Second Language 💬
Learning a new language - WHY and HOW
Hey learners,
When I was in Russia last year, my interaction with locals was almost zero. I took at least 20 cabs in a week and did not exchange a single word with the cab driver (thanks to uber). Only 5% of Russians can speak English. The one time I tried hailing a cab on the street, we got scammed and had to pay 4 times the amount it was showing if we booked from the app.
Knowing basic conversational Russian would be helpful and enrich my experience manyfold.
But Russian is a tough language. I could not even continue learning French on Duolingo for more than 2 weeks, blaming my language learning genes and accepting the fact that I’ll only speak English and Hindi forever.
To change that, this week we’re talking about learning a second language; why it helps, and how to get started.
Today’s Skill: Learning a New Language
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes 4 seconds“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.”
- Frank Smith
👓 Let’s Dive In
The first and the most important aspect of teaching yourself a new skill is knowing the end goal. Why are you learning this and what will it help you achieve?
I didn’t have a strong motive for learning French, hence I failed.
After reading about Scott Young’s The Year Without English Challenge, I’m excited about the idea of starting again. Scott and his buddy Vat decided to live in four countries, learn four languages, and attempt to speak zero English for an entire year.
How to choose a language to learn:
Learning a language takes time and requires perserverance and hard work. Think about the following aspects and read this post for help with deciding on a language:
your motivation and intentions
character and culture (of the speakers and the region)
number and distribution of speakers
ease of learning
culture and literary works
💸 Why learn? (Learning Objectives)
You live a new life for every new language you speak. If you know only one language, you live only once. ‒ Czech Proverb
A second language can qualify you for a large range of jobs and opportunities overseas compared to your monolingual peers
Foreign languages expand one’s view of the world
Open your mind to different cultures (art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine, film, and philosophy)
Make new friends from other countries
Transform your travels - Traveling as a speaker of the local language can revolutionize a trip abroad.
Speaking a foreign language improves the functionality of your brain and improves memory
Read: What is a foreign language worth?
📋 Resources
"To have another language is to possess a second soul."
-Charlemagne
If you’re just exploring what’s involved in learning a new language, read these two articles:
Listen to the Language Hacking Podcast
Check out this 3-month challenge by Polyglot Benny Lewis
Tools:
Anki, italki, and Pimsleur (a bit expensive)
Apps:
Rosetta Stone, Babbel, Busuu, Duolingo, Memrise
And For Some Laughs:
🔖 Something to Read
After His Son Co-Founded Coursera, He Became Its Earliest Student and Completed 146 Courses
“In case you’re wondering, no, taking online courses is not my day job. But I’m glad to admit that my interest in lifelong learning has taken me places, from the SAF to my current workplace, and the digital space.”
Why Time Is Our Most Precious Resource
“I feel like many of us have lost that sense of urgency. Much of what I see on social media has turned into a mess of deterministic thinking, depicting a world in which we’re all forever bound to the communities we grew up in or the difficult upbringings we endured. It assumes there is no opportunity, no upward mobility, and nothing to strive for. And that's a dangerous way to think.”
Till next time!
Support: If you have a friend who is looking for learning inspiration, useful tools, and thoughtful articles, please forward or simply share this issue for some support :)
If you have any feedback or comments, I’d love to hear from you, just reply to this email.
Best,
Ayush
Cover Photo by Jan Antonin Kolar on Unsplash