Secrets of a Polyglot:

How to Learn and Change Your Life Through a Foreign Language Journey

Section 1: Getting Started

Introduction

This book will empower you to do three things:

1. Give you real tools to gain perspectives and life experiences that will change you as a person.
2. Build relationships with people who are different from you.?
3. Give you the confidence to dream big and do things you’ve never imagined.

This book is different from other ‘how to’ guides. It’s neither a step-by-step listicle nor a training manual, but a collection of strategies. When used correctly, this will give you the power to truly change yourself and others by speaking directly to their hearts with a sound that runs deep in their blood: their native language.?

For many people, learning a foreign language is a worse experience than getting all their teeth pulled. It’s likely almost as painful and humiliating to try to mouth a few words without chompers and then settle for Charades practice (after learning 10 languages from scratch it’s PRETTY accurate!)

Your first thought is probably, “How the hell did some guy from Idaho teach himself to be a polyglot?” I’m going to be the first to tell you, it’s not an innate talent. It’s fortitude to keep pushing.?

And why? I hit a tipping point in life where I figured I had nothing left to lose.

After being on this planet for over 34+ years, I’ve discovered I have a knack for one thing: picking up languages through building relationships with people from different countries. I discovered this largely through a series of events where I was desperate to reinvent myself after suddenly losing my mom in 8th grade. Those next 4 years were a revolving door of over 20 ‘nannies’ and tons of broken promises. And a broken teen with a broken spirit. Each year in high school, I slid deeper and deeper into my shell, though having faith that somewhere in the world, I would find confidence. And dammit, I was going to find it, even if I had to go all the way to woop woop. (I ended up finding it in Brisbane, so–pretty close!)

There were some incredibly dark days when I thought I had no one and nothing left, but I wouldn’t let my mind get the best of me.?

I knew deep down there was more to the world than living in the Jello Belt and busting out of this ‘uncomfort zone’. And I had to find my way out.?

I figured I had nothing to live for and nothing to lose, as I thought I was starting from zero. Zero confidence, zero confidants, and zero social skills. But then, I took a step back and saw that I had everything to gain, that life could somehow get better–as long as I held on. Then, I could escape. Little did I know that giving it my best would teach me how to take control of my mind–and my life.?

Escape. Grow. Transform. And then rebuild myself. Again, and again, and again. In each place, and with each language, I’ve largely had the same foundation, but have constructed a whole building.

I’ve picked up a handful of languages–all from scratch. But unlike most other polyglots, none of them are Western European languages. I speak Korean, Japanese, Indonesian, and Russian, in addition to English, and in the past have learned Mandarin, Georgian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Spanish, and Sundanese. If I had to compare my language skills in terms of technical abilities, I’m like the guy at the campfire singing Wonderwall and murdering everyone’s ears; I’m not even close to Hendrix level yet and am nowhere near the best linguist in the world. But that’s not my primary goal here…

I will consider this book to be a success if it helps or motivates you to improve your life and hope you can do the same for others.?

From living abroad and meeting thousands of people all across the world, and delving into different cultures and ways of life, I’ve learned that foreign languages not only strike a few chords but also bust down locked doors leading to life-changing experiences. If you, too want to get off the beaten tourist path of life or leave others better having met you–I wrote this book for you.?

Not everyone wants to learn a foreign language; that is perfectly acceptable and valid. Learning a language means that you are essentially starting life from square one again as a baby who can use a toilet. Many people see this as humiliating–I look at it from the other side of the coin. It is courageous, noble, and brave. By opening up this book, you too, are brave.?

Each step that you take in your foreign language journey will open up more paths to choose from, will enhance your other life skills, and will give you discipline to keep going when things ahead look dark. More than that, if you stick with it, you will build up the resolve to find your purpose and win the game of life.?

Melted Dreams

Imagine something for a second…imagine it’s a hot summer day and you’ve found a shop advertising delicious ice cream. The moment that you walk inside, you see photos of happy people licking their ice cream cones or sharing a massive bowl together. You walk up to the cashier, look over their wide menu, and make an order, excited in anticipation of your treat. The employee walks over to a melted container, scoops out a couple of spoons of a soggy mess, and hands you a drippy cone with a ‘here you go!’ that leaves you completely unenthused and unsatisfied, especially after paying full price. You’d vow to never return, right? (and then immediately write a review and then talk shit about it).

This parallel is unfortunately much like foreign language learning in school. Your Spanish, French, German, Mandarin and Japanese classes are more than likely a watered-down mess that satisfies no one, has little practical use out of that easy A, and leaves a deep scar on your motivation to learn the language. After one taste, you go “Well, this sucks!” and chuck it away, vowing to never come back.?

Languages are like flavors of ice cream; some are simple, some complex, some you can double up, and some give you a wicked headache if you go too fast. On top of that, everyone has their preference. Some go traditional, while others show off an exotic flair. Each language, like each type of ice cream, will give you a different taste, but a similar rush: conquering a goal and influencing someone new, likely someone who is completely different from you (and more than one brain freeze too!) If you want a guaranteed way to change lives–including your own-go get some ice cream + learn a foreign language.?

Think back to the times you’ve been camping or seen live music at open mic night. After a beer or two, someone will grab a guitar and begin to bust out ‘Wonderwall,’ or ‘Free Fallin’. That’s not Noel Gallagher or Tom Petty, (or Hendrix!) that’s just someone from the neighborhood having a good time. Maybe your buddy. Maybe even you! As soon as the performance is over, the musician will get a round of applause and some accolades for stepping up. Others in the audience will be captivated: “How long have you been playing guitar?” “That was a great cover!” “You’re super good!” “I love that song!”?

In my experience, it’s nearly the same if you as a foreigner learn a language. In every country, some people are genuinely impressed with your courage to step out on a limb and improve the atmosphere of the room or environment. Granted I’ve never been to France!?

Once your conversation starts with them, the door is open, and the floor is now yours.?

Is open mic night guy/gal the best guitarist in the world? Not even close. But he or she can influence individual people to change the mood and atmosphere of the dreary bar by learning a few chords and some practice. (Weird Al made an entire career out of this!). It’s exactly the same with languages. You don’t have to be fluent—you just have to try.?

We as English speakers now expect much of the world to speak English like we do, using modern, spoken English–a language that’s not taught in English textbooks. If you visit a foreign country and TRY to speak the local language or act culturally appropriate, you immediately stand out from the rest of the tourists by showing respect for the local culture. Locals will often talk about you (in a good way!) and will want to talk to you because you are captivating. They will want to know about you, your background, and your country–and all you have to do to change their life is talk to them in their language.?

Ahh, music to their ears! And, it’s not Cradle of Filth opening for George Strait.

In this book, I’m giving away all of my secrets that I’ve discovered to learn Korean, Russian, Japanese, Indonesian, Spanish, Mandarin, Sundanese,? Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Georgian (and a smattering of other languages). I’ll show you how I’ve been able to learn different alphabets and writing systems, grammatical and syntax structures, quickly learn and master hundreds of vocabulary words, and start your foreign language journey. It will take you somewhere you’ve never gone before.

Before going on

Now, before going on, I want you to do something first.?

Get out your phone and set a timer for 5 minutes. And stop reading the book. Please, stop.?

Sit there and do NOTHING. (I hope you’re not doing CPR or behind the wheel reading this!)?

If you can’t do it yet, no worries. Try it for 1 minute; then 2 minutes; then work your way up to 5.

Doing this will build your discipline; a critical skill needed to learn a foreign language. As you build discipline, you are taking steps to become comfortable when you are uncomfortable. This is the grind of learning a foreign language.

It is challenging and it looks like a daunting mountain in front of you. But you WILL get there–one step at a time!

Learning a language is about building habits. Just like going to the gym. Just like scrolling on your Instagram profile. Just like checking your phone first thing in the morning.?

To make your daily study routine, you’re going to break an old habit to build a new one. You’ve got to find SOMETHING inside of you that PUSHES you to build that habit. It’s gotta be intrinsic, not extrinsic for it to be sustainable. It’s gotta come from within you.

The whole purpose of this book is to change your mindset about learning a language or going abroad. When I scroll through my IG and social media, (and lots of travel blogs), everything is written and shows the traveler’s activities. Very little is written about foreign cultures and local people (and most posts completely ignore the locals). A lot of these blogs and sites say ‘travel transforms,’ but most of these people are missing the biggest and most impactful way to transform: speaking the local language.?

When you are in a foreign country, you are investing a massive amount of money on an opportunity to transform yourself. Sadly, most people don’t take advantage of it for personal growth, especially when they are already paying for it.

This is not to shit on anyone who travels and doesn’t try to learn the language or see life from the locals’ perspective. But take a second to think about a couple of things:

• How many countries or cities you’ve visited (or you want to visit)
• How you prepared for the trip (or how you would prepare)
• Who you decided to go with (or who you would want to go with)

I’d guarantee you that you will spend weeks at the gym before you go for those Instagram beach photos or those badass hiking views. Or you’d spend hours researching the best travel gear to buy. And, I’ll bet you had second thoughts about cousin Josh tagging along on your Euro trip or that month across Southeast Asia.?

Now, think about how your life would or could be a BIT different if had you spent just a few minutes learning the language of your destination, so you could talk to locals at the beach, or in the mountains–more than just a smile and hola, or ciao–You may have missed out on a dinner, a potential business opportunity, or a new friend. You missed a chance to influence someone.?

When you speak someone’s language, you make a lasting impact. By opening your mouth and conquering your fears, you signal to another person that he or she is more than a transaction in your favor; you show genuine appreciation and respect for them.?

You instantly become different and stand out from everyone else because you show respect? and you care. You become credible. And, you may even become unforgettable and as your action leads to your–and their–personal growth.??

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” - Nelson Mandela

In the past decade, I worked as an English teacher across the world for 8 years, and am largely a product of the American education system. During my time abroad, I’ve learned–and at times, become comfortable in several foreign languages: Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Indonesian, and Russian. Comfortable means functional enough to do everything I needed to independently (no Google translate): from renewing my visa to dealing with immigration issues, and from making a travel insurance claim, to reporting a lost computer. I’ve also learned Georgian, Kyrgyz, and Kazakh. But, just like you, I forget things too-even languages I’ve used every day. ?

My Georgian, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz are largely gone. Nakhvamdis! My Spanish is largely a ‘passive’ language; meaning I can understand it much better than I can speak it. It’s still in my brain but buried deep in a place where I have to continually dig it out and think when I speak. My I’ve gone weeks without speaking much English, and I lost a lot of my active vocabulary.?

I do not see myself as an eloquent English speaker, nor an eloquent author–and that fact does not bother me. (hopefully it doesn’t bother you!) I use a lot of simple grammar and straightforward sentence constructions in my language because I see English as a language of international communication, meaning the language should be simple and clear.?

In the past few years, I haven’t studied Japanese as much as I’ve wanted to. I want to get it back, (would love to do a long bike trip across Japan to do so) but I’m stuck with time constraints and other priorities for now, like building my company.?

My language focus now is going back to Bahasa Indonesia; a language I put very little time into actively studying once I finished my Peace Corps service. From practicing daily for 2 + years, I was able to build up a solid base; but that base hasn’t grown as quickly as it did from 2015 to 2017. In the next few months, I will do everything I can to make it change for the better.?

Last summer, I was in Korea with a State Department language program; my Korean actually got WORSE when I was over there because I was not able to speak the language as much as I wanted to. I do NOT do well in traditional language classes and think they are generally not as effective as self-studying. More on this later.

The summer before, (during my Master’s), I was in Kyrgyzstan studying Russian and visiting with my Virtual Peace Corps family and school there. I took language classes and largely threw away hundreds of dollars because the curriculum was absolute trash and structured intentionally to milk students for more money. My Russian improved more from joining a Russian tour group in Kazakhstan for four days than from two months of ‘intensive’ language courses. (that’s when I learned basic Kazakh and Kyrgyz)

And my Mandarin—my tones have totally gone to shit. When I can make time, I will go back to square one as I never built a strong enough base (and muscle memory).?

Having learned many languages, I’ve discovered something that I think only foreign language speakers know (and I want YOU to discover) on your language journey.?

When you start to think in a foreign language:

• You open doors to new worlds that you never knew existed. You go from living in black and white to living in color.?

• You get to learn more about yourself, your culture, and the world–your world– around you.?

• You adapt your mind to think more abstractly, pay closer attention to details, and feel more alert.

• You feel a true sense of confidence, self-worth, and pride from your efforts.

You tear away at the old you and start to rebuild yourself from the ground up. The glue holding the new you together is discipline and mental fortitude.?

Go and build discipline so you can free your mind.?

4 Steps to learning a language:

Key Point: Language learning will give you the chance to see another side of yourself that you’ve never seen, and it may even change your personality. You may bring out a more dominant or hidden personality trait; either being more or less talkative, thinking of corny jokes, or dealing with conflict differently. You will also learn to be more resourceful and do more with less.?

Step 1: Know yourself. Know your passions

I’m going to use an analogy in the first part of this book: learning a foreign language is like building a house. You’ve got to have a design, have a blueprint, follow code, use a building material, and hold it all together. Like a house, your language should be an investment; it should give you some sort of shelter or peace. In my experience, If your design sucks and your materials suck, your house is going to suck. A simple foundation of basic sentence structures can easily be upgraded and taken to the next level if it’s built correctly. Ripping it down is demoralizing and costly–and this is why I think most people quit early in the game. Like building a house, learning a foreign language is a tremendous project that’s done brick by brick or board by board. (Soon, though, Elon may be able to give us a prefab with his neuro chip…)

Sadly, Many people are embarrassed about building ‘mud huts’ when learning a language. Don’t be! They work and are low maintenance. If you build a ‘Victorian’ or have a ‘beach house,’ you’re going to have a lot more maintenance and upkeep; some people (just like their houses) love the upkeep and live for it, making small changes here and there to make it more personal.?

No matter what kind of house you build, construction takes discipline and hard work. It takes routine and pushing through being tired. Throughout the next few short chapters, I’ll give you all of my tips to push through to see your goal come to fruition. And, the key to all of this, is knowing yourself and how much time you can dedicate to your project.

Knowing yourself (and who/what you truly love) is the MOST IMPORTANT step to learning a foreign language. Gradually pushing your best capabilities to the limit will allow you to build the discipline you need to develop a consistent routine–and to finish your AWESOME house.

When starting out, you might be tempted to grab a Spanish, Klingon, or other foreign language dictionary and dive in. You’ll likely have a bit of fun looking up all those words your Spanish teacher or Mr. Spock didn’t want you to learn, but in a way you’re putting the cart before the horse. You’re just getting a couple of really cool bricks for your house. You can throw them around and show them to people (who will probably laugh at first), but after a while, they probably won’t care about your cool brick anymore.??

Instead, start getting good at something that you want to do. Start producing something and stop consuming. Stop scrolling and start filming. Stop reading and start writing.?

You’re probably thinking…how is this going to help me learn a language? Simple. You need to find something you are passionate about and tie your language and passion together.?

You need to first find your inspiration.?

Back to the house analogy, what is the reason for building your house??

Mine have come from all over For Japanese, it was baseball–and later J-Rock. For Russian, it was punk rock. For Korean, it was my pride to not be defeated, and the fact that it made sense…when a lot of things in Indonesia did not. For Indonesian, it was my local friends and my Peace Corps community. For Mandarin, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Georgian, it was being able to survive without English and see what’s happening off the beaten path. For Spanish and Latin, it was college. From my experiences, if it’s a single task (a trip, a job, a stepping stone for something else), no matter how cool the language is, you will likely max out once you’ve filled that square. However, if you can match your language with something or someone you truly love, you will have unlimited fuel to keep you going.?

That’s REAL renewable energy!?

Once you discover the inspiration that will drive you, you will see the design that you want for your house in your mind. Knowing where you want to max out your gains–knowing the basics, being conversational, solving problems, or being able to deeply analyze–will allow you to see whether you’re moving into the Burj Dubai, a family home, or a simple treehouse. No matter which one it is, it WILL have value and meet a need. And it will be something to be proud of.

---Thanks for reading :) and I hope it will get you fired up to take that small step on your own personal journey. Now get out there and live!