0:00:04.750,0:00:06.883
I speak seven languages.

0:00:06.883,0:00:09.460
As soon as people find out about that,

0:00:09.460,0:00:11.721
what I'm most often asked --

0:00:11.721,0:00:13.693
other than for my phone number --

0:00:13.693,0:00:16.042
is: "How did you do it?

0:00:16.042,0:00:20.395
How did you go about learning[br]all these different languages?"

0:00:20.395,0:00:24.255
Well, today I'm going to[br]share with you some answers.

0:00:24.255,0:00:26.438
So my phone number is 212...

0:00:26.438,0:00:27.551
(Laughter)

0:00:27.551,0:00:28.704
I'm just kidding.

0:00:28.704,0:00:30.743
See, I was raised as a polyglot.

0:00:30.743,0:00:33.288
And by the time I turned 18,

0:00:33.288,0:00:36.312
I could speak already[br]four different languages.

0:00:36.312,0:00:38.663
And then for the subsequent three years,

0:00:38.663,0:00:40.668
I learned three additional languages.

0:00:40.668,0:00:43.290
It's about those 3 years[br]that I want to talk about.

0:00:43.290,0:00:46.094
Because my language acquisition process

0:00:46.094,0:00:48.758
was very different from that of my peers,

0:00:48.758,0:00:51.235
in that it was never of these stressful,

0:00:51.235,0:00:54.842
strenuous, difficult,[br]seemingly impossible tasks,

0:00:54.842,0:00:58.279
but rather something[br]enjoyable, fun, exciting.

0:00:58.279,0:01:01.232
I loved it, every single moment of it.

0:01:02.612,0:01:05.057
And I want to share with you

0:01:05.057,0:01:08.308
why, what was it that made it so special.

0:01:08.308,0:01:10.784
See, I did have a head start,

0:01:10.784,0:01:14.840
in that I did have these four languages[br]that I spoke ahead of time.

0:01:14.840,0:01:17.326
But there were also these 5 techniques,

0:01:17.326,0:01:20.569
5 skills if you will, that I use

0:01:20.569,0:01:23.851
that made the language[br]learning process so much easier.

0:01:23.851,0:01:25.708
And it's about those 5 techniques

0:01:25.708,0:01:27.753
that I want to talk about.

0:01:27.753,0:01:29.883
So let's dig right in.

0:01:29.883,0:01:31.292
And for the first one,

0:01:31.292,0:01:33.487
the first thing that we've got to do

0:01:33.487,0:01:37.073
is to take a very deep breath.

0:01:41.593,0:01:43.483
And relax.

0:01:43.483,0:01:46.407
And the reason for it[br]is because our entire lives,

0:01:46.407,0:01:49.249
we're taught how to do things right.

0:01:49.249,0:01:51.370
From the moment we were born we're taught

0:01:51.370,0:01:54.471
what things we should do,[br]things we shouldn't do,

0:01:54.471,0:01:57.142
and how to do things properly.

0:01:57.142,0:01:59.625
Well, when it comes to language learning,

0:01:59.625,0:02:01.833
the golden rule of language learning,

0:02:01.833,0:02:04.131
the most important thing,

0:02:04.131,0:02:07.087
is to get things wrong,

0:02:07.087,0:02:09.173
to make mistakes,

0:02:09.173,0:02:11.081
and that is the first rule.

0:02:11.081,0:02:12.893
Let me explain to you why.

0:02:12.893,0:02:14.923
See, when we've known languages,

0:02:14.923,0:02:17.118
we know a whole collection of sounds

0:02:17.118,0:02:19.785
and a whole collection of structures,

0:02:19.785,0:02:22.437
which combined make what I like to call --

0:02:22.437,0:02:24.587
and for the purpose[br]of this presentation --

0:02:24.587,0:02:26.825
our "'language database."

0:02:26.825,0:02:28.879
And our language database will contain

0:02:28.879,0:02:30.923
all the sounds and structures[br]that we know.

0:02:30.923,0:02:33.649
However, there is a whole family[br]of sounds and structures

0:02:33.649,0:02:36.478
that are beyond our database.

0:02:36.478,0:02:41.902
And for us to be able to embark on those[br]and to be able to explore those,

0:02:41.902,0:02:44.526
there is nothing within our database,

0:02:44.526,0:02:46.329
nothing within our knowledge

0:02:46.329,0:02:49.377
that will tell us when[br]we're getting the structures right,

0:02:49.377,0:02:52.952
nothing to tell us[br]when that sound is precise.

0:02:52.952,0:02:56.277
Let's say we're going to explore[br]this one specific sound.

0:02:56.277,0:02:58.568
There is nothing in our database.

0:02:58.568,0:03:01.317
When we say it, we could say it perfectly,

0:03:01.317,0:03:05.533
but in our minds,[br]it will sound like a mistake.

0:03:05.533,0:03:09.294
So you know that queasy feeling,[br]that insecure thing,

0:03:09.294,0:03:13.054
when we feel like we're doing[br]something wrong?

0:03:13.054,0:03:15.533
That is the trigger[br]that you need to look for.

0:03:15.533,0:03:21.073
Because that is the signal that tells you[br]that you're going beyond your database

0:03:21.073,0:03:25.055
and that you're allowing yourself[br]to explore the realm of the new language.

0:03:25.055,0:03:27.120
Let me show you how[br]this works in practice.

0:03:27.120,0:03:31.148
Let's say, we're going to go[br]and learn the word "door" in Spanish.

0:03:31.148,0:03:33.336
So, the word "door"[br]in Spanish is "Puerta."

0:03:33.336,0:03:36.526
So, for "Puerta" we've got[br]a few sounds that exist in English.

0:03:36.526,0:03:38.760
So, the "Pu," "e," and "ta."

0:03:38.760,0:03:42.257
However, when it comes to the "r,"

0:03:42.257,0:03:45.185
that sound is not in our database.

0:03:45.185,0:03:46.495
The "RR."

0:03:46.495,0:03:52.909
The rolled "r" does not exist[br]in the English sound database.

0:03:52.909,0:03:55.623
And it's a little bit on the outside.

0:03:55.623,0:03:58.293
So, if we allowed ourselves

0:03:58.293,0:04:01.263
to bridge through our database,[br]and to really break through

0:04:01.263,0:04:02.753
and to make the mistake,

0:04:02.753,0:04:04.888
we could make sounds like the "RR."

0:04:04.888,0:04:06.607
But instead, what sometimes happens

0:04:06.607,0:04:10.410
is that we get the closest relative of it[br]that is within the database,

0:04:10.410,0:04:12.787
and that is the "ah-er" sound.

0:04:12.787,0:04:14.204
(Laughter)

0:04:14.204,0:04:16.190
And that "ah-er" sound

0:04:16.190,0:04:18.808
makes something[br]that sounds like "pue-er-rta,"

0:04:18.808,0:04:22.476
which doesn't mean a thing in Spanish,

0:04:22.476,0:04:26.157
and actually doesn't sound too charming.

0:04:26.157,0:04:28.780
And it doesn't tell you too much.

0:04:28.780,0:04:30.735
So, for the first technique,

0:04:30.735,0:04:33.464
allow yourself to make that mistake,

0:04:33.464,0:04:36.754
so that sounds like "Puerta" can come out.

0:04:36.754,0:04:38.518
And now let's go to the second one.

0:04:38.518,0:04:39.829
For the second one,

0:04:39.829,0:04:41.925
I'm going to need[br]some of your collaboration.

0:04:41.925,0:04:45.283
We're going to read[br]these four beautiful words.

0:04:45.283,0:04:46.822
And on the count of three.

0:04:46.822,0:04:50.489
So let's start with the first one,[br]on the count of three: one, two, three.

0:04:50.489,0:04:52.235
(Audience) Mao.[br]SE: "Mao," perfect.

0:04:52.235,0:04:54.608
The second one: one, two, three.[br](Audience:) Coco.

0:04:54.608,0:04:56.735
SE: Perfect. Third one.[br]One, two, three.

0:04:56.735,0:04:58.933
(Audience) Cocao.[br]SE: Perfect.

0:04:58.933,0:05:01.565
And the fourth one. One, two, three.

0:05:01.565,0:05:03.333
(Silence)

0:05:03.333,0:05:06.280
Oh.

0:05:06.280,0:05:08.987
Let me show you what happened[br]when we did this.

0:05:08.987,0:05:11.296
We get theses four words

0:05:11.296,0:05:14.972
and we put them through[br]a sort of American English filter.

0:05:14.972,0:05:19.736
And we get something[br]looks kind of like this.

0:05:19.736,0:05:21.786
And I'll tell you the results of that.

0:05:21.786,0:05:24.119
So for the first one "Mão,"

0:05:24.119,0:05:26.291
which means "hand" in Portuguese,

0:05:26.291,0:05:29.087
we put it through the filter,[br]we get "Mao."

0:05:29.087,0:05:30.703
(Laughter)

0:05:30.703,0:05:32.811
For the second one we get "coco,"

0:05:32.811,0:05:34.980
which is "coconut" in Portuguese,

0:05:34.980,0:05:38.326
or "cocô," which means "poop."

0:05:38.326,0:05:41.074
We put through the filter,[br]we get a warm cup of cocoa.

0:05:41.074,0:05:42.522
(Laughter)

0:05:42.522,0:05:44.521
And for the fourth one,

0:05:44.521,0:05:45.865
we have "huo,"

0:05:45.865,0:05:48.419
which means "fire" in Chinese.

0:05:48.419,0:05:49.573
And we get --

0:05:49.573,0:05:52.609
if you're feeling really creative,[br]maybe a dude doing karate...

0:05:52.634,0:05:53.680
(Laughter)

0:05:53.712,0:05:55.582
But anyway,

0:05:55.582,0:05:59.772
these don't tell you much[br]about how these things are pronounced.

0:05:59.772,0:06:01.688
And if you think it's only one way,

0:06:01.688,0:06:04.482
only if you're going from English[br]to a different language,

0:06:04.482,0:06:06.207
think about non-native speakers.

0:06:06.207,0:06:07.823
And try to explain to someone

0:06:07.823,0:06:09.862
that this [though] is pronounced "though,"

0:06:09.862,0:06:12.286
and that this [thought][br]is pronounced "thought."

0:06:12.286,0:06:14.602
And even though[br]they look almost identical,

0:06:14.602,0:06:16.997
they have nothing to do with one another.

0:06:16.997,0:06:18.620
Or try to explain to them that

0:06:18.620,0:06:20.080
this [enough] is "enough"

0:06:20.080,0:06:22.489
and this [enuf] is just simply wrong.

0:06:22.489,0:06:29.107
See, there is nothing useful[br]about using that foreign alphabet,

0:06:29.107,0:06:31.098
when you're trying to learn a language.

0:06:31.098,0:06:34.086
Why? Because it will[br]give you wrong signals.

0:06:34.086,0:06:36.477
So what is the second technique?

0:06:36.477,0:06:37.880
Scrap it.

0:06:37.880,0:06:40.889
Scrap the foreign alphabet.

0:06:40.889,0:06:44.859
Let me give you an alternative[br]of how you can go about this.

0:06:44.859,0:06:46.900
This is a Brazilian currency,

0:06:46.900,0:06:48.541
and it spelled like this.

0:06:48.541,0:06:51.939
On the count of three, can we all say[br]the name of the currency. 1, 2, 3.

0:06:51.939,0:06:53.374
(Audience) Real.

0:06:53.374,0:06:55.997
SE: We have some people[br]who know the spelling.

0:06:56.057,0:06:58.487
Yeah, "re-al," for the most part.

0:06:58.487,0:07:03.973
And as useful as this might seem,[br]it doesn't tell you a single thing.

0:07:03.973,0:07:07.445
And when you're speaking Portuguese,[br]"re-al" means nothing.

0:07:07.445,0:07:08.944
Let me give you an alternative.

0:07:08.944,0:07:13.643
See, in Portuguese,[br]the way that you say "real" is "heou."

0:07:13.652,0:07:16.726
So let me teach you how to say it.

0:07:16.726,0:07:19.012
So on the count of three, let's say "he."

0:07:19.012,0:07:21.181
So it's "hey" without the "y" sound.

0:07:21.181,0:07:23.312
So, one, two, three -- "he."

0:07:23.312,0:07:25.023
(Audience) HE.[br]SE: Perfect.

0:07:25.023,0:07:26.456
And now let's say "ou."

0:07:26.456,0:07:28.872
It's like "ouch",[br]but without the "ch" sound,

0:07:28.872,0:07:30.998
so it's "ou." One, two, three,

0:07:31.008,0:07:32.810
(Audience) OU.[br]SE: Perfect.

0:07:32.810,0:07:33.884
So, "HE."

0:07:33.884,0:07:35.183
(Audience) HE.

0:07:35.183,0:07:36.520
SE: "OU."

0:07:36.520,0:07:37.580
(Audience:) OU.

0:07:37.580,0:07:38.890
SE: "HE."[br](Audience:) HE.

0:07:38.890,0:07:40.308
SE: "OU."[br](Audience:) OU.

0:07:40.308,0:07:43.972
SE: "HE-OU," HEOU.

0:07:43.972,0:07:46.730
(Audience) HE-OU.[br]SE: Perfect.

0:07:46.730,0:07:49.914
Now you all sound like[br]passionate Brazilian capitalists.

0:07:49.914,0:07:51.598
(Laughter)

0:07:51.598,0:07:58.202
So why would we go and use[br]something that looks like this,

0:07:58.202,0:08:00.203
that looks like "real,"

0:08:00.203,0:08:02.035
when instead you can use something

0:08:02.035,0:08:05.152
that looks like this and gives you[br]so much more information

0:08:05.152,0:08:08.794
about how to say something[br]in a foreign language.

0:08:08.794,0:08:10.608
And that puts us in a really good spot

0:08:10.608,0:08:12.927
because at this point we allowed ourselves

0:08:12.927,0:08:15.811
to break through our database[br]and to make mistakes,

0:08:15.811,0:08:19.478
to go into that uncharted territory[br]of a new language.

0:08:19.478,0:08:22.657
And then, we figured out[br]how to take notations

0:08:22.657,0:08:25.792
in a way that the information[br]is actually meaningful.

0:08:25.792,0:08:28.051
But then how can we test it?

0:08:28.051,0:08:31.006
And that's where[br]technique number 3 comes in.

0:08:31.006,0:08:35.011
Technique number 3[br]is about finding a stickler.

0:08:35.011,0:08:37.809
So finding someone who's detail-oriented

0:08:37.809,0:08:40.520
and won't let you to get away[br]with the mistakes.

0:08:40.520,0:08:43.865
And more than finding someone[br]who is really that person,

0:08:43.865,0:08:45.665
the guru for the language,

0:08:45.665,0:08:49.702
it's more about establishing[br]the right sort of relationship.

0:08:49.702,0:08:51.088
Relationship with someone,

0:08:51.088,0:08:54.016
where they'll correct you,[br]and feel comfortable correcting you

0:08:54.016,0:08:57.869
and making sure that you're getting[br]to that spot you wanted in a language.

0:08:57.869,0:08:59.434
But at the same time,

0:08:59.434,0:09:00.879
someone who will encourage you

0:09:00.879,0:09:04.146
to get things wrong and to make[br]those mistakes in the first place.

0:09:04.146,0:09:06.739
And sticklers could be your teacher,

0:09:06.739,0:09:08.482
it could be your tutor, friend,

0:09:08.482,0:09:12.586
it could be someone on Skype[br]or on Craigslist; it doesn't matter.

0:09:12.586,0:09:14.595
You can find sticklers all over the place,

0:09:14.595,0:09:17.784
and with technology,[br]it becomes a lot easier find them.

0:09:17.784,0:09:21.045
And then it's time to practice.

0:09:21.045,0:09:24.486
And for practicing,[br]we've got the fourth technique.

0:09:24.486,0:09:26.422
See, I always thought I had this thing

0:09:26.454,0:09:30.412
that was a little bit[br]of "Sid craziness" that I did,

0:09:30.412,0:09:32.671
and then I realized how useful it was.

0:09:32.671,0:09:38.735
I always did what I like to call[br]"Shower Conversations."

0:09:38.735,0:09:42.502
And shower conversations are[br]exactly what they sound like.

0:09:42.502,0:09:44.253
When I was learning a new language,

0:09:44.253,0:09:46.534
I would stay in the shower[br]for a few minutes.

0:09:46.534,0:09:48.875
I would remember[br]having all these discussions;

0:09:48.875,0:09:50.889
I remember when I was learning Chinese,

0:09:50.889,0:09:53.949
and I would haggle[br]and try to get two yen more,

0:09:53.949,0:09:57.479
to get that wonderful dumpling,[br]and getting the discount;

0:09:57.479,0:09:59.418
or I would go to Roma

0:09:59.418,0:10:02.887
and I'd ask for directions[br]to the best "piazza."

0:10:02.887,0:10:04.187
It was amazing.

0:10:04.187,0:10:06.473
The beautiful thing[br]about the shower conversation

0:10:06.473,0:10:10.879
is that it allows you to find wherever[br]you have a gap in your knowledge,

0:10:10.879,0:10:14.099
because you're having[br]a conversation on both ends.

0:10:14.099,0:10:18.242
For example, it's easy to ask[br]for directions, how about receiving them?

0:10:18.242,0:10:20.415
Or even better, giving directions.

0:10:20.415,0:10:24.510
Well, the shower conversation forces you[br]to have both side of the conversation.

0:10:24.510,0:10:27.204
And you don't need[br]to have them in the shower.

0:10:27.204,0:10:30.105
Another wonderful thing[br]is that you can have them anywhere.

0:10:30.105,0:10:32.501
You can have them in the shower,[br]in your apartment,

0:10:32.501,0:10:35.457
walking down in the streets,[br]in the subway,

0:10:35.457,0:10:38.003
and seriously, if you're in the subway,

0:10:38.003,0:10:40.661
speaking to yourself in a foreign[br]language in New York,

0:10:40.661,0:10:42.022
you'll fit right in.

0:10:42.025,0:10:43.662
You're fine.

0:10:43.662,0:10:44.916
It's great,

0:10:44.916,0:10:49.230
because you don't depend on anything[br]or anyone to get your practice,

0:10:49.230,0:10:51.084
and I did this for years.

0:10:51.084,0:10:54.009
And later on I found[br]that professional athletes do, too.

0:10:54.009,0:10:58.293
Michael Phelps is known to visualize[br]every single one of his races,

0:10:58.293,0:11:01.487
several times over,[br]before jumping in water.

0:11:01.487,0:11:02.932
Worked great for him,

0:11:02.932,0:11:04.936
and it works great for me, too,

0:11:04.936,0:11:07.648
so it would work for you as well.

0:11:07.648,0:11:10.961
And now let's go to using the language.

0:11:10.961,0:11:12.681
Because up to now, it's great,

0:11:12.681,0:11:14.831
we've figured out[br]how to do all these things,

0:11:14.831,0:11:18.303
and that puts us in a really good position[br]to use the language,

0:11:18.303,0:11:22.477
and for that I recommend[br]you find a conversation buddy.

0:11:22.477,0:11:24.601
To find a conversation buddy,

0:11:24.601,0:11:29.495
I recommend you follow what I call[br]"The Buddy Formula."

0:11:29.495,0:11:31.942
And that is a way that you can make sure

0:11:31.942,0:11:37.228
that your incentives are always aligned[br]to use the new language.

0:11:37.228,0:11:38.593
So for that is,

0:11:38.593,0:11:42.918
the target language should be[br]your best language in common.

0:11:42.918,0:11:44.074
Why?

0:11:44.074,0:11:45.921
If you're anything like me,

0:11:45.921,0:11:47.781
you like to learn languages,

0:11:47.781,0:11:50.721
so that you can communicate[br]with more people,

0:11:50.721,0:11:52.183
so that you can reach out

0:11:52.183,0:11:56.098
and understand a little bit more[br]about their brains and hearts.

0:11:56.098,0:11:59.862
And so, if we try to talk to[br]someone in a foreign language

0:11:59.862,0:12:03.246
that both of us don't do really well,[br]when we could be speaking English,

0:12:03.246,0:12:06.556
or whatever language you're[br]more comfortable with as a pair,

0:12:06.556,0:12:10.097
odds are that you're going to revert[br]to that language that is easier.

0:12:10.097,0:12:13.489
So I recommend you to find someone[br]where your best language in common

0:12:13.489,0:12:15.311
is your target language.

0:12:15.311,0:12:18.028
And if you can't find one locally,[br]try technology.

0:12:18.028,0:12:21.475
Or if you can travel,[br]that would be perfect.

0:12:21.475,0:12:24.007
There's a problem with that,[br]and I realize it,

0:12:24.007,0:12:27.749
because it's difficult to find someone[br]who fits that profile exactly.

0:12:27.749,0:12:29.473
But I've got good news.

0:12:29.473,0:12:32.317
And I've found that out when I was work,

0:12:32.317,0:12:34.697
and one of my colleagues,[br]he's a linguist, too,

0:12:34.697,0:12:37.217
he speaks a ton of languages,

0:12:37.217,0:12:41.349
and our best language in common[br]was definitely English.

0:12:41.349,0:12:44.928
Our second best language in common:[br]definitely French.

0:12:44.928,0:12:49.947
But we always spoke in German[br]to each other in the office.

0:12:49.947,0:12:51.726
Why was that?

0:12:51.726,0:12:54.930
It was because there were people[br]in the office who spoke English;

0:12:54.930,0:12:57.454
there were people in the office[br]who spoke French.

0:12:57.454,0:13:00.879
But we could talk about Friday[br]and Saturday night in German,

0:13:00.879,0:13:03.951
and nobody had any idea[br]what we were talking about.

0:13:03.957,0:13:07.651
So it can also be your best[br]secret language in common.

0:13:07.651,0:13:09.318
(Laughter)

0:13:09.318,0:13:11.501
And it becomes such a convenient tool.

0:13:11.501,0:13:13.457
You can have it with your friends

0:13:13.457,0:13:16.393
and you get the sense of privacy[br]in public.

0:13:16.393,0:13:19.459
No matter where you are,[br]you can have a private conversation.

0:13:19.459,0:13:21.144
So, let's recap.

0:13:21.144,0:13:22.651
With the first technique

0:13:22.651,0:13:26.288
we allow ourselves to break[br]through the barrier of language

0:13:26.288,0:13:29.216
and to explore the uncharted territory

0:13:29.216,0:13:31.940
of sounds and structures[br]outside our database.

0:13:31.940,0:13:33.795
Then with the second one,

0:13:33.795,0:13:35.621
we learn how to take notes

0:13:35.621,0:13:37.727
and how to make sure[br]that we can take notes

0:13:37.727,0:13:41.015
in a way that we can replicate[br]those sounds and structures later.

0:13:41.015,0:13:44.905
Then we can check the mistakes[br]by finding a stickler.

0:13:44.905,0:13:46.334
Fourth: Practice.

0:13:46.334,0:13:49.263
Have shower conversations,[br]wherever you want to be.

0:13:49.263,0:13:51.504
And then, follow the Buddy Formula,

0:13:51.504,0:13:54.684
and you can find somebody[br]to practice your language with.

0:13:54.684,0:13:56.766
And after that,

0:13:56.766,0:14:00.532
(Italian) we get to[br]a truly beautiful place,

0:14:00.532,0:14:02.562
(German) where learning languages

0:14:02.562,0:14:06.642
is no longer something stressful,[br]difficult and boring,

0:14:06.642,0:14:09.800
(Spanish) but rather[br]a world of possibilities.

0:14:09.800,0:14:12.508
A world, where each of us[br]has the opportunity to explore

0:14:12.508,0:14:17.326
(French) new cultures and[br]all the different ways of living.

0:14:17.326,0:14:19.805
(Br. Portuguese)[br]The greatest reward from this,

0:14:19.805,0:14:23.054
is that we end up learning[br]more about ourselves.

0:14:23.054,0:14:27.010
(Greek) As of now,[br]it may all sound Greek for you.

0:14:27.010,0:14:31.676
But that doesn't mean[br]that you can't learn it.

0:14:32.185,0:14:34.514
(Mandarin Chinese)[br]"A journey of a thousand miles

0:14:34.514,0:14:35.932
begins with the first step."

0:14:35.932,0:14:40.926
(English) And this is not a problem,[br]because now you know how to walk.

0:14:40.926,0:14:42.270
Thank you.

0:14:42.270,0:14:45.059
(Applause)