the language learning glitch
tricking yourself into abundant learning motivation
I never had a burning desire to learn languages in school.
When that desire did come, it was all I could think about - speaking French fluently.
But no, I didn’t want to just speak French, I wanted to live French.
In other words, I didn’t want to be seen as just another strong-accented learner who just learnt to speak the language; who, once Parisians sensed the slightest struggle in your voice, reverted instantly to English under the guise of ‘I’m doing them a favour, and I can practice my English as well.’
I didn’t want any kind of CEFR certificate for passing some arbitrary language test
that would mean nothing out in the real world of French discourse and interaction.
Far from it.
I wanted to feel like it was part of me, like it was a switch that I could just turn on at any point and bridge the gap between the cultural channel.
I don’t quite know what the spark that ignited this insatiable desire in me was, but I sure knew that it was never going to be quenched until I reached it.
It wasn’t motivation by family members who spoke it, or even friends - frankly I had no real connection to the language other than it just seemed cool and I just needed it in my life.
I researched and tested many different learning methods such as flashcards, online speaking lessons with tutors, and even a language school exchange in Montpellier, but it would honestly be unfair to attribute my eventual arrival at my goal to any one of those methods.
It was simply my hunger to reach mastery that then unlocked the ability to find the right methods that would work for me.
Now having curated my own framework for acquiring a language from beginner to mastery, people often ask me for insights into these methods, and upon giving it to them, their real problem gets highlighted.
They can’t acquire the language because they don’t feel the passion and drive to push through and do it.
They don’t feel like they need it. They are quite content carrying on how they are.
Acquiring a language to mastery is of course not a straightforward ordeal; it requires an obscene amount of mental resilience, especially when you are not learning the language for a sentimental or familial reason.
As such, learning a language uniquely driven by discipline alone is hard. And I would go as far as to say that if your goal is mastery, it’s impossible
You need that extra kick. That extra fleeting
vision of what could be and the future you, that pushes you forward in your studies.
I would argue that this desire can be induced somewhat artificially in you too, and it applies to all forms of learning in all domains, not just languages.
Luckily in language learning specifically, motivation to learn doesn’t have to be intrinsic. Meaning you don’t have to necessarily enjoy the actual act of vocabulary memorisation and grammar practice and so on to still enjoy the act of acquiring that language.
You could really enjoy Spanish telenovelas or the idea of traveling to Ecuador, and that be your motivation to learn Spanish.
This gives us so many motivational triggers that we can utilise to activate our brain and trick us into loving the act of learning Spanish.
Aside from the cultural aspect and the content that you will be able to consume once mastering the language, there is also the communicational and social aspect.
We all have human interactions almost daily and strong relationships can be formed from these interactions. Perhaps, then, the idea that a whole new previously unavailable group of humans becoming available to interact with is your motivation.
What I have found works for me in the past is coupling already existing interests with the language (or any domain that you are learning).
For example my interest in football tactics doesn’t have to be limited to the English language, but there is a whole world of content to consume in Spanish, French, German and so many other languages that can even open doors to new philosophies.
This means I am doing what I enjoyed anyways, whilst acquiring a new language.
In this unique way, for me language learning isn’t even really a domain, it’s a repairing of fragmented links between humanity that we can restore passively by getting deep into our interests, work and hobbies
Another example of using this to acquire a skill could be if you know you want to learn to draw, but you don’t feel the autotelic passion or motivation or reason to do so, but you still know you want to, couple that with another interest you have like sketching a member of your family.
Other common tactics like changing your device’s system language to your target language are valuable as it gives you that reason you were looking for, in this case - survival.
But I’m not writing this to give my opinion on the best language acquisition methods, that is for future letters (which I will dive into in much detail), but simply to discuss the fact that before diving into learning a new domain, or rekindling an old one, you must trick yourself to focus on the why.
It’s possible to succeed without it, but for true mastery and to reach levels even you couldn’t have imagined possible of yourself, you need that illogical and unstoppable desire in you to make the act of achieving mastery a necessity.
— E.J.C.