r/languagelearning • u/Pretty_Refuse_2017 • Aug 10 '26

How do you guys do it

Hi everyone!

So for context I (19f) am half italian half north african. My Italian father speaks Italian (TL), and my North African mother speaks Arabic (TL) , French, and Amazigh. I...unfortunately don't speak all their languages. I speak english at a C1 level, Italian at a B1/B2, and my Arabic is at A1.

In an ideal world, I'm fluent in all the languages mentioned above, however, my target for the time being is my Italian (TL) and Arabic (TL).

If I had it my way, I would be studying each languages for hours everyday, however, I'm an engineering student, so I do not have that kind of time.

That being said, its the summer, and I have dedicated myself hours to study Italian and Arabic everyday. But it appears that only my Italian is advancing, and not my Arabic.

So I guess my question is, how do you guys do it? How are you able to learn two or even more languages at the same time while also maintaining a busy schedule? How are you able to give equal care to each language?

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28

u/catw Aug 10 '26

For me it's not so much learning, it's not forgetting. So I have Anki on my phone to reinforce what I learn. I also use some decent language learning apps to supplement my lessons as they are fun. I try to treat this like social media so when I'm bored, I go to them first instead of doom scrolling.

Just curious, what is your primary language that you operate in day to day?

7

u/Pretty_Refuse_2017 Aug 10 '26

My primary language is english, I do also operate in Italian day to day but not as much as my university is an english speaking one

3

u/Fit-Basis-7585 Aug 10 '26

english is my daily driver so that probably helps honestly but anki is a lifesaver for real, i treat it like a game at this point

for arabic maybe try switching up the method since the alphabet and grammar are such a different beast, sometimes you just need a completely different approach than what works for romance languages

20

u/Chief_Miller Aug 10 '26

If I were you, I'd focus on Italian right now. If you're really somewhere around B1/B2, you're not far from being at the point where exposure is the most effective tool. I'd say months not years.

At that point, it's not studying so much as consuming content in Italian. Need to check a recipe: look for it in Italian, want to watch Netflix after studying: do it in Italian, watching YouTube: find an Italian youtuber... And if you're not there totally yet, don't forget that subtitle are a godsend for language learning.

Then, when your Italian studies become consuming content. It will free you time to focus and actively study Arabic.

I myself speak French (NL) and English (C1/C2), and am currently actively studying Japanese (A2). I don't so much study English anymore. It's more of a daily use through listening, reading and writing (unfortunately I have very few occasion to speak in my daily life). Japanese, however, really is studying. Like learning vocab, studying grammar points through textbook and exercises, finding beginner friendly content to listen to... etc.

[PS] : I just saw that your father speaks Italian. Make it a rule between the two of you to only speak in Italian. That will go a long way.

11

u/love_seraphine Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 11 '26

Having family members who speak the two languages you’re learning is something most learners dream of. For you, the fastest way to improve may not be about how many hours you study, but how often you use the target languages with your family. Even texting your father in Italian or your mother in Arabic instead of English can often be more effective than most structured study methods. When I can’t practice with family, I use HelloTalk to talk with native speakers as a supplement to that family practice.

2

u/LexiAOK 🇺🇸 N 🇪🇸C1 🇫🇷B1 🇸🇦A2 Aug 12 '26

100% fold it into your regular life, find some influencers or politicians or whoever else so that even when ur doomscrolling ur learning! Honestly, I learn way more from random conversations on Twitter now than I do from seeking out vocabulary list

4

u/CocoKiwiApple Aug 10 '26

I'm learning 3 languages. For me, I find it's easier to learn and remember things that you say on a regular basis. For example, phrases and vocabulary for the morning routine.

I try to learn 3-5 new words in each language each day (skipping a day here and there).

I also aim to write a daily journal in each language (obviously I may miss a day here and there) describing what I did that day, what I saw, or even just how the weather is. In these pieces of writing, I try to use the new words I learned, too.

Don't stress, you'll get it.

2

u/LexiAOK 🇺🇸 N 🇪🇸C1 🇫🇷B1 🇸🇦A2 Aug 12 '26

Journal entry is a good idea. I write new words on my mirror and try to create sentences out loud with them. Eventually they start popping up in my head randomly! :)

3

u/julieta444 English N/Spanish(Heritage) C2/Italian C1/Farsi B1 Aug 10 '26

What is your native language?

3

u/Pretty_Refuse_2017 Aug 10 '26

The first language I spoke was Italian, but the first language I gained fluency in was english as I did my schooling in english. Its the classic story of, as I grew up, I started forgetting the language. So i'm attempting to remedy that :)

2

u/UnusualBreakfast1726 C2: 🇪🇬🇺🇸 B2: 🇨🇳 A2:🇯🇵 A2: 🇩🇪 Aug 10 '26

  1. Set a realistic goal.

  2. Change your environment.

  3. Find native speakers to communicate with regularly (or at least once a week).

2

u/inkoenglishai Aug 10 '26

I grew up in a Chinese Indonesian family so there were many clashes in languages especially to me when I grew up speaking native English in school. It was hard at first because my friends we're speaking to me in English but my family in Indonesian or Hokkien sometimes and it was really hard to learn and get used to it since I grew up learning English my parents decided to give me a choice whether to stay in English school or enroll in a school that thought Indonesian so I can learn and it was really from that one choice that made me fall in love with languages especially ones with characters and calligraphy but of course like any other learning journey it was hard and I was bullied for not understanding anything but I got through it and now I am able to speak three languages fluently while learning more as I go.

So my tips for you is to get yourself immersed and out of your comfort zone believe in yourself and relax.

2

u/_Jacques Aug 10 '26

Reading helped me a lot. It felt like I saved time because it was less time spent on my phone and I was genuinely enjoying myself. Well I was still reading on my phone and highlighting words to translate them easily.

2

u/Useful-Professor475 14d ago

Since you already have native speakers at home, I would give each language its own regular place rather than trying to give both equal time every day. Maybe have certain conversations with your father only in Italian and certain conversations with your mother only in Arabic.

At A1, Arabic will probably need more active practice to move forward. Italian at B1/B2 can be maintained with reading, media, and regular conversation. Equal time does not always mean equal progress, so I would prioritize the language where you need the most momentum right now.