What foreign languages ​​to learn in order to earn good money. Scientists explain what foreign language lessons provide and why they should not be limited What kind of work you need to know languages

If you're an English student, you've certainly heard of the polyglots who managed to learn 5/10/30/50 languages. Which of us does not have the thought: “Surely they have some secrets, because for years I have been learning the only English!” In this article, we will present the most common myths about those who successfully learn foreign languages, as well as tell you how polyglots learn languages.

A polyglot is a person who can communicate in multiple languages. Some of the most famous polyglots in the world are:

1. Cardinal Giuseppe Mezzofanti, according to various sources, spoke 80-90 languages.
2. The translator Kato Lomb spoke 16 languages.
3. Archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann spoke 15 languages.
4. Writer Leo Tolstoy spoke 15 languages.
5. Writer Alexander Griboedov spoke 9 languages.
6. Inventor Nikola Tesla spoke 8 languages.
7. Writer Anthony Burgess spoke 12 languages.
8. Luca Lampariello
9. Sam Jandreau
10. Ollie Richards is contemporary and speaks 8 languages.
11. Randy Hunt is a contemporary, speaks 6 languages.
12. Donovan Nagel is a contemporary and speaks 10 languages.
13. Benny Lewis is a contemporary, speaks 11 languages.

It should be said that basically all polyglots know 2-3 languages ​​at a high level, and the rest they speak at the level of "survival", that is, they can communicate on simple topics.

Another interesting feature is that the first foreign language is always the hardest and takes a long time to learn, while subsequent ones are mastered much faster and are easier. It is especially easy to learn the languages ​​of one group, for example: Italian, French and Spanish.

7 common myths about polyglots

Myth #1: Polyglots are people with a special aptitude for languages.

Some people believe that polyglots do not need to strain at all: languages ​​themselves are assimilated in their heads without effort and practice. There is an opinion that those who know many languages ​​have a different brain structure, they easily perceive and reproduce information, grammar is given to them without studying, by itself, etc.

Is it true:

A polyglot is an ordinary person who likes to learn several languages ​​and does his best to do so. There is no such person who could not become a polyglot, because this does not require any special knowledge or mindset. All you need is hard work and dedication.

Don't be in a hurry to be fluent (you'll frustrate yourself). Just enjoy the process. It's slow and not always easy, but it can be enjoyable if you take the pressure off yourself.

Don't rush to freehold right away (you'll only get upset). Just enjoy the process. It will be slow and not always easy, but it can be fun if you don't push yourself.

Myth #2: Polyglots have unique memories

It is believed that all polyglots have a phenomenal memory, so any language is easily given to them. People believe that polyglots memorize the meanings of absolutely all unfamiliar words and grammatical constructions from the very first time, therefore, subsequently, they easily speak the language they are learning.

Is it true:

Polyglots do have a good memory, but many people confuse cause and effect: it is the study of languages ​​that develops memory, and not the unique innate abilities that make it possible to learn a language. Indeed, there are people who can boast of a unique memory, but this does not make them polyglots. The fact is that simply memorizing words or phrases for a full-fledged study of the language is not enough.

Myth #3: Polyglots started learning languages ​​at a young age.

Another popular myth goes something like this: “Polyglots are people who were taken to language courses by their parents from childhood. It is easier for children to study, so today these people can easily speak several foreign languages.”

Is it true:

For the most part, polyglots are people who are in love with foreign languages. And this love came already at a conscious age. Those who learned foreign languages ​​in childhood do not have any advantages over adult learners. Most linguists and psychologists are convinced that languages ​​are even easier for adults, because an adult, unlike a child, consciously takes this step, understands why you need to read texts or translate sentences. Read the article "", you will see that adults have their own advantages over children in learning foreign languages.

Myth #4: Polyglots can learn any language in 3-5 months

The question of the need to learn English and other languages ​​is especially relevant today, so almost every day we read another article or watch an interview with a polyglot. These people sometimes claim to have learned a foreign language in 3-5 months. At the same time, many polyglots in their interviews or articles immediately offer you to buy a language course that they themselves invented for money. Is it worth spending money on it?

Is it true:

In fact, polyglots rarely specify what they mean by the phrase "I learned the language in 5 months." As a rule, during this time a person manages to learn the basics of grammar and basic vocabulary in order to explain himself in everyday communication. But in order to speak on more complex topics, for example, about the life and structure of the Universe, any person needs more than 5 months. Those who speak several languages ​​really well will tell you that they have been studying them for years, constantly improving their knowledge. Therefore, if you plan to move beyond the level of “reading, translating with a dictionary”, get ready not for 3-5 months, but for at least 1-2 years of learning the first foreign language “from scratch”.

Myth #5: Polyglots have a lot of free time.

When we read articles about polyglots, it seems that all they do is give interviews from morning to night and tell how they managed to achieve success in the field of learning foreign languages. From this arose the myth that those who do not work learn languages, they say, they mastered English simply “from nothing to do”.

Is it true:

To confirm our words, watch this video by polyglot Ollie Richards, he talks about life hacks that will help even the busiest people learn the language:

Myth #6: Polyglots travel a lot.

Many people believe that “really” learning a foreign language is possible only abroad, in the country of native speakers of this language. There is an opinion that abroad you can completely “immerse yourself” in the subject being studied, create an ideal language environment, etc. It turns out that in order to become a polyglot, you need to constantly travel around the countries.

Is it true:

In fact, most polyglots say that they communicate a lot with native speakers of the language being studied, are interested in their way of life, culture, etc. However, this does not mean at all that people who study foreign languages ​​travel 365 days a year. Technology allows each person to communicate with people from any country without leaving home. Visit the language exchange sites listed in this article. On them you can find an interlocutor from the USA, Great Britain, Australia, any other country. Polyglots use the same opportunity and successfully learn new languages ​​for themselves. In the article "" we have given 15 tips for creating a language environment for learning English in your native country.

You can recreate an immersion environment at home, by streaming movies, listening to podcasts, playing music, and reading in your target language... all you need is an internet connection.

You can immerse yourself in the language environment at home by watching movies, listening to podcasts and music, reading in the language you are learning... all you need is an internet connection.

Myth #7: Polyglots have a lot of money

This myth is closely related to the previous two: people believe that polyglots do not work, but only travel. In addition, people think that polyglots constantly spend large sums on learning materials: they buy self-study books and dictionaries, take expensive lessons from native speakers, travel abroad for language courses. People believe that polyglots have a lot of money and therefore opportunities to learn foreign languages.

Is it true:

At the time of this writing, "millionaire" and "polyglot" are not identical concepts. As we have already found out, polyglots are not on a continuous journey, and among them there are many ordinary working people like you and me. It's just that those who want to know many languages ​​use every opportunity to gain knowledge. It should be said that we have a lot of such opportunities: from various courses to thousands of online learning resources. For example, you can learn English online for free, and to make it easier for you to find the sites you need, we constantly write articles with collections of tips and useful resources for developing certain skills. Subscribe to our newsletter and you will not miss important information.

Secrets of polyglots: how to learn foreign languages

1. Set yourself a clear goal

Learning a foreign language "because everyone is learning it" won't last long, so decide why you need to know it. The goal can be anything from serious, like getting a position in a prestigious company, to entertaining, like “I want to understand what Sting is singing about.” The main thing is that your goal motivates you and in every possible way strengthens the desire to learn English. To strengthen your desire to learn a language, we advise you to read our articles "" and "".

2. Take at least a few lessons from a teacher at the beginning of your studies

We've all read about how polyglots learn any language on their own. However, many polyglots blog and often indicate that they started learning the language with a teacher, and after learning the basics, they moved on to self-study. We recommend that you do the same: the teacher will help you lay a solid foundation of knowledge, and if you wish, you can build the next “floors” yourself. If you decide to follow this advice, we suggest you try it with one of the experienced teachers of our school. We can help you "advance" English to any level of knowledge.

3. Speak out loud from day one of learning a new language

Even if you are learning your first ten words, say them out loud, so you will better remember the vocabulary. In addition, you will gradually develop the correct pronunciation. From the very first day, look for interlocutors for communication. For beginners, a professional teacher will be an ideal “partner” for the development of oral speech, and from the level you can look for an interlocutor on language exchange sites and hone your speaking skills with a native speaker. Please note: almost all polyglots claim that the most effective and interesting method of learning a new language is communication with native speakers. At the same time, polyglots say that during communication, words and grammatical constructions are easier to remember: you do not force yourself to study them, but memorize them in the process of an interesting conversation.

My absolute favorite language learning activity is talking to people! And it turns out, that’s pretty convenient, because that’s the whole reason we learn languages ​​anyway, right? We learn the language in order to use it. And since language is a skill, the best way to learn it is by using it.

My favorite activity in language learning is talking to people! And it turns out that this is quite convenient, because this is the reason why we learn languages, right? We learn a language in order to use it. And since language is a skill, the best way to improve it is to use it.

4. Learn phrases, not single words

Watch this video by Luca Lampariello, he tells how to learn new words (you can turn on Russian or English subtitles in the settings).

5. Don't get into theoretical grammar

But this advice must be understood correctly, because recently the Internet has been actively discussing the opinion that English grammar is superfluous knowledge. Allegedly, for communication it is enough to know three simple tenses and a lot of words. However, in the article "", we explained why such an opinion is fundamentally wrong. What do polyglots mean? They urge us to pay less attention to theory, and more to practical exercises, the use of grammatical structures in speech and writing. Therefore, immediately after getting acquainted with the theory, proceed to practice: do translation exercises, grammar tests, use the studied constructions in speech.

6. Get used to the sound of a new speech for you

I love to listen to podcasts, interviews, audiobooks or even music in my target language while walking or driving. This makes efficient use of my time and I don't feel like I'm making any particular kind of effort.

I like to listen to podcasts, interviews, audiobooks, or even music in the language I'm learning when I'm walking or driving. This allows me to use my time effectively without feeling like I'm putting in any special effort.

7. Read texts in the target language

While reading texts, you see how the studied grammar “works” in speech and new words “cooperate” with each other. At the same time, you use visual memory, which allows you to remember useful phrases. On the Internet you can find texts in any language for beginners, so you need to start reading from the very first days of learning the language. Some polyglots are advised to practice, for example, to read the text in parallel in Russian and English. So you see how sentences are built in the language being studied. In addition, polyglots claim that this allows you to unlearn the habit of translating speech verbatim from your native language into the target language.

8. Improve your pronunciation

9. Make mistakes

"Get out of your comfort zone!" - that's what polyglots call us to. If you are afraid to speak the language you are learning or try to express yourself in simple phrases in order to avoid mistakes, then you are deliberately creating an obstacle for yourself to improve your knowledge. Feel free to make mistakes in the language you are learning, and if you are so tormented by perfectionism, take a look at Runet. Native Russian speakers write words like “potential” (potential), adykvatny (adequate), “pain and numbness” (more or less), etc. without a shadow of hesitation. We urge you to take an example from their courage, but at the same time try to take into account your own errors and eradicate them. At the same time, polyglots remind us of how children learn to speak their native language: they begin to speak with errors, adults correct them, and over time the child begins to speak correctly. Do the same: learning from your mistakes is okay!

Make at least two hundred mistakes a day. I want to actually use this language, mistakes or not.

Make at least two hundred mistakes a day. I want to use this language, with or without errors.

10. Exercise Regularly

The main secret of polyglots is hard work. Among them there is not a single person who would say: "I studied English once a week and learned the language in 5 months." On the contrary, polyglots, as a rule, are in love with learning languages, so they devoted all their free time to this. We are sure that everyone can find 3-4 hours a week for learning, and if you have the opportunity to study for 1 hour a day, any language will submit to you.

11. Improve your memory

The better your memory is developed, the easier it will be to memorize new words and phrases. Learning a foreign language in itself is a great memory training, and to make this training more productive, use different ways of learning a language. For example, guessing is a fascinating and useful activity for both learning and memory. - another good idea for training: you can learn the lyrics of your favorite hit by heart, so you will remember a few useful phrases.

12. Take a cue from successful people

Polyglots are always open to new ways of learning, they do not stand still, but are interested in the experience of other people who successfully learn foreign languages. We have dedicated several articles to one of the most eminent polyglots, you can read about the experience of learning languages, or study.

13. Moderate your appetite

A variety of materials allows you not to get bored and enjoy learning a foreign language, but at the same time, we advise you not to “spray”, but to focus on some specific methods. For example, if on Monday you took one textbook, on Tuesday you grabbed the second one, on Wednesday you studied on one site, on Thursday on another, on Friday you watched a video lesson, and on Saturday you sat down to read a book, then by Sunday you risk getting "porridge" in the head from the abundance of material, because their authors use different principles for presenting information. Therefore, as soon as you start learning a new language for yourself, determine the optimal set of textbooks, websites and video lessons. There should not be 10-20 of them, limit your “appetite”, otherwise disparate information will be poorly absorbed. You can find ideas for choosing materials that suit you in our article "", where you can download a list of the "best" materials for learning a language for free.

14. Have fun learning

Among the famous polyglots, there is not a single person who would say: “Learning languages ​​is boring, I don’t like to do it, but I want to know many languages, so I have to overpower myself.” How do polyglots learn languages? These people enjoy not just understanding that they know a foreign language, but also the very process of learning. Do you think studying is boring? Then use interesting language learning techniques. For example, or hardly anyone will find it boring.

Languages ​​are not something one should study, but rather live, breathe and enjoy.

Languages ​​are not something to be learned, but rather something to live, breathe and enjoy.

Now you know how polyglots learn languages. As you have seen, everyone can learn foreign languages, regardless of "giftedness" and the number of banknotes. There is nothing complicated in the advice of polyglots for learning languages, all techniques are available to any person and are easily applicable in practice. Try to follow the given recommendations and have fun learning.

Today we bring to your attention a translation of an article by an Irish polyglot, the author of a unique method of learning foreign languages, Benny Lewis.

This post will answer the following questions:

• How to start speaking a foreign language today?
• How to impersonate a native speaker?
• How to learn several foreign languages ​​in 2 years and become a polyglot?

The article contains a lot of tips on using various resources and free applications that will help you improve your language skills in the shortest possible time. If you have been looking for effective methods for memorizing new vocabulary and improving your communication skills in a foreign language for a long time, then this post is for you. ;)

Most people believe that everyone who excels at learning foreign languages ​​has a genetic predisposition to it. However, the example of Benny Lewis proves that this belief is just one of hundreds of excuses we resort to to justify our failed attempts to be known as a polyglot.

As Benny recalls, a few years ago he was absolutely hopeless in everything related to languages: at the age of 20 he could only speak English, was the worst in the German class, and after 6 months living in Spain he could hardly muster up the courage, to ask in spanish where the bathroom is.

It was during this period that a certain moment of insight came in Lewis's life, which radically changed his approach to learning languages: he not only succeeded in mastering Spanish, but also received a certificate from the Cervantes Institute (Instituto Cervantes), confirming the level of language proficiency at C2 level - in perfection . Since then, Benny began to actively study other foreign languages, and at the moment he can easily communicate in more than 12.

As Benny Lewis himself says: “Since I became a polyglot - a person who speaks several languages ​​- my world has become much wider. I met interesting people and visited places that I could not even think of before. For example, my knowledge of Mandarin made me make new friends while traveling on the Chengdu-Shanghai train, I spoke about politics with a desert dweller in Egyptian Arabic, and my knowledge of sign language gave me the opportunity to familiarize myself with the culture of the deaf.

I danced with the former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and then talked about it in Irish live on the radio, interviewed Peruvian fabric manufacturers, talking with them in Quechua about the specifics of their work .... And in general, I had a wonderful 10 years traveling the world.

In this post you will find a lot of useful tips, the use of which will help you improve your foreign language skills in record time and, quite possibly, become a polyglot.

As the world becomes more connected economically and socially, the ability to communicate and understand each other has never been more important than it is today. Whether you are traveling, doing business or studying, learning another language is a must. The article presents a list that includes ten of the most important languages ​​that will definitely come in handy in life.

Experts advise to start mastering the language that you like or is extremely necessary, since the most important link in mastering a new means of communication is motivation, which makes a person study tirelessly. If you still find it difficult to make a choice, then you can refer to this list.

Languages ​​are chosen according to their global significance (degree of prevalence, influence in politics and economics), ease of learning and usefulness for a particular person (for example, when traveling or applying for a job).

10. Portuguese

Compared to Spanish, Portuguese has a separate, distinct history, including influences from Latin and Celtic. This language is harder to learn than Spanish. Over 230,000,000 Portuguese speakers consider it their native language. In fact, it is the official language in ten countries. It is spoken in places as far away as Angola in Africa and East Timor in the Pacific.

9. Russian

With over 250,000,000 native speakers, Russian is the geographically most widely spoken language. Using the Cyrillic alphabet may seem a bit intimidating at first, but once you become familiar with it, you will realize that it provides a good basis for understanding Slavic languages ​​such as Ukrainian, Serbian, and Bulgarian. In addition to its importance in the business world, this international communication tool boasts the largest collection of scientific and technical literature in the world, making it extremely practical for those who are hungry for knowledge.

8. Japanese

The Japanese language is important to understand. When you travel around Japan, you may be surprised to find that few road signs are written in English, and most of the population does not speak it at all. Over 120,000,000 people speak Japanese and some consider it the most difficult language in the world. It has three intricate writing systems, levels of formality, structural grammar that many may find puzzling. However, those who study it find it to be quite amusing.

7. Hindi

Along with English, Hindi is the official language of the Indian government. It is a truly rich language that has expanded its vocabulary from Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Turkish and English. Although most people associate it with India, it is also the official language of Fiji, as well as a regional language in Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mauritius.

6. Arabic

Arabic is the official language in 26 countries and has approximately 422,000,000 local and non-local speakers. It has become extremely important in the energy and security sectors, especially in Middle Eastern cities such as Dubai, UAE, Doha and Qatar. However, it contains various dialects (for example, there are large differences between Egyptian Arabic and Moroccan Arabic) and has a complex writing style.

5. German

There are many good reasons to learn German, primarily because it is a spoken language in the EU. On German communication is carried out in the field of business, since Germany is the economic center of Europe. While the younger generation of people in Eastern Europe were more likely to learn English, those who grew up under the Iron Curtain were more likely to learn German. Despite the fact that it has a more complex grammar compared to English, it is more logical.

4. French

After World War II, French became a European language. It was essential for business and tourism. Today there are 110,000,000 of its speakers. In addition, 190,000,000 people speak it as a second language.

Americans who want to speak French with native speakers should visit Quebec and New Brunswick. Residents of these Canadian provinces use it as their primary means of communication.

3. Spanish

About 470,000,000 people speak it as their first language, in addition to 100,000,000 people speak it as their second language. It is the official means of communication for 20 countries. First of all, it is common in South America and the Caribbean. Of course, it's also a much-needed language for Americans who are learning it because of the growing number of Hispanics in Florida, Texas, and the Southwest. It should be noted that it is very easy to learn.

2. Chinese

China is set to overtake the United States as the world's largest economy. Thus, the most widespread communication tool in the world (about 955,000,000 speakers) has acquired great importance. It is extremely difficult language at first: a change in tone can change the meaning of a sentence. The grammar system is relatively simple, although writing Chinese letters is notoriously difficult.

1. English

Over 400,000,000 people speak English language as their first language, and another 1.1 billion speak it as a foreign language. Simply put, it is impossible to travel or do business internationally without knowing this means of communication.

Without knowledge of English, a good career is unthinkable. In fact, commercial pilots are required to speak it, and most diplomatic positions also require it. Difficult spelling rules and specific grammar can be a real challenge, but once you've mastered it, it's just fine.

There is no methodology that allows you to learn a foreign language without difficulty and quickly, and cannot be. But do not despair - there would be a desire. We have collected for you tips from professionals that will help make learning a foreign language much more effective.

1. Use effective techniques

Only 4% of students in schools begin to speak fluently after 3 years of language learning. The remaining 96% of students stop at some stage due to ineffective teaching methods, as well as because their expectations are not met.

2. Measure your expectations against reality

Most people need 600 hours or more of intensive study to become fluent in the simplest languages ​​(French, Spanish) and almost 1,200 hours for more complex languages ​​(Chinese, Russian).

3. Don't expect quick results

It will take more than 10 years for someone who spends one hour a week on classes to start speaking fluently. That is why people are often disappointed. Anyone can learn a new language, he just forgets how much it took him to learn even his native language.

4. Total immersion

To learn a new language, you only need one thing... the so-called immersion. After all, when every person learned his native language in childhood, he studied it continuously, every minute, for several years. What is meant by immersion? Immersion means that a person is constantly learning and using a new language. In the process of immersion, the language is learned for about 40 hours a week, instead of just 1 hour. In this case, you can reduce the training period from 10 years to 4 months.

5. Learn 300 key words

First of all, you need to start learning the right words. For example, in colloquial English, just 300 words account for more than 65% of a person's daily conversations. In fact, there are many words that people don't know in their own language (and will never use).

After 300 people have memorized 300 foreign words, you can start reading newspapers or blogs in the target language. Even if the student does not understand anything, he will begin to recognize some words and will gradually subconsciously determine the meanings of other words. The values ​​of the unknowns must be specified in the dictionary. At first it will be tedious, but in the end it will be possible to get away from the dictionary.

7. Set a goal

Studying every day is very tiring, and almost everyone thinks of abandoning training. But if you set a specific goal - work abroad, communication, creating a family - it will be much easier to persevere.

8. Take advantage of the Internet

Today it is much easier to learn languages, because there is the Internet. You can immerse yourself in the local culture from a distance. You can read local news and gossip on blogs. This kind of total immersion is, in fact, a key feature for successful language learning.

9. Talk to yourself

It's time to start talking. But first, you should try to talk to yourself. A person needs to imagine that he met with someone or that he is being interviewed. This should be done regularly throughout the day.

10. Watch video

Talking to yourself, of course, will not be enough. You need to start listening to other people. Once again, the Internet is an amazing invention for learning languages. Youtube provides an excellent opportunity to listen to native speakers and begin to understand spoken language. As before, those who do not understand anything need not be upset. It is worth trying to find a video with subtitles. Also, do not disdain the dictionary when meeting with an unfamiliar word.

11. Don't forget about writing

The only thing that has not yet been studied is the letter. You need to start writing down certain things. For example, you should try to write your biography. This is a great way to strengthen your vocabulary.

12. Read news in a foreign language

You need to read the news on the smartphone screen on the way to work or to the store. At the same time, mentally, you need to mentally pronounce the situation in a new language. Also (in no case should this be abandoned) we continue to write a biography and watch the news. Naturally, in a new language.

13. The more foreign language, the better

In fact, the main goal should be to exclude Russian from Everyday life as much as possible. It would be nice to set a goal like "in a year I will watch all the news in a new language."

Maybe, key way in advanced language learning, is the use of the Internet. It has very good specialized programs. For example, the Duoling app can lay a solid foundation for a new language.

Now is the time to chat with native speakers. Skype, e-mail or familiar foreigners - all possibilities are good. If they don't know a word of Russian, this is ideal.

So... The main thing to remember when starting to learn a foreign language is to constantly use it in all aspects (speaking, listening, writing, reading). If you are ready to step out of your comfort zone and constantly learn, surrounding yourself with a foreign language literally everywhere, you will quickly become fluent in a new language.