As most of you know, I speak Spanish. Every day.
When people* find this out, and find out that I learned Spanish mostly in school, they are surprised. And a little jealous. A lot of people share regrets about not learning Spanish when they had the opportunity. I empathize, but to be honest, I have never really understood this problem. I did not forget the Spanish I learned in 7th grade. Or in high school. Or in college.
That all changed on Wednesday. You see, in addition to Spanish, I took a year of French in high school. And another year in college. I wanted to keep going, but it just didn't work with my schedule.
I decided to take up French class after hearing a story on the radio (while baking Thanksgiving pies) about some of the benefits of learning other languages. I found out on Tuesday that the placement test I needed to take was on Wednesday. I had to test into the intermediate level in order for it to work with my schedule, but I really had no time to study, other than reviewing my French book. I thought, "THIS IS HOW ALL THOSE PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT FORGETTING SPANISH AND IT'S HORRIBLE. I AM SORRY TO EVERYONE."
I was nervous, driving to my French test. Then I remembered another story I had heard on Thanksgiving - about studying and remembering. Reading your notes? Not effective for long term memory. You know what is effective? Forcing your brain to retrieve the information over and over again. This helps you create a pathway to the info, rather than storing it in an unretrievable way.
Okay everyone. It's going to make you sound a little crazy, but here is my number one trick for learning/ remembering another language:
Talk to yourself in that language.
Honestly, it doesn't really matter what you say. Count. Introduce yourself. Ask yourself how you are. Think of things you still know, and say them to yourself. Or look up basic phrases and say them to yourself. Laugh if you don't know it and say excuse me!
I talked to myself out loud in French all the way to my test. Here is what I said. "Good evening. My name is Ellen. I like French. I want to study (couldn't remember "learn" so I worked around it) French. I have studied French in "high school" (couldn't remember that) and at the university. I have studied French two years. I am at 71st street. I like 60 (I really like the number sixty in French "soixante"). I work with Madagascar. I do not know, how do you say Madagascar in French? Is it the same? There are are two or three people who speak English. I speak Spanish. I'd like to study French because I'd like to speak to the people in Madagascar. Turn right. Turn left. Go straight. I have told my husband that I need to study French on Wednesday or Thursday because I can't on Monday or Tuesday...."
Suddenly, the pathway started to clear. I was remembering words that I hadn't thought of in years. I was speaking French. About five years ago, I traveled to France from Spain and realized I needed to remember French. I did this as a writing exercise and it was very helpful as well. You realize there are lots of words you want to look up, and that's okay. Don't look them up though. Make a note and keep going.
This is a way to re-link the pathways in your brain. To reconnect. You really do have that high school Spanish/French/Latin/ stored in your head, you just need to recreate the path to find it.
I recognize that I am somewhat of a linguist. I love this stuff. I have dug out my French memories about once every 3-5 years or so and played with them. Nevertheless, I really do think that this is the secret to learning how to think in another language.... make yourself have an internal conversation in that language. This was true for me when I crossed the line from translating everything to just speaking in Spanish. Try this out. Let me know how it works. Pair it with some language CDs or games like Duolingo and I bet you will be surprised.
*No one is more surprised than native Spanish speakers. "Really???" they say.
 |
| Windmills of La Mancha, representing Spanish |
That all changed on Wednesday. You see, in addition to Spanish, I took a year of French in high school. And another year in college. I wanted to keep going, but it just didn't work with my schedule.
I decided to take up French class after hearing a story on the radio (while baking Thanksgiving pies) about some of the benefits of learning other languages. I found out on Tuesday that the placement test I needed to take was on Wednesday. I had to test into the intermediate level in order for it to work with my schedule, but I really had no time to study, other than reviewing my French book. I thought, "THIS IS HOW ALL THOSE PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT FORGETTING SPANISH AND IT'S HORRIBLE. I AM SORRY TO EVERYONE."
 |
| I barely spoke French the first time I visited France, but boy, oh boy did I want to learn. |
Okay everyone. It's going to make you sound a little crazy, but here is my number one trick for learning/ remembering another language:
Talk to yourself in that language.
Honestly, it doesn't really matter what you say. Count. Introduce yourself. Ask yourself how you are. Think of things you still know, and say them to yourself. Or look up basic phrases and say them to yourself. Laugh if you don't know it and say excuse me!
I talked to myself out loud in French all the way to my test. Here is what I said. "Good evening. My name is Ellen. I like French. I want to study (couldn't remember "learn" so I worked around it) French. I have studied French in "high school" (couldn't remember that) and at the university. I have studied French two years. I am at 71st street. I like 60 (I really like the number sixty in French "soixante"). I work with Madagascar. I do not know, how do you say Madagascar in French? Is it the same? There are are two or three people who speak English. I speak Spanish. I'd like to study French because I'd like to speak to the people in Madagascar. Turn right. Turn left. Go straight. I have told my husband that I need to study French on Wednesday or Thursday because I can't on Monday or Tuesday...."
Suddenly, the pathway started to clear. I was remembering words that I hadn't thought of in years. I was speaking French. About five years ago, I traveled to France from Spain and realized I needed to remember French. I did this as a writing exercise and it was very helpful as well. You realize there are lots of words you want to look up, and that's okay. Don't look them up though. Make a note and keep going.
 |
| What language did you study in high school or college? I've never studied Italian, but I think I'd like it. |
I recognize that I am somewhat of a linguist. I love this stuff. I have dug out my French memories about once every 3-5 years or so and played with them. Nevertheless, I really do think that this is the secret to learning how to think in another language.... make yourself have an internal conversation in that language. This was true for me when I crossed the line from translating everything to just speaking in Spanish. Try this out. Let me know how it works. Pair it with some language CDs or games like Duolingo and I bet you will be surprised.
*No one is more surprised than native Spanish speakers. "Really???" they say.
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