Rules for learning foreign languages in record time

It should be noted that not a single scientific study has indicated the existence of any relationship between a person's age and his ability to master new languages. Nevertheless, a tendency towards a decrease in the activity of learning foreign languages ​​among the adult population can still be traced, however, this is caused, rather, by the influence of external factors: the length of the working day, frequent stress, etc.

The most common newbie misconception in the "I Give Up" series is: "I'm too old to start learning foreign languages."

Here is what Benny Lewis says about it: "I am pleased to report that the results of a study conducted by scientists at the University of Haifa in Israel showed that under the same conditions, adults intuitively understand grammar rules much better than children."

Now that you are armed with a host of free resources that provide the opportunity to become a polyglot if you wish, let's talk about another important issue. No, it has nothing to do with grammar, vocabulary, or lack of incentives. It is about misperceptions of your learning abilities.

Well, now that you listen to the radio, watch films and news in a foreign language, without leaving your comfort zone, it is time to apply the knowledge gained in communicating with native speakers. ;)

This is probably one of Benny's most controversial pieces of advice, but he insists that beginners start speaking a foreign language from day one. Most traditional language learning methods are listen-and-repeat, which Benny believes is one of the main reasons for most language learning failures.

If you prefer television over radio, you can check which video materials are currently the most watched in any part of the world on Youtube. An equally effective way can be watching your favorite films and TV series translated into the foreign language being studied. You can purchase the necessary content on Amazon and eBay. A variety of news sites - France24, Deutsche Welle, CNN Español and many others - also provide the ability to view videos translated into different languages.

You do not have to leave your home country to achieve the maximum level of language proficiency. Virtual immersion can be just as effective because modern technology enables us to hear and use a foreign language from the comfort of our home.

I know many expats who have lived abroad for many years and have not bothered to learn the local language, because living in another country and immersion as a method of learning a foreign language are not the same thing. "

Another reason (or an excuse - depending on how you feel about it) why people do not learn foreign languages ​​is the lack of the opportunity to travel around countries and communicate with native speakers: no time, no money, etc.

As Benny Lewis says: “There is nothing in the air of another country that would make you start speaking a foreign language in the blink of an eye. Believe me, I have done many experiments to prove this: for example, I learned Arabic while living in Brazil.

The British borrowed most of them during the Norman Conquest (1066): the Normans brought with them French, which was spoken at the king's court and in the upper strata of society, while the peasants preferred Anglo-Saxon the old way. This situation became the reason for the emergence of a new Anglo-Norman dialect, which prevailed in the country for long 300 years and had a huge impact on the formation of modern English.