How to Learn Anything FAST? The Ultralearning Methods

Summary

In this video, Zoe shares her passion for learning, detailing how she's mastered six languages and various other skills after her twenties. She discusses the concept of 'ultralearning,' inspired by Scott H. Young's book, and offers practical tips for developing a growth mindset, overcoming learning challenges, and staying focused. She emphasizes 'meta-learning'—learning how to learn—and applying knowledge through direct practice. Zoe's message encourages viewers to embrace lifelong learning, no matter the skill or age, and provides insights for achieving faster, more effective results.

Takeaways

• 😀 Zoe is a language learning enthusiast who has mastered six foreign languages and pursued higher education in diverse fields.
• 🌟 Zoe emphasizes the importance of adopting a growth mindset to overcome the belief that it's too late to learn new skills.
• 📚 The video introduces 'Ultralearning' by Scott H. Young, highlighting his remarkable learning achievements.
• 🛠️ Zoe shares her personal journey of self-teaching various skills post-twenties, especially after moving abroad.
• 🧠 The concept of 'meta-learning' is introduced as a critical yet often overlooked aspect of effective learning.
• 🔍 Zoe advises spending 10% of learning time on researching how to learn a skill, which is a principle from Young's book.
• 🎯 Setting initial learning goals is crucial, even if they start broad, to provide direction for the learning process.
• 🔎 The power of searching for information online to transform ideas into actionable plans is underscored.
• 🤝 Engaging in 'expert interviews' can provide valuable insights and refine one's learning roadmap.
• 🏋️‍♀️ Zoe suggests focusing on direct practice and identifying areas for targeted improvement to enhance learning.
• 🧪 Adopting an 'experimental' mindset is essential for personal growth, encouraging learning from mistakes and self-exploration.

Q & A

Who is the speaker, and what is her background?

The speaker is Zoe, who has learned six foreign languages over the past eight years. She switched her bachelor's major from communication in China to sociology for her master's in France and pursued a Ph.D. in sociology in both France and Germany. She is now systematically studying psychology and neuroscience.

What is the main focus of this video?

The video focuses on ultralearning, a systematic approach to learning new skills quickly and effectively. Zoe shares insights from her personal experiences and the book 'Ultralearning' by Scott H. Young.

What is ultralearning, according to the speaker?

Ultralearning is a set of principles that enables people to learn new skills quickly and efficiently. It involves strategies such as meta-learning, focusing on weak points, applying what you learn immediately, and adopting a growth mindset.

What is the concept of meta-learning, and why is it important?

Meta-learning means 'learning how to learn.' It's important because it helps individuals understand the best strategies, resources, and personal learning styles for mastering a new skill. Zoe suggests spending 10% of learning time researching how to learn the skill before diving into the subject.

What is the growth mindset, and how does it relate to learning?

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. Zoe emphasizes that this mindset is crucial for adults, who may think it's too late to learn new things. By adopting a growth mindset, learners can overcome limiting beliefs and become lifelong learners.

What are some practical steps to improve focus during learning?

Zoe suggests keeping the study area tidy, reducing distractions by limiting social media and phone usage, and using techniques like the Pomodoro Technique. She also mentions the importance of balancing study and rest and encourages setting screen time limits on devices.

How can learners apply what they learn more effectively?

Zoe advises learners to start applying what they learn as soon as possible. For example, language learners should start practicing conversations even with limited vocabulary. This 'direct practice' approach helps connect learning to real-life situations and improves retention.

What is the importance of setting clear learning goals?

Setting clear and realistic learning goals is crucial for staying focused and making progress. Zoe explains that broad goals can be refined over time, and having specific objectives, such as learning French for a trip, can help guide the learning process.

What is the role of 'benchmarking' in ultralearning?

Benchmarking involves identifying common strategies used by others to learn the same skill. By looking at how others approach learning, such as reviewing university syllabi or taking online courses, learners can design an effective initial strategy for themselves.

What does Zoe mean by maintaining an 'experimental mindset' in learning?

An experimental mindset means being open to trial and error and viewing mistakes as opportunities to improve. Zoe highlights the importance of personal exploration as learners advance and encourages trying different approaches to overcome plateaus in skill development.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Introduction to Zoe and Ultralearning

Zoe, the host, introduces herself as a polyglot and lifelong learner who has mastered six languages and pursued higher education in multiple disciplines. She emphasizes her passion for acquiring new skills, especially after moving abroad, and credits her growth mindset for overcoming the belief that learning is limited by age or talent. Zoe introduces 'Ultralearning,' a concept from Scott H. Young's book, which advocates for intense, focused learning to achieve remarkable results. She outlines the video's goal to help viewers develop a systematic approach to learning, whether for career changes, new challenges, or personal interests like music, languages, writing, or content creation.

05:01

🎓 The Power of Meta-Learning and Mindset Shift

Zoe discusses the importance of meta-learning, or learning how to learn effectively, before diving into a new subject. She suggests investing 10% of study time in understanding the best learning methods, resources, and creating a clear plan. She also stresses the need to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, which is crucial for adult learning and brain development. Zoe shares strategies for setting initial learning goals, conducting online searches for resources, and leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT for generating learning plans. She also highlights the value of expert interviews and benchmarking to refine learning strategies and roadmaps.

10:03

💡 Applying Knowledge and Enhancing Focus

Zoe advocates for applying knowledge from the start rather than following the traditional theory-first approach. She illustrates this with language learning, suggesting direct practice in conversation over excessive focus on grammar books. The video also covers the importance of focus during learning, suggesting methods like maintaining a tidy study area, limiting social media use, and using techniques like the Pomodoro Technique to balance work and rest. Zoe shares personal strategies for enhancing focus and invites viewer feedback for a potential video on the topic.

🏋️‍♀️ Isolating Weaknesses and Adopting an Experimental Mindset

In this section, Zoe talks about identifying and strengthening weak areas of a skill to enhance overall performance, using fitness as an analogy. She advises researching and practicing targeted exercises to overcome weaknesses. Zoe also encourages alternating between direct and repetitive practice to improve skills effectively. Lastly, she introduces the concept of an experimental mindset, suggesting that learners should view their journey as a series of experiments, embracing the growth mindset to learn from mistakes and create unique solutions, which can lead to personal learning styles and breakthroughs.

Keywords

💡Ultralearning

Ultralearning is an intense, self-driven approach to learning that aims to achieve a high level of mastery in a short period of time. In the video, Zoe refers to this concept as a powerful tool set for anyone looking to rapidly acquire new skills or knowledge. The author of 'Ultralearning', Scott H. Young, exemplifies this approach by completing MIT's four-year computer science curriculum in just one year, demonstrating the potential of focused, dedicated learning.

💡Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that one's abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. Zoe emphasizes the importance of shifting from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, which is crucial for adults who may feel it's too late to learn. This mindset is central to the video's theme of lifelong learning and overcoming self-imposed limitations.

💡Meta-learning

Meta-learning, or learning how to learn, is the process of understanding and improving one's own learning strategies. Zoe discusses the importance of meta-learning before diving into a new subject, which involves identifying resources, understanding personal learning styles, and creating a clear plan. This concept is highlighted as one of the most important aspects of ultralearning.

💡10% Rule

The 10% rule, introduced by Scott Young, suggests that 10% of one's total learning time should be spent researching how to learn a skill effectively. This principle is mentioned by Zoe as a way to invest time upfront in understanding the most effective learning methods, which can lead to more efficient and successful learning outcomes.

💡Learning Goals

Setting learning goals is a key strategy discussed in the video for directing one's study efforts and providing a clear sense of purpose. Zoe gives the example of deciding to learn French after watching a movie, with the initial goal being to communicate during a trip to France, illustrating how goals can motivate and guide the learning process.

💡Expert Interviews

Expert interviews involve seeking advice and direction from individuals who have achieved the desired learning outcome. Zoe mentions consulting a classmate who had studied Arabic, which helped refine her learning roadmap. This strategy leverages the experience of others to accelerate one's own learning journey.

💡Benchmarking

Benchmarking is the process of identifying and adopting successful strategies used by others in learning the same skill. Zoe suggests reviewing syllabuses of relevant courses as a form of benchmarking to design an initial learning strategy. This approach helps learners to align their efforts with proven methods.

💡Direct Practice

Direct practice refers to engaging in the skill one wishes to learn, such as speaking a language or writing to improve those skills. Zoe emphasizes the importance of starting direct practice early, even before mastering all the theories, to build knowledge from real-life situations outward.

💡Flow State

The flow state is a mental state of complete absorption and focus on an activity, where one is fully engaged and performing at their best. Zoe discusses setting challenging yet achievable learning goals to help enter this state, which is conducive to efficient and enjoyable learning.

💡Social Media Detox

A social media detox involves reducing or eliminating social media usage to minimize distractions and improve focus. Zoe shares her personal practice of limiting screen time and closing unrelated pages during study to maintain concentration, underscoring the importance of a clean study environment.

💡Isolating Weaknesses

Isolating weaknesses is the process of identifying and targeting specific areas of a skill that need improvement. Zoe uses the example of strengthening knee muscles to improve squat depth in fitness, showing how focused practice on weaknesses can lead to overall skill enhancement.

💡Experimental Mindset

An experimental mindset involves approaching learning with a willingness to try new methods, make mistakes, and learn from them. Zoe encourages viewers to adopt this mindset to explore unique solutions and create personalized learning paths, which is essential for overcoming plateaus and achieving mastery.

Highlights

Introduction to Zoe, a language learning enthusiast with a diverse educational background.

Zoe's journey of learning six foreign languages and her academic pursuits in different countries.

The concept of 'ultralearning' introduced through Scott H. Young's experiences and methods.

Importance of adopting a growth mindset for effective learning at any age.

The 10% rule for investing time in understanding how to learn a new skill effectively.

Setting initial learning goals and the significance of searching for information to turn ideas into plans.

Utilizing AI tools like ChatGPT for generating initial learning plans and resource identification.

The value of expert interviews in refining learning roadmaps and gaining insights from experienced individuals.

Benchmarking as a strategy to identify common learning strategies used by others.

The long-term benefits of meta-learning in understanding one's learning style and improving time management.

Applying learning from the start by connecting goals with practical application.

The importance of focus and entering the 'flow' state for efficient learning.

Strategies to enhance focus, such as keeping the study area tidy and reducing distractions.

The Pomodoro Technique and time boxing as methods to balance study and rest.

Isolating and reinforcing weak aspects of a skill to achieve overall improvement.

The concept of alternating between direct practice and repetitive practice for skill enhancement.

Adopting an 'experimental' mindset in learning to embrace challenges and overcome weaknesses.

The lifelong reward of learning how to learn and the importance of continuous learning.

Transcripts

Hi guys, welcome to the new video

If you clicked on the title and  are new friends on this channel

let me introduce myself!

For old friends, you can skip this part

I am Zoe, I often talk about topics related  to language learning on this channel

Over the past eight years, I’ve  learned six foreign languages

I switched my bachelor's major  from communication in China

to sociology for my master's degree in France

then pursued a Ph.D. in sociology  in France and in Germany

Now, I am starting to systematically  study psychology and neuroscience

I’ve taught myself how to shoot and  edit videos to become a content creator

Additionally, I’ve learned swimming,  fitness, yoga, writing, cooking

and even how to repair electronics

I've acquired all these skills after my twenties

especially after moving abroad

basically, I love learning  new knowledge and skills

they make me feel more independent

especially that i am alone abroad

I also realized that the ability  to learn fast is actually something

that can be developed

In today's video, I’ll combine my experiences

with insights from the book  "Ultralearning" by Scott H. Young

maybe you guys have already heard of him

The author of this book learned to draw in a month

learned four languages in a year

and completed MIT's four-year computer  science curriculum in just one year

While we won’t focus on the level he achieved

His approach to summarizing the  fast learning path is very inspiring

Many of the methods introduced  in this book resonate

with my own learning experiences

The purpose of today’s video is to help  you develop a more systematic approach

to learning new things and make  your efforts more effective

so, Whether you want to switch  career paths, take on new challenges

or dream of playing a musical instrument

speaking a foreign language,  becoming a writer or photographer

or a YouTuber, I believe that  ultralearning is a powerful tool set

If you like this video, don't forget  to like, comment, and subscribe!

Before I start talking about specific  methods, I would like to emphasize

the importance of changing  your perception and mindset

I mentioned in my own journey video  that the turning point in my life began

with a shift from a fixed  mindset to a growth mindset

It's easy for adults to fall into the mindset  of "it's too late to learn at this age"

or "I don't have the talent  to learn" without even trying

Some may even think that the best  time to learn a foreign language

or a musical instrument is during childhood

so parents tend to "pin their hopes on their kids”

In fact, psychological research shows  that adults can learn just as effectively

and quickly as children

Staying active and learning can  even boost adult brain development

This brings us to the  importance of a growth mindset

which requires us to re-examine our own  abilities, challenge our fixed mindset

and start by telling ourselves that  "ability can be developed through dedication

and hard work" and "it is  never too late to learn."

This is the first and most important  step in becoming a lifelong learner

Next, I'm going to talk about some  of the principles of ultralearning

The concept of "meta-learning"  means learning how to learn

Unfortunately, it's often overlooked

but is one of the most  important aspects of learning

Before you start self-study, it’s  crucial to invest time in understanding

how to effectively learn the subject  or skill you’re interested in

This involves identifying  relevant resources and methods

understanding your personal learning  style, and creating a clear learning plan

One effective principle from  Young's book is the 10% rule

spend 10% of your total learning time  researching how to learn the skill

For me, this initial investment  isn’t about creating a perfect plan

but includes trial

Initially, you should set learning  goals, even if they are broad at first

For instance, you might decide to  learn French after watching a movie

You would like to learn French to  communicate during a trip to France

An A1 level or traveling French  could be your first learning goal

the vital step in this process is searching

Searching for information is the first  step in turning your ideas into action

The internet is full of information  that can help you transform vague ideas

into clear plans

For example, when I decided to learn Arabic

my goal was to discover the language

I immediately searched for blogs, YouTube videos

and checked for any free courses at my university

This led me to an introductory  course on the Arabic alphabet

where I met teachers and classmates  who provided additional resources

Today, we can even use AI tools such as  ChatGPT to generate such initial plans

and ask for resources for each step

For example, if I want to become a yoga instructor

I would ask it to give me general  steps, from a weekly training plan

to teacher training programs, international  certifications, or related books

Then I would check them out to  create a clear learning roadmap

The great thing about this roadmap is  that it can provide clear direction

Another key strategy is "expert interviews."

Talk to people who have relevant experience

or have achieved your desired goal

They can offer valuable direction and  advice, helping refine your roadmap

For instance, I consulted a classmate  who had studied Arabic to a good level

She not only gave me her beginner books

but also recommended a teacher  who offered free Arabic courses

at our university, guiding me to focus  on learning Fusha first and then dialect

Another method is "benchmarking,"

which involves identifying  common strategies used by others

to learn the same skill

This helps you design an initial learning strategy

For example, to systematically study neuroscience

I would review the syllabus of relevant  courses online or at a university

By the way, some introductory open  courses on YouTube or Coursera

could also be a great way to discover  a new topic in a structured way

Meta-learning has long-term benefits,  because you understand your learning

style better, improve your ability  to manage time and motivation

and develop effective strategies  for overcoming common obstacles

This accelerates your ability to learn new skills

If you ask how I have learned six  foreign languages in eight years

it actually became progressively easier and faster

because each new language followed a clearer path

and avoided previous mistakes

As you gain more learning  experiences, your confidence grows

you enjoy the learning process more

and you also know how to manage frustration

The best way to learn is to apply what you learn

Some might say, "How can I apply  it when I haven't learned it yet?"

The idea here is to break away from the  traditional theory-first learning method

and combine learning goals with practical  application right from the start

Scott Young points out that  traditional education often

teaches us theory after theory, expecting  us to apply these theories in practice

However, when we learn something

many of us get confused if we  encounter a different situation

This is especially true in language learning

We have this problem because most  formal education isn't direct enough

So, when we learn new things, we should  try to connect as directly as possible

with the scenarios where  we want to use these skills

Build knowledge from the core  of a real-life situation outward

For example, if your goal in  learning a foreign language

is to communicate with people

after mastering basic pronunciation and grammar

you can start practicing  spoken conversations directly

instead of focusing on grammar  books, textbooks, and word lists

thinking you need to reach a certain  level before you can start speaking

When I was learning Turkish and Persian

my goal was to travel and communicate with people

So after two weeks of self-study

I started basic conversations  with language partners

beginning with greetings, describing  daily activities, and setting scenarios

such as ordering food in a  restaurant or asking for directions

These directly targeted my learning goals

we can still use textbooks and grammar  books as something supplementary

Many polyglots I've interviewed  on my channel also say that

to improve speaking skills, you need  to start speaking from the beginning

This principle and method are  equally applicable to other fields

such as coding, drawing, playing music  instruments, videography, photography

sports and so on

Focus is definitely the key to efficient learning

Many of you may have heard of the "flow" state

When people are in a flow state,  they are very concentrated

and fully engaged in the current activity

This concept, introduced by  psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

is an important topic in  positive psychology research

The flow state typically occurs  when a person's skill level matches

the challenge they face—neither  too simple to cause boredom

nor too difficult to cause anxiety

Therefore, it is important to set  appropriately challenging learning content

and clear, specific goals so you  know what you need to accomplish

As I mentioned earlier in  the first step, meta-learning

creating clear tasks and realistic  objectives will help you stay more focused

during learning

Additionally, I want to share a  few methods I use to enhance focus

Keep your study area tidy and reduce distractions

I always place my phone out of sight

For instance, when I need  to learn something online

I close all unrelated pages,  no email, no social media

It's important to realize that the  fast-paced, chaotic information

on social media increases cognitive load

tires the brain, and affects  our attention and memory

Excessive dopamine stimulation makes us distracted

during study or work, frequently  checking phones and social media

So, Social Media Detox is  important to improve your focus

I set screen time limits on  my phone—like using Instagram

for only 30 minutes a day. Once  the time is up, the app locks

I also track my daily screen time  to remind myself to control usage

Avoid long, continuous study sessions

Methods like the Pomodoro  Technique and time boxing

are great for balancing study and rest

I think I have a lot to share on improving focus

I can also make an entire video about it

If you're interested, leave a comment!

This principle involves isolating and  reinforcing the weakest aspects of a skill

to achieve overall improvement

For example, in fitness, if your  goal is to increase overall strength  

and muscle mass, and more specifically

to practice full motion squats  because it's a compound movement

and it benefits all muscle  groups, you might realize

that your knee strength or hips mobility is weak

which can affect the depth  and weight of your squats

So, you would look up exercises to  strengthen the muscles around your knees

Here’s a tip: When you identify your weaknesses

learn to find methods through  research and overcome them

with repeated practice

Additionally, you should  alternate between direct practice  

and repetitive practice during learning

Direct practice involves engaging  in the skill you want to learn

such as speaking a language,  writing to improve writing skills

or filming videos to enhance  shooting and presentation skills

Next, analyze these direct practices  and try to isolate some elements

Identify areas that need improvement  and engage in targeted training  

For example, if you find difficulties  in pronunciation or vocabulary

during speaking practice

you can add more specific  exercises for a period of time

The earlier you start alternating practice

the more adept you become  at analyzing and improving

the faster you can improve your skill

This kind of alternating practice  is tough, and many people avoid it

However, if you want to learn fast,  you must face difficulties quickly

solve problems, and overcome weaknesses

instead of staying in what you're already good at

The last point I would like  to share is the importance of

viewing your learning process  with an "experimental" mindset

This experimental mindset is also a growth mindset

It involves believing in your  ability to improve and grow

and not fearing mistakes

When starting a new skill, we  often find someone better than us

and follow their method to learn and progress

This is useful in the early stages of learning

because everyone starts similarly,  first imitating, then creating

However, as your skills improve, only  relying on role models won't be enough

As skills develop, everyone  encounters different problems

and solves them in various ways

Many problems require personal exploration  and solutions to find a unique path

Moreover, as you use your  skills, you might hit a plateau

At this point, instead of complaining or giving up

stay patient and solution oriented

This process might develop your  unique understanding and perspective

solve problems others can't, and  eventually create your own learning style

As you learn more and faster, the  challenge becomes not "how to learn"

But "how to learn faster," "how to  learn better," and "what to learn next."

Fast learning isn't easy; it  requires planning, time, and effort

Most importantly, it requires action and practice

But trust me, the reward of  learning how to learn is lifelong

There are still many new skills I want to learn

which keeps me passionate and motivated in life

There's so much interesting stuff in this world!

I hope today's sharing helps you

If you're particularly interested  in any topic from this video

and want to know more about it,  please let me know in the comment

See you in the next video! Bye!