How to Learn a Language On Your Own 

Language learning is an activity we do on our own and our success depends on our willingness to be independent. This is true whether we are at school or not. Where I Learn Languages ⇢ www.lingq.com/ --- FREE Language Learning Resources 10 Secrets of Language Learning ⇢ www.thelinguist.com LingQ Grammar Guides ⇢ www.lingq.com/en/grammar-resource/ My blog ⇢ blog.thelinguist.com/ The LingQ blog ⇢ www.lingq.com/blog/ --- Social Media Instagram ⇢ instagram.com/lingosteve_/ TikTok ⇢ www.tiktok.com/@lingosteve Facebook ⇢ facebook.com/lingosteve Twitter ⇢ twitter.com/lingosteve LingQ Discord ⇢ discord.gg/ShPTjyhwTN

Steve is the kind of person you would be lucky to have as a grandpa, father, son, husband, brother or friend. Not only does his passion for language learning make him special, but his variety of interests have made him this incredibly awesome person. We are all very lucky to have him share his experiences with us. I can't count how many times this man motivated me to continue learning languages but also to stay interested for many other things in life.

I'm learning German on my own! Everyone says it's a hell of a language to learn but everytime I go on my independent sessions I just enjoy learning it !

Hello Steve. I have been studying English for about 2 years and 6 months. Before that I was approximately in level A2 and now I’m in level B2. I studied on my own. In my opinion everyone can learn a new language on their own, especially with internet’s help. All they need to have is willingness and patience. Now I speak 3 languages Greek, Albanian and English and I’m learning German and a bit Japanese. I really enjoy watching your videos and I like the fact that you encourage people to learn other languages!

there will be periods as an independent language learner where you're doubting yourself, doubting your ability, feeling a sense of frustration, and you just have to persevere.. I'm in this state of mind, you always upload your videos the time that I need them. Thank you

We all have to go through that Han Solo phase where we understand another language but can’t speak it. 😂

Hello Steve. I have been studying English for about 2 years and 6 months. Before that I was approximately in level A2 and now I’m in level B2. I studied on my own. In my opinion everyone can learn a new language on their own, especially with internet’s help. All they need to have is willingness and patience. Now I speak 3 languages Greek, Albanian and English and I’m learning German and a bit Japanese.

i totally agree with you that learning languages on your own is much more rewarding than in school!

My motivation has been waning recently but this video has given me the push I needed to give it my all again. Thanks for these videos Steve!

I just started learning Japanese about 34 days ago. I've felt exactly as you described "feeling like you're not getting anywhere" because the grammar doesn't want to click. Learned a lot of words, but I couldn't string the simplest sentence together to save my life. Its nice to hear that you just have to preserver through those moments and that they do pass.

-Make the decision that you are an individual learner, and it doesn't matter wether you are learning with a class or on your own. -3 things Matters in Language learning Theory *Your Attitude *The time you spent into learning the language *Your acknowledge -Content//books Try to go for a one where they give a quick review of the Grammer Essentials,preferably a short one with no exercises/tests/quizzes. Just the grammer essential that you can flip through. -then Start by listening and letting language wash over you at first. Dont fight with the language. Just get used to how it sounds with podcasts or short relatively less authentic stories -Then move on to listening things where you are more interested into, more authentic listens.

Whenever I feel like I've had enough of the languages I'm learning I always watch 1 video of Steve then I get motivated to get back into the languages

I'm learning English with classes and on my own. I lost much time before know this... 6 months :(. Currently I watch videos in English and content in the same language. Your content Is of much help for me, thx so much.

Thanks Steve. Despite not being a beginner anymore, you do sometimes need to be reminded of these things. Great video.

For me, this video had a really confortable classroom like feel. I caught myself nodding sometimes as if I was nodding at a teacher. I was a nice break from youtube's usual fast paced videos

This video was insightful in so many ways. Especially having an independent mindset when it comes to language learning, and through life.

I studied Mandarin a couple years ago and we focused so much on textbook dialogue memorization so we could cover two chapters a class. We never built up the fundamentals the children learned naturally growing up... but I am slowly taking up studying Mandarin on my own. It gives me time to try to read the Disney easy reader books I got abroad, my other easy readers, reviewing grammar (prepositions and measure words mainly), and listening more. I feel like I am making progress.

Helpful and clear as always! You’re greatly appreciated!

Although I come from a country (Cameroon) where French and English get both official statuses. And I spent over 13 years learning English at school. But I couldn’t speak English fluently when I left school unfortunately. I must admire that I was studying from the French system then. So my main courses were in French. Then I left my country and went abroad. And I realize how important English was in fact. That’s how I decided 3 months ago to start learning English on my own this time. Things went completely different from what it was before. It only depends on the methods you adopt to study the language you want. I hope my experience will help...

Thank you Steve for your wisdom and guidance aiding those on a solo language acquisition! You’ve been so inspiring to me!

You're inspiring a lot of people all around the world! So do I... Thank you so very much!

Lots of wisdom in just a ten - minute video. I feel so thankful for having found Steve on youtube. As so many people have written before me, keep it up Steven. Lots of people feel incredibly encouraged by your words🙂👏👏👏👏

I really feel happy, because I've been developing my own way to learn and acquire languages without any translations, I'm really really blissful!!

Steve, this is one of your best videos yet! I even saved it so that I can watch it again later.

Cannot wait to purchase every single book on your shelf! :') I love you, man. You're a great one! I want to be like you when I grow up.

I am from Brazil and you are my immersion. Now i think i am fluent but i have to keep consuming content to maintain what i had learned.

Loving the new look of your videos and channel Steve!

I started learning a third language about two years ago, and when I started, I was very much dependent on someone or something to teach me the language (classes, duolingo, programs). As I have watched your videos and other polyglots, I have realised just how important it is to take initiative in your own learning. Especially how important listening and reading is. Learning how to learn is not always obvious, and I feel like a much better learner after listening to you, and discovering good reading/listening content, like Piotr's polish stories. Dziękuję za radę!

Thank you so much. It is so motivating! Sometimes it is hard to be independent and motivated but it is crucial for learning.

Consistency is the key. Thank you, been watching your channel for a long time.

Good video! My brother studied languages at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in California. The pace of study was intense. Students had to master the language course in 36-64 weeks. Psychologically it was very difficult, but fortunately he was helped by Yuriy Ivantsiv's book "Polyglot Notes. Practical tips for learning foreign languages”. The book " Polyglot Notes" became a desk book for my brother, because it has answers to all the problems that any student of a foreign language has to face. Thanks to the author of the channel for this interesting video! Good luck to everyone who studies a foreign language and wants to realize their full potential!

Definitely among one of the more positive outlooks for self-learners studying a second language. Many sites seem only focused on what won't work to the point that it becomes discouraging to even try without shelling out loads of cash.

Tremendous video Steve. Thank you, it has inspired me a lot.

So true what you said about not trying to ACE or remember anything. Just showering yourself with the language. I do that all the time and it is really cool. I just expose myself as often as possible to the language and then with time, I notice that I start understanding stuff without trying hard to understand them.

Keep your health up steve!!! Much respect Sir.

It is a long way but i really love to be an independent learner. Thanks for sharing !

I'm from Philippines and I'm here in Taiwan working as a caregiver I can speak 3 languages (tagalog /english/mandarin chinese) I can also speak some Spanish words and now since I'm planning to move to canada I'm now excited Learning French.. based on my experience I learned new language through singing songs since I really love to sing 😇😇 its quite fun and enjoyable

So awesome to realize the self-doubt, "doldrums", discoragement are all a natural part of the process. Key is to continue forward, maybe ease up a little but don't make the mistake of completely stopping (which I've done - more than once). Thanks so much Steve!

I started to learn english for one week ago. I hop improve my languages faster and thank you so mush for videos

I really admire you, Steve! I am also adicted to language learning. I always follow your ways of learning and it's really effective to me. Thanks a lot!

This is brilliant Steve. Very inspiring, and straight talk.

One of my goals in life is to have a book shelf as full as yours if not larger

You gave me an excellent insight on how the language learning process should go in personal learning. Thank you.

I love what you said about finding authentic material in the target language that you actually find interesting, but is not too difficult. It is true that is hard to find, but once you find it, that is the sweet spot. It really is fun as you say to learn the language *because you are pursuing your interests* rather than just focusing on "I've got to learn the language." Thanks for your videos.

You are definitely one of the Greats, sir! Love watching your videos, always motivate me to keep going :)

Thank you for sharing your precious learning experiences from your life!!

Thank you Steve! Your advices are very valuable!

Lingq's word count is incredibly motivational. I had no idea where my Japanese was before using it. Lovely to be able to quantify it and then work towards bigger numbers.

Thanks for reminding me that I'm learning even if I think I'm not. I'll persevere.

Thank you for English subtitling, it helps me to understand the content well

Compared to those surrounding people expressing their negative emotion or questioning my ability to learn a new language, to know the guy with internet really made my day and cheered me up while struggling with the hurdles about language learning. So far I am still learning English right now and keeping moving on my Japanese, may all the language learners successfully make their dreams come true (:

Yeah, when learning language alone, keeping motivated is the biggest challenge

Thank you Steve!!! Your tips are really really good. I’m on my way to be fluent in German. And I completely agree that the first step is the attitude. Learning German in a school could be very frustrating, and my process change completely when I changed my attitude with the classes. 💪🏼 I didn’t need to change the teacher, the school or the method. It was me. I was feeling frustrated and having problems to enjoy the learning process. I am also beginning with the LingQ app and I am learning how to use it better. And I really enjoyed also. Thanks thanks thanks.

Thank you Mr. Steve. I agree with your way of thinking outside the box and by learning on our own, being independent , more disciplined, willingness and to use our other principles in order to continue our journey in language learning. I'm from Syria and I've been enjoying learning English by doing that, then later doing the same with German as well.

Σας ευχαριστώ πολύ για τα βίντεο σας κύριε! Μου έχετε δημιουργήσει το ερέθισμα να επιθυμώ να μάθω ξένες γλώσσες καθώς, έτσι εκτός από ξένες γλώσσες θα κατανοήσω καλύτερα την ξένη κουλτούρα.

Actually that's what I'm doing , to be Independent in learning . and also I love to study without stress , so I agree with you Mr Steve Thank you so much , that was a useful lesson

Hi Steve. I discovered you by Accurate English. I just subscribed on your site. I really like you and enjoy your teaching. You are an amazing teacher.

Before I got this video and knew this channel, I thought, being a language learner have to joint on formal courses to improve our ability. But now, I get the new knowledge that learning language is about willingness and depend on ourselves. The best lesson that I get today..thank you so much

Thank You so much for making this video, I needed this! (This video should be required to watch at least 3x). If you want progress in your language learning, immediately write down this advice and read everyday before studying. Steve is the GOAT of language learning!

Oh my goodness this is SOOO true!! I love the honesty about the frustration and the slumps. People NEED to know these REALISTIC parts of the journey! I use to watch these videos of people bragging about how they went from native English, to FLUENT Japanese in 6 months or less and had me feeling like a lost cause and a dummy. Here I am going on 7 years of learning this language and I don't consider myself any where NEAR FLUENT. I started being more selective about the videos here on RU-vid that I watch as my journey continues. がんばりますよみんなさん!!

This video has been popping up as an ad on RU-vid...and I watch all of it, always when it comes up. 😆😁 These are the ads ive been waiting for. 😁👍🏼

This is the most valuable advice any language learner can get 🙏

Having studied German in school and on my own for many years, I do think when starting out from scratch, taking a beginning class would be more efficient. To me a beginning language class provides a foundation in pronunciation, basic grammar, answers to a lot of questions when starting off and importantly, avoiding early frustrations. From there the language learner can continue on with comprehensible input, etc.

Needed this video today. Ive been studying Vietnamese for around three months now and Found myself feeling very disheartened after a bad lesson. Glad to have come across this video.

Spot on! Super important to hear it is normal to feel frustrated.

English is so pleasunt for my ears. I spend much time for listening different youtube channels, and I can see progress that helps me not to give up. It's really necesary to get input from many different origins. Especially if you really interesting in that content. Thanks for your job. Greeatings from Ukraine.

The attitude of independence is one I struggle to maintain in life, but I'm learning. Thanks for the reminder to prioritise that attitude no matter what I'm doing.

You are absolutely right Steve.

Oh my God! Im here enjoying the way you talk.🥰 I love English language💗 I'm taking RU-vid classes and practicing the best I can. I can understand everything English native people say, but when it's my turn; my mind goes blank!😱 and I end up saying..yes,no, I now! Thats all.😣 Oh my God! I hate myself for not being able to do it right.😡

This is the most greatest advises that i have heard ever , grateful to you

I'm going to share your video with my students. Excellent! Thank you! 🌎🏆

Thanks,Mr.Steve Kaufmann,for your precious guidance regarding learning any language on our own ! While learning any language on our own,we feel less pressurised and certainly without any tension of scoring well in our examination.I feel,at first,we should try to learn any language on our own and only enroll and attend the classes when we are confident and well equipped to understand whatever is being taught there.Your tips are quite helpful for learning any language of our choice. Thanks 😃

Steve, is great. I've been learning languages for years and this is the best advice ever.

I'm so happy to find your channel. I only speak 2 languages well now biub my father was fluent and read books in 6 languages. I'm now starting to learn a third language and my goal is to honor my Father's memory and legacy by following in his footsteps. I'm excited to find good role models like you. 👍

I've been listening podcast everyday for the last 4 months my English has improved a lot!

As I've always been saying, Steve Kaufmann is a wise man, a legendary polyglot and a wonderful person, sure thing. He still provides me a great deal of useful advice for starting to learn languages aside from English and Spanish. I'm still planning to take up learning languages such as French, German, Italian, Russian and so on. Once I've got a highlighted level on each of those ones, I want to start learning others like Portuguese, Turkish, Ukrainian and Romanian to get a good progress as well. He encourages me a lot. My English journey is ongoing so far, I'm not a confident English speaker yet but I still believe that I will achieve the cherished fluency sooner or later. Guess what? A slow progress is better than no progress. Besides, I still hold on to the conviction of becoming a polyglot one day, little by little and being so down-to-earth. It isn't done overnight. It's important to get used to language learning, especially in the middle of our learning process because we have to continue increasing our language learning journey in order to not lose the motivation and to avoid falling into frustration when something that didn't come out as you expected. It could be unavoidable, though. The key is being aware when we study our target languages constantly. Being a self-taught person with no pressure when it comes to doing things you're so passionate about adds up of course. That's the main point. Just keep going. ❤

Am learning German A2 level currently. I have had countless moments of doubt and feeling like am making zero progress especially because I don't practise the "sprechen" much but this video reminds me am still on the right track. Thanks.

I love this channel Love from Iraq اتمنى ان نشاهدك في يوم من الايام وانت تتحدث العربية الفصحة بلسان طليق لا تشوبه أي شائبة فانت أنسان طيب وتستحق كل خير تحياتي لك من العراق _ الموصل

Great video. Thanks Steve! I love your content like this 👍🏾 ✨ PS. I Lol’d @ the Plague doctor image 😂!

Thanks for this beautiful video.. I'm not an English women and I here to improve more my English, you gave me power and motivation to keep going

Your advice are always so welcomed thanks

You are amazing guys. Your motivation to this topic is magical!

你真的好強的語言能力，我真的太佩服了

thank you so much for this video, I found really interesting everything you said and it keeps motivated to learn english, which has been a quite long process but I think I'm gonna kill this language by my own, it's so inspiring to see you how did you learn many languages, thanks in advanced again.

Steve, your videos are very useful,thanks very much !

Thank you sir! I am learning French and Japanese language. I'm enjoying the progress. Greetings from Abuja, Nigeria.

Thank you for you advice, to be honest i sometimes feel frustrated because, when i try to speak English i can't remember anything, 😂🤣 i can understand when someone talk to me but i cannot response it, but i won't give up , if i study hard, i will have a better job, that is my goal. 💪

Have followed all your videos , really inspiring for me as I am struggling to learn 4 languages till now, learning French currently. Your polish video was amazing. I read about one language from south asia, which I have started a bit. Its name is Tamil (Indian language), ancient one I read in an article , please try it and share with us !! Would love to see that from a language champion like you !!

When I have found A.J.Hoge in the I-net it is the point from which my English started to grow! His mini- stories are awesome!Yes,there was a time when I thought that I was not improving, some frustration and anxiety,but in 3 years my speaking abilities has become much higher than intermediate))English has become my life style,I can't live even a day without audio lessons)) Thank you for such interesting content!

Don’t try to ace anything or master anything,or remember anything, just keep letting the language wash over you . This is impressive.

In days that I'm not fine to study, yours videos have a bright in my motivation. Thanks Steve!

Motivation is the key! Setting small, achievable goals, will support you moving forward :-)

I am so thankful for you Steve,.. because by your teaching that you have explained I try to study English..

when I was a kid I thought I could not gonna learned English. but now I would challenge myself to learn it. I take 5 min just to write this sentence LOL.

I totally agree, independence and motivation is the key, I was so miserably in school learning foreign languages but I prefer fiction to non-fiction because you learn about the culture and the world view, the beauty of a language😊

Listening to great music with slower tempo is a good way to get interested. I've been listening to the Tribalistas, reading lyrics while listening to how they're pronounced. So the goal is to memorize the meaning of the Portuguese lyrics

I highly recommend that we should learn by our own, it means we taugh ourselves everything, espescially, languages. Besides, first and foremost, this is the Listening, like he said, listen to the language all the time. I did with English, now French and Japanese, that's awsome honestly. Listening always, guys!

A man after my own heart. I really appreciate you broski.

Thank you for the encouragement!

Thanks for the motivation, Steve. I’ve been learning Brazilian Português with LingQ and it’s just the best!