In brief: The video is an extensive guide on effective language learning. 1. **Introduction:** - Mikel explains how to learn a language quickly and effectively without relying on apps, grammar study, or classes. He emphasizes consistency and details a process to achieve fluency within three to six months. 2. **Key Steps in Language Learning:** - **Vocabulary Acquisition:** Learn about 10,000 words, starting with the most common 500 to 1,000 words. Use visualization and association techniques to memorize words. - **Reading for Grammar:** Grammar is learned contextually through reading. This step is combined with vocabulary memorization. - **Listening for Pronunciation:** Regular listening to podcasts or native speakers improves pronunciation and reinforces vocabulary and grammar. - **Speaking Practice:** Speaking requires practice. Mikel criticizes the 'comprehensible input hypothesis' which suggests that input alone (reading, listening) suffices for output (speaking). He stresses the need for active speaking practice. 3. **Techniques for Effective Learning:** - **Language Islands:** Preparing for specific conversational scenarios by practicing relevant sentences. - **Listen and Repeat:** This improves pronunciation, fluency, and accuracy. - **Shadowing:** Simultaneous listening and repeating, beneficial for fast thinking and response in conversations. - **Scriptorium Method:** For learning writing systems in languages like Russian, Chinese, or Arabic. - **Translation Exercises:** Translating texts to and from the target language to identify and fix mistakes. 4. **Conclusion:** - Mikel shares his personal language learning journey, learning over a dozen languages through trial and error and developing this system. He offers a course and personal coaching for those interested in a structured approach. This comprehensive tutorial covers all aspects of language learning, focusing on practical and immersive techniques rather than traditional classroom methods.
Thank you. You're absolutely bang on about speaking being a skill. I can read or watch everything I want in English and have near perfect comprehension but when I speak I stutter and mix up basic things sometimes
You need to activate what you've acquired. If you understand well it shouldn't be too hard. Read aloud, listen and repeat and use language islands. Also the Q&A exercise. I don't think I have tutorials on it. I will upload some this week.
Good video. I think the early focus on learning a lot of words is underrated and often dismissed by the “just listen and read” crowd. When I really just started drilling words my level increased quickly, and getting a foothold in the language only makes further vocabulary acquisition easier One thing that helps me with Russian is when texting or talking to Russian friends, I will save their messages and make a flash card with all the new words in there already in context. Only thing I would add is that if you’re native English and learning a language like Russian, I think it could be quite painful to learn the grammar via input alone. I’m sure it can be done, but a tutor or a grammar textbook makes it easier.
Memorisation of vocab vs learning with input only is a good topic for a video. In fact, that's the main idea I want to research and experiment on, if and when I eventually do a PhD. In my experience, a combination of both is the best way to do it. As long as you memorise the right way. Input beats memorisation of vocabulary lists, when you try to memorise the lists by simple repetition. There is no context there and it's hard to remember that way. If you memorise with associations, you'll remember the information much better. Then you review the words in context with input. This allows you to do a lot more input-based learning early, because input is much more comprehensible. Basically: Associations make input easier and input helps review the associations.
This is great advice. I am currently doing a major review of Sanskrit, trying to learn Nepali (just beginning) and reviving and extending my Spanish. Homeric Greek and Latin are also on my horizon, I’ll have to find and/or create a lot of learning materials for these.
Where do you find materials for those languages? The main problem I encounter with ancient or less common languages is finding the right materials for these exercises.
Excellent video. I was trying to express the same thing for a while but you really nailed it better than I ever would have. Idk if I can agree with the timescales you give (1 month sounds insane to me) but there's no doubt this would rapidly increase your fluency if compared with like all immersion or all conversation type approaches. Really nice blend of learning approaches. Usually find nothing good or interesting in language learning vids but this was actually impressive fair play.
Usually 1 month for an easy one that is not that different from the ones you already speak. But I've had clients learning full time (+8h hours a day) that got good results in 1 month with a more difficult one as well. It's A LOT of hard work though.
Damn, bro....I randomly just found you recently. I've been watching Polyglot videos for like 6 years, here and there, while learning my languages. This is one of top 3 best breakdown I've ever come across!!!! You really narrowed stuff down to very efficient and effective methods. Also, very balanced out. Damn, I'm very impressed. I'm a nerd for this stuff and i am able to appreciate your method. Intuitively, I figured out like 75% of this, myself. Watching your video, solidified things more for me even more. Very to the point. Thanks Cheers
Hi Mikel, I am learning English. If I buy your course , will I have acces to English material ? I have a B2 level but I wanna be C1 and then C2. Also I started to learn Portuguese just a few weeks ago. My native language is Spanish. Thank you for your content. You dont have so msny subscribers yet because people like to do easy things...
Focus on just listening and speaking and you can actually save a lot of time, or even just forget about being able to write by hand by itself saves tons of time
This is correct. When learning a language with a different writing system, focus on listening comprehension and speaking. Only learn to read and write once you can understand and speak the language relatively well.
funny i've been actually learning french this way for few months and i never knew about your method, but i'm barely at the reading and listening phase at A2. i've realized the comprehensible input method is a lie since i wasn't been able to understand most out of it at first without vocabulary. they keep lying you will perfect it and so on, but it's true, you will never speak. in fact they actually write this all the time on reddit, they've been constantly advertising the comprehensive method and a bunch of people ask them on all the topics if they've learnt how to speak. and literally no one is replying back validating the method and sharing verbal results. i've managed to learn about 3000 words in french and i probably know a lot more similar to english, but this took me months and i can barely master the grammar when reading, as i've started reading children books. your method is also a lie when it comes to 3 months, as when you encounter the multiple past and future times in french, it's almost impossible to comprehend and learn fast. i've tried a lot of repetition, it simply doesn't stick. this is a language meant to be studied in years not months, and i'm learning hours every day not minutes. i'm estimating it takes at least 2000-3000 dedicated hours and two years until actually reaching the last part you mention in the video, and being B2 in reading-writing-speech not 3 months, as french is like learning 3 languages thanks to their stupid expressions and thanks to their style of speech having so many meanings for each word and words in a phrase not being arranged logically at all. it's complete chaos unless you learn it by heart, which doesn't work at all with any visualization, and i'm a very good visual learner and have great visuo-spatial orientation in real life oh well, good luck everyone
Not realistic for Japanese or Chinese. You need c. 6,000 words to understand an average language, you say 10,000 which is even more unrealistic. You'd need to learn 111 words every day for 3 months - not going to happen
In brief: The video is an extensive guide on effective language learning.
1. **Introduction:**
- Mikel explains how to learn a language quickly and effectively without relying on apps, grammar study, or classes. He emphasizes consistency and details a process to achieve fluency within three to six months.
2. **Key Steps in Language Learning:**
- **Vocabulary Acquisition:** Learn about 10,000 words, starting with the most common 500 to 1,000 words. Use visualization and association techniques to memorize words.
- **Reading for Grammar:** Grammar is learned contextually through reading. This step is combined with vocabulary memorization.
- **Listening for Pronunciation:** Regular listening to podcasts or native speakers improves pronunciation and reinforces vocabulary and grammar.
- **Speaking Practice:** Speaking requires practice. Mikel criticizes the 'comprehensible input hypothesis' which suggests that input alone (reading, listening) suffices for output (speaking). He stresses the need for active speaking practice.
3. **Techniques for Effective Learning:**
- **Language Islands:** Preparing for specific conversational scenarios by practicing relevant sentences.
- **Listen and Repeat:** This improves pronunciation, fluency, and accuracy.
- **Shadowing:** Simultaneous listening and repeating, beneficial for fast thinking and response in conversations.
- **Scriptorium Method:** For learning writing systems in languages like Russian, Chinese, or Arabic.
- **Translation Exercises:** Translating texts to and from the target language to identify and fix mistakes.
4. **Conclusion:**
- Mikel shares his personal language learning journey, learning over a dozen languages through trial and error and developing this system. He offers a course and personal coaching for those interested in a structured approach.
This comprehensive tutorial covers all aspects of language learning, focusing on practical and immersive techniques rather than traditional classroom methods.
Thank you. You're absolutely bang on about speaking being a skill. I can read or watch everything I want in English and have near perfect comprehension but when I speak I stutter and mix up basic things sometimes
You need to activate what you've acquired.
If you understand well it shouldn't be too hard.
Read aloud, listen and repeat and use language islands.
Also the Q&A exercise. I don't think I have tutorials on it. I will upload some this week.
@@NaturalLanguageLearning What is the Q&A exercise? I have tried to look for it, but it was difficult, since you have over 900 videos😂
Good video. I think the early focus on learning a lot of words is underrated and often dismissed by the “just listen and read” crowd. When I really just started drilling words my level increased quickly, and getting a foothold in the language only makes further vocabulary acquisition easier
One thing that helps me with Russian is when texting or talking to Russian friends, I will save their messages and make a flash card with all the new words in there already in context.
Only thing I would add is that if you’re native English and learning a language like Russian, I think it could be quite painful to learn the grammar via input alone. I’m sure it can be done, but a tutor or a grammar textbook makes it easier.
Memorisation of vocab vs learning with input only is a good topic for a video. In fact, that's the main idea I want to research and experiment on, if and when I eventually do a PhD.
In my experience, a combination of both is the best way to do it. As long as you memorise the right way.
Input beats memorisation of vocabulary lists, when you try to memorise the lists by simple repetition. There is no context there and it's hard to remember that way.
If you memorise with associations, you'll remember the information much better. Then you review the words in context with input.
This allows you to do a lot more input-based learning early, because input is much more comprehensible.
Basically: Associations make input easier and input helps review the associations.
@@NaturalLanguageLearningWhat do you mean by associations?
This is great advice. I am currently doing a major review of Sanskrit, trying to learn Nepali (just beginning) and reviving and extending my Spanish. Homeric Greek and Latin are also on my horizon, I’ll have to find and/or create a lot of learning materials for these.
Where do you find materials for those languages?
The main problem I encounter with ancient or less common languages is finding the right materials for these exercises.
Amazing video! Just concrete advice - No BS. Thanks so much. Happy I found you
Thanks.
Excellent video. I was trying to express the same thing for a while but you really nailed it better than I ever would have.
Idk if I can agree with the timescales you give (1 month sounds insane to me) but there's no doubt this would rapidly increase your fluency if compared with like all immersion or all conversation type approaches. Really nice blend of learning approaches. Usually find nothing good or interesting in language learning vids but this was actually impressive fair play.
Usually 1 month for an easy one that is not that different from the ones you already speak.
But I've had clients learning full time (+8h hours a day) that got good results in 1 month with a more difficult one as well.
It's A LOT of hard work though.
Great video, Mikel.
Shukran habibi
Damn, bro....I randomly just found you recently. I've been watching Polyglot videos for like 6 years, here and there, while learning my languages. This is one of top 3 best breakdown I've ever come across!!!!
You really narrowed stuff down to very efficient and effective methods. Also, very balanced out. Damn, I'm very impressed. I'm a nerd for this stuff and i am able to appreciate your method.
Intuitively, I figured out like 75% of this, myself. Watching your video, solidified things more for me even more. Very to the point.
Thanks
Cheers
Thanks man
Where do i find resources for langauge islands
So reading speaking and listening comes from the language islands or are you saying read books listen to podcast etc?
sir I now learnıng 2 language same tıme german,englısh and ı preprarıng 10.000 flashcards and may you tell me those normal or arent, best wıshes
Hi Mikel, I am learning English. If I buy your course , will I have acces to English material ? I have a B2 level but I wanna be C1 and then C2.
Also I started to learn Portuguese just a few weeks ago. My native language is Spanish. Thank you for your content. You dont have so msny subscribers yet because people like to do easy things...
Yes, everything is included.
youre totally shıne brıght lıke a dıamond sır mıkel my best gratefullıes :)
Unless it is Japanese then it still is 3 years
We'll see about that lol
Focus on just listening and speaking and you can actually save a lot of time, or even just forget about being able to write by hand by itself saves tons of time
This is correct. When learning a language with a different writing system, focus on listening comprehension and speaking. Only learn to read and write once you can understand and speak the language relatively well.
funny i've been actually learning french this way for few months and i never knew about your method, but i'm barely at the reading and listening phase at A2. i've realized the comprehensible input method is a lie since i wasn't been able to understand most out of it at first without vocabulary. they keep lying you will perfect it and so on, but it's true, you will never speak. in fact they actually write this all the time on reddit, they've been constantly advertising the comprehensive method and a bunch of people ask them on all the topics if they've learnt how to speak. and literally no one is replying back validating the method and sharing verbal results. i've managed to learn about 3000 words in french and i probably know a lot more similar to english, but this took me months and i can barely master the grammar when reading, as i've started reading children books. your method is also a lie when it comes to 3 months, as when you encounter the multiple past and future times in french, it's almost impossible to comprehend and learn fast. i've tried a lot of repetition, it simply doesn't stick. this is a language meant to be studied in years not months, and i'm learning hours every day not minutes. i'm estimating it takes at least 2000-3000 dedicated hours and two years until actually reaching the last part you mention in the video, and being B2 in reading-writing-speech not 3 months, as french is like learning 3 languages thanks to their stupid expressions and thanks to their style of speech having so many meanings for each word and words in a phrase not being arranged logically at all. it's complete chaos unless you learn it by heart, which doesn't work at all with any visualization, and i'm a very good visual learner and have great visuo-spatial orientation in real life
oh well, good luck everyone
Have you learned other languages apart from French? What's the highest level you've reached in a foreign language?
Not realistic for Japanese or Chinese.
You need c. 6,000 words to understand an average language, you say 10,000 which is even more unrealistic. You'd need to learn 111 words every day for 3 months - not going to happen
I just explained how to do it in this very video.