Have you ever thought of becoming a polyglot?
If you think that speaking a foreign language is cool, you probably agree that it would be even better if you could speak several languages.
So, how many languages can you learn at once? Is it really possible to learn more than two or three?
Yes, it is possible.
Learning multiple languages successfully requires some special ways, strategies, and methods.
What’s why in the following lines, we will reveal to you some of the strategies that can help you learn multiple languages at once.
8 Proven Ways to Learn Multiple Languages At Once
We all know the benefits of learning a foreign language.
But, how to learn a language? How to get to that point?
What we are going to learn now is how to reach that goal when you can use those benefits.
Here are some proven strategies if you’ve decided that you want to be fluent in more than two languages.
Learn Languages At Once
If you’ve started from the beginning, the most productive option is to learn two languages at once.
Start with learning for one hour every day, half an hour for one, and another half for the other language.
In order to not get confused to start mixing the languages you are learning, don’t rush at the beginning. Make sure you understand the parts from both of the languages you are learning at that moment.
For example, you can use flashcards to practice languages simultaneously or you can learn the same topics in both languages at the same time.
Use The Language You Are Fluent in To Learn Another
After you get to the intermediate or some of the advanced proficiency level in one language, use that advantage.
You can do that by learning other languages with the help of this one.
If you, for example, speak French fluently, then use the French to continue learning Portuguese. You can listen to French podcasts about learning Portuguese or watch French movies with Portuguese subtitles.
Keep in mind that you should use this strategy with somewhat common languages. If you want to start learning Lithuanian using Spanish, you won’t succeed because there are not enough materials available.
Learn Similar Languages at Once (Or Perhaps Not?)
Should you learn similar languages at the same time? Or perhaps it is better to choose the two completely different?
Opinions are different.
While some think it’s better to learn languages from the same language family, others consider this a mistake because you will be confused and forget.
Here are our tips: similar or completely different languages, as long as you want to learn them, organize yourself to learn them effectively, and dedicate your time every day practicing, you can learn them successfully.
Therefore, it isn’t about the best languages to learn, the hardest languages to learn, or the easiest ones. It is about you wanting to learn them.
Immerse Yourself into The Languages
When it comes to languages, immersion is one of the essential things. When you learn more than one language simultaneously, the significance is two times bigger because that is the right path to fluency.
The best way to immerse yourself is to live abroad in a country where the language is spoken. That way, you will learn the language fast and efficiently.
If you don’t have the chance for this, you can passively immerse yourself. Watch movies, read books, listen to podcasts. There are many ways to immerse yourself and learn languages on your own. Just be creative.
Use Social Networks to Create Multiple Groups
Today, social networks are useful for many things. Among others, you can find friends who are native speakers.
That way, you won’t have the feeling that you are learning but socializing. And this way of learning languages is much more fun. When you make friends with native speakers, you are emotionally connected with those people and the languages. It means that you will always want to know more and more. And that is, actually, good because your language skills improve that way.
Connect Your Hobbies to Your Target Languages
Here is one more emotional bond you can create.
Connect your hobbies to the languages you are learning.
How’s that work?
It is pretty simple.
For example, if you are like to cook, and you learn Spanish, try making some Spanish national dishes. Spanish food tradition is worldwide-known, so why wouldn’t you connect these two things? Don’t forget to use the original recipes written in Spanish or watch cooking shows in Spanish.
You don’t have to like to cook, of course. There are other ways you can use your hobby. Music and dance are also an excellent hobby that can be connected to languages. For example, if you are a samba fan, there is no better way to improve your Portuguese than with this amazing Brazilian dance.
Don’t Forget About Books, Movies, News
Thanks to the internet and easy access, you can choose how you want to learn languages.
It doesn’t have to be boring, like reading monotonous texts from textbooks, doing exercises, and memorizing new words.
If you are a book lover, reading can help you sound like a native speaker. Besides the entertaining part of entering a magnificent world in books, you practice your reading skills, improve your vocabulary.
Many ways can help you with the languages. And what is more important, they are all fun, and you won’t look at the clock hoping to finish soon.
Speak Languages At Work
We spend more than half a day at work. When you are learning several languages at once, it is hard to organize yourself to practice each of them.
So, if you can, why don’t you use the advantage of your work and learn languages, too?
In many industries, it is possible to use languages, however, in some of them practicing a language is not only possible but desirable.
- Translators and interpreters. If you work as an interpreter or want to become a translator, you have to speak languages fluently. Knowing more languages in this field of industry is always a big plus.
- Tour guides. Besides speaking more than two languages is considered an advantage, the good this with this job is that they can practice languages as long as they want.
- Language teachers. Even though teachers and professors pass their knowledge about languages to others, they have the benefit of using the language with so many repeatings, they can get deeper into the language and understand how it works from the core.
Final Thoughts
It’s not easy to be fluent in multiple languages. It takes a lot of time, dedication, and patience to get to that point.
If you truly want to learn multiple languages, you have to be persistent, not be afraid to make mistakes while learning and think positively.
Along with that, you have to use these strategies, or at least one of them, and be open to every new way of learning a language.
And you will see; before you realize, you will catch yourself speaking several languages fluently.
When the feeling of joy and pride overwhelms you, you’ll know that you’ve succeeded in your mission.
Interested in becoming fluent in a new language? Check out these top online learning resources:
Kick off your learning with Babbel, where interactive, enjoyable lessons are designed to blend smoothly into your routine, fostering fast and effective language learning.
For those aiming for an in-depth understanding, Udemy provides a broad spectrum of courses from basic to advanced levels.
To enhance your speaking skills, Preply connects you with native speakers for personalized coaching, ensuring significant improvement. Take advantage of a 50% discount on your first lesson at Preply with this link.
How to learn multiple languages at once?
Use The Language You Are Fluent in To Learn Another, Learn Similar Languages at Once, Immerse Yourself into The Languages, Use Social Networks to Create Multiple Groups.
Is it possible to learn multiple languages at once?
Learning multiple languages successfully requires some special ways, strategies, and methods, but it's possible.
How to immerse yourself in multiple languages at once?
When it comes to languages, immersion is one of the essential things. When you learn more than one language simultaneously, the significance is two times bigger because that is the right path to fluency. The best way to immerse yourself is to live abroad in a country where the language is spoken. That way, you will learn the language fast and efficiently. If you don’t have the chance for this, you can passively immerse yourself. Watch movies, read books, listen to podcasts. There are many ways to immerse yourself and learn languages on your own. Just be creative.