Welcome to the Language Hack. As a reader of Barcelona Metropolitan, you’re likely to be a foreign resident living in the city with a basic knowledge of Spanish and/or Catalan. We could debate all day which language you should choose to learn, but the bottom line is: are you happy with basic?
The language barrier can make everyday life here a challenge. That’s where this blog comes in: it’s about learning to communicate in at least one of these languages and helping you to find your voice as quickly, effectively and cheaply as possible.
Let’s get started.
One Simple Rule
Once upon a time, not so long ago, two remarkable young men called Scott Young and Vat Jaiswal travelled to four countries in a year. They visited Spain, Portugal, China and Korea, staying in each one for three months. The remarkable part is that during each of those three-month periods, they became fluent in the local language. In other words, they became fluent in four new languages in just one year! How?
Did they develop some sophisticated language acquisition system? Did they pay a small fortune for intensive study courses? Did they find a way of wiring their laptop to a knitting needle and sticking it into the back of their heads?
No. In fact, they had only one simple rule which they followed rigorously from day one: No English. And not just no English, but no other language other than the language being studied.
It started as a game, became a habit and then a solid technique that surpassed any language learning course. The downside of this technique is that it's frustratingly tough to begin with, but, on the upside, it means you’re immediately focused on the language you need to learn. Context and language go together; every expression and interjection is serving a very real purpose to transmit a feeling, a desire or an idea.
When you learn a new language in this way, you are doing exactly what infants do to acquire language. Furthermore, if you follow the ‘No English’ rule with a language buddy who has about the same language level, your combined efforts will reinforce each other as you both need to focus on the same vocabulary.
But what do you do if you don't have a language buddy with the patience of a saint and the stubbornness of a six-year-old?
If you’re sharing a flat with English speakers, you can play the ‘No English’ game by agreeing that the first person to use English has to pay a forfeit such as doing the washing up, cleaning the toilet or putting an extra €10 in the kitty.
If you live alone, ban English from your life for a day: No English reading, no English internet, no English apps. Reset your phone to your target language and watch local TV. Only use your target language when you’re out and about. If you can go an entire day like this, can you do it for another?
Is it easy? No. But is it worth the effort? As Scott and Vat would say “Sí, sim, shì, ye!” For more information, check out Scott’s website, scotthyoung.com.
¡Buena suerte y hasta luego!
Bona sort i fins aviat!
NOTE: When I say 'fluent', I mean you can have normal everyday conversations about familiar topics with native speakers in a natural and coherent way without coming across as a moron.