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How I Maintain 6 Languages Without Studying Every Day

Language Stories

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How do you maintain multiple languages without studying them every day? In this video, I'm sharing the mindset and methods that have helped me maintain six foreign languages without strict schedules or burnout. We'll talk about active vs. passive learning, project-based learning, curiosity, and how to make a language a genuine part of your life. If you're an intermediate or advanced language learner, I hope you'll find something helpful here.

MENTIONED:
Project-based learning: Nobody Explains the Leap From Intermediate...
Language Menu: The No-Pressure System Behind My 6 Languages
Pierre de Maere: ‪@pierre2maere‬

TIME STAMPS:
00:00 - Intro
00:29 - Debunking the biggest myth
00:45 - My solution
01:07 - How I integrate languages into my life
02:19 - The benefits of following your curiosity
03:25 - Passive vs. Active Learning
04:41 - Widening my world in foreign languages
05:19 - Project-based learning
06:11 - The only question you need to be asking yourself
07:28 - Language Menu
07:40 - Maintaining a language is like maintaining a friendship
07:58 - Your homework

CONTACT:
olhaatlanguagestories@gmail.com

#foreignlanguages #languagelearning #learnlanguages #languagelearningmethod #polyglot #languagetips #languageskills #studyadvice #fluency #studyplan #studyroutine #languagestudyroutine #howtolearnalanguage #howtomaintainalanguage #howtolearnmultiplelanguages

20 Comments

@MmminWonderland 2 months ago

Thank you! I was feeling so guilty looking back at how much time I spent on languages this month, but between bad health and life changes, I did what I could.

@shadesofhaze 2 months ago

Wikipedia is amazing for this, you can follow the rabbit role into a topic and if you really dont understand the page has a version in your native language too!

@Phylaetra 2 months ago

A simple way of thinking about it would be to think about your own language. After school, we almost never "study" our L1. We do , however use it all the time. Writing comments on videos, texting, talking, listening to podcasts, etc. Reading - books, news articles, whatever.

Now - if you don't use it, you will slowly use it. It's probably a good idea to do something in your target language(s) not less than once a week, better daily. It doesn't have to be a lot - better 15 minutes daily than 2 hours weekly, but - everything takes different amounts of time - so I would focus more on just making sure I have some contact with all of my target languages and not worry too much about exactly how much time I am spending.

It's also great to find a conversation group, either in person or online.

@neo8494 2 months ago

I do agree with what you're saying. You are exposed to the language and use it because you WANT to be in the community or the circle. Your curiosity definitely comes first. Thank you for your content!

@CannonInTheWind 2 months ago

This reminds me of what my fifth grade teacher used to say: "You don't have to; you get to!" I'm definitely guilty of studying just because I'd feel bad otherwise, like I'd be missing out on potential progress I could have made, but often, it's through that study that I discover interesting facets about the language or some new insight into the texts I'm reading, and those are what keep me motivated to continue. It's a bit convoluted.
My last language rabbit hole was five years ago!? I'm a bit obsessed with a particular model of German electric piano, and I'd found a catalogue from 1973 with details about it and other equipment the company made (including "wind instrument in the shape of a banana," which still baffles me), and I decided to translate some of the entries. A lot of the technical details were beyond me, though, regardless of what language they were in.
Yes, please, for a separate video about writing! I'm particularly interested in journaling in a foreign language, but I'm not sure how to start.

@AgathaKh-q5l 1 month ago

сохранила в папку "gold" уже на второй минуте. легендарно! алгоритм ютуба как будто прочитал мои мысли и подкинул ровно то что нужно, ровно тогда когда надо

@curlyrise.korean 1 month ago

Thank you for sharing your thoughts in this video! I sometimes struggle to find language learners or Youtubers with an approach similar to my own. I was surprised to see how much we seem to have in common here! Using a project based learning is also the way I approach languages and that's so much fun. My current rabbit hole: funeral culture in South Korea, i know... but believe that's fascinating 😂. I unlocked a hell lot of new vocabulary haha.

@petrosstefanidis6396 2 months ago

I needed someone to remind me of all that!

@AKchickaroo 2 months ago

Yes on the writing video. Thank you for the video!

@beataszabowska3801 2 months ago (edited)

Excellent advice. And yes, please do a video about your writing practice. 👍

@hiron2770 2 months ago

Idea: Try coloring while listening to an audiobook. It gives your hands and eyes something simple to do, helps prevent boredom, and may make it easier to stay focused on the audio. I’m going to test it while listening to audiobooks of books I’ve already read. Maybe some people will find it useful too.

@ROSANNADAVID-hv2zw 2 months ago

I speak English as my first language, and Afrikaans is my second language . I am willing to learn korean . Does anybody have any advice?

@erimozata 2 months ago

Reading helps.

@diegogovea5831 2 months ago

Amazing video, really really helpful !

@saratto 2 months ago

such an amazing video, thanks! I'd also love a video on how you practise your writing 💞

@mastoner20 2 months ago

I have been learning Ukrainian for several years now, and learned German in high school, so one of the things I have learned years ago to do is taking almost all of my notes floating back and forth between the two. To most people it's gibberish, especially swapping alphabets between words, but my brain just naturally flows through both of them that way no problem. And I basically force my brain to only think to myself in whichever I feel like using that day as I go through my normal day. As far as actual studying, I changed my phone to Ukrainian to force me to learn as I go, and almost all of my news to it or German.

@emsems3056 2 months ago

Great video Olha!💖as usual!
My last healthy obsession is deciphering a German text on the environment and sustainability (pretty challenging but enjoying it. Since my level isn't high yet I'm still wrapping my head around German structures, vocabulary, etc.). But as you stated in this video, that's what truly matters and keeps you going 😊😊

@sarahbrandel3960 2 months ago

Thanks so much for the suggestions in this video! I'm currently starting to branch out from two languages (English and Swedish) to three (adding French, which is a new language for me) and hoping to bring back a fourth (German) that I haven't studied in almost 30 years. I also enjoy writing, so I'd definitely be interested in a video about how you write in your various languages.

@annabondar800 2 months ago

love this nice plant at the foreground of your videos:)) thank you for the nice tips!

@sweetlikebourbon 2 months ago

i love your videos, they are very inspiring and make me look at language learning through a different lens :) i am learning Korean and Indonesian, and finding music and videos in the languages is super helpful because it’s something I’m actually curious about! Curiosity is very important when it comes to learning a language, i agree with that. My YouTube interface is in the Korean language so that I can get familiar with words related to technology because it is something I love learning about. have a great day!