6 Handy Tips For Learning Two Languages At Once

Are you good at multitasking?

If you are, then learning more than one language is the thing for you.

As tempting as the idea may seem, the first question that always pops up is can a person learn two languages at once?

And if it’s possible, how can he do that? 

Are there some particular tips and tricks in learning two languages at once?

That’s why we are here to find out.

This post is dedicated to all language learners who crave learning more than one language but don’t know how to do that.

After reading this, you will see that anyone can learn more than one language at once. So, stay in line to book lessons with Justlearn tutors and start applying the following steps.

Can You Learn Two Languages At Once?

Every language learner knows that learning one language isn’t a piece of cake. It takes a lot of time, effort, and dedication to achieve the desired level of proficiency, especially if the target language is pretty different from your native.

So why should anyone want to learn two languages at once?

That means double more time and double more headache.

Can a person learn two languages at once at all?

The answer is simple: yes, a person can learn two languages at once.

Yes, it can be pretty hard and at times, you can confuse two languages, especially if you learn similar languages, but after a lot of struggle and dedication, the reward you get in the end is priceless.

When you learn two languages at once, your brain exercises in a much different and stronger way because not only your brain works in two directions, thinking in your native and target language, but instead, it stretches its possibilities to think in two more foreign languages. 

You will think about different things more flexibly because you’ll understand differences better.

Learning two languages at once can make you better at other things in life including even better multitasking.

So, learning two languages at once can be very hard, indeed, and it requires a lot of time, and concentration particularly, but if you try with the following tips, you can succeed in it without wanting to jump out of the window.

6 Handy Tips And Tricks For Learning Two Languages At Once

Choose The Language You Will Prioritize

We don’t doubt your determination and goodwill to successfully learn two languages at once and achieve the same proficiency level, but in some cases, it is better to choose the language which will be your priority.

When you set your priority language, you will minimize the possibility of confusion after a while. 

No one tells you that you should stop learning another language the moment you feel out of the blue, but not every day is a perfect day for language learning, especially for learning two languages, so this way, you won’t be pressured to progress the same way in both languages.

Organize Your Learning Time For Each Language

A good organization is a key factor to success.

Making a schedule helps you concentrate on a particular language, as well as a particular part of language learning, whether it is boosting your vocabulary, improving listening skills, or practicing your speaking skills.

Therefore, you have to make a learning plan for each of the two languages in advance.

After you realize that you will need double time for language learning than for learning one language, you have to be realistic and patient. As much as you would want to successfully learn the language part you’ve organized for yourself in a particular period in both languages, if you don’t succeed, don’t be harsh on yourself.

After all, you have to understand that you are only a human and that perhaps your brain can’t get all that information in a short time.

But, let’s get back to the situation where you can progress in both languages.

So, after making your schedule, you have to make sure that you’ve set your goals and make sure you’ll have enough practice in both languages.

Write down a schedule for a week. Decide which days you will learn something new, and which ones you will only practice what you’ve learned so far. Don’t forget to include practicing your speaking skills with tutors because that’s the part where you practice all your language skills.

Don’t Learn Similar Languages At Once

Languages from the same language family have many similarities which can be helpful in a learning process. 

Yes, it is helpful but not if you learn them at the same time.

Even though they share similar vocabulary, grammar, or pronunciation, learning Spanish and Portuguese at the same time, for example, will only confuse you.

We’ve already mentioned that in learning two languages at once you should avoid all the languages that might additionally confuse you. In this case, you can easily mix up words and phrases, or some grammar parts. 

That’s why in learning two languages at once, you should choose two completely different languages. If you, for example, learn Spanish, perhaps you should choose another language Chinese. These two languages have absolutely nothing in common so you can’t mix them that easily. Besides, thanks to these two distinct languages, you will also expand your cultural horizons.

Choose to Combine With The Familiar Language

The decision to learn two languages at once isn’t an easy one.

Therefore, you should look at all the things that can ease your job.

That concerns which language you choose to learn.

If you, for example, already speak French, choose to learn Spanish and German.

You’ll have one partly familiar language (Spanish) and one you don’t know at all.

In this case, knowing the language from the same language family can help you with learning.

Since you already speak French, there will be no mixing words or grammar rules, but, on the other hand, the French knowledge will help you with Spanish. German will here be like the one you don’t know at all, so you can’t mix it with either French or Spanish.

In case you don’t speak any other language but English, unfortunately, you can’t apply this tip. In this case, you should ‘only’ choose two to learn completely different languages, like in the previous tip. Perhaps the hardest and the easiest languages to learn can help you decide which ones to choose.

Learn Two Languages Simultaneously With Flashcards

Have you ever tried to learn any language with flashcards?

If you aren’t, this is an ideal opportunity to try it out because not only will you have fun but you will also learn something useful because flashcards are an effective language learning tool.

In our situation, you can mix up flashcards in both your target languages and practice both languages at the same time.

That's even better practice because you will also train your brain to work in both directions and to learn to quickly switch from one to another foreign language.

Here, too, it is vital to emphasize that learning two entirely different languages prevents your brain from getting confused in the language learning process and can memorize more easily.

Learn The Same Topics in Both Languages

No matter how different languages you learn, some things are always the same. Those are the topics you learn to talk about.

Since you are already making your schedule to learn two languages at once, it is ideal timing to choose to learn the same topic in both languages.

Studies have shown that this way of learning helps your brain recall things, in our case words, more easily because you already have it somewhere in your memory.

If you, for example, learn the word ‘book’ in Spanish and Chinese, and when the time comes to use the word in Chinese, even if you can’t remember right at the moment, but you do in Spanish, your brain will find the suitable word because it is right there, next to the ‘Spanish book.’ Words, phrases, and all catchy language parts easily stick into your brain this way.

Final Thoughts

As we’ve already mentioned, learning two languages at once isn’t easy.

However, it doesn't mean it isn’t possible or that you shouldn’t try it.

It only means that you need great organization, dedication, and concentration so that you can achieve the proficiency level in both languages.

These 6 tips will help you on your way, as well as Justlearn tutors, with whom you can talk about anything you want and practice the language parts you want.

In that way, you can be sure that you will discover even more great things and learn about your own possibilities and capabilities.