Learning one language is already a challenge, but two at once? Sounds like a challenge! But in fact, this is not such an overwhelming task if you know how to approach the matter. Yes, the first weeks the brain will resist, words will be mixed up, and the grammatical constructions of one language will treacherously penetrate into another. But over time, everything will fall into place. The main thing is the right strategy.
If you want to speak two foreign languages at once, you should arm yourself with patience, cunning and a few useful techniques. Here are five ways to avoid confusion and make learning fun instead of torture.
The less similar the languages, the better
Try to learn French and Spanish at the same time, and in a couple of months you'll find that your speech consists of a bizarre mix of these languages. The more similar languages are, the more difficult it is for the brain to distinguish them.
To avoid this trap, it is better to choose languages from different families: English and Japanese, German and Arabic, Chinese and Italian. They are so different that the brain immediately creates separate "shelves" for them.
But what if the soul asks for two Romance or two Germanic languages at once? Then you will have to consciously emphasize their differences. You can, for example, listen to audio and train pronunciation, clearly fixing the features of the sound, or learn grammar in parallel, but comparing each rule. The main thing is not to let the process take its course, otherwise, instead of bilingualism, you will get a fun, but incomprehensible mixture.
Learn one language through another
If one of the languages is already easier, use it to learn the other: for example, you can search for Japanese textbooks for English speakers or read articles in German that explain the basics of French. This approach not only pumps both languages at the same time, but also helps to keep them in separate "folders" in your head.
Another similar trick is to translate not into the native language, but into the second language being studied. This forces the brain to think within the framework of foreign languages, and not constantly return to the familiar.
A personal curriculum is the key to success
Two languages require a clear system. How to build it? There is no universal recipe here, it all depends on personal preferences. For some, it is easier to allocate separate days for each language: for example, Monday is French, Tuesday is Italian. Others prefer to study both languages on the same day, but at different times.
What exactly works:
- Regularity: It's better to exercise for 30 minutes every day than to try to cram everything into your head at once once a week.
- Breaks. Let the brain "digest" the information, even small pauses of a few hours will help to better assimilate the material.
- All kinds of activities. Read, listen, speak, write – use the maximum number of channels of perception!
- Focus on pronunciation. It is especially important if the languages are similar. One wrong intonation and the word begins to sound like in a "neighboring" language.
Learn similar topics at the same time
If the level in both languages is approximately the same, it is useful to study the same topics in parallel — for example, on the same day to master vocabulary on the topic of "Travel" in two languages at once. This makes it easier for the brain to create associative connections and retain information.
It is especially useful to memorize not individual words, but ready-made expressions and constructions. For example, not just "eat" and "drink", but "I want to eat something delicious" or "Can I have a glass of water?". Ready-made phrases reduce the likelihood of confusion and help you speak faster.
Another good way is to use flashcards, but not with translations into your native language, but with associations. For example, the word "apple" can be drawn, and next to it you write it in two studied languages.
Rest is also needed
Learning two languages is a marathon, not a sprint. Overload yourself – and the brain will simply begin to block new information. Rest here works no worse than the classes themselves. Give yourself a day "without languages" or at least switch to another activity. Watch a movie, go in for sports, take a walk — let your brain take a break.
At first, it may seem that if you miss one day, everything will be forgotten, but in practice, the opposite happens: after a break, knowledge is absorbed better.
The main thing is not to be afraid of mistakes
There will still be confusion! At some point, the brain is bound to produce a strange hybrid of two languages, and that's okay. The main thing is not to dwell on mistakes and not to be afraid to speak.
Learning two languages at once is not a superpower but just a skill that can be developed. If you build the process correctly, one day you will find that you can freely switch between two foreign languages without thinking. Doesn't that sound like real magic?
