Hi guys, welcome to the new video
I am happy that we are entering summer now
the school summer holiday is also very soon, yes
I receive a lot of comments from viewers asking me questions such as
What language should I study?
Can I study 2 languages at the same time?
Should I study German, French or Spanish or even Arabic?
Honestly, it is not my place to make these decisions for you
but what I can do is take you through the process of decision-making
I'll be taking you through a set of factors you should consider
when you want to study a language
By the way
studying a language is a commitment
and it’s not always rainbows and butterflies!
So let’s get into the video!
Interest and motivation often go hand in hand in the language learning journey
They're the sparks that ignite the learning process and fuel it over time
Moreover, when you're interested in a language
your brain becomes more receptive to absorbing it
In my case, I started learning Persian because I am intrigued by Persian poetry
and I had a desire to travel to Iran at that time
The beauty of interest is that it's unique to every individual
Some might be fascinated by the rhythm and melody of Italian
others might be captivated by the Intricate script of Arabic
or the logical structure of German
This interest can spring from anywhere
a movie, a song, a dish, a friend, or even a historical event
So, your journey to learning a new language should start with identifying
what truly interests you
Whether it's anime inspiring you to learn Japanese
K-pop steering you towards Korean
or admiration for German engineering leading you to study German
embrace these interests as they will fuel your learning journey
So, if you're unsure about which language to learn
start by asking yourself: Which language excites you the most, and why?
When it comes to picking a language to learn
a common strategy is to look at languages that are in the same family
as those you already know
You've probably heard that if you know French
other Romance languages such as Spanish, or Italian won't be as tough to learn
since they share a lot of similarities
For instance, if you're fluent in English
learning another Germanic language like German or Dutch
could be a logical next step
because these languages share a lot of similarities
Even my knowledge of French has helped with my German learning
although my German friends tell me that I often speak German with a French accent
They actually like it!
But learning Arabic was a whole different story for me
It took me longer because it's very different from any language I knew before
However, after learning Arabic
I found that Persian and Turkish didn't feel that
"strange" and difficult anymore
Many people have been surprised to learn that I don't speak Spanish
They say, "You are a polyglot. It should be easy for you,
Especially you know French!
Honestly, compared to Arabic
Spanish is a lot easier
I tried learning Spanish because I thought it would be "easy"
but it didn't work out, why?
The reason was that it didn't line Up with my interests at the time
My focus was more on the Middle East
Just adding another language to my list wasn't really important to me
However, if I plan to travel to Spanish-speaking countries in the future
that might motivate me to learn Spanish
So here's what I suggest:
The difficulty of a language can depend on your first language
and any other languages you already know
But for me, the number one factor is "interest and motivation"
Unfortunately, some languages have scarce resources
while others have plenty of resources
For example, if you compare English resources
with some minority languages
naturally, you will have an easier time studying English
Having little resources can have an impact on you financially and time wise
As you will have little options to choose from
and longer time to pile up resources and create a study plan
So, before you study a language
always make a plan
find the resources and options available
and see if they can sustain you at least to a B1 level
since the beginning is the hardest part
For example, one important factor
that I decided to learn Persian and Turkish so quickly
because I identify so quickly the Assimil book collection
as the reliable learning resource
it's very handy and suit my study rhythm (30 min per day for a lesson)
I wanted to learn Kurdish
Kurdish kurmanji
but I gave up because I couldn't find a suitable resource which suits my study style
If you are learning French, German, or English you can check out these videos
in which I listed the detailed learning resources for each level
If you are struggling to find the resource
and want to learn a language with experienced tutors
or native speakers from the beginning
you can find an online tutor and start with a native from day one
on the platform like Live XP
This method saves you a lot of time
as you will be focusing on one complete resource
that will take you through the language from a beginner to an advanced level
On live XP, you can find a native 1 on 1 tutor
and subscribe to a package of lessons for each level
One nice part is that you can filter tutors
so you can find a tutor with common interest
and it will be beneficial later when you’re on a conversational level
You can create a flexible schedule and control the pace
You can start by taking a trial lesson for a nominal price
or you can get a monthly, quarterly or annual package
with a 30% discount
If you are interested in Live XP and want to try it out
just find the discount code in the description
You can take a 30-minute trial lesson for only ninety-nine cents
Yes 99 cents
and later on adjust your study plan
Another factor is time and energy
it's not as simple as saying, ok, "I've finished learning this language
so now I'll start a new one."
Language learning is an ongoing process
there's always more to learn
and maintaining proficiency in multiple languages
requires constant practice
For instance, with my current schedule
I can only devote a maximum of two hours per day to language learning
German and Arabic are my priorities right now
as I'm still working towards my desired proficiency levels in these languages
Fitting in even one Persian and Turkish lesson per week
to maintain my skills is a challenge
As such, I just can't find the time to pick up a new language at this moment
So for now, my goal is to maintain my level in the languages I already know
That’s why I gave up Spanish
If you're thinking about learning a new language
set your goals and expectations
in line with the time you can realistically commit
Don't start off with an overly ambitious plan
like studying five or six hours per day
Even dedicating 30 minutes to an hour each day
can lead to substantial progress over time
Another big reason to choose a language
is how it might help with your career
I think of this as another kind of "motivation"
You don't always have to love a language to learn it
I know this might seem a bit contradictory to my earlier emphasis on interest
but practical considerations can be a powerful driving force too
If these practical reasons happen to intersect with your personal interests
that's an ideal situation!
For example, I began learning Arabic due to personal curiosity and interest
Then, I discovered it offered ample opportunities for my research
That made me want to study more
because I realized that Arabic would be beneficial for my work
My personal interest became something useful
I also started learning German at that time
because I am into German literature, philosophy, and sociology
Initially, my motive was purely to enrich my knowledge
But, as I continued down this path
I realized the practical things it offered
After obtaining my master's degree, I discovered
a France-Germany Ph.D. program opportunity
So, learning German became useful too!
And now I am living and studying in Germany
Suggestions:
It can be difficult to draw a line between learning a language for personal interest
and learning it for practical benefits
Sometimes, these two reasons can mix together
and make learning a new language even better
So when you're picking a language to study
think about what you love and what could be helpful for you
For some people, the choice of language may be influenced by a romantic partnership
Girlfriend boyfriend
or a job opportunity abroad
Similarly, many of us are part of multicultural families and communities
Some people grow up in international households
For example, I have a friend of Persian descent who was born outside Iran
He decided to learn Persian as an adult to connect with his grandparents
and his cultural roots
Whether it's your family, friends, partner, or workplace
these personal relationships can become a powerful language-learning environment
They provide context, motivation, and an emotional connection
On the other hand
if you're not in a country where the language you want to learn is spoken
the internet offers a solution
Through online language courses
social media, and other digital resources
you can create your own virtual language environment
This allows you to immerse yourself in the language
without leaving home
You can also join our discord community
to communicate with other language learners
or find your language partner
Ultimately, when choosing a language to learn
consider both your physical and virtual environment
At the end, I would like to answer a question that people often ask me
Is it possible to learn two languages or several languages at the same time?
The short answer is YES
The longer answer? It's not a walk in the park
it's challenging but doable
If you want to learn multiple languages simultaneously
there are a few strategies you might find helpful
First, I don’t advise to start learning both languages from scratch at the same time
It's more effective to build a strong foundation in one language first.
Once you're comfortable with the basics
you can start integrating the second language into your study routine
as you progress in both languages
the differences between them will become more apparent
and easier to distinguish
To recap
Balancing these factors is key to making a wise language learning decision
Start by assessing your own situation and goals
Are you learning a new language mainly for personal interest
or for practical reasons?
How much time and energy can you devote to language learning?
What resources do you have access to?
Then, prioritize the factors according to your own needs and circumstances
For some, practicality might be more important
while for others, interest and motivation might be the top priority
There are countless reasons to learn a language
Whether it's for personal interest
career advancement
or simply embracing a new challenge
learning a language comes with a wealth of benefits
I hope this video can spark your interest in language learning
No matter your reason for learning a new language
embrace the journey and enjoy the rewards it brings
Happy learning, and I'll see you in the next video. Bye!