I am presently engaged in the process of learning several languages simultaneously, and I am finding it somewhat difficult to keep track of my progress accordingly. I am learning languages from various language families, and I wish to ensure that I am spending the correct amount of time on each without getting overwhelmed.
I’ve already started using apps like Duolingo and Babbel for structured learning, but I’m looking for additional resources that might be more immersive or that cater to different learning styles. Specifically, I’d love suggestions on tools or platforms that can help me practice speaking, listening, and reading in a way that complements what I’m learning on the apps.
Do any of you have experience with learning multiple languages simultaneously? How do you focus and balance practice? Are there certain techniques or recommendations you’ve discovered helpful in dealing with multiple languages?
Thank you for any insight or guidance you can provide! I’m looking forward to hearing how other polyglots manage this dilemma.
I can only give my experience from learning 3 languages somewhat simultaneously. I tend to keep each language in its own “time”. I listened to music in each language, I found apps that had each language(as many as I could that were free), I found YouTube channels in topics that I enjoyed in each language(my algorithm is very confused, since I have channels that I follow in Spanish, German, and Romanian), I wrote in notebooks dedicated to each language(each language has its own color pen that I write in), I also found books(either study texts or books I wanted to read) in each language, and I found The Polyglot Conference and other speakers of the languages that I speak to create community to practice. I would try and spend a little time with each language every day. Some days it might mean that I only get 15 minutes with each one and other days I could dedicate an hour or more to each one.
I tend to be able to keep my languages mostly separated, but occasionally one language will butt in while I am focused on another. I don’t know that there is a correct time amount for studying each language, rather I find that having a well rounded “library” of content to immerse into for an amount of time helps with the (in)comprehensive input portion. I now have playlists that have some things in each language. And it is delightful. It is always helpful to have things you enjoy in whatever form of media that you are engaging with. I only watch YouTube channels about subjects that I actually enjoy(the Easy Languages channels are nice if you want something specific to learning), I listen to music that I like(Rammstein is the band that started my interest with German), I do activities that I enjoy(looking up word etymology in Romanian only using Dex.ro to find the roots of the words). I simply am currently trying to keep each language active every day.
Because I like each language that I am working with for different reasons, it was easy to keep going with each one. And now I am learning another couple of languages(Ekpeye and Nigerian Pidgin) that have taken a bit more of my attention, but I still make sure that I am consuming content and doing activities in each of the other languages I have learned. I don’t always get the amount of practice in that I would like, since my schedule has shifted dramatically from when I started. Some days are easier than others, but as long as you are still trying, then I count that as a win.