Three Key Ingredients to Master a Language
Your success depends on all of them
To master a language, you need three key ingredients: a method based on neuroscientific principles, the ability to have fun, and consistency.
If you apply a method based on neuroscientific principles but you find it boring, you will probably give up after a few weeks, not having given yourself enough time.
If you’re having fun but you’re not relying on any neuroscientific principles, it won’t work. You will be discouraged at your lack of progress and you’re going to quit.
If you apply a method based on neuroscientific principles and you’re having fun but you’re not consistent because you don’t know how to create lasting habits, it won’t work either. Your brain has to change and that takes time.
First key ingredient: a method based on neuroscientific principles
When I decided to learn English in 2020, I was already well-trained in Montessori pedagogy and neuroscience so it was obvious that I should rely on neuroscientific principles.
Let’s take a brief look at six neuroscientific principles that can help with language learning. We’ll dive into them in more detail in another article.
1. Activate Neurons Related to the Targeted Learning
Learning changes the brain and when you stop using what you have learned, the brain gradually returns to its initial level and you forget. Hence the well-known adage: “Use it or lose it”.
I quickly realized that learning English can’t be a one-year challenge.
For learning to take place, not only must neurons be activated, but also, and above all, the “right” neurons must be activated.
The principle of neuronal activation is therefore not only to activate neurons but also to activate neurons related to the learning in question (and not other topics), i.e. to activate neurons related to the knowledge or the strategy to be developed.
2. Activate Neurons Repeatedly
In order to learn, we need to activate the neurons related to the targeted learning. However, most of the time, a single activation is not enough to cause significant and lasting changes in the brain.
In some ways, the brain is like a forest in which the learner walks. This forest is densely populated with abundant vegetation. Walking in it is therefore initially difficult. In order to move, the learner has to push branches in addition to crushing grass and small shrubs with their feet. The repeated passage of the walker gradually creates a path that is increasingly easy to follow. Soon, this path becomes a preferred way to get from point A to point B.
This analogy between a brain and a forest also helps us understand why some mistakes are difficult to correct. When the learner sees a large path that seems to lead to the chosen destination, he or she is tempted to take it rather than walk through the wilderness; it is easier and faster.
Forgetting is a natural and essential mechanism for longterm healthy brain function.
How can we avoid or reduce this forgetting when it comes to learning a language ?
One of the best strategies is to strengthen neural connections so that the brain’s pathways are strongly traced thanks to the principle of repeated neuronal activation: when the neurons related to a particular field of learning are repeatedly activated, the more these connections consolidate and the longer it will take them to weaken.
If we make a mistake during our language training, and we make that same mistake repeatedly, it will reinforce the error and significantly hinder performance improvement.
3. Retrieval Practice
Retrieval practice is one of the most effective exercises to facilitate learning.
It is the practice of retrieving knowledge from memory, i.e., making the effort to remember it over and over again.
An impressive number of high-quality studies demonstrate the effectiveness of retrieval practice, making this principle one of the most strongly supported by research.
Testing our knowledge more often provides more training in retrieval practice, significantly increasing the likelihood of success.
4. Spaced Repetition
Spacing neuronal activations is more effective for learning than grouping them. This spacing principle is particularly interesting because it does not require additional time or exercises. It only requires a different planning of the moments of activation.
Learning better without working harder is what the spacing principle proposes.
5. Maximize Feedback
We all make mistakes — and when we do, it is a great opportunity for the brain to adjust what it is doing and to learn.
Making mistakes can be annoying and frustrating at times. However, it is also very important for us to learn from our mistakes, so we can correct our responses and do things differently the next time we are in the same situation.
5. Having a Growth Mindset
Activation and feedback, while essential, are not always sufficient for learning: you also need the motivation to put in the effort required to activate your brain and correct your mistakes.
When it comes to learning, one of the important elements in determining this cost/benefit ratio is the belief in one’s ability to improve and learn.
Indeed, studies show that our mindset about our ability to learn and improve our abilities can have a significant influence on motivation.
Second key principle: Enjoyment
Enthusiasm is the fertilizer of the brain.
You can’t learn another language for many years if it feels like a burden.
You need to have fun along the way.
Do you prefer learning with an app or talking to a real person who shares the same interests?
We are social beings. We need to connect with other people to thrive in the world.
And what would be the point of learning a new language if we’re not able to speak it?
I have a very strong opinion about language learning applications. In addition to quickly getting bored, you will not make progress.
I totally agree with a guy who wrote on Reddit: “I have never been super successful with just Duolingo, because I think that the multiple-choice style means you can get really good at doing duolingo exercises but not actually good at the language in real-life settings. It also does not encourage nearly enough speaking/listening.”
Third key principle: consistency/building lasting habits
Do you remember what I said at the beginning of this article?
If you apply a method based on neuroscientific principles and you’re having fun but you’re not consistent because you don’t know how to build lasting habits, it won’t work either.
When most people think about the habits they want to build, they naturally start by considering the outcomes they want to achieve. “I want to learn French for a holiday to France”
The alternative is to build what James Clear calls “identity-based habits” and start by focusing on who you wish to become, not what you want to achieve.
Who do you want to become?
The ultimate form of intrinsic motivation is when a habit becomes part of your identity.
It’s one thing to say “I’m the type of person who learns French.”
It’s something very different to say “I’m the type of person who speaks French when I travel.
The more you repeat a behavior, the more you reinforce the identity associated with that behavior. And the more you reinforce the identity, the more natural it will feel to repeat the behavior.
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” James Clear
“Atomic Habits” by James Clear and “The Compound Effect” by Darren Hardy helped me realize that if I want to speak English, I should focus on becoming the type of person who studies every day, even for just 2 minutes.
The Two-Minute Rule helps counterbalance our tendency to bite off more than we can chew. It also gives you a small way to reinforce your desired identity each day.
I will conclude this article by sharing a personal example experienced with my Australian language partner Ellane.
She has figured out how to make quick progress in French!
This morning, she sent me two versions of the same sentence on WhatsApp. For her first attempt, she tried to express this idea with no outside help. She knew there were mistakes, but she accepted it. For the second attempt, she used DeepL’s translator. Then I sent her my feedback.
Step 1 — Without help, Step 2 — With help from a tool, Step 3 — With help from a native speaker.
I am Céline Guerreiro, a French native speaker and a lifelong learner with a growth mindset.
I help French entrepreneurs to master English and English native speakers to master French thanks to my method “Learn to Grow”. Book a 30 minute appointment with me and I will show you how my method works.
I won’t charge anything. Your only cost is your time (1h per week + 5 minutes per day) and energy. Our 30-minute appointment is to check if you’re a serious learner.
