How To Take EFFECTIVE NOTES For Language Learning | Productivity & Polyglot Tips

I've really been enjoying making lots of content around habits, productivity, and the general intersection of lifestyle and language learning this year! Today we dive into a whole new area that I'm very passionate about: NOTE TAKING!
I share some important principles I follow for effective language learning note taking, and even show you examples of both written and digital notes from my own library!
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[@JapanesewithTaka]

Thank you for great video!! I’m teaching Japanese on KZbin. So I need to share your methods for my students!! Thank you again from Japan 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thank you Taka-sensei! I'm very happy you liked the video and will share my methods with your students! 🙏🏼

[@user-nf2oq1st8y]

Taka is the name of the currency of my country....😃!

[@caveignoscas]

For organizing your table I would recommend either adding a checkbox or tags! For checkbox, if you think you're already familiar with the phrase you can check it and filter checked boxes out. This way you're seeing only the ones that you're trying to learn, while being able to access the checked boxes in another view. For the tags, you could add different levels - for level 1, phrases you're unfamiliar with, for level 2, phrases you should revisit every few days, etc.

[@nooneontheearth]

Hi from Japan! You speak really clear so that I can listen with ×1.75 though I'm not native English speaker! Thank you for useful videos!

[@icaitox]

This is the kind of content that I really love of your channel. Thank you Robin!

[@jessica_arslp]

Robin you have SO much content! How do you make so many great videos? Just signed up as a patreon to support your work. Thanks so much for all that you do for the language learning community!

[@scottmcgonigal]

Love your downloads.....sharing your passion is a wonderful gift ...thank you!

[@aggiebattery8354]

Here's another vote for a video on Notion, which I had not heard of before now; hope you had a wonderful Wednesday, Robin!

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thank you Aggie!!! Okay I'm definitely going to plan that Notion video, then! 😄 It was a great day, I hope yours was, too!

[@akramobada]

@@RobinMacPhersonFilms so amazing, if u could make a video about ielts how to prepare for it

[@butterfly4everfree461]

Great video! I really enjoy this subject. Thanks so much for all the positive energy!

[@polyglotinthemakinglukasz4230]

You are the only KZbinr that I don’t watch on 2x speed 😂

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Polyglotinthemaking Lukasz haha thank you, that is a great honor!

[@GatAtTube]

Try to watch Ben Shapiro on 2x speed. GL!

[@damarislove4nature63]

Sooo true...I was surprised I didn't fund content on your chanal because the name sounds good...I am a poliglot studying Deutsch.

[@user-ce6cl8wg3r]

I am currently watching in 2x speed

[@mshparber]

Watched at 2x

[@Milsukix3]

I just found you recently and wanted to let you know that I really appreciate your videos. I feel like they are the only ones that give a more detailed approach, that actually tell you what can you do. I feel like other language videos are like “You have to learn, well you have to create a routine, you have take notes” but don’t actually tell you how you would take the notes, what is an example of a routine etc. Good job and continue to create! ☺️

[@marijanazdravkovic8909]

I'm so grateful that I found this channel. I'm trying to learn the English language. I went through different channels, but their methods were not for me. Your train of thought is brilliant and well-structured, and I appreciate you sharing your insights. 🌼❤

[@selinaypeltek7204]

I am really pleased with these videos. These are being useful for my language learning. So, I always try to integrate what I have learned into my daily life and studies. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. :)

[@LuisRv14]

Hey Robin, I just found your KZbin Channel. Thanks for sharing your learning languages best practices!

[@samuk3963]

Loved the video!! Can't wait for the one on Friday!!😁

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Whoooooo thanks Kevin!! 😄

[@dg7438]

I like that room.. looks cozy w/ the navy and wood side paneling walls

[@judahmilne7602]

This was a great video. Practical and succinct. Thanks so much for all your content!

[@tarekss620]

Thanks! I love your positive energy☕🌝🍪

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Ahhh I'm happy that you love it!! 🤩☕️🙌🏼

[@cuchicheo88]

Ooooo. I had given up on electronic notes, some time ago, because I found them cumbersome and inflexible, but this looks really promising. I'd be very interested to learn more.

[@fuumaxkamui]

Robin - I have been wanting a video like this for so long thank you so much, it’s given me a lot of ideas going forward on how to better structure my notes and note taking process. I love your channel, you and DaysofSwedenandFrench are two of the best language learning channels in my opinion. I like that you don’t hash around with clickbait content but show a genuine love of languages and a commitment to educate on REAL and EFFECTIVE learning methods, not just low effort dribble like so many others on KZbin. Btw, can I ask where you got that notebook in the beginning of the vid? 😅 I’ve been looking for a good dot grid or square grid spiral notebook and haven’t had much luck since all the stores in the US only seem to sell bound notebooks or lined spiral notebooks

[@RonaldMcPaul]

"Did a good job" 🤔 _Bien hecho_ _C'est parfait_ (?) 辛苦了 You must have a lot of confidence in that site if from the very beginning you know that it's a very natural way to express an idea.

[@midnightsun1316]

I absolutely love your videos! They’ve helped so much and I’m so looking forward to experiencing your app once it’s out! I do wonder if you have any favorite language exchange apps? I feel like every one I try ends up with lots of creeps with no way of filtering them out 😅 If you happen to see this, I hope you have a great day!

[@ersimn]

looking forward to the notion video! i use it for language notes as well, but i'm sure it could be optimized.

[@alchemynotes]

I have no idea why, but this channel is soooo cozy

[@solea59]

Great video Robin. Grazie mille

[@violettepetals9931]

this was really informative and very helpful

[@hrafnhildur3063]

Would love to see a more in-depth video of your note-taking method on Notion!

[@andrewspinoza]

Your videos are so relaxing and inspiring, keep up the good work!

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thanks so much @Andrewspinoza!! I really appreciate your support!!

[@francisrommelligsay8218]

haha Yiee. I recently started a personal language learning community to help my fellow people in their journey and i must say your content and community really helped me out to mature in language learning. Nothing to brag really but more on the side of being grateful, ive been seeing them posting themselves studying their T. languages haha almost made me cry. Anyways i got you bro, i recommended your videos almosy everytime haha cause i know every video is worth watching. To add on haha yeah its just a small project to start language learning community in middle east and southeast asia so im really just excited to see how it grows. Best of luck man

[@beaudenefinger3312]

Great video, thank you! I'd also love to see how you use Notion for language learning!

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Beauden Efinger thank you I’m happy you liked the video!! It definitely sounds like it would be valuable to make a more in-depth video on how I use Notion!

[@SergioGarcia-wd9si]

Great video!!

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thank you Sergio!

[@benaissadjer5599]

man ur vids r awesome u deserve 100k and more subscribers

[@Ellary_Rosewood]

I really wish Notion had a flash card option. The toggles work pretty well as a substitute, but it would be really nice to have an actual programmed flash card template that would be ideal for language learners. 😭

[@skritterjake]

I run my entire life on Notion. Glad to see you're doing the same! :)

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Absolutely! :D

[@akramobada]

I'm having hard time, I wanna use it to improve my english and also prepare myself to take ielts exam

[@Aliraza10107]

I use Microsoft Apps ( Word , PowerPoint , Excell ) to take notes . I find they provide more maneuverability and more functions.

[@henrysmith2194]

Great Advices and work thanks for sharing

[@serbaserbichannelwida814]

Thanks a lot , your channel very helpful. your explanation very clear.

[@BEN-hl6yt]

Nicely filmed by the way

[@lilyyu3301]

You are awesome 👍 you were taking notes in traditional Chinese. I am from Taiwan, and we use traditional Chinese.

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Ahh thank you Lily! I love traditional characters ☺️ I am also hoping to learn about the Taiwanese style of Mandarin as I get more advanced. I think it could be fun to try and adopt the Taiwanese accent and certain slang, and so on 🙂

[@lilyyu3301]

Robin MacPherson you really did a great job of writing traditional characters. Actually I am a teacher teaching foreigners Mandarin. I can help you with it if you need me to.

[@lilyyu3301]

Robin MacPherson By the way, I have shared your video with many students of my who are from the US, the UK, and Australia.

[@budekins542]

Useful tips.

[@Riurelia]

11:47 That really seems like something I would do because there are many names that I like in other languages. For some reason, they're mainly Japanese and French names.

[@Th3Vampir3Knight]

I'm here looking for a faster way to study for an HSK 6. I have always taken notes by writing new words down 7 times, writing the pinyin for it once, the English translation once, and forming a sentence with the new word in the language I'm learning. Simplified Chinese here.

[@JackGilbertJr]

@2:45 I get it. for example, "My daughter has a cough, especially at night" would be "Mi Hija tiene toz especialmente [por la noche]." I. never would have known to phrase it "por la noche."

[@emilyhinz8315]

Another fresh look on a method that I've tried but found that I wasn't overly attached to. I'm looking forward to seeing more videos about the software you use for note taking because it's something that I personally want to improve on. Although I love learning about grammar and the nuances of languages, I've always been really bad at capturing things that I find interesting. Maybe what I've been missing is the right space where I'm excited to always come back to and document my discoveries. Loving the graded readers/notetaking series!

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Heyyyy Emily! It's funny how I keep bringing up these methods you've tried and didn't find to be terribly effective for you at the time. I definitely hope some of these videos end up sparking a renewed interest in trying them again and maybe help to find some new things you end up loving! I definitely thing that it always helps me to create a space to be a "home" for my notes and learnings, so I could totally see something like Notion being the missing piece for your own studies! Feel free to let me know any thoughts or questions you have that could help!! Ahhh I'm glad you're loving these videos, I have to say I'm having a blast making them -- I love making series!!

[@emilyhinz8315]

@@RobinMacPhersonFilms I think my problem was that I was looking at my notes as more of an "academic" space rather than a personal space to celebrate the new things I'm learning. I always was conflicted by what to write, as if I might be writing the wrong things or too many things and not managing my time efficiently. I think what your videos have brought me is a way to rediscover the passion I have for learning languages and take my journey day by day rather than being obsessed with good results. You've definitely been inspiring me by your methods and I'm definitely going to look into the platform you mentioned in your video today! I also use Babbel to study French right now and never really knew how to study the content outside of the app, so that was also super relevant for me too!

[@jahayrac8636]

@@emilyhinz8315 I'm so enamored by how you phrased this issue you're having. To view your notes as a "personal space to celebrate the new things I'm learning." I too have been conflicted. I'm very studious and organized with how I like to proceed with learning but notetaking has never been one that I could just pick a format for my notes. I love stationery, writing, drawing and have a bullet journal that provides me with sanity. But even that is very minimal, not many doodles (outside of emojis lol) everything has its place and I can always find what I need. My notes for Japanese however, never quite found a foothold. I keep it to Anki mostly but when I write in the language I really do enjoy it. Just yesterday I was looking for a notebook, and I was a bit stuck. Should I use a Campus notebook which is utilitarian and practical or a spare bullet journal, beautiful and lasting? I admit, I opted for a Campus because I'm gonna be at this for a while. lol But to think of it now as a "personal space to celebrate the new things I'm learning" has really changed my perspective. Like yes of course! Goodness knows I feel like celebrating when I find those "golden" moments. And after 3 years of learning Japanese in school I really just wanna chill in the language and not be obsessed with the results. Still learn daily of course but without that added tension. Like my bullet journal, it should be a place I come to because it brings me comfort and reassurance that daily things are getting better and better. ^_^ I'm glad I came back to this video after watching it yesterday and checked the comments. I kept thinking "every time Robin says Gold I feel like he's talking to me. LOL (because I had made a comment to the previous video about possibly using the Gold List method for notetaking,") Besides Robin's advice which is awesome, I think I needed to read your comment. Thanks!

[@emilyhinz8315]

@@jahayrac8636 I'm so happy to read that my comment helped you, and I'm even happier to read that I'm not alone in feeling this way. Watching this video made me feel like I'd been taking the wrong approach to language learning my whole life! I've heard countless polyglots say "it's not about the destination, it's about the journey" and I thought I got it, that I was having fun with the journey and not focusing on the destination, but little by little, as I watch Robin open up and share his methods, I realize that I've only been seeing half the picture. Somethig about this video just clicked with me, that note taking doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be memorable. I had given up on Anki as well for similar reasons, but I'm happy to say that I'm going to be bringing it back with this newfound excitement! I really relate to what you shared in this comment, I think we've been going through very similar things. Good luck with celebrating! 🥳🎉

[@RonaldMcPaul]

I have been taking those exact kinds of "know what that means but wouldn't think/know to say it like that" notes more and more lately when reading Mandarin 😀 However, I don't know if I'll ever manage ［to create］ a system by which I 'flash card them ' much less review them 😕

[@lindaha]

Hi Robin, I really enjoy your videos! Currently I am learning European Portuguese 🇵🇹 and never stumbled upon graded readers. Probably because it is in general difficult to find material for European Portuguese. Maybe you or someone else Gere has some suggestions for me. Thanks in advance!

[@celinaduguay6484]

I'm learning how to take effective notes for Polish

[@Itziar_hay_yan]

Dónde puedo encontrar el enlace para descargar las tracking sheets?

[@charlespowell7138]

When you feel like you know that information in your notes from an output standpoint, do you delete it from your laptop that has only so much space?

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Hi Charles! To be honest I think I never feel like I truly know something, or at least I always feel very aware that I could forget things one day. And for me this information is like solid gold and is so difficult to gather, so I never delete it. Thankfully, these notes are almost all just text, which is incredibly small in terms of storage, especially on modern machines. I think one of my KZbin videos takes up more space than my lifetime of notes, haha.

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

However this does bring up a great point of how important it is for me to keep my notes well-organized!

[@livia3315]

i hope i can word this correctly but I've been studying two languages for the past year and I've come to the point where I've procrastinated writing down and fully understanding new vocab and structures from the textbooks I've been using... I'm in my final year of high school and I feel like there will be no time to work my way through all of the previous work till now and effectively understand it. Do you have any advice for procrastinated work? How to get back into it and if just starting at the very beginning is the thing I'd have to do to catch up?

[@francisrommelligsay8218]

Mr. RObbinn!! haha notice me, char. a bit of a question, what do you think about learning languages by using your third/ fourth languages. (Keeping in mind my Third language is in intermediate level - german) the fourth language im actually adding is korean (lower intermediate now by next week), I've taken your advice of consolidating the information by teaching/relearning it ( currently teaching absolute beginners korean), So i've taken some ideas to improve my german such as reading short stories in german (daily), Listening to EasyGerman (Daily) and now hopefully i can do a video documentary summary per week, or like sending a voice mail to my friends. My weakest point atm for german is my knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the grammar, but i like to believe i have a solid understanding. Then i also realize how weak my verb knowledge is, i tried using a frequency list to learn more vocab but then i realize i already know them (passively) so it didnt really helped me out. So i was kind of thinking what can i do to strengthen my 3rd language to move from like a intermediate to advance?? haha i know your a busy man yourself, but i hope you would reply to this at least once.

[@IowaLanguages]

So how do you decide what content to put on a flashcard and what content to put in this app? I'd love to hear more about the app. There's more than one Notion app. Can you please add a link? Great video!

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Heyyy Tricia!! Ah yes, I just added the link to the video description and here it is for you: notion.so

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Hmm I think that would be a great topic for a video! My flashcards vary quite a bit but as a general rule, I rarely put a single word on one. I tend to include the preposition if it takes one, any contextual things like that, I put it in as part of a sentence or very often just the entire sentence! Doing this really helps me to not just learn words but much more importantly, how native speakers actually USE those words in sentences. It's super helpful!

[@IowaLanguages]

Robin MacPherson Do you just put the most frequently used words (in context) on flashcards and beyond that use Notion?

[@Ariestria]

oh my, everybody says that notion is great for language learning, but i cannot wrap my head around this app. Maybe you can show the inside of your notion?

[@aysecetinkaya6711]

Your videos are great! But i don't think my name is any Swedish. 🤣

[@falanfilan7785]

There are names as Ayla and Ayşe in Turkish, so I'm surprised that Aila and Ayshe are Swedish names too. 11:50

[@changingme1412]

I'm sorry to say that those are not traditional Swedish names.

[@deepalakshmi1674]

When I come to see your first video I unsubscribed One of the famous polyglot's channel sorry really sorry! I used to think if we know something we should be more humble. Your humble & energetic....Keep going...All the very best!!

[@timmarkhuff]

I noticed a little mistake at 12:40. It should be 起来, not 起夹. :)

[@hbbstn]

Omg it took me one minute to realize the one on the right had a missing vertical dash under.

[@irenemcnamara9699]

I know Russian, ancient Greek, German, some French, some Ukrainian. But I am hanging on every word you say.

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thanks so much for your wonderfully supportive comments Irene McNamara !!! 🙏🏼❤️ it’s been so nice reading them and they definitely help me feel encouraged and inspired to keep making content!

[@rafalkaminski6389]

Id like to know why you make notes, what use do you make of it? 😅

[@antoniopuga7425]

Why understand you, and not understand others , is about your vocabulary? Anyway, oractice listening with your channel every day

[@RafaelAraujo-nw2hm]

Não entendi nem 10% do vídeo

[@ReReChan]

I find it interesting that you don't write the pinyin nor the tones in your notes. It's not very traditional for Chinese learners 😄

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Haha oh that's a good point! I remember that people were always surprised about this in Japanese, too, how I would never write the equivalent of pinyin and just always write the Chinese characters. Hmm I wonder if this would be an interesting thing to talk about in a video one day 🤔 For me, I feel like just relying on the Chinese characters really helps me to gain a sense/intuition for the pronunciation and tones and become independent. It's a really interesting experience!!!

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

These days I'm noticing that when I check to see if I remembered it correctly, I am finding that it is almost always correct (although I am sure when I speak the accuracy is lower, haha), and also I'm noticing more and more that I can guess the pronunciation of characters I see for the first time quite accurately. Ahhh I just find this all SO fascinating!!!

[@mcmerry2846]

If you don't like to take notes...then that's not effective for you... remember if it's effective for others that doesn't mean it will be effective for you.

[@junglsmor]

bring that hair back my guy

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

haha aw thanks for helping me be more confident with the hair down! Ok, I'll bring it back 🙌🏼

[@shywol6044]

I can't tell if he has an accent or not 🤔

[@akramobada]

you're amazing ,please if u could create an account on Instagram where people can send you messages and they are gonna be close to you ❤ me myself I would love to talk to u , I wish u reply back to me

[@sandydegener6436]

How can we take language advice from a person who can't even drive on the right side of the road? Same with that Nobita guy!

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Haha well, I’m from the U.K. and have driven a LOT in the U.S., so I think you finally have someone you can safely take language advice from!

[@sandydegener6436]

@@RobinMacPhersonFilms , ya know we luv ya!

[@sandydegener6436]

@@RobinMacPhersonFilms , crackin' flat!

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Haha thank you Sandy, I’m very lucky to have you all!

[@sandydegener6436]

@@RobinMacPhersonFilms , you know that the "wrong side of the road" thing is a very old joke.

[@biricikkiz7]

I enjoyed this very much, very interesting, you always inspire me to do things differently. Yeah, more of this please ;-)

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thanks so much Özlem! By the way, would you mind sending me an email to [e-mail] ? I'd love to ask a favor 😄 🙏🏼

[@biricikkiz7]

Robin MacPherson sure