Trevor Noah's WEIRD Tricks to Learn ANY Language FAST

[@storylearning]

Get Trevor's top language tips here (find it in the Bonus section in my StoryLearning Kit) 👉🏼bit.ly/trevors-language-tips

[@chak8x8]

I have sent you an email regarding technical support. Could you please check it?

[@simonelavigne8618]

The scan requires a credit card....

[@carolannhartley359]

It helps a lot if you're a good mimic. Not everyone is. Trevor is a brilliant mimic.

[@leviashanken7281]

I think the two come together, hand on hand.

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

I don't know. I can still hear something foreign, to English, in his accent.

[@kenzoetheveganlover4685]

@@Ponto-zv9vfYou want him to speak in an American accent?

[@sueelliott4793]

Being born in South Africa as an English person I actually found out later in life that I have a knack for languages that I never knew I had. I am living in New Zealand and as well as speaking Afrikaans, Zulu, French (A year at school which I never forgot) and almost fluent in te reo Māori. I am learning Punjabi easily (due to my job) and can speak random words, phrases and greetings in a dozen other languages. Living in a multicultural environment is priceless.

[@TeacherKim-du2dq]

Right! I think as South Africans because we grew up hearing so many different languages our ears might be somewhat attuned to different languages when we're intentional.

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

You are doing better than the Pakeha who speak Maori words rather like its English. In Auckland they refer to a place as Papa Two Toes, and a road as K road. Personally I don't want to speak NZ Maori, but most Pakeha might know the Hakka by heart but that's it.

[@toxiccreeper1418]

Cool.i was born in SA speaking Afrikaans and found it easy to learn German and dutch but learning zulu in SA can be easy with friends

[@philipmccrackeniii4575]

I grew up in a pretty much monolinguistic area in the state of Pennsylvania. But my first job was in Japan and then intermixing with Spanish and Philippine groups. I've picked up a lot of languages and my lab partners were from the Middle East so I picked up a little bit of Arabic... So yes I can appreciate having a multilingual environment. I just wish it existed more in places I lived.

[@Ttbaebae]

Yeah I think it’s a SADC benefit. I’m from Botswana and grew up watching SABC channels. Consequently I am able to pick up a bit of Zulu and Xhosa. Obviously due to my Tswana speaking abilities and relatives from Limpopo, I can understand most of Pedi and Sotho.

[@VaveeDances]

I’m a native English speaker but learned French quite young and then Spanish in my late teens. Last year I met my Spanish speaking nieces in Paris for a week. I was stumped trying to switch between Spanish and French the first two days, as I was accustomed to switching back and forth from English. It was a powerful lesson on how to get that channel in my brain to switch in a different direction.

[@antoniodunicz6213]

As a fellow South African we love Trevor Noah he's a national treasure 🇿🇦❤️

[@storylearning]

He’s fantastic!

[@duckymomo7935]

Trevor Noah is kinda cringe sometimes

[@swEEEt19]

​@@duckymomo7935Yes,he is

[@kingjc44103]

As an Ohioan American we thank you for them

[@carmenncruz237]

In Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 we love him too

[@jaredlovette2133]

You know what is wild.. A few days ago I wondered if learning an accent would help in any way of learning a language. Then BAM this video came out!

[@hifrax]

not only accent, i started learning Japanese by learning the Kansai-dialect, and then learning Fukui-dialect, and all of those dialects taught me the Kanto-dialect (common Japanese) better than any textbooks or teachers

[@AJCsr]

You must have a great phone ! It's able to read your mind ...

[@KaSondraMoore]

I've always wondered why Americans tend to try to learn languages without mimicking the accent. That seems like such an integral part of it.

[@novasworld1698]

That's Internet reading your mind

[@lichlikefish]

Trevor Noah is one of my favorite polyglot celebrities. His book Born a Crime is my favorite audio book of all time. And you have to listen to the audio book version to get the full experience of him speaking in the various accents and languages.

[@jenniferrandolph4115]

I would listen to the audio driving to work.

[@harrispinkham]

You need to learn to click that “X” in Xhosa 😂🤣😂

[@carolannhartley359]

Two of the Xhosa clicks are easy for English (not American) speakers. X is the side click that you use to get a horse to move: X, X, X & it will get into motion. C is the same as the disapproving sound an adult will make when a child mildly misbehaves, or you hear mildly bad news. In books, it's written tsk, tsk. That's C, C, C. The Q is different, up in the top of the palate.

[@ntatenarin]

@harrispinkham No need to laugh. That why people are embarrassed to try speaking languages because they're afraid they will be laughed at.

[@lisamarydew]

@@carolannhartley359 The hard part for non-South Africans is a smooth transition from the click to the consonant -- a bit of mouth coordination, so it'll take 'em lots of practise! ;)

[@harrispinkham]

@@ntatenarin dude I find the clicks in Xhosa so hard! My friend taught me in high school that it’s not Khosa but Xhosa (emphasis on the click) and I’m sure I’m still not doing it right. Laughing more out of empathy than at him.

[@eveningstar1]

Thinking the same thing watching this. This first click / at the beginning of a word is the easiest to do as an english speaker.

[@Earlywinters09]

I think I got the non-travel-immersion idea from this channel. Now instead of having English language podcasts or TV on in the background I will put on a German language KZbin video and just let it roll while I'm doing what I'm doing. Unlike when I'm actively learning, I do not try to actually follow the conversation, or take notes. It helps to get a better feel for rhythm. Even if I don't understand the full conversation, it really helps reinforce my use of words I already know just by hearing them in context.

[@storylearning]

That’s super cool! Well done.

[@tomrogue13]

I did this for a bit and I just ended up learning to tune my TL (polish) out as background noise

[@Mehki227]

I worked with a co-worker who was dating a Polish guy who would get together with friends to play cards and talk in Polish and she told me that one day when they were all jabbering away in Polish she suddenly realized that she could understand what they were saying without ever actively trying to learn what they were saying.

[@g.mariepickett]

I read Trevor's autobiography - it's awesome. So I've been listening to Italiano videos - cucina e storia - and a lot of words are similar - you just have to relax and hear them - spettacolo! I'm slowly poco a poco picking up the other less obvious words.

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

So you like food and cooking. English has a ton of Romance words in it. Mica male.

[@sj6919]

It’s an excellent book-Born a Crime. I recommend it.

[@Dandee-t8n]

Not only South Africa. Majority of the populations in Africa speak more than two languages. We learnt from each other as kids during play time.

[@gabbymuwema9407]

True

[@201hours8]

Facts. Most Africans speak more than one language at least

[@elainepotgieter9403]

Loved this video as I'm also South African and Trevor is one of the people I admire the most in the world! It's so true what the one person said there, it's hard to find people in South Africa who only know one language. Even if they can't fully speak a second language, they will know bits and pieces of it as we are so immersed in multiple languages here all the time. There are people in my complex who speak Zulu, a lot who speak English, and I grew up in an Afrikaans family but mostly bilingual. I actually find communicating in English easier than Afrikaans. In our family we speak mostly Afrikaans but there is a lot of English words thrown in as it's often more convenient, similar to the 'Spanglish' you referred to. I know a lot of Zulu words and sometimes can follow the gist of a Zulu conversation because they also throw a lot of English words into it. Then there's my English speaking friend who I speak English to but she often throws in an Afrikaans word here and there as she just thinks it would describe better whatever she is trying to say. Sometimes we even use Zulu words here and there as there are some Zulu words that just express certain things better. I love it so much, living in such a multicultural, multilingual country. Thanks Olly for doing a video about South Africa and it's rich language culture and for playing some of Trevor's best clips. He is definitely one of South Africa's best ambassadors and we love him.

[@chadbailey7038]

I couldn’t have clicked on this FAST enough! I’ve been watching a lot of Trevor’s interviews and have always been curious about his language learning journey! Thanks Ollie 🙌🏾 ⚡️ спасибо братан)

[@lisamarydew]

😊

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

Trevor has the luck of living in a place where he can hear different languages albeit Bantu languages, plus English and Afrikaans. Here in Australia, people keep their languages within their communities and at home.

[@Susichea]

Story of my life mom spoke one language dad another grandmother another grandfather another and cousins another all shaped the 7 languages I speak today and learning 2 more currently, since it’s from my childhood I don’t have accent in any language but I can do many

[@annprice266]

Learning the accent unlocked Thai for me. Not only could I communicate better in English, I picked up words and phrases way faster. The music of a language or dialect is the fabric underpinning everything.

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

I suppose you learnt what Farang means.

[@99shoebox]

In Wales, we affectionately use the term Wenglish, to refer to the hybrid language that comes from speaking both Welsh and English and, sometimes, squashing two words together from the two languages. 😊

[@MishaLaurelanti]

Speaking other languages definitely changes your personality. You just think differently. My voice even changes - I guess that has more to do with the imitation, cadence, etc. Pretty cool. In college I was an Arabic major, but also studied other languages. In one day, I’d go from speaking/reading/writing English, Arabic(MS and Egyptian dialect), Spanish, Russian and Farsi. And my brain had to “change gears” throughout the day. It was a good brain workout! 😊

[@thirstwithoutborders995]

I speak three languages and three I speak enough of to survive on a vacation. The three I speak, I had 24/7 immersion as a child, and I speak them without accent. Or rather, I can speak them with the accent of the region I was in and am able to imitate accents if I hear them enough in these languages. Two I learned in school and university and passed the class just so and forgot most of it right after. And the sixth is a passion project, because I love TV shows from China and the amount of shows I watched got my brain fired up and I learned quite a bit very quickly with the methods you described here.

[@harrispinkham]

As he said in the video, languages' main intent is communication, so I feel that if you are communicating, you are fine :)

[@minagelina]

I can converse and survive in three, though one is rusty...French...but that's the one I was the most fluent in. Spanish and English. I lived in the Philippines, so I know some Tagalog, and I've taken Tsalagi, Russian and Japanese. Those I can't really speak anymore, but I still remember things and others bubble up while my daughter studies Japanese or if I'm just chilling out. A word will emerge out of the deep mists of my cluttered mind 😂. But I love to speak with so many people. I have customers from so many countries come in to work, and it's so fun to say bye to them in their language or answer them. They are shocked and then stoked! It truly makes people feel seen and respected.

[@reyblais4858]

"jou ma se mixed race" had me absolutely rolling

[@lisamarydew]

Right?!

[@bethpike3833]

What does it mean?

[@reyblais4858]

@@bethpike3833 Literally translated it means “your mother’s mixed race” (possessive)but to add context, in a lot of parts of the world using the word coloured to describe people is not acceptable. In South Africa however, there is a demographic that self identifies that way, so this was on his special talking about that and essentially a response someone would get if they told someone that in SA. A common insult is “your mother’s …” whatever you want to insult. Implying you’d get a strong reaction if you want against their self-identification.

[@GenghisKhanResurrected]

@@bethpike3833 your mother is mixed race

[@Melodystudio-n8m]

@@bethpike3833your mom’s mixed race - directly translated

[@entropie138]

Fantastic episode! Trevor is my idol. His life story is gripping and hilarious. I strive to be a language chameleon like him.

[@AysKuz]

I grew up bilingual with German and Turkish and when we talk among us we often throw the word that comes to mind first into our talk. It is not every time the same language but a mix. I don´t know if that is good or bad. I always feel like it is easier to keep within one language with those that were added later like English, French or Spanish. To make it easy for my kids many things we watched we did in English and the teacher always pointed that out that my kids have a bigger vocabulary than their peers in school and asked my why that is.

[@CalvinLimuel]

Great tip from Trevor and you! I teach/tutor English for Spanish speakers and I pick up on their peculiarities/mistakes when they speak in English. I distinguish between just a failed attempt to string words from scratch and what might sound like a word-for-word translation or a false equivalent. They actually stick pretty well.

[@alanguages]

It would be interesting to hear code switching between Afrikaans and Dutch.

[@harrispinkham]

There are a few of us South Africans living in the Netherlands, so have a look at the Easy Dutch video How Similar Are Afrikaans and Dutch? | Easy Dutch Special 4 for some examples.

[@dustinwarender8955]

I figured all of this stuff out about language on my own as well. And I'm an American that only knew one language. And then I simultaneously taught my son French while I was learning it and also taught him ancient, Egyptian and piano and so all of this ties, in and I did it all myself being way. Less. Educated with way less adamant, parents than him. It's just about having a passion for discovering Yourself In other people I suppose

[@So.avant.garde1]

Great show! I also like what you’ve done with your attic space! Gives me ideas.

[@marthathompson2012]

This was so fun! I never really heard of Trevor, don’t know who he is-but I enjoyed your video and his experience and insights! Thanks for this! Very nice and informative, helpful, useful!

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

That Trevor said he had an Australia friend and Trevor mimics that accent. There are about four or five accents in Australia if you include Aboriginal accent or the accent of immigrants. It depends how I will feel about it, I might laugh at his choice of the lowest type of accent or I might be angry. A few of the Australian accents are common, people with little education and no class. The late Steve Irwin had a common accent. Paul Hogan is another common one.

[@KS-zb2yq]

Takehome Message? Babys do not start with flashcards!!😌👆🤣

[@linguinilinguistica]

Take home messages? Adults don’t learn languages in the same way as babies! In fact, babies suck at learning languages! It takes them at least 5-10 years (depending on the individual) to learn their native language.

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

Babies don't know what they babble about either, and people do make an effort to speak the language to their children.

[@KarenChungIvy]

Thank you for this - really excellent video!

[@Ghost_Os]

20:21 absolutely, 100%. And this alone, is a fascinating thing.

[@alisonwilks302]

I started learning Xhosa after watching your vids years ago - it’s bloody brilliant fun and now I’m inspired to get back to it - thank you xxxxxxx

[@Mehki227]

So much truth in this video. My second language is ASL and I definitely feel different when I've been around a lot of deaf people and using it. I literally will forget English if I've been immersed for a while. And learning it I had a chance for long periods of immersion which definitely helped cuz I'm introverted and not willing to make a fool of myself. I've also had periods where I've been that much more fluent in German or Spanish, ie being able to Converse in it or watching a program and actually understanding what's being said. I get so thrilled when that happens! One thing I do is pick up accents really fast. My dad was from the Caribbean and I would have a West Indian accent within a few days of being around him. And when I've gone down south I get a Southern accent in a few days. I pick up other people's mannerisms and way of speaking in no time I think it's my way of connecting with them or making them feel comfortable although it's actually the reverse.

[@cheska9999]

I’d love a video from you on learning two similar languages. Now that I’ve become quasi fluent in Italian, when I try to speak French, Which I know well when I’m reading, I can’t do it. Italian just overrides French. tell us how you worked this out Portuguese and Spanish, please!!

[@brucewilliams8714]

The point about the sound of a language is a strong one. When learning Indonesian in an immersive course in Java, I soon realised that our Australian vowels are a real problem: we just don't use pure vowels where many other languages do. So I worked hard on conquering Indonesian vowels. My efforts paid off. Despite an incomplete vocabulary, I sounded Indonesian to the embarrassing point where I was addressed in rapid Indonesian, and comprehended very little. Once, arriving at a hotel I was asked in English by the reception clerk where I'd just come from. My pronunciation of "Padang" prompted him to immediately respond in Indonesian. These experiences were invaluable when I later began studying Italian. The same pure vowels.

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

English does not use many pure vowels, it has diphthongs, and the cruder Australian English accents manages to mangle even those diphthongs. Padang means field. I don't have any issues with the vowels, though it is hard not to slip back into pronouncing o with the wah sound at the end. I tell you something, when I was doing my second last year of high school, my Indonesian teacher didn't like my Javanese accent on pronouncing the h at the end of words, I learnt Indonesian firstly, from a Javanese man.

[@EddyWoon]

WRT different personalities with different languages, I had found myself using a much upbeat and happier tone when using Brasilian Portuguese, a much lower and stoic tone when using my very poor level of Polish, a higher tone with Cantonese... When I went to the Polish market a few months ago, I had noticed that the tone that I was using was a much lower tone when compared to my English.

[@pikusiekuk]

You're not the same personality in other language. So true!

[@bibinoojen]

Learning to switch between languages quickly is def a skill! I grew up in the US, my family is VN, I'm not fluent but when visiting VN, I was only speaking VN. I had brought an English book to read and found I had difficulty reading bc I hadn't 'thought' in English in about a week 😂

[@ernestestrada2461]

My father being military I was exposed to a lot of different accents and dialects. The one thing I picked up moving every few years was the local dialect. And speaking with the local dialect made you fit in.

[@BarendMathey]

Hey Olly. On a technical point, we recently accepted our 12th official language, South African Sign Language. There are also many other languages spoken here though not under official status.

[@Mehki227]

Nice! ASL is my second language. Use it everyday!

[@㘟]

LOVE FROM YOUR LOVELY NEIGHBOUR AUSTRALIA ♥️

[@gilliandawson6567]

At school in the "old days" we had to learn, English, afrikaans plus an indigenous language- for me isiXhosa.

[@mariefs.]

Great tips. This video is useful! Thanks for this analysis.

[@dorothea_walland]

trevor is right, it is awesome when you talk to another person who speaks multiple languages!! a veces they mix un peu in deiner cabeza, but nie szkodzi ani trošku, hauptsache divertido i connection! 😂

[@chadmwest]

The chameleon brain thing is very true. I've noticed it myself when I speak what little Spanish I know.

[@mayjunealone5168]

I dont mind being an "idiot" in italian or polish, each for bit different reason (italian- italians really appreciate it and they are generous with foreigners speaking their langage, polish- I love it because its funny language for me and polish also appreciate it and they know that their language is already difficult, so they are forgiving. And who wouldnt like to learn funny language.) But German .... I feel like.. You either speak with perfect grammar or dont brother at all. Germans rather switch convo to English than to let you butcher their language in their presence. 😐 ...so I Guess I have to learn it on my own by immersion at home...

[@leviashanken7281]

It's worthwhile to try this method but also to note that not everyone has what it takes to learn languages with the ease of Trevor. It requires excellent hearing, quick brain processing, great memory, and an almost musical sense. Please just admit that everyone has their own talents!

[@lisamarydew]

You can do it! :)

[@leviashanken7281]

@lisamarydew thanx but lol!

[@sophiac8824]

Yup you got it in one, Trevor Noah's ability is also linked to having ADHD, as we have great pattern recognition 😊

[@leviashanken7281]

@@sophiac8824 I didn't know ADHD had great pattern recognition. I wonder why?

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

That man lived in a multi ethnic town in a multi ethnic country. I live in a country that is mono lingual and other languages spoken by immigrants are spoken in closed or restricted environments, the home or within their ethnic communities.

[@lauralake7430]

Its wonderful to hear about no grammar class. I went to terrible schools with no classes like that. When i take school classes in languages they are always saying perfect this, past this, and it it so hard. Im already an idiot, so i have that.

[@AathielVaDaath]

I'm rusty as hell on my Spanish, but my high school teacher was from Catalan which, while not rare, is not the typical dialect you're gonna learn in your typical Spanish class and it's kinda amazing how much more forgiving the Spanish speakers I deal with are, than those who "Peggy Hill" it

[@starseedswisdom3997]

It's like me with French, people would say - tu parles tres bien Francis and I always answer in English, not really, it's just my accent 😂

[@carolannhartley359]

If you speak SePedi, you can converse with someone who speaks SeSotho or SeTswana. I'm trying to learn Ukrainian now--even harder than Zulu! After three weeks in Uruguay, I struggled to speak French, which i speak way better than Spanish, but it just wouldn't come out of my mouth. I need to build a bridge between them. I'm working on it.

[@RealPumpkinJay]

I only speak 2 and have an understanding of a few more. But being fluent in 6? That’s pretty wild.

[@kindking8009]

I work in an American 5-star resort with people from Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Albania and Macedonia year round, with others coming from Jamaica, Columbia and Mongolia for the summer season and I still haven't picked up anything from them other than curse words. 🤣 What is amazing is while we all come from different cultures with different languages (and language barriers), we still genuinely enjoy working together and don't have any issues. While we're working we respect and learn about each other's cultures, mostly through sharing food, music and stories about our families. Trust me, when we're all thrown in together, without politics or the media weighing in, we're really not all that different.

[@sanjaymoncrieffe7126]

Interesting haha Also i think you meant Colombia 🇨🇴 the Latin Anerican country.

[@kindking8009]

@@sanjaymoncrieffe7126 Yes. Thank you for the correction. I hate it when I misspell something! And I think you meant Latin American.

[@sanjaymoncrieffe7126]

@kindking8009 haha yes look how we've helped each other. Have a lovely rest of week, kind sir.

[@sanjaymoncrieffe7126]

It's funny I called you so and I just saw that your pseudo is kindking...lol bless

[@kindking8009]

@@sanjaymoncrieffe7126 my "pseudo" is actually in reference to a favorite song of mine, but thank you for the blessings! And just so we're square, I'm a ma'am, not a sir.

[@anitawaters4745]

This was very interesting! I had no idea that Trevor Noah spoke multiple languages! But that lovely face in the mirror always judges!! 😅

[@meowmep1366]

How did you know I was marathon-watching Trevor‘s videos ?

[@its_me_still]

I have mixed English dialects, and a speech impairment. I was brougt up mainly by Native American Lumbees, but my parental side is Scottish/Irish. So many individuals cannot understand me or comment my voice is so unique and/or cute. It's so difficult communicating with everyone 😪

[@its_me_still]

I took speech language classes from 4 to 10yrs old. I developed/incurred spasmodic dysphonia (abductor type) late in life as well. It's so difficult communicating with the world

[@deborahchasteen3206]

That must be so difficult for you, and I sympathize. I speak only English.

[@deborahchasteen3206]

@@its_me_stillThat must be so difficult for you, and I sympathize.

[@its_me_still]

@deborahchasteen3206 Yes especially when on the phone with automated voice answering ai. I hate having to call for refills at the Pharmacy (some class medications can't be refilled online but, only in person or over the phone)

[@its_me_still]

Ty

[@momentswithu3320]

Nice tips, especially the comparison to how a baby/child learns a language. I live in one of the ABC Islands and the majority of people who grew up here speak 4 languages (Papiamento, Dutch, Spanish, Englisch) from a very young age. They learn it from the people around them and from TV. On a side note, I would love to hear what you think about Papiamento.

[@Wrkumlin]

My son changed his cell phone and his “Hey, Google” to be Japanese while he was studying the language. He’s fluent now, which helped when we spent a month touring the country.

[@karinpeterson5366]

I am bilingual. Stemmed from a move to another country when I was 4 yrs old. Skills like mimicking and picking up accents, dialects and other languages are a result of trying to fit in, to integrate, to connect. Yes, I am bilingual but I get by easily in 4 more with various dialects and I can totally pretend to speak several more whilst talking absolute gibberish 😂😂😂 And I have no ego. The first sentence I learn in any language is 'Sorry for butchering your language. Help me learn!' 😂

[@snapdragon2441]

I am an older lady, have only ever spoken one language and have no talent for learning others. My hearing is not also the best. I am going to try to learn Esperanto. I like the theory behind this newish language. Any tips you can give me will be much appreciated. I am now going to greet everyone in Esperanto.

[@sazji]

Listening to and imitating sounds and little strings of syllables is a really good suggestion. It’s how I’ve learned everything I studied on my own. When I started learning Vietnamese I did a LOT of listening to southern Vietnamese speakers on youtube and just imitating their sounds without having any idea what was being said. Living in a heavily Vietnamese neighborhood helped a lot too. :-) That made reading a lot easier; instead of “three kinds of O” (which I hear people mispronounce a lot because they learned the letters before they had an actual sound to go with them), I already had sounds in my head that the O, Ô and Ơ corresponded to. The woman talking about how strange English words sound is a perfect example of not actually listening to what is being said. Nobody says “hot dog” with a distinct aspiration on the T. So it does feel strange because that pronunciation is distinctly unnatural.

[@merciaamorimbezerra7561]

I never realized before, but I'm from Brasil and without notice Learn english with immersion, that's crazy

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

It is easy for English, it's everywhere. But Brazilian Portuguese isn't everywhere.

[@charleslundy7545]

What I want to know, from any polyglots out there, is how to replace the Spanish in my mind for Thai. I, of course, speak a little Spanish growing up millennial in the USA. I took it in primary school. But now I am learning Thai for my wife, but, when i think of "alternative word for ____" studying Thai the first thing that comes to mind is Spanish. But I don't really need Spanish coming up. I never use spanish because most people speak English here, and the words i do use is just like a quirk I held on to since youth like saying "Que Hora Es" "Si" "Comprende" or other random words That I generally think in spanish. Im just wondering if true Polyglots have any tips about how to shift my language reach to the Thai I am studying and not getting caught up on my alternative Spanish i already know. BIG NOTE: My native Language is neither, i speak Southern mostly, but its not a written language so it only causes hiccups when learning grammar or translating phrases as I translate between Southern Rural and American Standard rather quickly as I am very fluent in both.

[@Fadogar911]

Trevor Noah Roger Federer Thabo Sefolosha all half Swiss-half South Aftican guys who made it in their fields... crazy :D

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

Swiss German is different from Standard German. They the Swiss Germans, can be quite parochial if you try to speak German to them i.e rude.

[@Fadogar911]

@@Ponto-zv9vf what the fuck does that have to do with my comment? also, swiss german is my native language ;)

[@lise4369]

The chameleon brain is so true and funny when you experience it.

[@andreaarce3870]

Can I do it with shows or cartoons in the language I'm learning? I don't like textbooks or flashcards makes it boring to learn.

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

You might learn an argot, slang.

[@joseville]

Yes, that helps

[@minagelina]

Its so true. When I speak something in Russian, I am not the same person as the Japanese person I become or the Spanish speaker. You definitely change personalities.

[@luisvaldivieso5217]

Great video

[@abernardes2]

Olly! Why don’t you do a video about our neighbour’s languages, Irish, Scottish-Gaelic/Scots and Welsh?

[@lisamarydew]

There have been some including Welsh.

[@DeAtHbAt4eA]

Galic and Scots are both different languages. There's also Manx and Cornish.

[@abernardes2]

Actually Scottish Gaelic is a language and Scots too. Not to confuse with Gaeilge(Irish😌).

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

No offence but how many people speak those Celtic languages outside the home, Welsh may be an exception.

[@ricardoleonor1647]

Funny thing about having different personalities in different languages.. my wife and I are both native Spanish-English bilingual. Though we will causally switch languages when speaking to each other....sometimes for no particular reason... we will use specific languages for certain conversations. We decided to keep track..and it generally breaks down like this... English is for facts and information. Spanish is for emotions. If we are discussing money or decisions to be made about a project etc...always English. If we have an argument or share a funny story...always Spanish. Any other Spanish-English bilinguals do this?

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

I am nor sure about that, the personality thing. My parents are Maltese, when I was a child, and my parents met other Maltese people and spoke their language, people I knew, mostly Italian Australians, asked me what they were arguing about. I said, they are not arguing, they are talking about the prices of vegetables, it is conversation, not argument.

[@dustinwarender8955]

I actually. Do talk to myself out loud at work now while I'm at construction.And the reason I do that is because I used to talk to myself out loud and french And now I talk to myself out loud in both languages...

[@maargenbx1454]

I catch accents like an infection, and yes - sometimes I have to be very careful not to mimic people’s accents because I don’t want them to think I’m mocking them. Oddly enough, though, while I can do a Canadian accent in English or French, I can’t do a French accent in English, despite French being my first language (English is my second) My Austrian German is like Trevor’s Spanish - I sound like a native but only know a few words. My Austrian friends love giving me paragraphs to read because I mimic them perfectly, but don’t understand a word I’m saying 😅

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

Most French people maintain their accent when speaking English. That is why the old cartoon character called Pepi Le Peu, a skunk, was so funny. I think it was a Charles Boyer send-up.

[@CassandraElkin]

I pick up accents without thinking about it. I remember talking to a guy from West Virginia (in my hometown of Vancouver) and after a while he said, "How come ever'body 'round here 'cept you tawks funny?"

[@clarewillison9379]

18:39 Trevor is a legend. 😂🎉😂

[@jasnacerne3577]

Very relatable and so interesting. Similarly, in Luxembourg the language switching (and code switching) is also an everyday experience. 3 official languages (Luxembourgish, French and German) plus English, Portuguese and Italian are mostly spoken. There are 50% of expatriates from all over Europe (and the world) living in Luxembourg right now, so add these national languages that to the mix. So in any communication the first thing to do is to choose the appropriate language.

[@tabr-4480.]

In the language learning process "the ones who are willing to look stupid are usually the ones who end up learning the most!" That's quite simple 👌

[@nsevv]

i cancelled storylearning, switching to trevor learning method.

[@sharriceowens913]

I have yet to hear the method 5min in

[@kazarenko6300]

I've always picked up on filler words and automatic responses when travelling even if I don't speak the language. Things like eto in Japanese, ah bon in French, allora in Italian, alors in French etc. Then get in the habit of using these between the few phrases you pick up.

[@QuinnCloudz]

And Trevor was mentored by Eddie Izzard... who has done his/her routine in multiple languages! Both comedians are equally inspiring in so many ways, but as it goes for us aspiring language learners, neither have held themselves back due to NOT BEING PERFECT at whichever targeted new language... Being scared of *embarrassment* keeps most all of us adults from learning another language.

[@luyololuboi4910]

I totally relate to Trevor because I also grew up in Soweto. In the "loxions" (pronounced 'lok-shins', which is short for 'locations', a term used during Apartheid by the government to suggest areas of living for people not of white colour). Anyway... Growing up at Soweto you can have 5 to 9 tribes of people in one street and as a kid obviously if you befriend kids from your street y'all going to have to find a way to communicate because you all aren't speaking the same languages. So, as a result, I learned Zulu, Tswana, Sotho, Sipedi, Afrikaans, Xitsonga, Swati, and Venda which made it easy for me to communicate with my friends and vice versa. I can easily speak to 5 different people with their own language and they'd all be shocked when I'd tell them that I'm actually Xhosa and not from their tribe. So, I guess, my forward personality and eagerness to learn allowed me to smooth sail in all those languages. The video here is spot on... Learn the accent 1st, then put the words in later in your own style or a manner you're more comfortable with, then in no time you'll end up speaking just like em.

[@philipmccrackeniii4575]

Immersion is how I prefer to learn. And speaking to someone in THEIR language is respectful. In Spanish, the words for rabbit and crab are similar and I would often get them reversed.

[@heereandqueer_andpeggy7375]

I went to France when at school, I came back, still failed the O level, but I had the music of French inside me and have never looked back.

[@michamichalec9236]

I have watched enough of Your videos, to click "thumbs up" after 2 seconds. Please do not dissapoint me.

[@ArleneV-r2k]

I thought it was my imagination, I am mor3 outgoing/confident iñ Spanish

[@-nf9vt]

Just find the right platform and everything will be fast enough. I use Immersive translate and I am doing good at both French and Spanish

[@cilixialatinantillaise8664]

Love this video 😅🔥 I agree with all of it! 🇲🇫

[@EzraSisk]

She should just say horror her way

[@leviashanken7281]

It sounds more like what it is!😊

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

I don't know why she even tries. Just find another synonym. She went on about Hot Dog, she could just use the proper name for that type of sausage.

[@S31625]

The isiZulu I will always remember is 'kabetsa wena' meaning I'm going to hit you. The Tswana I will always remember is 'tsamaye' meaning walk away. The Sepedi I will always remember is 'o kolobe' meaning you're a pig.😅 Great when you grow up with kids speaking different languages 😂

[@caimaccoinnich9594]

"I'm going to hit" you is "Ngizokushaya wena," in Zulu... I've never heard kabetsa...

[@S31625]

@caimaccoinnich9594 thank you my one friend in primary used it every time a boy irritated her. Because she told me it was Zulu I never thought it wasn't.

[@thato596]

Yes " ke tla ho betsa wena " is Sesotho/ tswana

[@mkkabi]

Almost got my ass kicked at a club when a group Xhosa guys stepped in and stood up for me, thinking I'm one of them. I'm not. My Xhosa is pretty fluent.

[@mkkabi]

For South Africans, speaking 6+ languages is common.

[@Cristofre]

"You're not the same personality in every language". In my native language, English, I use cuss words and can use "blue language", but in Spanish my ability in those areas are very deficient. Though I've been speaking Spanish for 20+ years, the vast majority of my use of the language have been work related or with conservative Catholic Hispanic friends. There is a whole side of my English-speaking personality that my Spanish speaking friends never knew about.

[@gilliandawson6567]

😂, "jou ma se..." doesn't normally end with mixed race. 🇿🇦😎

[@lisamarydew]

(Shhhh... ! ;) )

[@gilliandawson6567]

@@lisamarydew 😎🤣

[@anitalornie1743]

Let’s face it, Trevor is one in a million kind of guy!

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

I guess a half Xhosa and half Swiss German would be.

[@maargenbx1454]

Growing up in NY it was absolutely forbidden for anyone to speak English at home - the rule was French only…and my parents were *STRICT* .Of course my siblings and I spoke to each other in English, but we grew adept at switching languages between syllables when we heard an adult approaching 😂

[@Ponto-zv9vf]

My parents worked a lot, eight children and a mortgage, and I hardly saw them. I didn't learn their language at all, I sort of understand very simple things. Maybe being strict is the way.

[@hiroroll]

In language there a huge different between learning and acquiring a language. A kind doesn't learn a language, they acquire it.

[@sbhm1108]

1:56 suspense so good it was frustrating

[@karl-konradkoriander3716]

Thank you

[@avmelidor]

Illuminating

[@iExistOne]

How Trevor Noah learned...through Conversation, Speaking. By learning how to ask questions and answer questions, he learned languages. This method is taught by Tony Marsh.

[@blackhibiscus1876]

This is good.

[@fredrikklaesson2885]

hello! i love your videos❤

[@Somewisecracker]

The trick is to grow up in a country that has multiple official languages. Immersion from childhood. South Africa has 11 official languages. Just to get around in daily life, most people need to speak at least a little bit of 3 different languages. The hardest language to learn is your second one. After that, the next one is easier. And then the next is a little easier.