"If you’re going to learn one language, you might as well learn three. It’s the same to your brain.”

This is true for some people.

I have been studied English and Japanese after the discussion. I found out that it rather put more effort to learn as Steve said. Are anyone success to learn more than 2 languages at the same time? I'm waiting for your success stories.

Great discussion. I've been studying Cantonese pretty heavily for the last 2 1/2 years. I'm now going to really put an effort on Mandarin.

I don't confuse languages when learning more than one, but I have a limit in learning quantity per week. I am now studying two languages (Danish and Turkish) on an A1 / A2 level and that's qua study quantity pretty much enough for me. Sometimes I have a bit of extra time to do podcast listening of Spanish here on LingQ, but I can't do this very often.

Fasulye

“If you’re going to learn one language, you might as well learn three. It’s the same to your brain.”

I was listening to a recording by language teaching expert. His whole system was based on brain research and language learning. Many things he said were very interesting, including this above quote. I have no idea how true this statement is, and I haven’t had time to research it myself, but it sound quite intriguing.

Personally, I just don’t have time to study more that one (or maybe two) language. But what’s the rush? It’s not like they’re going anywhere. Study hard for a time, then switch. (Of course, I could definitely listen to my own advice in that regard…)

I agree with Bortrun. Language learning, especially in the early stages requires a lot commitment, even emotional commitment. Two would be difficult.

Once you are a comfortable Intermediate (you can interact with authentic content reasonably comfortably, even if you don't entirely understand what's going on), I don't know if you're really "studying" the language anymore. Once you're at that point, you can probably "begin" another language.

I wonder if Steve has ever been in the situation of studying more than one language at the same time at a "beginner" level. It seems like it wouldn't be a good idea.

I found it too confusing and stressful to study two languages at the same time. Maybe because I'm too anxious and like to see rapid improvements, which is not possible if you split the available time between two languages. I tried to put together advanced English with beginner French, but then I gave up on English for a while, to study French only. However, I keep listening to a bunch of podcasts in English every Saturday morning while cooking and reading English novels before sleeping.

The one I am most motivated to learn is the major. This can vary at times.

Hi Steve,

When you said that you would have a 'major' and a 'minor' language, which way round would you have them? Would the newest language that you were trying to learn be the 'major, and the 'older' one the minor language, or vice versa?

Thank you Dillemme. Your technique is interesting. I'll do as you suggestion.

Sorry,I did not read this again, so I made some mistakes. I clicked "Post and Submit for Correction" to submit this writing.

with explanation-->> with the explanation

After watching each dialogues,-->>After watching the dialogues (or After watching each dialogue)

For me, using articles is a bit difficult.

Learning a new language with explanation of the language (we already learned) is a good way to learn two at the same time.

I sometimes watch Chinese lessons (in French) on the CCTV (the Chinese TV channel). Thanks to the image (and french subtitles), I can imagine dialogues, (but don't say I totally understood what they said). After watching each dialogues, instructor explains the details in French so I begin to understand its situation (or its social and cultural context). Then she (or he) explains grammar used in the dialogue and shows other similar phrases. Theses exercises are also helpful.

Next time I will try to watch more difficult contents, Chinese TV dramas (with French subtitles and Chinese) on the CCTV.

Depending on your time and context, I think it is effective to study two languages at the same time through LingQ. At the moment I am studying Korean and French through LingQ. Here's why:

1. I like to keep things fresh, studying one language for an extended period of time during one session can really bog you down, so having an alternative to switch to and from is great.

2. Everyone has their 'bad' days, so if I'm not doing to well in my Korean that day, then I can pick it up on my French (and vice versa)

3. You need some time to forget and relearn things in a language, so having language number 2 to go to and then to come back to language number 1 aids the process.

4. If you really take off on one language, then its all good, the other language is always going to be there to come back to, there's no rush.

Good luck and if you can have fun learning multiple languages then I say go for it!

Have you tried studying Japanese at one time of day and Chinese at another time of day?

Steve, what a surprise, I was in Fraport just yesterday. Have a nice time in Stockholm!

Victor, the plane itself was not the cause.

I study three languages with LingQ. As for my French, I usually listen to and read news, films, etc, use LingQ, and sometimes talke with my French friend on Skype. I communicate with other people, for example on LingQ. I have been studying French and English for a long time, so this year I concentrate on studying new language, Chinese (30 minutes or 1 hour a day with tutours). I must say that (for me) a major is Chinese, a minor is French (or English) this year.

Thank you very much. I'll begin studying Japanese.

Keep clear of ТУ-154.

I would tend to agree with you junair as I sit here in Frankfurt airport where I just arrived from Vancou ver and will continue on to Stockholm in a few hours.

When you'd take a look at the profiles of LingQs members you'll see that some of them learn more than 2 languages.

I believe that even with LingQ the learning of several languages at the same time is more effective than using traditional methods.

Personally, I need big difference of my knowledge level in two simultaneously learning languages, e.g. English- Intermediate, Chinese- very beginner.

I depends on our motivation. If I am going to study 2 languages, I would have a major (80% of my effort) and a minor language.