143: How to Learn a New Language and Make It Stick | Feedback Friday

Effective Techniques

Learning a new language requires more than just self-study or apps; it demands consistent practice and accountability. Jordan Harbinger emphasizes the importance of hiring a Skype teacher to ensure regular learning and accountability, as self-teaching can be extremely challenging 1. He shares his own experience with Mandarin, noting that having a teacher has been crucial to his progress 2. Jason DeFillippo supports this by recalling Jordan's remarkable improvement in Mandarin over a year, attributing it to daily lessons with a teacher 2.

The only way to get good at a language is to have a coach and a teacher. Period.

--- Jordan Harbinger

For those starting out, Jordan advises against relying solely on apps or books, as they are insufficient for comprehensive language learning 3.

   

Motivational Stories

Personal stories of overcoming language learning hurdles can be incredibly motivating. Jason DeFillippo shares his struggle with learning Japanese, despite his wife's fluency in multiple languages 3. He describes his experience as having a learning block, where hours of study yield little retention. Jordan Harbinger reassures him that with dedication and the right approach, significant progress can be made in a year to 18 months 4.

You can get really good basics in a year to 18 months.

--- Jordan Harbinger

Jordan highlights the importance of setting realistic goals, such as learning basic phrases to communicate with in-laws, which can be achieved with consistent practice and the help of a teacher 4.