5 techniques to speak any language | Sid Efromovich | TEDxUpperEastSide

Polyglot Sid Efromovich shares his 5 tricks that help to let go of the anxiety we often feel when trying to learn a foreign language.

Sid is our resident hyperpolyglot. He grew up in Brazil and after some journeying around the world, he now lives an exciting life in New York where he works as a Sugar Trader. Teaching has always been one of his passions and he has led groups of young leaders since 2006. He has given workshops, talks and classes in 3 different continents and is currently a Master Teacher in Skillshare where he teaches classes on nurturing happiness and learning foreign languages.

I speak seven languages.

As soon as people find out about that,

what I'm most often asked --

other than for my phone number --

is: "How did you do it?

How did you go about learning
all these different languages?"

Well, today I'm going to
share with you some answers.

So my phone number is 212...

(Laughter)

I'm just kidding.

See, I was raised as a polyglot.

And by the time I turned 18,

I could speak already
four different languages.

And then for the subsequent three years,

I learned three additional languages.

It's about those 3 years
that I want to talk about.

Because my language acquisition process

was very different from that of my peers,

in that it was never of these stressful,

strenuous, difficult,
seemingly impossible tasks,

but rather something
enjoyable, fun, exciting.

I loved it, every single moment of it.

And I want to share with you

why, what was it that made it so special.

See, I did have a head start,

in that I did have these four languages
that I spoke ahead of time.

But there were also these 5 techniques,

5 skills if you will, that I use

that made the language
learning process so much easier.

And it's about those 5 techniques

that I want to talk about.

So let's dig right in.

And for the first one,

the first thing that we've got to do

is to take a very deep breath.

And relax.

And the reason for it
is because our entire lives,

we're taught how to do things right.

From the moment we were born we're taught

what things we should do,
things we shouldn't do,

and how to do things properly.

Well, when it comes to language learning,

the golden rule of language learning,

the most important thing,

is to get things wrong,

to make mistakes,

and that is the first rule.

Let me explain to you why.

See, when we've known languages,

we know a whole collection of sounds

and a whole collection of structures,

which combined make what I like to call --

and for the purpose
of this presentation --

our "'language database."

And our language database will contain

all the sounds and structures
that we know.

However, there is a whole family
of sounds and structures

that are beyond our database.

And for us to be able to embark on those
and to be able to explore those,

there is nothing within our database,

nothing within our knowledge

that will tell us when
we're getting the structures right,

nothing to tell us
when that sound is precise.

Let's say we're going to explore
this one specific sound.

There is nothing in our database.

When we say it, we could say it perfectly,

but in our minds,
it will sound like a mistake.

So you know that queasy feeling,
that insecure thing,

when we feel like we're doing
something wrong?

That is the trigger
that you need to look for.

Because that is the signal that tells you
that you're going beyond your database

and that you're allowing yourself
to explore the realm of the new language.

Let me show you how
this works in practice.

Let's say, we're going to go
and learn the word "door" in Spanish.

So, the word "door"
in Spanish is "Puerta."

So, for "Puerta" we've got
a few sounds that exist in English.

So, the "Pu," "e," and "ta."

However, when it comes to the "r,"

that sound is not in our database.

The "RR."

The rolled "r" does not exist
in the English sound database.

And it's a little bit on the outside.

So, if we allowed ourselves

to bridge through our database,
and to really break through

and to make the mistake,

we could make sounds like the "RR."

But instead, what sometimes happens

is that we get the closest relative of it
that is within the database,

and that is the "ah-er" sound.

(Laughter)

And that "ah-er" sound

makes something
that sounds like "pue-er-rta,"

which doesn't mean a thing in Spanish,

and actually doesn't sound too charming.

And it doesn't tell you too much.

So, for the first technique,

allow yourself to make that mistake,

so that sounds like "Puerta" can come out.

And now let's go to the second one.

For the second one,

I'm going to need
some of your collaboration.

We're going to read
these four beautiful words.

And on the count of three.

So let's start with the first one,
on the count of three: one, two, three.

(Audience) Mao.
SE: "Mao," perfect.

The second one: one, two, three.
(Audience:) Coco.

SE: Perfect. Third one.
One, two, three.

(Audience) Cocao.
SE: Perfect.

And the fourth one. One, two, three.

(Silence)

Oh.

Let me show you what happened
when we did this.

We get theses four words

and we put them through
a sort of American English filter.

And we get something
looks kind of like this.

And I'll tell you the results of that.

So for the first one "Mão,"

which means "hand" in Portuguese,

we put it through the filter,
we get "Mao."

(Laughter)

For the second one we get "coco,"

which is "coconut" in Portuguese,

or "cocô," which means "poop."

We put through the filter,
we get a warm cup of cocoa.

(Laughter)

And for the fourth one,

we have "huo,"

which means "fire" in Chinese.

And we get --

if you're feeling really creative,
maybe a dude doing karate...

(Laughter)

But anyway,

these don't tell you much
about how these things are pronounced.

And if you think it's only one way,

only if you're going from English
to a different language,

think about non-native speakers.

And try to explain to someone

that this [though] is pronounced "though,"

and that this [thought]
is pronounced "thought."

And even though
they look almost identical,

they have nothing to do with one another.

Or try to explain to them that

this [enough] is "enough"

and this [enuf] is just simply wrong.

See, there is nothing useful
about using that foreign alphabet,

when you're trying to learn a language.

Why? Because it will
give you wrong signals.

So what is the second technique?

Scrap it.

Scrap the foreign alphabet.

Let me give you an alternative
of how you can go about this.

This is a Brazilian currency,

and it spelled like this.

On the count of three, can we all say
the name of the currency. 1, 2, 3.

(Audience) Real.

SE: We have some people
who know the spelling.

Yeah, "re-al," for the most part.

And as useful as this might seem,
it doesn't tell you a single thing.

And when you're speaking Portuguese,
"re-al" means nothing.

Let me give you an alternative.

See, in Portuguese,
the way that you say "real" is "heou."

So let me teach you how to say it.

So on the count of three, let's say "he."

So it's "hey" without the "y" sound.

So, one, two, three -- "he."

(Audience) HE.
SE: Perfect.

And now let's say "ou."

It's like "ouch",
but without the "ch" sound,

so it's "ou." One, two, three,

(Audience) OU.
SE: Perfect.

So, "HE."

(Audience) HE.

SE: "OU."

(Audience:) OU.

SE: "HE."
(Audience:) HE.

SE: "OU."
(Audience:) OU.

SE: "HE-OU," HEOU.

(Audience) HE-OU.
SE: Perfect.

Now you all sound like
passionate Brazilian capitalists.

(Laughter)

So why would we go and use
something that looks like this,

that looks like "real,"

when instead you can use something

that looks like this and gives you
so much more information

about how to say something
in a foreign language.

And that puts us in a really good spot

because at this point we allowed ourselves

to break through our database
and to make mistakes,

to go into that uncharted territory
of a new language.

And then, we figured out
how to take notations

in a way that the information
is actually meaningful.

But then how can we test it?

And that's where
technique number 3 comes in.

Technique number 3
is about finding a stickler.

So finding someone who's detail-oriented

and won't let you to get away
with the mistakes.

And more than finding someone
who is really that person,

the guru for the language,

it's more about establishing
the right sort of relationship.

Relationship with someone,

where they'll correct you,
and feel comfortable correcting you

and making sure that you're getting
to that spot you wanted in a language.

But at the same time,

someone who will encourage you

to get things wrong and to make
those mistakes in the first place.

And sticklers could be your teacher,

it could be your tutor, friend,

it could be someone on Skype
or on Craigslist; it doesn't matter.

You can find sticklers all over the place,

and with technology,
it becomes a lot easier find them.

And then it's time to practice.

And for practicing,
we've got the fourth technique.

See, I always thought I had this thing

that was a little bit
of "Sid craziness" that I did,

and then I realized how useful it was.

I always did what I like to call
"Shower Conversations."

And shower conversations are
exactly what they sound like.

When I was learning a new language,

I would stay in the shower
for a few minutes.

I would remember
having all these discussions;

I remember when I was learning Chinese,

and I would haggle
and try to get two yen more,

to get that wonderful dumpling,
and getting the discount;

or I would go to Roma

and I'd ask for directions
to the best "piazza."

It was amazing.

The beautiful thing
about the shower conversation

is that it allows you to find wherever
you have a gap in your knowledge,

because you're having
a conversation on both ends.

For example, it's easy to ask
for directions, how about receiving them?

Or even better, giving directions.

Well, the shower conversation forces you
to have both side of the conversation.

And you don't need
to have them in the shower.

Another wonderful thing
is that you can have them anywhere.

You can have them in the shower,
in your apartment,

walking down in the streets,
in the subway,

and seriously, if you're in the subway,

speaking to yourself in a foreign
language in New York,

you'll fit right in.

You're fine.

It's great,

because you don't depend on anything
or anyone to get your practice,

and I did this for years.

And later on I found
that professional athletes do, too.

Michael Phelps is known to visualize
every single one of his races,

several times over,
before jumping in water.

Worked great for him,

and it works great for me, too,

so it would work for you as well.

And now let's go to using the language.

Because up to now, it's great,

we've figured out
how to do all these things,

and that puts us in a really good position
to use the language,

and for that I recommend
you find a conversation buddy.

To find a conversation buddy,

I recommend you follow what I call
"The Buddy Formula."

And that is a way that you can make sure

that your incentives are always aligned
to use the new language.

So for that is,

the target language should be
your best language in common.

Why?

If you're anything like me,

you like to learn languages,

so that you can communicate
with more people,

so that you can reach out

and understand a little bit more
about their brains and hearts.

And so, if we try to talk to
someone in a foreign language

that both of us don't do really well,
when we could be speaking English,

or whatever language you're
more comfortable with as a pair,

odds are that you're going to revert
to that language that is easier.

So I recommend you to find someone
where your best language in common

is your target language.

And if you can't find one locally,
try technology.

Or if you can travel,
that would be perfect.

There's a problem with that,
and I realize it,

because it's difficult to find someone
who fits that profile exactly.

But I've got good news.

And I've found that out when I was work,

and one of my colleagues,
he's a linguist, too,

he speaks a ton of languages,

and our best language in common
was definitely English.

Our second best language in common:
definitely French.

But we always spoke in German
to each other in the office.

Why was that?

It was because there were people
in the office who spoke English;

there were people in the office
who spoke French.

But we could talk about Friday
and Saturday night in German,

and nobody had any idea
what we were talking about.

So it can also be your best
secret language in common.

(Laughter)

And it becomes such a convenient tool.

You can have it with your friends

and you get the sense of privacy
in public.

No matter where you are,
you can have a private conversation.

So, let's recap.

With the first technique

we allow ourselves to break
through the barrier of language

and to explore the uncharted territory

of sounds and structures
outside our database.

Then with the second one,

we learn how to take notes

and how to make sure
that we can take notes

in a way that we can replicate
those sounds and structures later.

Then we can check the mistakes
by finding a stickler.

Fourth: Practice.

Have shower conversations,
wherever you want to be.

And then, follow the Buddy Formula,

and you can find somebody
to practice your language with.

And after that,

(Italian) we get to
a truly beautiful place,

(German) where learning languages

is no longer something stressful,
difficult and boring,

(Spanish) but rather
a world of possibilities.

A world, where each of us
has the opportunity to explore

(French) new cultures and
all the different ways of living.

(Br. Portuguese)
The greatest reward from this,

is that we end up learning
more about ourselves.

(Greek) As of now,
it may all sound Greek for you.

But that doesn't mean
that you can't learn it.

(Mandarin Chinese)
"A journey of a thousand miles

begins with the first step."

(English) And this is not a problem,
because now you know how to walk.

Thank you.

(Applause)