Deconstructing Arabic in 45 MinutesDeconstructing Arabic in 45 Minutes 45分钟解构阿拉伯语
Conversational Russian in 60 minutes?Conversational Russian in 60 minutes?60分钟的俄语会话？
This post is by request. How long does it take to learn Chinese or Japanese vs. Spanish or Irish Gaelic? I would argue less than an hour.This post is by request. How long does it take to learn Chinese or Japanese vs. Spanish or Irish Gaelic? I would argue less than an hour.这篇文章是应要求而写的。学习汉语或日语与西班牙语或爱尔兰盖尔语需要多长时间？我认为不到一个小时。
Here’s the reasoning…Here’s the reasoning… 理由是…
Before you invest (or waste) hundreds and thousands of hours on a language, you should deconstruct it. During my thesis research at Princeton, which focused on neuroscience and unorthodox acquisition of Japanese by native English speakers, as well as when redesigning curricula for Berlitz, this neglected deconstruction step surfaced as one of the distinguishing habits of the fastest language learners…Before you invest (or waste) hundreds and thousands of hours on a language, you should deconstruct it. During my thesis research at Princeton, which focused on neuroscience and unorthodox acquisition of Japanese by native English speakers, as well as when redesigning curricula for Berlitz, this neglected deconstruction step surfaced as one of the distinguishing habits of the fastest language learners…在你为一门语言投入（或浪费）成百上千个小时之前，你应该解构它。我在普林斯顿大学的论文研究主要集中在神经科学和母语为英语的人对日语的非正统习得上，以及在为伯利兹重新设计课程时，这一被忽视的解构步骤作为最快语言学习者的显著习惯之一浮出水面……
So far, I’ve deconstructed Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, German, Norwegian, Irish Gaelic, Korean, and perhaps a dozen others. I’m far from perfect in these languages, and I’m terrible at some, but I can converse in quite a few with no problems whatsoever—just ask the MIT students who came up to me last night and spoke in multiple languages.So far, I’ve deconstructed Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, German, Norwegian, Irish Gaelic, Korean, and perhaps a dozen others. I’m far from perfect in these languages, and I’m terrible at some, but I can converse in quite a few with no problems whatsoever—just ask the MIT students who came up to me last night and spoke in multiple languages.到目前为止，我已经解构了日语、汉语普通话、西班牙语、意大利语、巴西葡萄牙语、德语、挪威语、爱尔兰盖尔语、朝鲜语，也许还有十几种其他语言。我在这些语言上远非完美，有些语言我也很糟糕，但我能用相当多的语言交谈，没有任何问题——只要问问昨晚来找我并用多种语言交谈的麻省理工学院学生就知道了。
How is it possible to become conversationally fluent in one of these languages in 2-12 months? It starts with deconstructing them, choosing wisely, and abandoning all but a few of them.How is it possible to become conversationally fluent in one of these languages in 2-12 months? It starts with deconstructing them, choosing wisely, and abandoning all but a few of them.怎样才能在2-12个月内流利地使用其中一种语言？首先要解构它们，明智地选择，放弃除少数之外的所有语言。
Consider a new language like a new sport.Consider a new language like a new sport.把一门新语言想象成一项新运动。
There are certain physical prerequisites (height is an advantage in basketball), rules (a runner must touch the bases in baseball), and so on that determine if you can become proficient at all, and—if so—how long it will take.There are certain physical prerequisites (height is an advantage in basketball), rules (a runner must touch the bases in baseball), and so on that determine if you can become proficient at all, and—if so—how long it will take.有一些身体上的先决条件（身高是篮球运动中的一个优势）、规则（跑步者必须接触棒球的垒）等等决定了你是否能熟练，如果可以，需要多长时间。
Languages are no different. What are your tools, and how do they fit with the rules of your target?Languages are no different. What are your tools, and how do they fit with the rules of your target?语言也不例外。你的工具是什么，它们如何符合目标的规则？
If you’re a native Japanese speaker, respectively handicapped with a bit more than 20 phonemes in your language, some languages will seem near impossible. Picking a compatible language with similar sounds and word construction (like Spanish) instead of one with a buffet of new sounds you cannot distinguish (like Chinese) could make the difference between having meaningful conversations in 3 months instead of 3 years.If you’re a native Japanese speaker, respectively handicapped with a bit more than 20 phonemes in your language, some languages will seem near impossible. Picking a compatible language with similar sounds and word construction (like Spanish) instead of one with a buffet of new sounds you cannot distinguish (like Chinese) could make the difference between having meaningful conversations in 3 months instead of 3 years.如果你的母语是日语，你的语言中有20多个音素，有些语言看起来几乎是不可能的。选择一种声音和单词结构相似的兼容语言（如西班牙语），而不是一种有大量你无法区分的新声音（如汉语）的语言，可以在3个月而不是3年内进行有意义的对话。
Let’s look at few of the methods I recently used to deconstructed Russian and Arabic to determine if I could reach fluency within a 3-month target time period. Both were done in an hour or less of conversation with native speakers sitting next to me on airplanes.Let’s look at few of the methods I recently used to deconstructed Russian and Arabic to determine if I could reach fluency within a 3-month target time period. Both were done in an hour or less of conversation with native speakers sitting next to me on airplanes.让我们看看我最近用来解构俄语和阿拉伯语的几种方法，以确定我是否能在3个月的目标时间内达到流利程度。两者都是在飞机上与坐在我旁边的母语人士在一个小时或更短的时间内完成的。
Six Lines of GoldSix Lines of Gold 六行黄金
Here are a few questions that I apply from the outset. The simple versions come afterwards:Here are a few questions that I apply from the outset. The simple versions come afterwards:以下是我从一开始就提出的几个问题。简单的版本随后出现：
1. Are there new grammatical structures that will postpone fluency? (look at SOV vs. SVO, as well as noun cases)1. Are there new grammatical structures that will postpone fluency? (look at SOV vs. SVO, as well as noun cases)1.是否有新的语法结构会推迟流畅性？（看看SOV vs. SVO，以及名词格）
2. Are there new sounds that will double or quadruple time to fluency? (especially vowels)2. Are there new sounds that will double or quadruple time to fluency? (especially vowels)2.是否有新的声音可以使流利程度提高一倍或四倍？（尤其是元音）
3. How similar is it to languages I already understand? What will help and what will interfere? (Will acquisition erase a previous language? Can I borrow structures without fatal interference like Portuguese after Spanish?)3. How similar is it to languages I already understand? What will help and what will interfere? (Will acquisition erase a previous language? Can I borrow structures without fatal interference like Portuguese after Spanish?)3.它与我已经理解的语言有多相似？什么会有帮助，什么会干扰？（习得会抹去以前的语言吗？我能像西班牙语之后的葡萄牙语那样借用没有致命干扰的结构吗？）
4. All of which answer: How difficult will it be, and how long would it take to become functionally fluent?4. All of which answer: How difficult will it be, and how long would it take to become functionally fluent?4.所有这些答案都是：这有多难，需要多长时间才能变得熟练？
It doesn’t take much to answer these questions. All you need are a few sentences translated from English into your target language.It doesn’t take much to answer these questions. All you need are a few sentences translated from English into your target language.回答这些问题不需要太多。你只需要把几个句子从英语翻译成你的目标语言。
Some of my favorites, with reasons, are below:Some of my favorites, with reasons, are below:我最喜欢的一些，有原因，如下：
The apple is red.The apple is red. 苹果是红色的。
It is John’s apple.It is John’s apple. 这是约翰的苹果。
I give John the apple.I give John the apple. 我把苹果给了约翰。
We give him the apple.We give him the apple. 我们给他苹果。
He gives it to John.He gives it to John. 他把它给了约翰。
She gives it to him.She gives it to him. 她给了他。
These six sentences alone expose much of the language, and quite a few potential deal killers.These six sentences alone expose much of the language, and quite a few potential deal killers.仅这六句话就暴露了很多语言，以及相当多的潜在交易杀手。
First, they help me to see if and how verbs are conjugated based on speaker (both according to gender and number). I’m also able to immediately identify an uber-pain in some languages: placement of indirect objects (John), direct objects (the apple), and their respective pronouns (him, it). I would follow these sentences with a few negations (“I don’t give…”) and different tenses to see if these are expressed as separate words (“bu” in Chinese as negation, for example) or verb changes (“-nai” or “-masen” in Japanese), the latter making a language much harder to crack.First, they help me to see if and how verbs are conjugated based on speaker (both according to gender and number). I’m also able to immediately identify an uber-pain in some languages: placement of indirect objects (John), direct objects (the apple), and their respective pronouns (him, it). I would follow these sentences with a few negations (“I don’t give…”) and different tenses to see if these are expressed as separate words (“bu” in Chinese as negation, for example) or verb changes (“-nai” or “-masen” in Japanese), the latter making a language much harder to crack.首先，它们帮助我了解动词是否以及如何根据说话者进行变位（根据性别和数量）。我还能立即识别出一些语言中的超级痛苦：间接宾语（约翰）、直接宾语（苹果）和它们各自的代词（他、它）的位置。我会在这些句子后面加上一些否定（“我不给……”）和不同的时态，看看这些是以单独的单词表达的（例如，“bu”在中文中是否定）还是动词的变化（“-nai”或“-masen”在日语中），后者使语言更难破解。
Second, I’m looking at the fundamental sentence structure: is it subject-verb-object (SVO) like English and Chinese (“I eat the apple”), is it subject-object-verb (SOV) like Japanese (“I the apple eat”), or something else? If you’re a native English speaker, SOV will be harder than the familiar SVO, but once you pick one up (Korean grammar is almost identical to Japanese, and German has a lot of verb-at-the-end construction), your brain will be formatted for new SOV languages.Second, I’m looking at the fundamental sentence structure: is it subject-verb-object (SVO) like English and Chinese (“I eat the apple”), is it subject-object-verb (SOV) like Japanese (“I the apple eat”), or something else? If you’re a native English speaker, SOV will be harder than the familiar SVO, but once you pick one up (Korean grammar is almost identical to Japanese, and German has a lot of verb-at-the-end construction), your brain will be formatted for new SOV languages.其次，我在研究基本的句子结构：它是像英语和汉语一样的主语-动词-宾语（SVO），还是像日语一样的主语-宾语-动词（SOV），还是其他什么？如果你的母语是英语，SOV会比熟悉的SVO难，但是一旦你学会了一个（韩语语法几乎与日语相同，德语有很多动词结尾结构），你的大脑就会被格式化为新的SOV语言。
Third, the first three sentences expose if the language has much-dreaded noun cases. What are noun cases? In German, for example, “the” isn’t so simple. It might be der, das, die, dem, den and more depending on whether “the apple” is an object, indirect object, possessed by someone else, etc. Headaches galore. Russian is even worse. This is one of the reasons I continue to put it off.Third, the first three sentences expose if the language has much-dreaded noun cases. What are noun cases? In German, for example, “the” isn’t so simple. It might be der, das, die, dem, den and more depending on whether “the apple” is an object, indirect object, possessed by someone else, etc. Headaches galore. Russian is even worse. This is one of the reasons I continue to put it off.第三，前三句话暴露了这门语言是否有可怕的名词格。什么是名词格？例如，在德语中，“the”就没那么简单了。它可能是der、das、die、dem、den等等，这取决于“the apple”是宾语、间接宾语、被别人拥有等等。非常头疼。俄语更糟糕。这是我继续推迟它的原因之一。
All the above from just 6-10 sentences! Here are two more:All the above from just 6-10 sentences! Here are two more:以上所有内容只有6-10个句子！这里还有两个：
I must give it to him.I must give it to him. 我必须给他。
I want to give it to her.I want to give it to her. 我想给她。
These two are to see if auxiliary verbs exist, or if the end of the each verb changes. A good short-cut to independent learner status, when you no longer need a teacher to improve, is to learn conjugations for “helping” verbs like “to want,” “to need,” “to have to,” “should,” etc. In Spanish and many others, this allows you to express yourself with “I need/want/must/should” + the infinite of any verb. Learning the variations of a half dozen verbs gives you access to all verbs. This doesn’t help when someone else is speaking, but it does help get the training wheels off self-expression as quickly as possible.These two are to see if auxiliary verbs exist, or if the end of the each verb changes. A good short-cut to independent learner status, when you no longer need a teacher to improve, is to learn conjugations for “helping” verbs like “to want,” “to need,” “to have to,” “should,” etc. In Spanish and many others, this allows you to express yourself with “I need/want/must/should” + the infinite of any verb. Learning the variations of a half dozen verbs gives you access to all verbs. This doesn’t help when someone else is speaking, but it does help get the training wheels off self-expression as quickly as possible.这两个是为了看看助动词是否存在，或者每个动词的结尾是否发生了变化。当你不再需要老师来提高时，独立学习者地位的一个很好的捷径是学习“帮助”动词的变位，如“想要”、“需要”、“必须”、“应该”等。在西班牙语和许多其他语言中，这让你可以用“我需要/想要/必须/应该”+任何动词的无限来表达自己。学习六个动词的变体可以让你接触到所有动词。当别人说话时，这没有帮助，但它确实有助于尽快摆脱自我表达的训练轮。
If these auxiliaries are expressed as changes in the verb (often the case with Japanese) instead of separate words (Chinese, for example), you are in for a rough time in the beginning.If these auxiliaries are expressed as changes in the verb (often the case with Japanese) instead of separate words (Chinese, for example), you are in for a rough time in the beginning.如果这些辅助词用动词的变化来表达（通常是日语的情况），而不是单独的单词（例如汉语），那么你一开始就会很艰难。
Sounds and ScriptsSounds and Scripts 声音和脚本
I ask my impromptu teacher to write down the translations twice: once in the proper native writing system (also called “script” or “orthography”), and again in English phonetics, or I’ll write down approximations or use IPA.I ask my impromptu teacher to write down the translations twice: once in the proper native writing system (also called “script” or “orthography”), and again in English phonetics, or I’ll write down approximations or use IPA.我让我的即兴老师写下两次翻译：一次是用正确的母语书写系统（也称为“脚本”或“正字法”），另一次是用英语语音，否则我会写下近似值或使用IPA。
If possible, I will have them take me through their alphabet, giving me one example word for each consonant and vowel. Look hard for difficult vowels, which will take, in my experience, at least 10 times longer to master than any unfamiliar consonant or combination thereof (“tsu” in Japanese poses few problems, for example). Think Portuguese is just slower Spanish with a few different words? Think again. Spend an hour practicing the “open” vowels of Brazilian Portuguese. I recommend you get some ice for your mouth and throat first.If possible, I will have them take me through their alphabet, giving me one example word for each consonant and vowel. Look hard for difficult vowels, which will take, in my experience, at least 10 times longer to master than any unfamiliar consonant or combination thereof (“tsu” in Japanese poses few problems, for example). Think Portuguese is just slower Spanish with a few different words? Think again. Spend an hour practicing the “open” vowels of Brazilian Portuguese. I recommend you get some ice for your mouth and throat first.如果可能的话，我会让他们带我浏览他们的字母表，给我每个辅音和元音一个例子单词。努力寻找困难的元音，根据我的经验，掌握这些元音至少需要10倍的时间（例如，日语中的“tsu”几乎没有问题）。认为葡萄牙语只是几个不同单词的较慢的西班牙语？再想想。花一个小时练习巴西葡萄牙语的“开放”元音。我建议你先给嘴和喉咙加点冰。
The Russian Phonetic Menu, and…The Russian Phonetic Menu, and… 俄语语音菜单，还有…
Reading Real Cyrillic 20 Minutes LaterReading Real Cyrillic 20 Minutes Later20分钟后阅读真正的西里尔文
Going through the characters of a language’s writing system is really only practical for languages that have at least one phonetic writing system of 50 or fewer sounds—Spanish, Russian, and Japanese would all be fine. Chinese fails since tones multiply variations of otherwise simple sounds, and it also fails miserably on phonetic systems. If you go after Mandarin, choose the somewhat uncommon GR over pinyin romanization if at all possible. It’s harder to learn at first, but I’ve never met a pinyin learner with tones even half as accurate as a decent GR user. Long story short, this is because tones are indicated by spelling in GR, not by diacritical marks above the syllables.Going through the characters of a language’s writing system is really only practical for languages that have at least one phonetic writing system of 50 or fewer sounds—Spanish, Russian, and Japanese would all be fine. Chinese fails since tones multiply variations of otherwise simple sounds, and it also fails miserably on phonetic systems. If you go after Mandarin, choose the somewhat uncommon GR over pinyin romanization if at all possible. It’s harder to learn at first, but I’ve never met a pinyin learner with tones even half as accurate as a decent GR user. Long story short, this is because tones are indicated by spelling in GR, not by diacritical marks above the syllables.浏览一种语言的书写系统的字符实际上只适用于至少有一个50个或更少声音的语音书写系统的语言——西班牙语、俄语和日语都可以。汉语失败了，因为声调会成倍增加原本简单的声音的变体，在语音系统上也失败得很惨。如果你选择普通话，尽可能选择有点不常见的GR而不是拼音罗马化。一开始学习起来更难，但我从未见过一个拼音学习者的声调准确度甚至只有GR用户的一半。长话短说，这是因为声调是通过GR中的拼写来表示的，而不是通过音节上方的变音符号来表示的。
In all cases, treat language as sport.In all cases, treat language as sport.在任何情况下，都要把语言当作运动。
Learn the rules first, determine if it’s worth the investment of time (will you, at best, become mediocre?), then focus on the training. Picking your target is often more important than your method.Learn the rules first, determine if it’s worth the investment of time (will you, at best, become mediocre?), then focus on the training. Picking your target is often more important than your method.首先学习规则，确定是否值得投入时间（充其量你会变得平庸吗？），然后专注于训练。选择你的目标通常比你的方法更重要。
[To be continued?][To be continued?] 【未完待续？】
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Is this helpful or just too dense? Would you like me to write more about this or other topics? Please let me know in the comments. Here’s something from Harvard Business School to play with in the meantime…Is this helpful or just too dense? Would you like me to write more about this or other topics? Please let me know in the comments. Here’s something from Harvard Business School to play with in the meantime…这是有帮助的还是太密集了？你想让我写更多关于这个或其他主题的文章吗？请在评论中告诉我。与此同时，这是哈佛商学院的一些东西…
Other Popular Posts on this Blog:Other Popular Posts on this Blog: 本博客的其他热门帖子：
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Odds and Ends:Odds and Ends: 赔率和结局：
Please help me break the Technorati 1000 today!Please help me break the Technorati 1000 today!请今天帮我打破Technorati 1000！
I’m around 1070 on Technorati’s rankings, and it’s killing me. Can those of you with blogs PULEEEEASE register your blogs with Technorati and find something interesting to link to on this 4HWW blog? It would really be a milestone for me and I’m so close! Just breaking 1000 would be enough. If you can find something to link to in the most popular posts or elsewhere, please do whatever you can in the next 24-36 hours! Thanks so much 🙂I’m around 1070 on Technorati’s rankings, and it’s killing me. Can those of you with blogs PULEEEEASE register your blogs with Technorati and find something interesting to link to on this 4HWW blog? It would really be a milestone for me and I’m so close! Just breaking 1000 would be enough. If you can find something to link to in the most popular posts or elsewhere, please do whatever you can in the next 24-36 hours! Thanks so much 🙂我在Technorati的排名中大约在1070左右，这让我很难过。你们中那些有博客PULEEEEASE的人能在Technorati注册你的博客，并在这个4HWW博客上找到一些有趣的东西来链接吗？这对我来说真的是一个里程碑，我已经很接近了！只要突破1000就足够了。如果你能在最受欢迎的帖子或其他地方找到一些可以链接的东西，请在接下来的24-36小时内尽你所能！非常感谢。 🙂
RelatedRelated 相关
The Tim Ferriss Show is one of the most popular podcasts in the world with more than one billion downloads. It has been selected for "Best of Apple Podcasts" three times, it is often the #1 interview podcast across all of Apple Podcasts, and it's been ranked #1 out of 400,000+ podcasts on many occasions. To listen to any of the past episodes for free, check out this page.The Tim Ferriss Show is one of the most popular podcasts in the world with more than one billion downloads. It has been selected for "Best of Apple Podcasts" three times, it is often the #1 interview podcast across all of Apple Podcasts, and it's been ranked #1 out of 400,000+ podcasts on many occasions. To listen to any of the past episodes for free, check out this page.
Comment Rules: Remember what Fonzie was like? Cool. That’s how we’re gonna be — cool. Critical is fine, but if you’re rude, we’ll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation! (Thanks to Brian Oberkirch for the inspiration.)Comment Rules: Remember what Fonzie was like? Cool. That’s how we’re gonna be — cool. Critical is fine, but if you’re rude, we’ll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation! (Thanks to Brian Oberkirch for the inspiration.)
I would love more language articles, I find this sort of stuff fascinating, and very useful in today’s world.I would love more language articles, I find this sort of stuff fascinating, and very useful in today’s world.
Learning is fun!Learning is fun!
The more ways or options you have to learn languages, the higher the chance is that you find a way that you like and this helps you to increase your speed of learning. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on how to learn a language, it increased my language learning skills.The more ways or options you have to learn languages, the higher the chance is that you find a way that you like and this helps you to increase your speed of learning. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on how to learn a language, it increased my language learning skills.
Great post Tim! Good point about being selective in choosing a language first.Great post Tim! Good point about being selective in choosing a language first.
I have decided to learn Spanish in 3 months. After those 3 months, I will go to Spain and live for a week without speaking english. And videotape some pickup videos where I hit on spanish girls in spanish. Its gonna be FUN 😀I have decided to learn Spanish in 3 months. After those 3 months, I will go to Spain and live for a week without speaking english. And videotape some pickup videos where I hit on spanish girls in spanish. Its gonna be FUN 😀
[…] came across this article at Tim Ferris’s blog explaining how it is possible to learn any language in an hour or […][…] came across this article at Tim Ferris’s blog explaining how it is possible to learn any language in an hour or […]
Yes, Tim, this is immensely helpful -but in my dealings with “most” people, they don’t have the attention span or even the brain-mapping to make these considerations. (Not meaning to generalize, either, but there seems to be generalities needed). You are talking about complex leaps in thought-processes which academic linguists make all the time; but not ‘normal people’, busy businesspeople, or even most travelers. (I was reading information on Euskara (Basque) this week for example, in preparation for a trip to Northern Spain in December.)Yes, Tim, this is immensely helpful -but in my dealings with “most” people, they don’t have the attention span or even the brain-mapping to make these considerations. (Not meaning to generalize, either, but there seems to be generalities needed). You are talking about complex leaps in thought-processes which academic linguists make all the time; but not ‘normal people’, busy businesspeople, or even most travelers. (I was reading information on Euskara (Basque) this week for example, in preparation for a trip to Northern Spain in December.)
It’s fascinating that you offer these suggestions in your blog, which most people enter from reading about your 4-hour work week. I myself have been reading your blog since a client told me about reading your book. Granted, people with a 4-hour work wee often have more time on their hands that other businesspeople may not have – but these 4-hr people may not have the finely-tuned multiprocessing mind that you so obviously have. In short, your brain runs very hot and at extra speed. Congrats – but you may be a rarity 😉It’s fascinating that you offer these suggestions in your blog, which most people enter from reading about your 4-hour work week. I myself have been reading your blog since a client told me about reading your book. Granted, people with a 4-hour work wee often have more time on their hands that other businesspeople may not have – but these 4-hr people may not have the finely-tuned multiprocessing mind that you so obviously have. In short, your brain runs very hot and at extra speed. Congrats – but you may be a rarity 😉
Back to the languages – I have just returned from almost 5 weeks in Shanghai, where I picked up a modicum of Chinese, probably a combination of Mandarin and Shanghainese and odd-assorted dialect pronunciations thrown in. I never fully got a handle on the language because its permutations were so vast – who was speaking what language? Laughably more, my international companions were often getting mixed up listening to other languages and trying to piece-out [English/American/Australian] dialects also. So meanwhile while I was trying to work out Chinese words and comprehension, the Chinese (and the other internationals) were off puzzling over our permutations of “English”. I have even spent the last week back here in the states getting some things translated into Chinese – weeding through Mandarin and Shanghainese idioms to recreate the feelings of the phrases.Back to the languages – I have just returned from almost 5 weeks in Shanghai, where I picked up a modicum of Chinese, probably a combination of Mandarin and Shanghainese and odd-assorted dialect pronunciations thrown in. I never fully got a handle on the language because its permutations were so vast – who was speaking what language? Laughably more, my international companions were often getting mixed up listening to other languages and trying to piece-out [English/American/Australian] dialects also. So meanwhile while I was trying to work out Chinese words and comprehension, the Chinese (and the other internationals) were off puzzling over our permutations of “English”. I have even spent the last week back here in the states getting some things translated into Chinese – weeding through Mandarin and Shanghainese idioms to recreate the feelings of the phrases.
Let’s just say that beyond sentence structure there is a lot of cultural comprehension, mind-multitasking, lingusitic scientific method as you describe – and LOTS of patience. Your brain works on overdrive, Tim, and at least there are a few of out there sometimes on the same page with you!Let’s just say that beyond sentence structure there is a lot of cultural comprehension, mind-multitasking, lingusitic scientific method as you describe – and LOTS of patience. Your brain works on overdrive, Tim, and at least there are a few of out there sometimes on the same page with you!
PS: Euskara (Basque) was so complicated that I’ll stick to Spanish while I’m there 😉PS: Euskara (Basque) was so complicated that I’ll stick to Spanish while I’m there 😉
Hi,Hi,
I live in China, and have done for some years. I currently live in a small city of about 1 Million about 3 hours drive North East of Shanghai. The city is part of a bigger city. The bigger city, like this smaller city, has it’s own language. Both languages have similarities but they are not the same. Likewise in Shanghai; one area will have a similar language to that of another area but not the same. The phonemes will be different and the grammar too, but the meanings will be very similar. Those similar languages will be thousands of years old though affected by cultural changes, i.e. their basic structure will be as it was perhaps 1,000 or more years ago.I live in China, and have done for some years. I currently live in a small city of about 1 Million about 3 hours drive North East of Shanghai. The city is part of a bigger city. The bigger city, like this smaller city, has it’s own language. Both languages have similarities but they are not the same. Likewise in Shanghai; one area will have a similar language to that of another area but not the same. The phonemes will be different and the grammar too, but the meanings will be very similar. Those similar languages will be thousands of years old though affected by cultural changes, i.e. their basic structure will be as it was perhaps 1,000 or more years ago.
A person native of Shanghai could master all of the Shanghai languages providing they heard them from early youth but if not they would not and would need an interpreter as is true of all local languages of the world. Putonghua is bridging language of which local variations exist for local bridging purposes such as in a big city as Shanghai or Beijing or the biggest of them all, Chongqing. In Shanghai the most common language will be Putonghua as the people speaking it will be non native residents of Shanghai as Chinese cities have a majority of non native residents. But, living in Shanghai one will find that the local Shanghai language is very common and many people trying to speak it creating even a greater number of local dialects. Such is true in any country.A person native of Shanghai could master all of the Shanghai languages providing they heard them from early youth but if not they would not and would need an interpreter as is true of all local languages of the world. Putonghua is bridging language of which local variations exist for local bridging purposes such as in a big city as Shanghai or Beijing or the biggest of them all, Chongqing. In Shanghai the most common language will be Putonghua as the people speaking it will be non native residents of Shanghai as Chinese cities have a majority of non native residents. But, living in Shanghai one will find that the local Shanghai language is very common and many people trying to speak it creating even a greater number of local dialects. Such is true in any country.
To really grasp Shanghainese you really need to go live there and find the common denominators of it, that is, the most common usages of it in a range of geographical locations. You won’t find that online, in a book or CD/DVD. I have found that to be true in the 4 large Chinese cities I have lived in; Qingdao, Zhengzhou, Shenhzhen, and Hong Kong, over 7 years.To really grasp Shanghainese you really need to go live there and find the common denominators of it, that is, the most common usages of it in a range of geographical locations. You won’t find that online, in a book or CD/DVD. I have found that to be true in the 4 large Chinese cities I have lived in; Qingdao, Zhengzhou, Shenhzhen, and Hong Kong, over 7 years.
Hi Rodney,Hi Rodney,
I like China too because, Jacki Chan is live there. I love chinees movie. I like your country. Have any idea to learn english quickly and clearly within 3 month.I like China too because, Jacki Chan is live there. I love chinees movie. I like your country. Have any idea to learn english quickly and clearly within 3 month.
Advice,Advice,
Lauren Muney, “Euskara” is not a language spoken in Spain, if it is a language at all. You probably mean “Euskera”.Lauren Muney, “Euskara” is not a language spoken in Spain, if it is a language at all. You probably mean “Euskera”.
A Spaniard, Euskara and Euskera both are correct. There are different dialects of Basque within the Basque Country.A Spaniard, Euskara and Euskera both are correct. There are different dialects of Basque within the Basque Country.
Hi Lauren, you would be an amazing teacher for having a very deep understanding of the differences in psychology across individuals. Thanks for being so insightful and making me feel better about rather slow progress I have been having with Vietnamese.Hi Lauren, you would be an amazing teacher for having a very deep understanding of the differences in psychology across individuals. Thanks for being so insightful and making me feel better about rather slow progress I have been having with Vietnamese.
Great post, I’d love to see more on the subject from you!Great post, I’d love to see more on the subject from you!
Tim, I like the language articles. You lead a very interesting and inspiring life, and I always appreciate your thoughts on things. I am creating a beer rating social networking website for craft beer. The new website launches about mid December. Once it does, I am going to be traveling and experiencing a lot more!! Check it out, Brewpot.comTim, I like the language articles. You lead a very interesting and inspiring life, and I always appreciate your thoughts on things. I am creating a beer rating social networking website for craft beer. The new website launches about mid December. Once it does, I am going to be traveling and experiencing a lot more!! Check it out, Brewpot.com
Very useful, Tim! Not at all “too dense”, I’d love to read about similar techniques for other aspects of learning.Very useful, Tim! Not at all “too dense”, I’d love to read about similar techniques for other aspects of learning.
Tim –Tim –
I added you to my blogroll. I think that will give you a technorati bump. I linked to your site in a post last week where I mentioned the Low Information Diet.I added you to my blogroll. I think that will give you a technorati bump. I linked to your site in a post last week where I mentioned the Low Information Diet.
I’m the guy you met at MIT who is working on a 2 year development project plan. We talked about Widgets and Facebook.I’m the guy you met at MIT who is working on a 2 year development project plan. We talked about Widgets and Facebook.
Breaking 1000 is great. I’m at about 17,000 right now, but I’ve only been launched for about 4-5 months so I feel pretty good about it.Breaking 1000 is great. I’m at about 17,000 right now, but I’ve only been launched for about 4-5 months so I feel pretty good about it.
Hey Tim,Hey Tim,
Awesome article and I would defiantly like to see more like this. Being that I can read Cyrillic (though I speak Serbian but not Russian) I can totally relate to how you suggested learning it. That would indeed be the best way.Awesome article and I would defiantly like to see more like this. Being that I can read Cyrillic (though I speak Serbian but not Russian) I can totally relate to how you suggested learning it. That would indeed be the best way.
Just as a side note, when is your PR teleconference going to be held? I know a previous post mentioned some time in min Nov. but you haven’t posted any updates for it? I haven’t gotten anything in my email either? Some updates would be great!Just as a side note, when is your PR teleconference going to be held? I know a previous post mentioned some time in min Nov. but you haven’t posted any updates for it? I haven’t gotten anything in my email either? Some updates would be great!
DraskoDrasko
Interesting piece! I’m a teacher of Norwegian as a foreign language, and am always interested in new ways of passing on language skills quickly and efficiently to a wide variety of students (I teach anyone from refugees to migrant workers to husbands/wives coming from abroad to Norway)…Interesting piece! I’m a teacher of Norwegian as a foreign language, and am always interested in new ways of passing on language skills quickly and efficiently to a wide variety of students (I teach anyone from refugees to migrant workers to husbands/wives coming from abroad to Norway)…
As it is, I’m interested in learning Burmese myself, and will make use of your tips in “deconstructing” the language. Thanks!As it is, I’m interested in learning Burmese myself, and will make use of your tips in “deconstructing” the language. Thanks!
Tim,Tim,
Wow, I think this is the best post you have ever put up… Brilliant! I started learning Japanese earlier this year when a certain book came out 🙂 PLEASE do continue this language series, your insights on language are awesome. Also, thanks for the link to myhappyplanet.com, I have been looking for just such a resource.Wow, I think this is the best post you have ever put up… Brilliant! I started learning Japanese earlier this year when a certain book came out 🙂 PLEASE do continue this language series, your insights on language are awesome. Also, thanks for the link to myhappyplanet.com, I have been looking for just such a resource.
great work, thanks for the inspiration!great work, thanks for the inspiration!
ErikErik
Great article. I’ll give it a try when I start raveling again. Looking forward also to your teleconference. Take the time to mention this article on my blog and in technorati.Great article. I’ll give it a try when I start raveling again. Looking forward also to your teleconference. Take the time to mention this article on my blog and in technorati.
JamesJames
http://www.marshalfirth.comhttp://www.marshalfirth.com
Tim,Tim,
I’ll add you to our blogroll…I’ll add you to our blogroll…
As always, great stuff…As always, great stuff…
ChrisChris
http://www.mobilediner.com/http://www.mobilediner.com/
Great post 🙂 I’ll check out your methods. I’m from Poland myself, so I suppose that I should get a little bit different results (for instance Russian is quite similar to Polish). Anyway, I hope that I’ll manage to master English and gain some kind of fluency in Spanish and German 😉Great post 🙂 I’ll check out your methods. I’m from Poland myself, so I suppose that I should get a little bit different results (for instance Russian is quite similar to Polish). Anyway, I hope that I’ll manage to master English and gain some kind of fluency in Spanish and German 😉
Thanks for writing this, I found it very interesting. Having done a degree in applied linguistics in London, I felt the article rang true with some of what we were taught about language learning. It could be linked with personal learning styles and tactics for learning languages, I think, with even more success.Thanks for writing this, I found it very interesting. Having done a degree in applied linguistics in London, I felt the article rang true with some of what we were taught about language learning. It could be linked with personal learning styles and tactics for learning languages, I think, with even more success.
NB, I have also linked to the article from my (Technorati Listed) blog (http://www.zachbeauvais.com). Best of luck!!!NB, I have also linked to the article from my (Technorati Listed) blog (http://www.zachbeauvais.com). Best of luck!!!
-Z-Z
Tim,Tim,
Yea, the language learning is great, one of my passions as well! Perhaps you could do a post entirely about absorbing and learning Mandarin Chinese. And your take on what to learn 1st, speaking or character reading/writing or in conjunction with each other. Also, what do you feel are the best methods for being tutored and learning on a day to day basis. For example, do you prefer repetitious memorization of a few dozen loaded conversations or just a continuous flow of learning keeping in mind that you gradually absorb pieces of each sentence (such as the comics that you mentioned in an earlier post)?Yea, the language learning is great, one of my passions as well! Perhaps you could do a post entirely about absorbing and learning Mandarin Chinese. And your take on what to learn 1st, speaking or character reading/writing or in conjunction with each other. Also, what do you feel are the best methods for being tutored and learning on a day to day basis. For example, do you prefer repetitious memorization of a few dozen loaded conversations or just a continuous flow of learning keeping in mind that you gradually absorb pieces of each sentence (such as the comics that you mentioned in an earlier post)?
Nevertheless, despite the method, probably the most important aspect to foriegn languages is simple a no-holds-barred trial and error with native speakers. You can’t let embarrasment of butchering pronunciation stop you from conversing.Nevertheless, despite the method, probably the most important aspect to foriegn languages is simple a no-holds-barred trial and error with native speakers. You can’t let embarrasment of butchering pronunciation stop you from conversing.
Do you agree? Ni de zhongwen shuode hao bu hao?Do you agree? Ni de zhongwen shuode hao bu hao?
Hi,Hi,
It’s interesting how you refer to Han Yu as Mandarin Chinese. I live in China, am Australian and I speak some local dialects but mainly putonghua. In the 7 or so years I’ve been here I’ve not been able to find any Chinese speaking mandarin, they speak guo yu, han yu, zhong guo hua, and putonghua, and bendi hua, but not come across mandarin yet. The point I am making is that a name of a language is the name that the native users give it, that’s the name I suggest you should be using so that you can become familiar with it. To use names not derived from the target language would be contradictory to that language, would it not?It’s interesting how you refer to Han Yu as Mandarin Chinese. I live in China, am Australian and I speak some local dialects but mainly putonghua. In the 7 or so years I’ve been here I’ve not been able to find any Chinese speaking mandarin, they speak guo yu, han yu, zhong guo hua, and putonghua, and bendi hua, but not come across mandarin yet. The point I am making is that a name of a language is the name that the native users give it, that’s the name I suggest you should be using so that you can become familiar with it. To use names not derived from the target language would be contradictory to that language, would it not?
Chinese here write Han zi, what we call simplified Chinese, but they call it Han zi, so until non Chinese start calling Han zi Han zi the Chinese, the majority Han, will not have a clue what you are talking about.Chinese here write Han zi, what we call simplified Chinese, but they call it Han zi, so until non Chinese start calling Han zi Han zi the Chinese, the majority Han, will not have a clue what you are talking about.
Hope that helps in your adventure into the world of Zhong guo hua!Hope that helps in your adventure into the world of Zhong guo hua!
I must disagree. “Mandarin Chinese” is the English term for what he was describing, while the terms you offered (sans tones, BTW), are not English, and so aren’t appropriate for his purpose.I must disagree. “Mandarin Chinese” is the English term for what he was describing, while the terms you offered (sans tones, BTW), are not English, and so aren’t appropriate for his purpose.
English speakers know what Chinese characters are, but don’t know what hanzi are. Calling characters hanzi is confusing and unnecessary. Don’t mix languages.English speakers know what Chinese characters are, but don’t know what hanzi are. Calling characters hanzi is confusing and unnecessary. Don’t mix languages.
Tim,Tim,
This question is unrelated to the post.This question is unrelated to the post.
When you try to contact “celebrities” in a field, do you leave a message with the gatekeeper if you’re unable to reach them or simply hang up and try again later?When you try to contact “celebrities” in a field, do you leave a message with the gatekeeper if you’re unable to reach them or simply hang up and try again later?
This article was fascinating and I would love to see more like it. I have friends in and from brazil, yugoslavia, bosnia and several other countries. I would love to learn their languages so that I can converse with them in their fluent tongue and this article is going to be very helpful.This article was fascinating and I would love to see more like it. I have friends in and from brazil, yugoslavia, bosnia and several other countries. I would love to learn their languages so that I can converse with them in their fluent tongue and this article is going to be very helpful.
Great article!Great article!
Indeed if you deconstruct a language, you can quickly get an idea on how it will be hard for you to learn it, according to other languages you speak, and the point is : The more languages you speak, the easier it will become to learn a new one, as you will eventually be familiar with most of the rules you will encounter in a new language.Indeed if you deconstruct a language, you can quickly get an idea on how it will be hard for you to learn it, according to other languages you speak, and the point is : The more languages you speak, the easier it will become to learn a new one, as you will eventually be familiar with most of the rules you will encounter in a new language.
E.g., if you know english, german and french, you will be able to pick-up easily any language from western europe : spanish, italian, dutch, finnish, swedish, danish, portuguese…E.g., if you know english, german and french, you will be able to pick-up easily any language from western europe : spanish, italian, dutch, finnish, swedish, danish, portuguese…
For me, the progression goes like this with a new language:For me, the progression goes like this with a new language:
– you should be able to read after a few days– you should be able to read after a few days
– speak it after a few weeks,– speak it after a few weeks,
– write it after a few months– write it after a few months
– understanding… that’s a whole debate… I think that’s the hardest, but apparently languages teachers think it is easier to understand than to speak…– understanding… that’s a whole debate… I think that’s the hardest, but apparently languages teachers think it is easier to understand than to speak…
I don’t agree… If you meet a native in a real situation, he will be able to understand you even if your sentences are broken… usually he will be even impressed that you can speak his language, so he will answer with his particular accent, his particular slang and languages specificities, and will probably be speaking way too fast for you to understand…I don’t agree… If you meet a native in a real situation, he will be able to understand you even if your sentences are broken… usually he will be even impressed that you can speak his language, so he will answer with his particular accent, his particular slang and languages specificities, and will probably be speaking way too fast for you to understand…
If you ever have some “tricks” to improve the “understanding” part, please post them, because the usual answer is “watch some news or listen to the radio in the native language”… I don’t believe it helps, and I see that the biggest obstacle when it comes to learn a language is the fact that you usually have almost no opportunity to face your language skill with a native speaker… Until you go to the country, and it’s when, despite your X years of learning, you feel that you can just speak like a 6 years old child! (i.e. you can only have basic conversations: “Hi, my name is Alan, I live in New York and I am hungry.”)If you ever have some “tricks” to improve the “understanding” part, please post them, because the usual answer is “watch some news or listen to the radio in the native language”… I don’t believe it helps, and I see that the biggest obstacle when it comes to learn a language is the fact that you usually have almost no opportunity to face your language skill with a native speaker… Until you go to the country, and it’s when, despite your X years of learning, you feel that you can just speak like a 6 years old child! (i.e. you can only have basic conversations: “Hi, my name is Alan, I live in New York and I am hungry.”)
More language stuff. Highly interested in what next steps are after deconstructing a language and deciding you want to learn it.More language stuff. Highly interested in what next steps are after deconstructing a language and deciding you want to learn it.
Awesome stuff, dude.Awesome stuff, dude.
You use the same method in languages as I use in technologies, but I’ve never thought about using it for languages as well. I’m going to try that today.You use the same method in languages as I use in technologies, but I’ve never thought about using it for languages as well. I’m going to try that today.
I wrote a snippet on my own blog about this: http://www.netfxharmonics.com/2007/11/Accelerated-Language-Learning-Timothy-Ferris.aspxI wrote a snippet on my own blog about this: http://www.netfxharmonics.com/2007/11/Accelerated-Language-Learning-Timothy-Ferris.aspx
Tim,Tim,
This is excellent info, definetly give us some more. I have highly enjoyed your diet and work out Colorado information. Thanks for taking your time. I have your book, I check your site every day. Great job.This is excellent info, definetly give us some more. I have highly enjoyed your diet and work out Colorado information. Thanks for taking your time. I have your book, I check your site every day. Great job.
Thanks,Thanks,
ScottScott
Brilliant. Merci.Brilliant. Merci.
Tim,Tim,
I have a question that has nothing to do with your language topic but I know you don’t check email so I’m exploiting the comments section a little, looking for an answer. : )I have a question that has nothing to do with your language topic but I know you don’t check email so I’m exploiting the comments section a little, looking for an answer. : )
I read your book, I found my muse, I am about a third of the way through my To Do list to start the business, but my idea requires pre-purchasing a lot of merchandise and I know I’m going to need a loan to start it.I read your book, I found my muse, I am about a third of the way through my To Do list to start the business, but my idea requires pre-purchasing a lot of merchandise and I know I’m going to need a loan to start it.
Your book doesn’t address the dreaded concept of banks, lending and writing a business plan in order to get a loan. I have read a few other “entrepreneurial” books looking for business plan templates, but the authors are the antithesis of the NR and I feel like I’m getting off track.Your book doesn’t address the dreaded concept of banks, lending and writing a business plan in order to get a loan. I have read a few other “entrepreneurial” books looking for business plan templates, but the authors are the antithesis of the NR and I feel like I’m getting off track.
Do you have any resources for extraordinary BP templates? I have already downloaded everything in the Reader Resources, and searching in the Reader Forums brought back nothing.Do you have any resources for extraordinary BP templates? I have already downloaded everything in the Reader Resources, and searching in the Reader Forums brought back nothing.
P.S. You’ll be glad to hear I already quit my job at age 28 to take a 3 month mini-retirement in Europe last year and now I’m just starting to figure out what I want to do the rest of my life. Your book really helps.P.S. You’ll be glad to hear I already quit my job at age 28 to take a 3 month mini-retirement in Europe last year and now I’m just starting to figure out what I want to do the rest of my life. Your book really helps.
Gracias / Danke / Merci / Spasiba / Arigato / ThanksGracias / Danke / Merci / Spasiba / Arigato / Thanks
LaraLara
[…] blog at his website. Visit him and you’ll be as hooked on his wisdom as I am – his latest post gives some thoughts for how to learn a language in days (yes, […][…] blog at his website. Visit him and you’ll be as hooked on his wisdom as I am – his latest post gives some thoughts for how to learn a language in days (yes, […]
There’s a great site for learning languages and checking out transparency which is very important in picking a target. Here’s an example with Italian:There’s a great site for learning languages and checking out transparency which is very important in picking a target. Here’s an example with Italian:
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/e/languages/similarities/italian/index.htmlhttp://how-to-learn-any-language.com/e/languages/similarities/italian/index.html
Italian shares 85% of its vocabulary with French and 80% with Spanish.Italian shares 85% of its vocabulary with French and 80% with Spanish.
If you want language profiles, check out how popular languages are and their difficulty:If you want language profiles, check out how popular languages are and their difficulty:
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/e/languages/index.htmlhttp://how-to-learn-any-language.com/e/languages/index.html
If your first language is english (I’m guessing if you read this blog) then the closest ones to english to learn would be French, Italian, Spanish, Portugese, Norweigan, and Dutch in decending order.If your first language is english (I’m guessing if you read this blog) then the closest ones to english to learn would be French, Italian, Spanish, Portugese, Norweigan, and Dutch in decending order.
I was here looking for a permalink to put on my blog – I just need to join technorati – glad to help!I was here looking for a permalink to put on my blog – I just need to join technorati – glad to help!
~Marcie~Marcie
Keep it goin’, Timmy me boy!Keep it goin’, Timmy me boy!
I’m knee deep in learning German thanks to your teachings. I initially wanted to learn French, but am having an easier time picking up German. I’m already fluent in Spanish, so an extra language or two in my arsenal won’t hurt a bit!I’m knee deep in learning German thanks to your teachings. I initially wanted to learn French, but am having an easier time picking up German. I’m already fluent in Spanish, so an extra language or two in my arsenal won’t hurt a bit!
Tri-lingual, baby! 😉Tri-lingual, baby! 😉
This is extremely useful Tim. As I prepare for a huge life change I will soon find myself travelling from country to country with little time to seperate each place. This, along with the foreign mangas and foreign movies I should be able to get by in each country with 5-7 days practice on each language. Not to mention being completely surrounded by each language will be a huge help.This is extremely useful Tim. As I prepare for a huge life change I will soon find myself travelling from country to country with little time to seperate each place. This, along with the foreign mangas and foreign movies I should be able to get by in each country with 5-7 days practice on each language. Not to mention being completely surrounded by each language will be a huge help.
I was curious, where do you find your foreign manga for each language? Do you purchase the english version along with the foreign version?I was curious, where do you find your foreign manga for each language? Do you purchase the english version along with the foreign version?
Magnifico! As a native Spanish speaker, I find portuguese and Italian closely relative to Spanish and thus I can pick up words and sentences in conversations with considerable ease than other languages. Please more on this topic. By the way, will you be in Europe, say Amsterdam, this Thanksgiving?Magnifico! As a native Spanish speaker, I find portuguese and Italian closely relative to Spanish and thus I can pick up words and sentences in conversations with considerable ease than other languages. Please more on this topic. By the way, will you be in Europe, say Amsterdam, this Thanksgiving?
[…] Ferriss has a fascinating post today about how he deconstructs any language to determine if it’s feasible to reach fluency in that […][…] Ferriss has a fascinating post today about how he deconstructs any language to determine if it’s feasible to reach fluency in that […]
Fun article. I couldn’t help but find it funny that there is an error in the Arabic graphic that opens the post, though. Akalty would be you (fem.) ate, not I eat. Maybe that will get covered in hour two. 🙂Fun article. I couldn’t help but find it funny that there is an error in the Arabic graphic that opens the post, though. Akalty would be you (fem.) ate, not I eat. Maybe that will get covered in hour two. 🙂
######
LOL… some of the Arabic doesn’t correspond to the English next to it. Most of that is by design, but there could certainly be some mistakes in there. On to hour 2… 🙂LOL… some of the Arabic doesn’t correspond to the English next to it. Most of that is by design, but there could certainly be some mistakes in there. On to hour 2… 🙂
TimTim
Great post, Tim! I’ve been reading your blog regularly after reading your book. As a fellow language enthusiast, I am fascinated by how linguistic comprehension seems to come out of exposure plus prior mental frameworks. Looks like your heading down the same path. I would love to read more about your approach.Great post, Tim! I’ve been reading your blog regularly after reading your book. As a fellow language enthusiast, I am fascinated by how linguistic comprehension seems to come out of exposure plus prior mental frameworks. Looks like your heading down the same path. I would love to read more about your approach.
I was just wondering myself this week how difficult it would be to pull a “Loom of Language” rule-based approach for taking the idea that these languages are related, and converting them into an actual pedagogy.I was just wondering myself this week how difficult it would be to pull a “Loom of Language” rule-based approach for taking the idea that these languages are related, and converting them into an actual pedagogy.
This is a big step in that direction. Now if the experts can start building up fast courses from it… rather than the ass-backwards way languages are usually taught. My experiences with Hungarian, a language surely designed to fail your test for most English speakers, has definitely taught me that learning the rules is the best way forward.This is a big step in that direction. Now if the experts can start building up fast courses from it… rather than the ass-backwards way languages are usually taught. My experiences with Hungarian, a language surely designed to fail your test for most English speakers, has definitely taught me that learning the rules is the best way forward.
I wonder if you have heard of Michel Thomas who spoke several languages after having deconstructed them in a similar way to your own. He is no longer alive but his company still produces CDs. Though a little on the expensive side, they can really give one a great head start. For example, after listening to his 8-hour CD, I understood and could use just about all of the verb tenses.I wonder if you have heard of Michel Thomas who spoke several languages after having deconstructed them in a similar way to your own. He is no longer alive but his company still produces CDs. Though a little on the expensive side, they can really give one a great head start. For example, after listening to his 8-hour CD, I understood and could use just about all of the verb tenses.
I should add the usual disclaimer that I have nothing to do with Michel Thomas Language Centers, I just endorse the deconstruction process that you both use.I should add the usual disclaimer that I have nothing to do with Michel Thomas Language Centers, I just endorse the deconstruction process that you both use.
This is the type of post I love. I am a big fan of your approach to testing assumptions, pushing boundaries, and unconventional thinking and problem solving. Keep it coming!This is the type of post I love. I am a big fan of your approach to testing assumptions, pushing boundaries, and unconventional thinking and problem solving. Keep it coming!
For Tim:For Tim:
Saudações do Brasil.Saudações do Brasil.
Vou começar a estudar francês ano que vem e vou testar seu método para começar. Na verdade, eu prefiro dominar uns três idiomas (incluindo a língua materna) a saber como dizer “oi”, “tchau”, “táxi”, “me dá um hambúrguer” em vinte.Vou começar a estudar francês ano que vem e vou testar seu método para começar. Na verdade, eu prefiro dominar uns três idiomas (incluindo a língua materna) a saber como dizer “oi”, “tchau”, “táxi”, “me dá um hambúrguer” em vinte.
A não ser “na sua casa ou na minha” que eu sei dizer em várias línguas. Mas isso é uma questão de prioridades. :pA não ser “na sua casa ou na minha” que eu sei dizer em várias línguas. Mas isso é uma questão de prioridades. :p
——————————————————-——————————————————-
For all:For all:
Some thoughts about languages:Some thoughts about languages:
Monolingual people tend to think that there is an one-to-one correspondence between the words of two different languages.Monolingual people tend to think that there is an one-to-one correspondence between the words of two different languages.
You know “suck” means to hold something in your mouth and pull on it with your tongue and lips. The word for that in Portuguese is “chupar”.You know “suck” means to hold something in your mouth and pull on it with your tongue and lips. The word for that in Portuguese is “chupar”.
But if you want to say that your job sucks, this verb (chupar) won’t help. So first thing is to dismiss this myth. Words have several meanings. These meanings are mapped differently by different languages. The Enuit have several ways of saying snow because they perceive different kinds of snow, they need these distinctions. We don’t have snow in Brazil (well, it is very rare), how many words do you think we need? One or two.But if you want to say that your job sucks, this verb (chupar) won’t help. So first thing is to dismiss this myth. Words have several meanings. These meanings are mapped differently by different languages. The Enuit have several ways of saying snow because they perceive different kinds of snow, they need these distinctions. We don’t have snow in Brazil (well, it is very rare), how many words do you think we need? One or two.
These things are kind of obvious but a lot of people don’t realize them.These things are kind of obvious but a lot of people don’t realize them.
Good post Tim. I use a similar (but nowhere near as organised) method of language acquisition. In a nutshell, I learn the grammar first, as once I know the structure, words are easy.Good post Tim. I use a similar (but nowhere near as organised) method of language acquisition. In a nutshell, I learn the grammar first, as once I know the structure, words are easy.
And the other way I think about it, I don’t know all the words in English yet…And the other way I think about it, I don’t know all the words in English yet…
Enjoy,Enjoy,
Nice strategy. I’d also throw in a question form there – say, “Where is the toilet?” – while you’re foraging for basics on the plane.Nice strategy. I’d also throw in a question form there – say, “Where is the toilet?” – while you’re foraging for basics on the plane.
Oh, and though I linked you at http://japanscan.blogspot.com/ apparently Technorati has the hiccups at the moment.Oh, and though I linked you at http://japanscan.blogspot.com/ apparently Technorati has the hiccups at the moment.
Cheers!Cheers!
hey tim, read your book. i am impressed. i am confused on drop shipping. where can i find drop shippers and how about ones that are legit.hey tim, read your book. i am impressed. i am confused on drop shipping. where can i find drop shippers and how about ones that are legit.
any help would be greatly appreciated.any help would be greatly appreciated.
Wow! Thanks. Unique and impressive approach: logical; manageable and even taxonomical for the mono-linguists among us (like me, {sigh!}). I crave to learn new language but am somewhat afraid to start. It gives me more confidence in approach to learning a new language. So sincerely, thanks.Wow! Thanks. Unique and impressive approach: logical; manageable and even taxonomical for the mono-linguists among us (like me, {sigh!}). I crave to learn new language but am somewhat afraid to start. It gives me more confidence in approach to learning a new language. So sincerely, thanks.
And to answer your question: And to answer your question:
… no, this is not too dense.But a suggestion, if I may: What would be awesome is to see you use this specific method and explain several languages in a very verbose fashion(i.e. one post each). After you have done your method, then have some respected, arm’s length educator(s) review, augment, amend, critique or whatever to provide even greater insight on learning that language.Hey, the Intertubes are about sharing ideas, and those of us wishing to learn a new language would appreciate it.… no, this is not too dense.But a suggestion, if I may: What would be awesome is to see you use this specific method and explain several languages in a very verbose fashion(i.e. one post each). After you have done your method, then have some respected, arm’s length educator(s) review, augment, amend, critique or whatever to provide even greater insight on learning that language.Hey, the Intertubes are about sharing ideas, and those of us wishing to learn a new language would appreciate it.
i absolutely vote for more posts of this nature. i love learning languages, am always looking for new ways, and find this helpful. i spent 6 weeks intensively studying arabic at university of chicago, and we delved into esoteric grammatical rules, and at the end of the time, i had virtually no practical knowledge. i consider this method to be the exact opposite of that.i absolutely vote for more posts of this nature. i love learning languages, am always looking for new ways, and find this helpful. i spent 6 weeks intensively studying arabic at university of chicago, and we delved into esoteric grammatical rules, and at the end of the time, i had virtually no practical knowledge. i consider this method to be the exact opposite of that.
on a sidenote, have you read the language instinct, by steven pinker? a lot of your tips remind me of stuff i read in that book (which id reccommend if you havent).on a sidenote, have you read the language instinct, by steven pinker? a lot of your tips remind me of stuff i read in that book (which id reccommend if you havent).
[…] 2007-11-07: Check out this site on learning to speak languages…. http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/11/07/how-to-learn-but-not-master-any-language-in-1-hour-p… Related […][…] 2007-11-07: Check out this site on learning to speak languages…. http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/11/07/how-to-learn-but-not-master-any-language-in-1-hour-p… Related […]
Hi Tim,Hi Tim,
Fascinating post! It will definitely help me choose which language to tackle next, or at least to help me know what I’m getting into. I would love more posts of this nature–not too dense at all.Fascinating post! It will definitely help me choose which language to tackle next, or at least to help me know what I’m getting into. I would love more posts of this nature–not too dense at all.
One side note, though. I studied Sanskrit in college (not recommended according to 4hww principles). Learning a language that grammatically and semantically complex expanded the way I perceive the world, even though I never became close to “fluent”. There are more puns and multiple connotations possible in very dense languages, and pleasure results from learning just enough to experience that. So fluency might not be the only goal in learning how new languages work.One side note, though. I studied Sanskrit in college (not recommended according to 4hww principles). Learning a language that grammatically and semantically complex expanded the way I perceive the world, even though I never became close to “fluent”. There are more puns and multiple connotations possible in very dense languages, and pleasure results from learning just enough to experience that. So fluency might not be the only goal in learning how new languages work.
One question: how do you know when learning a similar language will be easy and when it will interfere? I learned Spanish and French at the same time in high school with no interference at all. Now that I’m older, I’m starting to mix up the two. I’d like to try Italian next–will this be easier or harder than learning a non-romance language?One question: how do you know when learning a similar language will be easy and when it will interfere? I learned Spanish and French at the same time in high school with no interference at all. Now that I’m older, I’m starting to mix up the two. I’d like to try Italian next–will this be easier or harder than learning a non-romance language?
Thanks again for the post!Thanks again for the post!
Jenny CornbleetJenny Cornbleet
Hola Tim,Hola Tim,
Saludos de una Venezolana que ahora vive en Tejas.Saludos de una Venezolana que ahora vive en Tejas.
Si, esta informacion no es solamente practica, sino interesante. Me gustaria saber mas sobre tus ideas linguisticas y como pueden ser aplicadas en negociaciones internacionles (talvez este sistema no es practico para negocios?)Si, esta informacion no es solamente practica, sino interesante. Me gustaria saber mas sobre tus ideas linguisticas y como pueden ser aplicadas en negociaciones internacionles (talvez este sistema no es practico para negocios?)
This is wonderful stuff! Thank you!This is wonderful stuff! Thank you!
Cheers,Cheers,
CarolenaCarolena
Tim,Tim,
Did you know that American Sign Language use SOV.Did you know that American Sign Language use SOV.
JoeJoe
######
Hi All!Hi All!
So many cool observations and questions. Let me try and answer/comment upon a few:So many cool observations and questions. Let me try and answer/comment upon a few:
-Joe, I didn’t know that ASL uses SOV. That is too cool! Esperanto, anyone?-Joe, I didn’t know that ASL uses SOV. That is too cool! Esperanto, anyone?
-Michel Thomas CDs are one of the few collections I recommend. Very, very good. The usual Pimsleur tend to be WAY too slow and repetitive for most brains. His CDs are Pimsleur on steroids.-Michel Thomas CDs are one of the few collections I recommend. Very, very good. The usual Pimsleur tend to be WAY too slow and repetitive for most brains. His CDs are Pimsleur on steroids.
-Celebs and gatekeepers. Make friends with gatekeepers. For many celebs and other high-profile folks, they make a lot of the decisions. Leave voicemail the first time, then wait a while before doing so again.-Celebs and gatekeepers. Make friends with gatekeepers. For many celebs and other high-profile folks, they make a lot of the decisions. Leave voicemail the first time, then wait a while before doing so again.
-Business plans for bank financing due to having to prepurchase lots of inventory. My rec’s: #1 – reconsider buying lots of inventory upfront and look at other business models that don’t require it. #2 – check out “guerrilla financing” http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Financing-Marketing-Bruce-Blechman/dp/0395522641/ref=sr_1_1/002-0498323-6621606?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194491939&sr=8-1,-Business plans for bank financing due to having to prepurchase lots of inventory. My rec’s: #1 – reconsider buying lots of inventory upfront and look at other business models that don’t require it. #2 – check out “guerrilla financing” http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Financing-Marketing-Bruce-Blechman/dp/0395522641/ref=sr_1_1/002-0498323-6621606?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194491939&sr=8-1,
#3 – get “The Entrepreneurial Venture” http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Financing-Marketing-Bruce-Blechman/dp/0395522641/ref=sr_1_1/002-0498323-6621606?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194491939&sr=8-1#3 – get “The Entrepreneurial Venture” http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Financing-Marketing-Bruce-Blechman/dp/0395522641/ref=sr_1_1/002-0498323-6621606?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194491939&sr=8-1
-Where to find foreign language manga? Amazon, Amazon in your target country, or find a friend in that city via Craigslist or whatever and beg 🙂-Where to find foreign language manga? Amazon, Amazon in your target country, or find a friend in that city via Craigslist or whatever and beg 🙂
Hope that helps!Hope that helps!
TimTim
Tim,Tim,
I loved 4HWW and I absolutely love 4HB, although I have much more of it to read..I’ve just spent my first night actually reading your blog, and I don’t know why it took me so long to get here..;-)I loved 4HWW and I absolutely love 4HB, although I have much more of it to read..I’ve just spent my first night actually reading your blog, and I don’t know why it took me so long to get here..;-)
.Anyhow, for an excellent source of native language materials in another language, use eBay. I’ve picked up tons of foreign language material that way. Everything from children’s books (best for starting out in a more traditional style of learning, with easier grammar and vocab, although I would rethink that now!) to full length novels. If you enter the language you are looking for and “language” (eg. French language, German language, etc.), you are probably going to find something. Be warned, this will give you a lot of results, but if you cull through them, you’ll be sure to find some good resources for what you want. When you find a good seller, stick with them. I’ve had sellers throw in bonus books for being a good customer! (They seem to really like the fact that you are trying to learn their language, although this will obviously vary with sellers.) Also, if you have a favorite author, you can try looking for that author’s name plus ____ language (eg., Dan Brown French language). It may or may not work, but it’s worth a try. This is most helpful with international bestsellers such as the aforementioned author’s “The DaVinci Code,” as it was so widely printed..Anyhow, for an excellent source of native language materials in another language, use eBay. I’ve picked up tons of foreign language material that way. Everything from children’s books (best for starting out in a more traditional style of learning, with easier grammar and vocab, although I would rethink that now!) to full length novels. If you enter the language you are looking for and “language” (eg. French language, German language, etc.), you are probably going to find something. Be warned, this will give you a lot of results, but if you cull through them, you’ll be sure to find some good resources for what you want. When you find a good seller, stick with them. I’ve had sellers throw in bonus books for being a good customer! (They seem to really like the fact that you are trying to learn their language, although this will obviously vary with sellers.) Also, if you have a favorite author, you can try looking for that author’s name plus ____ language (eg., Dan Brown French language). It may or may not work, but it’s worth a try. This is most helpful with international bestsellers such as the aforementioned author’s “The DaVinci Code,” as it was so widely printed.
Over a decade ago I made a documentary for the BBC following Michel Thomas in the classroom. You can watch it here.Over a decade ago I made a documentary for the BBC following Michel Thomas in the classroom. You can watch it here.
I was lucky enough to be taught by Michel as well. He was a remarkable man.I was lucky enough to be taught by Michel as well. He was a remarkable man.
Awesome, thanks for posting that link Nigel. I’ve been trying to find that documentary for a while now….Awesome, thanks for posting that link Nigel. I’ve been trying to find that documentary for a while now….
I was following up on the recommended reading in your response post to have it handy in case I hit these road bumps and realized the second link is a duplicate of the first and when I searched Amazon for the title you listed as “Action #3 – ‘The Entrepreneurial Venture'” Amazon can’t find anything. Do you have any other information on what you’re referring to by “The Entrepreneurial Venture?”I was following up on the recommended reading in your response post to have it handy in case I hit these road bumps and realized the second link is a duplicate of the first and when I searched Amazon for the title you listed as “Action #3 – ‘The Entrepreneurial Venture'” Amazon can’t find anything. Do you have any other information on what you’re referring to by “The Entrepreneurial Venture?”
Thanks in advance!Thanks in advance!
Thanks for the financing book links, Tim, I will keep you posted on how it all works out.Thanks for the financing book links, Tim, I will keep you posted on how it all works out.
LaraLara
[…] http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/11/07… […][…] http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/11/07… […]
[…] deconstruction step surfaced as one of the distinguishing habits of the fastest language learners.article Published 07 November 2007 09:29 PM by […][…] deconstruction step surfaced as one of the distinguishing habits of the fastest language learners.article Published 07 November 2007 09:29 PM by […]
Loved the post!Loved the post!
I really enjoy the nuts and bolts stuff; it helps show me how you think as you approach things, and sparks my own experiments. That’s the biggest takeaway from your book so far for me: changing the way you act, perceive, and dream so that your life becomes what you wish it to be.I really enjoy the nuts and bolts stuff; it helps show me how you think as you approach things, and sparks my own experiments. That’s the biggest takeaway from your book so far for me: changing the way you act, perceive, and dream so that your life becomes what you wish it to be.
Method not working? CHANGE IT!Method not working? CHANGE IT!
Cheers,Cheers,
DameronDameron
Hey Tim, it might be helpful if you added a “Fav this blog” by technorati button if you want the lazy people to add it to their favorites.Hey Tim, it might be helpful if you added a “Fav this blog” by technorati button if you want the lazy people to add it to their favorites.
Hi Tim,Hi Tim,
I enjoyed your article, it is very true! 2 years ago I just sat down and broke apart the Korean language, and it was so easy from then on to learn it. Then after I went to Korea and the whole experience was amazing!I enjoyed your article, it is very true! 2 years ago I just sat down and broke apart the Korean language, and it was so easy from then on to learn it. Then after I went to Korea and the whole experience was amazing!
Last summer I went to China, but at that time I wasn’t as well prepared. I’ve found it more difficult to break down Mandarin Chinese, any advice or recommendations?Last summer I went to China, but at that time I wasn’t as well prepared. I’ve found it more difficult to break down Mandarin Chinese, any advice or recommendations?
I have been using the Rosetta Stone software, I find it very helpful to keep me active at learning.I have been using the Rosetta Stone software, I find it very helpful to keep me active at learning.
I think the main reason mandarin is so hard is because it does not have phoenetics like you mentioned in your article. I’ve used pinyin and understand that fine. But I still find the language more of a challenge.I think the main reason mandarin is so hard is because it does not have phoenetics like you mentioned in your article. I’ve used pinyin and understand that fine. But I still find the language more of a challenge.
Have you tried going to a foreign nation and testing out your knowledge? It is an amazing experience!Have you tried going to a foreign nation and testing out your knowledge? It is an amazing experience!
Thanks for the helpThanks for the help
Not sure I fully understand the use or application of this. I mean, not sure this really buys you anything as you can get the same thing from the quick language section in a Fodor’s or Lonely Planet. Plus in order to deconstruct a language you need to know something about it, yea?Not sure I fully understand the use or application of this. I mean, not sure this really buys you anything as you can get the same thing from the quick language section in a Fodor’s or Lonely Planet. Plus in order to deconstruct a language you need to know something about it, yea?
Excellent article, I would love to see you write more (much more detailed) about this.Excellent article, I would love to see you write more (much more detailed) about this.
This is the first time I’ve seen language approached from anything other than a ‘wrote learn these words and phrases’. I’d love to hear more. I’ve been wanting to learn another lanugage.This is the first time I’ve seen language approached from anything other than a ‘wrote learn these words and phrases’. I’d love to hear more. I’ve been wanting to learn another lanugage.
linked:linked:
http://blueorchiddesigns.blogspot.com/2007/11/how-to-tie-perfect-tie.htmlhttp://blueorchiddesigns.blogspot.com/2007/11/how-to-tie-perfect-tie.html
BonjourBonjour
C’est un article trés intéressant, je vais essayer d’apprendre le cambodgien grâce à votre méthode.C’est un article trés intéressant, je vais essayer d’apprendre le cambodgien grâce à votre méthode.
Je vous tiens au courant !Je vous tiens au courant !
MerciMerci
AlexAlex
five minutes ago I was unable to understand english and now I can read and write and leave a comment on your blog, amazing, thank you !five minutes ago I was unable to understand english and now I can read and write and leave a comment on your blog, amazing, thank you !
Hi.Hi.
Sorry to be a party-pooper, but I honestly don’t see the point of this post.Sorry to be a party-pooper, but I honestly don’t see the point of this post.
The process described above doesn’t talk about learning a language at all (as indicated by the title), but about learning which languages are close to languages you already know. Everyone knows some languages are similar than others – and naturally it takes more time for an English speaker to learn Chinese than to learn French. This is even admitted by the author in the text (“how long would it take to become functionally fluent”).The process described above doesn’t talk about learning a language at all (as indicated by the title), but about learning which languages are close to languages you already know. Everyone knows some languages are similar than others – and naturally it takes more time for an English speaker to learn Chinese than to learn French. This is even admitted by the author in the text (“how long would it take to become functionally fluent”).
All this is nothing but the identification of several major grammatical traits (do cases exist, is the word order SVO or SOV), given the somewhat pompous name of “deconstruction” (which ignores the important meanings this term already has in the academic world).All this is nothing but the identification of several major grammatical traits (do cases exist, is the word order SVO or SOV), given the somewhat pompous name of “deconstruction” (which ignores the important meanings this term already has in the academic world).
So make no mistake – it’s possible to learn several interesting facts about a language in an hour, even some facts that would allow you to gauge how close a language is to your own (even though this info is usually already readily available), but learning a language in an hour like the title say 🙂 Please…So make no mistake – it’s possible to learn several interesting facts about a language in an hour, even some facts that would allow you to gauge how close a language is to your own (even though this info is usually already readily available), but learning a language in an hour like the title say 🙂 Please…
Regarding GR vs Pinyin, I found at least one study online that concluded otherwise. “GR did not lead to significantly greater accuracy in tonal production. Indeed, the use of GR reflected slightly lower rates of tonal producation accuracy for native speakers of both American English and Japanese.”Regarding GR vs Pinyin, I found at least one study online that concluded otherwise. “GR did not lead to significantly greater accuracy in tonal production. Indeed, the use of GR reflected slightly lower rates of tonal producation accuracy for native speakers of both American English and Japanese.”
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0026-7902(199722)81:22.0CO;2-R&size=SMALLhttp://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0026-7902(199722)81:22.0CO;2-R&size=SMALL
or just go to the wikipedia article on GR, and look at the rferences;-)or just go to the wikipedia article on GR, and look at the rferences;-)
This is useful to a freakish extent! I’m a native American-English speaker and I’ve been trying to learn Dutch over the last few weeks, as well as master Spanish for the last 5 weeks. Your method worked very well and now I can safely say I’m conversationally fluent in Dutch! As for Spanish, which isn’t as relatable, I sat down with a Salvadoreño I know yesterday and we went over the pronunciations like you suggested. It helped greatly in learning to speak without an accent. That still doesn’t pass me with the Mexicans, who are certainly more populous in America than the Salvadorians, but it helps! Thanks a lot!This is useful to a freakish extent! I’m a native American-English speaker and I’ve been trying to learn Dutch over the last few weeks, as well as master Spanish for the last 5 weeks. Your method worked very well and now I can safely say I’m conversationally fluent in Dutch! As for Spanish, which isn’t as relatable, I sat down with a Salvadoreño I know yesterday and we went over the pronunciations like you suggested. It helped greatly in learning to speak without an accent. That still doesn’t pass me with the Mexicans, who are certainly more populous in America than the Salvadorians, but it helps! Thanks a lot!
[…] Mba nanaitra kely ahy ihany, possible ve izany ? Manazava fikafika ilay article-na blaogy kely ity ahafahana manao an’izany : How to learn (but not master) any language in 1 hour ? […][…] Mba nanaitra kely ahy ihany, possible ve izany ? Manazava fikafika ilay article-na blaogy kely ity ahafahana manao an’izany : How to learn (but not master) any language in 1 hour ? […]
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I am interested, would you be able to deconstruct Lithuanian language?I am interested, would you be able to deconstruct Lithuanian language?
If you need any help with that I can try to help.If you need any help with that I can try to help.
I like the idea behind your approach, but it seems to me you’re missing a few key factors. While deconstruaction is probably a necessary step in language learning, it shouldn’t form the basis of whether or not one learns a language. Your method does not address the issue of learner motivation, which I have found in my linguistic work to be very important. “I’m learning langauge X because it’s got the easiest rules” does not seem like it would be sufficient motivation to really get anywhere. It assumes that learning any language for a student is the same as learning any other language (from an application perspective). Furthermore, selecting a language based on it’s similarity to one’s native tongue seems contrary to the spirit of learning a language at all. If we’re setting the bar as low as possible, why not just rent a foreign film with subtitles, congratulate ourselves on being so worldly, and call it a day? Learning another language is one of the most difficult things a person can do; setting out to do so with a “minimal effort” mindset to me seems like bad idea.I like the idea behind your approach, but it seems to me you’re missing a few key factors. While deconstruaction is probably a necessary step in language learning, it shouldn’t form the basis of whether or not one learns a language. Your method does not address the issue of learner motivation, which I have found in my linguistic work to be very important. “I’m learning langauge X because it’s got the easiest rules” does not seem like it would be sufficient motivation to really get anywhere. It assumes that learning any language for a student is the same as learning any other language (from an application perspective). Furthermore, selecting a language based on it’s similarity to one’s native tongue seems contrary to the spirit of learning a language at all. If we’re setting the bar as low as possible, why not just rent a foreign film with subtitles, congratulate ourselves on being so worldly, and call it a day? Learning another language is one of the most difficult things a person can do; setting out to do so with a “minimal effort” mindset to me seems like bad idea.
contect me if interested in Lithuaniancontect me if interested in Lithuanian
An hour seems a bit short (but, hey, it’s showbiz :-P), though i don’t disagree that common language teaching methods painfully under-emphasize what can be learned from a bit of linguistic deconstruction. Especially in languages with very synthetic morphologies, a bit of top-down can make the bottom-up so much more efficient. It’s blatant cruelty to omit it when it can do so much good. That’s been a big deal for me in Russian, and a big help in figuring out which English words are likely to be Spanish cognates.An hour seems a bit short (but, hey, it’s showbiz :-P), though i don’t disagree that common language teaching methods painfully under-emphasize what can be learned from a bit of linguistic deconstruction. Especially in languages with very synthetic morphologies, a bit of top-down can make the bottom-up so much more efficient. It’s blatant cruelty to omit it when it can do so much good. That’s been a big deal for me in Russian, and a big help in figuring out which English words are likely to be Spanish cognates.
Caveats: I know plenty of linguists who know all the trivia and little more. Also: listening?Caveats: I know plenty of linguists who know all the trivia and little more. Also: listening?
I would have to say yes continue with the article was very inspirational :).I would have to say yes continue with the article was very inspirational :).
It’s fine that you try to understand the challenge you’re about to face before starting to learn a language – or anything else, for that matter… –, and it’s fine that, if you realise that that challenge is too big, you just go into something else instead, but putting things the way you do is oversimplifying a bit…It’s fine that you try to understand the challenge you’re about to face before starting to learn a language – or anything else, for that matter… –, and it’s fine that, if you realise that that challenge is too big, you just go into something else instead, but putting things the way you do is oversimplifying a bit…
First of all, not everybody – far from it – has linguistic knowledge enough to make the tests you suggest. Most of the people don’t have any idea what a case is, or even a direct or indirect object. But even people with more technical knowledge about language very often cannot suspect what the problems will be just by dealing with a few sentences – and the ones you choose are certainly not well designed to make you aware of the complexities of certain languages. Let’s take noun case as an example, since you talk about it: the sentences you propose will tell you if there is case declension only if that case declension is syntax-based, as in Russian or Latin, but what if the distinction is semantic, like in the so-called ergative languages? Even if you saw that the subject has different endings in, let’s imagine, “the soldiers fell” and “the soldiers fell upon their enemy”, you wouldn’t even probably understand why (or perhaps you would, but many other people wouldn’t…). But imagine that the problem is something that you don’t even know exists and these sentences don’t give you any clue about – a huge number of noun classes, for instance, or a fixed position in the sentence for some kinds of adverbs, or complex systems to mark time/mode/aspect/aktionsart, the list is endless… The same about phonetics: it’s not always the case that vowels are the problem. Sometimes, consonants are the problem and we can’t hear it, because we don’t recognize the relevant distinctive features – like difference between aspirated and non-aspirated occlusives, for instance…First of all, not everybody – far from it – has linguistic knowledge enough to make the tests you suggest. Most of the people don’t have any idea what a case is, or even a direct or indirect object. But even people with more technical knowledge about language very often cannot suspect what the problems will be just by dealing with a few sentences – and the ones you choose are certainly not well designed to make you aware of the complexities of certain languages. Let’s take noun case as an example, since you talk about it: the sentences you propose will tell you if there is case declension only if that case declension is syntax-based, as in Russian or Latin, but what if the distinction is semantic, like in the so-called ergative languages? Even if you saw that the subject has different endings in, let’s imagine, “the soldiers fell” and “the soldiers fell upon their enemy”, you wouldn’t even probably understand why (or perhaps you would, but many other people wouldn’t…). But imagine that the problem is something that you don’t even know exists and these sentences don’t give you any clue about – a huge number of noun classes, for instance, or a fixed position in the sentence for some kinds of adverbs, or complex systems to mark time/mode/aspect/aktionsart, the list is endless… The same about phonetics: it’s not always the case that vowels are the problem. Sometimes, consonants are the problem and we can’t hear it, because we don’t recognize the relevant distinctive features – like difference between aspirated and non-aspirated occlusives, for instance…
Anyway, it’s good to try to be aware of what the problems will be, I repeat, but, as any language teacher knows, you don’t learn a language by being aware of its structure. Most of the learning process has little to do with awareness – although it cannot be bad to commit yourself and to study. Factors that can determine your success in language learning – or in specific parts of that learning, say, pronunciation – are far from any possible control – like age, which is one of the most important! Also other aspects of the learner’s background (like being used to learning languages, but also many others) can be of great importance. But not only: we don’t know exactly why, but some people are very fast at learning languages and some people don’t learn them at all – and my experience tells me that, in most of these extreme cases, the method used is completely irrelevant for success or the lack of it…Anyway, it’s good to try to be aware of what the problems will be, I repeat, but, as any language teacher knows, you don’t learn a language by being aware of its structure. Most of the learning process has little to do with awareness – although it cannot be bad to commit yourself and to study. Factors that can determine your success in language learning – or in specific parts of that learning, say, pronunciation – are far from any possible control – like age, which is one of the most important! Also other aspects of the learner’s background (like being used to learning languages, but also many others) can be of great importance. But not only: we don’t know exactly why, but some people are very fast at learning languages and some people don’t learn them at all – and my experience tells me that, in most of these extreme cases, the method used is completely irrelevant for success or the lack of it…
Another thing that, as someone refers in a comment to your text, you should take into account when determining how easy a language will be for you to learn is the amount of vocabulary that is similar to your language or one you speak well. One of the problems of learning Bahasa Indonesia for a normal English speaker – compared to learning French, for example – is to remember words that have nothing in common with the ones you already know, whereas 50% percent (or more) of the English words have some similarity to French ones; and, if I agree that too big a proximity between too languages can be a problem (like learning Danish after Norwegian, or vice-versa, or even simply learning Danish for a Norwegian native speaker), it is only a problem for speaking and writing properly: to know a very similar language is always a precious help to understand it and specially to read it.Another thing that, as someone refers in a comment to your text, you should take into account when determining how easy a language will be for you to learn is the amount of vocabulary that is similar to your language or one you speak well. One of the problems of learning Bahasa Indonesia for a normal English speaker – compared to learning French, for example – is to remember words that have nothing in common with the ones you already know, whereas 50% percent (or more) of the English words have some similarity to French ones; and, if I agree that too big a proximity between too languages can be a problem (like learning Danish after Norwegian, or vice-versa, or even simply learning Danish for a Norwegian native speaker), it is only a problem for speaking and writing properly: to know a very similar language is always a precious help to understand it and specially to read it.
Besides, most people do not (cannot!) choose if they want to invest on learning a new language and in which language they will invest based on some cost-benefit calculation. The reality in language learning is that most people learn languages they have not chosen to learn and for reasons beyond their control. Take the most obvious example – English. You do have to learn it nowadays, whether it is easy for you or not and whether you want it or not. You cannot simply decide that you’ll learn Chichewa instead….Besides, most people do not (cannot!) choose if they want to invest on learning a new language and in which language they will invest based on some cost-benefit calculation. The reality in language learning is that most people learn languages they have not chosen to learn and for reasons beyond their control. Take the most obvious example – English. You do have to learn it nowadays, whether it is easy for you or not and whether you want it or not. You cannot simply decide that you’ll learn Chichewa instead….
By the way, there is nothing special about Brazilian Portuguese open vowels. They exist in most English dialects as well… What do you mean? Like in já, só e pé?By the way, there is nothing special about Brazilian Portuguese open vowels. They exist in most English dialects as well… What do you mean? Like in já, só e pé?
Metagg is tracking this post…Metagg is tracking this post…
Find out what Social News Sites are discussing this post over at metagg.com…Find out what Social News Sites are discussing this post over at metagg.com…
Tim~Tim~
What a great article, I know what I’ll be doing this weekend, thanks for the insight and advice! I added u to my favorites in TechnoRati and will (unless you object) list you as a ‘recomended Blog’ on my blogs (well the 3 of the 4 I keep updated)What a great article, I know what I’ll be doing this weekend, thanks for the insight and advice! I added u to my favorites in TechnoRati and will (unless you object) list you as a ‘recomended Blog’ on my blogs (well the 3 of the 4 I keep updated)
~Dr. J. Robert M.~Dr. J. Robert M.
[…] interesanti padomi tiem kas v?las iem?c?ties jebk?du valodu. Tiek pielietots tas ko pats izmantoju – valodas […][…] interesanti padomi tiem kas v?las iem?c?ties jebk?du valodu. Tiek pielietots tas ko pats izmantoju – valodas […]
Tim,Tim,
Excellent article, and I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who is fascinated by other languages. I’d like to think that I’m illiterate in French, German, Japanese, Arabic, Spanish, Tagalog, and of course, English. I wish I’d had this article when I first moved to Japan 2.5 years ago…Excellent article, and I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who is fascinated by other languages. I’d like to think that I’m illiterate in French, German, Japanese, Arabic, Spanish, Tagalog, and of course, English. I wish I’d had this article when I first moved to Japan 2.5 years ago…
More Please!More Please!
Hi Tim,Hi Tim,
I think a lot of people would very much like to see larger images of the samples you have shown. It sounds all very well that you’ve deconstructed a language on one sheet of paper, but I can’t for the life of me make out anything you’ve done, so you can imagine it sounds very skeptical.I think a lot of people would very much like to see larger images of the samples you have shown. It sounds all very well that you’ve deconstructed a language on one sheet of paper, but I can’t for the life of me make out anything you’ve done, so you can imagine it sounds very skeptical.
More personally, as a Japanese language learner for a few years now, I would be interested in how you’ve done the same for that language. I’ve been told that my grammar and pronunciation are superb, but my vocabulary is highly lacking and it seems like your method of deconstruction arrives at a similar situation. Hard to tell without some details 😉More personally, as a Japanese language learner for a few years now, I would be interested in how you’ve done the same for that language. I’ve been told that my grammar and pronunciation are superb, but my vocabulary is highly lacking and it seems like your method of deconstruction arrives at a similar situation. Hard to tell without some details 😉
Very interesting read. I’ve been giving my own students a subset of these rules for choosing questions in exams for years, but I think it’s of limited use to anyone not looking to learn a language just for the hell of learning a new language. Then again, over here in continental Europe, English is so compelling as a second language that such considerations are largely insignificant.Very interesting read. I’ve been giving my own students a subset of these rules for choosing questions in exams for years, but I think it’s of limited use to anyone not looking to learn a language just for the hell of learning a new language. Then again, over here in continental Europe, English is so compelling as a second language that such considerations are largely insignificant.
What’s more, you’ll almost certainly end up better in a language you have a larger cultural interest/investment in, anyway, regardless of how tricky or weird it is.What’s more, you’ll almost certainly end up better in a language you have a larger cultural interest/investment in, anyway, regardless of how tricky or weird it is.
[…] Tim Ferriss om hur man lär sig ett språk på en timme. Man kanske ska ta detta med en nypa salt, men det är intressant. Vi är väldigt intresserade av språkinlärning på bloggen, om någon av våra läsare har kunskaper så tar vi gärna emot artiklar. […][…] Tim Ferriss om hur man lär sig ett språk på en timme. Man kanske ska ta detta med en nypa salt, men det är intressant. Vi är väldigt intresserade av språkinlärning på bloggen, om någon av våra läsare har kunskaper så tar vi gärna emot artiklar. […]
[…] Check out Tim Ferriss’s blog on how to learn a new language quickly. […][…] Check out Tim Ferriss’s blog on how to learn a new language quickly. […]
Good, I like.Good, I like.
[…] fantastico articolo!! Su alcuni metodi avevo ragionato anch’io per conto mio, ma l’approccio […][…] fantastico articolo!! Su alcuni metodi avevo ragionato anch’io per conto mio, ma l’approccio […]
Hi Tim, thanks for the amazing article. Please continue with this stuff! It’s extremely interesting. I’m Italian, living in the US, and my inlaws are chinese (cantonese). I want to learn cantonese for a long time now, but I’ve always been discouraged. Your article instilled new hope! Do you have any specific insights about cantonese?Hi Tim, thanks for the amazing article. Please continue with this stuff! It’s extremely interesting. I’m Italian, living in the US, and my inlaws are chinese (cantonese). I want to learn cantonese for a long time now, but I’ve always been discouraged. Your article instilled new hope! Do you have any specific insights about cantonese?
Please write more – it’s not dense at all, it’s awesome. Grazie mille!!Please write more – it’s not dense at all, it’s awesome. Grazie mille!!
“You can merge this with the above comment if you want”“You can merge this with the above comment if you want”
Just thought of this after commenting. Would you be able to show your notes on each of the languages you have deconstructed. Similar to the pictures you have posted just plus the others as well. 🙂Just thought of this after commenting. Would you be able to show your notes on each of the languages you have deconstructed. Similar to the pictures you have posted just plus the others as well. 🙂
MattMatt
[…] Aprender uma língua em 2 horas. Ou o seu dinheiro de volta. […][…] Aprender uma língua em 2 horas. Ou o seu dinheiro de volta. […]
Hey,Hey,
I have to say this is interesting article and what is more, I think everyone can do that. For example in Lithuania everyone speaks three languages and it is matter of few months to learn new one. But I don’t agree that it is very easy to understand new grammar or spoken language. Technically – Yes it easy, but in reality You will face with problems like dozens and hundreds of exceptions in grammar and speech…I have to say this is interesting article and what is more, I think everyone can do that. For example in Lithuania everyone speaks three languages and it is matter of few months to learn new one. But I don’t agree that it is very easy to understand new grammar or spoken language. Technically – Yes it easy, but in reality You will face with problems like dozens and hundreds of exceptions in grammar and speech…
Good luck doing wonderful job!Good luck doing wonderful job!
((
Labas,Labas,
Turiu pasakyti, kad šis straipsnis yra ?domus, manau kiekvienas tai gali padaryti. Pavyzdžiui Lietuvoje kiekvienas šneka trimis kalbomis ir išmokti nauj? kalb? yra keli? m?nesi? reikalas. Bet aš nesutinku, kad nauj? gramatik? ar šnekamaj? kalb? suprasti yra labai lengva. Techniškai – Taip, bet realyb?je susidursi su problemomis kaip tuzinai ir šimtai gramatikos ir kalbos išim?i?…Turiu pasakyti, kad šis straipsnis yra ?domus, manau kiekvienas tai gali padaryti. Pavyzdžiui Lietuvoje kiekvienas šneka trimis kalbomis ir išmokti nauj? kalb? yra keli? m?nesi? reikalas. Bet aš nesutinku, kad nauj? gramatik? ar šnekamaj? kalb? suprasti yra labai lengva. Techniškai – Taip, bet realyb?je susidursi su problemomis kaip tuzinai ir šimtai gramatikos ir kalbos išim?i?…
S?km?s darant nuostab? darb?!S?km?s darant nuostab? darb?!
))
There are some languages that are totally different. Basque and Japanese,to name a few. You suppose that all languages have structures including subjects, verbs and objects which is wrong (but mostly right for 80% of languages).There are some languages that are totally different. Basque and Japanese,to name a few. You suppose that all languages have structures including subjects, verbs and objects which is wrong (but mostly right for 80% of languages).
For example, Japanese’s structure is not as simple as you state (it is not SOV). The closest (but right) you could state would be V.For example, Japanese’s structure is not as simple as you state (it is not SOV). The closest (but right) you could state would be V.
Other langugages have totally different meanings (because of their culture and beliefs). For example, hebrew (biblical) has a very particular notion of time (in fact it is not organized as past, present or futur, but as “to be done”, and “has been done”).Other langugages have totally different meanings (because of their culture and beliefs). For example, hebrew (biblical) has a very particular notion of time (in fact it is not organized as past, present or futur, but as “to be done”, and “has been done”).
So your analysis only works with very similar languages.So your analysis only works with very similar languages.
[…] ?? ????? ????????????? self help ???????, ???? ???? ?? post ??? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ??? ?? […][…] ?? ????? ????????????? self help ???????, ???? ???? ?? post ??? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ??? ?? […]
Sounds like a great approach to learning a second language but quite different from the methods used in our schools today. Time for a change?Sounds like a great approach to learning a second language but quite different from the methods used in our schools today. Time for a change?
And is it that maybe bilingually raised children subconsciously use that sort of deconstruction approach? It is said that they are much better at acquiring fluency in a third language.And is it that maybe bilingually raised children subconsciously use that sort of deconstruction approach? It is said that they are much better at acquiring fluency in a third language.
[To be continued?] Please![To be continued?] Please!
[…] » How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) […][…] » How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) […]
Dette er en interessant studieteknikk. Takk 🙂Dette er en interessant studieteknikk. Takk 🙂
Think I’ll bookmark it for later.Think I’ll bookmark it for later.
This 4 hour work wee sounds worrying!!This 4 hour work wee sounds worrying!!
I suggest you drink less coffee …I suggest you drink less coffee …
In the UK, we are told at school that Spanish is really close to English and that, by learning French, languages romance like Spanish become easier to learn. And I think that overlaps with some of what you are saying.In the UK, we are told at school that Spanish is really close to English and that, by learning French, languages romance like Spanish become easier to learn. And I think that overlaps with some of what you are saying.
I come from a ‘memory techniques’ background and so I am always interested to hear about ways of learning languages quicker.I come from a ‘memory techniques’ background and so I am always interested to hear about ways of learning languages quicker.
http://www.nakedscience.com/articles/foreign language.htmhttp://www.nakedscience.com/articles/foreign language.htm
Very interesting post, Tim. I just hope I won’t ever sit next to you in a plane 😉Very interesting post, Tim. I just hope I won’t ever sit next to you in a plane 😉
Kidding aside, a key thing you did not mention are exceptions.Kidding aside, a key thing you did not mention are exceptions.
For example: I have studied both Turkish and Finnish. They share similiar construction logic, grammatic rules and have similar pronounciation. Finnish is much more difficult to learn because they are so many exceptions.For example: I have studied both Turkish and Finnish. They share similiar construction logic, grammatic rules and have similar pronounciation. Finnish is much more difficult to learn because they are so many exceptions.
Of course, this is important mostly if you intend to be fluent (i.e. not to sound like a monkey or make the sames mistakes as a 3-year old). Then if your objective is “just” to be able to have a conversation, you might chose different targets.Of course, this is important mostly if you intend to be fluent (i.e. not to sound like a monkey or make the sames mistakes as a 3-year old). Then if your objective is “just” to be able to have a conversation, you might chose different targets.
The initial learning curve is steep for some languages and easier after a while (e.g. for Westerners: Turkish, German, French?), while for others, it is easy to learn the basics but very difficult to speak really well (English, Spanish or other Latin languages when you already know one). Then of course, some have a steep curve all the way (Finnish)…The initial learning curve is steep for some languages and easier after a while (e.g. for Westerners: Turkish, German, French?), while for others, it is easy to learn the basics but very difficult to speak really well (English, Spanish or other Latin languages when you already know one). Then of course, some have a steep curve all the way (Finnish)…
Strange that no one noticed that this does not, in fact, describe how to “learn” anything, but it simply a way to filter which languages you should be considering…Strange that no one noticed that this does not, in fact, describe how to “learn” anything, but it simply a way to filter which languages you should be considering…
Please deconstruct Swedish next and post your results. Swedish is a difficult language for many. Tack! (That’s thanks in Swedish 🙂Please deconstruct Swedish next and post your results. Swedish is a difficult language for many. Tack! (That’s thanks in Swedish 🙂
Yeah, keep them coming, great stuff 🙂Yeah, keep them coming, great stuff 🙂
Nice!Nice!
Stumbled!Stumbled!
great tips, man! i’ll wait the next post.great tips, man! i’ll wait the next post.
This, for me, has been your most beneficial post, hands down. I’ve been learning Mandarin since April. It’s nice to see language learning from a different perspective. Thanks Tim, and keep the language posts coming.This, for me, has been your most beneficial post, hands down. I’ve been learning Mandarin since April. It’s nice to see language learning from a different perspective. Thanks Tim, and keep the language posts coming.
“Second, I’m looking at the fundamental sentence structure: is it subject-verb-object (SOV) like English and Chinese”“Second, I’m looking at the fundamental sentence structure: is it subject-verb-object (SOV) like English and Chinese”
^^^ make sure to fix this “subject-verb-object (SOV)” to ‘(SVO)’^^^^^^ make sure to fix this “subject-verb-object (SOV)” to ‘(SVO)’^^^
Good times.Good times.
Nice article. Not sure it’s as definitive as it could be, so a follow-up might be a good idea.Nice article. Not sure it’s as definitive as it could be, so a follow-up might be a good idea.
I would recommend more examples or possibly going through one language as a simple reference.I would recommend more examples or possibly going through one language as a simple reference.
This technique sounds very promising. I think I’ll try it out when I start learning Hebrew.This technique sounds very promising. I think I’ll try it out when I start learning Hebrew.
And your thesis sounds really interesting, actually. Any way you could provide us with a way to read that?And your thesis sounds really interesting, actually. Any way you could provide us with a way to read that?
This is fascinating stuff, if a little hard to digest – I’d LOVE to speak Spanish, Italian and French – not necessarily in that order but probably. Are there any suggestions as to the easiest and quickest way (apart from moving there) to learn languages? Or indeed a suggestion for a fantastic course?This is fascinating stuff, if a little hard to digest – I’d LOVE to speak Spanish, Italian and French – not necessarily in that order but probably. Are there any suggestions as to the easiest and quickest way (apart from moving there) to learn languages? Or indeed a suggestion for a fantastic course?
[…] Unlocked to learning new languagesread more | digg […][…] Unlocked to learning new languagesread more | digg […]
In the following line, shouldn’t it read “(SVO)” instead of “(SOV)”?In the following line, shouldn’t it read “(SVO)” instead of “(SOV)”?
“Second, I’m looking at the fundamental sentence structure: is it subject-verb-object (SOV)”“Second, I’m looking at the fundamental sentence structure: is it subject-verb-object (SOV)”
Tim,Tim,
Excellent article.Excellent article.
I am a non-linguist learning Irish and I am watching my children (8 and 5) learn Hebrew with my wife. My children are also keen to learn Irish so, all in all, language acquisition strategies are very close to my heart.I am a non-linguist learning Irish and I am watching my children (8 and 5) learn Hebrew with my wife. My children are also keen to learn Irish so, all in all, language acquisition strategies are very close to my heart.
As a matter of curiosity how did you find learning Irish and do you, or indeed anybody else, have a take on how easy or hard Hebrew is to learn compared to other languages?As a matter of curiosity how did you find learning Irish and do you, or indeed anybody else, have a take on how easy or hard Hebrew is to learn compared to other languages?
Another question: would a moderately bright child learning Irish side-by-side with Hebrew be a mistake or a good thing?Another question: would a moderately bright child learning Irish side-by-side with Hebrew be a mistake or a good thing?
Keep up the good work.Keep up the good work.
Excellent, yes I will read it if you write more!Excellent, yes I will read it if you write more!
Would you be willing to do an article per language? Like a series of sorts. Ive always wanted to learn Japanese, I know it a bit, but not enough to have a conversation. It would be really interesting to see how you came up with your system to learn it. I tried the Rosetta Stone program, but its awful.Would you be willing to do an article per language? Like a series of sorts. Ive always wanted to learn Japanese, I know it a bit, but not enough to have a conversation. It would be really interesting to see how you came up with your system to learn it. I tried the Rosetta Stone program, but its awful.
I’d love to see the notes you had on Russian. I have been thinking about learning it enough to carry a conversation. This method is fascinating. Thanks for the post!I’d love to see the notes you had on Russian. I have been thinking about learning it enough to carry a conversation. This method is fascinating. Thanks for the post!
Great post. My only problem is that I can’t even deconstruct my primary language, English, with such detail. I think a post explaining the deconstruction of the English sentences with examples and comparison of the same for a few different languages, like at least a similar and a very different, would be a great learning experience, at least for me.Great post. My only problem is that I can’t even deconstruct my primary language, English, with such detail. I think a post explaining the deconstruction of the English sentences with examples and comparison of the same for a few different languages, like at least a similar and a very different, would be a great learning experience, at least for me.
ThanksThanks
awesome blog, really dug it mang…actually it game me a lot of hope and drive to continue pursuing one of my dreams; To speak, or at least understand, Japanese.awesome blog, really dug it mang…actually it game me a lot of hope and drive to continue pursuing one of my dreams; To speak, or at least understand, Japanese.
Is it at all possible for you to post your deconstruction of Japanese, I don’t have anyone to ask the favor, so i figure i ask you. If you, do that would be great. Is it at all possible for you to post your deconstruction of Japanese, I don’t have anyone to ask the favor, so i figure i ask you. If you, do that would be great.
thanks either waythanks either way
[…] How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) Filed under: cool — psxtavi @ 6:12 pm How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) […][…] How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) Filed under: cool — psxtavi @ 6:12 pm How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) […]
Tim, any way to get copies of your notes for Cyrillic?Tim, any way to get copies of your notes for Cyrillic?
Excellent article. I’m one for learning as many languages as I can, even for just conversation purposes because my career could be overwhelmingly boosted with a few fluent languages.Excellent article. I’m one for learning as many languages as I can, even for just conversation purposes because my career could be overwhelmingly boosted with a few fluent languages.
Thanks for the post and please do continue with this subject!Thanks for the post and please do continue with this subject!
Wait…so your advice for “How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour” amounts to…choose an easy language?Wait…so your advice for “How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour” amounts to…choose an easy language?
That’s basically what I’m reading out of this. You’re saying that I should consider my own strengths and weaknesses, consider the various languages I might study, and choose the easiest.That’s basically what I’m reading out of this. You’re saying that I should consider my own strengths and weaknesses, consider the various languages I might study, and choose the easiest.
What if I don’t want the easiest? What if I want to learn Chinese or Japanese, because I’m interested in those cultures? How does your deconstructing technique speed up the learning process? How much vocabulary can I possibly memorize in 60 minutes?What if I don’t want the easiest? What if I want to learn Chinese or Japanese, because I’m interested in those cultures? How does your deconstructing technique speed up the learning process? How much vocabulary can I possibly memorize in 60 minutes?
That’s another thing. Under one picture it says “Conversational Russian in 60 minutes?”. But later you imply that meaningful speech takes 2-12 months.That’s another thing. Under one picture it says “Conversational Russian in 60 minutes?”. But later you imply that meaningful speech takes 2-12 months.
So really, this is not how to *learn* a language in 1 hour, but rather how to *analyze* a language in 1 hour, to determine how long it will take to achieve fluency. That’s useful, I guess. But what I really want is a method of *learning*.So really, this is not how to *learn* a language in 1 hour, but rather how to *analyze* a language in 1 hour, to determine how long it will take to achieve fluency. That’s useful, I guess. But what I really want is a method of *learning*.
Technorati: Done.Technorati: Done.
Learning the art of shameless self promotion: In progress: i.e. my blog is Blink Of the Day at http://blinkoftheday.blogspot.comLearning the art of shameless self promotion: In progress: i.e. my blog is Blink Of the Day at http://blinkoftheday.blogspot.com
Love the blog (your’s and mine).Love the blog (your’s and mine).
Hej Tim,Hej Tim,
zanimljiv clanak. Ako znas ruski, mozda uspijes razumjeti 🙂zanimljiv clanak. Ako znas ruski, mozda uspijes razumjeti 🙂
Hi Tim,Hi Tim,
Great post! Can you post your thesis or any other writings you have on learning Japanese?Great post! Can you post your thesis or any other writings you have on learning Japanese?
Thanks,Thanks,
JonJon
Tim,Tim,
Would you be willing to break down a full example, and show your work so us laymen might have a better chance of understanding? I think I get it, but I’m certain I couldn’t reproduce what you’ve done without a full example.Would you be willing to break down a full example, and show your work so us laymen might have a better chance of understanding? I think I get it, but I’m certain I couldn’t reproduce what you’ve done without a full example.
CC
[…] linky dink […][…] linky dink […]
Hey, Tim!Hey, Tim!
I’ll tranlate your article to portuguese and I’ll posting on my blog, ok? My blog (tradutorium.wordpress.com) is focused in translate the best Digg posts to portuguese, and your is very cool!I’ll tranlate your article to portuguese and I’ll posting on my blog, ok? My blog (tradutorium.wordpress.com) is focused in translate the best Digg posts to portuguese, and your is very cool!
[…] Blog eine Methode vor, wie man eine Sprache innerhalb kurzer Zeit relativ gut beherrschen kann: How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour. Im Mittelpunkt stehen dabei einige wenige einfache Sätze, deren Übersetzung in die gewünschte […][…] Blog eine Methode vor, wie man eine Sprache innerhalb kurzer Zeit relativ gut beherrschen kann: How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour. Im Mittelpunkt stehen dabei einige wenige einfache Sätze, deren Übersetzung in die gewünschte […]
[…] How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 HourBefore you invest (or waste) hundreds and thousands of hours on a language, you should deconstruct it. During my thesis research at Princeton, which focused on neuroscience and unorthodox acquisition of Japanese by native English speakers, as well as when redesigning curricula for Berlitz, this neglected deconstruction step surfaced as one of the distinguishing habits of the fastest language learners. […][…] How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 HourBefore you invest (or waste) hundreds and thousands of hours on a language, you should deconstruct it. During my thesis research at Princeton, which focused on neuroscience and unorthodox acquisition of Japanese by native English speakers, as well as when redesigning curricula for Berlitz, this neglected deconstruction step surfaced as one of the distinguishing habits of the fastest language learners. […]
[…] Unlocked to learning new languagesread more | digg […][…] Unlocked to learning new languagesread more | digg […]
[…] first step in learning a new language: deconstruction. He claims that the fastest language learners deconstruct the language they want to learn before they start memorizing lists of vocab words. His reasoning is that for […][…] first step in learning a new language: deconstruction. He claims that the fastest language learners deconstruct the language they want to learn before they start memorizing lists of vocab words. His reasoning is that for […]
Hey Tim, — I liked your article. Check this site out as well. His courses are helpful and cheap.Hey Tim, — I liked your article. Check this site out as well. His courses are helpful and cheap.
I would love to have more language learning info. Looking to learn German myself.I would love to have more language learning info. Looking to learn German myself.
that was a pretty insightful article, i am trying to learn Japanese some-what on my own could you e-mail me what you have broken down yourself?that was a pretty insightful article, i am trying to learn Japanese some-what on my own could you e-mail me what you have broken down yourself?
–Thanks –Thanks
wow! i just started studying language at university and what you wrote catapulted me like into next year’s matters.wow! i just started studying language at university and what you wrote catapulted me like into next year’s matters.
thanksthanks
I’ve never gone out of my way to learn another language, though I’ve picked things up here and there. For me, it’s an issue of investment and return. If I know that I will spend my career dealing with Japanese speaking people, living in Japan or otherwise indulging in their culture, then the strong return on the time and effort invested in learning the Japanese language would be a necessity.I’ve never gone out of my way to learn another language, though I’ve picked things up here and there. For me, it’s an issue of investment and return. If I know that I will spend my career dealing with Japanese speaking people, living in Japan or otherwise indulging in their culture, then the strong return on the time and effort invested in learning the Japanese language would be a necessity.
On the other hand, learning Spanish, French, German or other languages over a period of four years in high school (a pre-requisite for college acceptance, usually) and then more years in college just so I can speak the language for the six days of my life that I actually spend in one of those countries or for the rare occasion where I meet someone who speaks that language and I want to show off (all four times in my life), then that is a terrible allocation of resources.On the other hand, learning Spanish, French, German or other languages over a period of four years in high school (a pre-requisite for college acceptance, usually) and then more years in college just so I can speak the language for the six days of my life that I actually spend in one of those countries or for the rare occasion where I meet someone who speaks that language and I want to show off (all four times in my life), then that is a terrible allocation of resources.
Most people in the world that you will ever deal with can speak English. Especially in the professional world. If you’re visiting somewhere, it doesn’t hurt to pick up a few things, but unless you’re going to spend months or years in another country, it’s another waste of energy.Most people in the world that you will ever deal with can speak English. Especially in the professional world. If you’re visiting somewhere, it doesn’t hurt to pick up a few things, but unless you’re going to spend months or years in another country, it’s another waste of energy.
So if you have a specific obligation or situation that would necessitate the investment of your time and effort to learn a specific language for a specific purpose – great. Otherwise, it just seems like a lot of masturbation so that you can tell people “I speak four languages”.So if you have a specific obligation or situation that would necessitate the investment of your time and effort to learn a specific language for a specific purpose – great. Otherwise, it just seems like a lot of masturbation so that you can tell people “I speak four languages”.
Absolutely – this is very much why I read your book, your blog, and think you’re a hero for the modern age – you’re maximizing time and turning what was impossible into the possible.Absolutely – this is very much why I read your book, your blog, and think you’re a hero for the modern age – you’re maximizing time and turning what was impossible into the possible.
Learn to speak a different language in an hour – holy sh*t!!! I’m definitely interested in detailed step by step clarity that’s in your books.Learn to speak a different language in an hour – holy sh*t!!! I’m definitely interested in detailed step by step clarity that’s in your books.
The integrity, credibility, and consistency you’ve built will mean that this is truly possible.The integrity, credibility, and consistency you’ve built will mean that this is truly possible.
-Dave Ross-Dave Ross
NYCNYC
Tim,Tim,
Your method sounds similar to that used by the 19th century explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton (no relation to the actor). In his book “The Devil Drives,” he describes his method of deconstructing languages. From what I recall, he was fluent in 29 and passable in 72. Burton was the first Westerner in the forbidden city of Mecca, translator of 1001 Nights, discoverer of lakes in Africa among other achievements. I recommend his book to you if you want to compare methods.Your method sounds similar to that used by the 19th century explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton (no relation to the actor). In his book “The Devil Drives,” he describes his method of deconstructing languages. From what I recall, he was fluent in 29 and passable in 72. Burton was the first Westerner in the forbidden city of Mecca, translator of 1001 Nights, discoverer of lakes in Africa among other achievements. I recommend his book to you if you want to compare methods.
Hi Tim,Hi Tim,
This post is very good. Any suggestions about reading Chinese characters?This post is very good. Any suggestions about reading Chinese characters?
When I found out the Mandarin word for cat was ‘mao1’ I laughed and laughed, because my cat says that all the time 😉When I found out the Mandarin word for cat was ‘mao1’ I laughed and laughed, because my cat says that all the time 😉
Also, mother being ma1ma. Coincidence? Also, that the character is a woman and a horse together, i.e. a woman that does the job of a horse…another coincidence?Also, mother being ma1ma. Coincidence? Also, that the character is a woman and a horse together, i.e. a woman that does the job of a horse…another coincidence?
FOr languages where it makes sense, learn the conjugations of ‘to be’ and the gerund of everything else…so you don’t have to say, ‘I go, he goes, they go’, but ‘I am going, he is going, they are going’, plus ‘I will be going, I was going, I must be going’ etc. My husband was studying (see, there it is again) Italian and struggling with the verb conjugations, I suggested he just learn the gerunds. He mentioned it to his instructor the last day of class, who agreed it would work but said, ‘but we want you to learn the language properly’.FOr languages where it makes sense, learn the conjugations of ‘to be’ and the gerund of everything else…so you don’t have to say, ‘I go, he goes, they go’, but ‘I am going, he is going, they are going’, plus ‘I will be going, I was going, I must be going’ etc. My husband was studying (see, there it is again) Italian and struggling with the verb conjugations, I suggested he just learn the gerunds. He mentioned it to his instructor the last day of class, who agreed it would work but said, ‘but we want you to learn the language properly’.
I lived in Italy for six months and could get through whole days with nothing more than ‘Prego, dai, forza ragazzi, basta cosi’. And not just for sex either.I lived in Italy for six months and could get through whole days with nothing more than ‘Prego, dai, forza ragazzi, basta cosi’. And not just for sex either.
In Argentina, I’ve learned not to ask for a taxi by saying ‘Donde puedo coher un taxi’ because the reply (with much smirking) will be ‘para el tubo’.In Argentina, I’ve learned not to ask for a taxi by saying ‘Donde puedo coher un taxi’ because the reply (with much smirking) will be ‘para el tubo’.
Anyway, I’d be interested to hear from native speakers which languanges the gerund shortcut works for.Anyway, I’d be interested to hear from native speakers which languanges the gerund shortcut works for.
I learned Spanish and English simultaneously as I was growing up. Those two have given me a good base to go on and learn French and then Portuguese. I want to learn Arabic and Japanese next. I really enjoyed the article. I want more.I learned Spanish and English simultaneously as I was growing up. Those two have given me a good base to go on and learn French and then Portuguese. I want to learn Arabic and Japanese next. I really enjoyed the article. I want more.
It’s funny I came across this today. Great post! I was thinking of learning Russian. I’ve been browsing through music and sites but this is helpful. If you have better images of your notes, I’d love to see a copy. Thanks again!It’s funny I came across this today. Great post! I was thinking of learning Russian. I’ve been browsing through music and sites but this is helpful. If you have better images of your notes, I’d love to see a copy. Thanks again!
What a great idea. I really enjoy the content of your blog. Keep up the awesome work.What a great idea. I really enjoy the content of your blog. Keep up the awesome work.
Love & Gratitude,Love & Gratitude,
TinaTina
Think Simple. Be Decisive.Think Simple. Be Decisive.
~ Productivity, Motivation & Happine~ Productivity, Motivation & Happine
please continue. I’m fascinated by your idea, I would like to learn how to learn new languages. I speak fluently Italian, Spanish and English and I would like to go for Germanic, Arabic and Chinese.please continue. I’m fascinated by your idea, I would like to learn how to learn new languages. I speak fluently Italian, Spanish and English and I would like to go for Germanic, Arabic and Chinese.
keep on writing, pleasekeep on writing, please
Good workGood work
GiulioGiulio
You may want to add Hungarian at the top of the list where Russian and German are. Ridiculously complex language from what I hear, though sounds similar to Finnish.You may want to add Hungarian at the top of the list where Russian and German are. Ridiculously complex language from what I hear, though sounds similar to Finnish.
Please, more language articles. This was great.Please, more language articles. This was great.
Please keep writing about language. I enjoyed this article very much.Please keep writing about language. I enjoyed this article very much.
[…] Here’s a great article on language acquisition. While I’m a bit of a convert to the Pimsleur “no grammar” method, I do like Timothy’s quick teardown technique for languages. Can’t hurt. And if you don’t have the audio resources on hand or find yourself in a situation where language acquisition is unexpectedly required, I think his approach would come in handy. […][…] Here’s a great article on language acquisition. While I’m a bit of a convert to the Pimsleur “no grammar” method, I do like Timothy’s quick teardown technique for languages. Can’t hurt. And if you don’t have the audio resources on hand or find yourself in a situation where language acquisition is unexpectedly required, I think his approach would come in handy. […]
This approach is intriguing. It would be very handy if you had the time to post your deconstructions of the languages you mention.This approach is intriguing. It would be very handy if you had the time to post your deconstructions of the languages you mention.
i have to agree with Lauren Muney’s comments about the density of your post. it was so Interesting but very academic as well – a good thing in many ways but a bit intense. (however, people knew what they’d be reading in the heading.)i have to agree with Lauren Muney’s comments about the density of your post. it was so Interesting but very academic as well – a good thing in many ways but a bit intense. (however, people knew what they’d be reading in the heading.)
I’m a big LISTS fan. it would be neat to see ‘lists’ of useful things: favorite websites, top 5 things to do on a saturday if you’re bored, a list of businesses you’d open if you had all the time/energy in the world, short tips for people who want to maximize their day, that sort of thing. the kind of stuff you talk about at dinner 🙂I’m a big LISTS fan. it would be neat to see ‘lists’ of useful things: favorite websites, top 5 things to do on a saturday if you’re bored, a list of businesses you’d open if you had all the time/energy in the world, short tips for people who want to maximize their day, that sort of thing. the kind of stuff you talk about at dinner 🙂
Keep up the great work, I love your website!Keep up the great work, I love your website!
[…] read more | digg story […][…] read more | digg story […]
Tim –Tim –
This is fascinating. Two things.This is fascinating. Two things.
First of all, as some of your commentators seem to misunderstand, there are those of us who think best in terms of structures. I have wanted to learn other languages for a while now, but am terribly daunted by a never-ending procession of vocabulary words and verb conjugations. I have often felt that if someone could simply offer me the theory of given language, its operative conceits and tropes, no matter how complex, I would be much better off, as this is how I learn. Thus, the assertion, repeated above, that this wouldn’t work because some people won’t understand it ignores those of us for whom an approach like this might be the only option.First of all, as some of your commentators seem to misunderstand, there are those of us who think best in terms of structures. I have wanted to learn other languages for a while now, but am terribly daunted by a never-ending procession of vocabulary words and verb conjugations. I have often felt that if someone could simply offer me the theory of given language, its operative conceits and tropes, no matter how complex, I would be much better off, as this is how I learn. Thus, the assertion, repeated above, that this wouldn’t work because some people won’t understand it ignores those of us for whom an approach like this might be the only option.
Second, as I am somewhat familiar with the term’s origin, I don’t think deconstruction is the word you are looking for. A deconstruction would aim to highlight precisely those aspects of a given tongue that your approach necessarily leaves out; idioms, local semantics, and various other irreducibles. Which is to say that deconstruction proceeds precisely by virtue of language’s ability to constantly elude or exceed a given architecture, and correspondingly that is perhaps its only virtue, strictly speaking. The proper term from the same lexicon for what your doing remains ‘structuralist;’ that is, highlighting and schematizing convergences and equivalencies across different contexts, with an aim toward easing learning and consumption – quite the opposite of a deconstructive praxis. Not that this is a bad thing, mind you, or that it really matters, but structuralist, though less sexy, is the more accurate term. (If it makes you feel better, if your structure is well founded, and becomes the standard, you can come back and deconstruct later if you like)Second, as I am somewhat familiar with the term’s origin, I don’t think deconstruction is the word you are looking for. A deconstruction would aim to highlight precisely those aspects of a given tongue that your approach necessarily leaves out; idioms, local semantics, and various other irreducibles. Which is to say that deconstruction proceeds precisely by virtue of language’s ability to constantly elude or exceed a given architecture, and correspondingly that is perhaps its only virtue, strictly speaking. The proper term from the same lexicon for what your doing remains ‘structuralist;’ that is, highlighting and schematizing convergences and equivalencies across different contexts, with an aim toward easing learning and consumption – quite the opposite of a deconstructive praxis. Not that this is a bad thing, mind you, or that it really matters, but structuralist, though less sexy, is the more accurate term. (If it makes you feel better, if your structure is well founded, and becomes the standard, you can come back and deconstruct later if you like)
Anyway, found you on digg. Love the idea, please elaborate soon.Anyway, found you on digg. Love the idea, please elaborate soon.
[…] looks like the site is closed, except to beta testers, but if you really want in, try this post on Tim Ferris’ Blog. The link is near the bottom, but the post is worth reading and applying if you REALLY want to […][…] looks like the site is closed, except to beta testers, but if you really want in, try this post on Tim Ferris’ Blog. The link is near the bottom, but the post is worth reading and applying if you REALLY want to […]
[…] » How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) (tags: learning education languages) […][…] » How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) (tags: learning education languages) […]
I find it almost too simplistic. I don’t mean to say that this article isn’t useful, but it almost sounds misleading to me. Maybe it’s just how I interpret the article.I find it almost too simplistic. I don’t mean to say that this article isn’t useful, but it almost sounds misleading to me. Maybe it’s just how I interpret the article.
I just think that being conversationally fluent is one thing, but it’s implied in the title sounds a bit braggy. One may be conversationally fluent, but is one sure of what they are saying? Not everyone is language oriented and I know my share of people who aren’t.I just think that being conversationally fluent is one thing, but it’s implied in the title sounds a bit braggy. One may be conversationally fluent, but is one sure of what they are saying? Not everyone is language oriented and I know my share of people who aren’t.
You see (or possibly know, cause I don’t know you at all), English is a very difficult language to translate into, despite the fact that it’s still Anglo-Saxon. Anyhoo, I kind of see a problem with this because in China, there are so many dialects of Chinese, some with 9 sounds, some with 7 etc. and standard Mandarin has only 4. Furthermore, native speakers of Mandarin retain an accent from their own dialect, actually making it harder for the person who is using your tips to comprehend. Also, what about slang? Say that all the people you’ve met who spoke Mandarin spoke just Mandarin and no dialect. Simple right? Well, then comes the problem of local influence on the language. In Mandarin, there are 4 words for the exact same thing (Eg: Popsicle) and it’s all depending on where you are.You see (or possibly know, cause I don’t know you at all), English is a very difficult language to translate into, despite the fact that it’s still Anglo-Saxon. Anyhoo, I kind of see a problem with this because in China, there are so many dialects of Chinese, some with 9 sounds, some with 7 etc. and standard Mandarin has only 4. Furthermore, native speakers of Mandarin retain an accent from their own dialect, actually making it harder for the person who is using your tips to comprehend. Also, what about slang? Say that all the people you’ve met who spoke Mandarin spoke just Mandarin and no dialect. Simple right? Well, then comes the problem of local influence on the language. In Mandarin, there are 4 words for the exact same thing (Eg: Popsicle) and it’s all depending on where you are.
Same with Slovenian. There really is no actual standard dialect because there are 48 dialects with a population of just above 2 mill.Same with Slovenian. There really is no actual standard dialect because there are 48 dialects with a population of just above 2 mill.
In addition, the more esoteric a language is (Euskara anyone?) the (sooooo much) harder it is to pick it up in any method. Also, since there are language isolates, their sense of humor (Japan’s for example) is much different, as well as semantics. Intonation also plays a big role. In French, it’s much more common to say Tu as faim? Instead of As-tu faim? The voice rises instead of the obvious VSO. Or even in German: Ich muß viel studieren dafür instead of Ich muß viel dafür studieren. The purest of any foreign language is spoken in a classroom, not in the country itself.In addition, the more esoteric a language is (Euskara anyone?) the (sooooo much) harder it is to pick it up in any method. Also, since there are language isolates, their sense of humor (Japan’s for example) is much different, as well as semantics. Intonation also plays a big role. In French, it’s much more common to say Tu as faim? Instead of As-tu faim? The voice rises instead of the obvious VSO. Or even in German: Ich muß viel studieren dafür instead of Ich muß viel dafür studieren. The purest of any foreign language is spoken in a classroom, not in the country itself.
And on a closing note, Pinyin is much much more natural. GR and Wade-Giles are (to me) nothing but a western take on Chinese romanization. It angers me to see everyone use Wade-Giles instead of what is truly Chinese. It annoys me just as much to see other languages get botched up too.And on a closing note, Pinyin is much much more natural. GR and Wade-Giles are (to me) nothing but a western take on Chinese romanization. It angers me to see everyone use Wade-Giles instead of what is truly Chinese. It annoys me just as much to see other languages get botched up too.
PS: Alex, Hungarian and Finnish are related and both are ridiculously complex since there are like no languages related to either of them.PS: Alex, Hungarian and Finnish are related and both are ridiculously complex since there are like no languages related to either of them.
Fascinating!Fascinating!
On my fifth language (dutch) and using all kinds of “instinctive” technics to learn it without going to school (no time)On my fifth language (dutch) and using all kinds of “instinctive” technics to learn it without going to school (no time)
Nevertheless on learning my fourth one (danish) i went to the KISS (Kobenhavn International Sprog Skole). Their method although extremely boring was the most efficient one in order to gain sufficient fluency without being the best in grammar and spelling. The concept was based on repeting (hence the boredom) with a few “head sentences” where one word was change in order to form new sentances. (more or less your apple exemple, that is to say:Nevertheless on learning my fourth one (danish) i went to the KISS (Kobenhavn International Sprog Skole). Their method although extremely boring was the most efficient one in order to gain sufficient fluency without being the best in grammar and spelling. The concept was based on repeting (hence the boredom) with a few “head sentences” where one word was change in order to form new sentances. (more or less your apple exemple, that is to say:
I like eating applesI like eating apples
I like eating fruits …..I like eating fruits …..
It worked extremely well. No fantasy was ever allowed as how the teachers put it “we (student) were not there to express ourselves but to be able to comunicate in order that the personn in front get the message”. It worked perfectly alright and the difference between students who went to regular danish schools and those who attended KISS was striking.It worked extremely well. No fantasy was ever allowed as how the teachers put it “we (student) were not there to express ourselves but to be able to comunicate in order that the personn in front get the message”. It worked perfectly alright and the difference between students who went to regular danish schools and those who attended KISS was striking.
Now don’t you think that some people have a natural ability to learn more and more languages?Now don’t you think that some people have a natural ability to learn more and more languages?
Again i will take my own kids as an exemple and their best friends who are also brothers.Again i will take my own kids as an exemple and their best friends who are also brothers.
My kids were raised in one language with english and danish talked on regular basis around them. They’ve traveled and tend to have some kind of ease to pick up languages. But the older one has an accent in all languages even his mother tongue whereas the youger one seems to be a native of the three languages he speaks and the fouth that he is learing (dutch). My japanese sister in law also says that whenever he repeats words in japanese it is the perfect accent!!My kids were raised in one language with english and danish talked on regular basis around them. They’ve traveled and tend to have some kind of ease to pick up languages. But the older one has an accent in all languages even his mother tongue whereas the youger one seems to be a native of the three languages he speaks and the fouth that he is learing (dutch). My japanese sister in law also says that whenever he repeats words in japanese it is the perfect accent!!
Their friends were raised in three languages at the same time and the oldest one is actually on his 6th’s one (spanish) wheras the second struggle more. They are both polish which has (if understood correctly) a huge phonem potential! (oh all those kids are only 10 and 12!!!)Their friends were raised in three languages at the same time and the oldest one is actually on his 6th’s one (spanish) wheras the second struggle more. They are both polish which has (if understood correctly) a huge phonem potential! (oh all those kids are only 10 and 12!!!)
So my conclusion will be that you may get the best method to quickly learn a new language, you may not be gifted with the potential of being polyglot!!So my conclusion will be that you may get the best method to quickly learn a new language, you may not be gifted with the potential of being polyglot!!
By the way, which musical instrument are you playing??By the way, which musical instrument are you playing??
CheersCheers
[…] Here is the link to the blog. […][…] Here is the link to the blog. […]
Good article-I have used many of the same points in my teaching and language learning.Good article-I have used many of the same points in my teaching and language learning.
One key point is that the learner has to learn to stop looking for comparisions to first language and instead look for patterns and tendencies in the new language.One key point is that the learner has to learn to stop looking for comparisions to first language and instead look for patterns and tendencies in the new language.
Tim: thanks for the article. I would very much like to see more of this.Tim: thanks for the article. I would very much like to see more of this.
And you finally got me to get off my butt, head down to my local indy bookstore, and buy the 4HWW.And you finally got me to get off my butt, head down to my local indy bookstore, and buy the 4HWW.
Now to find the ways I can cut down my current 75-hour work week to something more reasonable.Now to find the ways I can cut down my current 75-hour work week to something more reasonable.
[…] » How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) […][…] » How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) […]
[…] How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour – an interesting explanation on “deconstructing” a language in order to learn it more easily […][…] How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour – an interesting explanation on “deconstructing” a language in order to learn it more easily […]
[…] Written by the blog of tim ferriss […][…] Written by the blog of tim ferriss […]
That’s not true, Eva. You get Mari, Chuvash… all incredibly easy for any native speakers of Delaware…That’s not true, Eva. You get Mari, Chuvash… all incredibly easy for any native speakers of Delaware…
I really like your analytical approach to languages in general. If more language courses taught this kind of thing, instead of mainly just “wrote memory” or “repetition” tactics, I would have learned a lot more at a younger age. When I was younger I lived in northern China (learning Mandarin) for a couple years before “discovering” various ways that helped me learn the language better. It was very frustrating to waste so much time first.I really like your analytical approach to languages in general. If more language courses taught this kind of thing, instead of mainly just “wrote memory” or “repetition” tactics, I would have learned a lot more at a younger age. When I was younger I lived in northern China (learning Mandarin) for a couple years before “discovering” various ways that helped me learn the language better. It was very frustrating to waste so much time first.
Here are a couple of my tips specifically for Mandarin Chinese:Here are a couple of my tips specifically for Mandarin Chinese:
1. Syllables and words: First of all, Chinese is a language where virtually every syllable is one word (or at least carries meaning all by itself). And also virtually every syllable is represented by just one written character. Since it is a pictographic language, and new pictographs cannot be invented (they wouldn’t become usable until after everyone learned them), they do not invent new words the way we do. Instead, they only invent new “compound words” (words made up of multiple smaller words). When you learn these, it does you well to learn the meanings of the individual pieces too, as that helps remember and notice patterns in how they are combined.1. Syllables and words: First of all, Chinese is a language where virtually every syllable is one word (or at least carries meaning all by itself). And also virtually every syllable is represented by just one written character. Since it is a pictographic language, and new pictographs cannot be invented (they wouldn’t become usable until after everyone learned them), they do not invent new words the way we do. Instead, they only invent new “compound words” (words made up of multiple smaller words). When you learn these, it does you well to learn the meanings of the individual pieces too, as that helps remember and notice patterns in how they are combined.
2. Pinyin and pronunciation: Don’t treat pinyin like an “alphabet” of individual letters, each one having a sound! It is not designed that way and doesn’t make sense that way, because the language isn’t natural that way like it is for English and many other alphabetic languages! Instead, treat “initials” and “finals” as the smallest possible atomic elements of their phonetics, and each word is made up of a combination of one of each, plus a tone added. You will have a much simpler time with the pronunciation after learning this. See: http://yellowbridge.com/language/pinyin-combo.html for a table illustrating this.2. Pinyin and pronunciation: Don’t treat pinyin like an “alphabet” of individual letters, each one having a sound! It is not designed that way and doesn’t make sense that way, because the language isn’t natural that way like it is for English and many other alphabetic languages! Instead, treat “initials” and “finals” as the smallest possible atomic elements of their phonetics, and each word is made up of a combination of one of each, plus a tone added. You will have a much simpler time with the pronunciation after learning this. See: http://yellowbridge.com/language/pinyin-combo.html for a table illustrating this.
3. Homonyms and context: By the way, notice how that last table of every possible phonetic word in the language is surprisingly small. There are a *ton* of homonyms. Everyone has to use context to understand the spoken language, much more so than many other languages. Even native speakers frequently ask each other which word they are referring to, so don’t feel bad if you have trouble with that too. The normal written language (the characters) is not as bad in this respect.3. Homonyms and context: By the way, notice how that last table of every possible phonetic word in the language is surprisingly small. There are a *ton* of homonyms. Everyone has to use context to understand the spoken language, much more so than many other languages. Even native speakers frequently ask each other which word they are referring to, so don’t feel bad if you have trouble with that too. The normal written language (the characters) is not as bad in this respect.
4. Characters: If you learn their writing system, learn the parts of the character (called “radicals”), what they mean and where they come from. Sometimes the radicals give hints about meaning, and sometimes they give hints about pronunciation. Some are obscure and the etymology has been lost, but if you find a story about them (or even make one up if necessary), they’re much easier to remember. I don’t know of many good resources for this, very few people even in China ever think about this, they mostly learn them by memorization.4. Characters: If you learn their writing system, learn the parts of the character (called “radicals”), what they mean and where they come from. Sometimes the radicals give hints about meaning, and sometimes they give hints about pronunciation. Some are obscure and the etymology has been lost, but if you find a story about them (or even make one up if necessary), they’re much easier to remember. I don’t know of many good resources for this, very few people even in China ever think about this, they mostly learn them by memorization.
Speaking of memorizing… a big part of their culture is memorizing and following orders, not so much reasoning things out on their own using logic. So you will to a large extent be on your own if you use an analytical approach to help you learn their language. Good luck to those who attempt to learn Chinese, they will be enamored with you for taking the time!Speaking of memorizing… a big part of their culture is memorizing and following orders, not so much reasoning things out on their own using logic. So you will to a large extent be on your own if you use an analytical approach to help you learn their language. Good luck to those who attempt to learn Chinese, they will be enamored with you for taking the time!
I have found that finding a list of the 100 most commonly used words in any language is very helpful.I have found that finding a list of the 100 most commonly used words in any language is very helpful.
Then you memorize those first not whatever your text says.Then you memorize those first not whatever your text says.
these lists exist on the internet.these lists exist on the internet.
you can find lists of the most common 1000 words too.you can find lists of the most common 1000 words too.
since most people converse using only a couple thousand words you are well on your way to the ability to communicate if not grammatically correctly – at least you can get the intended message across.since most people converse using only a couple thousand words you are well on your way to the ability to communicate if not grammatically correctly – at least you can get the intended message across.
I would like to know which MMA opponents you have fought–dates, names…..thank youI would like to know which MMA opponents you have fought–dates, names…..thank you
######
Hi Kirk,Hi Kirk,
Please search for “Blogosphere Self-Defense” on this blog and I’ve listed them in the comments. Thanks!Please search for “Blogosphere Self-Defense” on this blog and I’ve listed them in the comments. Thanks!
TimTim
I’ve always wanted to learn a lot of languages – ever since I met a guy (he worked with my folks) who spoke something like 16 languages. Thanks for the great intro to a fascinating method. I would love to know more about this method and others that would help me learn more languages. I’ve studied French, Arabic, Swahili. Can’t speak any of them!I’ve always wanted to learn a lot of languages – ever since I met a guy (he worked with my folks) who spoke something like 16 languages. Thanks for the great intro to a fascinating method. I would love to know more about this method and others that would help me learn more languages. I’ve studied French, Arabic, Swahili. Can’t speak any of them!
How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour. Translation: you have a very good memory.How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour. Translation: you have a very good memory.
[…] ? How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) (tags: communication howto language) […][…] ? How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) (tags: communication howto language) […]
[…] How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour Tim Ferriss discusses the art of deconstructing languages – and learning a language like you would a sport. […][…] How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour Tim Ferriss discusses the art of deconstructing languages – and learning a language like you would a sport. […]
Dear Tim,Dear Tim,
great post…by the way I’m trying to spread 4HWW in Italygreat post…by the way I’m trying to spread 4HWW in Italy
where I live now, with great results between my friends…I do something similar to LitLib in Africa…but that’s another story.where I live now, with great results between my friends…I do something similar to LitLib in Africa…but that’s another story.
I just wanted to say that decostructing languages and phonetics are the key issues…and in particular I’m a big fan of Phonetics symbology…thanks to it when I was 19 years old I could already speak English fluently without ever being in an English speaking country before (I’m Italian)! Now (32 yrs old) I’ve been travelling a lot and I can really tell you you’re absolutely right!I just wanted to say that decostructing languages and phonetics are the key issues…and in particular I’m a big fan of Phonetics symbology…thanks to it when I was 19 years old I could already speak English fluently without ever being in an English speaking country before (I’m Italian)! Now (32 yrs old) I’ve been travelling a lot and I can really tell you you’re absolutely right!
My fav website (hoping to help the readers interested) for this is the Website of IOWA Univ. dedicated to Phonetics…My fav website (hoping to help the readers interested) for this is the Website of IOWA Univ. dedicated to Phonetics…
http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/
Brilliant for Eng (USA), German and Spanish…give it a try!Brilliant for Eng (USA), German and Spanish…give it a try!
Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!
My next big challenge is chinese and japanese…I’ll keep you informed 😉My next big challenge is chinese and japanese…I’ll keep you informed 😉
DaniDani
[…] » How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) Wie man in einem Stunde die Grundzüge einer Sprache versteht. Ich werde es bei Gelgenheit ausprobieren. (tags: language lifehacks Tips tutorials howto) […][…] » How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) Wie man in einem Stunde die Grundzüge einer Sprache versteht. Ich werde es bei Gelgenheit ausprobieren. (tags: language lifehacks Tips tutorials howto) […]
This is a fascinating article. I’d love to know, in your experience, which are the easiest languages to learn for a native (American) English speaker.This is a fascinating article. I’d love to know, in your experience, which are the easiest languages to learn for a native (American) English speaker.
[…] How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour “How long does it take to learn Chinese or Japanese vs. Spanish or Irish Gaelic? I would argue less than an hour. Here’s the reasoning… Before you invest (or waste) hundreds and thousands of hours on a language, you should deconstruct it.” […][…] How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour “How long does it take to learn Chinese or Japanese vs. Spanish or Irish Gaelic? I would argue less than an hour. Here’s the reasoning… Before you invest (or waste) hundreds and thousands of hours on a language, you should deconstruct it.” […]
[…] How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour “How long does it take to learn Chinese or Japanese vs. Spanish or Irish Gaelic? I would argue less than an hour. Here’s the reasoning… Before you invest (or waste) hundreds and thousands of hours on a language, you should deconstruct it.” […][…] How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour “How long does it take to learn Chinese or Japanese vs. Spanish or Irish Gaelic? I would argue less than an hour. Here’s the reasoning… Before you invest (or waste) hundreds and thousands of hours on a language, you should deconstruct it.” […]
[…] can make multimedia scrapbooks and share them. How easy is that? Real easy. Flickr should do this. Learn any language in one hour plus – I now know Spanish. Now to work on German, French and Chinese. Open Social – Googles new API that […][…] can make multimedia scrapbooks and share them. How easy is that? Real easy. Flickr should do this. Learn any language in one hour plus – I now know Spanish. Now to work on German, French and Chinese. Open Social – Googles new API that […]
[…] How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour […][…] How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour […]
[…] » How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) (tags: language learning education tips) This entry is filed under Links. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Leave a Reply […][…] » How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor) (tags: language learning education tips) This entry is filed under Links. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Leave a Reply […]
[…] It turns out that Tim Ferriss has some good ideas. […][…] It turns out that Tim Ferriss has some good ideas. […]
Thanks, Tim.Thanks, Tim.
I’ve linked to you in http://newmusicstrategies.com where I’ve talked about languages recently. My free ebook ‘The 20 Things You Must Know About Music Online’ has now been translated into Chinese, meaning it’s now available in six languages — five of which I can’t speak or read, which is a real shame.I’ve linked to you in http://newmusicstrategies.com where I’ve talked about languages recently. My free ebook ‘The 20 Things You Must Know About Music Online’ has now been translated into Chinese, meaning it’s now available in six languages — five of which I can’t speak or read, which is a real shame.
I’m looking around for the ‘right’ language for me to learn, having invested a bit of time in French, and being reasonably fluent in English from a young age, since it was all that my parents, sisters, friends and schoolteachers knew how to speak.I’m looking around for the ‘right’ language for me to learn, having invested a bit of time in French, and being reasonably fluent in English from a young age, since it was all that my parents, sisters, friends and schoolteachers knew how to speak.
Considering Dutch, though not because of the deconstruction. Just in love with the place and want to spend as much time there as I possibly can. It would seem rude not to try and speak the language, even though everyone there is pretty much fluent in English.Considering Dutch, though not because of the deconstruction. Just in love with the place and want to spend as much time there as I possibly can. It would seem rude not to try and speak the language, even though everyone there is pretty much fluent in English.
Thanks for put a voice to something that “looked” to be true to me for years. Native English speaker and book-fluent in German, I have been able to pick up some French, Spanish, and Italian vocabulary here and there. Lately I’ve been learning the Korean alphabet, whose sounds are very easy and whose syllabic structure is very logical. I am looking forward to tackling the grammar (variant of SOV).Thanks for put a voice to something that “looked” to be true to me for years. Native English speaker and book-fluent in German, I have been able to pick up some French, Spanish, and Italian vocabulary here and there. Lately I’ve been learning the Korean alphabet, whose sounds are very easy and whose syllabic structure is very logical. I am looking forward to tackling the grammar (variant of SOV).
VERY interesting and helpful! Thanks for writing this, and please do write more detail about this subject when you have the time.VERY interesting and helpful! Thanks for writing this, and please do write more detail about this subject when you have the time.
How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor)…How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour (Plus: A Favor)…
great article from Tim Ferris about how to life hack learning a language…great article from Tim Ferris about how to life hack learning a language…
So…is this article mainly to pick up a language quickly and for future use or just for a short period of time?So…is this article mainly to pick up a language quickly and for future use or just for a short period of time?
I really like this article but it sounds so businessy to me. God I’m such a critic. But it honestly sounds like it’s just for business. Someone may know 6 languages fluently or even 29 etc. but the real question is, do they get the ‘real meaning’ of the language? I don’t mean lexicon. I mean that innate feeling.I really like this article but it sounds so businessy to me. God I’m such a critic. But it honestly sounds like it’s just for business. Someone may know 6 languages fluently or even 29 etc. but the real question is, do they get the ‘real meaning’ of the language? I don’t mean lexicon. I mean that innate feeling.
I think that this is a great jumpstart to learn a language but the time and true sense of a language will never develop properly. I mean you can say ‘spa-see-ba’ or ‘xie xie’ or ‘arigatoo’ but there will never be that native hold over a language.I think that this is a great jumpstart to learn a language but the time and true sense of a language will never develop properly. I mean you can say ‘spa-see-ba’ or ‘xie xie’ or ‘arigatoo’ but there will never be that native hold over a language.
I still think that although the language is covered, the meaning isn’t. What’s funny in one isn’t funny in another. I can truthfully say that I’m funny in one language and flat in another.I still think that although the language is covered, the meaning isn’t. What’s funny in one isn’t funny in another. I can truthfully say that I’m funny in one language and flat in another.
And Russ, I was referring to the lack of languages related to the Finno-Ugric group. (Although I might have written it as none, my bad.) Didn’t I say how fast you picked a language up depended on what language you spoke in the first place?And Russ, I was referring to the lack of languages related to the Finno-Ugric group. (Although I might have written it as none, my bad.) Didn’t I say how fast you picked a language up depended on what language you spoke in the first place?
As a speaker of several quite different languages, I must admit I feel compelled to bookmark your page for later reading.As a speaker of several quite different languages, I must admit I feel compelled to bookmark your page for later reading.
But I can’t stifle my bemusement. Do you speak a few languages yourself? I mean, have you tested your ideas and found them to work, or have others confirmed your methods? I still think you may be onto something. But if you haven’t tried it all out it strikes me as all a bit cheeky.But I can’t stifle my bemusement. Do you speak a few languages yourself? I mean, have you tested your ideas and found them to work, or have others confirmed your methods? I still think you may be onto something. But if you haven’t tried it all out it strikes me as all a bit cheeky.
######
Hi Steve!Hi Steve!
Thanks for the comment. I’ve used this on quite a few languages — see the beginning of the post — but this is definitely a blog post. It is not intended to be a peer-reviewed clinical review of language acquisition, not by any means. This is my subjective take, and that’s it. There have been a number of really angry posts and emails from PhDs and such with questions like “you’re ignorant — where is your clinical research?.” It’s just a blog post. All that said, I’m pretty cheeky regardless 🙂Thanks for the comment. I’ve used this on quite a few languages — see the beginning of the post — but this is definitely a blog post. It is not intended to be a peer-reviewed clinical review of language acquisition, not by any means. This is my subjective take, and that’s it. There have been a number of really angry posts and emails from PhDs and such with questions like “you’re ignorant — where is your clinical research?.” It’s just a blog post. All that said, I’m pretty cheeky regardless 🙂
Thanks for contributing!Thanks for contributing!
TimTim
“To be continued?”“To be continued?”
Yes please, but you must include a link to larger versions of the images otherwise there’s no point having them.Yes please, but you must include a link to larger versions of the images otherwise there’s no point having them.
Really interesting stuff.Really interesting stuff.
I’m always interested in learning new languages but my biggest problem has been those little technicalities or ways of structuring sentences … but they were things I couldn’t identify.I’m always interested in learning new languages but my biggest problem has been those little technicalities or ways of structuring sentences … but they were things I couldn’t identify.
I’d love it if you could expand on this further. I’m on the edge of my seat.I’d love it if you could expand on this further. I’m on the edge of my seat.
Eva: No offense, but a sense of humor is an important personal asset…Eva: No offense, but a sense of humor is an important personal asset…
Hey Tim, The language articles are great. Please keep them coming. I’ve just got back from 3 weeks in Japan – having packed light and even bought a Paktowl based on the advice of a previous article on your site 🙂Hey Tim, The language articles are great. Please keep them coming. I’ve just got back from 3 weeks in Japan – having packed light and even bought a Paktowl based on the advice of a previous article on your site 🙂
I’d already started conventional Japanese lessons and been listening both to Japanese language podcasts and Pimsleur’s Japanese audio lessons. Once I got there it felt like everything I knew went out of the window. For 3 weeks I used my truly terrible and meagre Japanese speaking ability at all times – I learnt more from this total immersion than I had from over a year’s worth of scratching my head back in the UK.I’d already started conventional Japanese lessons and been listening both to Japanese language podcasts and Pimsleur’s Japanese audio lessons. Once I got there it felt like everything I knew went out of the window. For 3 weeks I used my truly terrible and meagre Japanese speaking ability at all times – I learnt more from this total immersion than I had from over a year’s worth of scratching my head back in the UK.
I lived on noodles, raw fish, and custard donuts. I was lost in Tokyo, homeless in Kyoto, and set on fire at the Kurama Fire Festival. I stayed overnight in a Buddhist temple on Mt Koya (Koyasan), fed Deer biscuits in Nara (then a Deer ate my map in Miyajima!), and also traveled round Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Osaka, and Nikko, amongst many other places.I lived on noodles, raw fish, and custard donuts. I was lost in Tokyo, homeless in Kyoto, and set on fire at the Kurama Fire Festival. I stayed overnight in a Buddhist temple on Mt Koya (Koyasan), fed Deer biscuits in Nara (then a Deer ate my map in Miyajima!), and also traveled round Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Osaka, and Nikko, amongst many other places.
Thanks for the advice and inspiration. My goal is to be able to speak and read Japanese before I hopefully go back to teach there next year on the JET programme from July / August, so I will be looking out for your language articles with great interest. I’m registered with technorati so I will gladly link to those articles, especially if they use Japanese as the model language!Thanks for the advice and inspiration. My goal is to be able to speak and read Japanese before I hopefully go back to teach there next year on the JET programme from July / August, so I will be looking out for your language articles with great interest. I’m registered with technorati so I will gladly link to those articles, especially if they use Japanese as the model language!
Loved this post!!! These heuristics you’ve developed are similar to a concept in software development called “design patterns” where you identify analogies of your problem domain to a more generic set of principles.Loved this post!!! These heuristics you’ve developed are similar to a concept in software development called “design patterns” where you identify analogies of your problem domain to a more generic set of principles.
As you have written before, this method works very well with immersion learning. Drop into a foreign country and struggle with asking directions. There’s more nuance and flavor in that conversation that can be learned than from any other contrived situation using the grammar translation method in a classroom. My wife taught German to elementary school students using “immersion”, and their brains pretty much filled in the gaps in a fashion like you have described above. Cool stuff!As you have written before, this method works very well with immersion learning. Drop into a foreign country and struggle with asking directions. There’s more nuance and flavor in that conversation that can be learned than from any other contrived situation using the grammar translation method in a classroom. My wife taught German to elementary school students using “immersion”, and their brains pretty much filled in the gaps in a fashion like you have described above. Cool stuff!
Tim,Tim,
I added you to our blogroll: http://freshtilledsoil.typepad.com/I added you to our blogroll: http://freshtilledsoil.typepad.com/
Good luck breaking the 1,000 mark.Good luck breaking the 1,000 mark.
Best, RichardBest, Richard
[…] Ferriss recently made this post asking for readers to register their blogs at Technorati and find something interesting to link to […][…] Ferriss recently made this post asking for readers to register their blogs at Technorati and find something interesting to link to […]
Okay now you’re #965. What do you win?Okay now you’re #965. What do you win?
Tim,Tim,
Kudos – great blog entry. I’m fascinated by learning languges and you’re spot on. I just spent two weeks in China and was surprised by how quickly I could pick up a few basics. Enjoyed interviewing you after your keynote at The New New Internet in Reston, VA (Nov. 1, 2007). Posted the video here: http://www.blogwriteforceos.com/blogwrite/2007/11/tim-ferriss-aut.htmlKudos – great blog entry. I’m fascinated by learning languges and you’re spot on. I just spent two weeks in China and was surprised by how quickly I could pick up a few basics. Enjoyed interviewing you after your keynote at The New New Internet in Reston, VA (Nov. 1, 2007). Posted the video here: http://www.blogwriteforceos.com/blogwrite/2007/11/tim-ferriss-aut.html
[…] Ferris writes a blog that I read from time to time and today I read this post about language learning. I found it very insightful, though I don’t expect to be breaking […][…] Ferris writes a blog that I read from time to time and today I read this post about language learning. I found it very insightful, though I don’t expect to be breaking […]
Post 171 – Interesting to test this on Korean. Hangul (Koran characcter set) may be esy to learn. That’s the only easy part of the Korea language.Post 171 – Interesting to test this on Korean. Hangul (Koran characcter set) may be esy to learn. That’s the only easy part of the Korea language.
Why ? This technique is void of the cultural content on a language and looks like it doesn’t pretend to answer that question.Why ? This technique is void of the cultural content on a language and looks like it doesn’t pretend to answer that question.
Language is all about communication.Language is all about communication.
Tim,Tim,
Tonya Harding is doing a dinner for two with martial arts exhibition in Kansas City ands its on EBAY.Tonya Harding is doing a dinner for two with martial arts exhibition in Kansas City ands its on EBAY.
If she goes for more than you did recently, that’s just… wrong.If she goes for more than you did recently, that’s just… wrong.
AustinAustin
Congrats on breaking the 1000 technorati rank barrier Tim!Congrats on breaking the 1000 technorati rank barrier Tim!
I would definitely love more language articles, so you can get more in depth with the subject, this was a great article.I would definitely love more language articles, so you can get more in depth with the subject, this was a great article.
[…] If you’ve been wanting to learn another language, Tim Ferris has some tips on How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour. […][…] If you’ve been wanting to learn another language, Tim Ferris has some tips on How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour. […]
The Navy paid a few hundred thousand dollars to send me to language training 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for a year and a half to learn arabic. Maybe I should send a link to this post to them 🙂The Navy paid a few hundred thousand dollars to send me to language training 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for a year and a half to learn arabic. Maybe I should send a link to this post to them 🙂
Hey, sounds good. I will put it into practice. Tim, I just purchased the book and read it 3x and I am having problems developing a “product” to put on autopilot. The things of interest or from fields of work are a dime a dozen on the internet…any suggestions? From anyone? I am 38 and lost everything I had and worked in “blue collar” telecommunications. I go into heart surgery soon and I wanted to buy myself a new FJ Cruiser for surviving the surgery with no complications. Since I will have to leave my field of experience and start from square 1 and now have absolutely no credit to speak of, this is the perfect time to live life instead of living to work.Hey, sounds good. I will put it into practice. Tim, I just purchased the book and read it 3x and I am having problems developing a “product” to put on autopilot. The things of interest or from fields of work are a dime a dozen on the internet…any suggestions? From anyone? I am 38 and lost everything I had and worked in “blue collar” telecommunications. I go into heart surgery soon and I wanted to buy myself a new FJ Cruiser for surviving the surgery with no complications. Since I will have to leave my field of experience and start from square 1 and now have absolutely no credit to speak of, this is the perfect time to live life instead of living to work.
How to deconstruct a language in 1 hour (Plus how to learn vocabulary)…How to deconstruct a language in 1 hour (Plus how to learn vocabulary)…
Whenever people learn that I can speak 5 languages (Spanish is my native, English my second, Italian, French, and Japanese, as well as learning Arabic, Chinese and Greek) they inevitably ask how I can do it. I always feebly try……Whenever people learn that I can speak 5 languages (Spanish is my native, English my second, Italian, French, and Japanese, as well as learning Arabic, Chinese and Greek) they inevitably ask how I can do it. I always feebly try……
Hey Tim,Hey Tim,
I was so so so happy to see you in the Times today!!!I was so so so happy to see you in the Times today!!!
Great surprise on a cold Sunday morning in New York.Great surprise on a cold Sunday morning in New York.
My friend took a picture of me reading it todayMy friend took a picture of me reading it today
and said I was “glowing”.and said I was “glowing”.
I’m so happy for you!I’m so happy for you!
AnnaAnna
[…] latest article is called How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour. I have to say first that the title is entirely misleading. The whole point of the article is to […][…] latest article is called How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour. I have to say first that the title is entirely misleading. The whole point of the article is to […]
This is interesting.This is interesting.
Tim, what would you say is the easiest second language for a native English speaker to pick up? If necessary, assume Midwestern American dialect and also that we have access to a native speaker of the language we are learning. A one word answer is fine. Thanks!Tim, what would you say is the easiest second language for a native English speaker to pick up? If necessary, assume Midwestern American dialect and also that we have access to a native speaker of the language we are learning. A one word answer is fine. Thanks!
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[…] Tim Ferris reckons he can learn any language in 1-hour. […][…] Tim Ferris reckons he can learn any language in 1-hour. […]
I am curious as to how you came to your conclusion that Chinese learners who use GR have better tones than those who use pinyin. Tones are THE most important part of learning Chinese, and ultimately only way to properly learn them is by imitating native speakers speech, not reading them off paper. And if you use GR, you will be handicapped by the fact that native speakers do not use/know this system. Pinyin, however, is learned and mastered by Chinese students in elementary school. I learned Chinese by asking for help and assistance from many native speakers, and I think it would be virtually impossible to do so to any degree of success, without the help of native speakers. Using GR will just confuse those people who are necessary aides in your course of study.I am curious as to how you came to your conclusion that Chinese learners who use GR have better tones than those who use pinyin. Tones are THE most important part of learning Chinese, and ultimately only way to properly learn them is by imitating native speakers speech, not reading them off paper. And if you use GR, you will be handicapped by the fact that native speakers do not use/know this system. Pinyin, however, is learned and mastered by Chinese students in elementary school. I learned Chinese by asking for help and assistance from many native speakers, and I think it would be virtually impossible to do so to any degree of success, without the help of native speakers. Using GR will just confuse those people who are necessary aides in your course of study.
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