Fluency Beyond Borders

Can a person learn a language while living in a country that doesn’t speak that language. If so, how does a person go about doing it?

There are many people all over the world who have never lived outside their country of birth, but were able to learn a second language and reach a high proficiency.

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Yes, granted they started learning at a younger age during school. But so have many others yet they struggled to reach an adequate level.

So my question is what separates those people who were able to learn the language from those who are still struggling to grasp it.

The obvious conclusion is IQ; that these individuals have a higher cognitive ability compared to the others. But I’m not convinced with that notion. Scientific studies have proven that only to a certain point does IQ play a role when learning a new language.

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One of the most notable things that stood out with all the people I interrogated about their methods and advice on how they achieved proficiency, was their dedication to the process of learning. 

This might sound like a regurgitated soundbite, but it really does come down to this. A solid method and a good strategy are important but once all of these are put aside, consistency is the crucial factor.

The amount of time and effort it takes to learn a language scares most people away after the early excitement of starting the journey.

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A prime example which correlates with this is the number of gym memberships sold at the beginning of Spring. I think this behaviour is deeply imbedded in our nature, the inability to persevere when pursuing long term goals.

It takes more than IQ to keep going, when the chips are down and motivation is low, Willpower is the key that unlocks that door.

The common and oldest advice, that the best way to learn a foreign language is to go to the country is true only to a certain point. There are nuances within languages which simply cannot be taught but can only be experienced.

Besides the particular nuances which are a small exception, most of the fundamental grammatical structures and vocabulary can be learned without living in the country.

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There are plenty of people who have lived in a country for many years but are unable to hold a basic conversation. My point is that its all relative, essentially it all depends on the person.

As much as I can agree that learning a language while living in a country that doesn’t speak it is significantly more difficult, it doesn’t mean that it cannot be done. With the right methods and attitude it can even be a more efficient process because lack of resources often breeds ingenuity.

How does one go about achieving this? A good start would be finding a Native friend or teacher. This is essential because this will save you the trouble of avoiding the pitfalls most people fall into, and correcting the bad habits before it's too late.

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The internet is the greatest tool when learning a language, we have access to a multitude of resources at our fingertips. Textbooks, social media, chat groups, Skype and language portals: the list is endless.

The difficulty is finding what works for you and most importantly being able to measure your progress. A study plan is essential in tracking the amount of time you spend on the language.

The core of your learning should be deliberate with tools such as textbooks, vocabulary quizzes and reading. The problem with passive learning for e.g watching movies or series is that it’s hard to measure progress and it takes double the time compared to grammar drills or reading.

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So if you find yourself doubting whether you can learn a language because you don’t live in the country. Remember that we are living in the greatest of times. Globalisation has shrunk the world into a small City. We are all interconnected thanks to the invention of the internet. 

It has never been easier to connect with people from all walks of life, even those who speak obscure languages. All you have to do is just start, as the Daoist saying goes, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step"