How to Learn Languages so NATURALLY it feels like CHEATING

Summary

In this video, the creator reveals a seven-step formula for learning languages effectively, based on personal experiences with mastering Japanese. The steps emphasize enjoyment, listening practice, and repetition using media like shows or anime. Techniques include watching with captions in your native language, writing what you hear, speaking aloud, and mimicking sounds. The key to fluency lies in constant exposure, reviewing audio clips, and regularly checking progress. This method integrates all four core language skills—listening, reading, writing, and speaking—creating a balanced, comprehensive learning approach.

Takeaways

• 😀 The secret to polyglot success is effective time management, not shortcuts or tricks.
• 😀 Watching media with captions in your native language helps you enjoy the content without pressure to learn.
• 😀 Gradually remove captions to enhance listening skills and break the crutch of relying on text.
• 😀 Practice listening by writing down what you hear, even if it's not perfect, to improve understanding.
• 😀 Repetition is key in language learning. Rewatch content multiple times to deepen comprehension.
• 😀 Using captions in the target language while listening, reading, writing, and speaking helps cover all four language skills.
• 😀 Learning through familiar content like TV shows or anime helps reinforce vocabulary and grammar.
• 😀 Repeating phrases three times helps internalize language patterns and makes them feel more familiar.
• 😀 Clip audio from media and review it through flashcards to reinforce learning without high stress.
• 😀 Mimicking what you hear, without needing a tutor or native speaker, can improve pronunciation and fluency.
• 😀 The final step of simply enjoying media without studying lets you see your progress and reinforces language retention.

Q & A

What is the secret to learning multiple languages easily, according to the speaker?

The secret to learning multiple languages easily is not a shortcut but understanding how to maximize the use of one's time for effective learning.

Why is watching media with captions in your native language the first step in learning a new language?

This step is about enjoying media first, not focusing on learning. It helps language learners get used to content in the target language without the pressure to understand everything.

What is the issue with relying on captions while watching content in the target language?

The issue is that captions can become a crutch, where learners focus more on reading than actually listening to the spoken language, which limits their listening comprehension.

What does the speaker recommend to improve listening skills after watching media with no captions?

The speaker recommends listening to short clips, writing down what you hear without captions, and comparing it with the actual language. This helps improve listening skills without focusing on writing or being correct.

How does repetition contribute to language learning?

Repetition is crucial because it allows learners to internalize the language, making it easier to recall and understand. This is similar to how children learn by watching their favorite movies over and over.

What are the five steps involved in studying content deeply with captions in the target language?

The five steps are: 1) Listen to the phrase while reading captions, 2) Look up any unknown words or grammar, 3) Speak the phrase aloud, 4) Handwrite the phrase by copying the captions, 5) Repeat the process three times.

Why is copying phrases aloud and writing them down helpful in language learning?

This practice helps with pronunciation, grammar understanding, and vocabulary retention, making the language more familiar with repeated use.

What is the key benefit of saving audio clips for review?

Saving audio clips for review helps reinforce language learning through constant exposure, making it easier to retain phrases and improve fluency.

What does the speaker suggest for improving pronunciation?

The speaker suggests mimicking the sounds you hear, similar to how children copy characters they see on TV, to improve pronunciation naturally over time.

What is the most important step in the learning process, according to the speaker?

The most important step is to watch the content one last time without captions and simply enjoy it. This allows learners to recognize how much they've improved and reinforces their progress.