Learn Languages with Steve Kaufmann

People often look for better ways to do things, sometimes called hacks. Are there hacks for learning languages? I checked out some productivity hacks on the Internet. Do they work for languages? Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/2XXpp5n

Stu Jay Raj speaks languages of southeast Asia, India and China. Most people know that the Indian subcontinent and China have a combined population of around 3 billion people but don’t realize Southeast Asia has a population of almost 700 million. There are a lot of people that Stu can speak to and learn from. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3hQgyt7

Language learning is in itself a form of travel. We are able to visit different cultures, different ways of saying things and to enjoy the pleasure of moving to exotic environments. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3hCfTew

Content drives enjoyment and success in language learning. It has evolved from teachers, books, tapes, online content including mp3 files, to all the ways we can learn from videos. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/394sFhy

Factors that influence our choice in languages to learn include how easy it seems, how useful it seems and our interest in the language. It is the last one, interest, that I find the most motivating. ___ Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/2XcM3qb

When starting out in a language, I prefer to focus on that language. Once I'm more advanced, I can combine it with the study of another language where I'm at a similar level. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3tiisY3

I did nothing in Persian for two weeks, no listening, no reading, and focused on Egyptian Arabic. When I next spoke with my Persian tutor, I did better than ever. Benign neglect.

My mornings are important. That's when each day begins. If I start each day by listening in my target language, this usually triggers further learning later in the day.

Language learning requires us to cut off some of our normal contacts in our own language, in order to concentrate on acquiring a new language. This can, at times, feel lonely. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/38e2LqT

We live in an age where we can easily access enormous quantities of great input material for our language learning. The downside is how easily we can be distracted. How do we deal with it?

Language learning depends on our motivation. But then, that is true of most things that are worthwhile doing in life. Here I talk about how to stay motivated when we're learning a new language. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3CBcu8K

I made a video about the importance of repetition in language learning. This generated questions from my viewers which I try to answer here. One common theme is that we need to mix in interesting compelling new content with our repetitive listening and reading. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3lKRPcv

I’m a strong supporter of Krashen’s language acquisition hypothesis and the importance of compelling input. But there is a role for repetitive listening to a limited range of content for reasons I discuss in this video. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3Ae7MvB

People tell me they have no time to learn languages. Sometimes it’s just a matter of getting started. Listening is the easiest activity to use to get started learning a language. Here are some thoughts on how to go about it. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3jdGmPB

I'm 45 days into my 90-day challenge of trying to get to the next level in Persian and Arabic. I thought I would like to do a monologue in Persian. It is full of mistakes, unrehearsed. That's what makes it useful for me, to notice my gaps and as a record of my progress.

My attitude towards language learning has changed over the last 15 years. I used to think speaking a handful of languages was a big deal. I now think there's no limit to the number of languages we can learn, as long as we aren't seeking perfection. Every language we learn, even a little of, is enriching.

Entrepreneurship and language learning are connected in my mind. Both involve creating value. Learning a language creates value for oneself. Entrepreneurship is all about creating value for others. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/36UL8Ms

Pronouncing well doesn’t mean pronouncing perfectly, it may require deliberate effort. That was my experience when learning Mandarin and French. In subsequent languages, the pronunciation just came to me. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3rj79O4

When people hear me speak languages like Mandarin, Japanese, French, or Russian, or see me eagerly trying out my more limited abilities in languages like Persian, Korean or Arabic, they often tell me I’ve a talent for languages. Yet these same people don’t put the effort into learning languages that I do. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3kn0qBp

As we are exposed to more of a language, things we hadn’t noticed before all of a sudden appear to us. This process of noticing more and more is an important part of acquiring the language. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3xBR8Fv

Books, plain old paper books, are a vital part of my language learning strategy. Traditional books are comfortable and comforting, with less opportunities for distraction than reading on my mobile device. It helps to cover the same material in different ways, electronic and paper based. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3hrbnjB

Most language learners fail. They may pass their exams but they fail to learn to speak the language they are learning, which is generally the goal. Maybe it's time to change the goal. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3dKRmlL

Listening is the killer app for language learning. How do we get better at listening if we struggle to focus? Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/36iHITr

Most people learn languages at school. How important are they to learning a language? It depends on the individual. I wouldn't go to one but recognize that for many people they are necessary. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3A3EZdU

Languages are for communicating, not for competing with others. Novak Djokovic competes in tennis but communicates wonderfully in different languages, despite the odd mistake. ___ Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3gTEvzs

Speaking skills in a language rely on massive input, listening, and reading. Critical thinking skills rely on knowledge of the subject matter, acquired through massive input, reading, and listening. I don't think these skills can be taught without massive input. ___ Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3iZ56wt

The most important function of a teacher, any teacher, including online language teachers, is to either feed the enthusiasm of the student or, where that is lacking, to trigger and inspire the desire to learn. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3iOYeSk

Can we be lazy and learn languages? I think so. Here are my seven hints on how to be a successful yet lazy language learner.

I'm in the "Streak with Steve" challenge for both Arabic and Persian. I chose a minimal number of "LingQs created" in each language to make it easier to maintain my streak. In fact, I create many more LingQs every day in my major language of the week, and just try to keep the minor language streak alive. Learn languages like I do on LingQ: https://bit.ly/2ShaLDr

Grammar describes usage in a language at any given time in its evolution. It's hard for us to learn these rules of usage without a considerable investment of time in reading and listening. Input is the best way for our brain to get used to the patterns of language. Learn languages like I do on LingQ: https://bit.ly/34XdowY

Even a keen language learner like myself needs to be nudged from time to time. That is why I join the 90-Day Challenges at LingQ. I invite others to do the same, maybe even follow me, in the languages they are studying. Join me in a LingQ language challenge: https://bit.ly/3cizpKG

Want to learn a language like I do? Join LingQ today: https://bit.ly/3yPzU8w Pitch accent has received more attention recently, especially for learners of Japanese. Do I think pitch accent is important? No. Not important.

I always emphasize input in language learning, getting the language in you through listening and reading. But how do you get started speaking? I offer some advice in this video. Learn a new language like I do, on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3ftIoL3

The Internet has changed how we learn languages. There are so many apps and so much readily available technology that it has never been easier to learn languages. Want to learn a new language? Sign up for LingQ today: https://bit.ly/3v5dZIk

Learning Japanese, and living in Tokyo for 9 years, had a profound influence on my life, especially professionally. It wasn't necessarily meant to be. It came about because of a personality conflict I had with my boss. I might have ended up in Beijing instead. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3eW6PAx

Mistakes are an essential part of language learning, a chance to notice and learn. We should welcome our mistakes. Unfortunately, school teaches us to be afraid of mistakes. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/2RMwNNE

Talking, having meaningful conversations in the language we are learning, is not only a major goal for most language learners, it is a necessary part of getting to fluency. But our attitude is important. It's best to focus more on communicating meaning, and how the language is used by others, and less on how we think we sound.

We are often attracted by the appeal of 10 secrets to losing weight, seven tips for keeping your house clean, so why not 10 secrets to language learning? These secrets or tips usually get us thinking about ways to do things better. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3uqk1CQ​

The key to success in language learning is to engage with the language often and in ways that you find enjoyable. If you like doing flash cards, using spaced repetition systems, then it's worth doing. If not, this kind of learning activity won't help much. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/33fnKXO

We acquire languages gradually through input. Some people think we need to master certain basic concepts or vocabulary first as soon as possible. In fact, we acquire the most common words and structures of the language slowly and mostly if we are exposed to them often enough in natural contexts.

Given that the fastest way to learn a language is to listen and read a lot, how do you begin a language from scratch, when you don't understand anything? Here I demonstrate how I start a new language.

Neither "speaking from day one" nor "getting a good grammar book and dictionary" will enable a person to learn a language more quickly. These things can be part of a learning strategy. Mostly, however, we need to acquire the language through lots of exposure, lots of reading and listening.

A lot of language study takes place in schools. In the English language school system in Canada, very few school children outside of French immersion learn to speak French despite years of classroom instruction and testing. Why is this? ___ Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3euQz8f

Reading is the killer app for learning languages, but also for learning other things. In order to study effectively we need to work on our reading skills, and that means reading a lot. We should also take advantage of audio in order to ramp up our ability to absorb information from reading. This applies to language learning and learning other subjects as well. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3toiU6i​

People ask me how long it takes to learn a language, sometimes with reference to a specific language. I feel like asking them "what's the hurry?". Just enjoy the language and enjoy whatever you are able to achieve in the language. ___ Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/2OxOzTD

Russian is not only a language rich in history & literature, it’s also a gateway to other Slavic languages, which share most of the same grammatical challenges(or delights). Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3cH5hsP

Are some languages harder to learn than others? Yes, think so. Some have less or more forgiving grammar. Some have unfamiliar or hard to learn writing systems. Some are harder to pronounce or have little common vocabulary with languages we know. But if we are truly motivated, it doesn't matter. ___ Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3cmp2FV

In order to be successful language learners, it can help to have some sense of the learning process, what is actually going on in our brains. This can determine our learning activities and our expectations of ourselves. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3cRZZKa

Three major East Asian languages, Chinese, Japanese and Korean share a lot of vocabulary, history and culture and yet each one is distinctive, and well worth learning. ___ Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3toimwJ

Here I interview Yuzzy, a Japanese exchange student at a high school in England. I ask him what he finds most difficult in English, and he doesn't know. He doesn't worry about the details. He has just absorbs the language. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3t0OLct