The Linguist Method

Here is the podcast

As we prepare to roll out the new LingQ system in August I have been trying to summarize the learning principles that are behind LingQ. Here is what I have come up with. I would appreciate any feedback.

“A linguist is someone who enjoys speaking more than one language”
-Steve Kaufmann

LingQ (www.lingq.com) is a learning system based on The Linguist Method.

The Seven Principles of the Linguist Method.

1)    Enjoy yourself: Enjoy the experience of learning. Enjoy the language you are learning. Choose a language to study that you enjoy or find ways to enjoy the language you are studying. Choose content that you like. Do learning activities that you like.
2)    Focus on input first: Listen and read. Get used to the language. Do not feel you have to produce the language. Just get the language into you. Listen often while doing other tasks, wherever you can. You can also listen while reading, or you can just read.
3)    Learn words: Notice words and how they are used. Do not worry if you forget and relearn words. Notice which words come together in phrases. Do not worry about explanations of grammar, they will not mean much until you have had a lot of input in the language.
4)    Set goals and be efficient: Take advantage of modern technology. Use MP3 players, computers, online dictionaries, the Internet, LingQ, as well as books, audio books and other resources. Set goals and measure your progress towards these goals.
5)    Communicate naturally without fear: Start expressing yourself only when you are ready. Aim for constant improvement, not perfection. Notice which words and phrases cause you trouble so that you can work on them on your own. Write and speak naturally and keep it simple.
6)    Have fun with pronunciation: Imitate what you are listening to, the words and phrases, as well as the sounds and the intonation of the language. Record yourself and share this with others, including your tutor. Exaggerate and have fun, but do not worry about how you sound.
7)    Join a community: Find friends who speak the language you are studying and friends who are learning that language. If you cannot find them where you live, find them on the Internet. You can even help others to learn your own language and you will get better at learning languages. You will become a linguist.

Comments

[Irene]

I never thought that listening is really so force to change the thinking. But it is!
Only when I read your declare for "The Linguist" - the word has a wide meaning.
Now I ask me (and you) what was the decision for changing the name from the system?
The "LingQ" is in spoken form so similar than a "link" in the Internet language.

[Steve]

Irene,

the method is still the Linguist method. You will see the there will be a new Linguist site with many explanations and free material. However, the tool, the system is LingQ. There are two reasons. First of all it is easier to pronounce and remember. Second of all everything we do in language learning involves creating links, words to sounds to meanings to other words to people to contexts, and eventually links in our brains between the neurons.

[Humberto]

I wish you and your team the best, Steve!

In my view, what you are doing here is really revolutionary!

Regarding language learning systems, there is nothing that can be compared to the LingQ. LingQ really encourages learners to study any language in a very pleasant way. And I can say, based on my own experience, that it really works!

Congratulations!

Humberto

[Irene]

Now I see the name "LingQ" with other eyes, Steve.
Yes, you are right, these are "links" in each direction, for books and learning material as well as personal contacts (for speaking with skype par example).
I never thought I improve so quickly.

[Steve]

I received an email which found some of the above not clear. Here is a clarified version of the above post.

“A linguist is someone who enjoys speaking more than one language”
-Steve Kaufmann
The Seven Principles of the Linguist Method.
1) Enjoy yourself: Enjoy the experience of learning. Enjoy the language you are learning. Choose a language to study that you enjoy or find ways to enjoy the language you are studying. Choose content that you like. Do learning activities that you like.
2) Focus on input first: Listen and read. Get used to the language. Do not feel you have to produce the language. Just get the language into you. Listen often while doing other tasks, wherever you can. You can also listen to the language while reading it, or you can just read it without listening.
3) Learn words: Notice words and how they are used. Do not worry if you forget and relearn words. Notice how words come together in phrases. Do not worry about explanations of grammar, they will not mean much until you have had a lot of input in the language.
4) Set goals and be efficient: Take advantage of modern technology. Use MP3 players, computers, online dictionaries, the Internet, LingQ, as well as books, audio books and other resources. Set goals and measure your progress towards these goals.
5) Communicate naturally without fear: Start expressing yourself only when you are ready. Aim for constant improvement, not perfection. Notice which words and phrases cause you trouble so that you can work on them on your own. Write and speak naturally and keep it simple.
6) Have fun with pronunciation: Imitate what you are listening to, the words and phrases, as well as the sounds and the intonation of the language. Practice repeating and reading out loud. Record yourself and share this with others, including your tutor. Exaggerate and have fun, but do not worry about how you sound.
7) Join a community: Find friends who speak the language you are studying and friends who are learning that language. If you cannot find them where you live, find them on the Internet. You can even help others to learn your own language and you will get better at learning languages. You will become a linguist.

[William]

What is your favorite language?

[Dario]

Well, it's no mean feat learning a language like English.
I've been learning it for 12 years and still there are areas of the Language which I'm not very confident of.
I think I know about 10,000 words by now but it seems to me that there's almost invariably some new word or expression that's showing up whenever I read a novel, watch a movie o simply listen to the newscast. All the strategies I adopt to seem to be only a palliative to completing the process of vocabulary adeptness.

Besides, we must discern betweeen active and passive vocabulary. it's occuring to me that although I know numberless of words and expression I end up using the same amount of simple words when conversating orally.
So while my passive vocabulary is conspicuous my active one is not.
Why's that? What's the rationale behind that?

I hope you all can provide me with some good advice.

[Steve Kaufmann]

Don't worry about it Dario. If you have a large passive vocabulary you can enjoy the language and never feel left out of a conversation. Use the words you feel comfortable using. When you find yourself at a lost for words or stuck, try to remembers what you had trouble saying and then look for words that you need. You will usually find that you already know them.

[Adriaan Van Doorn]

Congratulations on such an excellent method to learning languages. I too have developed some simple strategies to learning foreign languages more efficiently. Visit my website : vandoornslanguagetechnique.com

[ida sinaga]

i don't want to comment but i want to know or to study language Japan but also with writing.
Do I have that? when it is a possible. thanks a lot.

[seyed]

hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[seyed]

hello.to be or not tobe?

[zocurtis]

Hey Steve,

Can you do a video about what you think about Moses McCormicks methods on his Youtube videos (laoshu505000). As you know, or if you don't already, he has the amazing ability to learn languages quickly of course with hard work. He claimed to learn a Low Intermediate level some languages in a month, that is reading, comprehending and using the language to chat and interact with native. He also claims that if you wanted to, one could study for 8 hours a day for a week and be able to communicate in Indonesian if they wanted. Just wanted to know what you thought about this. I'm sure it's possible.