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5 TIPS FOR LEARNING MULTIPLE LANGUAGES SIMULTAENOUSLY
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Learning a language is tough.
Learning multiple languages is, well, tougher.
But, for the dedicated, organized language learner, it’s not impossible.
You’ll just want to keep a few things in mind…
1 Decide if it’s for you.
Some language learners strongly advise against learning multiple
languages simultaneously.
Assess your goals and determine if it’s a good approach for you.
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If your goal is to achieve fluency as quickly as possible, stick with one language at a time.
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If you don’t mind progressing slowly in both languages, please proceed!
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If you learn best by focusing intensely on one thing, don’t put too many
languages on your plate.
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If you find that your mind often wanders or you easily tire of tasks, switching between
multiple languages may be a stimulating refresher, so carry on!
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In short, learning languages simultaneously is possible, but not always practical.
Learning a language to meet a specific
deadline or need? Focus on one. Learning for pleasure or general interest? Go crazy!
So, if you’ve decided to learn multiple languages at once… how do you do it?
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2 Pick languages wisely.
Put some thought into which languages you’d like to pair together.
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Most learners will want to choose languages that won’t overlap or interfere with one
another.
Choosing languages from different families, like Spanish and Japanese, may reduce your chances of mixing them up.
On the other hand, if you’re great at compartmentalizing, you may be able to tackle two very similar languages, like
Spanish and Portuguese.
It’s up to you, but give it some thought.
Similarly, you may want to choose languages
of varying difficulty, one that you find “easier” and one
“harder” language.
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Similarly, you may want to choose languages
of varying difficulty, one that you find “easier” and one
“harder” language.
Note: Perceived difficulty will vary depending on your native language, background learning languages, etc.
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That way, if learning the challenging language becomes overwhelming, you can switch to an
easier language for a bit of relief.
3 Plan.
Many people find it hard to fit one language into their schedule, let alone two languages. To juggle two languages, planning is key.
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Keep a schedule or calendar and set aside specific times and tasks to complete in
each language.
Image by William Warby on Flickr.com Image Courtesy of Lindsay Dow
Plan at least one specific activity in each language—such as one lesson in Transparent
Language Online—and spread them out throughout the day to avoid burning out.
Set reminders and timers on your phone, in your e-mail or even
on sticky notes to keep you on track and hold yourself
accountable.
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4 Make it a daily commitment.
You want to stay on track, but don’t overdo it.
Have you ever crammed for several hours the night before a test? Perhaps you aced the test, but you likely
forgot most if not all of what you “learned”.
Don’t cram! We learn best in short, consistent bursts.
Commit to engaging with each
language for 15-30 minutes every single day—it will yield far greater
results than one long study session each week.
This practice will also help you establish a routine, which will make using
both languages feel second nature in the long run.
5 Network.
Chances are you’ve taken on multiple languages not because you want to spend
all of your time learning languages…
Chances are you’ve taken on multiple languages not because you want to spend
all of your time learning languages…
But because you’d like to spend your time using them.
One of the best ways to practice any language is to speak it—but talking to
yourself will only get you so far.
Alas: networking!
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Search for language partners with whom you can use each language.
Make friends in a class, write to an international pen pal, look for an exchange
partner on social media, or join the local chapter of a cultural organization (like the Alliance Francaise or the Goethe Institut.)
Speaking with a friend or colleague will give context to each language. This will help you
improve and remember both languages while keeping them separate in your mind.
An added perk? Having someone to use your languages with will motivate you to
keep up with both.
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Learning multiple languages simultaneously takes time and commitment.
For advice on fitting languages into your daily routine, explore our free eBooks!
