Author:
Gregory Harris
Date Of Creation:
11 August 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
- Steps
- Method 1 of 3: Prioritizing Language Learning
- Method 2 of 3: Organizing your study time
- Method 3 of 3: Keeping Motivated
Learning a new language is a challenging but exciting and incredibly rewarding experience. At some point, you may realize that you need or want to learn several languages at the same time. This process can be very difficult, but it will allow you to challenge your brain. Plus, you can take advantage of the similarities and differences among the languages you learn. Choose languages that differ in complexity and structure, be organized and plan your time carefully, and then you can expand your knowledge and life experience by learning several languages at the same time.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prioritizing Language Learning
1 Choose languages from different families or those that are not very similar to each other. While it might seem like learning two similar languages like Spanish and Italian at the same time would be beneficial, there is a good chance it will lead to some confusion if you are not careful. If you have a choice of which languages to learn, prioritize those that are different from each other.This way they won't get mixed up in your head, and you won't confuse words or grammar. - If you are learning similar languages, do not do it in one study session. Divide classes on different days, or even alternate between the week.
- However, there are those for whom learning similar languages helps to better master each of them. It is possible to make a connection between two languages, thereby increasing the understanding of each of them.
2 Choose languages that vary in complexity. If you have a choice, choose one language that is easier for you and another or others that are more difficult. An easy language is one that is similar to your native language or one that you already know. A difficult language is the one that looks least familiar to you. - English speakers tend to find it easier to learn Romance languages such as Spanish, Italian, and French.
- It is also quite easy for English speakers to learn Germanic languages such as German, Dutch and Swedish, because English is also one of them. If you already know English and decide to study German, then you will find many words similar to English.
- Slavic languages such as Russian, Ukrainian and Polish often cause difficulties for native English speakers due to some unfamiliar grammatical concepts. Many Slavic languages use the Cyrillic alphabet, which is not that difficult to learn.
- Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean are some of the more difficult languages to learn, as they have different sentence structures and word order.
- Uralic languages such as Hungarian, Finnish and Estonian also tend to be more difficult to learn, as they have little to do with Indo-European languages (which include Germanic, Romance, Slavic, and others).
3 Make one of the languages a priority. It is helpful to single out one language and devote most of your time and attention to it. As a result, you are more likely to master at least one of the selected languages instead of knowing a little of each one. - Consider prioritizing the most difficult language. You can also focus on the language you want to know the most, or the one you have less time to learn.
4 Make a detailed schedule to follow. If you are learning multiple languages, it is very important to organize your time. Write down how much time you will devote to each language each day or each week. In doing so, allocate as many hours as possible to the priority language. - How you allocate your time is entirely up to you. The most important thing is to stick to the established schedule whenever possible.
- Try to spread the languages on different days of the week. Study the priority language (s) four to five days a week, and devote one or two days a week to the secondary language (s).
Method 2 of 3: Organizing your study time
1 Make translations from one language you are learning to another. One way to practice each language and not forget it is to try to translate words between your chosen languages and not into your native language. This can help you deepen your knowledge. - Try using lighter languages as a starting point. For example, a Russian-speaking person studying Korean and Czech can translate Korean words into Czech rather than Russian.
- To increase the complexity, try writing a piece of text in one language and then orally translating it into another.
2 Make a deck of flashcards with words from all the languages you learn. Write words and phrases from different languages onto cards and mix them together to create a deck. Then test yourself. This way you can train by switching back and forth from different languages. 
3 Come up with characters for each language. Create a new personality for yourself when you speak one of the languages.This will help you clean up your head. A great option is to use stereotypical phrases from each language. For example, if you are learning French, you might imagine that you are a very romantic person. Try bowing your lips and mimicking the French actors you see in movies. - People who know many languages often claim that their personality changes depending on the language they speak. You may find that this is true if you play different characters and learn to express yourself in a different manner in a new language.
4 Study the same topic in all languages. Whenever possible, try to focus on similar material at the same time. This will help your brain create stronger associations with words. For example, if you are learning animal notation in one language, focus on that topic in other languages as well. 
5 Add all the languages you are learning to your language learning app or site. Some apps and sites like Duolingo, Memrise, Clozemaster, Anki, and Lingvist allow you to add multiple languages at a time. Download the application, and then indicate all the languages studied, if they are available in this program or on this site. This way, if you are on the move, you will have quick access to whatever language you learn. 
6 Color-code your teaching materials. Buy colorful notebooks, pens and markers to associate each language with a specific shade. If you use online calendars such as Google Calendar to plan your learning schedule, mark each language with a different color.
Method 3 of 3: Keeping Motivated
1 Allow yourself to have some fun. Learning multiple languages can seem like an extremely difficult task. To avoid burnout, include some fun exercises in your class. Watch movies and TV shows with subtitles in one of the languages you are learning, listen to music in a new language, or find a native speaker with whom you can communicate and practice your knowledge. - Join a local foreign language group or language exchange group that you are learning. This can be a great way to stay motivated and meet new people. You can use sites such as meetup.com or browse your local newspaper to find similar communities. You can also join virtual language exchange groups such as the iTalki website.
2 Use the languages you are learning in your daily life. Be sure to plan your time so that you can practice at least one language daily. To complement your class, you can sign items in your home in different languages, or change the language settings on your phone or computer. You can also listen to music, watch TV and movies, or use other media in the languages you are learning. These small changes will give you some language practice, even when you're not actually learning. 
3 Immerse yourself in a natural language environment. This is to stay motivated and have a good reason to learn new languages. Find what you're interested in to keep you motivated to learn. Here are some options: plan a trip to a country where the language you are learning is spoken, or volunteer to help native speakers adapt to life in your country. 
4 Reward yourself. Don't forget to celebrate all your little accomplishments! As a reward, allow yourself to take breaks or indulge in a traditional dessert from the country you're learning. Planning a trip to a country where the language you are learning is spoken is also a great reward option.
