Polyglots Never Battle Alone? Indeed! My Journey as a Self-Taught Language Learner
Challenges & tips from a self-taught polyglot
When you have people in your life who speak a language you want to learn, it’s easy to learn.
However, when you want to learn a language you don’t naturally have exposure to, it can be a real challenge.
Learning a language on your own isn’t easy, but it is doable. You do not need to attend special language classes or buy expensive language systems.
You can overcome the challenges that keep most people back from learning a new language with these solutions and tricks to make solo language learning fun.
I started learning languages in school, continued at a linguistic university, and explored various language classes and schools (you can also read my story “Why I Regret Trying to Learn German in Just 6 Months”). After graduating from university in Frankfurt, I decided to move away from the dry and boring academic approach to independent language learning.
From then on, I took control of my own language journey, learning how and when I wanted. On my own!
Here’s how I have learned so many languages on my own, many without formal schooling.
Prepare for Challenges with Advanced Solutions
As a language student (and yes, you are a language student even when you are learning on your own), you should prepare for the common challenges that may derail your language efforts.
I’ve helped many embrace language learning, and I know the pitfalls that trip you up when you are learning alone.
With the right solutions, you can make progress and meet your language learning goals.
The challenges are:
1. Lack of Motivation
Without the right motivation, your adventure into a foreign language will suffer a quick end.
A foreign language is difficult, and it can be overwhelming when learning on your own.
Motivation is what keeps you learning when you want to stop.
With proper motivation, you will overcome pronunciation woes, battle grammar rules, and challenge accents and dialects without end.
A lack of motivation will leave you questioning your reasons for learning a language and make you doubt your progress.
Solution: Before you start, focus on the why behind your language learning. Decide on what your reason for learning is and keep that in mind when the going gets tough.
2. Poor Self-Discipline
Learning a language takes time.
Unlike some language sources that claim you can learn to speak a foreign language in 3 weeks, it really does require a significant time investment and the self-discipline to show up and keep learning.
Lacking self-discipline means you won’t form the language routines that are needed to keep you learning and progressing.
It also means you won’t keep yourself accountable for missing online lessons and not reading or listening to the language you are trying to master.
Solution: Focus on improving your self-discipline before you start the language road. If you know you struggle on your own, try finding a language buddy who can learn with you. It works like a gym buddy who keeps you showing up to work out when you may not want to.
Should you really have poor self-discipline, you may want to consider alternatives to learning on your own.
Tutors, teachers, and community classes may help you feel more encouraged and like there’s an existing discipline that holds you accountable.
3. Pronunciation Problems
Oh, languages can be really hard to pronounce.
Native speakers may converse so quickly that you struggle to pick up the exact “how” of words and phrases.
This can be really demoralizing if you keep saying words incorrectly.
Luckily, technology can help.
Solution: Find an online tutor to help you speak better, who can listen to your speech and help you identify specific pronunciation problems.
Record yourself to listen to your vocalization and decide where you can improve (and also note how much you have already improved).
4. Practicing Alone Is Hard
Humans are social creatures, and we perform best when we can work in groups.
Learning on your own is challenging and it can leave you feeling depressed and isolated.
When choosing your language to learn, it’s important to find a language you can speak with someone in your area or sign up for a foreign chat site to help you converse with natives.
We learn languages to speak with others and communicate ideas.
As soon as you have mastered a few words, you should absolutely find someone to practice with to help beat the loneliness and make it easier.
Solution: Try social media to help you if you don’t want to pay for a tutor. Look up Reddit threads where you may often find someone also looking for someone to practice their foreign language with.
5. Lack of Self-Confidence
Speaking those first few words in a newly acquired language can be so terrifying.
It can really knock your self-confidence — especially if you mispronounce words and end up being laughed at.
If you don’t have the confidence to speak a foreign language, it can lead to you quitting your studies.
Solution: Build your confidence by speaking with yourself in the beginning. Try recording yourself as you speak in the language you are learning.
Then progress to speaking with someone online (because you never have to see them again if you feel ashamed about how the first conversation went).
Finally, find someone you can have an in-person chat with.
My Language Learning Resources in a Short Overview
To help overcome some challenges of solo language learning, you can try these resources to help you learn.
- Watch Netflix, Disney+, or Prime with the audio set to the language you are learning.
- Listen to foreign music.
- Follow podcasts and talk radio in the language being acquired.
- Cook food that’s native to the country and language.
- Spend time researching the country where the language is spoken, which will help with pronunciation and better understanding of nuances.
What Should You Read Next?
- My Polyglot Language Learning Routines: Here’s How I Do It…
- Can You Completely Learn a New Language via Duolingo?
- My Love of Languages: What Being a Polyglot Actually Feels Like
My Final Language Tip: Embrace the Joy of Learning Solo!
I love learning languages on my own.
I adore being able to set the pace, learn when I want, and use the media I want to when I learn.
Solo learning is difficult, but when you are dedicated, make time for language learning every day, and use as many resources as you can, you significantly increase the chances that you will master the language.
Immersive learning is about your journey with the language you want to speak.
I often say in my articles: learning isn’t just about textbooks or academic texts.
It’s about really learning and living the culture and language you have chosen to speak.
With habits, effort, and a sense of wonder, you can master any language on your own.
Thank you for reading ! What has your language learning journey been like? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below!
