Learning a language takes you in new directions.
© Joyce McGreevy

Language Tips for Busy People

Research shows that learning a second language is like superfood for the brain. Experts say we’re predisposed to be multilingual. So why do so many smart people think learning a second language is impossible?

Curiously, those who claim linguistic ineptitude often use complex grammar:

• “Had I understood the benefits of learning Japanese, I would have taken classes.”
• “If only I could have learned Spanish in high school, I would be fluent today.”

“Oh, I see”: You can learn languages, whatever their complexity, whatever your age, wherever you travel.

An OIC Moment spotted in a London bookshop.
© Joyce McGreevy

Immerse to Converse?

The ideal way of learning a second language is through immersion. Imagine living among native speakers until, little by little, the unfamiliar language starts making sense. Nearly 5 million kids in the U.S. do this every day. There’s also the “win the lottery, move to Tuscany” school of immersion, but most folks are already immersed in life’s demands.

But suppose you’ve got a vacation coming up. You could stick to English—depend on others to be multilingual—or you could learn at least some of the language.

Here’s how:

1. Practice the Tao of Now. In Peanuts, Snoopy tells Woodstock “I read at least one word a day.” Download an app that will send you “the word of the day” in your chosen language. Poco a poco, le parole diventano frasi.

2. Learn Ps and Qs. Master local versions of please, thank you, and other emblems of respect. Start with the basics, then listen for local variations.

3. Greet the Neighborhood Cats. Too shy to practice new words on people? It’s a little-known fact that cats are multilingual. The next time you meet a friendly feline, greet it in another language. Sure enough, it will demonstrate utter comprehension with an affirming “meow” in the local language. Repeat your greeting until you become comfortable enough to try it out on humans.

Admittedly, some Greek gátes are chattier than others. 
© Joyce McGreevy

But all are purrrfectly non-judgmental!
© Joyce McGreevy

4. Get Practical. Most phrasebooks reflect outdated travel norms. In this digital age, few of us need dialogues for making hotel reservations, let alone asking porters to carry our steamer trunks. To update the phrasebook approach, brainstorm what you personally need to know and research that. For me, that includes requesting photocopying services and scheduling a root touch-up.

5. Act Like a Child. In Valletta, Malta, a bookseller pointed wordlessly at the textbooks for learning Maltese. Then I asked her to recommend kotba tat-tfal (children’s books), gesturing toward myself and grinning sheepishly.  With that, her warm personality surfaced. She not only helped me find a local favorite, but shared a wealth of language tips.

6. Picture the Page. Don’t forget comic books, graphic novels, and magazines. Make your own captioned pictures, too. Visual supports mean you’ll need a dictionary less often.

Do bunnies bring baskets of eggs for the Husvéti menü?
© Joyce McGreevy (in Budapest)

7. Cognates to the Rescue. At a Florentine apothecary, a friend of mine mimed washing his hair because he didn’t know the word for shampoo. Turns out it’s il shampoo. Discover the power of cognates.

8. Sing It. Though it’s hardly a marketable skill, I can sing the theme song from “The Flintstones” in Italian. I also know that Albania borders on the Adriatic. Why? Because I heard the information sung. One time. Years ago. If you can say it, sing it, and you’ll save it.

9. Preempt Translation. Think of grocery stores as 3-D picture dictionaries. The great thing about picture dictionaries is that they help you stop translating. Instead of thinking “the word for apple,” you see a red round object and discover that it’s manzana.

10. Catch on with Context Clues. When my friend Julie visits Irish friends, she doesn’t ask for “milk” in her coffee, she asks for bainne. And she doesn’t always have coffee, sometimes she sips a cupán tae. Just don’t drop a mála tae into your cupán and pour boiled uisce over it. The best tae is brewed slowly in a taephota.

On a summer day in Zagreb, my favorite Croatian word is sladoled.
© Joyce McGreevy

11. Eat Your Words. If that charming taverna has an English-language menu, chances are it’s limited to bland options. Explore a culture’s culinary language before you ever go abroad, thanks to diverse restaurants and cooking classes in your community. And keep this shortcut handy: Learn expressions equivalent to “favorite local dish” or “something traditional.” What if you have allergies? What if you’re vegan? Download multilingual food-allergy chef alert cards or use a travel app.

12. Repeat, Please. Soap operas are ideal, not only because you get caught up in the conflict, but because they recap plots and repeat expressions. Counter-intuitive language tip: Set subtitles in the same language, not English, and be patient. Once you begin to understand, you’ll retain more of what you learn.

13. Listen in the Laundry. If you do use language audio, include podcasts—many free 5-minute-a-day lessons are surprisingly effective. Put on earphones and turn chore times into learning opportunities.

14, Dare to Air—I Mean, Err. When learning a second language, you’ll make mistakes. But don’t we sometimes make mistakes in our first language? “Oops,” we say, and try again. That’s a good plan for any language.

Discover why being bilingual works wonders for your brain here.  

Access a world of free language-learning resources on Open Culture here.  

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