Learning a Language on My Own Terms

Hi everyone! I wanted to take some time to update you on how I’m preparing for my trip abroad. I believe the most valuable takeaway from my time overseas will be the experience itself—being fully immersed in a new culture. To make the most of it, I want to familiarize myself with the Finnish language.

I’ve always struggled with language learning. Throughout middle school and early high school, I took Spanish classes, but I never felt very engaged. Over time, the classes became boring and repetitive. Every year, we seemed to do the same thing—conjugating verbs instead of actually speaking the language. Because of that experience, I’ve decided to try a more enjoyable and practical approach to learning Finnish. In this post, I want to share how I plan to better understand the Finnish language and culture through unconventional methods you won’t find in a typical classroom.

The tools and tricks used by polyglots (people who speak multiple languages) are all different. There’s no universal secret to becoming fluent—no magic hack. But many of their methods have a few things in common. Most polyglots build their learning around speaking, listening, and reading. Still, those three things alone aren’t enough. In my opinion, the biggest thing missing from most school systems is enjoyment.

No matter how effective a learning plan is, if it’s boring and monotonous, chances are you won’t stick with it. That’s why I’m tailoring my language-learning approach to be not just practical, but enjoyable for me personally.

To make learning Finnish more natural and fun, I’m planning to weave it into my daily routine.

For listening, I’ll be watching Finnish TV shows and listening to podcasts and audiobooks. Even if I don’t understand every word at first, the goal is to get comfortable with the rhythm, sounds, and vocabulary used in everyday situations.

To build my vocabulary and reinforce what I hear, I’ll also be incorporating reading into my routine. I’ll start with simple books—maybe ones written for children or language learners—and gradually work my way up to more complex texts. Eventually, I hope to read How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie in Finnish. I chose this book because it’s one I genuinely enjoy and have already read in English. Since I’m familiar with the content, reading it again in another language will feel more approachable and rewarding. My goal is to read something interesting every day—even if I don’t understand everything. I want to slowly absorb Finnish vocabulary through context and repetition, much like how children learn language naturally.

I haven't decided how to include speaking in my daily practice. I understand the importance, but since I don't know any Finnish speakers myself, I’m not sure how to incorporate speaking yet. I’m currently exploring different ways to practice—like using language exchange apps, booking online conversation sessions, or even just practicing aloud by myself. What's so awesome about learning a language or a skill when you aren't being forced to is that you have the freedom to decide for yourself what works best.

I hope that others who read this are as inspired as I am to finally learn a new language. I don't think my advice will work for everyone, but I hope that if there is one thing you take away from this, it’s that my advice doesn't have to work for everyone. As I learn more and experiment, my methods will change and evolve. What works for me at first might not work forever, and it might never work for someone else. Learning is a journey, and my journey has just begun.

I will be sure to update you all on my progress in the future. If you have any tips or advice, then leave a comment and I will be sure to read it. Also, if you're feeling inclined then consider supporting me! Thank you all for reading! Here are links to some videos that I found helpful when doing my research:

Till Musshoff: The Reading Method That Changed My Language Learning

elysse DeVega: THIS is how you're gonna learn a new language in 2025. (6 tips from a polyglot)

elysse DeVega: how to (actually) learn languages through TV & movies