The Fastest Way to Learn a New Language: The Pot Plant Theory

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In this video, you will learn about the pot plant theory of language learning which provides a simple framework for thinking about what is required to learn a new language in the fastest way possible.

[@realfastspanish]

What do you think of the Pot Plant Theory of language learning? Do you have any other tips that have helped you learn a language faster?

[@liambyrne591]

What about dreaming Spanish ,they claim 1500 hours , no books no grammar just listen and no talking

[@muskyoxes]

Pretty much every video like this depicts someone who is clearly at high intermediate level "struggling" to get to advanced. This doesn't seem like the major problem with language learning - it's getting to intermediate in the first place

[@realfastspanish]

Please check out my video on how to learn fast with KZbin. In that video, I start as a complete beginner with Polish.

[@SajkiSajk]

@@realfastspanish Mother of Lord, why on Earth would you like to learn Polish? We conjugate everything! I mean verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives. If you are doing it just for fun (and brain exercise), then may I suggest Swahili for you? It is much simpler than Polish on many levels and it is really interesting how it works.

[@onewheel9961]

Another way i have found to be useful is to pick a subject, say trees or cooking. Then gather some new vocabulary, verbs and nouns etc and try to have a short conversation about it in spanish with my profe. The conversation often takes a natural turn to other subjects but that is ok too.

[@realfastspanish]

That works! Thanks for sharing! 😊

[@TobiasDuncan]

I dont think pot plant means the same thing in the US.

[@realfastspanish]

Yes, we have this double meaning too!! 😊

[@TobiasDuncan]

@@realfastspanish Yes but we dont have the double meaning. Pot plant only means marijuana. We do say potted plant sometimes but never pot plant for a house plant

[@jacobstevens7046]

​@@TobiasDuncan America is a big place. I didn't think twice about what what he said.

[@TobiasDuncan]

You have heard americans refer to a house plant as a pot plant? To be clear, I am not saying I didnt understant what he was saying, just pointing out that no americans use thats phrase. I am familiar with most regional dialects and I stand by that.

[@ellenhelmke5787]

lol I thought this was going to incorporate a marijuana plant. Sort of disappointed Sofia wasn’t Cannabis

[@zenbrandon]

I love your channel! I switched from learning Spanish to Japanese in the past year, but I find your videos so helpful anyway. They are wonderfully language agnostic. Thank you for all the great stuff!

[@realfastspanish]

I appreciated the find words, I'm glad you are enjoying the content!! 😊

[@ileneh6024]

Thank you for this excellent video. I relate to it 100%, as I just had a similar discussion (about needing focused instruction with my tutor).

[@bradlafferty]

Wow, that’s an eye-opening analysis between the types of practice! I’ve taken many Spanish (and French) classes, apps, books, tutors and never found this way of looking at how these prescibed learning (as an adult). Thanks for presenting this! New sub.

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for the feedback and the sub!! 🙏

[@Nathan-kc6cv]

Man you really deserve more subs and likes, great video!!

[@waynesgrid49]

Man. A new video more often would help me pack my spanish

[@stevencarr4002]

Getting out of your comfort zone is great, but remember that stress is fatal to all kinds of learning, and also to language learning. So get out of your comfort zone, but be relaxed about it.

[@realfastspanish]

Well said, I 💯 agree! 👍

[@Sr.Lund_eluno]

Thank you for this. As a principiante en Español, I periodically look at how I'm learning and sometimes tend to fall back to the naïve level.

[@realfastspanish]

Yes, it's easy to do, as I mentioned in the video, I do it too!!

[@Lee-jh6cr]

I thought this would be about how I aced Spanish becoming fluent by 16 whilst being stoned for most classes! Had the opposite effect on algebra!

[@realfastspanish]

😂

[@jamesfreese4700]

Gracias for the video!!! Good observations Spanish speakers have a specific word they like to use and you may never hear many of the words that exist!!!

[@jhonyermo]

That is why I quit trying to learn every-word I didn't know. If a word or a phase I will never use, I won't learn. Much to many other things I must learn.

[@JudithHdzdonotgiveup]

I speak Spanish as my native language, but this is helpful to improve in my English 😊

[@the_meccaneer]

Deslizar is one of my favorites. ❤

[@perspicaciouscritic]

Hola, @realfastspanish (Please accept my apologies for asking here but I see no videos of yours on "passive/impersonal se" to ask under.) Can you help settle a dispute? In this recent NYTimes headline, "Caucus de Iowa: esto es lo que puede esperarse la noche del lunes" (Iowa Caucuses: Here's what to expect Monday night), is "se" in "esperarse" passive, or impersonal? Or neither? And, just so I understand, if it’s the impersonal se, how would the sentence change if it used the passive se? And vice versa? Really sorry to come to you with this but you're one of the few tutors that can clear this up :) Gracias.

[@thomasamos4055]

Chlorine also makes water acidic. Getting an alkaline water filter has been a game changer for us.

[@realfastspanish]

❤️ Great tip! Thanks for sharing!

[@wadeintoit]

So what is your recommendation for a complete beginner? Where does one start? What would your beginner's curriculum look like?

[@realfastspanish]

At the end of the video, I recommended a video on compound phrases, this is the first topic I recommend beginners start doing purposeful practice with.

[@kennethschwartz898]

If you cannot trill RR how should you pronounce this combination when you see it in a word

[@royerromero2147]

Hello everyone. I'm from Colombia and I have been learning English for a long time. I need to speak this fascinating language with native speakers, so I want to exchange languages with someone who is interested. Maybe we are friends.

[@seriouspipes]

I'm not sure comparing the fun, free interchange you were having with the smiling Marina in the store to plant-killing tap water is fair. The serious faces you guys had during the the focused portion says it all. I wonder did you stick with this method? Might be better off just bringing a recorder to your fun free sessions and then do some serious, intentional review later.

[@realfastspanish]

We had lots of laughs during our the purposeful practice session as well. I included one of them in the video. But, you’re right that growth and improvement does take some focus and effort!

[@TheDurbanitejoller]

Well done finding a native Spanish speaker to speak to. I am in England and surrounded by Poms. I have been learning Spanish for years now and it’s one step forward then two steps back. The Spanish speakers here are not interested in speaking Spanish as they live here to learn English. I have come to the conclusion that the only way to learn Spanish is to move to a Spanish speaking country and become fully immersed. Just saying.

[@realfastspanish]

The longest I have spent in a Spanish speaking country at one time is 5 weeks. You don’t need to be there to develop your skills. The key idea in this video is purposeful practice, this is what matters most and you can do that anywhere.

[@skylarcosway509]

When this man started speaking to a plant i thought he wans on pot

[@realfastspanish]

😂

[@Zoxuk]

It's fascinating how every tom, dick and harry has their own theory according to which every one else is wrong and you just have to watch all these videos, subscribe to web sites, buy books, etc. I have a theory, but I'll spare you.

[@paulfaulkner6299]

I always thought he was on (the) pot....

[@realfastspanish]

😳

[@TheCompleteGuitarist]

Nothing you do in language acquisition (we don't learn languages) should be done without meaning. Any non meaningful 'practice' is a waste of time. We don't need to literally understand every single word of what we hear or read for comprehension to take place and we need to experience as much as possible (because it all counts even if we don't understand). The more we 'participate' in the language in a meaningful way, the quicker we will acquire language. It is understood in the science of language acquisition that explicit learning has little to no impact on the development of competence in languages. By this is meant, no amount of trying to learn or understand something outside of meaningful necessity will accelerate the acquisition. We should also understand that native speakers are also constantly adding to their language development when experiencing the world or studying something they need or enjoy. If you learn to play the guitar as a native speaker, you will learn associated vocabulary that a non guitar play doesn't need or use modes of expressing ideas that non-guitarist don't use, same for any area of specialization. Everything should be meaningful and everything is acquired in context and even if we use a dictionary, our comprehension of expressions and vocabulary emerge through exposure to their use rather than through explicit study and explanation. This is my experience as an acquirer of language (spanish and Italian) and as a teacher of nearly 40 years trying to find the best ways to help my students. And it's what the science tells me.

[@mariafessara-embrey7586]

I thought the same! I'm not sure that sitting down with a list of words is a good use of someone's time unless you have encountered these words in context and would like to shed some light on them. ie. To help you understand the nuances of the language with a proficient speaker of the language.

[@waynesgrid49]

This format could have its own channel. Excellent. Thanks. Whomever is titling your videos needs to be moved to 2ndnstring. This video has a less than attractive title. I almost didnt watch

[@realfastspanish]

I'm glad you liked the video!! What do you think would be a better title?

[@dansmith263]

Its so difficult to memorise the words 👺👺👺

[@realfastspanish]

It's not easy for me either! Repetition is the key for memory!!

[@aliciafajardo259]

Your friend is not your best coach, find a real instructor, as this thing she says "she doesn't use it like that" is saying she has shortcomings in her own knowledge and wealth of vocabulary. To learn and get accurate explanations you need a true expert, you're limiting your learning and may run into inaccurate or incomplete explanations when your coach isn't a linguist in your purposeful learning efforts.

[@liambyrne591]

Bull shit i,s that how a child learns

[@realfastspanish]

It depends on what aspect of the way a child learns you are focusing on. If you focus on the “feedback” element then yes absolutely! Children make mistakes and get corrected by their parents every day! But if you focus on” intentional goal setting” element then no children aren’t motivated to learn a second language the way adults are. But if we don’t set goals as adults it can be very difficult to move forward with a second language.