What is the secret of becoming a polyglot fast? I often hear this question from language enthusiasts at nearly every event I speak at, both as a professor of cross-cultural management and as the author of “A Life in 30 Languages.”
In this blog, I’ll share my strategy for English speakers (native or non-native) to reach proficiency in 10 languages in the fastest and most effective way. With the right attitude and dedication, I truly believe this goal can be achieved in just 3 to 4 years.
But before diving into how to reach this significant milestone, I want to emphasize that learning languages should be a beautiful journey to be enjoyed, not a race. However, considering the most efficient and effective ways to expand the number of languages in which you can communicate is certainly worthwhile.
What Is A Polyglot?
According to the dictionary, a polyglot is someone who can speak or use several different languages. However, there’s often debate about what level of proficiency and how many languages are needed to truly be considered a polyglot. Some say it’s enough to have conversational ability in several languages, while others argue for a higher level of fluency. Typically, being a polyglot means being proficient in at least three or four languages. So, learning 10 languages will certainly qualify you as a polyglot!
The Strategy For Becoming A Polyglot
1. Choose Languages With Similar Vocabulary And Grammar
The best way to maximize your efforts when learning new languages is to choose target languages with similar vocabulary and grammatical structures. This strategy leverages the inherent similarities among languages within the same family, making the learning process more efficient and manageable.
2. Start With The Romance Languages
Given that English has significant influence from Romance languages, starting with six Western Romance languages is very effective. These languages share similar vocabulary and grammatical structures, making them easier to learn together. We focus on Western Romance languages because the existing Eastern Romance language, Romanian, is more challenging due to its unique features and Slavic influences.
According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), four of these six Romance languages are classified as Category I languages, requiring approximately 600-750 hours of study to achieve proficiency.
- Spanish: Start with Spanish. It is widely spoken and relatively easy for English speakers to learn due to its straightforward pronunciation and grammar.
- Portuguese: Once you have a foundation in Spanish, Portuguese will be easier to learn due to shared Latin roots and similar grammatical structures.
- French: French shares many cognates with English and other Romance languages, although its pronunciation is unique.
- Italian: Italian, like Spanish and Portuguese, has many cognates and similar verb conjugations, making it another logical step.
- Catalan: Spoken in Catalonia, Spain, Catalan is closely related to both Spanish and French, sharing many linguistic features.
- Galician: This language, spoken in the Galicia region of Spain, is very similar to Portuguese, allowing you to grasp its basics quickly if you already know Portuguese.
3. Recognize Patterns In Romance Languages
Focus on patterns of cognates and verb conjugations across the Romance languages to make learning these languages easier. Recognizing these patterns can significantly simplify the process of learning multiple languages within the same family.
4. Continue With The Germanic Languages
Since English is a Germanic language, adding three more Germanic languages will build on your existing knowledge:
- German: German shares certain similarities with English, particularly in vocabulary and syntax, but requires about 750-900 hours to learn due to its complex grammar.
- Dutch: Once you know German, Dutch will be easier to learn, as it shares many grammatical structures and vocabulary with both English and German.
- Afrikaans: A derivative of Dutch, Afrikaans simplifies many of Dutch’s grammatical complexities, making it a straightforward addition.
5. Leverage Patterns Of Cognates In Germanic Languages
There are systematic patterns that can help you identify cognates between English and other Germanic languages. For example:
- Initial ‘f-‘ in English often corresponds to ‘v-‘ in German, Dutch, and Afrikaans (e.g., “father” in English is “Vater” in German, “vader” in Dutch and Afrikaans).
- Initial ‘th-‘ in English often corresponds to ‘d-‘ in German, Dutch, and Afrikaans (e.g., “that” in English is “das” in German, “dat” in Dutch, and “dit” in Afrikaans).
6. Study A Target Language Using A Similar One You’ve Mastered
One effective strategy for becoming a polyglot is to study a new target language using a language you have already mastered that belongs to the same language family. This approach can help you recognize and understand similarities and differences between the languages, crucial for avoiding confusion.
Benefits Of This Approach:
- Reinforces Knowledge: Studying a new language through a mastered language reinforces your existing knowledge.
- Identify Patterns: You can easily identify patterns in grammar, vocabulary, and syntax.
- Highlight Differences: Focusing on differences helps you avoid common pitfalls, such as confusing words or grammatical structures.
- Improve Retention: Learning through comparison makes it easier to remember new information.
- Practical Application: Provides practical applications and context for both languages, enhancing fluency.
7. Practical Steps To Implement This Approach
- Use Bilingual Resources: Find resources that offer explanations in both your mastered language and the target language. For example, I use the Ling App to practice a new language in a language I already know well, like reviewing Czech while setting Polish as the instruction language.
- Compare Grammar Rules: Create side-by-side comparisons of grammar rules to understand the nuances of each language.
- Parallel Reading: Read texts available in both languages to observe sentence construction and vocabulary use.
- Language Exchange: Engage in language exchange with speakers who know both the target language and the language you have mastered.
- Practice Writing: Write in the target language, using your mastered language as a reference to reinforce learning and practice translation skills.
Final Thoughts
If you are interested in learning multiple languages simultaneously, this strategy offers a comprehensive approach to help you achieve that goal quickly and effectively. By leveraging similarities among language families, recognizing patterns, and applying practical methods, you can accelerate your journey from monolingual to polyglot.
I hope these tips inspire you to start or continue your language-learning journey. And if you want to learn more about how I approach learning multiple languages at the same time, stay tuned for more insights in upcoming posts!
