How to Reach a Very High Level in a Foreign Language @Days of French 'n' Swedish

[@LucaLampariello]

Thanks for watching guys! Lamont also interviewed me on his channel and we talked about a lot of other interesting stuff! Here is the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqrZq3p7prCFnrs

[@IvanRadev-p3j]

This videos are changing my whole life, I've been practicing Italian for more than 8 months now and I am currently using Harry Potter series of books to deliberately absorb more and more words in Italian and I have read the first 2 books in less than 20 days. My big thumbs up for both of you guys! I know Catalan and Spanish which really helped me in my Italian but your videos and insights really made my learning to be on a whole new level Luca. Thanks a lot!

[@daysandwords]

Thanks for having me dude! It was great to finally meet you!

[@LucaLampariello]

It was a great pleasure to have you on Lamont! =)

[@Alaedious]

Didn't know Australians say "dude"! 😆😁😄🙃🙂

[@daysandwords]

@@Alaedious Oh all the time. See my video "When you tell Australians you speak Swedish" for a very realistic example.

[@Maidaseu]

Studying 10% Practicing 10% Consuming 80%

[@Maidaseu]

@New Apollo Every human who ever lived learned their native language naturally.

[@imamfawaid5802]

I am consuming english-speaking content while improving my listening skill in english 'cause english is my target language. It's entertaining and motivating for me as well.

[@MATTierial]

Lamont is a breath of fresh air in the language learning community. Everyone who makes videos on the topic are either super star language learners who picked up KZbin on the side, or these "I studied for one week, watch me surprise a native speaker!" (read as 'fake') language learners... Obviously the fake language learning videos create this false vision that language learning is easy. So when a new language learner studies for a week and then struggles to say anything, they think they are the defective ones. But even watching these accomplished Polyglots talk about language learning can be very frustrating for new learners who just have no clue just how hard learning a new language can be. It's not the Polyglots' fault at all, they HAVE put in the effort. But a new learner comparing themselves to someone who has studied the language for years will have a hard time understanding the time investment that has happened behind the scenes. Lamont is pretty new to learning languages, and he's very honest about that struggle. He's dabbled in multiple different methods and his views have changed significantly over the past few years. And that experience is very easy to empathize with for new language learners. Also, Lamont is very, very, VERY humble about his ability to speak and understand the language. A kind of humility that is so distinct from the "watch me surprise native speakers" videos. Lamont could easily surprise native speakers with his level of Swedish, and he does; but he doesn't focus on that. The message his videos suggest is that language learning is hard, it's a huge time investment and a it's a struggle. These are things that new language learners need to understand before they start... or else they are just going to burn out so quickly. But, on the flip side, Lamont's love of the Swedish language and people is very easy to see. And he shows that, despite the difficulty, you CAN learn a new language. You just have to be consistent and keep chipping away at it every day. Like the seeds/paperclips he talked about here. Please have more discussions with Lamont, it's nice to have see this kind of back-and-forth! :)

[@CouchPolyglot]

I started following Lamont because I wanted to learn Swedish and just stayed cause I love his content (I have been learning Swedish on and off somehow). I saw both notficiations, from his and from your channel and did not know where to click first 😂 Looking forward to both videos!!! :)

[@akramrabaa943]

I love Lamonte's honesty. He doesn't seem to lie exaggerate. He says what he believes

[@akramrabaa943]

@@Varallisuus I want responding to you. I was replying to the original comment

[@akramrabaa943]

@@Varallisuus bro you said that already. Stop crying.

[@mitchbernard1751]

Very refreshing! A down-to-earth Aussie going deep into one and only one thing, his study of Swedish. And locating language learning in the larger more profound context of what sort of things should we be doing with our time and why, including the opportunity costs. This is inspirational in reminding us that life is too short not to use time mindfully. This is the antithesis of the usual 'how many languages can one learn' or 'how fast can one a language' accumulation-oriented KZbin polyglot interview!

[@daysandwords]

Thank you Mitch!

[@IKEMENOsakaman]

I'm working on my German every day for two hours. Your video really inspires me and helps me keep going, Luca! Thanks!!!

[@juliusjohnson5967]

I practice my Portuguese and swahili every day.

[@evanilsonp.8183]

@@juliusjohnson5967 Que bom que está aprendendo o português

[@soundlyawake]

currently trying to learn too many languages but focusing on Spanish and Italian 🥴 thanks for the always engaging and motivating content!

[@joaninha3484]

that's hard! I can never manage those two at the same time because they're too similar! How do you manage?

[@FoobsTon]

I've just heard an Italian say "the more the merrier". Love that.

[@fruitfulfaerie8627]

Two of my favorite language learners! It was great to see you two in a video together. 😌 Many blessings

[@gemmajanewilliams2972]

Brilliant interview, thank you both very much for your insight. Every time I watch your videos I get a fresh burst of motivation. I can't wait for your 'Become a Master Language Learner' for intermediates :)

[@LucaLampariello]

Thanks Gemma! The course is coming out in 2 weeks , so stay tuned ;-)

[@miriamspandereta]

Luca, sorry to hear about the kidney stone. Be sure to drink lots of lemon water & take chanca piedra. Less sweets & meats. Check out motivationaldoc on KZbin. I love your videos! Best wishes!

[@teamjipper2495]

I loved the part about not reading in your native language. My response has been, "If it isn't in Italian, I'm not reading it." This drives my daughter crazy to the point where I am going to have to back off my Italian only, because me reading a book that she finds interesting is important.

[@nerialejandragonzalezsilve6236]

So funny, I’m reading the same book “atomic habits” in my second language! English. A couple of years ago I decided I had good enough English and I stop my intentional learning there, but in a recent feedback made me decide to go for the advance level. Good enough is not longer good enough. Thanks for sharing your experiences and knowledge!

[@nicoleraheem1195]

Good for you. Really push yourself and obtain an bachelor's degree in English...😌

[@rafalkaminski6389]

Your progress in polish from the polish easy interview (already not so bad) up to now is amazing

[@jennifermckeithen1498]

I'm really enjoying these interviews between you two! Learning so much, thanks for posting!

[@Guyomar]

Such a thoughtful conversation, as would be expect with these two. It's nice to see someone well-versed in theory bring up these questions and controversies with Luca. Different from the usual questions we hear over and over again in these videos.

[@azhivago2296]

Love Lamont, he's a good guy!

[@sarathkumarmulugurthi9206]

In terms of my German I am at B2. I wake up everyday and cycle for an hour. From past 2 months I wake up at 5:30 am and cycle for an hour while listening to Deutsch radio. I must say this past two months I have observed drastic increase in my German skills. Note: I do the cycling very early morning because there is no traffic and I can concentrate well on listening while not worrying about what's ahead of me on the road

[@Dude-ln8pe]

"God bless you" were the first words that came out of my mouth after seeing your video...

[@stevencarr4002]

Explicit knowledge? Learning explicit knowledge helps you notice things. This is true, but I think the main benefit is that it increases the learner's attention. Being ready to notice means you are paying attention. If you are more attentive , you will learn more. And that will help you pick up implicit knowledge. Each word in English comes with implicit markers. For example, 'does' is marked as third person, singular and marked as a question word. We have to say 'Does he study Spanish'? , not 'Studies he Spanish?' These zillions of tags for words can only be picked up through encountering words in many different contexts. Which means massive input, and paying close attention to the input, and being able to understand the general meaning of the input, so that the brain can slowly learn how to tag words . It won't be a quick process. There are just too many tags to words for text books to explicitly cover more than a tiny fraction of them.

[@italianoin7minuti]

I waited this Video for so long. Great Job guys. There is a ton of info and Minor contents to get out from here. Grazie 🙏🏻

[@CouchPolyglot]

ciao Simone, nice to see you here :)

[@christiandeprovence]

Ciao a tutti ! Sono appena tornato dal canale Piazzasquare e nel loro ultimo video si tratta di un poliglotto serbo che ce la fa ad imitare vari accenti e cadenze italiani : proprio favoloso ! Sono francese.

[@kelmiswilsoncastaneda303]

There were a lot of pieces of advice who really gave me a good prospective about my learning journey. Thank you guys for charing all your experiences with us. I agree with you guys. I started learning english almost 8 months ago and because I was very deliberate into it know I can understand better and I could reach some goals. Still I am learning and know I am more engage with this language.

[@esta3492]

I really enjoyed this!! It had so many useful tips and ideas around language learning. Thank you!

[@emel3925]

for motivation, i've found watching videos like this are the biggest help when i have dips in motivations haha

[@Gummi1984]

A very fun and instructive video with great tips. Greetings from an Icelandic Spanish language enthusiast :)

[@mauroribeiroABC]

I became curious about what was getting Lamont's attention so much because he was always looking to somewhere while the interview was happening haha

[@HG51_]

Excellent video!! Best language learning KZbin channel

[@kokokali3681]

Omg I can relate sooo much .. thanks for making this interview

[@stevenwilliamson6236]

I knew a French guy who went to Japan and after six months it got much easier for him. And my da's Canadian cousin had a similar result when she went to Germany.

[@Daythe13th]

Great Interview. Really loved the insight you guys offered. And of course thanks for answering my question. :P I already heard that anecdote from Lamont before so I wanted to hear Luca's take on it as well. I might try it out when I learn my next language, but like you mentioned not for THAT long. ;D Anyway, keep up the great work!

[@richardhartung1576]

Great content as always , lovely greetings from Germany

[@iceofmanga]

nice to see the collab, input is based and i spent like several months just on input and i think it worked fine in the end :) (spanish) - input stuff should be like everywhere because really ppl go language courses then only know like duolingo and cant even have conversations lmao. But its a shame because people dont really look to youtube and then they hate their experiences in school and may just give up think it is too hard without even having any real language experience at all. I guess they forget that non-native artificial out of context textbooks are not how you learnt your own language. Well anyway great channel as always :)

[@juliusjohnson5967]

I know i am getting better in my second language because when i do speak, I dont have to think too much about what words i am going to say. It just comes out a lot quicker. You mentioned topics about different accents in languages. I noticed the portuguese language in Portugal is different than the portuguese language in Brazil. To me the pronunciation is easier in the brazilian portuguese.

[@aliaflow6877]

Brazilian Portuguese is easier

[@alwayslearning7672]

I haven't reach a fluent level yet but what annoys me is that I don't really know if the methods I use are going to get me there. So putting in many many hours not knowing if what your doing is the right thing to reach fluency.Polyglots know because they've already reach high levels in languages and know that it works,so like Steve Kaufman says,he knows that if he just keeps going he'll get there whereas someone who hasn't reached fluency yet doesn't. I hope to find a methods that works for me one day so I know that the many hours I make time for isn't all done in vain. It amazes me that Luca who is a very skilled learner is still looking for ways to learn languages more efficiently and possible quicker.

[@bjornlothbrok9551]

Dude, we are on the same path. And this is exactly what I had been asking myself. I have reached the fluency level and I believe I have hit the plateau. So, to get out of this plateau I have been consistently reading and listening constantly, and the things that I am reading range from books (mostly fictional that I am interested in) and articles. But I don't know whether this will help me get to the advanced level or not. I don't know whether I am doing is right or suitable for this level. It's very worrying and frustrating.

[@alwayslearning7672]

@@bjornlothbrok9551 Good Luck! Some say the plateau doesn't exist,it's just that the things we have to learn are less and less and so what we need to do is, bit by bit, just keep adding things we don't know and after a duration of time we will improve...who knows,but maybe it's just a question of patience , persistency and consistency, enjoying what we do know,look at what we do know ,and not at what we don't know and enjoy that process and hopefully the results and progress will come.

[@bjornlothbrok9551]

@@alwayslearning7672 , thank you. Will do this!

[@nicoleraheem1195]

Whichever of those methods help you to retain the information works best for you. I'd like to think so because, even though I have yet to master an B2 level of Spanish, Chinese or Korean, I have experience with learning all three. I had first started with Spanish at age 13. I did this on my own and the only audio I could depend on was that of TELEMUNDO tv shows. It wasn't effective. I took Spanish class at age 15 until age 17. All I remember is studying to pass the test, communicating with my Mexican friends and Once had a dream in Spanish but couldn't remember what was said. My second job was at Taco Bell working with all Spanish speakers and a Manager who was at the same level of Spanish that I was. I relied on what I had learned in school and asking questions with a bilingual. I no longer studied from books but it seemed to be effective until I had entered an abusive relationship and 10 years later, all I remember is about 60 percent of what I studied the first year, and I still use that basic language until this day. I lost my interest in reaching an high level. As for Chinese, I studied intensely with the use of flashcards and a flashcard audio video. I read several books from front to back, studying lesson by lesson, whether I understood it or not. I did this for 90 days straight, studying for at least 4 to 6 hours a day. I was obsessed. I mastered 150 characters in reading, writing and listening in 6 weeks. I then started studying Hsk2 but after having 5 tutors and dealing with racism throughout the pandemic, due to racial tension between blacks and Asians, I became disheartened and depressed. 8 months later, I decided to focus more on Korean and not risk communicating with people just in case I'd become disheartened again. I applied the same methods to Korean as I had used for Chinese, only this time, I used one textbook at a time and studied other resources that complied with whatever chapter I was on for that book. I do other things but I said enough already. 😂 So far, learning Korean feels like it's easier for me than learning Chinese. However, I am back learning Chinese but I skipped a few levels lol 😂 I love listening to CHINESE ZERO TO HERO Hsk2 7-9 lessons. I find him interesting and easy to learn from. Idk. So far, writing, reading, flashcards and shadowing works better for me than just taking notes and forcing myself to speak to a native with the little bit I know

[@bjornlothbrok9551]

@@nicoleraheem1195 thanks for sharing this. I hope your learning gets better. And happy learning!

[@petrosstefanidis6396]

Thanks for inspiring us to keep going!

[@lucievec6683]

Great video. I’m currently learning German. I’m looking around for some people to speak German with.

[@michaelbolen2118]

Great discussion and very useful, thanks guys 🙏

[@LucaLampariello]

Glad you like the content Michael! =)

[@gee8883]

Great insight

[@bofbob1]

Great discussion guys. Re: deliberate practice, well, as illustrated here I guess it depends what you mean, but I guess I lean more towards what you're saying Luca just because it matches my own experience. In one language I've had that (commonplace I think) experience of living in a country and nonetheless reaching a plateau (I was already an advanced speaker and had obtained a C2 certification when the plateau hit). I was doing pretty much everything in the language, including varied input in my off-time through reading/listening, etc. But yeah, nothing budged. Intensive exercises are what did it for me and got me out of that rut. It's not even that much. Just 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there at different points of the day, but for whatever reason it really made a difference for me.

[@topotondo828]

Sorry, am I misunderstanding, once you get to C2 is there not any further to go? 😅

[@bofbob1]

@@topotondo828 Haha. Well, exam-wise C2 is the top of the line. But that's just exams. That's why I said that I had "obtained a C2 certification" and not "I'm C2". Just to try to avoid confusion because I know a lot of people now are using the CEFR as self-learners (outside of any kind of course or exam) and for some of them C2 has come to mean "native level" or "as good as you can get". If you look up on KZbin examples of C2 speaking tests in your native language, you should get a broad idea of what a "C2 certification" level sounds like. It's high, but you can definitely go higher. There's just no certification for what comes next. If there were, Luca would be G1 in English by now, coz he was already C2 over a decade ago. ^^

[@daysandwords]

@@topotondo828 Yeah, to back up with PeRK is saying - I regularly speak to non-native speakers of English who would clear a C2 exam easily but still have moments where they don't understand two native speakers who are talking to each other, or just don't understand why something is funny or whatever. Laughing at stand up comedy is one example of a standard that a lot of people who have reached C2 don't necessarily reach.

[@notcrediblesolipsism3851]

That's really eye opening, I've just done a c2 test in English (native Language) and if I'd had to guess I would have said it was a B1-level exam. Really puts my own meagre gains in a second language into context - I'd probably rank myself a2

[@majalinding9184]

Very interesting guy and content! Thanks 😊

[@NaturalLanguageLearning]

Sometimes I wish I had Lamont's ability to focus on just one language at a time. But there are too many of them that are interesting and life's short...

[@klausg]

Very, very interesting.thank you

[@alobo_78]

Very good interview! Aprendemos mejor a aprender varios idiomas viendo el ejemplo de otros poliglotas ... Grazie!

[@言って-x1e]

I want to speak several languages . But even one foreign language also requires a lot of efforts to achieve an advance level. So, I have to balance between a number of languages that I plan to learn and how good of each language do I want to get.

[@YogaBlissDance]

36:07 yes Luca please break that down... re: fragments- as that makes sense to me, as sentence are really blocks of meaning.... Also If I"m barely A2 would your course be helpful?

[@LucaLampariello]

Yes, the course I am about to launch (in barely 10 days!) is perfect for those who have basic foundation of their target language (around A2). Which language are you learning if I may ask?

[@psychologyofrelationships5609]

Thanks m8

[@libriniserenagobbo9717]

Ci dai qualche titolo sullo studio della seconda lingua?

[@nicoleraheem1195]

What language is this? I kinda understood it through reading. Something which (cual) way to studio a second language.

[@spanishconconsciencia23]

Good video. Thank you, very useful. A question please: How to keep the languages you know while you are learning a new one? In my case I feel stressed if I don't spend time with the languages that I already know because I am afraid to lose them but I also need more time with the new language to be able to learn it well, any strategy? Thank you.

[@corynicolas3175]

When we learn languages, they become a part of us. They are a part of our life. Even if I don't dedicate a lot of time to certain languages, they are still some part of my life. Videos pop up on KZbin in the various languages I speak and I click. Friends who speak the languages as their native language message me. I have students who speak the language, so they often speak it during class. I sometimes pick up a book and read just for practice. I think it's an issue of having the language be in your life to some degree. You can't dedicate 100% of your time to each language, but you can dedicate some time. It might even just be a matter of taking to yourself in the shower. I hope my perspective helps.

[@spanishconconsciencia23]

@@corynicolas3175 Thanks a lot for yr useful answer.

[@ascensionvaldes1412]

interesting interview❤️❤️❤️

[@annachen2481]

Do you have a video on deliberate practice?

[@annachen2481]

Oh I found it the description box

[@robertknull456]

I rate my level ( learning Italian ) as advanced beginner, early intermediate. How can I avoid trying to translate everything I hear and read and how can I avoid thinking about using proper grammar when speaking? How advanced should a person be while attempting both?

[@Tehui1974]

I'm at a B2 / C1 in my target language and I still do this. At other times, I don't. I find that I speak more naturally (i.e. without thinking) when I say variations of phrases that I've heard via listening many times before.

[@myde9336]

Buenas noches Lucas

[@plerpplerp5599]

Danish sounds like Swedish after a stroke. 😂

[@neacaisafr8102]

I have a some question if anyone could help me. How do i learn to apply grammar when i am speaking? I've learnd in scool how to conjugate verbs on paper(french) but i can't conjugate verbs when I am speaking,and also how do you eliminate the prosses of translation in your native language?

[@Komatik_]

If you have the basics from school, you want to consume a lot of French content attentively. Our brains are pattern recognition machines, and we learn languages subconsciously when we encounter comprehensible messages. Just give your brain's pattern recognition machinery food. The more the merrier.

[@LucaLampariello]

Komatik has already brilliantly replied but here is my take on it. Make sure you get MASSIVE exposure to your target language. Read, listen and read and listen to material that you find interesting and comprehensible. That is the base to build your language skills. After months of doing your brain will naturally acquire language patterns. When it comes to speaking, if you do all of the above, you won't be thinking about grammar when you speak anymore. Grammar rules are processed in a part of the brain circuitry that is called DECLARATIVE MEMORY, while assembling words on the fly is a process of your PROCEDURAL memory. If you learn just knowledge (say, memorizing grammar rules and learning new words) you won't be able to speak a language fluently. You need to learn words AND the skill of listening, reading and then speaking at the same time. Here is an interesting article that I highly recommend you read about how human memory works and how to leverage the power of our brain to learn and acquire languages more efficiently: human-memory.net/explicit-implicit-memory/

[@neacaisafr8102]

@@LucaLampariello merci beaucoup Luca

[@anuta789]

Spring? Not autumn?

[@daysandwords]

It's spring. Seasons are the opposite way around in the southern hemisphere. But you're right that we would call the leafy season "autumn" and not "fall." 😀

[@FFFF-ct6oj]

lol you need study geography

[@anuta789]

@@FFFF-ct6oj Lol! You think no people in the world who don't live in Australia? Then you need to learn geography.

[@daysandwords]

@@anuta789 To be fair, FF FF's reply did not imply that they think everyone lives in Australia. They probably don't live in Australia themselves, but it's still fairly common knowledge that seasons are the other way round in the other hemisphere. I think that's what they were suggesting.

[@anuta789]

@@daysandwords Thank you Cap! Why I or anybody else definitely must to know that??? For example if I never been in Australia before??? Because the queen says that or what??? And how you know that my question was about seasons, not about their names???