How To REALLY Learn Languages? (According To Science) Relax With Meditation podcast

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How to REALLY Learn Languages? (According to Science)

24h ago

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Learning vs. Acquisition:

What Matters More?

1. Learning (Conscious Knowledge):

Rules, grammar, and vocabulary studied deliberately.

Example: Memorizing verb conjugations from a textbook.

2. Acquisition (Subconscious Knowledge):

Internalized language you use without thinking (like your native tongue).

Example: Speaking fluently in conversations.

Science says: Focus on acquisition—it’s how we naturally master languages.

How Acquisition Works

Comes from understanding messages in context.

Requires comprehensible input (language slightly above your level but mostly understandable).

Why Apps Often Fail?

Most apps teach through:

Repetition without real-world application.

Translation-based drills (inefficient).

Better alternatives:

Online teachers who speak only the target language (no translation).

Tools like Pimsleur that prompt direct responses in the language.

The Baby Method: Learn Like a Native Speaker

Children acquire language by:

Listening to slow, clear speech paired with visual context (e.g., pointing to an apple while saying "apple").

Focusing on meaning—not grammar rules.

Absorbing stories and real-world interactions.

Key Insight:

Grammar is acquired subconsciously through exposure, not memorization.

Example: You learned English grammar by reading books, not studying textbooks.

Grammar: Stop "Learning" It

Problem: Explicit grammar study doesn’t lead to fluency.

Students forget rules when speaking.

Mistakes persist because the brain prioritizes meaning over correctness.

Solution:

Get comprehensible input (95% understandable content).

Grammar sticks automatically when you focus on messages, not rules.

Vocabulary: Ditch Flashcards

Words are acquired:

Incidentally: Through reading/listening to engaging content.

Incrementally: By inferring meaning from context.

Example:

Read a sentence with 1–2 unknown words.

Guess the meaning from context or ask for clarification.

Result: Vocabulary enters your subconscious effortlessly.

Actionable Steps to Fluency

Prioritize input over output: Listen/read before speaking.

Choose compelling content (interesting podcasts, books, shows).

Seek "i+1" input (slightly challenging but mostly comprehensible).

Avoid translation—think directly in the target language.

Embrace mistakes—they’re part of acquisition.

Key Takeaways

Acquisition > Learning: Fluency comes from understanding, not memorization.

Babies are the model: Focus on meaning, not rules.

Input matters most: Engage with content you mostly understand.

Patience pays off: Grammar and vocabulary emerge naturally.

Final Tip: Spend 80% of your time on comprehensible input (reading/listening) and 20% on speaking/writing.

Why This Works

Backed by Stephen Krashen’s Input Hypothesis (language acquisition theory).

Mimics how humans naturally learn first languages.

Proven by polyglots and immersion-based programs.

My Video: How to REALLY Learn Languages https://youtu.be/R_w4YfMkCPg

My Audio: https://divinesuccess.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/Podcast4/How-to-REALLY-Learn-Languages.mp3

27 episodes

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