and active speaking is noted for language learning.
• 📱 The use of technology, like Duolingo for Arabic learning, is mentioned as a helpful tool for grasping basics.
• 📖 Reading books in the target language, even if challenging, is part of the speaker's routine.
• 🎧 Listening to podcasts in the target language during mundane tasks is recommended for immersive practice.
• 🗣️ Speaking to oneself in the target language is suggested as a method to practice speaking without a partner.
• 🌐 The speaker suggests creating a social media environment in the target language to surround oneself with the language casually.

Q & A

How many languages does the speaker claim to speak fluently?

The speaker claims to speak five languages fluently, which include Mandarin, Hakka, English, French, and Japanese.

What is the speaker's opinion on setting goals and making plans for language learning?

The speaker believes that while setting goals and making plans are often recommended for language learning, the most important aspect is to enjoy the learning process, as enjoyment can lead to better consistency.

How does the speaker prioritize languages when learning multiple languages?

When learning multiple languages, the speaker prioritizes one language at a time, dedicating more time to it, and allocates a minimum of 10 minutes to the other languages.

What is the speaker's strategy for choosing YouTube videos to watch while learning French?

The speaker chooses YouTube videos based on three characteristics: the topic must interest them, the YouTuber speaks clearly, and the video has substantial dialogue to practice listening.

Why does the speaker prefer watching videos with female YouTubers?

The speaker prefers watching videos with female YouTubers because they usually have a higher pitch, which makes it easier for the speaker to distinguish different vocabularies and sounds.

How does the speaker feel about taking notes while watching language learning videos?

The speaker rarely takes notes, only looking up words when they repeatedly appear and are crucial for understanding the key idea, or when the speaker is genuinely interested in a particular phrase.

What does the speaker do while performing mundane tasks like washing dishes?

While performing mundane tasks like washing dishes, the speaker listens to podcasts to practice their listening skills.

How does the speaker practice speaking French when there is no one to talk to?

The speaker practices speaking French by talking to themselves, which they find to be a useful practice despite it being embarrassing.

What is the speaker's approach to learning Arabic?

The speaker uses Duolingo to learn Arabic, focusing on grasping the basic language elements due to the difficulty of the Arabic alphabet and the language's complexity.

What does the speaker do to immerse themselves in the language while scrolling social media?

The speaker has a social media account dedicated to French, following French influencers and accounts to immerse themselves in the language and improve their French skills while scrolling.

How does the speaker feel about the difficulty of reading a French version of 'Harry Potter'?

The speaker finds reading the French version of 'Harry Potter' challenging, admitting to understanding only about 20 percent of it, but still finds the experience valuable.