Hobby, survival tool, passion project… Language learning has always been many things to many people. Whether you’ve fallen passionately in love with a country’s literature and dream of being able to read the original text, or are a new expat struggling to find your feet, there are plenty of reasons you might be looking to learn a language quickly and effectively. 

And you’re not the only one. Language learning is a hugely popular pastime and so naturally theories abound about the best way to reach fluency quickly and effectively. This means it’s all too easy to get bogged down in the reams of hypothesising that exist online and end up spending more time scratching your head over which learning method to choose than getting down and dirty with the actual language (not ideal). So, we’ve done a bit of fact/fiction sifting to call out the most common untruths about how language learning works that just won’t die.

Myth #1: You need practical motivation to learn a language

Your average language learning guru will tell you that if you don't have a practical reason in mind for mastering your language of choice - whether that be moving to the country, being able to communicate with a partner, work in that language, etc -  it is more than likely that your drive will shrivel up and die well before you’re able to reach fluency. Allow us to debunk this.

While most learners will certainly benefit from a lifestyle-centred motivation like these, they are by no means the only goals sturdy enough to carry you through your learning journey. Motivation to learn a language can vary enormously. You might have woken up one day with the overwhelming desire to be able to write haikus in Japanese, or maybe you find yourself obsessed with the dazzlingly convoluted ins and outs of Russian grammar but have no intention of moving to Russia, or even travelling there. These ambitions may be niche and highly personal but they are no less valid than other motivators. So if anyone tries to convince you that these goals simply won’t be enough to get you over the finishing line, we recommend you politely ignore them.

Myth #2: You can learn a language in a week

We’ve all been drawn in at least once by seductive polyglots loudly claiming that they have cracked the code and can teach others to learn a language in a month (or two weeks, or ten days…the time frames seem to be getting smaller by the minute). The part of us that isn’t tutting about clickbait is more than likely curious. After all, who wouldn’t want to be able to master Italian in a week just in time for the last-minute getaway to Rome they’ve just planned?

Unfortunately, however, these claims don’t tell us the whole story. The thing is: languages are immensely complex. From vocabulary to grammar, there is a lot to master and the further you advance in your learning, the more apparent this will become. While the ability to make yourself understood in an elementary fashion can come relatively quickly if approached from the correct angle, after a week of study you will have barely scratched the surface. But instead of becoming disheartened by this reality, try to embrace it. Think of your chosen language as a rich and beautiful new land just waiting to be discovered in all its overwhelming complexity and expansiveness. Discovery of this type is not a race and quick learning does not mean better learning. Enjoy the journey.

Myth #3: Immersion alone is a sure-fire road to fluency

There are few expats who, having found themselves on the verge of emigrating with little to no knowledge of their target country’s language, did not at some point say to themselves “I’ll pick it up while I’m there”. The reality of this plan of action is unfortunately not so simple. Even if you have the superhuman powers of emotional resilience necessary to expose yourself to an unknown language all day, every day, this is still far from the most efficient way to learn if you’re new to said language. 

Opting for a tiered learning approach, or ‘comprehensible input’, allows you to gradually increase the level of difficulty you are being exposed to, so you can improve smoothly and efficiently. This is best done with a language tutor who will guide you through the process step by step. The consistently positive results of comprehensible input show us that, while immersion is incredibly beneficial further down the line, as a lone tool, it is more likely to hinder beginners than help them.

‍Myth #4: Grammar just slows you down

This is another myth all too often linked to a romanticised ideal of organic immersive learning that unfortunately tends to lack realism. Die-hard defenders of the anti-grammar approach will argue that it mirrors how we learned our own language as young children, and is therefore the best path to take. But if you’re reading this post, you are (almost certainly) not a young child. Adults and teenagers learn differently from children and, like it or not, are exposed to very different language learning conditions. So erasing the analytical element from the process of language learning in an attempt to mimic a child’s acquisition experience will rarely produce the results you are hoping for.

As much of a buzzkill as grammar can be at times, it is a very important tool for demystifying the layers of a new language, particularly in those early stages of learning. It provides an in to what can feel like an impenetrable entity, carving an easily digestible path for learners of all ages. Attempting to master a language from scratch without the aid of grammar is the equivalent of trying to get on a moving bus: possible in theory, but if you have the option to wait for it to stop before mounting, why wouldn’t you?

Myth #5: Everyone learns in the same way

Navigating language learning can certainly be confusing at times, but if there were a catch-all formula for mastering a foreign language quickly and painlessly, where would the fun be in that? While learning guidelines can help you make quicker, more efficient progress, the speed with which you reach your goals will ultimately depend on how effectively you make language learning into a passion-driven activity - something that will look different for everyone. Different people will be driven to fluency by different elements of the learning process so you should be trying to find out how best to personalise your acquisition journey from day one. 

Align your learning with what makes you as an individual tick. If you’re an avid reader, read as much as you can in your target language. For music lovers out there, learning songs is a great way to expand your vocabulary and improve your pronunciation. And we're sure we don't need to remind you of the numerous benefits of foreign cinema for language nerds. 

More importantly, the psychology of language learning varies wildly. Some will try to adopt an intuitive approach as soon as possible while the more introverted among us might find they make more effective progress by focusing on perfecting their understanding of the theory before testing out more practical possibilities. The same techniques will not work for everybody so don’t be overly influenced by how others approach languages. Your learning journey is your own and there is endless room to experiment.