The secrets of learning a new language | Lýdia Machová | TED

Prevodilac: Dragana Savanovic Lektor: Ivana Krivokuća

I love learning foreign languages.

Ja volim da učim strane jezike.

In fact, I love it so much that I like to learn a new language every two years,

U stvari, ja to toliko volim da svake dve godine naučim novi,

currently working on my eighth one.

i trenutno radim na osmom jeziku.

When people find that out about me, they always ask me,

Kada ljudi to saznaju, uvek me pitaju:

"How do you do that? What's your secret?"

„Кako ti uspeva? Koja je tajna?“

And to be honest, for many years, my answer would be,

Iskreno, moj odgovor je godinama bio:

"I don't know. I simply love learning languages."

„Ne znam. Prosto volim da učim jezike.“

But people were never happy with that answer.

Ali ljudi nikada nisu bili zadovoljni tim odgovorom.

They wanted to know why they are spending years trying to learn even one language,

Želeli su da znaju zašto oni godinama pokušavaju da nauče bar jedan jezik,

never achieving fluency,

i nikada ga ne govore tečno,

and here I come, learning one language after another.

a evo ja učim jezik za jezikom.

They wanted to know the secret of polyglots,

Želeli su da znaju tajnu poliglota,

people who speak a lot of languages.

ljudi koji govore više jezika.

And that made me wonder, too,

A to me je nateralo da se zapitam kako zapravo drugim poliglotima uspeva.

how do actually other polyglots do it?

What do we have in common?

Šta imamo zajedničko?

And what is it that enables us

I šta nam to omogućava

to learn languages so much faster than other people?

da učimo jezike mnogo brže nego drugi ljudi?

I decided to meet other people like me and find that out.

Odlučila sam da upoznam druge ljude kao što sam ja i da saznam.

The best place to meet a lot of polyglots

Najbolje mesto za upoznavanje mnogo poliglota

is an event where hundreds of language lovers

je događaj gde se stotine ljubitelja jezika

meet in one place to practice their languages.

okuplja na jednom mestu da vežba svoje jezike.

There are several such polyglot events organized all around the world,

Nekoliko takvih događaja se organizuje širom sveta,

and so I decided to go there

pa sam odlučila da odem tamo

and ask polyglots about the methods that they use.

i pitam poliglote koje metode koriste.

And so I met Benny from Ireland,

Pa sam tako upoznala Benija iz Irske,

who told me that his method is to start speaking from day one.

koji mi je rekao da je njegov metod da počnete da pričate od prvog dana.

He learns a few phrases from a travel phrasebook

On nauči par fraza iz rečnika za putovanja,

and goes to meet native speakers

upoznaje izvorne govornike

and starts having conversations with them right away.

i odmah započinje razgovor sa njima.

He doesn't mind making even 200 mistakes a day,

Ne smeta mu pravljenje ni po 200 grešaka dnevno,

because that's how he learns, based on the feedback.

jer tako uči, iz povratne informacije.

And the best thing is, he doesn't even need to travel a lot today,

Najbolja stvar je što on ne mora mnogo da putuje danas,

because you can easily have conversations with native speakers

jer lako možete razgovarati sa izvornim govornicima

iz udobnosti svog doma, koristeći internet.

from the comfort of your living room, using websites.

I also met Lucas from Brazil

Upoznala sam i Lukasa iz Brazila

who had a really interesting method to learn Russian.

koji je imao jako zanimljiv metod za učenje ruskog.

He simply added a hundred random Russian speakers on Skype as friends,

On je nasumice dodao sto ruskih govornika za prijatelje na Skajpu,

and then he opened a chat window with one of them

a zatim je otvorio prozor za čet sa jednim od njih

and wrote "Hi" in Russian.

i napisao „Zdravo“ na ruskom.

And the person replied, "Hi, how are you?"

Ta osoba je odgovorila: „Zdravo, kako si?“

Lucas copied this and put it into a text window with another person,

Lukas je to kopirao i stavio u čet sa drugom osobom,

a ta osoba je odgovorila: „Dobro sam, hvala, kako si ti?“

and the person replied, "I'm fine, thank you, and how are you?"

Lucas copied this back to the first person,

Lukas je to kopirao prvoj osobi,

and in this way, he had two strangers have a conversation with each other

i na ovaj način, dva stranca su razgovarala jedan sa drugim,

without knowing about it.

a da nisu ni znali.

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

And soon he would start typing himself,

Uskoro je i sam počeo da odgovara,

because he had so many of these conversations

jer je vodio toliko tih razgovora

that he figured out how the Russian conversation usually starts.

da je shvatio kako razgovor na ruskom uglavnom počinje.

Kakav kreativan metod, zar ne?

What an ingenious method, right?

And then I met polyglots who always start by imitating sounds of the language,

Upoznala sam i poliglote koji uvek počinju imitirajući zvuke jezika,

and others who always learn the 500 most frequent words of the language,

i one koji uvek uče 500 najčešćih reči jezika,

and yet others who always start by reading about the grammar.

ali i one koji uvek na početku čitaju o gramatici.

If I asked a hundred different polyglots,

Ako bih pitala stotinu poliglota,

I heard a hundred different approaches to learning languages.

čula bih stotinu različitih pristupa učenju jezika.

Everybody seems to have a unique way they learn a language,

Izgleda da svi imaju jedinstven način na koji uče novi jezik,

and yet we all come to the same result of speaking several languages fluently.

a ipak, svi dolaze do istog rezultata - tečno pričanje više jezika.

And as I was listening to these polyglots telling me about their methods,

Dok sam slušala kako mi poliglote pričaju o svojim metodama,

it suddenly dawned on me:

iznenada mi je sinulo:

the one thing we all have in common

jedna stvar koja nam je zajednička

is that we simply found ways to enjoy the language-learning process.

je da smo prosto našli način da uživamo u procesu učenja jezika.

All of these polyglots were talking about language learning

Sve te poliglote su govorile o učenju jezika kao o nečemu jako zabavnom.

as if it was great fun.

You should have seen their faces

Trebalo je da im vidite lica

kada su mi pokazivali svoje šarene tabele sa gramatikom

when they were showing me their colorful grammar charts

and their carefully handmade flash cards,

i svoje ručno napravljene fleš kartice,

and their statistics about learning vocabulary using apps,

i statistiku o učenju reči uz korišćenje aplikacija,

or even how they love to cook based on recipes in a foreign language.

ili čak kako vole da kuvaju koristeći recepte na stranom jeziku.

All of them use different methods,

Svi koriste različite metode,

but they always make sure it's something that they personally enjoy.

ali se uvek postaraju da je to nešto u čemu lično uživaju.

I realized that this is actually how I learn languages myself.

Shvatila sam da i ja tako učim jezike.

When I was learning Spanish, I was bored with the text in the textbook.

Kada sam učila španski, tekst u udžbeniku mi je bio dosadan.

I mean, who wants to read about Jose

Mislim, ko želi da čita o Hoseu

asking about the directions to the train station. Right?

koji se raspituje kako se stiže do železničke stanice, zar ne?

I wanted to read "Harry Potter" instead,

Umesto toga, htela sam da čitam „Harija Potera“,

jer je to u detinjstvu bila moja omiljena knjiga

because that was my favorite book as a child,

and I have read it many times.

koju sam pročitala više puta.

So I got the Spanish translation of "Harry Potter" and started reading,

Nabavila sam španski prevod knjige i počela da čitam,

and sure enough, I didn't understand almost anything at the beginning,

i naravno da nisam razumela skoro ništa na početku,

but I kept on reading because I loved the book,

ali sam nastavila da čitam jer sam volela tu knjigu,

and by the end of the book, I was able to follow it almost without any problems.

i pred kraj sam mogla da pratim skoro bez ikakvih problema.

And the same thing happened when I was learning German.

Isto se dogodilo kada sam učila nemački.

I decided to watch "Friends," my favorite sitcom, in German,

Odlučila sam da gledam „Prijatelje“, moju omiljenu seriju, na nemačkom,

and again, at the beginning it was all just gibberish.

i opet, na početku je sve bilo besmisleno.

I didn't know where one word finished and another one started,

Nisam znala gde se jedna reč završava, a druga počinje,

but I kept on watching every day because it's "Friends."

ali sam nastavila da gledam svaki dan, ipak su to „Prijatelji.“

I can watch it in any language. I love it so much.

Mogu ih gledati na svakom jeziku. Toliko ih volim.

And after the second or third season,

Nakon druge ili treće sezone,

seriously, the dialogue started to make sense.

dijalog je, najozbiljnije, dobio smisao.

I only realized this after meeting other polyglots.

Ovo sam shvatila tek nakon upoznavanja drugih poliglota.

We are no geniuses

Mi nismo genijalci

and we have no shortcut to learning languages.

i nemamo prečicu za učenje jezika.

We simply found ways how to enjoy the process,

Samo smo našli načine da uživamo u tom procesu,

how to turn language learning from a boring school subject

da pretvorimo učenje jezika iz dosadnog školskog predmeta

into a pleasant activity which you don't mind doing every day.

u prijatnu aktivnost u kojoj uživamo svaki dan.

If you don't like writing words down on paper,

Ako ne volite da zapisujete reči na papir,

you can always type them in an app.

uvek ih možete ukucati u aplikaciju.

If you don't like listening to boring textbook material,

Ako ne volite da slušate dosadan materijal iz udžbenika,

find interesting content on YouTube or in podcasts for any language.

nađite zanimljiv sadržaj na Jutjubu ili podkast na bilo kom jeziku.

If you're a more introverted person

Ako ste introvertna osoba

and you can't imagine speaking to native speakers right away,

i ne možete da zamislite da odmah pričate sa izvornim govornicima,

you can apply the method of self-talk.

možete primeniti metodu monologa.

You can talk to yourself in the comfort of your room,

Možete pričati sami sa sobom u udobnosti svoje sobe,

describing your plans for the weekend, how your day has been,

da opisujete planove za vikend, kako vam je protekao dan,

or even take a random picture from your phone

ili čak da uzmete nasumičnu fotografiju iz telefona

and describe the picture to your imaginary friend.

i opišete je zamišljenom prijatelju.

This is how polyglots learn languages,

Tako poliglote uče jezike,

and the best news is, it's available to anyone

a najbolje od svega je što je to dostupno svima

who is willing to take the learning into their own hands.

koji su voljni da uzmu učenje u svoje ruke.

So meeting other polyglots helped me realize

Upoznavanje drugih poliglota mi je pomoglo da shvatim

that it is really crucial to find enjoyment

da je jako važno pronaći užitak

in the process of learning languages,

u procesu učenja jezika,

but also that joy in itself is not enough.

ali i da užitak sam po sebi nije dovoljan.

If you want to achieve fluency in a foreign language,

Ako želite tečno da govorite strani jezik,

you'll also need to apply three more principles.

morate da primenite još tri principa.

First of all, you'll need effective methods.

Prvo, trebaće vam efektne metode.

If you try to memorize a list of words for a test tomorrow,

Ako pokušate da zapamtite listu reči za sutrašnji test,

the words will be stored in your short-term memory

reči će se skladištiti u vašoj kratkotrajnoj memoriji

and you'll forget them after a few days.

i zaboravićete ih nakon par dana.

If you, however, want to keep words long term,

Ako, pak, želite da sačuvate reči dugotrajno,

you need to revise them in the course of a few days repeatedly

morate da ih ponavljate tokom nekoliko dana

using the so-called space repetition.

koristeći takozvano intervalno ponavljanje.

You can use apps which are based on this system such as Anki or Memrise,

Možete koristiti aplikacije zasnovane na ovom sistemu kao Anki ili Memrise,

or you can write lists of word in a notebook using the Goldlist method,

ili možete zapisivati liste reči u svesku koristeći metod zlatne liste,

which is also very popular with many polyglots.

koji je takođe dosta popularan među mnogim poliglotama.

If you're not sure which methods are effective and what is available out there,

Ako niste sigurni koje metode su efektne i koje sve postoje,

just check out polyglots' YouTube channels and websites

samo pogledajte kanale na Jutjubu i internet stranice poliglota

and get inspiration from them.

kako biste dobili inspiraciju.

If it works for them, it will most probably work for you too.

Ako funkcioniše kod njih, verovatno će i kod vas.

The third principle to follow

Treći princip je da napravite sistem u svom učenju.

is to create a system in your learning.

We're all very busy and no one really has time to learn a language today.

Svi smo jako zauzeti, i niko danas nema vremena da uči jezik.

But we can create that time if we just plan a bit ahead.

Ali možemo izdvojiti vreme ako malo planiramo unapred.

Can you wake up 15 minutes earlier than you normally do?

Da li možete da se probudite 15 minuta ranije nego inače?

That would be the perfect time to revise some vocabulary.

To bi bilo savršeno vreme da ponovite reči.

Can you listen to a podcast on your way to work while driving?

Da li možete da slušate podkast na putu za posao dok vozite?

Well, that would be great to get some listening experience.

E, pa to je sjajno za sticanje iskustva u slušanju.

There are so many things we can do without even planning that extra time,

Toliko stvari možemo da uradimo a da ni ne planiramo dodatno vreme,

such as listening to podcasts on our way to work

kao što je slušanje podkasta na putu do posla

or doing our household chores.

ili dok radimo kućne poslove.

The important thing is to create a plan in the learning.

Važno je napraviti plan u učenju.

"I will practice speaking every Tuesday and Thursday

„Vežbaću pričanje svakog utorka i četvrtka

with a friend for 20 minutes.

20 minuta sa prijateljem.

I will listen to a YouTube video while having breakfast."

Slušaću video na Jutjubu dok doručkujem.“

If you create a system in your learning,

Ako napravite sistem u učenju,

you don't need to find that extra time,

ne morate da nalazite dodatno vreme,

because it will become a part of your everyday life.

jer će postati deo vašeg svakodnevnog života.

And finally, if you want to learn a language fluently,

I, naravno, ako želite da naučite jezik tečno,

you need also a bit of patience.

treba vam i malo strpljenja.

It's not possible to learn a language within two months,

Nemoguće je naučiti jezik za dva meseca,

but it's definitely possible to make a visible improvement in two months,

ali je definitvno moguće ostvariti vidiljiv napredak,

if you learn in small chunks every day in a way that you enjoy.

ako učite manje celine svakog dana na način u kojem uživate.

And there is nothing that motivates us more

A ništa nas ne motiviše više

than our own success.

od sopstvenog uspeha.

I vividly remember the moment

Jasno se sećam trenutka

when I understood the first joke in German when watching "Friends."

kada sam razumela prvu šalu na nemačkom gledajući „Prijatelje.“

I was so happy and motivated

Bila sam tako srećna i motivisana

that I just kept on watching that day two more episodes,

da sam tog dana pogledala još dve epizode,

and as I kept watching,

i dok sam gledala,

I had more and more of those moments of understanding, these little victories,

sve više i više sam razumela, doživljavajući male pobede,

and step by step, I got to a level where I could use the language

i korak po korak, došla sam do toga da mogu da koristim jezik

freely and fluently to express anything.

slobodno i tečno da izrazim bilo šta.

This is a wonderful feeling.

To je sjajan osećaj.

I can't get enough of that feeling,

Nikad mi ga nije dosta,

and that's why I learn a language every two years.

i zato učim novi jezik svake dve godine.

So this is the whole polyglot secret.

U tome je tajna poliglota.

Find effective methods which you can use systematically

Naći efektne metode koje možete koristiti sistematično

over the period of some time in a way which you enjoy,

tokom nekog vremena sa uživanjem,

and this is how polyglots learn languages within months, not years.

i tako poliglote uče jezike za par meseci, a ne godina.

Now, some of you may be thinking,

E sad, neki od vas možda misle:

"That's all very nice to enjoy language learning,

„Baš je lepo uživati u procesu učenja jezika,

but isn't the real secret that you polyglots

ali zar nije prava tajna to što su poliglote

are just super talented and most of us aren't?"

jako talentovani, a većina nas nije?“

Well, there's one thing I haven't told you about Benny and Lucas.

E, pa, jednu stvar vam nisam rekla o Beniju i Lukasu.

Benny had 11 years of Irish Gaelic and five years of German at school.

Beni je imao gejlski irski 11 godina, a nemački 5 godina u školi.

He couldn't speak them at all when graduating.

Uopšte ih nije govorio kad je maturirao.

Up to the age of 21, he thought he didn't have the language gene

Do 21. godine, mislio je da nema gen za jezike

and he could not speak another language.

i da ne može da govori drugi jezik.

Then he started to look for his way of learning languages,

Zatim je počeo da traži svoj način za učenje jezika,

which was speaking to native speakers and getting feedback from them,

pričanje sa izvornim govornicima i dobijanje povratne informacije od njih,

and today Benny can easily have a conversation in 10 languages.

i Beni danas može s lakoćom da razgovara na 10 jezika.

Lucas tried to learn English at school for 10 years.

Lukas je 10 godina pokušavao da nauči engleski u školi.

He was one of the worst students in class.

Bio je među najgorim učenicima u razredu.

His friends even made fun of him

Prijatelji su ga ismevali

and gave him a Russian textbook as a joke

i iz šale mu poklonili ruski udžbenik

because they thought he would never learn that language, or any language.

jer su misili da nikada neće naučiti ruski ili bilo koji jezik.

And then Lucas started to experiment with methods,

Tada je Lukas počeo da eksperimentiše sa metodama,

looking for his own way to learn,

tražeći svoj način za učenje,

for example, by having Skype chat conversations with strangers.

na primer, razgovarajući preko Skajpa sa strancima.

And after just 10 years,

I posle samo 10 godina,

Lucas is able to speak 11 languages fluently.

Lukas može tečno da govori 11 jezika.

Does that sound like a miracle?

Da li to zvuči kao čudo?

Well, I see such miracles every single day.

E pa, ja viđam takva čuda svakog dana.

As a language mentor,

Kao mentor za jezike,

I help people learn languages by themselves,

ja pomažem ljudima da sami uče jezike,

and I see this every day.

i to viđam svaki dan.

People struggle with language learning for five, 10, even 20 years,

Ljudi se muče sa učenjem jezika po pet, 10, čak 20 godina,

and then they suddenly take their learning into their own hands,

a onda iznenada uzmu učenje u svoje ruke,

start using materials which they enjoy, more effective methods,

počnu da koriste materijale u kojima uživaju, efektnije metode,

or they start tracking their learning

ili počnu da prate svoje učenje

so that they can appreciate their own progress,

kako bi uočili sopstveni napredak,

and that's when suddenly

kada iznenada,

they magically find the language talent that they were missing all their lives.

kao magijom, pronađu talenat za jezik koji im je nedostajao celog života.

So if you've also tried to learn a language

Ako ste i vi pokušavali da naučite jezik

and you gave up, thinking it's too difficult

i odustali, misleći da je preteško

or you don't have the language talent,

ili da niste talentovani,

give it another try.

pokušajte još jednom.

Maybe you're also just one enjoyable method away

Možda i vama fali samo jedan metod u kojem uživate

from learning that language fluently.

da naučite tečno da govorite jezik.

Maybe you're just one method away from becoming a polyglot.

Možda vam treba samo jedan metod da postanete poliglota.

Thank you.

Hvala vam.

(Applause)

(Aplauz)