Unlocking the Hidden Techniques for Mastering New Languages

Are you looking to speak fluent French, Swedish, or Japanese? A helpful trick is to start with children's books. This is not widely known but can be an incredibly effective way of learning new languages. It's not uncommon for language learners to struggle with the complexity and intricacy of adult literature due to cultural nuances, idioms, and slang. This is where children's books come into play. Children's books are designed to be easily understood and are intended as a means for children to learn their native language. They follow simple sentence structure, use basic vocabulary, and often include pictures that provide context clues about the text. Moreover, they are composed of repetitive patterns—which are key to enhancing memory retention. The shared narratives also provide insights into cultural norms and values that may not be covered in conventional language courses. The method was first introduced by polyglot Kato Lomb, who knew 16 languages. She credited her multilingual abilities partially to 'Book Child Play.' She would 'play' with foreign texts until their meaning started making sense over time. While this method will not provide the comprehensive understanding needed for fluency alone, alongside traditional study methods like taking classes or using apps, it can considerably accelerate the process while making it enjoyable! References: Lomb, Kato (1995). Polyglot: How I Learn Languages (Second Edition ed.) Danubius.