How polyglots learn languages (with Steve Kaufmann)

In this interview I speak to Steve Kaufmann, a well-known polyglot who at the age of 73 has learnt 20 different languages.
We talk about language learning, making mistakes, and why you should do the hard work to learn English. See you in class!
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Listen to the full interview here (or on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts): anchor.fm/canguro-english/epi...
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[@Canguroenglish]

Join the Canguro English newsletter: canguroenglish.com/newsletter I’m sorry I don’t have time to reply to all of your comments but I read them all and I am eternally grateful for your love and support.

[@Jesus-77]

Great interview. I really think that the most important in the process of learning is to be involved in the language first and learn vocabulary . After that is gonna be easier and the last point would be grammar.

[@jandirarabaca5383]

"...the paradox is that if they aren't willing to make mistakes they will continue to make mistakes... perfection is not the goal..." Perfect! My challenge is just this point.

[@sleepsmartsmashstress740]

you mean the mistake makers mistaken paradox ?

[@tmn8547]

Yep me too!

[@dianephilipson7565]

This looks amazing! I'm a native English speaker, and in my lifetime l've learnt - and forgotten - French, Italian, Swedish, Indonesian and Japanese. Now at 76, l'm keen to get into them all again this way. If it works, l'll try Mandarin. Very exciting.

[@ProDoc18]

Diane Philipson keep it up :)

[@petrperestrojka5378]

Good luck. I hope you will be able to relearn those languages

[@abdenourdjennane9309]

Go on, you can do it. You will find it so easy.

[@CaptainsMorning]

Mandarin is way easier than Japanese IMO Pregnancy wiped my brain clean lol Forgot all the French, Greek, and Japanese I used to know. Sometimes I'd forget my native English during pregnancy and I'd be left trying to order food in French in central Taiwan! With postpartum depression out of the way, now, my mandarin has improved a lot, and I hope to recover the French, Greek, Korean, and Japanese I used to know!

[@capwillard9156]

Buona fortuna!

[@BarriosGroupie]

3:01 is a profound observation: "once you discover you can do something, then you're motivated to do more of it"

[@louisronan5903]

This resonates with me. When I begun to understand Russian and began to speak, I had the next 2 languages planned in my head.

[@petitjean1451]

@@louisronan5903 why did you start learn russian?😄

[@cigh7445]

Jesus, Steve looks well for 73!

[@ViniDio]

Yeah, when he said that Steve had 73 years old, I was impressed!

[@prolitcom]

He looks very spry for the guy his age. I guess, in part, it's because he's studying languages.

[@manjunathsanjeev5234]

I'm your 73rd like.

[@rickinho99h]

Yess! Indeed, 73, wow!

[@user-zl2ko5zk2e]

Could pass for 60's 👌

[@user-is6tc2iq1d]

People like Steve ans Christian are bringing concepts of learning languages, which are revolutionary for the most of people. Please, keep spreading your knowledge! There are people who struggle with learning and they need it. YOU are my inspiration! Thank you both Steve and Christian with all my heart!

[@Eric-zl1kn]

At age 19 I have a child's grasp on Hebrew, Russian, and Spanish. I currently speak English and German fairly well. I needed this because I am able to start this early in my language learning career so I may standardize my language learning in a more appropriate fashion as my learning habits have been quite counteractive as I don't know what I'm missing in the language until I'm stumped

[@mamymimma]

I appreciate this interview 😊 thank you!

[@Pewtah]

That was a very interesting and motivating video for learning my 3rd language. Thank you!

[@user-bb8vf3tq6l]

Thanks a million for this great video, Chris. Steve is awesome!

[@meondrama]

There is always amazing interviews here. I'm so grateful for everything you have been sharing with us ;)

[@moulmour]

Thanks a lot guys! that was great.

[@daisyinna8392]

Thanks for the full interview link! It was very informative and enjoyable!

[@rickinho99h]

Man, really... Fantastic! First of all, very good questions! I loved that one about how Mr. Kaufmann begins the process of learning another language. And I really like him as well, so sympathetic! Thanks for this amazing content!

[@cristinapruneda]

Thank you very much, Christian. Very useful and enlightening clip. Waiting for the next one!

[@abdenourdjennane9309]

Thanks bro, this is one of the best interview i had ever watch.

[@guillaumeromain6694]

That's one great video! Thank you very much, gentlemen.

[@MrKChris1]

Those were the best advises I have heard. Thanks a lot!

[@giuseppe3010]

I agree with everything he says. I also learned my languages the same way and process that he did !! Good Video!!

[@pierrepinard1066]

Agree with all of this. Motivation is key and it all starts with listening over and over.

[@foundation2375]

Thanks for this interesting interview! I'm absolutely agree with speakers - motivation is foundation of our knowledge.

[@MiG23p]

What a great man Steve Kaufmann is! Hats off for his wisdom and sharing his experience. Thank you very much!

[@rosier6231]

Great interview, thank you Christian! 👏👏

[@josepcorretja]

I completely agree with SK when he says that "practice makes master" (not literally). I am now trying my best in writing and it goes better with the time.

[@jesusfernando978]

Thank you, Christian. For all of your videos. Your channel is one of the most useful and enjoyable channels on youtube.

[@lcsgs]

No way!! You guys did that. What a small world we live today!! Congrats you guys for motivating us in our journey!!!

[@Brendaoshimadasilva]

What a wonderful interview! I loved the conversation. Very instrucional

[@larrylac4796]

I’m a Cantonese speaker from Vietnam, had learned Vietnamese one period a day for 5 years, have been speaking English for 35 years. Just started to learn Spanish, Mandarin & Vietnamese 4 months ago. Thank you gentlemen for your insight.

[@grasshair7266]

Mate great channel and great interview. I am a native Aussie speaker but your advice and Steve Kaufmann's wisdom have helped me a great deal in not only learning Norsk but how language works in general and my poor brain will never be the same.

[@LindaPow]

Thank you for sharing the interview

[@369jwillow]

Every school student needs to hear this! Everyone in the world could be polyglots!

[@deniszamur9361]

Спасибо за позитив и стремление делать свое дело на 300%. люблю ваши видео

[@jarmilasejnohova4013]

Hi Christian, thank you very much for this interview with Steve Kaufmann. He is such an amazing person, with a strong and clear voice and thoughts and mainly knowledges how to learn foreign languagues. I 've made sure myslelf I 've been taking the right way to increas my English level up. Jarmila.

[@ricardomartinsdossantos1023]

The best teacher of the world!! I'm so Grateful. Thanks a Lot for inspire us. I'm Leaning a Lot with your contents.

[@smartITworks4me]

Those were GOLDEN ADVICE. I agree since I've been learning and hopping from one European language to another European language. Motivation is everything in Language Acquisition. On one hand, I also adhere to the fact that one acquires language for the purpose of using it. I believe that the existence of Language Community is vital in the existence of Language Courses online.

[@SDW90808]

This is very exciting since I’ve been struggling to learn Spanish. I feel like I finally have a strategy that will work.

[@sergueibelgrade1503]

Thank you for this video! It’s motivated me a lot! I think it’s right to said learners true that learning needs time!

[@K917L]

Very encouraging, thank you!

[@leonardomotta7800]

Both characters I have been listening and I love them. The point is having both of them at the same place (video) it is amazing to me. I´d like to say "thank you a lot" Christian and S. Kaufman you are very precious for anyone who wants to speak no only English but also any language at all. I keep listening... both... and again... thank you very much!

[@poolman20001]

Such a practical thinking polyglot. Really enjoyed that.

[@MrSupernova111]

This was such an honest interview. I loved it! I speak two languages fluently and now I decided that I want to learn a third one. I'm at early stage of the process and it can be daunting. But I see these polyglots online (some better than others) speaking other languages and it inspires me. I'm hoping I can get passed the basic pronouns and conjugations soon so I can actually start practicing putting together my own sentences together soon. I'm giving myself 1 year to be conversational in a third language.

[@soledadearcoverde3223]

Christian, my English improved a lot thanks to your precious lessons. I also watch Mad English TV that has diferent approach but is very funny and kind like you.

[@DEEPAKKUMAR-gi9ci]

You touched every corner of a beginners mind when starting learning a new language...

[@marinasantin_]

This man is amazing, very smart!!

[@yenireeperez6266]

I love the interview, thanks you

[@princessana9013]

Well, yes i was frustrated expacting people to judge when i speak or even write comment on youtube, i was full of hopeless but wait what changed me was when i started to not be afraid doing mistake and practiced everday🌟 i know some of you wouldn't believe me what i did! I became nearly fluent after 2 months of keeping my promise. Here i am today🌟

[@alessandrofacciani7209]

I have been following you both for many years.. you are both a source of inspiration..I really love Christian accent and his style as well..As far as Steve is concerned I would only say that he is a well known and accomplished polyglot..thank you

[@zernyakuza8116]

this is motivated me to learn more languages . thank you for sharing (:

[@roromountain8507]

Nobody can speak like you diplomatic people 🌼🌼🌼

[@davidtice4972]

Television is one of the most convenient ways to learn a second language. I watched television only in Spanish for two straight years. I did the same thing with Italian language television.

[@MrGdiogo85]

Thanks! I appreciate it a lot. I am always looking for something to motivate me. The example of son as a learner was fantastic. I have two little boys and if I were trying correct them every time they speak our mother language wrongly, I would not have time to do anything more than this. And I see they are improving it each month.

[@lucasramos2025]

I'm brazilian and my main language is Portuguese, but I speak Esnglish too. This video helped me a lot with many doubts and fears. Thank you guys!

[@eliz--]

Thanks a lot for your advice!!

[@UberOcelot]

"You acquire the appetite while eating." I like that expression, I've found myself struggling to get started in many things, but once I get moving I'm really enjoying myself. But I seem to always forget this once I'm starting something again... Now I have a saying to help focus the mind and build up a new appetite!

[@davidtice4972]

I like that idea of one sport helping you learn another sport. My grandson played a lot of soccer where he because very good at running fast and then took that into his playing tackle football.

[@laurenganz5615]

I speak Spanish, Basque, English and Galician and I'm studying German and Norwegian by myself. I try to read books and newspapers in different languages everyday, watch movies and series in their original versions, etc. so I don't lose pace and fluency. Once you fall in love with a language, it's hard to quit.

[@aoeu256]

73 years old, but he still looks good holy crap...

[@carlograjo8022]

He does such a daddy

[@TooLittleInfo]

I'm both a language tutor and learner, and this interview was SO interesting looked at from both perspectives. I already give out a lot of very similar advice to what he says, so I feel affirmed in my intuitions about language learning. At the same time, I feel like I only had a surface level understanding of it until I became a language learner myself. It's a very different view from this end.

[@lusoentertainment]

I am now becoming a polyglot! I know English, Spanish (ES) Japanese, portuguese and a bit of Chinese! And I still believe that those who have a great will, is about to enter up to the polyglot fame hall, like Mr. Steve. He is like a inspiration for us , as young language learners! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!

[@ANpoppin]

Excellent content, i really liked the interview .

[@yasalhemyari7629]

I liked this episode. It's my first time to watch your channel. I listened to the full podcast. It's interesting how important is actually putting the effort out to master a language or at least to reach a certain level of comprehension. I think what Mr. Steven meant it's important to be exposed to your targeted language in both listening and writen format as this will eventually keeps you motivated and willing to learn more about words and concepts which will help your comprehension. I think the fact of being exposed alongside your efforts to have a quite unbreakable foundation of the language does improve your level drastically. Off course the younger you're exposed to a language the easier to master in my opinion. I agree with the fact that we're forced to learn certain languages at school and work and it's not left to our own preferances.. I mean that's a valid point worth considering in our schools systems.

[@haranpandi]

Christian you are the motivator for me to learn english.

[@rokkvi1]

He is so absolutely right about how backwards language teaching is (in schools at least). Pretty much any polyglot says similar things about it to what he says and I agree from my own experience, being fluent in Icelandic, English, German, Swedish and Danish and knowing some French.

[@christiandufourmentel3237]

I look up to you both so much. Thank you ever so much. _ Christian from Thailand

[@daniel.chicote]

Steve es una persona absolutamente admirable, un referente del que aprender. Las sensaciones que transmite al escucharle hablar, desde luego no son las de una persona infeliz.

[@leilarosaria4100]

Lovely interview

[@maksymiefimenko8214]

Steve is my best motivator:)

[@martatrznadel]

It is so true that when you learn more languages the better you become in learning languages. I'm Polish 37 years old, I speak Polish, English, French, Italian and Arabic (fusha, Syrian and Egyptian dialect and I'm learning Derja along with my kids as my husband is Tunisian), I read and understand German (I speak a little as I have never had chance to practice talking) and currently learning Chinese. When I was a kid I was also able to communicate in Russian but when I entered school in '89 it was moment when it was cancelled from schools in Poland and my parents focused in teaching me English so at the end I have not learned Russian. But I plan to take Russian after having learned Chinese. My children are already plyglots by birth: as I am Polish, my husband Tunisian, we use OPOL and talking with each other in English and plus we live in France so our kids have 4 languages as a "starter pack" ;) Our 9 years old son, made his Cambridge flyers A2 this year with 15/15 even that he was never learning English (as a foreign language), he is also making in the same time Polish and French school at home and learns to read in Arabic (as he is speaking Derja like his father he needs to learn "new Arabic" so called Modern Standard to read). Our 2 years old daughter alread speaks 2 languages (Polish and French, which she learns in the kindergarten) and understands 2 more (Derja from father and English when we talk together)

[@sw50zxjzdgvsbgfy30]

Would be very interesting to know how well they speak these different languages in like 10 years!

[@LeonidAndrianov]

Such an inspiring story, thank you! Hope everything goes well since then.

[@benriber4254]

Simply prime! Greetings from Amazon in north of Brazil!👍😀

[@rajah1367]

Thank you so much for this helping video.... God bless you... 🍀☘️🌿

[@MrAcapela]

Engage with the language and make mistakes that's what makes perfection

[@mariamadalena4527]

Steve is incredible

[@tonytygrrHI]

Great interview on how to learn languages!

[@wisdomfromthewoods3638]

Brilliant; great news for me, trying to learn Mandarin, Spanish & ? now i have some hope, thanks.

[@maiarajennifer]

Here cause my teacher at graduation sent us! Very inspiring 🥰

[@mirikaku5811]

I agree totally about MOTIVATION as a most important reason succeeding in learning a new language, at any age, I may add. Success feed motivation...it’s also correct!

[@jessybond]

Thank you Universe 'cos my two fav human beings are talking about linguistics 👐❤️

[@stig]

Thank you for this.

[@spanishconyolanda3814]

Thank you! Good video!

[@10MinutestoRouletteFortune]

You know when you are getting the hang of a language when you start to dream in the language. I have dreams in German, Thai, and Spanish. It's funny when in the dream I'm speaking Thai to a German person and we both understand each other. lol

[@RD-qr3kb]

Whaaaaaat

[@marilynbouziane5530]

Hahaha 😂

[@nlixcia]

rightt and sometimes i be be dreaming in korean and when i wake up i be like wth cos the dreams be wierd and funny loll

[@sleepsmartsmashstress740]

Every human is great at thigh language and the stuff in between the thighs

[@marganzamaharail7936]

actually german can understand dutch

[@wilson9372]

As a linguist, language teacher and learner, I agree with everything except for one thing. I don’t think the first thing to learn is the writing system, because some systems such as English are inconsistent, especially when comparing the writing system with the sound system (e.g. “a” doesn’t always sound as /a/). So I believe the first thing to learn is the SOUND system, then after learning all the sounds, you incorporate it to the writing system.

[@googlename364]

Thanks, Steve.

[@SheilaGoncalvesD]

Excelent. Thank you very much. You help me

[@fedormorozov8255]

Thanks a lot for this interview, it is very useful. I like this format. it would be cool if you keep going that way. I think you can invite people not only from learning interest area but also from area of linguistics and etymology for example to discus a topic of comparing English, Spanish and Latin. To me the best way to lern language is just using it. I think it is a bit slow way but effortless.

[@tidesox2828]

Steve Kaufman is the best.

[@MrTeeMoor]

your channel is very interesting for me, Thank you very much for your work. I am happy about it, that i was know your channel, Thanks a lot🙏🙏

[@luismanuel2612]

My way to learn a new language is through similarity between words and languages structures. I learned to speak Spanish, Italian and French because there are very similar to Portuguese. Now I'm learning German through its similarity with English and Latin. Languages' courses are too standardized. I like to learn by myself, using my one strategies and methods. I learned English watching TV, especially News programs and documentaries. Even when I did not understand what they were saying I keep watching those programs in English. It helped me a lot. English and Italian are my favorite languages ...

[@emilavetisyan8301]

That really motivates me, I’m 16 and I already learned one language fluently, and now I’m learning English, i hope I’ll speak it fluently soon

[@madison8325]

Sounds good to me so far :)

[@faikyesilyaprak8761]

The best video I have ever seen in my life. You've asked amazing questions which are not answered honestly nowadays. I have watched maybe thousand videos about learning languages. There was always a confusion. However, you and Mr. Steve Kaufmann proved that it is not matter of time or age or something like that. The matter is luck of effort and time we spend on it. English is my second language (You may feel it from my sentences. I make mistakes generally. Sorry for that, but it is the part of learning right :) Greetings from Turkey). People were always demotivating me to not learn any other languages before I master in English. I listened to them until few days ago. I've started learning Spanish and I am proud of myself. Thanks for your honest and also doable advices. I have subscribed to your channel. Great job sir :)

[@NAsyn-kb1hh]

I'm a teenager, I'm also a polyglot. My native languages are Portuguese, English and Spanish; I learned French and I'm on a very advanced level (from now on it really is just about practicing and talking which I do a lot); I've been learning Hebrew and Galician and I'm planning Mandarin and Arabic next (I kind of started getting familiarized with Mandarin but not yet started). When Steve shared his point of view about how language teaching is upside down, I felt so related to it! I see people at school struggling with badly spoken English and that backwards method is what gets them stuck, and really, the more you learn the better you get at it. Languages are fascinating, they're beyond any translations, they're a whole different way to see the world and a whole new culture that comes with it.

[@kishanchali8752]

It's easy for a Latin language speaker to learn another Latin language

[@bukhara5586]

Hi bro! I know only Russian and english.Can you advice me how can i learn other languages maybe french or german. On the internet or individual myself??

[@casablanca5737]

@@kishanchali8752 Easy to read, not to write, talk and listen to.

[@phillipcrichton1109]

Good video,very encouraging

[@Butterflyneverlands]

Another great interview. I’ll be happy with 5 or 6 languages. My brain would explode with any more than that. Actually it already does with three. 🤯😜😁

[@marciazamana499]

Thank you.

[@laurac2031]

I did NOT know he is 73! WOOOOOOOOOOW. Kaufman needs to do a "What I eat in a Day" video. Jeez. Bless him.

[@williamgomez4754]

I look up to him, he is Mister Steve, my Hero

[@jadorealissawhite-gluz5706]

TO him

[@williamgomez4754]

@@jadorealissawhite-gluz5706 That's right, I appreciate your correction thank you a lot, phrasal verbs are a nightmare

[@isabellyduarte1291]

Everything he is saying is so true. I started to take French in high school because I had to take a language and I didn't want to take Spanish because I already spoke it. At first I wasn't very interested because I had no relation with the language, but soon I started to really like it, mostly because I fell in love with French cinema and music. Now I am constantly thinking about French and trying to improve on my own. 10:58 very true. I really enjoyed this video.

[@cerenademe9433]

I'm 54 - native language is English, 2nd language (studied in school for 4 years) is French, and I've picked up some Spanish along the way because of where I lived. It so SO much easier to learn languages now, especially with so much awesome KZbin content! I *hated* the old school way of language instruction! Did I learn to speak French in school? Sort of. But after 4 years, my progress was minimal. All my life I've wanted to be a polyglot... So now I'm studying German on my own, and also trying to advance my French and Spanish, but I want to add Italian and possibly Vietnamese. I actually love the study of languages as a science so much that I'm going back to school to study Linguistics with Minor in German and a TESL as well - but the language *speaking* is something I study on my own. I use massive amounts of listening to native speakers (mostly KZbin content) as well as other resources that help me learn languages in *context.* I do make my own flashcards and take notes, but my flashcards are not *words,* but rather complete phrases/sentences. ....What he says is correct - we don't start off learning our native language by studying grammar. We start by listening *a lot,* then speaking - *a lot* - before we ever learn a single bit of grammar. ANYWAY - thanks for this video! The gentleman is inspiring for those who might think they're "too old" to do what they want to do. Thank you! Happy accident that this came up in my YT feed. 😁👍

[@susanford2388]

I quite agree after living in Greece & Germany. Being out & about & listening to the language before trying to learn. As one hears the internations etc. Listening every day to the radio, the weather report then slowly & steadily the language starts to sink in. In my humble opinion. I lived in Israel years ago & i learned to count in 5 days just listening. I cannot believe I could do that but I did & 35 years later I can still count in Hebrew.

[@luispablo2503]

Wow steve speaks english fluently wow amazing

[@jhalkoski]

Outside of the way Steve said anime I loved this video and really helped to keep me inspired on my japanese learning adventure, I have 4 different ways that i've been learning, 1st being an app on my phone called duolingo, which has been great for on the go learning, 2nd Rosetta stone on my home computer, 3rd Taking a language course at my local community college which helps with more one on one interactions and hearing other people speak the language to learn how to pick up vocal cues that aren't perfected like on store bought language learners like the apps or books. 4th being watching and listening to the language in media, like music, movies, tv shows, and anime mostly.