People think they know how to learn. When you see/hear the word learning, your mind instantly fills with images of classrooms, books, and flashcards, because those are the tools that modern society has imposed upon us for learning. But modern society measures the success of learning by way of tests and examinations — usually performed within a short time from when the information is first distributed. So these tools are only refined to give us a fairly good recall of facts from short-term memory; they do not actually impart any skill onto us!

So… the biggest myth in language learning is the word “learning” itself! We need to stop trying to learn languages, and start the enjoyable work of acquiring them.

What is your favourite single language learning technique/activity?

This one is simple. 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. Interact, refine, repeat.

I couldn’t begin to enumerate all the interesting words I’ve learned from books, web sites, studies, etc., of which I can’t remember any now. But everything I’ve learned in conversation has always stuck with me, because I don’t just have a word memorized, I have a context; I have the memory of where I was, who I was with, and what we were doing at the time when this new part of a language was bestowed upon me. I have a head full of fond memories, rather than boring facts.

What is one thing you wish you had known/done when you started out learning languages?

I first started out learning languages at a very young age, thanks to a very wonderful kindergarten teacher who taught us very little actual Spanish (one new word each day) but who forever implanted the thought into our young minds that foreign languages can be interesting, rather than scary. I can’t think of anything I wish I had known then, because I think the most important thing a person could want to know when they begin is the very thing that an amazing young teacher gave to me at an age early enough for it to do me the most good.

Randy is a traveller, software developer, and foreign language enthusiast who learns one new language every year. You can read more about it at Yearlyglot.