If you search for “learn German” on YouTube, the first suggestion is “while you sleep”.
If you type in “Deutsch lernen” with the letter “I”, the first suggestion is “im Schlaf”.
Why? Can you really learn a language in your sleep?
What do they mean when they claim something like that?
In this video I talk about the numbers, data, and facts and at the end I give my two cents about it.
Learn Intermediate German B1/B2 #42: How to Learn German While You Sleep
First we have to find out what these people claim with their videos and how they are supposed to work.
In the description of every video on the YouTube Channel “Eko Languages” there is this sentence:
“Um es zu benutzen, einfach das Video abspielen bevor du schläfst…”
(To use just play the video before sleeping…)
That is unfortunately not enough for me.
If you read further in the description, you find more information, but you have to scroll a lot.
At the end of the description you find these sentences:
“Die Idee ist es, dass man so ausgeruht wie möglich sein sollte.
Setz deine Kopfhörer auf, wenn nötig.
Die beste Zeit ist gerade, bevor du ins Bett gehst.
Dann ist dein Gehirn angeblich aufnahmefähiger in diesem Zustand.
Der Plan: Spiel dieses Video so oft wie möglich ab bis die Wörter und Wendungen für dich natürlich sind und du nicht mehr darüber nachdenken musst um sie zu sagen.”
(The idea is to be in as relaxed or calm a state as possible.
Put on headphones if you need to.
Best time is the [sic] right before you go to bed.
The brain is supposedly more receptive in that relaxed state.
The plan: listen to this as often as possible until the words and phrases are [so] natural to you,
that you don't even need to think to say them.
According to the description we aren’t learning anything while sleeping.
We are learning while awake directly before sleeping.
We are supposed to listen to these words and phrases as often as possible.
Ok. But not while sleeping.
I don’t know how it is for you, but when I hear something 20 times, I can remember it.
It doesn’t matter if I hear it in the afternoon or directly before sleeping.
Sleep has nothing to do with it.
What really happens while you sleep?
You don’t really learn anything while you sleep, but these videos can still be helpful.
It is widely accepted that memories are solidified in long-term memory while you sleep.
If you learn something directly before you sleep, your brain will save these memories first.
Do that every night for a week and you will learn German.
My critique
Can these videos teach you German? Yes.
Can they do it while you sleep? No.
Can these videos put you to sleep? Definitely, yes.
If something sounds too simple, it probably is.
You can’t learn while you sleep.
Practice, listen, read and speak German as often as possible.
Then and only then will you be able to understand, read, and speak German.
You can only do these things while you are awake.
Therefore you can only learn these things while you are awake.
When and how you do that is your decision.
If one method doesn’t work for your, you should try another method,
but have enough patience to see if the first method really isn’t working.
And now a few questions.
What do you think?
Do you believe that you can learn German while you sleep?
Do these kind of videos help?
Have you tried videos like this?
Should I do one of these videos on this channel?
Write your opinion in the comments.
If you want the script of this video in German and English, a worksheet with answer key and an MP3 version of this video,
you can find these materials on my Patreon page.
Links in the description and in the cards.
Bye