Expert Analysis Article
Duolingo has been teaching you incorrectly!
An in depth analysis of how to learn a new language more efficiently
By Anders Marshall
Learning a foreign language is a romanticized hobby that everyone says they would do if they had more time, when in reality they would use that time to binge watch The Office for a sixth time. A large portion of the American population wants to learn a second language, but “according to the US Census Bureau, 20 percent of all Americans can speak two or more languages.”
Key Steps to Language Proficiency
Learn the Caveman Words of the desired language:
“I, you, he, she, it, they”
“Want, Need, Have, Like”
“That”
“And”
“No/Not”
Become comfortable with sounding dumb.
Ask friends, family, and anyone who will give you the time of day questions.
Immerse yourself in the culture wherever you can
Movies
Shows
Music
Friends
Family
Caveman Words: basic fundamental words that are used in every language to a certain extent.
After a lot of practice, travel, and Duolingo, I have learned that there are 13 essential words to get your point across in any language: “I, you, he, she, it they, want, need, have, like, that, and, no/not.” When using these words, you can convey your point in a simple, yet effective way, much like how a toddler communicates with their parents.
Romance languages follow the same sentence structure: subject verb object. Because of that, it is vital that you learn how to identify a subject and how to give that subject an appropriate action for the object in the sentence. Understanding “I, you, he, she, it, they” allows you the ability to address subjects and reduces confusion of who you are talking about, which is especially important with your limited vocabulary in the new language. Following the subject, there are 4 key verbs that have helped me the most when learning a new language: want, have, need, and like. These 4 verbs are more valuable than any others because they show possession, urgency, and interest. Finally, the most versatile object - “that.” That is a word with endless possibilities given that it is not a grounded object and can change definitions depending on what you are talking about. When combining all the essential words together, you can create rudimentary sentences that are grammatically correct, such as “I want that”, “You like that”, or “They need that.”
Once you have familiarized yourself with the base caveman words, you can add two more words that will heighten your speaking capabilities to a new level: “and” and “no/not.” Having the word "and” in your back pocket will allow you to use the word that more frequently, being able to say that you want that and that and that, and so on and so forth. The reason that “no/not” is considered one word in my list of caveman words is because there is no perfect English word to convey the concept of negativity. In essence, the word that you are learning gives you the power to say no, such as “I no like that” or “she no need that.” Although these sentences could use some polishing up, the concept is still very understandable for any native speaker.
Become Comfortable with Sounding Dumb
After learning the art of how to speak like a caveman, the next step is to implement the caveman talk with native speakers of the language. Coming from experience, I understand how intimidating it feels to only know a few words in a foreign language and trying to communicate with a native speaker who has been using that language their entire life, but you can do it so long as you have confidence in yourself. For the most part, native speakers enjoy being able to converse with you in their mother tongue (unless they are French). With that understanding, it is a lot easier sounding informal in a new language because they understand that everyone sucks when they start something new. The difference between a new language learner and a new language master is being comfortable with sounding dumb at first and learning new skills throughout their foreign language journey.
Question Everything
One useful (albeit annoying) skill I have picked up while learning languages is to ask questions about everything to better understand the meanings behind the words I am saying. Although some may believe that asking questions is a sign of incompetence, “curiosity is linked so closely with success because it drives you into the unknown,” where you can learn more than those who are less inquisitive. Whenever I am around people who speak a foreign language, I make it my objective to ask them at least one question about their language. Some questions are obviously better than others, but that should never deter you from asking what you are curious about. As explained in the previous section, native speakers enjoy conversing with you in their vernacular language, and the same applies to discussing the language itself.
Here are some core questions that I ask people when I am trying to learn more about a language:
“How do you say ‘Hi, my name is…’?”
“What does… mean?”
“What do you usually say when you first see your friends?”
“What is your favorite swear word?”
Immerse Yourself in the Culture
When people say that they want to learn a foreign language but don’t have enough time, they are lying. Learning a language does not strictly require going to a classroom, reading through long and outdated textbooks, and taking quizzes. You can learn a language by watching shows and movies in a different language and listening to the different phrases that are commonly used by people. Since most streaming services offer movies and shows in multiple languages, you can “familiarize [yourself] with native speech” patterns that are more modern than any language textbooks provide.
Music is another way to help learn a language. The brain uses a different region to process music than it does language, so when listening to a song in a foreign language, it can be interpreted differently than if the lyrics were simply spoken out, allowing the listener to emotionally connect with the words without understanding what they exactly mean. As mentioned earlier, friends and family are also useful tools for learning a language as they are more likely to teach you how to speak in a style that is more natural for you than how Rosetta Stone would.
Conclusion
Foreign languages are intimidating, but when you break the learning process into more manageable steps, the process is a lot more digestible. Understanding how to talk like a caveman and becoming comfortable with doing so gives you the opportunity to practice and improve your language skills far more than someone who learns in silence and never interacts with native speakers. The more you ask questions about a language and its rules, the more you become involved with the language; giving you the opportunity to better understand when certain words are more appropriate than others. The final, and most important step is to make yourself involved with the language and to keep your ears open. When you truly want to learn a language, your passion will push you through all the hurdles that come with learning.
Works Cited
Burns, Jason. “The Link between Curiosity and Success.” Kortivity, 8 Jan. 2021, www.kortivity.com/blog/the-link-between-curiosity-and-success/. Accessed 06 Feb. 2024.
Hewitt, Christina. “How to Learn a Language by Watching TV and Movies: Fluentu Language Learning Blog.” FluentU Language Learning, 23 Nov. 2023, www.fluentu.com/blog/how-to-learn-a-language-by-watching-tv-movies/. Accessed 06 Feb. 2024.
Housman, Patty. “Multilingualism on Rise in US: Illusion or Reality?” American University, 15 Nov. 2023, www.american.edu/cas/news/multilingualism-on-rise-in-us-illusion-or-reality.cfm. Accessed 06 Feb. 2024.
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