Language-learning hacks
How they work and what they mean
Hi, my name is Chris and I am the proud owner of OuiCommunicate. From time to time, I see on the internet people who claim to have invented “hacks” for language learning. While some might be genuine believers in their own “hacks”, there is at least a portion of them who hope that you will.
The following article will help you navigate your way through these “hacks” and the specific wording to look out for. I hope it helps!
“Essentially, they are saying that their hack works better than a thing that they also admit didn’t work anyway.”
STEP 1: Empathy for your problem
The first step to selling a “hack” is to address a problem in an emotional way. Sentences such as: “Do you feel you are not progressing?” are closely followed by “Don’t worry, I have been there before…until I discovered a miracle hack”.
In sales and business, an age-old principle is to solve a problem. The problem the “language hackers” are solving is your frustration and your desire for fast learning.
Because the language hacker has been in your shoes before and has overcome the problem, they are in a unique position to help you. Luckily, they have figured something out that the rest of the world hasn’t: how to learn a language fast and without any effort.
You will notice many rewordings of the same idea which is that they too suffered for years for no result. Just like you.
KEY WORD: "Me too"
STEP 2: Comparing with school classes
The second step in selling a “hack” is to compare the hack with “traditional, boring and ineffective” methods.
In this step 2, the hacker is still playing on your sense of emotion and referring to an ill-defined “traditional way” of lerarning languages. Some hackers will provide a definition such as “boring memorization of grammar rules” but other hackers will not need to.
Just as in horror films, the danger is more scary when we can’t see the monster. It is the viewer who builds up the horror in their imagination!
The purpose of Step 2 is to bring you back to that place in your mind where languages are tied to disagreeable feelings.
It is not necessary for the hacker to say that they’re specifically referring to school, (which was not designed to teach languages in the first place).
This unfair and nonsensical comparison allows the hacker to establish a sense of contrast between “before” (bad) and “now” (good). In a way, we learn that the hack is much better than a thing that didn’t work aanyway.
KEY WORD: "Boring"
STEP 3: Engagement
A good “hack” is also one that promises to address the problem of boredom. Since they have walked that walk, they know that the key to learning a language is to stay engaged.
Thanks to the hack, your progress will be so impressive that you will keep coming back for more.
It will no longer be an effort to learn a language because the gateway to a whole new world will open for you.
Don’t forget that they too were in the position of not wanting to learn. But since the invention of the hack they can learn any language they wish, and it still remains fun!
KEY WORD: "Fun"
STEP 4: Promises of success
No good “hack” would ever be complete without a promise of success. The guarantees are usually in the form of testimonials from paying customers and of course, from the hacker themself.
The exact result will not be defined but you will at least know that the hack works very well.
Most “hacks” work for more than one language, hence making the hacker a master of their trade and a supra-linguist who transcends mere mortals, such as those encountered in universities and colleges.
KEY WORD: "Progress"
To conclude...
Spotting a good language hack salesperson is quite easy for those who know what to look for. The vagueness of the terms used, contradictory statements, insubstantial comparisons in the style of “washes whiter than before” – Yes, but which is the washing powder that didn’t wash white in the first place??
Either by ignorance or natural business acumen, the hacker strongly projects the impression of believing in their “hack” (or method) Not only do they believe, but they are actually “living the hack” – proof being that their speak 50 languages and have aced all their tests.
And who are you NOT to believe in it? After all, you likely don’t spend your time comparing learning methods.
Language hackers are from all walks of life. Some claim to be polyglots with a scientific background, others don’t even bother proving which language they learned.
They will sometimes draw upon “neuro/psycho/cognitive” research or simply go the other side of the spectrum and claim that nursery rhymes are the key to learning fast.
For those of us who are qualified Linguists and teachers, it is surprising that people would fall into these traps. But just as any professional field, if you don’t know what to look out for it’s easy to be taken advantage of.
It’s a question of reading in between the lines and seeing what the hackers are really saying.
But wait...we have a language hack!
At OuiCommunicate, we have a hack of our own. But not the kind you would expect. It is not based on science and it doesn’t speed up anything.
As college linguists, we know that there is no way we can guarantee your learning. The only variables we can improve are those that are in our control.
We can guarantee the quality of the learning material and the relevance of the learning material. We can also promise to teach French in a way that will resonate with a speaker of English.
These three principles are the only “hacks” we allow ourselves to promote. When studying French with us, you will have strong foundations that will allow you to keep growing as a user of French.
We guarantee that each block of learning is a quantifiable step forward towards French. Each worksheet and each video from our website moves you in the direction you need to go.
That is the promise that OuiCommunicate makes you.