Is It Okay To Learn Two Languages At One Time

Can you learn two languages at once? (Maybe, and here's how)

Learning a new language equally an adult can be a challenge. You need dedication and the right resources, not to mention a lot of practice, in gild to practice it right. That's why few people attempt to complicate matters farther by learning ii languages at once.

Is that even possible? Tin you learn two languages at once as an adult? Should you even endeavour?

Having written the earth'south most comprehensive guide on how to learn a language on your own, we idea nosotros'd explore whether it'south possible (or feasible) to attempt to simultaneously become fluent in multiple languages.

Psst! You might also want to bank check out 'Learning a new language when you're older and how to do information technology!'

Tin can I larn two languages at the aforementioned time?

In short, yep, information technology is possible to learn ii languages simultaneously. Our brains are frequently required to acquire similar topics at the same fourth dimension. In fact, all educational curriculum count on the fact that you should be able to process and filter data from multiple categories meantime. Even in other situations, our brains are primed to adapt to new tasks as needed on a regular basis.

So, what's the claiming?

Simply because you lot can larn two things at the same time, doesn't always mean yous should . Learning a new language takes a lot of extra time and free energy that must be well-allocated if you plan to actually become fluent in your new language or even just recall your new vocab in the long run.

In addition, your habits in languages tend to stick. If you are sloppily dividing your fourth dimension betwixt the two languages and letting them overlap, you are likely to never fully develop the skills you need to principal your new languages. At best, you will only really develop quality abilities in a single language.

Furthermore, language is not a purely academic undertaking. We of course need to learn the grammar and vocabulary of a new language through traditional learning techniques—memorization, drills, and practice—but we also need connect these words to emotions and memories also.

When learning a new language, many parts of our brains are activated, requiring much more than try than but memorizing formulas. In fact, learning a new linguistic communication trains our unabridged encephalon to be more flexible. This makes learning a new language a challenge; ii new languages require twice the mental endurance and flexibility.

It's the motivation that matters

Since learning two languages at once is and so much more mentally taxing, some language experts propose fugitive it. The additional stress often leads to dropping the goal of learning either language. If the added stress of the additional language doesn't offer a loftier enough reward, yous won't be an effective learner.

That'southward why motivation matters—especially when attempting to learn ii languages at once. If your but goal in studying ii languages at the same time is to go multilingual, you lot are probable to fail; there is little motivation to spur your forward progress and make the challenges worthwhile.

Formula for how study motivation works — This is a fancy formula for how written report motivation works. Basically, you need to increase the reqard value, decrease the burden, and minimize distractions.

[See our complete guide on finding the motivation to report.]

On the other hand, a person who is trying to learn Chinese and French in order to become a dream job is much more likely to persevere. Even a passion can be enough. If you simply have always loved the sound of Castilian and passionately dive into the language, motivation is much more likely to overcome the inevitable fatigue.

If you decide to learn two languages at one time, it's important to really examine your motivation to ensure that it comes from a 18-carat place. If you lot simply want to know whatever two languages now, you'll about always rush through the basics and burn out.

x tips for learning two languages at once

Since learning 2 languages at once poses an actress challenge, it'south of import to become most it the correct mode. These x tips volition aid you do only that:

1. Exercise expert time direction skills

Devoting plenty time to each language is a real hurdle that can only be overcome through effective time direction. Not merely volition you lot demand extra time to accommodate studies of both, simply you volition also demand to account for a bigger learning curve than if you were targeting just i language. It's of import to schedule time for each language and plan out exactly what you program to larn and when. Otherwise, y'all tin speedily experience overwhelmed.

two. Selection 2 languages that are very different from each other

For many people, this sounds counterintuitive, but picking two dissimilar languages helps you minimize the confusion between them. If y'all try to learn French and learn Spanish, many words, grammar concepts, and fifty-fifty conjugations are probable to blur, preventing you from mastering either. Learning Chinese and High german, on the other mitt, take so piffling in common that mixing the ii upward should not be a problem.

3. Make sure y'all pair familiar languages with less familiar languages

It helps your conviction (and your brain) to learn one "easier" language at the same time as a more "hard" linguistic communication. If you are a native English speaker, learning Arabic, Japanese, or Mandarin may pose a real challenge. Choosing to learn an "easier" language like Spanish, which has many English cognates, to study at the aforementioned time may help ensure that yous don't burn out.

iv. Set aside time each day to exercise both languages

If you want to truly develop your language skills, y'all need to be reviewing, repeating, and practicing speaking the languages on a regular ground. Devoting fifty-fifty just a small corporeality of time to both languages every day ensures that you don't forget everything you had learned during the interim.

v. Make information technology fun

No matter how motivated you are, you won't succeed unless y'all go some enjoyment out of the learning procedure. Read books in the target language that you savour. Lookout movies and mind to music. Travel to a country where the language is spoken and get existent utilise of it. Not every moment is going to be fun, merely you demand to ensure you feel rewarded and fulfilled.

half dozen. Employ loftier-quality learning resources

Since it is harder to learn two languages than learning a unmarried new ane, you need to support your learning with the best language resources bachelor. Choose only those with proven language learning methodologies like Brainscape.

In fact, Brainscape has created a full guide on how to best learn a strange linguistic communication online, complete with learning resources for every level: beginner, intermediate, and avant-garde. Use this guide to create the optimal language learning journey for yourself!

seven. Speak as much equally possible

As we've mentioned before, practicing speaking a language non only helps you communicate amend in that language, just information technology also helps you understand the language as a whole better. With two languages, speaking becomes even more of import in lodge ensure that you are comprehending input from both languages.

8. Ready realistic progress goals in each language

You'll never be able to fully larn ii new languages in two weeks, yet many people assuming enough to try achieving multilingualism endeavor similar timelines. Unfortunately, this can exist very disheartening when you fall brusque.

Give yourself an advisable amount of time to attain mini-goals depending on your familiarity with the language and the fourth dimension you have to devote to learning. Sometimes it helps to gear up a "priority" language that y'all will tackle more aggressively and a secondary language that you lot volition allow a longer period to develop.

ix. Focus on language acquisition quality over quantity

If you lot develop bad habits early in your target language acquisition, they can be very hard to shake later. That's why information technology's better to make sure yous actually understand what y'all are learning before moving on to a new subject. Just "sort of learning" a bunch of vocab words, for the sake of seeming like you are learning faster, will only hurt you in the long run. Mastery-based learning is in fact i of the more of import breakthroughs in the science of learning overall.

10. Exist adjustable

Like any major goal, learning two languages doesn't e'er go smoothly on your showtime attempt. Existence flexible and adapting your plans to new realities and situations that ascend helps to ensure that a small setback doesn't totally throw you off your ultimate goal.

Learning 2 languages at in one case isn't easy—but information technology's doable

When y'all follow these tips, y'all are much more likely to successfully learn ii languages simultaneously. Learning two languages at at the aforementioned time really stretches your listen. Although it can exist difficult, having to frequently switch back and along between new languages challenges your brain and hones your language learning skills such that learning time to come languages is faster and easier.

Learning two languages at the same time isn't for everyone, but if you are truly dedicated and go about it the right way, y'all will observe the benefits far outweigh the costs.

If you decide to have the plunge and larn two new languages together, consider adding some Brainscape foreign language flashcards to your phone to ease the process!