My 5 Best Pearls of Wisdom in Language Learning | 5 Years of Experience in 10 Minutes

Hello Beautiful People!
Today I'm sharing with you my 5 best words of wisdom on language learning, the importance of which I have come to realize over the last 5 years - I hope some of these can be helpful for you as well!
By the way, we just hit 20K SUBSCRIBERS and I want to say a ginormous THANK YOU to every one of you guys, you absolutely rock! I'm currently thinking about how to celebrate... any ideas? :)
0:00 - What are we going to talk about today?
1:16 - Why motivation may fade away...
3:03 - A balance between two forces!
4:56 - Appreciating what we can already do
6:13 - Should you ask "why" or "how"?
7:54 - An effective way of using SRSs
9:52 - Outro (and a little bit of fun in the end)
Thoughts? Please share them in the comments, can't wait to hear from you!
Happy learning!
Stefano

[@sazji]

The “how instead id why” suggestion is really spot on. I can’t count how many times I’ve told friends coming from almoat-phonetic writing systems that “ yes, there are reasons for the oddness Id English spelling, and I could explain many Id them to you if you want, but it probably won’t help you learn it. But start learning, let it be what it is, and you probably start spotting patterns that will help.”

[@solea59]

Watching your video this morning Stefano made this idea/ analogy come to mind. When things are not going well could be expressed as trying to push two north magnet ends together. Try as you may, it just doesn't click but when things do fall into place is when the south and north crash together !

[@patrickprince9900]

Stefano - the last tip really sticks with me. I will be "journaling" my day's activities (highlights) with vocabulary & grammar that I have learned. This will be real context for me. I hoping this helps me get comfortable with speaking about simple things.

[@linguaEpassione]

Great to hear that, Patrick! It's really cool to know some of my tips can be helpful for fellow language lovers out there. Keep up the good work!

[@EFeffie]

This was extremely helpful. Thank you for this language study technique!

[@linguaEpassione]

Thanks for the comment, I'm so happy to hear this was useful for you!

[@mauri1996fs]

Great video, "do it your way" and "appreciate how far you've already come" are very important in my opinion:)

[@linguaEpassione]

Grande Maurizio! Thank you for chiming in!

[@TiffanyHallmark]

I really like the idea of appreciating all that we have already learned. I sometimes forget that I have come so far in 3 "new" languages. I can converse, at a basic level, after only ~3.5 years of practicing. It is wonderful to remember that before I started studying I couldn't really speak any other language but my native. I also love grammar, but understand that it is best left to personal study. Mulțumesc foarte mult! Vielen Dank! ¡Muchas gracias! Thank you for this concise video of advice.

[@alwayslearning7672]

Personally,motivation isn't my issue, it's trying to find the correct methods for learning efficiently.I spend a lot of time looking at vids like yours in order to hopefully find something that works.There's no worse feeling than spending ungodly amount of hours study and not really knowing if it will get me there in the end.If I knew the method i'm using was going to work, then i'd have no problem having motivation to keep going. Thanks for the info anyway.

[@dmitriyohotskiy9768]

Oh yes. That tip about more "how" instead of "why" is truly right. I often get engry when i try to read dutch articls. And you now, it's easy to learn english because of high materials quality. But dutch it's enother case. I'm crying when i study it. I'm crying when i look on a guide books. Is it difficult just give me one two fhree....100 units of grammar instead of "all together i know you can do it" , "lets go to play a dialog"

[@at1838]

These are wisdoms for LIFE more than simply language learning. All growth and learning contains these five elements, maybe except number four. Grazie mille Stefano. Sono come te appassionato di lingue e del tennis : )

[@linguaEpassione]

Wow, thank YOU for such a kind comment, absolutely loved it! Ti auguro ogni successo con le lingue e sui campi! ;D

[@Abeturk]

The names of some organs it's used as the suffix for nouns, “Ak”= ~each of both (Yan= side) (Gül= rose) (Şek=facet) (Dal=subsection, branch) (Taş=stone) Yan-ak= each of both sides of the face >Yanak=the cheek Kül-ak = each of both the roses >Kulak= Ear Şek-ak = each of both sides of the forehead >Şakak= temple Dal-ak=dalak= Spleen Böbür-ak=böbrek= Kidney = each of both red-spots / blodfleck Bağça-ak>(Paça-ak)>bacak= Leg (ankle) Batı-ak>pathiak>phatyak>hadyak>adyak)=Ayak= the foot > each of the feet (pati = paw) Taş-ak=testicle Her iki-ciğer.>Akciğer=the lung Tül-karn-ak =that obscures/ shadowing each of both dark/ covert periods= Karanlık (batıni) çağların her birini örten tül Zhu'l-karn-eyn=the (shader) owner of each of both times Dhu'al-chorn-ein=double-horned-one=(the horned hunter)Herne the hunter> Cernunnos> Karneios it's used as the suffix for verbs, “Ak /ek“=a-qa ~which thing to / what’s to… Er-mek = to get / to reach Bar-mak (Varmak)= to arrive / to achieve Er-en-mek > erinmek / Bar-an-mak > barınmak =arrive at one's own Erin-ek / barın-ak = what’s there to arrive at oneself Ernek / Barnak > Parmak = Finger Çiğ=uncooked, raw Çiğne-mek =to chew Çiğne-ek>Çiğneh> Çene = Chin Tut-mak = to hold / to keep Tut-ak=Dudak= Lip Tara-mak = to comb/ ~to rake Tara-ak > Tarak =(what’s there to comb)> the comb Tara-en-mak > taranmak = to comb oneself Taran-ak > Tırnak =(what’s there to comb oneself)> fingernail

[@PatriciaTodack-mp6ju]

I was raised in an American Finnish home. Parents and grandparents plus most relatives spoke the language but the children were not taught the language. We were forced to speak English. I am on Doctor directed her rest so for the time being I am motivated. I am 77 years old and wish to know the Finnish Tongue, or at least little Finnish.

[@linguaEpassione]

Way to go, Patricia! I really appreciate you sharing your story

[@penaarja]

Best wishes from Finland.

[@jaakkopitkanen6736]

The Finnish language word with the most possible successive vowels (that I know): hääyöaie (wedding night intention)

[@linguaEpassione]

Famously so! The best we can do in Italian is "aiuola" (a flowerbed) xD

[@penaarja]

So True, started To learn Spanish, and was so excited for 5-6 months, then somehow Lost motivation

[@linguaEpassione]

It's common, isn't it? Finding ways to keep the motivation up is so key, but not easy at all to be quite honest!

[@penaarja]

Just continued my Spanish two weeks ago, after 3 years. Thank To You. Muchas gracias.

[@lacrimosa164]

We must have something in common in the core of our souls haha :) I can feel it by seeing the way you live your life and how you are interested and motivated in lots of languages. Thanks for the beneficial video, and greetings from Turkey. Sağlıcakla kal ;)

[@stefaniasomfai6619]

It's great that you mentioned not to ask why many times during the languages learning journey. It may sound odd, but to me languages are like another species, that are continuously going through an evolution of their own (provided they are not extinct languages of course :D). There may actually be a reason for every single peculiar thing in a language and its usage, but I personally take comfort and joy in thinking that they evolve in their own way, they function and change on the go, because it makes them alive. And it's the people using those languages who shape them, so they are what we made them to be, and although there must be a reason for it all, it's just not that important. What is important, is that we who speak and write in those languages constantly shape them into what they are, and that is a much happier thought. (:

[@linguaEpassione]

Stefánia, thank you so much for sharing such a profound thought!

[@ArturchikBarnes]

I keep on learning from you.

[@linguaEpassione]

Thanks man, great to hear that!

[@ArturchikBarnes]

@@linguaEpassione My pleasure my great teacher and motivator.

[@tedcrowley6080]

THANK YOU for your comments on SRS. Everyone uses them to teach. They don't teach. "If I don't know it Monday, I still don't know it Tuesday. Stop asking!" As you say, we learn words in context when we see them used. I haven't tried SRS to review words I've learned elsewhere -- sounds like a great idea. Thank you.

[@linguaEpassione]

Thank you, Ted, 'preciate your comment and support!

[@pundewhee]

My favourite way to get motivated and maybe get some practice too, is to play an online survival multiplayer game called DayZ. You randomly meet random people from all over Europe and beyond, and if they are nice, there's my chance. Me: "Where are you guys from btw?" They: "Germany" Me: "aaa, Ich spreche ein bisschen deutsch aber ich bin nicht so gut.." They: "wooow, I understood you completely, where you from?", "Ich bin aus finnland", and so on. Then when we loot houses etc and try to find food or weapons, I just say aloud things I see. "das Haus", "der Tisch", *"wir müssen essen finden, ich bin super hungrig und tot schnell" (very bad German, but who cares!)

[@linguaEpassione]

Absolutely one of the best ways indeed, I've done that, too, especially for Finnish and German back in the days when I was a gamer! =))

[@GuoJing2017]

great advice Stefano! Happy new year!

[@linguaEpassione]

Hey Luke, happy new year to you as well! How cool that you stopped by!

[@RamenLlama]

Cheers for the "How instead of Why" tip. That's something I really need to keep in mind. Thank you for your work over the years

[@linguaEpassione]

Thank you for watching and for sharing your feedback, I'm happy that resonates with you!

[@estebane2984]

Mahtava video, täynnä viisautta. Kiitos!!

[@linguaEpassione]

Kiitos itsellesi! :)

[@margamez9924]

Gracias por tus consejos 😇!

[@linguaEpassione]

Gracias a tí por tu comentario!

[@emanueleanselmi7631]

All of these things are so true. Thanks for sharing your beautiful experiences. You're a fantastic human being. 😁

[@linguaEpassione]

Emaaaa! Troppobbuono! Grazie a te di essere passato nuovamente nonostante la mia lunga assenza!

[@kathyr.1141]

Ciao Stefano! I love the advice to keep a balance between the two forces. Sometimes when I am studying something and get overwhelmed, I find it good to step back and tell myself that I don't have to understand everything RIGHT NOW. Sometimes stepping back and letting something settle, or even to not think about it for a while, is the best thing. The next time around, it comes a little easier and more naturally, and it saves a lot of frustration. And also, we should keep in mind that this is a life-long process and should be FUN!

[@PedrofPinto]

Great video, thanks for sharing with us, you are a huge inspiration for all of us. 👌

[@linguaEpassione]

Thank you Pedro for such a great comment and encouragement to keep going!

[@PedrofPinto]

@@linguaEpassione my pleasure Stefano all the best 👋

[@italianoin7minuti]

Bellissimo video Stefano. Si vede tutta la passione che hai nel fare quello che fai e si vede quanto tu ci tenga. Continua così, è sempre molto utile ascoltarti. A presto :)

[@linguaEpassione]

Grazie Simo, apprezzo molto che tu sia ripassato a trovarmi! :) E già che sono, buon anno a te e ai tuoi cari!

[@ponta1162]

You came back! Glad to see you again:)

[@linguaEpassione]

Thank you, Sophia!

[@jeffersonribeiro8097]

Olá hoje, 7 janeiro 2024 tive o privilégio de assistir o vosso vídeo com Leonardo realizado 2 anos atrás. Já sou teu seguidor.

[@linguaEpassione]

Olá, e muito obrigado por seguires o meu canal, agradeço!

[@Ewan_Smith]

Stefano! Good to see you again!

[@linguaEpassione]

Hey Ewan, good to see you too!

[@Alitomaev94GE]

7:30 that's literally me, i'm asking natives tons of questions about Finnish grammar etc that they don't even know themselves 😂

[@linguaEpassione]

Heh, I totally feel you! Ask me instead! hehe ;D

[@EmilianoGalati]

Grazie per queste perle. Sempre un piacere ascoltarti!

[@linguaEpassione]

Grazie a te per il supporto!

[@deansantucci9356]

Ciao Stefano .. thanks .. All such great / useful advice . I think appreciating the progress we’ve made is a new perspective for me , as it’s so easy to get discouraged by either your own or others expectations or by comparing ourselves to other . After a year of learning Italian so many people ask if I’m fluent yet …(?), I now respond by saying I’m still trying to be fluent in English:) ( my native language ) and that puts it in perspective :):).

[@jonasbox2826]

All great tips 👍

[@linguaEpassione]

Thanks Jonas for stopping by!

[@minereu]

Un bellissimo video con consigli molto utili che vengono dalla tua esperienza con le lingue. Grazie Stefano!

[@linguaEpassione]

Grazie a te, sono felice che ti sia piaciuto!

[@corradoleoni9503]

Bom dia Stefano. Espero que tudo esteja a correr bem contigo. Por fim um novo vídeo! Esperava-o com muita ansiedade, fico mesmo muito feliz ao vê-lo 😛. Os teus conselhos sobre o estudo das línguas sempre são muito úteis e inspiradores. Desculpa-me por te responder em português mas é a minha língua predilecta. 🤗 P.S. O lugar onde gravaste o vídeo é realmente encantador, sempre adorei as paisagens finlandesas.

[@linc263]

kiitos .your clips very helpfull.im learning

[@TIVADIGIAPPARE]

Stefanoさん、è sempre un mega piacere vedere i tuoi video e ascoltarti 🤩🎉

[@linguaEpassione]

Davide-くん、ご応援ありがとうございます! Giassai che la cosa è reciproca 😌

[@tanozalazar]

Buenísimo! 👏🏼 Abrazo desde Paraguay 🇵🇾🇮🇹

[@linguaEpassione]

Muchísimas gracias!

[@solea59]

Thank you for this video Stefano. Although I love grammar it has been getting the upper hand recently. I need to find fresh inspiration in my italian language journey. I don't like films much, so I need to find some podcasts that talk about stuff I like !

[@linguaEpassione]

Hi Brian, thank you for watching and commenting! Yeah, please do that, you will see how much it helps to have contents to consume you are truly interested in and you care about! Let me know if things work better that way :)

[@quindin]

Pois é, vinha estudando bem durante os últimos 4 meses mas recentemente, graças a situações diversa no trabalho e outras eu tive uma queda na empolgação. Ótimo vídeo pra dar aquela motivada... vou recuperar firme e ainda vou falar bem o italiano. Grande abraço.

[@heidrunlange3245]

Ciao Stefano, recentemente ho ascoltato un podcast di Luca con te dove parlavate in diverse lingue. Sono rimasta molto impressa delle tue conoscenze del tedesco che sono pressoche sul livello di madrelingua. Lo dico io come tedesca (che abita in Sicilia da quasi 20 anni). Chapeau!

[@linguaEpassione]

Ciao Heidrun, grazie infinite per il tuo bellissimo messaggio! Ed evviva la Sicilia! Spero che ti piaccia vivere lì - un giorno voglio assolutamente tornarci :)

[@morgianaetienne618]

I agree with you

[@freddyomarlopezquintero407]

You sound exactly the same as the psychologist I visited when I was making some of my studies: “give yourself credit…”. At the end of the day, I really had made a lot but I was hidingly treating to impress someone. But I wasn’t aware of this. Amazing. Thanks for the video 🤟🤟

[@linguaEpassione]

Hey man, thank you so much for sharing this and I'm happy this resonates with you

[@GosiaatjeQui]

"Future of the subjuntive of group 5 irregular verbs" 🤣🤣🤣

[@linguaEpassione]

Heheh ciao Gosiuccia, I'm so glad you liked it :)))

[@MrPolyglotGeo]

Cool.

[@megacoolarto]

Moi! Toivottavasti jatkat videoiden tekemistä, sillä ne ovat hyvin mielenkiintoisia. Jos päätät olla jatkamatta, ymmärrän hyvin. Tee kuten sinusta tuntuu parhaalta.🙏

[@AlinefromToulouse]

At last a video! I was worried.

[@linguaEpassione]

Bună Aline! Și tu ce faci? :)

[@AlinefromToulouse]

@@linguaEpassione я хорошо, to answer in the language I'm learning :) Georgian is on its way but slowly.

[@linguaEpassione]

@@AlinefromToulouse ძალიან მიხარია რომ კარგად ხარ :)

[@AlinefromToulouse]

@@linguaEpassione Thank you!

[@pahis1248]

ty

[@lais9671]

Olá Stefano eu ia escrever em inglês mas como o senhor já fala português também 😅 eu tô aprendendo o seu idioma como 3° idioma depois do inglês e estou amando o italiano porque além de ser uma lingua linda de falar é também latina assim como a minha. Talvez eu aprenda francês depois kkkkk um grande abraço.

[@hihii4362]

Hey Buddy, are you okay? You did not upload for a while!

[@linguaEpassione]

Hey there, thanks for your message and for caring! I'm good, I hope you are as well :) I've just been incredibly busy with work and family, but I have new video material for a comeback on here hopefully soon. Thanks for your support and patience!

[@desh1006]

Hallo Stefano! What method do you recommend for SRS i.e. repetition? Maybe some links to sites you use yourself. Please advise something. Greetings.

[@linguaEpassione]

Hallo! I've always used Anki on my phone, and mainly for languages where visuals are key such as Japanese and Georgian (different alphabets, Chinese characters, etc.). And again, almost only with decks of my own, based on the vocab I've needed or found relevant to my life - Hope this helps!

[@desh1006]

Maybe something from 2-3 languages, maybe you can also give me some advice when it comes to learning routine with ANKI, best regards

[@desh1006]

@@linguaEpassione hello! Can you tell me what your card looks like with words from ANKA? What is on the FRONT and what is on the BACK?

[@odrefegogenoblog7051]

Sei davvero fenomenale ed è meravigliosa la passione che hai per le lingue (anche assai ostiche, come il finlandese; chissà se un giorno vorrai imparare anche l'ungherese o magiaro, altro idioma ugrofinnico che, da quanto si dice, è anche più arduo del "suomi"! E lingue semitiche come arabo ed ebraico ti attirano? Io, personalmente, adoro sentirle)! ☺ Hai mai pensato di crearne una, ovvero ti ha mai interessato la "glossopoiesi", l'arte di creare lingue artificiali (come l'esperanto o il klingon)? Io sono glottoteta, collega del grande Tolkien.😃

[@linguaEpassione]

Ciao e complimenti anche a te! Conosco numerose lingue artificiali e ho letto diverse cose al riguardo ma non mi sono mai lanciato nello studio, forse perché già troppo preso da quelle naturali :) Il klingon in particolare mi ha sempre affascinato (Qapla'!). Anche l'ungherese è sulla mia lista per un futuro non meglio precisato, proprio per le sue antichissime radici in comune con il finlandese. E anche per sfatare definitivamente che sia più difficile del collega nordico: mi parrebbe strano visto che manca l'alternanza consonantica e che gli aggettivi non si declinano. Ma sicuramente ci saranno altre sorprese nascoste, magari nel sistema verbale o fonetico, chissà! Ah, e naturalmente grazie infinite per il supporto!

[@odrefegogenoblog7051]

@@linguaEpassione Grazie a te, Stefano. 🙂 Nella mia adorata “conlang” (qui traslitterata in caratteri alfabetici latini): “efêv yçaçesolcmel oržib odzabzel” (in AFI/IPA: efˈəv uθˈɐθesoltʃmel orʒˈib odətsˈɐbtsel; tradotto in italiano: “grazie mille per la risposta”). La mia lingua è anche legata a una civiltà (o “conworld”); tanti glottoteti o “conlangers” (da “conlang” = “constructed language”) sono anche “conworlders”; per me, personalmente, non vi è “conlang” senza “conworld”! 😃

[@derzeitpunkt124]

Könntest du bitte ein Video über deinen Isländischlernenprozess? Über Deine Ratschläge und über was man kann erwarten? Ich würde sehr gerne diese Sprache zu lernen und du bist einer der Wenigen, die an diese Sprache interesse Zeigt :(

[@bernadettemcenteehart5901]

All the tips were useful. Asking how instead of why was most intriguing for me. Not sure how to ask a how question!!! Would you kindly give me an example ?😳 😂 About to learn Finnish

[@Daviddaze]

Hello. You mention Finnish as a favorite , have you considered its cousin- Hungarian? It also has many cases, vowel harmony, aglutinive suffixes,phonetic pronunc, very few irreg. verbs. And, its in europe. Now you are studying Georgian?? How come?

[@reddeathp6011]

Hello i fell so lucky that i got your video sir i am a student and wants to study in georgia and thats why sir i also wish to learn georgian language plz sir can you help me out ❤

[@azerbaijanipolyglotelnur9804]

Why don't you upload videos anymore?

[@linguaEpassione]

Hi Elnur, thank you kindly for asking this. I've been really busy with work, family, some health issues and, well, life! But I'm planning my comeback this very month, so finger crossed that I can actually pull it off! :)

[@azerbaijanipolyglotelnur9804]

@@linguaEpassione Health issues? I hope it is not serious issue. I wish you health, man.

[@edcap6017]

buon giorno stefano. mi chiamo edward. Sono canadese e parlo già inglese e un po' di francese. ora sto studiando due lingue: portoghese e italiano. ma penso che sia molto difficile per me studiare una lingua e mantenere l'altra lingua allo stesso tempo. allora, ho una domanda per te. come posso fare questo? Grazie mille.

[@linguaEpassione]

Ciao Ed, grazie del commento e complimenti per i tuoi studi. Le lingue che stai imparando contemporaneamente sono molto simili tra di loro: questo ti da dei vantaggi in termini di comprensione e competenza passiva, ma anche qualche svantaggio in termini di produzione e competenza attiva. Questo temo che sia inevitabile. Hai già visto questo mio video in cui parlo di come imparare più lingue contemporaneamente? Spero che ti sia utile: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6fCoXWfraqqqLM

[@cristophero.5918]

How is your Georgian journey going ? Hope you’re doing well

[@solea59]

I think that the intermediate plateau only exists for those in a hurry. Because language learning is a marathon I don't rush at it. I'm like a prisoner, I'm on my hands and knees and I'm tunneling underneath it !

[@linguaEpassione]

You nailed it! Thanks for sharing!

[@judithcamachorodriguez5858]

Es my interesante conocer tantas lenguas, pero es una pena que no practiques el español siendo tan similar al italiano.

[@Nika.Dzeboshvili]

What's new about Georgian language?😊❤

[@linguaEpassione]

Hey there, thanks for asking! One of the next videos is going to be about Georgian, please stay tuned! :) 2021 was a pretty difficult year, to be quite honest, so thank you for your patience! =)

[@tedcrowley6080]

"How" vs. "Why"? I speak English -- American English. Almost nothing I say makes sense.

[@draculis6721]

წერილი - შიშველი ხეები react please.

[@tarjajarvi8079]

En tiedä mikä voisi olla tylsempää kuin kielioppi ja kuitenkin on hyödyllistä osata muitakin kieliä, kuin tätä todella harvojen puhumaa suomen kieltä, jonka kielioppia en myöskään osaa, mutta kuitenkin pystyn kieltä hyvin käyttämään. Kun opiskelen vieraita kieliä, luotan enemmän intuitiiviseen oppimiseen ja tyydyn vähemmän täydelliseen kielen osaamisen tasoon. Ainoa kieli, jonka kielioppi on todella kiinnostava, siis niistä kielistä, joita olen opiskellut, on heprean kieli. Toivottavasti innostut jossain vaiheessa myös hepreasta. Sanotaan että ensimmäisten kymmenen kielen opiskelu voi olla vähän työlästä, mutta sen jälkeen loput oppii kuin itsestään.

[@igiigiint]

I may be wrong, but I don't believe there exists any fit reason to learn a foreign language except that you like it and the process. Because if you don't, there cannot be any reason for you to do such a huge job doing something you don't like. And trying to understand why you like something can be and usually is impossible.

[@linguaEpassione]

Hi Igor, good point for sure! I do think also about all those people who kind of "have to" learn a language because they are forced at schools or work, or because they need it to live in a foreign country or again for a job, or even becuase of some other kind of external pressure. I agree with you in that if it does not come from within, the drive to learn is very short-lived :)

[@Emmanuel_55]

Merci pour ces conseils. Un regret : que la vidéo ne soit pas en italien^^ Le sujet de l'apprentissage des langues me passionne, mais 90% du contenu est malheureusement en anglais. Ça manque de diversité linguistique.

[@linguaEpassione]

Salut Emmanuel, je comprends ton regret tout à fait - je suis en train de concevoir une solution justement à ce problème là en collaboration avec un cher ami, mais je ne peux pas trop anticiper ;)

[@Emmanuel_55]

@@linguaEpassione Super ! Je vais patienter alors^^

[@petrosstefanidis6396]

It's always el puto subjuntivo, isn't it?

[@linguaEpassione]

Hehe, yeah, it's the one that always has to come up, isn't it? :P