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

譯者: Marssi Draw 審譯者: Regina Chu

I love learning foreign languages.

我熱愛學習外語。

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

其實我愛到每兩年就學一種新語言，

currently working on my eighth one.

目前我在學第八種語言。

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

如果有人發現這件事， 他們都會問我，

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

「你是怎麼辦到的？祕訣是什麼？」

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

老實說，多年來我的答案大多是：

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

「不知道耶！我就是愛學語言。」

But people were never happy with that answer.

但大家對這個答案都不滿意。

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

他們想知道，為何自己費時多年， 而且只學一種語言，

never achieving fluency,

還是無法說得流利，

and here I come, learning one language after another.

而我卻能一個語言接著一個語言學。

They wanted to know the secret of polyglots,

他們想知道語言達人的祕訣，

people who speak a lot of languages.

精通多種語言者的祕訣。

And that made me wonder, too,

這也勾起了我的好奇心，

how do actually other polyglots do it?

其他語言達人是怎麼辦到的？

What do we have in common?

我們有什麼共通點？

And what is it that enables us

是什麼因素讓我們

to learn languages so much faster than other people?

比其他人學語言的速度還快得多？

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

我決定和其他像我這樣的人 見面來找出答案。

The best place to meet a lot of polyglots

要碰到很多語言達人的最佳地點

is an event where hundreds of language lovers

就在幾百位語言愛好者參加的聚會，

meet in one place to practice their languages.

大家在同一個地方 練習自己在學的語言。

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

世界各地都有一些這種 辦給語言達人參加的活動，

and so I decided to go there

所以我決定去那

and ask polyglots about the methods that they use.

問問語言達人他們用了什麼方法。

And so I met Benny from Ireland,

我碰到從愛爾蘭來的白尼，

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

他告訴我，他的方法是 從第一天就開始說。

He learns a few phrases from a travel phrasebook

他先從旅遊書籍學幾個詞，

and goes to meet native speakers

然後去和當地人碰面，

and starts having conversations with them right away.

馬上和他們對話。

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

他不介意每天犯多達兩百個錯誤，

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

因為他就是這樣 從別人給的回饋學習。

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

最棒的是，現在 他根本不用到處旅行，

because you can easily have conversations with native speakers

因為你可以輕易和當地人 在你舒適的客廳交談，

from the comfort of your living room, using websites.

只要有網路就行。

I also met Lucas from Brazil

我也碰到巴西來的盧卡斯，

who had a really interesting method to learn Russian.

他學俄語的方法超有趣。

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

他在 Skype 上任意 加一百個說俄語的人好友，

and then he opened a chat window with one of them

然後打開其中一個人的對話視窗，

and wrote "Hi" in Russian.

用俄語寫「嗨」。

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

這個人回：「嗨，你好嗎？」

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

盧卡斯把這句話覆製貼到 另一個人的對話視窗，

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

這個人回： 「我很好，謝謝，你呢？」

Lucas copied this back to the first person,

他再把這句話覆製，貼給第一個人，

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

透過這個方法， 他讓兩個陌生人交談，

without knowing about it.

而且他們自己根本不知道。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And soon he would start typing himself,

不久後他就可以開始自己打字，

because he had so many of these conversations

因為有過這麼多對話之後，

that he figured out how the Russian conversation usually starts.

他就知道要怎麼開始用俄語交談。

很天才的方法，對吧？

What an ingenious method, right?

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

後來我碰到一個語言達人， 他都會從模仿一個語言的聲音開始；

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

有一部分的人會先學 最常用的五百個單字；

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

還有一些人會先學文法。

If I asked a hundred different polyglots,

如果我問一百個語言達人，

I heard a hundred different approaches to learning languages.

會聽到一百種不同的語言學習法。

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

每個人都有自己 獨特的方式學習語言，

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

最後大家都能流利說多種語言。

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

聽著其他達人說他們的方法時，

it suddenly dawned on me:

我突然明白：

the one thing we all have in common

我們的共通點

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

是都會去找出 享受學習語言的方法。

All of these polyglots were talking about language learning

所有達人在談語言學習的時候

都像是學語言超有趣。

as if it was great fun.

You should have seen their faces

可惜你們沒看到他們

when they were showing me their colorful grammar charts

給我看他們做的彩色文法表、

and their carefully handmade flash cards,

精心自製的單字卡、

and their statistics about learning vocabulary using apps,

在應用程式上學單字的統計，

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

以及他們熱愛用外語食譜作菜 這些時刻的神情。

All of them use different methods,

每個人都採用不同方法，

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

但他們都先確定這些事能帶來樂趣。

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

我理解到其實這也是 我自己學語言的方法。

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

我學西班牙語的時候， 覺得課本上的文章很無聊。

I mean, who wants to read about Jose

我的意思是，誰會想讀

asking about the directions to the train station. Right?

何西問去火車站要怎麼走？

I wanted to read "Harry Potter" instead,

我反而想先讀《哈利波特》，

because that was my favorite book as a child,

因為那是我小時候最愛的書，

and I have read it many times.

我看過很多次了。

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

所以我找到這本書的西班牙語譯本，

然後開始讀，

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

當然一開始我幾乎完全看不懂，

but I kept on reading because I loved the book,

但我還是繼續讀， 因為我超愛這本書，

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

到最後我已經能毫無障礙讀下去了。

And the same thing happened when I was learning German.

我學德語也是同樣的情況。

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

我決定用德語看《六人行》， 這是我最愛的喜劇，

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

同樣地，一開始全都是 我聽不懂的話，

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

我根本分不清這些聲音 是一個字的頭還是尾，

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

但我每天繼續看， 因為那是《六人行》。

我可以每個語言都看， 我真的超愛這個影集。

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

And after the second or third season,

看了兩三季之後，

seriously, the dialogue started to make sense.

真的，我開始聽得懂一些對話了。

I only realized this after meeting other polyglots.

我在和其他語言達人碰面之後 才了解這一點。

We are no geniuses

我們都不是天才，

and we have no shortcut to learning languages.

沒有學語言的捷徑。

We simply found ways how to enjoy the process,

我們只是找到享受過程的方法，

how to turn language learning from a boring school subject

找到將學語言這個在學校無聊的科目

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

變成愉快的活動， 不介意每天都要做。

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

要是你不喜歡手寫單字，

you can always type them in an app.

你可以在應用程式裡打字。

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

要是你不愛聽無聊的課文，

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

你可以上 YouTube 或播客 找到各種語言的有趣內容。

If you're a more introverted person

要是你比較內向，

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

你無法想像馬上和母語人士對話，

you can apply the method of self-talk.

你可以試著自言自語。

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

你可以在房裡舒舒服服 和自己說話，

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

談談你週末的計畫、 今天過得怎麼樣，

or even take a random picture from your phone

或是從手機裡找出一張照片，

and describe the picture to your imaginary friend.

跟你的虛擬好友形容這張照片。

This is how polyglots learn languages,

這是語言達人學語言的方式，

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

最棒的是每個人都可以做，

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

尤其是那些想要自學的人。

So meeting other polyglots helped me realize

和這麼多達人見面讓我理解到，

that it is really crucial to find enjoyment

在學習語言的過程中找到樂趣

in the process of learning languages,

真的很關鍵，

but also that joy in itself is not enough.

但只有喜悅還不夠。

If you want to achieve fluency in a foreign language,

如果你想達到外語流利的程度，

you'll also need to apply three more principles.

你得依循三個原則。

First of all, you'll need effective methods.

第一，要採用有效率的方法。

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

為了明天考試背的一長串單字，

the words will be stored in your short-term memory

這些字會儲存在短期記憶裡，

and you'll forget them after a few days.

過幾天你就會忘了。

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

如果你想要長時間記得這些單字，

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

就必須每隔幾天複習一下，

using the so-called space repetition.

這是採用所謂的間隔重覆法。

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

你可以用運用這種系統的應用程式， 像是 Anki 或憶術家，

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

或是在筆記本寫下單字， 採用所謂的黃金字表法（Goldlist），

which is also very popular with many polyglots.

這個方法在語言達人間也很受歡迎。

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

如果你不確定哪些方法有效， 或是有哪些方法可以用，

just check out polyglots' YouTube channels and websites

可以上語言達人的 YouTube 頻道和網站，

and get inspiration from them.

從中找尋靈感。

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

如果對他們有效， 對你來說也八成有效。

The third principle to follow

第三個要依循的原則

is to create a system in your learning.

是去找到你學習的系統。

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

我們都很忙，沒人有空學語言。

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

但我們可以創造一點時間， 只要我們提早計畫就行。

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

你可以比平常早 15 分鐘起床嗎？

That would be the perfect time to revise some vocabulary.

那是複習單字最好的時間。

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

你可以在開車上班途中聽播客嗎？

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

那也是練聽力的絕佳時間。

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

我們不需要事先 規畫時間就能做很多事，

such as listening to podcasts on our way to work

像是上班通勤的時候聽播客，

or doing our household chores.

或是做家事的時候也可以。

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

重要的是去訂學習的計畫。

"I will practice speaking every Tuesday and Thursday

「我會每個星期二和四練口說，

with a friend for 20 minutes.

和一個朋友聊二十分鐘。

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

我會邊聽 YouTube 影片， 邊吃早餐。」

If you create a system in your learning,

如果你有了一套學習系統，

you don't need to find that extra time,

你就不需要額外找時間，

because it will become a part of your everyday life.

因為那會成為你生活的一部分。

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

最後，如果你想把語言練得流利，

you need also a bit of patience.

你需要一點耐心。

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

兩個月就學會新語言是不可能的事，

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

但是兩個月內看到進步絕對有可能，

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

只要你每天用喜歡的方式學一點。

And there is nothing that motivates us more

沒有什麼動機比自己的成功 更能激勵我們。

than our own success.

I vividly remember the moment

我清楚記得

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

聽懂德文版《六人行》 第一個笑話的那個時刻。

I was so happy and motivated

我超高興且大受鼓舞，

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

當天又多看了兩集，

and as I kept watching,

我在看的時候，

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

又得到更多那種理解的時刻， 這些小小的勝利，

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

一步步地，我到達的程度

讓我可以自在流利地 用這個語言表達任何事情。

freely and fluently to express anything.

This is a wonderful feeling.

這是很棒的感覺。

I can't get enough of that feeling,

這種感覺我永遠都不嫌少，

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

因此我每兩年就學一種新語言。

So this is the whole polyglot secret.

這就是語言達人的祕訣。

Find effective methods which you can use systematically

找出有效的方法，讓你能夠有系統

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

且愉快地進行一段時間，

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

這就是語言達人只要幾個月而非幾年 就能學會語言的方法。

Now, some of you may be thinking,

現在，在座有些人可能會想，

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

「享受學語言很好，

but isn't the real secret that you polyglots

但真正的祕密是你們語言達人

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

就真的很有天分，而我們沒天分吧？」

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

嗯，我還有件事沒和你們說， 和白尼與盧卡斯有關。

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

白尼在學校學了 11 年 愛爾蘭蓋爾語和五年德語。

He couldn't speak them at all when graduating.

他畢業的時候還沒辦法 用這兩個語言說話。

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

他 21 歲的時候，覺得自己 應該沒有語言基因，

and he could not speak another language.

無法說外語。

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

後來他開始去找自己的語言學習法，

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

也就是和母語人士交談， 並從他們身上得到回饋，

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

現在白尼可以輕鬆 用十種語言和人聊天。

Lucas tried to learn English at school for 10 years.

盧卡斯在學校學了十年英語。

He was one of the worst students in class.

他是班上掉車尾的學生。

His friends even made fun of him

他朋友還會作弄他，

and gave him a Russian textbook as a joke

送他一本俄語課本來開他玩笑，

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

因為他們覺得他不可能 學俄語或是其他語言。

And then Lucas started to experiment with methods,

後來盧卡斯開始嘗試新方法，

looking for his own way to learn,

尋找自己學習的方式，

for example, by having Skype chat conversations with strangers.

像是用 Skype 和陌生人聊天。

And after just 10 years,

只花了十年，

Lucas is able to speak 11 languages fluently.

盧卡斯已經可以 流利說 11 種語言了。

Does that sound like a miracle?

聽起來像奇蹟嗎？

Well, I see such miracles every single day.

我每天都看到這樣的奇蹟。

As a language mentor,

身為語言訓練師，

I help people learn languages by themselves,

我幫大家自學語言，

and I see this every day.

我每天都會見證這個奇蹟。

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

有人努力學了五年、 十年、二十年語言，

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

突然開始自學，

start using materials which they enjoy, more effective methods,

用自己能享受其中的資源， 更有效的方法，

or they start tracking their learning

或是開始記錄自己的學習，

so that they can appreciate their own progress,

這樣就能看到自己的成長，

and that's when suddenly

也就是在這樣的時刻，

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

他們神奇地找到 在生命中遺失的語言天分。

So if you've also tried to learn a language

如果你試過學一種語言，

and you gave up, thinking it's too difficult

然後你放棄了，覺得太難，

or you don't have the language talent,

或是自己沒語言天分，

give it another try.

再試一下。

Maybe you're also just one enjoyable method away

也許你只需要一個有趣的方法

from learning that language fluently.

讓你能學會並流利運用那個語言。

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

也許你只要一個方法， 就能成為語言達人。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）