At 21, I only spoke English.
At 28, I speak English, Chinese and Spanish.
Here's 10 important lessons I learned from this experience.
>>>Thread🧵<<<
At 28, I speak English, Chinese and Spanish.
Here's 10 important lessons I learned from this experience.
>>>Thread🧵<<<
1. Memory and Thinking are Different
In school, they focus on the grammar of the language.
They focus on how to pass a test.
You're taught to remember rather than think in the language.
If you can't think in the language, you can't have a conversation.
In school, they focus on the grammar of the language.
They focus on how to pass a test.
You're taught to remember rather than think in the language.
If you can't think in the language, you can't have a conversation.
2. Daunting Tasks Become Easier Over Time
Many people feel like they can't start learning a language because it's too difficult .
With any skill, if you commit to time to it every day, you can become exceptional.
I had no idea what I was doing. Now I speak Chinese daily.
Many people feel like they can't start learning a language because it's too difficult .
With any skill, if you commit to time to it every day, you can become exceptional.
I had no idea what I was doing. Now I speak Chinese daily.
3. Fluency is a Spectrum
People think of fluency as a fixed thing, like some perfection in the language.
I have different levels of fluency in each language.
In Chinese, I can have deep conversations.
In Spanish, I can have basic conversations and get by.
People think of fluency as a fixed thing, like some perfection in the language.
I have different levels of fluency in each language.
In Chinese, I can have deep conversations.
In Spanish, I can have basic conversations and get by.
4. Mistakes are Quickly Forgotten by Others
When you speak another language, you are bound to make mistakes.
Heck, even in your native language you sometimes make mistakes.
Nobody cares if you make mistakes. Don't fear them.
Just speak.
When you speak another language, you are bound to make mistakes.
Heck, even in your native language you sometimes make mistakes.
Nobody cares if you make mistakes. Don't fear them.
Just speak.
5. Mistakes are Lessons
I'll never forget this in Chinese
The stand alone word for sick is bìng
My colleague was coughing, and I said 'ni you bing ma'
Word for word this says : you have sick ?
But the literal meaning is: Are you crazy?
I never forgot this
I'll never forget this in Chinese
The stand alone word for sick is bìng
My colleague was coughing, and I said 'ni you bing ma'
Word for word this says : you have sick ?
But the literal meaning is: Are you crazy?
I never forgot this
6. Anybody Can Learn a Language
I often hear people say "I'm not good at languages".
Dude...
I failed learning French, Japanese, Spanish and Maori before I ever figured it out .
It's not that you're not good, it's that you haven't committed time to learning it.
I often hear people say "I'm not good at languages".
Dude...
I failed learning French, Japanese, Spanish and Maori before I ever figured it out .
It's not that you're not good, it's that you haven't committed time to learning it.
7. It Helps You Communicate Better
Monolingual English speakers don't know their English is too idiomatic for non native speakers.
For example, explain 'put up with' in "how do you put up with him?"
My Nan asked my fiancé this as a joke and I had to rephrase to 'tolerate'.
Monolingual English speakers don't know their English is too idiomatic for non native speakers.
For example, explain 'put up with' in "how do you put up with him?"
My Nan asked my fiancé this as a joke and I had to rephrase to 'tolerate'.
8. Appreciating Others Who Learn Your Language
The UK, USA, Canada, Australia and NZ are notorious for saying "Why don't you just speak English?!"
Remember this: Someone who speaks broken English isn't dumb, they can articulate with perfection in their own language.
The UK, USA, Canada, Australia and NZ are notorious for saying "Why don't you just speak English?!"
Remember this: Someone who speaks broken English isn't dumb, they can articulate with perfection in their own language.
9. Appreciating Your Own Language
I never understood the beauty of English until I studied other languages.
English is like a sponge that can bend in many ways.
It's rich with literature and is the language of the world.
Other languages have their beauty too.
I never understood the beauty of English until I studied other languages.
English is like a sponge that can bend in many ways.
It's rich with literature and is the language of the world.
Other languages have their beauty too.
10. Language Shapes Perception
In Chinese, they say 'drink soup'
In Spanish, they say 'win money'
There are many words in Chinese I understand but can't say in English as one word, and vice versa.
Language is a beautiful random manifestation of ideas.
In Chinese, they say 'drink soup'
In Spanish, they say 'win money'
There are many words in Chinese I understand but can't say in English as one word, and vice versa.
Language is a beautiful random manifestation of ideas.
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If you would like to learn a language, check out these threads I made a while back.
Learn ANY language guide:
FREE language learning resources:
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https://twitter.com/MrLiveWrite/status/1423624650123366403
FREE language learning resources:
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