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Learning a new language as an adult is no easy feat. It is, in fact, one of the most cognitively challenging things one can do.
The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI) categorized languages into groups of difficulty for English speakers. Its research found that languages like Spanish, Afrikaans, and Dutch â all closely related to English â are easier to learn and require up to 600 hours to master.
Meanwhile, it takes around 2,200 hours to be fluent in languages like Japanese, Korean, and Arabic â the hardest languages to learn for English speakers.
Whether you have 600 or 2,200 hours, itâs important to remember that learning a new language requires commitment and hard work. Still, polyglots and linguists across the world often share secrets of learning a new language or ways to acquire fluency faster.
Thatâs what weâre about to learn in this article. Letâs go!
The secrets of learning a new language
1. Set language learning goals
The first step in learning languages quickly, or anything for that matter, is goal-setting. It would be hard to measure your success if you didnât have a goal in the first place.
What do you want to achieve? Learning greetings for your next trip to Korea? Impressing your älskare funny Swedish sayings? Becoming fluent in Chinese?
Setting goals â which has been linked to success among athletes, entrepreneurs, and students â helps you focus on your next steps, overcome procrastination, stay motivated, and keep yourself accountable.
When setting goals, you can follow the SMART mnemonic:
- S â Specific
- M â Measurable
- A â Attainable
- R â Relevant
- T â Time-bound
For instance, instead of saying, âI want to be fluent in Frenchâ, you can say âI want to reach B1 level in French in six months.â You can even break it down further by committing to learning 30 French vocabulary words related to shopping and food within one week.
Another crucial step is to write down those goals and put them somewhere prominent, like on the wall in front of your desk, your locker door, or your bathroom mirror (just make sure it doesnât get wet). You can also write a digital note and place it as a shortcut or widget on your screen.
This way, you will always be reminded of what you want to achieve.
2. Find ways to enjoy the language learning process
In a viral and inspiring TED Talk, polyglot and language mentor Lýdia Machovå emphasized the importance of finding joy in the process of learning a language.
In the talk titled âThe secrets of learning a new languageâ, MachovĂĄ recalled how after meeting fellow polyglots, it dawned on her that the one thing they have in common is enjoyment. From colorful grammar charts to handmade flashcards to following recipes in a foreign language, polyglots around the world have found ways to make language learning fun.
To learn Spanish in a fun way, MachovĂĄ cites reading a Spanish edition of a Harry Potter book. To learn German, she watched Friends (the TV show) in German.
What activities do you find particularly enjoyable? Are you a gamer who hangs out on Discord a lot? Use the platform for language exchange! Do you like listening to podcasts? Why not try listening to podcasts like Coffee Break Languages? If you like watching foreign-language shows, use Lingopie to get interactive subtitles.
If you are learning Korean, you can do what I do and go beyond apps and Netflix shows. Visit a supermarket or a local Korean mart, pick out random Korean food items from the shelves, and try to read the labels. Itâs challenging and itâs definitely motivating when youâre able to read and understand what the packaging says.
Learning a language can be time-consuming and sometimes, frustrating. But when you find creative and fun ways to learn, you can make the experience more enjoyable.
3. Use effective learning methods
Having fun is not enough though. You still need effective learning methods and periods of focused study time to build long-term memory.
Some learners thrive from private tutoring because it helps them build conversational skills and access instant feedback. Others do sprint study sessions to remember vocabulary.
In the same TED Talk, MachovĂĄ mentioned both SRS (spaced repetition system) and Goldlisting as secrets of learning a new language fast. Both are useful for self-studying.
Apps like Pimsleur, FluentU, Anki, Quizlet, and Memrise are based on SRS but you can also use SRS with your handmade flashcards. As for the Goldlist method, youâll need a notebook dedicated to vocabulary memorization.
Not all of us learn the same way, however, so the key is finding what works for you. If youâre not sure, you can try a method first. If you find that it works, itâs probably the best approach for you and it will help you create long-term habits.
4. Create a system or schedule
One of the secrets of learning a new language is developing discipline and consistency. While having time is indeed important when learning a language, knowing how to use that time is even more crucial.
MachovĂĄ advises creating a system for learning. One way of doing this is by planning and incorporating your âstudy timeâ into your daily routine. Some of her suggestions include:
- Wake up 15 minutes earlier than you usually do to review vocabulary
- Listen to a podcast on the way to work
- Practice speaking every Tuesday and Thursday with a friend for 20 minutes
One of the best ways to succeed in language learning is by devising a schedule. Learning a language is just like studying other subjects â you need a conducive environment for it.
For some, this means setting an hour or two, with just a textbook and notebook on the desk. No mobile phones, laptops, or other forms of distraction. For others, itâs carving out 30 minutes of their day to listen to a Rocket Languages course or play on Duolingo and then another 30 minutes to write down what they learned.
You can even deliberately schedule an hour of watching an Italian show. Just make sure to make it systematic by removing the subtitles and trying to write down words or phrases that caught your attention.
Researchers also believe that thereâs an optimal time for cementing long-term memory and thatâs studying before bed. Each time of the day has its benefits though, and itâs up to you to find what works best for you.
5. Practice speaking early
The true test of language proficiency is your ability to speak it. But it is also one of the secrets of learning a new language quickly.
Language is meant to be spoken and when you do this at the early stages of studying, you increasingly become comfortable using what you learned in conversations. Benny Lewis of Fluent in 3 Months is living proof of this.
Lewis swears by picking words and phrases from travel phrasebooks and using these to start conversations with strangers. Of course, learning essential vocabulary is important. But confidence to open your mouth is half the battle, a crucial first step for Lewis who is now a fluent speaker of seven languages and counting.
Olly Richards of StoryTelling also recommends speaking early. When he learned Italian in 90 days, he started speaking the language just one month into his journey. While this is not something that he normally recommends, speaking early is key to learning fast.
Do you have to travel or live abroad to start speaking? No! Language exchange apps like Tandem and HelloTalk allow you to talk to native speakers not just through chat but also through voice or video calls. Sites like italki, Preply, and Wyzant connect you with tutors who will help you be conversational.
Feeling shy and donât want to speak to people just yet? Audio-based apps like Pimsleur and Rocket Languages help you become conversational by asking you to speak from day one, even if youâre just repeating what you hear. Any language learning app with good native-speaking voice clips can help you do this.
We also outlined more tips to speak foreign languages quickly here.
6. Learn commonly used words
Depending on who you ask, the German language consists of anywhere between 5.3 million to 17.4 million words. Before you panic, hear me out: you donât have to learn anywhere that many words to be proficient in German or any language.
To be fluent in any language, most language experts recommend learning 1,000 to 2,000 of the most common vocabulary items. These numbers account for about 50-80% of texts in most languages. Except for maybe more complex languages like Japanese and Korean that require learning about 3,000 to 5,000 words.
For many polyglots, this is one of the secrets of learning a new language quickly. You can start by finding the most common words in your target language. You can check out these lists for some of the most popular languages:
It would also help to seek out vocabulary that is relevant to you, at least during the early stages of your learning journey. Go back to your motivation and goal for studying.
If youâre learning a new language for travel purposes, it makes sense to study travel-related vocabulary. If youâre traveling for business, make sure to include business terms in your arsenal.
Later, when you already have a better grasp of your priority words, you can expand your vocabulary to other themes.
7. Immerse yourself in the language
Research shows that immersion is one of the best ways to learn a language. When you live abroad, youâre âforcedâ to use a foreign language, even though youâre not yet fluent in it. But this challenge helps you rapidly improve.
Furthermore, immersion teaches you the culture surrounding your target language. The cultural context also adds a layer of depth to your language learning.
Does this mean that you can only immerse yourself in a language by living in a country where that language is spoken? Nope! There are many fun ways to immerse yourself in any language, including:
- Reading books in your target language
- Listening to the news in your target language
- Speaking to native speakers through language exchange apps, dating sites, etc.
- Watching TV shows and movies without subtitles
- Hiring online tutors
- Find opportunities to meet immigrants in your area
- Using immersive apps like FluentU, Memrise, and Lingopie
However, when immersing yourself in a language, itâs important to apply the concept of comprehensible input. Simply put, comprehensible input in language learning is language that you can understand. You have to read or listen to input that you can understand or is just slightly more advanced than your current level.
For example, if youâre an upper-intermediate level learner of Russian, itâs best to read advanced-level course books. If youâre a beginner in Greek, donât expect to improve by learning the Iliad.
I find that itâs also important to find material that interests you. For example, at the risk of sounding religious, I read Bible passages in Bikol (a Filipino dialect) to expose myself to more Bikolano words. I donât immediately understand everything, but thatâs where passage translations and native-speaking friends come in.
8. Have a strong tolerance for ambiguity
In connection to points number 6 and 7, learning a new language requires a strong tolerance for ambiguity. In other words, you have to be comfortable with not knowing everything.
This is why many polyglots can claim fluency despite committing occasional errors in grammar, vocabulary, and tone. Why? Because fluency doesnât equate to accuracy.
According to University of South Florida applied linguist Amy Thompson, âconversations in a foreign language will inevitably involve unknown words.â Itâs simply inefficient and time-consuming to pause conversations just to check every single word you didnât understand.
Thus, itâs no surprise that polyglots have a higher tolerance for ambiguity. And while that seems like a downside, itâs actually a good thing for language learners as they get motivated and open to learning more.
9. Let technology work for you
Learning a language today is much easier, thanks to the wonders of technology. We spend lots of time on our phones and laptops, might as well use that time to learn new languages.
Using mobile apps, listening to podcasts, and signing up for online courses may be the most obvious ways to learn a new language quickly using technology. But you shouldnât limit yourself to these methods if you wish to learn quickly.
In the video Small habits that will help you learn Korean faster, Hyunwoo of Talk to Me in Korean shares some ways to use technology to your advantage:
- Use your voice recognition AI assistant â Ask Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa, or Bixby how to say certain phrases in your target language. This is a quick and easy way to learn or review vocabulary.
- Share your progress on social media â Sharing your learning experience with friends helps remind you that learning a language is an essential part of your life. It also sends a message out to your circle that youâre learning a particular language. And who knows? Maybe a friend is also learning the same language!
- Take advantage of social media algorithm â YouTube is a rabbit hole, which can be a good thing when learning languages because itâll expose you to relevant content that might help you improve.
Another often-mentioned trick is to change your gadgetâs settings to your target language. While this may be an attractive challenge for some, you have to be sure that youâre already familiar with the language.
Otherwise, youâll be wasting time trying to figure out what a word means. Worse, you might even damage your phone by clicking on the wrong command. You may not even find the new vocabulary useful.
10. Think in your target language
Learning a new language is hard enough, with all the vocabulary words to memorize and the grammar structures to remember and the accents to practice. It takes even more effort to get your brain to process thoughts in a new language because, by default, we think in our native language.
But thinking in the language youâre trying to learn is one of the best ways to put what youâve learned into practice, albeit only mentally. It helps convert your passive vocabulary â the ones stored in memory but arenât used enough â into active vocabulary or words that you can readily use for reading, writing, or speaking.
Some argue, however, that thinking in another language is more of a manifestation of fluency and less of a technique to become fluent. Either way, there are ways for learners of all levels to make use of this technique to speed up proficiency.
Yeji of Talk to Me in Korean shares some tips in the video How to ‘Think’ in the Language You’re Learning:
- For beginners, start by naming objects you see near you in your target language. Itâs better to say it out loud. It can be as simple as saying ě°í (yeonpil = pencil) out loud when you pick a pencil from your desk.
- If youâre an intermediate learner, you can make sentences in your head about things around you or situations you are in.
- For advanced learners, you can practice expressing complicated situations and thoughts in your target language.
It can be tempting to translate first before âthinkingâ in your target language. But this is where building habits prove vital. Yeji recommends designating a place and time to practice this (e.g., thinking only in Korean while washing the dishes or thinking only in English when in the bedroom).
Expect that it will be uncomfortable at first, but doing this will help you improve your speaking skills and expand your vocabulary.
11. Learn only one language at a time
It is perfectly fine and possible to learn multiple languages at a time. But weâre talking about the secrets of learning a new language quickly, and learning more than one language at a time will ultimately divide your time and focus.
Learning one language by itself is already hard enough, especially if youâre juggling multiple resources. To master a language as quickly and easily as possible, itâs best to stick with one language. This allows you to stay focused.
That said, if you do want to learn two languages at the same time, and youâre not concerned about speed, make sure to choose two very different languages.
For example, German and Dutch are too similar. Korean and Japanese share the same sentence structures and other grammar concepts. To avoid confusion, study German and Korean or Dutch and Japanese at the same time.
12. Be patient and know that itâs okay to make mistakes
Remember how Benny Lewis chats up strangers to practice speaking (point #5)? That method also led to him making a lot of mistakes, even sounding like Tarzan at some point.
Foreign language anxiety is a real thing. But the good news is, you can overcome it. For starters, understand that making mistakes is a normal thing. Recognize that fluency is not the same as perfection and you donât have to aim for perfection.
Many native speakers appreciate the effort you take to speak their language and will gladly offer feedback if you need it. Just press on and practice speaking. See the mistakes you make as opportunities for you to learn and improve.
You can even be strategic about it by taking down notes on where you fumbled, which words you mispronounced, new words you learned from the feedback, and so on. By building this habit, the memory sticks and you wonât repeat the same mistakes.
Final thoughts
Polyglots have their own secrets of learning a new language quickly and easily⌠but the truth is, thereâs no single best method to reaching fluency. The key to learning fast is finding what techniques work for you and which method you enjoy best.
Learning languages should not and will not feel like a chore if you find ways to make it fun for you. But itâs also important to stay disciplined and establish healthy learning habits. With hard work, motivation, and just the right amount of fun, youâll reach fluency in no time!