Hey Reader. I’ve recently restarted learning Italian. My first foray into the language was back in 2022 when I challenged myself to learn enough in 10 days to be able to converse with the people I met on my upcoming Italian holiday. I would say I was pretty successful. 10 days might sound unbelievable, but it’s worth noting:
I already spoke Spanish and French
It’s surprisingly doable to become conversational in a short amount of time (check out my guide for more info)
Back then, I noticed that learning Italian basically replaced my Spanish, and immediately after I couldn’t even string a sentence together in Spanish without Italian coming out (has anyone else experienced this? Let me know!).
Now, returning to Italian after a 2.5 year hiatus, I’ve found myself using Spanish words when I’ve forgotten the Italian ones. Full circle!
Anyway, this week’s newsletter includes:
🔸 A new foreign language Spotify playlist
🔸 A great dictionary resource
🔸 Why our model of learning is wrong (and how to do it right)
Simon
Did you know you can reply to this email? I read every response, and interesting responses can be featured in future editions.
Mondecast Feature 💡: Music from around the world
Last week I released a playlist of traditional or folk music from around the world. Learn more here or go straight to Spotify.
Why our model of learning is wrong
Recently I stumbled upon an article from Scott Young (whose book, Ultralearning, l read as research for my guide). In it he argues that people generally have a false view of learning, believing you start from some base of theory from which all knowledge can be constructed. Conversely, he argues, real life learning takes place in the specifics, learning how to do a specific thing then gradually generalising that knowledge and building more specific knowledge elsewhere. He illustrates it as below:
The takeaway for language learners is that you should generally prioritise learning for specific purposes, such as traveling or ordering coffee, then only gradually generalise that knowledge with grammar rules later on after you’re already familiar with how they’re applied in the real world.
I think it’s a nice takeaway and a good reminder not to stress over grammar. You’ll only really be fully ready to integrate it once you’ve had enough practice seeing it in action. Instead, focus on getting language practice, a core principle of my guide.
🛠️ Resource spotlight: Reverso
Reverso is a great free online dictionary with huge amounts of example sentences. It also has useful conjugation tables. It’s my go-to for Italian.
A technique to try
I recently encountered an interesting technique from this Reddit user:
The goal: find 1 or 2 phrases that feel super natural to you. Things you wish you could say like that.
Then, make up a real-life scene. It could be ordering food, chatting with a friend, texting someone. Now try to use those 1–2 phrases in your own short sentence. Don’t write it down. Just say it.
Next day, say it again — but different. Change a word. Add a detail. Use a different mood. The structure sticks. No need to be fancy. It just has to be you saying it.
Other bits and pieces from around the web 🌐
How to learn grammar as an advanced learner.
5 reasons unrelated languages can be similar.
This history of German and how it works.
How Hindi became the lingua franca of northern India.
Mondecast is a bi-weekly newsletter about people: their lives, their languages, and their cultures
Follow Mondecast