Perhaps You've Been Learning Languages All Wrong

Many of us can relate to this experience: spending years learning English, mugging up countless words, only to find ourselves saying just 'How are you?' when we meet a foreigner. Or, we always assume language learning should begin with 'hello' and 'thank you' – all for the sake of chatting with locals or for travel.

But what if I told you there's a more powerful way to learn – one that doesn't aim for 'fluent conversation,' but instead treats language as a key to unlock a world you're truly passionate about?

Today, I want to share a story with you. The protagonist of this story is a Taiwanese PhD student researching Byzantine history in Germany. For the sake of his research, he literally 'forced' himself to become a 'decoder' of German, French, Ancient Greek, and Latin.

Treat Language Learning Like a Detective Game

Imagine this: you're a top-tier detective who's taken on a cold case, sealed for a thousand years – the mystery of the rise and fall of the Byzantine Empire.

This case is ancient. All the original dossiers (primary historical sources) are written in two ancient codes (Ancient Greek and Latin). To understand these first-hand pieces of evidence, you must first learn to crack these two codes.

Adding to the challenge, over the past hundred years, some of the world's most brilliant detectives (modern scholars) have also investigated this case. They've penned massive volumes of analytical notes in their respective native languages – German and French. Their research findings are crucial clues to solving the case, and you simply cannot bypass them.

What do you do?

The only way is to transform yourself into a multilingual 'super detective.'

This history PhD is precisely such a 'super detective'. His goal isn't to learn how to order a coffee in Latin, but to be able to read Cicero's works and see through the mists of a thousand years of history. He learns German and French not for casual chit-chat, but to stand on the shoulders of giants and comprehend the most cutting-edge academic research.

You see, when the learning objective shifts from 'everyday communication' to 'cracking a mystery,' the entire logic of learning changes.

Your 'Why' Determines Your 'How to Learn'

This PhD's learning path perfectly illustrates this principle:

• Ancient Greek and Latin: Read Only, No Speaking. His teachers didn't teach 'How are you?' in class; instead, they immediately pulled out Caesar's Gallic Wars and began analyzing its grammatical structure right away. Because the goal was to read literature, all teaching revolved around this core. He studied Ancient Greek for a year and a half and still couldn't even manage a simple greeting in it, but this didn't prevent him from reading those profound ancient texts.

• German and French: As 'Case-Solving Tools'. He had to conduct in-depth academic discussions with his supervisor and peers in German, so his German had to be excellent in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. And French was an essential tool for reading massive amounts of research material. These two languages were his weapons for survival and success in academia.

The greatest insight this story offers us is this: Stop asking 'How to learn a language well,' and instead ask yourself 'Why am I learning?'

Is it to understand a French film without subtitles? Is it to read an original novel by a Japanese author? Or is it to communicate with colleagues worldwide and collaboratively complete a project?

The more specific and urgent your 'why' is, the more direction and motivation your learning will have. You won't get bogged down wondering 'Is this word useless?', because you'll know that every word and every piece of grammar you learn is a key for your 'treasure trove'.

Language: A Bridge Connecting Worlds

Interestingly enough, this PhD student's English speaking skills actually improved significantly in Germany.

In his research field, scholars from various parts of the world, including Sweden, Brazil, and Italy, gathered. When everyone came together, English became the most convenient common language. It was precisely this genuine need for problem-solving communication that led to a rapid surge in his English proficiency.

This perfectly demonstrates that the essence of language is connection. Whether it's connecting with ancient wisdom or connecting with people from diverse cultural backgrounds in the modern era.

In today's globalized world, each of us can become such a 'connector'. Perhaps you don't need to master four or five languages like he did, but having a tool that can break down communication barriers at any time will undoubtedly help you go further. Now, chat apps like Intent can allow you to easily communicate with anyone in any corner of the world in their native language, thanks to built-in AI real-time translation. This is like equipping your thoughts with a 'universal translator,' making connection simpler than ever before.

So, stop viewing language learning as a tedious chore.

Find that 'why' that truly excites you, find that 'mystery' you want to unravel. Then, use language as your exploration tool and bravely venture into that wider world. You'll discover that the learning process is no longer a painful struggle, but rather a journey of discovery full of pleasant surprises.