Learning Two Foreign Languages at Once
7 Tips for Success
Image by: Life Folk
By Hanyu Tales (7th March 2025)
Time is of the essence, more so than ever in the modern world. For ambitious language learners who have more than one target language, this means waiting to master one language before moving on to the next one is not ideal.
It has long been debated whether learning two languages simultaneously is sub-optimal or not. Possible issues include cognitive overload and time management difficulties, as this thesis mentions. However, research on Persian-speaking adults states:
In this article, we will go over 10 ways that you can ensure to get the most out of learning two languages simultaneously, both in terms of efficacy and enjoyment.
It has long been debated whether learning two languages simultaneously is sub-optimal or not. Possible issues include cognitive overload and time management difficulties, as this thesis mentions. However, research on Persian-speaking adults states:
“Not only is simultaneous learning not an impeding factor, but it also reinforces learning of the two languages”
Furthermore, research from the University of Washington indicates that exposure to diverse language settings can enhance the ability to acquire new languages. It seems clear that at the very least, setting two target languages instead of one is unlikely to hijack your progress and may even carry benefits. In this article, we will go over 10 ways that you can ensure to get the most out of learning two languages simultaneously, both in terms of efficacy and enjoyment.
1: Avoid Cognitive Overload
A study on a primary school in Algeria revealed that learning English and French simultaneously was difficult due to the mind’s limited capacity. However, this journal outlines a study showing that language mixing does not hinder the acquisition of new concepts in semantic memory, and that both adult and child bilingual participants showed similar performance whether learning in single-language or mixed-language contexts. This suggests that it is possible to learn new grammar, even at an early stage, while maintaining or developing a second target language too.
This does not mean that cognitive overload does not exist, though, so it is wise to take precautions against it by ensuring regular breaks are part of your study routine. While this is very generic advice, our brains are in overdrive whether we are studying or not. Taking breaks that involve little to no mental stimulation will benefit you immensely in the long term. Go for a walk, listen to music, or practice meditation. When you come back to your study session, you will be far more receptive.
This does not mean that cognitive overload does not exist, though, so it is wise to take precautions against it by ensuring regular breaks are part of your study routine. While this is very generic advice, our brains are in overdrive whether we are studying or not. Taking breaks that involve little to no mental stimulation will benefit you immensely in the long term. Go for a walk, listen to music, or practice meditation. When you come back to your study session, you will be far more receptive.
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2: Balance Active and Passive Learning
This thesis talks about a lack of time as a possible issue preventing learners from acquiring two languages at once. This, like the cognitive overload issue, means you need to be selective with the language-learning tasks you choose. To save time and not burn out, make sure that in any given time period—be it three months or one day— you do active learning (e.g. studying grammar or shadowing natives) in one of your target languages and passive learning (e.g. reading one of our stories or watching a movie) in the other. This study found that a bilingual approach to learning languages led to positive results in reading and writing proficiency in both languages, as well as self-efficacy and confidence. Of course, this requires already being at an intermediate level in one of your target languages, as often recommended when discussing learning two languages simultaneously. Therefore, if you feel that you are capable of understanding explanations regarding grammar and vocabulary in one of your target languages, why not use those skills to learn more about your other target language?
3: Choose very different languages
argues that learning two languages at the same time does not necessarily require twice the effort. In some cases, it can be beneficial, particularly when the languages are structurally different, like Indonesian and Chinese. Therefore, try to select target languages that are different enough that you are unlikely to get muddled up when studying them together.
4: Mix Up Learning Materials
This tip will likely come naturally through switching between active and passive learning, but it is worth reiterating that doing unique things in each language will further aid your mind in not getting muddled up. For example, you can use Chinese to read stories on your commute and watch videos on your lunch break, and then use Spanish to write your daily journal entry and watch an episode of a TV show before you go to sleep. 
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5:Use time and space
Another way to draw separation between the languages is to practice them in different contexts. As alluded to in point 5, you can practice one language at work and one language at home. On the other hand, you can practice one language in the AM and the other in the PM, choosing to practice your priority language during the time of the day you will most focused and productive.
6: Cycle Them in Terms of Priority
If you are struggling for time, a sensible option is to simply select one language as your priority language for a given period (perhaps 3 months), and then put the majority of your time into that one. Even ten minutes per day will go a long way in maintaining (and possibly improving) your secondary language while you focus more energy into your priority language.