Language Learning Through Personal Development Books

Contents

• Enjoyable & meaningful content (learning is a by-product)

• It helps when learning two languages at the same time

• It doesn’t feel like studying

• James Clear’s Atomic Habits

• You learn useful vocabulary

Recently I’ve been very much interested in personal development. Especially for the last year or two. I enjoy growing personally, learning new skills and ways of thinking. Anything I can do to add things to my toolbox that can make my life easier, better and richer - I’m all about.

Whether it’s in the area of finances, business, mindsets, organizing, habits, time-management or any other topics - books are a great way to learn from the greats. We get their best thoughts condensed down into the printed form that we can benefit and learn from.

I have used this to my great advantage in language learning.

Enjoyable & meaningful content

Consuming interesting content makes language learning enjoyable. And when you’re enjoying what you’re doing you’re going to do more of it.

When using personal development to learn a language I’m adding something that is not just enjoyable but actually meaningful as well. Which adds a whole additional layer to it.

Just the fact that you’re learning useful tools and new ways to think. And on top of that improve your language skills at the same time is like a double motivation. Because then some thing amazing happens.

Learning the language is becomes a by-product, not the focus.

This has been absolutely vital for me in learning two languages at the same time. Especially learning languages like Cantonese and Finnish.

It helps when learning two languages at the same time

By learning two languages at the same time I’m already stretching out the time it will take to learn each language. And reading personal development books helps keep the fire going at all times.

Some polyglots and experienced language learners advice on not learning two langauges at the same time since it makes your attention divided, which slows down your progress in either language.

I mean it makes sense that if I spend 10 hour in one language per week instead of 5 split into two different languages - the progress will be much quicker if I would only be learning one.

Since learning a language is all about the amount of time spent with it.

It doesn’t feel like studying

I honestly think that if I would have focused more on the improvement of my Finnish and Cantonese then I would have been burnt out a long time ago.

But by reading books that I would like to read for the actual content - no matter what language it would be in - it really makes it feel like I’m not studying a language at all. I’m just not into studying, but I love learning.

I’m learning new and useful tools and mindsets while automatically improving my comprehension and expanding my vocabulary in the language.

James Clear’s Atomic Habits

For example, I’ve been curious to read James Clear’s new book “Atomic Habits”. I’ve heard good things about it and I really like the things he posts on instagram (I repost him a lot in my stories).

So I went to an online book store and look to see if it was available in Finnish. And sure enough - it was!

I imported it into my LingQ app (use this link to get up to 37% off LingQ + an extended free trial) and started reading it a few days ago. All I can say is that I’m HOOKED. It’s such a good book that I can’t stop reading it. And I’m reading it because I’m super interested in the methods he talks about on how to create powerful habits that make huge shifts in our lives.

So not only am I learning some very valuable skills that I can use and apply in my own life. I’m excited about improving my Finnish automatically by doing that.

I would read it in English anyways, so why not read it in my target language?

And I believe this actually takes the pressure off of learning for us. Which actually speeds up the rate of learning.

You learn useful vocabulary

If you’re reading KonMari’s book “Spark Joy” then chances are you’re interested in organizing and optimizing your living space (yes I’ve read it in Finnish. I mean why wouldn’t I?).

So if that’s a topic that interests you then you’re more likely to talk to people about those types of things when you’re having conversations.

And by reading about it you learn the type of vocabulary that you’d use in talking about that topics. So it makes sense to your life personally. It’s useful for you. Since we all tend to talk about our favourite interests, which all vary from person to person.

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Do you also like reading personal development books in your target language? What is your favorite topic(s) to read about? Comment below.

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