5 English Learning Tips from a Polyglot

People who know several foreign languages are called polyglots, and those who have mastered 6 or more are hyperpolyglots. Dr. Emilie Zuniga, a linguist, educator, and co-author of many Duolingo courses, knows 21 languages. She shares her secrets of effective language learning through the following 5 strategies.

Strategy 1: Define Your Motivation

Motivation is not only about understanding why you are learning a language in general but also knowing specifically what you will achieve when you reach the desired level. Set several goals—both small and large. For example, you might want to reach an Intermediate level to score 6 on the IELTS, which will allow you to continue your studies at your dream university.

Strategy 2: Practice Continuously

The mathematics of language learning dictate that 15 minutes of practice every day will help more than three hours once a week. Of course, this does not mean that fifteen minutes are enough; it means that your practice should be consistent, without long breaks. Your learning will be effective only this way, and you will not waste time and money.

Strategy 3: Record Yourself

Recording yourself on an audio recorder or video can help you see yourself from an outsider’s perspective, especially if you are learning the language independently, without a teacher. This way, you can evaluate your fluency and hear errors you might not notice when speaking. It also provides an opportunity to praise yourself, as often we do not realize how well we speak, much better than at the beginning, or how advanced our vocabulary has become.

Strategy 4: Be Kind to Yourself

This means:

• Don’t rush.

• Praise yourself for your achievements.

• Don’t scold yourself for mistakes.

• Don’t compare yourself to others.

Strategy 5: Find a Role Model

This mainly concerns advanced conversational skills. Choose a person whose way of speaking and accent you want to imitate. You should really like this person if you want to resemble them. They also should be fairly popular and active, so that you can find many videos and audio recordings of them. Focus on how they speak. Try to imitate them, repeat after them, and improve your conversational skills.