3 ms·
"The truth is, predictably, it's down to endless hours of concentration – reading, studying and practicing grammar, as well as my own technique called "shadowin
by pgeorgep 9y ago
"The truth is, predictably, it's down to endless hours of concentration – reading, studying and practicing grammar, as well as my own technique called "shadowing", which involves walking briskly outdoors while listening to a recorded language and repeating it out loud."
Everyone wants to be able to do things so fast, but like anything else - it comes down to hard work & dedication. Apps like Duolingo are doing a great job of gamifying and using social accountability to make the process seem less like work.
Learning French has been incredibly hard for me as well, but I'm just chipping away using the same methods. We can't all have photographic memories, so hard work is the answer.
- wahern 9y agoFWIW, photographic memory is a total myth. Not one person has been able to demonstrate a photographic memory under controlled conditions. Human memory just doesn't work that way. This is the case even for people who truly can, e.g., endlessly recite trivia (including details of their physical environment) from any random day of their life. The book Moonwalking with Einstein provides a great overview of the science, among many other aspects of memory. If there's anything unique about this individual, it's how he feels compelled to study and learn language. With that sort of deep and abiding interest, memorization likely comes relatively easily, almost as a consequence.