Chapter 1 – The Secrets of Language Learning
Secrets of Polyglots
Logan Fisher; Bibi Halima; and Keli Yerian
Preview Questions
- Who are polyglots?
- What are some misconceptions about them?
- What are their secrets for language learning?
If you were born in the United States, chances are you only speak one language well: English. It makes sense, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Practically the whole country speaks English as a first or additional language. Different regions have different varieties, but overall we share this common language.
English has, for better or for worse, become a global language. It is the language of commerce, the language of travel, the language of power. It seems there is little need for native English speakers to speak anything else because much of the world is conforming to them. In turn, the idea of someone speaking a second language is often seen as incredibly rare, impressive, and even exotic in the US. Yet it is precisely because we have prioritized English so much, even though the US has no official language, that we have pushed out the necessity of learning other languages. We have become a monolingual and monocultural society.
Follow up question: Have you ever met a polyglot? Someone who speaks multiple languages? We may not often notice polyglots in the United States, however when going to other countries, suddenly we see more and more people speaking multiple languages. In fact, this is backed by numbers, as the United States sits at a bilingual population of around 20% compared to the 67% across Europe, 55% across Canada, and 25% across India (Byers-Heinlen et al., 2019, pp. 1-2) . It is clear why we are outliers in this equation, so how can we change this?
Common misconceptions
Let’s first confront common misconceptions about polyglots.
“Polyglots are rare”
False! Polyglots exist everywhere! Many people in Europe, Africa, and Asia speak many languages, typically their native language + their national language + a majoritized language like English, Spanish, or French.
“Polyglots are all rich academics”
False again. Many immigrants, refugees, or villagers are forced to become polyglots to survive in their daily lives. People confront issues with access to power and access to services, and are therefore forced to learn the language(s) of power.
“Polyglots have an innate talent for languages”
Need I say false again? Polyglots, just like every other language learner, have to put in the hours to acquire linguistic and cultural content, and to put their language into practice.
So what is true about polyglots? When talking about a group of people so broad and diverse, it’s hard to come up with a common statement, but one thing remains true no matter the background of the polyglot: they (usually) love languages. Another word for polyglot is linguaphile, which literally means ‘lover of languages’.
So, What do polyglots do?
In other words, you might ask what are the “secrets” of polyglots. The simple answer to this question is that they are not wizards or inherently gifted with a language DNA. They are like all of us who equally find language learning overwhelming and are willing to take this challenge. The key difference lies in their effective methods that they develop to learn and retain target languages. The good news is that what polyglots do – methods and strategies– is not limited to polyglots only but is accessible to anyone who is dedicated to learning a language.
Here are some of the “secrets” of polyglots that you can open
They learn mostly on their own time
While polyglots seek guidance from instructors and formal settings like all of us, they mostly learn by themselves outside of the class. Polyglots are the most successful examples of autonomous learners who do not let only classrooms and formal lessons entirely control their learning but take the learning process in their own hands. Instead of waiting for classes to experience a language, they make time in their daily schedule and practice it on their own. Outside of the class, for example, they may surround themselves with the language environment and engage with media in the target language such as movies, songs, podcasts, and online language exchange apps. From goal setting to selecting and crafting materials to tracking their progress, polyglots actively engage in their learning experience.
They select and create their own language learning materials
Polyglots are self-directed learners who do not rely on opportunities that others can provide, but they also create their own. They craft their personalized materials and develop unique ways to learn languages that best fit their goals and learning systems. For example, they may create their own flashcards and language games. They may pair up with another learner or with generative AI to create a dialogue or story. Polyglots do not only create but also select their own materials. For example, instead of relying solely on one textbook, they might visit a local library or start browsing on the internet to find an interesting resource for themselves such as illustrated magazines, audiobooks, recipes, or podcasts.
They are not afraid to be uncomfortable
Self-directed and autonomous learning inevitably presents some challenges as well for polyglots. This can include discomfort at grappling new patterns on their own, uncertainty with self-assessment, or lack of feedback. However, polyglots are language enthusiasts who are driven by their intrinsic love for languages and have huge tolerance for their uncertainty. They are not afraid to use the language with their ‘incorrect’ grammatical patterns. They also do not hesitate to pick up an unfamiliar resource to just look at it even though they do not fully understand. Instead of letting fear stop their learning, polyglots embrace their discomfort. With their growth mindset, they view their incomplete understanding of texts or incorrect use of grammar or vocabulary as an inevitable natural part of their learning process.
They learn consistently in small chunks
What do you think is better, 10 minutes every day or 1 hour after 10 days? 10 minutes every day, of course. Polyglots make it a consistent daily practice even if it’s just for a few minutes. In this way, they learn it in small chunks. They set realistic and clear goals (we’ll talk about SMART goals in Chapter 5) to squeeze learning into their daily schedule. If they decide to join language learning apps, they use it consistently and set clear goals. For example, completing one or two app lessons every day is better than cramming multiple lessons after weeks in a single session.
They learn in an enjoyable way
Fun is the key! Polyglots understand that learning a language is not a one-day event, and that the learning process will become an integral part of their lives. So, it’s important to love the process itself! Instead of only viewing the new language as a destination, they focus more on the path and make sure to enjoy it. But fun and enjoyment mean different things to different people. One person may be a food lover who combines their interest in great food with their language goals. They might find recipes or listen to cooking shows in the target language. Another person may love sports and decides to watch news clips about teams in other countries. This gives them insight into both international sports and the language needed to describe it. Each of these learners are making the process a fun and memorable experience!
Let’s read Logan’s story to see how, as a polyglot, they approached language learning with a growth mindset during their trips to countries where their target languages are spoken.
Similar to Logan’s story, we can see that being a polyglot is not as daunting as it seems. While it is easy to separate people into me and them, remember that polyglots are people just like you. Polyglots usually love to speak in their various languages, and they prioritize the ability to communicate over perfection. After all, communication doesn’t require perfection, just a good enough attempt to convey an idea. So next time you find yourself in awe of someone who says that they speak Arabic, Chinese, and English, just know that you have the potential to do so too.
A day in the life of a polyglot
Here is a day in Logan’s life that demonstrates how a polyglot can stay connected to their multiple languages.
Now that you’ve reached the end of this section, how would you respond to the following statements in the comprehension check below?
Secrets of Polyglots Comprehension Check
References
Byers-Heinlein, K., Esposito, A. G., Winsler, A., Marian, V., Castro, D. C., & Luk, G. (2019). The case for measuring and reporting bilingualism in developmental research. Collabra Psychol, 5(1): 37, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.233
Speaking only one language
The process by which only a single group's expression of culture has power and/or is allowed, reducing cultural diversity
Someone who speaks two or more languages. Speaking more than two languages is also referred to as multilingualism or being multilingual