The Best Ways to Learn a Language (Based on My Journey) 🌸

Hello deer,

My name is Serina, aka Seri.

I speak Japanese as my native language, and I have embraced learning English, French, Korean, and German along my journey. Living and studying in Germany has given me a chance to immerse myself deeply in new languages and cultures.

Traveling and full immersion have been at the heart of how I connect with each language — listening to music, watching films, and having real conversations with people. For me, languages are more than words. They are bridges to new friendships, ways to understand the world, and paths to finding my own voice across different places.

In this blog post, I want to share the advice and experiences that have helped me navigate language learning with honesty and clarity, hoping it inspires your own journey.

🌷 Gentle and Real Tips That Helped Me Learn Languages

A personal guide from someone still learning.

Learning a language is more than just remembering words.

It is about finding your place again. When you are far from home, or when you feel unsure about who you are in a new culture, it can be hard to express your thoughts.

You might feel quiet, even when you have something to say. But through language, slowly, you begin to understand others and let them understand you. It becomes not just study, but something deeply human.

🌱 What Are the Benefits of Learning a Language?

Learning a language is not only about communication. It brings deeper gifts, both emotional and cognitive:

1. It opens your heart to other cultures.

You begin to see the world through different eyes. Words reflect values, emotions, and ways of thinking that are not your own. It teaches empathy.

2. It deepens your identity.

Sometimes, learning another language helps you discover parts of yourself that you could not express before. It gives you emotional vocabulary, especially if your native language feels limited in some ways.

3. It strengthens your brain.

Languages improve memory, concentration, problem solving, and even delay cognitive aging. It is like mental stretching.

4. It gives you freedom.

Traveling, studying, working, or making friends in other countries becomes easier. You can live more independently.

5. It helps emotional regulation.

Some studies show that people express emotions differently in different languages. Sometimes it is easier to speak about trauma or vulnerability in a second language because it creates some distance.

6. It brings connection.

You can form friendships and even love stories you would never experience if you only spoke one language.

⏳ What Is the Best Age to Learn a Language?

Before age 7

Children who are exposed naturally to two or more languages before this age usually grow up with native pronunciation and fluency in both. It becomes part of their brain structure.

Ages 8 to 18

Still very flexible. Teenagers may not sound native, but they can reach high fluency, especially with good motivation. The brain is still very adaptable.

After age 18

Yes, it becomes slower, but still absolutely possible. Adults have more mental discipline and emotional reasons to learn. The pronunciation may not be perfect, but communication, writing, and understanding can become very strong.

So the earlier, the easier but it is never too late.

🌸 How Many Languages Can We Learn at the Same Time?

This depends on your energy, your goals, and how similar or different the languages are.

1. If you are a beginner:

It is best to focus on one language first, especially if it is your first foreign language. Build a foundation before starting another. Trying to learn two new ones at once may create confusion or frustration.

2. If you already speak more than one:

You can try to learn two at the same time, but choose wisely:

If the languages are very different (like Japanese and French), it is easier to separate them in your mind.

If they are similar (like Spanish and Italian), they can easily mix. In that case, focus more on one, and just keep light contact with the second (like music or apps).

3. Three or more?

It is possible, but rare, and requires very good planning. You would need clear goals, a strong routine, and daily practice. Most people study one seriously, and keep contact with the others through gentle exposure (like reading, listening, or chatting occasionally).

🩷 In short: follow your rhythm, not someone else's ambition.

My advices :

✈️ Travel and Full Immersion

One of the strongest things I did was place myself in a situation where I had no choice but to speak the language. If you are learning something other than English, try not to rely on English translations.

Living, working, or volunteering in a country where the language is spoken, even for a short time, can change everything.

Try to work around locals. Do not isolate yourself with other foreigners. Even just going to the local market, listening to people, or chatting with neighbors helps your ears adjust.

🎵 Learn Through Music and Films

Music taught me so much. I would listen while reading the lyrics. It helped with pronunciation, rhythm, and vocabulary.

With films or anime, try this method:

First, watch with subtitles in the language you are learning.

Then rewatch it without any subtitles at all.

Your brain needs time to connect sound and meaning, but eventually it becomes natural.

📚 Take Intensive Classes in the Beginning

It is tiring, but especially in the beginning, taking regular classes helps. When you study in a classroom, you get used to hearing the language. You can ask questions, and the presence of teachers and classmates motivates you.

Just one or two months of focused lessons can give you a strong foundation.

🧸 Use Children’s Books and Songs

Children's books helped me a lot. They teach the basics — numbers, colors, animals, daily verbs — in a repetitive way.

Children's songs also help with memorization and pronunciation. They are not intimidating, and they stay in your mind like lullabies.

📱 Talk with Others on Language Exchange Apps

Apps like HelloTalk or Tandem are good for practicing with natives or other learners. Even short conversations or writing corrections can teach you new words and expressions in a natural way.

Do not be afraid to make mistakes. That is how you improve.

📖 Practice Alone with Apps Like LingoDeer

When you are not in the mood to talk to others, apps can help.

LingoDeer is one I like for solo study. You can practice grammar, vocabulary, and sentence building at your own pace.

Especially helpful on quiet days when you want to stay with the language gently, without pressure.

Other advices :

🍽️ Involve All Your Senses

Learning is easier when it becomes part of your daily life.

Try:

👉🏻Reading menus or packaging in the target language

👉🏻Watching cooking videos from the country

👉🏻Naming what you eat or do aloud

These small rituals help the language feel more alive and less like a subject.

Changing the language of your phone absolutely helps too.

👉🏻You look at your phone dozens (maybe hundreds) of times per day. Every word, setting, or app you see becomes an opportunity to absorb vocabulary and phrasing.

👉🏻You learn tech-related words like “settings,” “update,” “battery,” “storage,” or “notifications” without even studying. This builds passive understanding — which is often the strongest kind.

👉🏻Even if you’re not actively thinking about it, your brain gets used to seeing and processing the language. This builds familiarity over time.

Unlike sitting with a textbook, this learning happens in the background of your normal life.

For example, if you want to focus on Korean, set your phone to Korean for a month.

You’ll see words like 연락처 (contacts), 설정 (settings), 갤러리 (gallery) without forcing study.

You can keep a tiny memo of any unknown words and review once a week.

If you ever feel frustrated, you can always switch back to your comfort language. But even a week or two makes a difference.

But ✋🏻

👉🏻At beginner level, it can be confusing and even frustrating if you don’t understand basic system vocabulary yet.

👉🏻You might struggle to find functions/settings if you’re unfamiliar with the language.

📓 Keep a Simple Journal

Each day, write just one or two sentences in the language. Even if it is childlike or full of mistakes, it helps you express your feelings.

Write about what you did, what you felt, or what you wish for tomorrow. It is your private space to grow with the language.

🧠 Learn Full Sentences, Not Just Vocabulary

Instead of learning one word like “cat,” try learning it in a sentence.

For example: “The cat is sleeping on the sofa.”

This way, you also learn grammar and how words flow together.

💬 Speak Out Loud to Yourself

You can talk to yourself during the day.

For example:

“I am brushing my hair.”

“It is raining outside.”

You can also repeat lines from movies or songs. It helps your mouth get used to the language, even if no one is around.

🧩 Accept the Messy Moments

There will be times when you feel stuck, forget everything, or get discouraged. That is part of it.

Learning a language is like the ocean — it comes and goes. Sometimes you feel empty, and then suddenly you understand something you never did before. Be patient with the waves.

🌸 Connect Emotionally with the Language

We remember better when something touches us. Choose words that feel beautiful or important to you. Learn expressions of love, of sadness, of hope. Watch dramas or read poetry that moves your heart.

Emotion makes memory stronger.

Among all these advices, which one is my favorite ? 🙋🏻‍♀️

If I had to share one ultimate piece of advice from my experience, it would be this : immerse yourself fully in the country where the language lives.

There is something about being surrounded by the language in daily life — hearing it in shops, on the streets, in conversations, sounds, and rhythms — that no other method can match. It pushes you gently but firmly to understand and speak because the language is not just words anymore. It becomes part of your world, your routine.

It’s not always easy, and it can feel overwhelming at times, but it is the most honest and effective way to truly live the language.

🕰️ How Long Does It Take to Become Fluent in a Language Like Japanese?

Japanese is considered one of the most difficult languages for native English, French, or German speakers to learn. According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), which trains US diplomats, here is a general idea:

🇯🇵 For Japanese:

Estimated time to reach fluency: around 2200 classroom hours

That means: 5 to 7 years with regular study (if you're learning part-time)

Or around 2 to 3 years if you study intensively (like full immersion, living in Japan, using it daily)

🇯🇵 Japanese is difficult because of:

Three writing systems: hiragana, katakana, and kanji (which take years to master)

👉🏻 Grammar that is very different from European languages

👉🏻 Levels of politeness that change how you speak depending on the person and situation

👉🏻 Cultural context, which deeply influences how things are expressed

📊 For Comparison:

Here’s how Japanese compares to other languages you speak:

Language

Estimated hours

Realistic time with consistent learning

French 600–750 hours 1 to 2 years

German 750–900 hours 1.5 to 2.5 years

Korean 2000+ hours 3 to 5 years

Japanese 2200+ hours 3 to 7 years

But keep in mind, fluency is not a fixed goal.

You can:

👉🏻 Have daily conversations in a few months

👉🏻 Watch dramas and understand the main plot in one to two years

👉🏻 Reach business or academic fluency in several years

Fluency is often misunderstood. Most people think it means "speaking perfectly like a native"… but in truth, fluency is a spectrum, not a final destination. You can live years with a language and still feel like you are “not fluent” but that does not mean you are not skilled, or not progressing.

Let’s be honest together for a moment:

🌱 Why It Feels Like You’re Not Fluent (Even After Years)

👉🏻 You probably compare yourself to native speakers.

👉🏻 You understand a lot but still struggle to express exactly what you want.

👉🏻 You freeze in real-life situations or forget words when nervous.

👉🏻 You speak with an accent, or make grammar mistakes, and feel ashamed.

👉🏻 You feel like you “should” be better by now because it’s been so long.

But the truth is… fluency is not perfection. It’s function.

If you can:

👉🏻 hold conversations

👉🏻 understand context

👉🏻 express needs and feelings (even with mistakes)

👉🏻 read or watch something and get the meaning

Then you are already functionally fluent in some way.

🎀 And if you feel stuck?

That’s also part of it. Languages grow unevenly, sometimes you read well but can’t speak, or understand but can’t write. These are normal imbalances.

And sometimes we stop improving because life gets heavy, our minds are tired, or we no longer live in that language. It doesn't mean we failed. It just means we need to reconnect gently, not force ourselves.

💗 Final Thoughts

Learning a language isn’t a straight path.

It takes time, patience, and a lot of trial and error.

There will be moments of doubt, frustration, and even burnout. That’s part of the process.

What matters most is consistency, exposure, and finding ways to stay connected to the language — whether through immersion, friendships, or real-life needs. You don’t need to aim for perfection. Focus on understanding, being understood, and using the language in real situations.

Progress might feel slow, but if you keep showing up, you’ll improve, step by step, day by day.