Hello, my fellow neurodivergent language-lovers! It’s national ADHD awareness month and I want to address that niggling self-doubt running through your brain:
Do I have what it takes to learn a language, if I have ADHD?
Thanks, Imposter Syndrome!
In all fairness, let’s give credit where credit is due. It’s not JUST your imposter syndrome playing up. Your self-doubt could have something to do with all those learning tips meant for neurotypical brains!
Learning a language can sometimes seem like a Herculean task, three to four weeks into learning it. Let’s face it, like every other new hyperfixation, a new language has it all - the charm, the promise of a whole new world to discover, and another avenue of self- discovery.
But you can get there. I speak from experience, and I’ve compiled a few tips to share with you. But before we dive into those, let’s get a few facts right.
Why does ADHD seem like an obstacle to language learning?
First things first. Let’s rephrase the question. It is not, “Can I learn a language if I have ADHD?” Because, of course, you can!
ADHD is NOT a learning disability.
Depending on where you fall on the spectrum from inattentive-hyperactive-mixed, AD(H)D can present certain challenges (not obstacles) when it comes to learning anything.
These often include difficulty with academic enablers such as self-motivation, focus, and persistence. But the truth is (and we know better than any researcher could tell us) none of these are EVER a problem when we are thoroughly engaged in an activity we are passionate about!
Tearing us away from our latest obsession? Now, that’s another question!
Work WITH and not AGAINST your AD(H)D!
That’s the key, understanding your AD(H)D brain is key to turning the challenges that are getting in your way, into opportunities.
How can we harness our AD(H)D ‘quirks’ into superpowers when it comes to learning a language?
Keep reading!
A few golden rules when it comes to learning a language with ADHD
Pick a language you're enthusiastic about
It is said that we find staying motivated hard. But you and I, both, know that this is ONLY true when we lose interest in something!
Let’s rephrase this received notion.
We find it hard to FORCE ourselves to stay motivated. That’s why choosing a language you are passionate about or curious about is a NON-NEGOTIABLE.
When we are enthusiastic about something, it is easy to stay focused and productive. Turn that hyperfixation into your best friend!
Identify what about that specific language or culture is meaningful to you.
Perhaps, you’re crazy about the cuisine. Maybe, it’s the philosophy helping you navigate your existence. Or is it an insatiable curiosity for places and people who speak the language? Does the rhythm and musicality of the language get your soul dancing?
Depending on the driving force, how long it would take for you to be able to immerse yourself fully in your raison d’etre, would vary. It’s easier to find and engage with music and food vlogs at a level A2, but reading your favourite philosopher’s essays? That is a whole other story.
Does that mean you should wait until you're fluent to integrate joy into your learning?
Quite the contrary…
Boredom is the death of learning
When you’re choosing how and where to learn or what kind of app or learning content you want to try out, just keep this simple rule in mind: If it’s not fun, it’s not going to work!
If you find yourself checking out, it doesn’t mean YOU don’t have what it takes to learn. It means that the ACTIVITY doesn’t have what it takes to keep your curious mind engaged!
Test, try, experiment and feel free to choose what’s fun for you!
The ADHD brain, thanks to our superpower to focus on something we actually care about, is the very thing that could help you learn a new language easier than anyone else.
Are you ready to harness your ADHD superpowers?
How to use your brain’s reward system to your advantage
Tip #1 - Understand what keeps you motivated and keep your dopamine-hungry brain fueled
Your ADHD brain needs the dopamine hit.
Use resources and learning techniques to keep your mind dopamine-hungry brain fueled.
For this, you need to understand what keeps you motivated.
Do you enjoy the streak? Go for it! Gamified learning is a great replacement for conventional structural grammar or vocabulary exercises.
Using the technique of spaced repetition, coupled with instant gratification, it gets you learning and keeps you seeking the next hit. That’s why the streak works.
On the contrary, if you don’t find it challenging enough, it can do the opposite and be an extremely frustrating endeavour! I know it is for me.
But just the streak won’t get you interacting and communicating. The trick is to DIVERSIFY content and techniques.
Do you love to travel? By all means, if you can afford that!
Or try virtual ways of making your learning immersive.
Love meeting people? Find an online language club (like ours) or language exchange groups!
Tip #2 Keep it fresh and novel
As a teacher and a student, textbooks have never worked for me. Mostly because they are predictable, monotonous and therefore, dull.
The trick is to weave in a lot of real life content - music, movies, vlogs, memes…
Feeling like you are interacting with the real world and the sense of exploration and discovery, can definitely kick in the reward system!
If you aren’t used to doing this for yourself, choose a teacher or mentor who is willing to curate a program for you!
Hacking routine and organisation
Tip #3 - Create a routine by piggy-baking on other existing habits.
Creating new habits can be tricky but automation is essential. You want to save that cognitive effort for actual learning tasks.
One hack to create a new habit more efficiently and effectively is to pick another already existing daily habit as a cue.
The reason this works is that the old habit will act as a trigger for the new one Just remember to add ONLY one new habit at a time and start small!
A few examples:
💡If you want to build a reading habit, read one page of a book or news article with your morning coffee.
💡If you want to train your ear to the sounds and prosody of the language you're learning, put on the radio while you have your breakfast.
💡If you want to work on comprehension skills, listen to an easy podcast on your way to work or on your daily jog. The movement can, in fact, help you focus.
💡Put on the radio or a saved music playlist while you cook.
🎶Here are a few playlists you can keep handy!
TLP community’s collaborative list on Spotify
Tip #4 - Integrate movement into your structure and routine
Despite what your old-school teachers might have made you believe by asking you not to fidget in class
Repetitive movement is our brain and body’s way of self-regulating, of improving focus and channelling energy towards a task we are trying to complete.
A few strategies to integrate movement into your learning routine:
✅ Get or make yourself a fidget toy.
✅ Pomodoro technique is your friend. Give your body and mind the breaks they need. Walk around, grab some water, stretch.
✅ A standing desk can be a subtle but big game-changer!
Hacking Grammar and Vocabulary Learning
There’s no way around it, but there’s a fun way about it! 🙂
Tip #5 - Visual and other Recall Aids
The challenge with having an ADD limited working memory is that our attention is being pulled in many different directions by different things.
Using memory aids can help with recall while you are trying to take a new concept from short-term to long-term memory.
✅ Mnemonic devices
A quintessential example is a mnemonic device.
Have you already heard of Dr. and Mrs. VANDERTRAMP as an aid to learn the random list of verbs that are conjugated with ‘ être’ instead of ‘avoir’ in the passé composé ?
Of course, the devices that work for you would depend on your processing style.
Text doesn’t quite cut it for me. If visuals and story-telling work better for you, try out the Loci technique.
✅ Loci Technique (Memory Palace)
Loci Technique is the art of placing unrelated information into a visual whole.
Take the same example of the ‘être’ verbs. Another popular visual aid that you may have come across is this one:
One activity I like to do with my students is storytelling with this image. Stories stay with us longer because we, humans, are storytellers at heart.
Telling stories adds meaning and emotion to an otherwise random list of words, making the transition from short-term to long-term quicker and more effective.
You can use this with any list of words and create a visual and story for yourself!
✅ Chunking and Categorisation
Find a logical way to chunk and categorise information.
Use a system of colour-coding to visually separate chunks of information into logical categories.
Tip #6- Focus on Patterns over Rules
Let’s say you are trying to memorise a verb conjugation table. Conventionally, we are asked to memorise six forms or six verb endings.
Let’s take a basic rule for an -ER verb:
1. Remove -ER 2. Add the endings -e,-es,-e, -ons, -ez, -ent. 3. Voilà !
That means nothing to my ADHD brain.
How do I visualise it?
Why do we learn it the way we do? You can blame Latin.
But I don’t live in Rome, so…
Immersive learning - dopamine dunk for the win!
Tip #7 - If you can, travel!
I’m now an advanced user of Portuguese but the step from upper-intermediate B2 to advanced was a challenge, especially with a limited number of resources online.
After focused group study courses online and A LOT of online immersion, I spent a month in Lisbon last year, volunteering at a Home Hostel Lisbon.
From attending leisure workshops and language exchanges, to attending cultural events and participating in guided tours, I pretty much dunked my brain in the local culture and language - and it was a game-changer!
I may be an advanced user of French now, but that doesn’t stop me from doing the same here in France!
These past two years, I’ve been soaking up as much of the French language and culture as I possibly can.
Cultural immersion allows you to meet other people, engage in conversation with strangers, and just learn a lot of new theme-specific jargon and language!
Tip #8 Engage all your senses!
I am a huge fan of food, travel and music, so that really is my go-to.
I always, when possible online as well, integrate sensory experiences into my lesson plans.
It comes more naturally with children, but I encourage my adult learners to engage with the playful side of learning too!
Last year, I played around with InkTober. Have you looked at this year’s list?
Engaging multiple senses tends to reinforce neural pathways through sheer engagement, making learning more effective.
Tip #9 Stay Engaged and Learn on the Go
If you have chosen the travel route, you don’t have to sign up for a million workshops to interact with the language you are learning.
One of my favourite ways of staying engaged on the go, are things like eavesdropping on conversations with my coffee in hand or making conversation with a stranger, while I wait for my bus or train.
In France, you often find short story dispensers by Short Edition and pianos, a great initiative by SNCF!
Waiting for buses and trains also means loads of downtime to use apps like Anki or Quizlet or DuoLingo for spaced repetition practice or looking for new resources.
There you have it.
Nine different ways to learn a language, keeping in mind your AD(H)D brain’s strengths and challenges. And I have only just scratched the surface!
The more you understand YOUR unique brain, the easier it will get to create and curate YOUR unique way of learning.
If you’ve made it all the way to the end, I know you’ve found some useful tips here and I hope they come in handy.
If you have other tips and tricks you’d like to share or have experimented with these, I’d like to hear from you 🙂
Until then, keep having fun and keep your eye on the prize, you go-getter!
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