Learning Multiple Languages Simultaneously

Here are my own ideas and proposed techniques as a result of real experience about learning multiple languages at once. I am a native Turkish citizen, can speak and understand English, Russian languages perfectly. Also, I have upper intermediate level of French, beginner level of Spanish, Italian and German, studying these languages simultaneously.

Almost 6 months ago, I have decided to learn Spanish, French and German at the same time purely for intellectual and fun reasons and already see the results, especially in French.

I use three common techniques :

Flashcards in multiple languages

First of all, I have bought the exactly same structured language books from the same company. These books consist of images and use the mental association technique which I have reviewed in detail in one of my previous articles about Rosetta Stone French Suite. The images on all books are the same and start with the elementary words, later the grammar is introduced step by step. Here are the screenshots from French, Spanish and German books about the basic words. At the bottom of each image, there are translations, here in Turkish.

I cut these pages into small flash cards and mixed. When I draw a card from the pile, let's say a French sentence, I think about the others, here Spanish and German. This way, I can force myself fast adapt to a language and not mix them or confuse while talking. The key is not to look at the target language before you read the translation in your native language. Just put these in your pocket and use whenever free time on the bus, metro etc.

Looking the objects and people around you in multiple languages

We need only a few thousands words initially to be able to understand the language in common things like eating, drinking, transport, time, travel, buying etc. All you need is to learn as much as nouns, adjectives and common verbs at first.

I am sitting on a chair while I write this article. So, why not to learn what it means in multiple languages? There are several multiple language dictionary software available. For example, I use ABBYY Lingvo, a perfect online multiple dictionary from a Russian language company.

So, a chair would be ; une chaise in French, una silla in Spanish and ein Stuhl in German.

Songs

Yes, that's right. By listening songs you can learn amazing number of vocabulary intuitively. Since you will sing the song you liked whether loud or inside, it will result in total immersion of these sentences and words. Search in youtube for phrases French songs, Spanish songs etc. Then, after you decide which song to learn do another search in Google to find the lyrics. The rest is obvious. First make a quick translation in one of free online translation tools then correct the grammar mistakes in translation what you have learned in your lessons. Please notice that not all songs are grammatically correct, but anyway after you reach a certain level of grammar in those languages, it will be easy to point them.

For example; for French learners, I don't know any better way to learn what Les sucettes mean. Check the France Gall video below for a sweet translation :) Such songs will also develop your pronunciation in languages like French.

Communicate with tourists

Resort bars at night are the perfect places to start a conversation by throwing a few words to Swedish girl sitting next to you. :) People like to hear someone trying to speak their native language.

Consistent short range studies

It is better to study 30 minutes everyday than studying 5 hours only a day in a week. Do not pass to next level until you can recognize the words and sentences in multiple languages easily.

As a result, in my experience it is possible to learn multiple languages at once. It is even easier when you try to learn very closely related same Latin family languages. Do not discourage yourself, there is nothing hard about it if you do it according to a similar plan above.