Learn ANY Language With This Simple Habit (backed by science) (YouTube Video Transcript)

(00:00:00) Your YouTube transcript will appear here (00:00:00) Do you ever wish learning a language was (00:00:02) faster? Research shows that a simple (00:00:04) writing habit could be the secret to (00:00:06) help you unlock fluency. I was (00:00:08) pessimistic, but since starting, it's (00:00:10) fixed problems in my Spanish I didn't (00:00:12) even know I had. So, in this video, I'm (00:00:15) going to show you exactly why it's so (00:00:16) effective, the easy way to get started, (00:00:18) and how you can use AI to supercharge (00:00:21) the process. Let's start with the (00:00:23) surprising benefits. So, to learn a (00:00:25) language, you absolutely have to get a (00:00:27) lot of exposure. But that constant (00:00:30) immersion can lead you to feeling a (00:00:32) little bit overstimulated. So after (00:00:34) months of soaking up Spanish through (00:00:36) YouTube, podcast, and reading, I wanted (00:00:38) to slow down as well as improve my (00:00:40) speaking. And to be honest, I just (00:00:43) wanted to spend less time staring at a (00:00:45) screen. The antidote I found was (00:00:48) starting to journal every day. Now, (00:00:50) first off, I had never journaled in any (00:00:53) language before. So, if you're thinking (00:00:55) this isn't for me, I would have thought (00:00:57) exactly the same, but the benefits are (00:00:59) incredible. I started trying to fill a (00:01:02) page with whatever random thoughts I had (00:01:04) in Spanish. You can take your time and (00:01:07) try to find those words that aren't (00:01:08) always there at the tip of your tongue (00:01:10) in a conversation. And pretty quickly, I (00:01:13) noticed that my speaking started getting (00:01:15) better, too. So, why is writing so (00:01:18) effective? Well, first slowing down and (00:01:20) actually thinking about what you want to (00:01:22) say helps you to remember it better. So (00:01:25) in the research there's a thing called (00:01:26) depth of processing which basically (00:01:28) means the more you think about a (00:01:30) language the more it gets ingrained. (00:01:32) Instead of just recognizing words you're (00:01:34) actually pulling them out of your memory (00:01:35) so that they're ready when you need (00:01:37) them. That extra effort reinforces your (00:01:41) new language. Writing also helps you (00:01:43) connect new words to things you already (00:01:45) know. something called elaborative (00:01:47) rehearsal which is known to boost (00:01:49) learning. All of those individual (00:01:51) connections help us with storing new (00:01:53) words and phrases as well as using them (00:01:55) later on. And I found just writing about (00:01:57) my life, my my thoughts, my feelings (00:02:00) naturally reinforces new words as I try (00:02:02) to use them in different context. And on (00:02:04) top of all of that, there's evidence (00:02:05) that writing really can help your (00:02:07) speaking. So when writing, you're forced (00:02:10) to find the words you need and put them (00:02:11) together to convey whatever meaning you (00:02:13) want. That's exactly what you do when (00:02:15) you speak. And in fact, speaking and (00:02:18) writing activate the same parts of your (00:02:20) brain linked to language production. (00:02:22) Now, it's an oversimplification to say (00:02:25) they're exactly the same. But research (00:02:27) shows that generally the same neural (00:02:29) networks are involved proving how (00:02:31) powerful writing is. And definitely from (00:02:33) my own experience, there have been words (00:02:35) and phrases that I've used when speaking (00:02:36) with people that I remembered much (00:02:38) easier because I'd deliberately been (00:02:41) trying to use them when I journal. And (00:02:43) on top of that, when you're writing, (00:02:45) there isn't the same time pressure as a (00:02:47) conversation. So you can take your time (00:02:49) and find the words you need and try and (00:02:51) nail all the grammar. So weirdly, (00:02:54) writing will actually help you speak (00:02:55) better. And by the way, if you want a (00:02:57) simple guide with prompts to get you (00:02:59) started, I've created a free download (00:03:01) which you can get with the code on (00:03:02) screen or just use the link in the (00:03:04) description. So I break down the process (00:03:06) and provide some simple things you can (00:03:08) do to make the most of every session. So (00:03:11) before we look at the steps you can (00:03:13) follow, there is a mindset shift that (00:03:15) helped me get started and stay (00:03:17) consistent. (00:03:19) [Music] (00:03:28) So I'll be honest, writing and (00:03:30) journaling never really interested me (00:03:32) before. On top of that, what do you (00:03:35) write about? What if you don't have (00:03:36) anything to say? Well, there were a (00:03:39) couple of mindset shifts that really, (00:03:41) really helped me. The first is that (00:03:43) journaling or any kind of writing, it (00:03:46) isn't a test. You don't have to get (00:03:49) everything perfect. And in fact, making (00:03:52) mistakes is actually a good thing. (00:03:54) That's how you learn. So, if you have (00:03:56) that inbuilt perfectionism, think of (00:03:58) writing as play. You're experimenting (00:04:01) and seeing what works for you. If I'm (00:04:03) not sure if something's right or not, I (00:04:05) just try it out just to find out. I'd (00:04:07) much rather stay in the flow instead of (00:04:09) getting stuck looking up the exact way (00:04:11) to say something. So, I put things down (00:04:14) as best I can. And when I get feedback, (00:04:16) I'll find out for next time. So, the (00:04:18) whole point is that you want to be able (00:04:20) to express yourself freely in the (00:04:22) language you're learning. And to do (00:04:24) that, you've got to try things out and (00:04:26) see how it goes. Over time, you'll (00:04:28) notice the progress you've made. I've (00:04:30) definitely had moments where I tried (00:04:32) something one day and then a few days (00:04:34) later I remembered what I'd learned and (00:04:36) put it into practice. The other thing (00:04:38) that is super important is that writing (00:04:40) shouldn't feel like something that you (00:04:42) have to do. But if you actively engage (00:04:44) with it, you'll start to find it really (00:04:47) interesting. Like I won't always know (00:04:49) what I think about something until I (00:04:51) start getting my thoughts down. And if (00:04:53) you're anything like me, you're probably (00:04:55) really busy and don't often have much (00:04:57) time to stop and reflect about your (00:04:59) plans or even experiences. Honestly, (00:05:02) I've ended up being my own unofficial (00:05:03) therapist just by taking time to work (00:05:05) through my thoughts on paper. Now, you (00:05:08) don't have to go that deep. You might (00:05:10) just want to talk about your plans for (00:05:11) the weekend. But once you start, you'll (00:05:13) end up using all sorts of vocabulary (00:05:15) that might never come up in a chat with (00:05:17) your tutor. And so apart from helping (00:05:19) you to learn a language, journaling can (00:05:22) help you to manage your stress and help (00:05:23) you process your own thoughts. And (00:05:26) remember, you can adjust this however (00:05:28) you want. Maybe instead of journaling, (00:05:30) you're imagining you're writing a letter (00:05:32) to a friend or simply just getting some (00:05:34) plans down on the page so that they're (00:05:35) they're out of your head. So avoid (00:05:38) perfectionism and focus on what (00:05:40) interests you. With that in mind, let's (00:05:42) look at how to get started. (00:05:52) So, when I first started, honestly, I (00:05:55) had no idea what to write. I just wanted (00:05:57) to give it a go. But the more I did it, (00:06:00) the easier it got. And now, I actually (00:06:03) look forward to starting my day with a (00:06:04) cup of tea whilst I journal. So, no (00:06:06) matter what happens after that, I know (00:06:09) I've already spent some quality time (00:06:11) with my Spanish. So, if you want to try (00:06:13) this yourself, remember that when (00:06:14) creating a new habit, the key is to (00:06:17) start small. Short, regular sessions are (00:06:20) way better than the occasional brain (00:06:22) dump. Just build it up over time rather (00:06:24) than feeling overwhelmed. But looking at (00:06:27) a blank page or note on your laptop can (00:06:29) be daunting at first. So, here's a (00:06:31) simple way to make it easier. Write the (00:06:33) date at the top and then with your first (00:06:35) session, set a timer for 15 minutes. Jot (00:06:39) down whatever you can. It doesn't have (00:06:41) to be perfect and you'll definitely make (00:06:44) mistakes, but that's the whole point. (00:06:46) It's in those moments where you learn (00:06:48) and I'll talk about feedback in a (00:06:49) minute. When the timer is up, finish (00:06:52) your sentence and congratulate yourself (00:06:54) on trying something new. Of course, you (00:06:56) can write for longer if you want, but (00:06:58) starting small is a great way to go. So, (00:07:01) personally, I prefer to write by hand. (00:07:03) It is slower, but I like to avoid (00:07:06) starting my day staring at a screen. (00:07:08) More than that though, there is some (00:07:09) evidence that writing by hand makes you (00:07:11) process the language more deeply and (00:07:13) might actually help you in storing or (00:07:15) reinforcing the new words and phrases. (00:07:18) And honestly, I just prefer it. The (00:07:20) tactile sensation of pen and paper just (00:07:22) feels way more chilled for me. And there (00:07:25) are no distractions like other browser (00:07:27) tabs or whatever. If you'd rather type (00:07:29) though, that is totally fine. Just be (00:07:31) mindful that it will autocorrect things (00:07:33) for you. Normally that's a good thing (00:07:35) but I want those little mistakes so I (00:07:38) can learn say I don't know where an (00:07:40) accent marker might go or a particular (00:07:42) spelling or conjugation because that (00:07:44) helps me to notice and remember them. (00:07:46) It's your journey though and by keeping (00:07:48) things digitally you can involve other (00:07:51) tools or if you're learning a language (00:07:53) with say a different script like Chinese (00:07:55) do not be a hero. Digital is probably (00:07:58) the way to go. You can always go analog (00:08:00) down the line if you really want. If you (00:08:02) need a bit of inspiration, there are a (00:08:04) few prompts I can give you to get you (00:08:06) started. So, try yesterday I or I would (00:08:11) love to or recently I've been thinking (00:08:14) about obviously write them in your (00:08:17) target language. I'll put some more (00:08:19) prompts in the free download, but you (00:08:21) can write about your goals, your plans (00:08:23) for the weekend, or even where you see (00:08:24) yourself in five years. Honestly, I've (00:08:27) been blown away by how powerful a pen (00:08:30) and a piece of paper can be. If you are (00:08:32) more of a beginner, do not worry at all. (00:08:35) Keep the sessions short and write (00:08:37) whatever you can. So, some simple (00:08:40) prompts are something like, I'm studying (00:08:42) French because I want to. Just lots of (00:08:47) short simple sentences like that will (00:08:49) get you going. Just do your best. You (00:08:51) can also steal the hack that I use to (00:08:53) make those short sentences more natural (00:08:56) and flow better. So actually when I (00:08:58) write I have a print out of connectors (00:09:00) sitting in front of me. Things like on (00:09:03) the other hand so for example all in (00:09:06) Spanish of course I try not to look at (00:09:09) the sheet but if I need a reminder I can (00:09:11) quickly just glance over and add (00:09:13) whatever I need. I found I need the (00:09:15) sheet less and less over time, but more (00:09:17) than that, I've started using the same (00:09:19) phrases on conversations to sound a bit (00:09:22) more polished. And whilst we're talking (00:09:23) about words, try and work with the ones (00:09:25) you know, of course, but it's totally (00:09:27) fine to look up vocabulary if you need (00:09:29) to. And that's actually a good thing as (00:09:32) it will be words specific to you and (00:09:34) your life. So, you'll pick up new words (00:09:36) and phrases that are super relevant for (00:09:38) you. DPL, Google Translate, pretty much (00:09:41) any AI are all absolutely fine for this. (00:09:44) Don't overthink it. And if you want, you (00:09:46) can underline the new words or put them (00:09:48) in bold if you've gone digital. It will (00:09:50) make it clear which words you've looked (00:09:52) up and serves as a little reminder to (00:09:54) try and use them again in the future. (00:09:56) So, that is getting started. Next, I'll (00:09:58) show you a couple of simple steps you (00:10:00) can add to journaling that will make it (00:10:01) even more effective. (00:10:03) [Music] (00:10:12) Okay, so here is a simple system you can (00:10:14) follow which I found super helpful. I (00:10:17) actually do a bit more than these steps (00:10:19) these days, but to keep things (00:10:21) straightforward, let's just stick to the (00:10:23) basics. This is how I got started and it (00:10:26) really works. So for me, this is the (00:10:28) first thing I do when I wake up in the (00:10:30) morning. Life happens and sometimes if (00:10:32) you plan on doing it later, later might (00:10:35) never come. That said, it does need to (00:10:37) fit your routine, so do what's best and (00:10:39) works for you. Now, it's not mandatory, (00:10:42) but before I get started, I make a cup (00:10:44) of tea. I am British and I cannot (00:10:46) function without it. I know it sounds (00:10:48) silly, but if you associate writing with (00:10:50) a comfortable, familiar routine, you're (00:10:52) way more likely to stick with it. (00:10:54) Feeling relaxed will also let things (00:10:56) flow more. If you're stressed or (00:10:58) anxious, that's going to stop your brain (00:11:00) firing up in the way that you want it (00:11:01) to. So, as well as a cuper, I also have (00:11:04) some water to hand to keep hydrated and (00:11:06) keep my brain firing on all cylinders. (00:11:08) And then it's time to sit down and start (00:11:10) writing. So, at the minute, I aim for (00:11:13) about two pages a day in an A5 notebook. (00:11:16) So, you can do more if you want, but I (00:11:18) found just a couple of pages gives me (00:11:20) enough time for the steps that come (00:11:21) later. So, literally write whatever (00:11:23) comes to mind, but if you're stuck, you (00:11:26) can use those prompts you can download (00:11:27) if you need a hand to get started. And (00:11:29) you can write for as long as you want. (00:11:31) If you're just starting out, keep it (00:11:33) short and fun. This should not feel like (00:11:36) a chore. That way, you'll come back to (00:11:38) it the next day, and that consistent (00:11:40) habit is how you make progress. Next, (00:11:43) this is something that I've added (00:11:44) recently, but it's actually really (00:11:46) useful. Once you've finished writing, go (00:11:48) back and reread what you've written and (00:11:51) correct any mistakes that you notice. (00:11:53) The idea being that recognizing those (00:11:55) small mistakes you make reinforces the (00:11:57) correct way of writing it for the (00:11:59) future. Now, the next step is amazing if (00:12:02) you write by hand. If you've done it (00:12:04) digitally, it is even more (00:12:05) straightforward. So, I use chat GPT and (00:12:08) I take a photo of what I've written. I (00:12:10) then give it the prompt, "Transcribe the (00:12:13) writing on these pages. Give me detailed (00:12:15) corrections and tell me what my level is (00:12:17) today." If you're writing on a device, (00:12:19) it's even easier. Just copy and paste (00:12:21) your text and ask for feedback. Now, (00:12:23) it's not perfect at reading handwriting, (00:12:25) but it is surprisingly good. I do try (00:12:28) and write a little bit neater though. Uh (00:12:30) sometimes I do have to give it a (00:12:31) correction here or there, but the fact (00:12:33) that it can do it at all is absolutely (00:12:35) mind-blowing. So chat GPT will give me (00:12:38) the feedback which I'll then have a read (00:12:40) through and then I take my trusty red (00:12:43) pen and I go through making all of those (00:12:45) corrections on the page. By doing it in (00:12:47) a different color, it makes what I need (00:12:49) to work on super obvious for next time. (00:12:52) And remember, this isn't a test. This is (00:12:55) you getting better. So, here's your (00:12:57) challenge. Start a writing habit in your (00:13:00) target language. Let me know how you get (00:13:02) on down in the comments below. And then (00:13:04) next, if you want to boost your (00:13:05) vocabulary even more, check out this (00:13:07) video here where I show you some simple (00:13:09) ways you can remember more words in your (00:13:12) target language.