How to Quickly Learn a New Language: My Methods and Process

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About Tim Ferriss:
Tim Ferriss is one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and an early-stage tech investor/advisor in Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ other companies. He is also the author of five #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers: The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef, Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors. The Observer and other media have named him “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of his podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, which has exceeded 200 million downloads and been selected for “Best of iTunes” three years running.
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[@timferriss]

Take 10 seconds and sign up for my free "5-Bullet Friday" newsletter: go.tim.blog/5-bullet-friday-yt/ Each Friday, you’ll get a short email from me with five things I've discovered that week, sending you off to your weekend with fun and useful things to ponder and try. 🙌

[@LuciusAugustusRomanusInvictus]

I legit thought he was wearing a headband

[@tylerjhawks]

I was about to comment the same thing lol

[@scottgeoffrey1793]

Marco Barros . Me too

[@ande1156]

Lmao

[@HawkMcDork]

SAME

[@swiftystatusconfirmed6711]

you thought it was pretty good to see him as wearing a headband. its clear its not a headband

[@hayley7048]

I'm a native Mandarin speaker and when he said 也许 (ye xu), my jaw dropped because his pronunciation was on point! Amazing, Tim! I'm noting down all these tips.

[@GaryDean]

i watched this at 1.5x speed. does this count as accelerated learning?

[@InternetGod]

Funny

[@GaryDean]

fang you, fang you very much. but seriously, i need watch a lot of youtube videos or audiobooks on a daily basis. increasing the speed of playback saves me a lot of time, and increases retention because i am forced to focus to keep up!

[@Yarcofin]

I do this too. I hardly ever go below 1.5x any more. 2x is comfortable, 3x I start having trouble understanding certain KZbinrs or retaining all the information, I can't do that fast in the background but have to actively pay attention to it. But I do still blow through some things at 4x speed if I only want to devote 25 minutes to something that's an hour long. To do 4x it really has to be a male who speaks quite slowly naturally to pick everything up. Some days I have 8 hours of videos I want to watch but I only have 2 hours. I recommend the Chrome plugin Video Speed Controller for going above KZbin's 2x limit. Even most music sounds better at 1.25x

[@InternetGod]

+Yarcofin thanks for telling me going to download it immediately :)

[@sourcedrop7624]

steven fernandes I think there are android video players that stream KZbin that can adjust playback speed. Dont know any names off the top of my head.

[@fernaureason7150]

I've been learning Japanese for quite sometime and watching this video made me want to share how my Japanese teacher in High School taught us to remember "You're welcome" (Douitashimashite) or Don't touch my mustache. I've never forgotten.

[@TheGroovyGuitarDude]

This helps me a lot, thank you Tim! I have been working on Spanish for a few years off and on and am near conversational but really want to get over the hump into fluent. Will be exercising these techniques and getting back into language learning once again! Thank you again!

[@marcellalee926]

Thank you so much for these techniques! I'm reading SO much faster overnight. Not only am I reading fasting, I'm also more focused and the words feel like they are flowing into me. By contrast, before using these technics I was focused on each word and getting caught up in the micro.

[@sparkleandshineguidance1786]

I love that you are teaching about this. Thank you!

[@appleeve868]

Im a Chinese but lives in Singapore. What Tim shared about the Romanization of the Chinese language is almost like how I learnt Chinese from young! We call it Hanyu Pingyin. And I honestly can't write Chinese words but I can spell it in alphabets. LOL

[@theWarriorUnknown]

When I was learning Thai language once i could count well I realized that my ability to learn new vocabulary or suffix was improved dramatically because if you know all your numbers you have covered all five tones in the language and because you have to use numbers so often in life you will get plenty of tonal practice or เสียงวรรณยุกต์ it is probably similar in Chinese Mandarin which has only four tones but Cantonese will be double trouble because it has eight tones but that is something you will have to investigate for yourself anyhow hope that this is helpful to everybody out there.

[@sourcedrop7624]

i've come to accept the hat as a beloved mascot for team ferriss. go team!

[@anthonykent00]

Not me... If that's the case, we need a new mascot. Actually, I figured it out. It part of his "wear something silly to make yourself uncomfortable" thing.

[@TheDjhansen77]

for a long time i thought he was wearing a headband.

[@Michael-4]

Me too. It wasn't a practice for him. It was for us.

[@Mrjpleonardo]

This is incredible. I needed this, especially since I'm remorsefully in and out of learning languages. We appreciate you, Tim. #Thingsofthatnature

[@Agnieszka-vx8ps]

It is soooo true that knowing another language gives you a different perspective! thanks for sharing =)

[@bexultanmyrzatay7588]

Thank you Tim. Video's just added some motivation for learning 한글!

[@MannanJavid]

Thanks for starting the sharing of your youtube videos again- really look forward to these!

[@KenDBerryMD]

Excellent video, I'll try this technique!

[@jameskarantzoulis5920]

Did you start learning a language?

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

The Momakuhakuri part was so dramatic that even after 3 exhaustive and almost sleepless days later after watching i can still vividly remember the while story on command! Even thought detached retina is a word hard enough to remember for a foreigner like me and even though i have some familiality with japanese so the pronunciation was easier to breakdown but i would totally forget the word normally. This stuff really work!!! Specially if you couple with other techniques like active learning and more connections with other data, like i did (the data that i used was exactly this phrase with some details of cooking from 4h chef).

[@Ferelmakina]

Hey Tim I just want you to know that we're enjoying this new video format on your channel. Please keep them coming!

[@laura-youtube1453]

Love your "drum-table"! LOL

[@MariePhillipsPlease]

Is the hat a kind of stoic experiment?

[@catherineh9438]

greetings from China. a HUGE fan of your podcast! hope you can come to Shanghai to do a fans meet-up. I'm a language student. I speak English and French (about intermediate level), and now I want to study a new language, Japanese. When i was hesitating whether I had extra time for another one, I see this video which encouraged me a lot! btw, like this kind of videos, hope more are coming.

[@TiMalice2009]

Immersion is the best way to learn.

[@EmileAI]

the video starts at 0:00 guys. Thank me later

[@oliverkhoo]

Thank you Emile

[@Johnrobertx]

I waited two years to say thank you from the bottom of my heart

[@EmileAI]

@@Johnrobertx you're welcome !

[@ilovebeinagirl]

But when does it end, though

[@aryaarunavdash5351]

Thanks....saved me a ton of time

[@Andy-lo9sp]

Your mandarin pronunciation is really good!

[@nebulaz1924]

amazing, I would like to buy your book.

[@charliem123321]

Guaranteed good video every time👌

[@randymartin9876]

Tim, love your books and videos. What is that on your head?

[@radiorosienashville]

Love the nemonic lesson

[@oliverkhoo]

I’m you glad you mentioned Anki

[@ryancovel]

For the life of me I could not remember the name of the founder of Scientology, L Ron Hubbard. Now when I need to think of his name, I think of Elrond (an elf from LotR) on a hoverboard.

[@eternalramen_]

I used this stuff in my Japanese class all the time. Tim Ferriss is the man! ありがとうございます。^_^

[@maxwellswanson9657]

Love YA Bro!

[@kurtthecat3995]

The problem with 8-12 weeks, is that it might be able to get you to say a few basic concepts in the target language, but what happens when you get the response. Are you going to be able to comprehend the response? It seems like every person or app that pushes language learning ignores listening comprehension which is just as important as speaking it. Try watching a native produced video from your target language after 8-12 weeks and listen to it at full speed as an example. It takes years to get to that level of comprehension.

[@yanglu8]

Tim's tone in Chinese is perfect.

[@alexnelson7258]

My sister has a detached retina. She does not like to go to the museum of modern art because she can't see the art. I will remember that the Japanese word for detached retina is "momacahockeystick" from now on.

[@centereddev]

vaca..vaccuum, cow with a vaccuum head...cow! = basically the Michael Scott method for remembering names

[@johnbrooks527]

Are there any GR dictionaries you can point me to?

[@rapha4849]

I bought your book ''the 4-Hour work week.''

[@MaeJan]

Wow! You speak perfect Chinese

[@danielcoleman6685]

Hey Tim (or anyone who has studied Chinese the way he describes) Do you have any links to GR materials? Books, flashcards, websites.

[@kcs4587]

Daniel Coleman google Gwoyeu Romatzyh

[@danielcoleman6685]

Yeah, I searched for that. there don't seem to be many books using it.

[@johnbrooks527]

Tim how can I find acronyms for words I need to learn as I just don't encounter many acronyms in my daily life.

[@josemanueltouron]

@tim, just a comment: in spanish, v is pronounced as b. We don't make a difference when pronunciating them.

[@natsukikatsumata4770]

amazing! 網膜剥離w　もうまくはくり

[@mohamadalasadi4682]

Can I get a list/thread started of simple ways to boost information retention 10 fold?

[@nebulaz1924]

the mandarin pronunciation is very good.

[@radiorosienashville]

I'm a fan - i can not concentrate because of the amazing head band !

[@Valerie72]

im trying to learn somali and there is no plattform or even rare videos of words.. what can i do?

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

5:16 DAMN!! That's dramatic and hard to forget! I bet you this model from Moonwalking with Einstein, didn't you...? 🙂 Is certainly something convoluted that kinda mess up people with little creativity but it turns out that the more you do the better you get and the harder you work retrieve something or consciously connect ideas the better your going to remember.

[@Anmeldn]

anybody had tried accelerated learning? I think his claim that you can get into the top5 percent in a short period of time is marketing of course, but I can imagine that this innovative approach can lead to fast progressions. whats your experiences like?

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

11:58 Did he said "Melange"?! If yes, it was super cool reference .

[@asc_near]

Tim, do you think an hour a day is enough? Or will that take way too long for Japanese

[@chengzhiwu7052]

What is the flash card website?

[@Valerie72]

i watched this video 2 to 3 times a year ago and when i saw it rightnow i thougt of the word 'vaca', although i am never around any spanish speakers haha

[@Yarcofin]

hat

[@parkerdude22]

the Spanish cow thing actually worked!

[@mikmo8124]

I knew that already

[@vanyeszczpanski5297]

I find pimsleur very useful for learning languages

[@fiddlewheelx]

wish i could have a 1 on 1 with Tim, but I imagine everyone wants that...

[@radiorosienashville]

Oh shit! It's a hat ! Lol

[@eggycat]

Looking at the thumbnail I thought you were wearing a sweatband haha.

[@cameronmiller6240]

It's "which he takes as a compliment " in the doubledoo.

[@dallanp7037]

Subtítulos en español ...

[@richardmontesm.a.1148]

Does anyone have a resource to learn Japanese with Spanish as the native language? ¿Alguien que sepa de un recurso para aprender Japonés en español?

[@derpnasty3557]

I like at 10:40 where this video becomes a commercial

[@MIKEWHOSCO]

Hey late 2019 here. This will be only one of about 6 intelligent comments on the thread. I am interested in using these techniques to learn other things. Any apps that cover such things. Hard to get through all the marketing hype.

[@kunalahuja2925]

Things like?

[@MIKEWHOSCO]

@@kunalahuja2925 Facts, figures and information. i guess flash cards is the go to method.

[@wagmi-mm6nz]

Anybody think of Hajime no Ippo when he's speaking about Japanese Comics and detached retinas?

[@affable8696]

Late, but that was what I immediately thought about. It was the first time I actually encountered that term, so it stuck in my head.

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

10:28 Wow hahahaha

[@funkycoco7559]

what's a detached retina to begin with ?? :P

[@119FU]

I just realised that he's wearing a beanie and not a headband..

[@makehumanitygreatagain8128]

lololol Welcome. Your membership card is in the mail.

[@AdrianIvascu]

When he said 'vaca' I was surprised because that's how you say 'cow' in romanian. But then I realized that vaca is also cow in spanish. :))

[@makehumanitygreatagain8128]

They're both Latin based languages. Blame the Romans.

[@AdrianIvascu]

I know, we, romanians, are obsessed with our roman history.

:))

[@AndreiIstoc]

Inteleg ce simti cumetre

[@r.m5883]

Vache in french, so close

[@dallasupton]

Could you use this for math?

[@Sabine.L]

Podcast with Jeb Corliss please

[@malikminus484]

00:43 When dad asks why I failed at everything

[@polypus74]

Only problem: vaca is not pronounced with a 'v'' sound, but more of a soft 'b' sound.

[@cpullman]

I've watch this video multiple times since it was posted a few years ago... ONLY TODAY did i notice that he's wearing a hat and not a headband on a bald head... OY!!!!

[@b3rangler]

I came here just to tell you that you need to pick better thumbnails bro. 😉

[@irishelk3]

I avoided the video for a while because i thought he was wearing a sweatband hahaha.

[@saikrishna1983]

Tim I am new to you but I don't think this video is meant for India's we are multilingual by birth ,we speak atleast 4 languages . The languages which I speak are , hindi, telugu, Kannada, English

[@warai309]

Only 2000 words. nice

[@Lampshadx]

HAT

[@MaartenVandaele-on3yy]

I'm so sorry, but it took me several minutes to notice that Tim wasn't wearing a head band.

[@Sejdr]

Ah, It's a hat! I saw the thumbnails and wondered "Why is he wearing a head-band in all his videos, it looks ridiculous" :P EDIT: Now I see in the comments I'm not the only one haha

[@charityharboclicks4298]

the comments section reflects different types of students.Some of yall texting lol

[@katrinanaval401]

Why Mr. Ferriss always emphasize spanish vocabulary. I my self with my real name I can't prove that vocabulary cause these must start when I was a kid and now I can't guaranteed my self on that. It's pretty hard for me now I only knew basic japanese.

[@anaklaric5986]

Prevedi ovo: "Budi moj mentor?"

[@discopa]

I thought you were wearing a black headband!!!!!!!!

[@GodsNode]

I love Tim but dude you could have saved me some time if you just called this video "How to Learn a New Language with Mnemonics."

[@patpeyote9968]

Will You finally change this outfit?

[@D20EnderC]

Will that affect the content in any way?

[@digitalgamer3722]

Pat Peyote at this point i want the outfit to stay to be honest

[@cliftonfameree4436]

Good lesson in batching.

[@user-sr5kj6ej9z]

8 - 12 weeks? damn?

[@jammadamma]

Ganbatte kudasai means "do your best", not good luck.

[@katrinanaval401]

This is quite embarrassing. I can't say it's a long monologue. I'm practicing japanese language only a self study by my self alone. Oh my gosh! And it's pretty hard for me because sounds are tough. I never learn the language when I was a kid not to mention about that. I only knew basic english like these and that. Bueno I had this book "xenophobes" my amigo gave it to me when we first met. While listening on him speaking that lingo is really urgggh tough. Bring back those times that we have so many lucking subjects 'n' learnings on languages in school. I'm not a lazy student but the school really matters most with your intelligence and capacity of learnings I think. It's a certain thing like what school best suite or fits your mind. That's fascinating though there are such thing that really didn't attract me much when I was studying. I was really broke on these languages. Urrggghhh....

[@MarshmallowHumor]

Guten Tag 🤙

[@tillaaayy]

That hat 😹😹😹

[@KevinColt]

im not doing youtube videos for money, Im doing it for the better of our society.

[@TomCelar]

Detached retina? Seriously? :D

[@FromQnz2King]

I thought you were wearing a headband and were bald. I learned that you weren’t.

[@LukaSauperl]

Joke: You're so bald that even your hat has boldness!

[@makehumanitygreatagain8128]

I generally respect Tim, but I disagree with the method suggested of learning words. Why associate words with words that have nothing to do with them? If you are able to pronounce the sounds of a word (which is typically the obstacle that those who have known only one language and/or accent have with learning a new language) why add another object to a sound that already has an object associated with it? If vaca were an English word, you'd just remember the word for what it meant and your ability to remember it (in terms of usage - not recognition) over the longterm would depend on the amount of usage. So, just remember the word like you would remember any English word, you'd normally learn throughout the course of your life. You just have to make sure you use the language you're learning. That could mean finding fluent speakers and speaking with them or consuming programming in that language. With the internet today you can get programming in pretty much any language you desire. Good luck.

[@seres-de-luz]

Make Humanity Great Again well it works at least for me. l speak English, German, Swiss German and my mother tongue Spanish and have learned many words that way, not all but many. whatever works, use it 😁

[@LagMasterSam]

"Why associate words with words that have nothing to do with them?" It's not about associating words with words, it's about associating sounds with images, particularly sounds and images that are already encoded in your brain. It's actually less taxing on your brain because it can use preexisting networks with minimal modification. On the other hand, memorizing something without relating it to anything else requires building a completely separate network just for it, and that takes a lot more time and repetition.

[@ignacywojdylo6687]

I'd agree up to a point: While it would take up a lot of your RAM to learn all new words in a given language using the method, therefore ending up counter-productive, for some words that are especially hard to remember (I think we all have a few in another language that we know and yet forget a thousand times) this creates a powerful link to other images, ideas (since words in your language cease to just be words), reinforcing their retention. As for "using the language that you're learning" - Finding fluent/native speakers to practise with on a regular basis is a commodity/luxury that many learners can't afford, especially when it comes to producing language, so the mnemonic techniques Tim Ferris describes are very useful in the "greenhouse" conditions that most of us learn a language in.

[@ajpicciuto1890]

memory palace at work

[@Michael-4]

Functional in 12 weeks? I would love to think that was true.