I have achieved varying degrees of fluency in 15 languages, and look forward to learning more. To me, there are three natural stages in language growth, which I outline here. Visit my blog for more tips, advice, and motivation. http://blog.thelinguist.com/

1. The Three Stages of
Language
Learning
http://blog.thelinguist.com

2. Ihaveachieved
varyingdegreesof
fluencyin15
languages,andlook
forwardtolearning
more.Tome,thereare
threenaturalstagesin
languagegrowth,
whichIoutlinehere.
- Steve Kaufmann

3. Billions of dollars are wasted on
ineffective language and literacy
instruction programs, which ignore
these natural stages.

4. Connecting with the language
60-90 hours
THE FIRST STAGE

5. Goal: To become familiar with a strange language.
Measurable: Learn to recognize 1000 words.
Task: Listen repeatedly to short, simple content.
The First Stage

6. When I begin, I
need to “connect”
with the new
language.
Overcome my
resistance to its
strange sounds and
structure.
I don’t need to
speak. I don’t need
to understand any
grammar.

7. I am no t int er est ed in mast er ing a f ew
phr ases o r simpl e g r eet ing s. I want t o g et int o
t he l ang uag e, t o g et a f eel f o r it .

8. Getting comfortable in most situations
180-360 hours
THE SECOND STAGE

9. Goal: To understand ordinary conversations and
most everyday language.
Measurable: Less than 10% unknown words in
most conversations.
Tasks: Listen to natural conversations; Work on
vocabulary; increase speaking and writing
activity
The Second Stage

10. Now that I no longer find the
language strange, I want to
deal with the language as it is
usually spoken or written by
native speakers. This is
sometimes referred to as
“authentic” language.

11. Conversation is the
easiest “authentic”
content to understand

12. Most commonly used words
of a language account for
90-95% of conversations.
Commonly used words
account for 70-75 % of
more written material.
95%
75%

13. Constant improvement
180 hours to forever
THE THIRD STAGE

14. Goal: To continue to enjoy the language, to learn
more words, and to use the language better.
Measurable: Less than 10% unknown words in
contexts that are of interest to me.
Tasks: Follow my interests
The Third Stage

15. This is the most rewarding stage.
I can travel to the country where the language is
spoken, or meet with native speakers.
I know I will enjoy the experience, even though I
make mistakes.
I can maintain the language, even if I go for long
periods without using it.
The Third Stage

16. CONCLUSION

17. Having done it a few times, I know that I can learn a new
language, or improve in a language I already speak
well, including my own. So can anyone else who wants
to. The key is motivation and enjoyment, not a school
or a diploma.

18. I know, as well, that
the pursuit of
perfection in any
language is futile, so
I am happy to make
mistakes and do not
really ask to be
corrected.

19. http:/ / blog.thelinguist.com
@LINGOSTEVE