7 Simple Rules for Becoming Fluent in Any Language
A guest blog about becoming fluent in any language, from hyper-polyglot, Luca Lampariello. See Video
Introduction
I’ve been learning languages for nearly thirty years. In all that time, I’ve worked to hone my skills, both in the individual languages I speak (which number over a dozen) and as a language learner and language coach. I’ve had successes, failures, and everything in between, but over time, the successes have become more and more common.
Why? Because with time, I’ve uncovered and developed a series of rules that I believe must be followed in order to reach fluency in a timely manner, and with fun and motivation to spare.
The goal of this blog post is to share these rules with you, so that you can do the same. I believe everyone who wants to reach fluency in a language should be able to, so if you abide by these rules, I’m confident that it will happen for you. And don’t forget to read all the way through to the end to find out more about how I can help you make your dreams of fluency a reality.
Rule 1: Know Your Why
To learn a language well, you need to know why you are learning it in the first place. This “why” serves as your primary source of motivation, and is often reflexively what you will look to when learning gets difficult. If your “why” is compelling enough, you will feel compelled to push past the challenge, and keep going; if not, you’ll most likely stop learning altogether.
Over the years, I’ve encountered many language learners who begin their learning journeys with the flimsiest “whys” imaginable.
Some of the more common justifications I’ve heard include:
- Because it looks cool
- Because it’s something to do in my free time
- Because my job/parents/school told me that it would look good on my resume
- Because it will improve my dating life
- and more
Don’t get me wrong—these are technically viable motivations for language learning, and they will certainly be enough to get you started on the path. That being said, they will most definitely not be able to get you past one of the first major obstacles in your learning journey, which is something called “the motivation dip”.
The motivation dip is the natural point in any difficult undertaking where your initial burst of motivation wears off, and you’re simply left with the reality of the task before you. Since you’re no longer “riding the high” of starting something new, you’re left with a clear decision: push yourself past the challenging parts, or give up.
If you start learning with a powerful why, then surviving the dip becomes much easier. This is because your why (also known as your reason for learning) exerts a powerful force that pulls you forward. Your why represents something you want to achieve with the language, so a good one compels you towards that future, so you can make that achievement your reality.
Flimsy “whys” don’t have this power. They don’t represent a future that’s compelling enough to get you to take action, so you most likely won’t take any action, and instead stop learning.
If you are going to stick with your language learning until you reach fluency (and beyond), you need to identify a reason for learning that can help you withstand any obstacle.
Here are a few steps to help you do that:
First, make a list of all of the possible reasons you have to learn your target language. In this sense, it’s unlikely that you’ll have just one why, but many.
Once you have your list, read through it again and try to sort them in terms of their motivational value. Which of these reasons really matters to you? Which will compel you to get up and learn even when you’re busy, tired, cranky, or otherwise unmotivated? You might have a few, but I encourage you to really narrow things down to one, if you can. Being laser-focused on that singular why will be the single most important factor in surviving the dip, so make sure you have it ready, when the time comes.
Language Fluency Rule 1 – In a Nutshell:
Your why is the key to long-term learning. Grab a piece of a paper, and write down all of the reasons you have for learning your target language. Then, try to narrow it down to the most powerful and compelling reason.
Rule 2: Get Rid of Your Limiting Beliefs
Not too long ago, I stumbled upon a TED talk by bestselling author Josh Kaufman with the alluring title of The first 20 hours — how to learn anything. As a lifelong learner, I’m always interested in finding more and better ways to learn effectively, so I decided to give it a listen.
I learned a lot from Kaufman’s speech, but perhaps the most impactful idea he shared involved the barriers that prevent us from learning new things. In particular, he said:
“The major barrier to learning something new is not intellectual. The major barrier is emotional. We’re scared. Feeling stupid doesn’t feel good. In the beginning of learning anything new, you feel really stupid. So the major barrier is not intellectual, it’s emotional.”
Kaufman’s words confirmed something that I had seen many, many times, both in myself, and in the language learners I coach: most people are unsuccessful at learning languages not because they lack the talent or capacity; rather, it is because they lack the mindset. In other words, they can’t handle the emotional challenges that inevitably come along with the language learning process.
You see, when I talk to people about why they’ve either struggled or given up on learning languages, I mostly hear limiting beliefs—the stories these people tell themselves in order to spare them the effort of actually attempting to learn.
“I’m too old to learn languages”, some say. “I’m too dumb”, say others. Still others worry about being “too busy”, or “too untalented” or even that their chosen languages are “too hard” to learn.
Whatever the specifics, most people tell themselves that they have too much of one thing or too little of another for language learning, which apparently prevents them from taking it up at all.
Does this sound familiar to you?
If you have limiting beliefs like these, you need to identify them before moving forward. Not only that, but you need to either eliminate them altogether, or refute them with facts and transform them into a positive belief that can support your future growth.
To use a quick example, let’s say you think you’re “too old to learn a language.”
Rather than just accepting that as fact, a better strategy would be to look for ways that your original belief is false. Look online for language learning communities, and see how many people your age are out there, learning languages actively and to high levels. I can assure you that no matter your age, you’ll find plenty of successful language learners in your age group—and you could be the next!
If you’d like to learn more about transforming limiting beliefs, check out my article How To Stay Motivated When Learning a New Language – Visualize and Connect.
Language Fluency Rule 2 – In a Nutshell:
Identify the beliefs you have that are actively limiting your ability and desire to learn a language. Then, take time to refute them, and transform them into ideas that inspire you, rather than beat you down.
Rule 3: Use Only a Few Resources at Once
In the days before the Internet, it was quite difficult to find good language learning resources. Most of the time, you were limited to what you could find at the local library or bookstore, and if you wanted to learn an uncommon language, you were mostly out of luck.
Nowadays, though, the landscape of learning resources has changed dramatically. For nearly any language, you can find books, apps, tutors, online courses, YouTube videos, podcasts, and much, much more.
While this is mostly a good thing, it has led to the opposite problem: where we once had too few resources, we now have too many!
With too many options to choose from, people are more likely to fall into the trap of buying resource after resource, and never actually getting started on any of them. Alternatively, they do start a resource, but then move on to the next as soon as they get bored, or distracted.
It goes without saying that if you spend more time collecting and switching between resources than you do actually learning, you won’t get very far. For that reason, I always make sure to follow this simple rule:
Never use more than three resources at a time.
Three is a good number of resources. It’s enough to keep you busy for a while, but not so much that you feel overwhelmed with the commitment. It also gives you just enough variety to keep things interesting, in case there’s any point in your learning where you feel like you need to mix things up a bit.
If you can commit to fully using three resources before moving on, you’ll find that it’s not only easier to start learning, but you’ll have a much easier time staying focused as a result.
Language Fluency Rule 3 – In a Nutshell:
Commit to selecting and using three language learning resources at a time.
Rule 4 – Find the Best Method—For You!
Nowadays, there is a tendency for language learners to start their journeys by frantically searching for the single best method to learn a language. If you’ve ever scoured the Internet for hours looking for the “right way” to learn like this, then I’ve got some sobering news from you—there is no one-size-fits-all method to learning a language.
That’s not to say I haven’t looked for it. In fact, I’ve spent three decades of my life both learning languages and coaching others to learn them, and in all that time, I’ve never identified the one, single method that works for everyone.
It’s not all bad news, though. I may not have found one, perfect method, but I have discovered many that work well, and for a large variety of people across a large variety of circumstances. These methods look quite different on the surface, but they’re actually all built on a series of principles that ensure the methods are well-aligned with how our brains actually absorb new information.
I don’t have time to share all of these principles with you, but I do want to share some of the most important ones. If you can find and apply a method that aligns with these principles, you’ll be well on your way to reaching your language goals.
First, effective methods require you to learn every day. Our brain learns best when it is exposed to new information regularly and over a long period of time, so a consistent daily practice will help you get this done.
Second, effective methods are enjoyable. This is where personal preference comes into the equation. Just because someone likes a method doesn’t automatically mean that you will. And if you don’t like a method, then it’s a good sign that it’s not the right one for you, no matter how many people recommend it. Your goal should be to find the most effective method that you find fun and fulfilling, regardless of what other people might say.
Third, effective methods are flexible. Your needs as a language learner will change and grow as you get more experienced. Beginner activities might be the best thing for you when first starting out, but you’ll eventually find them dull and ineffective as you near the advanced level. Look for a method that allows you to tweak and experiment over time, and you’ll find yourself much more satisfied at each stage in your development.
You can find more info in my article The Only True Way to Learn a Language.
Language Fluency Rule 4 – In a Nutshell:
When selecting a method to follow, look for one that is aligned with the three principles I’ve shared.
Rule 5 – Prioritise Input over Output
If there’s one thing that I think most people can universally agree upon, it’s this:
Being able to speak a foreign language is really, really cool.
Out of all of the major language skills, speaking is the one that has the most flash and mystique to it. It’s something that is seen as simultaneously highly impressive and highly challenging, so most people want to do it, even if they are afraid to.
For this reason, it’s not unusual to see people begin learning a language with the goal of learning how to speak from the very beginning. Output skills are both difficult and desirable, they say, so it only makes sense to start working on speaking straight away.
I’ve found that this works in theory, but not in practice. If you attempt to prioritize speaking from the beginning, you’ll soon find that your vocabulary hits a ceiling, and the rest of your progress slows to a halt. Speaking practice alone is simply not enough to help your brain construct a robust, flexible, and dependable model of how the language works.
This might seem surprising, but if you think about it, it actually makes a lot of sense. When you were born, did you just start speaking your native language immediately? No, of course not! As children, you and I and everyone else spent years building our input skills (listening and reading) before we ever became competent speakers.
So that’s my recommendation to you. Don’t speak right away, but instead learn to speak as a child does. And that means actually spending a long time getting massive amounts of foreign language input before you ever worry about getting output practice. At minimum, at least 80% of your daily learning activities should be related to listening and reading, while the remaining 20% can be spent on speaking and writing, as necessary.
Language Fluency Rule 5 – In a Nutshell:
Make sure that at least 80% of your learning activities are spent on listening and reading each day. If you’re interested in building output skills, you can practice them in the remaining 20% of your available learning time.
Rule 6 – Choose Your Content Carefully
After reading the last rule, you’re now aware of the importance of prioritizing input over output. However, since input technically could involve any listening or reading content, you might be wondering just what types of input you should focus on.
Through research and experience, I’ve determined that the most powerful types of input-based content have three specific characteristics: they are rich, comprehensible, and compelling.
Let’s break these down, so you can recognize these characteristics when you see them.
Rich content is content that you partially do not understand. This means that it contains a certain amount of words, phrases, and expressions that you currently don’t know, and therefore can add to your vocabulary over time.
Comprehensible content is content that you mostly do understand. In this sense, richness and comprehensibility complement each other; if you mostly understand something, you’ll be able to use context clues to figure out the stuff that you haven’t learned yet. In general, I’d recommend looking for content that is 60%-70% comprehensible, and 30%-40% rich.
Finally, compelling content is content that interests you. It’s no secret that if you enjoy what you’re learning from, you’ll be much more motivated to keep on learning in the future. So make sure that any content you use is connected in some way to your hobbies, interests, and passions.
If you get massive exposure to good content in your target language, your brain will gradually and automatically build the intricate web of patterns and connections that is necessary in order to become fluent in your target language.
Language Fluency Rule 6 – In a Nutshell:
Whenever you look for content to learn from, make sure it is rich, comprehensible, and compelling!
Rule 6 – Choose Your Content Carefully
After reading the last rule, you’re now aware of the importance of prioritizing input over output. However, since input technically could involve any listening or reading content, you might be wondering just what types of input you should focus on.
Through research and experience, I’ve determined that the most powerful types of input-based content have three specific characteristics: they are rich, comprehensible, and compelling.
Let’s break these down, so you can recognize these characteristics when you see them.
Rich content is content that you partially do not understand. This means that it contains a certain amount of words, phrases, and expressions that you currently don’t know, and therefore can add to your vocabulary over time.
Comprehensible content is content that you mostly do understand. In this sense, richness and comprehensibility complement each other; if you mostly understand something, you’ll be able to use context clues to figure out the stuff that you haven’t learned yet. In general, I’d recommend looking for content that is 60%-70% comprehensible, and 30%-40% rich.
Finally, compelling content is content that interests you. It’s no secret that if you enjoy what you’re learning from, you’ll be much more motivated to keep on learning in the future. So make sure that any content you use is connected in some way to your hobbies, interests, and passions.
If you get massive exposure to good content in your target language, your brain will gradually and automatically build the intricate web of patterns and connections that is necessary in order to become fluent in your target language.
Language Fluency Rule 6 – In a Nutshell:
Whenever you look for content to learn from, make sure it is rich, comprehensible, and compelling!
Rule 7 – Learn Vocabulary Through Exposure, Not Rote Memorisation
Do you remember what it was like to learn words in language class?
If your experience was anything like mine, you were forced to memorise new vocabulary using all sorts of rote memorization techniques.
This typically involved:
- Creating vocabulary lists
- Using flashcards
- Repeatedly writing down words and definitions
- Reciting newly learned vocabulary out loud, either by yourself or as a class
All of these vocabulary acquisition techniques rely on the idea that the more often you review something, the more likely you are to remember it—no matter how long it’s been since you first learned it.
As popular as this method was (and still is), it’s surprising how few people know that recent studies in memory and neuroscience have completely debunked it. Rote memorisation is not only ineffective, it’s probably the worst method you can use if you want to remember something over the long-term.
Fortunately, that same research has given us an alternative method that works much better with our brain’s internal memory mechanisms. Instead of trying to cram lots of repetition in a short amount of time, it involves repeatedly exposing yourself to information over a long time period, such as weeks, months, or even years.
Following this new method, memorisation is not something that needs to be actively forced; rather, you can do it through gradual, repeated exposure to the rich, comprehensible, and compelling content that I described above.
This approach has another distinct advantage: it ensures that you always see words either written or spoken in their natural contexts. Context is hugely important in vocabulary acquisition, since it is what helps us quickly identify words that have multiple meanings.
Imagine you’re trying to learn the English word “wave”. Out of context (as you would normally see it in a vocabulary list or flashcard), it’s impossible to know if we’re referring to a “wave” of one’s hand, a “wave” crashing on the shore, or a “wave” or even a “heat wave”. However, if you heard it in the sentence “the surfer rode the big wave”, you’d be able to immediately understand the meaning—all thanks to context!
To be able to learn vocabulary through gradual exposure, you’ll need two things:
- Lots of rich, comprehensible, and compelling content (as described in the previous section)
- A learning schedule that includes review activities that require you to occasionally go back and review old content that you’ve already learned.
The review part doesn’t need to be complicated. For example, if you first “absorb” a piece of content through reading it while simultaneously listening to the audio file, you can review it in later weeks by just listening to the audio, or reading the text by itself. Occasionally re-approaching old content in new ways will help you build your network of vocabulary, without the stress and agitation that usually comes with rote memorization.
Language Fluency Rule 7 – In a Nutshell:
After you cover a piece of content for the first time, make sure you occasionally go back and review it by approaching the material in a new way.
Conclusion
So there you have it! Those are my seven rules for becoming fluent in any language. They are the rules I follow in each language I learn, and I even teach them to each and every coaching student I have. I’m confident that if you follow these same rules, you’ll soon see a big improvement in both your level of achievement and enjoyment as you learn your target language.
If you’d like to learn more about me and my language learning methods, feel free to head over to www.LucaLampariello.com. That’s where I share my very best ideas, content, and courses, all designed to help learners like you bring your language learning to the next level.
About The Author: Luca Lampariello
Luca Lampariello is an expert language learner from Rome, Italy, and founder of the Smart Language Learning Academy. Currently, he speaks fifteen languages, ten of which at a fluent level. Since 2008, he has shared his language learning techniques and methods via his personal YouTube channel and his website LucaLampariello.com. Luca has also spent the last 12 years working independently as a language coach and building courses on how to learn foreign languages, helping hundreds of thousands of language learners achieve their goals. Altogether, his teachings have attracted hundreds of thousands of followers, and inspired people from all around the world to become proficient in foreign languages.
