For some people, their language-learning goal isn’t just to learn a second language. They also want to learn a third, fourth, or even a fifth and upwards. Multilingualism is pretty rare among English-speakers, but in the rest of the world it’s really not that uncommon. If you’re looking for tips on how to become a polyglot, follow the 9 easy steps laid out below.
It’s fairly common to find people who speak two languages fluently. In Ireland, for example, it’s easy to find people who speak English along with the Irish Gaelic of their heritage. Many areas of Canada, such as Quebec, speak both English and French. In Catalonia it’s normal to speak both Catalan and Spanish. In both Africa and India, where each region can have a completely different language from the next, quite a few people can speak five or six languages! Even looking at Europe as a whole, plenty of people there can speak three languages fluently.
Maybe learning two or three new languages isn’t as scary as it seems. You’ll still have to put in hours and hours of intense study, but with the right strategies you can make it a part of your life. It’s not just an addition to the workload. Keep in mind that you should only take up a language if you’re genuinely interested in learning it well. If you’re just trying to get to a basic level in as many languages as possible, you’ll just end up with some bragging rights rather than actual language skills. Some great general advice if you’re wondering how to become a polyglot!
Enjoy Your Language Learning
Instead, think about which languages you’re interested in learning, and do some research into the cultures behind them. Ideally you’d be learning about the complete package and not just the technical side of things. When it comes to choosing which language to study, pick the one that you’d like to study most. This will keep you motivated far better than just a general interest in becoming a polyglot.
Most people who’ve learned multiple languages can trace their interest back to a specific event. That one time they realized that this was what they wanted to do. One story like this comes from an Irish student who was participating in an exchange program that included architects and engineers from various countries. He got to know a fellow student from Brazil. This student could speak Spanish, French, and English very well, in addition to his native Portuguese. The Irish student noticed how, in a group made up of students from multiple nationalities, the Brazilian student was able to easily switch between any of these languages.
Pursue the Dream
After this experience, the Irish student decided that he’d change his plans. Instead of pursuing a Master’s degree in his home country, he would start studying languages instead. He would be starting from ground zero since he only spoke English. But he knew that this was what he wanted to do. He started out learning Spanish, and has since been able to learn several other languages as well. This is thanks to his passion for studying other cultures through language-learning.
Pretty much anyone has the ability to become multilingual. You don’t have to be smarter than average or have an amazing education. Your brain is already hardwired to learn, remember, and use multiple languages. All you need to do is figure out which ones appeal to you the most, and get to work! You’ll find that the more languages you learn, the easier it’ll be to pick up even more.
Here are some tips on how to become a polyglot.
1. The first language you study should be an easy one.
Assuming that you’re starting out with English as your first language, look for a language of interest that’s fairly easy to learn. One that’s related to English if possible. Any language that’s derived from Latin will be a good start. The most common ones are Italian, Spanish, French, and Portuguese. The advantage of learning one of these first is that you’ll recognize plenty of words and grammar rules. That way, there’s less new information to take in.
As you learn a new language for the first time, the biggest hurdle to get over may be the idea that it’s possible to talk in another language. It may seem like a silly thing to get hung up on, but this is actually a common issue. If you’re really interested in learning a more difficult language, like Russian or Mandarin, think about whether to begin with that, or learn it as a third language. This gives you the experience of getting an easier language under your belt.
If you feel like you want to study languages long-term and don’t have one particular language you want to begin with, then consider learning Esperanto as your second language. Esperanto is a constructed language that’s used in many countries, and is one of the simplest languages out there. According to studies, learning Esperanto can actually make it easier to learn more languages afterwards. A great tip for those looking to join the world of the polyglots. Another advantage of this language is that it doesn’t have the exceptions and grammatical anomalies that other languages have. This is great for someone learning another language for the first time.
2. Only learn a language if it interests you
Language-learning takes hours and hours of hard work. You’ll end up being immersed in it as you improve your skills and study techniques. If you weren’t that interested in the first place, you’ll quickly get bored and frustrated. Everybody has a friend or two who picked a college major just because they knew they wanted to get a degree, but didn’t really see an option they felt passionate about. They usually end up just coasting through the learning experience. They aren’t able to value their degree like they should because they didn’t put their heart into it.
Hopefully learning a new language won’t take you four years, but it’s still a big commitment. Having a genuine interest in it will make all the difference in the world. Make sure that not only the language, but the country and culture it comes from are something you want to learn about. With language studies, you’ll end up knowing all about them whether you wanted to or not!
3. Focus on each language individually
Make sure you get to at least a conversational level before you start a new language. Otherwise, you’ll probably start confusing words or grammar rules. Most people who try to learn multiple languages at once end up taking a lot longer. They have a harder time becoming fluent.
4. Keep practicing each language as much as you can
Once you’ve mastered a language and have moved on to the next one, you’ll still need to keep using what you’ve already learned. Without ongoing practice, you could actually lose a lot of what you worked so hard to learn. Nobody wants that to happen!
5. Learning within language families means a reduced workload
If some of the languages you’re interested in are part of the same family, learn these one after the other instead of splitting them up. Thanks to shared roots, there’ll be less vocabulary to learn, and you’ll probably already know most of the grammar rules. For example, say you want to learn Italian, French, Portuguese, German, and Japanese. You should learn the first three languages consecutively, so you can take advantage of their shared linguistic roots. Each time you start learning another European language, the time you’ll have to spend will be reduced. This is because you’re already familiar with some of the fundamentals. In this scenario Japanese and German aren’t related to the other languages. Ideally they would be learned either before or after the three Latin-based languages. Your journey to becoming a polyglot will be slightly easier.
If you’ve decided to become a polyglot, that means you’re in it for the long haul and you’re prepared to put in the effort. However, it doesn’t mean you can’t take shortcuts when you see them. This is one handy trick to use as you learn multiple languages, so keep it in mind as you decide which language to learn next.
6. Use good study strategies
Not all study methods are created equal! Practicing with interactive programs and talking with real people will get you a lot farther than purely curriculum-based learning, no matter how good it is. And a step closer to becoming a polyglot. If you aren’t sure about what all the options are, look at other polyglots and see what methods or programs they’ve used.
It’s usually best to use some kind of language-learning program or curriculum, at least to start with. That way you can see how the words are spelled, and learn the technical stuff like how to conjugate verbs. Once you have a basic vocabulary, then it’s time to start writing or talking. The best results seem to come from a blend of structured learning from a textbook or online course. Plus lots of practice talking with someone who speaks the target language, of course.
7. Have the right motivation
Learning multiple languages will take years. If you aren’t passionate about what you’re doing, that will show in the results. A lot of people who decide to become multilingual travel frequently. Often they were inspired to learn particular languages after visiting the countries the languages come from. This kind of inspiration can be very deep and personal. It counts a lot more than if you just want to cross an item off your bucket list.
8. Know when you’re ready to learn another language
There’s no need to learn a language perfectly before you start on the next one. The main issue you could run into while learning multiple languages at the same time is mixing them up. However, once you’ve gotten to an intermediate level, there’s not much danger of that happening. As long as you keep practicing and advancing in the languages you’ve already learned, you should be in good shape.
9. Be prepared to look a little stupid
At some point during the learning process, you’ll have to start using your new vocabulary to talk. All of a sudden you’re trying to express your thoughts with unfamiliar words, and getting frustrated at all the mistakes you’re making. Nobody can start speaking in a new language and get everything right immediately, so take it as a matter of course when you make mistakes. This happens with any kind of speaking practice.
It could be when you’re studying with a tutor, chatting with a friend from another country, or traveling in a foreign city where nobody speaks English. Just remember, you’ll probably be your own worst critic! Living with that criticism is key to becoming a polyglot. In most parts of the world, people are very supportive of a foreigner who’s trying to speak their language, even if it’s barely intelligible. Nobody will think badly of you if you try to have a conversation that you aren’t exactly ready for; in fact, you’ll probably both get a few good laughs out of it!
Becoming multilingual takes a lot of work, but talking with people from all over the world in their own language is one of the best feelings ever. It opens up doors you never even knew were there, and broadens your outlook on the world. If you’re passionate about language learning, don’t stop at learning just one new language. There are plenty more out there waiting for you to discover them!
