Why learning a foreign language feels so exhausting: You might be using the wrong 'map'.

Have you ever felt this way: you finish learning English, then grapple with Japanese, and it feels like you're starting from scratch, having to tear everything down and rebuild it? Every word, every grammar rule, seems like an insurmountable mountain. We often assume that learning a language is simply like this – an arduous, ascetic practice.

But what if I told you the reason you feel so exhausted might not be due to a lack of effort, but because you've been using the wrong "map" from the very beginning?

A Story About Learning to Cook

Let's change our approach and imagine learning a language as learning to cook.

Suppose you're a Chinese chef, a master of the eighteen culinary arts of Chinese cuisine (this is your native language). Now, you want to learn Italian cooking (your target language C).

You have two cookbooks in front of you:

1. An English cookbook: This is written for an American who only knows how to use a microwave. It starts by teaching 'how to turn on the hob' and 'what dicing is', verbose and tedious. As a master chef, wouldn't you find reading such a cookbook incredibly inefficient? (This is like us using Chinese to learn a language with a completely different grammatical structure, like Korean).
2. A French cookbook: Coincidentally, you've previously learnt French cuisine (your second foreign language B). Both French and Italian cuisine emphasise sauces, love using spices, and are inseparable from wine. This cookbook directly tells you: "The method for this sauce is similar to French Béchamel, but add a bit more Parmesan cheese." You understand it instantly, because the underlying culinary logic is interconnected. (This is like you using Japanese to learn Korean).

Do you see the difference?

Starting with a "novice's" cookbook, you'd waste a lot of time on fundamentals you already understand. But with a cookbook from a "peer", you can get straight to the core, achieving twice the results with half the effort.

Finding Your Learning 'Springboard'

This "using leverage" learning method has a specific name: the "language ladder" or "language springboard". Simply put, it means using a foreign language you already know (B) to learn a new foreign language (C).

Why is this method so efficient?

1. Save energy, kill two birds with one stone: When you learn Korean using Japanese materials, you're not just acquiring new knowledge; you're also continually reinforcing your Japanese. Time is limited, but this method ensures every minute is spent effectively. Want to become a polyglot master? This is almost an essential skill.

2. Shared logic, quick understanding: Languages don't exist in isolation; they are like family, with their own 'lineage'. Languages from the same family often share similar vocabulary, grammar, and ways of thinking.

   • If you know Spanish, learning French becomes much easier.
   • If you understand Mandarin, you'll have a shortcut to learning Cantonese.
   • If you've mastered Japanese, you'll find the grammatical structure of Korean astonishingly similar.

   Take a classic example: Japanese has the concept of 'classifiers'. For instance, you can't just say "three", but rather "three books (本)" or "three coins (枚)". An English native speaker might need to read a three-thousand-word essay to understand this. But if you use Japanese to look up Korean classifiers, the explanation might be just one sentence: "Japanese '個' (ko), in Korean, is simply '개' (gae)." – A mutual understanding of "I get you," instantly clearing learning hurdles.

3. Better resources, more authentic explanations: Want to learn some lesser-known languages? You'll find Chinese or English materials are pitifully scarce. But if you switch to a 'springboard' language, for example, using Mandarin to find resources for Minnan (Hokkien), or Turkish to find resources for Azerbaijani, you'll discover a whole new world.

Beware the 'Taking Things for Granted' Trap

Of course, this method also has a sweet trap: complacency.

Because the new language feels too smooth to learn, you might unconsciously switch into "autopilot mode", thinking, "Oh, this is just like Japanese," and then overlook subtle but crucial differences. Just like French and Italian cuisine, while similar, they are by no means the same thing. If you keep making pasta with a French cooking mindset, what you end up with might just be "French-style pasta," not authentic Italian flavour.

How to avoid falling into the trap?

The answer is simple: Stay curious and actively 'see' the differences.

Don't settle for "it feels similar"; instead, ask, "Where exactly are they different?" When you notice a tiny difference and commit it to memory, your brain will then carve out an independent space for this new language, rather than letting it reside under the roof of the old language.

From Today, Be a Smarter Learner

Learning languages is never just about who works harder; it's more about who learns smarter. Instead of blindly struggling to climb from the foot of the mountain every time, learn to find that "springboard" that can launch you upwards.

Use the knowledge you've already mastered to leverage a whole new world. This is not only an efficient strategy but also an exciting experience—you'll discover so many wonderful resonances and connections between languages.

And in this process, the most important thing is to start speaking. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; bravely use your "springboard" language to communicate with the world. If you need a bit of support and confidence, you could try a tool like Intent. It's a chat app with built-in AI translation, allowing you to get help whenever you're chatting with friends globally. This way, you can take that step with more confidence, turning theory into genuine ability.

Stop being an "ascetic monk" of language learning. Find your springboard, and you'll discover that the door to a new world is much closer than you imagine.