How to Learn Language Fast – 5 Minute a Day Lessons.

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Can you learn language fast? Like, 5 minutes a day fast?

No and yes.

  • No: You clearly can’t learn a whole language in 5 minutes.
  1. Yes: You CAN learn language “fast”… if you have 5 minute long lessons.

In this guide, you’ll discover HOW to learn languages fast, and which resources to use.

learn language fast

Why You Should Learn the “Fast” Way.

Now, some of you might be wondering, “but isn’t 5 minutes not enough? Shouldn’t I be working hard, sweating, bleeding, and crying while trying to learn?” Yes, if you can sustain the blood, sweat and tears, then yes.

But, for the rest of us, the best way to start easy. here’s why.

  • Everyone starts “easy.” You can’t lift 100 pounds on your first day at the gym. You work your way up. You start with 5 or 10 pounds. Same with language.
  • What’s easy to do is easy to continue. (You build a strong habit). If you can do a quick 5 minute lesson now, you can do it tomorrow. You can do it the next day. You can do it for the next 100 days. And that means, you’ll be able to stick with your routine… and not quit, like you’ve done so many times before.
  • Progress requires consistency. When you’re able to stick with learning, you’ll start seeing progress results. Remember, just like with gym – you can’t lift 100 pounds on your first day, but you will… in some time.
  • Failure often is a result of overwhelm and/or lack of consistency. Ever try to study for 1 hour…and never do it again? Yes, that’s why you should start easy first.
  • You can handle more eventually. At some point, you’ll realize that 5 minutes is too easy, and you’ll want to invest more time. You’ll do 10 or 20 minutes a day. And your language skills? They will be tons better.

How to Learn Language Fast

1. Word of the Day Lessons

  • Time Required: 1-2 minutes
  • Medium: Email

How to works: 1) Choose a language. 2) Sign up. 3) Get word of the day emails every day. 4) Open email, check the word, learn a new word, listen to the audio pronunciation, done.

learn language fast - word of the day

  • Why you’ll want the word of the day:
    • Takes very little (almost effortless)
    • Builds up your vocabulary
    • Easy way to build and stick to habit

Sure, learning one word a day won’t exactly make a “dent” in your goal of fluency… but it all helps. Every successful learner takes full advantage of even the smallest ways to improve.

2. Audio Lessons (Podcasts too)

What if you could press play, listen to a teacher teach you words and phrases in a new language… and that’s it? And a few minutes later, you know how to say “hello, how are you, I’m good, bye” in another language.

So, yes you can learn language fast with audio.

  • Time Required: 3-10 minutes

learn language fast - audio lesson

Why you’ll want audio lessons:

  • You can hear native pronunciation (instead of reading phrases out of a book)
  • Your listening and understanding skills improve
  • You can improve your speaking if you mimic what you hear
  • Audio is easy to consume — you just listen
  • It’s the next best thing to having a teacher next to you (you have one in your ear)
  • You can learn anywhere – at home, on the train, on a walk – or while multi-tasking

Where can you get audio lessons?

I recommend the Innovative Language audio lessons. They have them for 34 languages that you can pick from, from Afrikaans to Vietnamese. Take a look at the link below.

Also, here are some examples of fast audio lessons.

Japanese 3 Minute Lesson

French 3 Minute Lesson

Also, you can check out Podcasts on iTunes. For example, “Coffee Break” offers multiple languages on Apple’s Podcasts. However, most podcasts are over 10 minutes.

3. Apps for Your Smartphone

I’m a bit iffy about language learning apps for one reason:

attention.

Language learning requires attention.

You could be doing a quick 5 minute session only to get interrupted 30 seconds in by a notification. And that sucks.

But that aside, Apps can be useful.

For example, the Innovative 101 Learn Languages App (iPhone linkAndroid Link). You get audio and video lessons that you can play, and read along with the lesson notes. It’s good for learning conversations.

Most lessons are just 3-15 minutes in length.

learn language fast - app

Then, there’s Duolingo. The app teaches you words and quizzes you in many ways – translations, matching games, writing the words out and such. You can set your time limit to only 5 minutes a day with this app. (iPhone linkAndroid Link)

  • Why you’ll want a good App:
    • You can learn on your phone anywhere –  on a walk, on your couch, or on the toilet.
    • Apps can engage you on many levels – audio, video, quizzes, text, games, etc.

4. Language Learning Phrasebooks

Who says that you have to set aside 1 hour for reading?

Why not review a book for just 5 minutes day?

If you’re just starting out with a language and don’t have much time, I recommend phrasebooks. Why? Because textbooks require extra time and attention. Sure, you can read a textbook for 5 minutes a day but you’ll likely be left confused… because you end up stopping just before you truly understand a grammar point.

With phrasebooks, all you have to do is review some basic phrases…and done.

  • Time required: 5+ minutes

learn language fast - phrasebook

  • Why you’ll want a phrasebook:
    • Easy to read and review.
    • Does not require much “figuring out” unlike textbooks. Just read and repeat out loud.
    • You can learn anywhere where you can pull out a book.

Can I recommend any?

Uh, just look for your language on Amazon.com and pick the best one based on price and reviews.

The good news is that phrasebooks are simple. All you’re reading is… “Hello means ____, How are you means _____,” and so on.

5. Language Learning Audiobooks

If we’re going to talk about audio lessons and phrasebooks…

…then it also makes sense to talk about audiobooks too.

  • Time required: 5+ minutes

Audiobooks are DEFINITELY longer than 5 minutes but you can simply… spend 5 minutes on one.

learn language fast - audiobook

Why you’ll want audiobooks: As with audio lessons and podcasts…

  • You can hear native pronunciation (instead of reading phrases out of a book)
  • Your listening and understanding skills improve
  • You can improve your speaking if you mimic what you hear
  • Audio is easy to consume — you just listen
  • It’s the next best thing to having a teacher next to you (you have one in your ear)
  • You can learn anywhere – at home, on the train, on a walk – or while multi-tasking

Can I recommend any? Check out Audible.com, Amazon’s Audiobook store. Then, sort by price and reviews to find one that works for you.


These are just some ways you can learn language “fast.”

Do you have any tips of your own?

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– The Main Junkie

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