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Can one learn all the languages?

Language is something that I think we all take for granted. We speak and communicate. However, what comes out of our mouths has a lot to do with the culture we were raised in. This is the time of constant networking, and connecting across the globe for both personal reasons and business. Study abroad programs have become more and more popular, and many non-English speaking nations are now teaching their youth English in hopes to bridge the gap.

That works for the basic needs of communication, but there is so much more to learning a language. Values, ideals, history: all of these are intertwined into the fabric of a languages grammar, spelling, or even their different vocabulary.

So how does one learn a different language? Well, I hope to one day be a hyperpolyglot, but I am far from that right now. I find that different methods work for different people, and maybe you will learn one language better one way, and a different language better a different way. Nonetheless, here are the few things I have been using to boost my proficiency in German,  Japanese, Spanish, and hopefully much, much more.

  1. If it is ever available to you, attend a class. You don't have to follow the course sequence all the way through, but for things like complicated grammar,  learning in a structured environment has always been easier for me.
  2. If you have a bit of experience with a language, practice is key. For things like this, I prefer using something like Duolingo where you can practice full conversations, listen to podcasts, or even connect with others trying to learn the language so you can get some extra practice.
  3. Practice, practice, practice! If your goal is to become a scholar in your second language, maybe this isn't the best plan for you, but most are just trying to speak like a native. I don't know if you have noticed, but people often mess up their first language. If you make a small grammatical error, but you are still understood, all is well, and keep on keeping on. Practice really does make perfect, so as long as you are speaking what you are learning, even if you mix what you know with English, you will get to a spot where you can talk for hours!
Best of luck to you and your quest for language. As always, follow your whim, and have fun!

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