You may have watched videos of people speaking in multiple languages. Some of them even call themselves hyperpolyglots. Whether they really can speak fluently or not, we don't know unless we test them. However, here I shall present 5 renowned polyglots that have been on the news, in the community worldwide and have proved their exceptional linguistic capabilities.
Powell Janulus is a Canadian who holds the Guinness World Record for speaking the most languages: 42. He learned languages by listening to radio broadcasts, reading newspapers, and talking to native speakers. He also used mnemonics and associations to memorize words and grammar rules.
Benny Lewis is an Irish polyglot who runs the popular blog and YouTube channel Fluent in 3 Months. He claims to speak over 10 languages fluently and has learned many more at a conversational level. He advocates for a "speak from day one" approach, where he immerses himself in the language and communicates with native speakers as much as possible, without worrying about mistakes or perfection.
Kató Lomb was a Hungarian translator and interpreter who spoke 16 languages. She learned languages by reading books that interested her, using a bilingual dictionary, and writing down new words and phrases. She also listened to radio programs and watched movies in her target languages. She believed that language learning was a creative and enjoyable activity that stimulated the brain.
Richard Simcott is a British hyperpolyglot who speaks over 40 languages and has studied more than 50. He is the co-founder of the Polyglot Conference and the Polyglot Gathering. He learns languages by using various courses, books, apps, podcasts, and online resources. He also practices his languages regularly with native speakers and other learners through social media, Skype, or in person.
Steve Kaufmann is a Canadian polyglot who speaks 20 languages and runs the blog and YouTube channel The Linguist. He also created LingQ, an online platform for language learning. He learns languages by exposing himself to a lot of comprehensible input, such as texts and audio materials that match his level and interests. He also reviews and saves new words and phrases that he encounters. He only speaks the language when he feels ready and comfortable.
Reference
How The World’s Top Polyglots Learn Languages: What Do Their Methods Have In Common? – StoryLearning
Photo by Leonardo Toshiro Okubo on Unsplash
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