Top Language Learners and How they Learn

Learn how to learn language from the best learners around





In this post I introduce some of the top language learners I’ve come across on the net.

This will only be a brief introduction. Their approach varies but they have some things in common, namely that motivation is key to success and that whatever you do to learn the language must be enjoyable/rewarding.

Learners

Khatzumoto who heads 'All Japanese All the Time.'


He believes that languages need a hell of a lot of input. By this he means 20-30,000 hours. To achieve this, you need to centre your life around your target language. He learnt Japanese by surrounding his whole day with Japanese stuff or put another way – between 14-18 hours of Japanese a day though his MP3 player, playing games, reading manga and watching Japanese TV and movies. Unbelieveably, he learnt most of his Japanese before he got there.

• Need a lot of input (listening and reading) – ideally more than 10 hours per day
• It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand it. Your brain will sort it out.
• Do stuff that’s enjoyable. I think he plays a hell of a lot of videos games (with language in them).
• Measure your progress and celebrate it.
• Believes you can learn the language no matter where you are.

Speaks Japanese like a native. He is now using the same approach to learn Cantonese.

Benny the Irish Polyglot.

He famous for doing three months intensive language learning 'projects'. He believes a lot can be achieved in a short time. He takes a communicative approach and uses no English. He also stresses positive thinking and stresses the social aspect of learning.

• Speaking is central to learning a language quickly.
• Goes to the country to learn
• Uses no English when speaking to a someone in his target language
• Set clear goals for himself and tell lots of people.
• Uses a lot of techniques to help with communication when knowledge of the target language is low.

Speaks six or seven languages well. He works as a translator too, though I’m not sure in how many languages.

Antonio Graceffo's website is Brooklyn Monk in Asia.

He believes in focused self study and warns against relying only on exposure to the language such as being with a group of foreign friends talking very fast and on many different subjects. He believes this will lead to you blocking the language as ‘noise’. He also believes in lots of input and on a constant bases. He has also experienced ALG, a program where Thai is taught but you aren’t allowed to speak until you are about 800 hours into the course.

• Study hard and put at least 5 hours in each day.
• Uses books and films that he already knows the story.
• Uses lots of input, i.e. listening and reading
• Learned Korean though a lot of input and not talking.

Antonio Graceffo speaks numerous languages, for example, French, German, Italian, Khmer, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and Thai.

Professor Arguelles

He’s an academic and takes a serious but passionate view of language learning. He has also developed a technique called ‘shadowing’. This techniques uses two texts, one in English and the other in the target language. First he listens to the text and reads in English. Then he listens and follows the foreign text. The ‘shadowing’ comes next, this is when he listens and speaks with the text.
He has a rigorous study schedule.

One of his motivation is to be able to read ‘classics’ in their original language.
The professor speaks and reads many languages. From his website, he can read over 20languages pretty well.

Some other notable learners Tim Ferriss of 4hr Workweek, Steve Kaufmann of LinkQ and Moses McCormick.

Next I will outline my goals for speaking Chinese and hopefully upload a video of my current Chinese level.