The 5 Best Polyglot E-books for Anyone Who Dreams of Becoming Multilingual

The 5 Best Polyglot E-books for Anyone Who Dreams of Becoming Multilingual The 5 Best Polyglot E-books for Anyone Who Dreams of Becoming Multilingual Technology  has made it possible to go beyond lugging heavy textbooks around.No need to stuff those  100  must-read books into your poor, tired backpack.Convenient, right?Well, e-books are way more than  just convenientâ€"theyve proven themselves to be great tools for learning a foreign language.First, you get quantity. With  e-books, you can tote several  great language learning books around at once and interact with diverse multimedia content.  Oh, and all of this valuable digital content is cheaper than whats in print.You also get  quality.  Some e-books out there are absolutely ideal for learning a foreign language.In my years as an English and ESL teacher, I realized that a surprising amount of students had never heard of books that  teach language learning strategies  (and not just languages themselves). Too many  students go straight for  the workbooks and language DVDs, skipping over the foundational approaches that are actually essential to  learning any language successfull y.The 5 Best Polyglot E-books for Anyone Who Dreams of Becoming MultilingualConsider these e-books life hacks for learning a new language. Whether it’s your first or  your third language  that youre studying, youve got to recognize that  training your brain to think a certain way  helps immensely when youre taking on such a big project.You need to get yourself in the language learning zone. What should you expect? What problems may crop up? What are the best learning  methods for you?  All these questions and many, many more are explored in the following books.Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget ItCheck availability: Ama zon’s Kindle and  Barnes Noble’s Nook“Fluent Forever” is the lengthiest book on this list at a whopping 336 pages, but this in-depth guide is well worth the time it takes to read. At 36 years old, the book’s author, Gabriel Wyner, speaks six languagesâ€"all self-taught. In this book, Wyner introduces the strategies he’s ma stered through learning languages on his own.The overall focus is to help you formulate a  faster way of acquiring a new language, which Wyner does by showing you how to divide and conquer all the aspects of learning a language. For example, flashcards  are a common learning strategyâ€"but what’s the most efficient way to make and use flashcards for studying? Youll find out here.The book also stresses memory tactics, since the idea of remembering all the grammar and vocabulary that makes one fluent in a language can easily seem overwhelming.“Fluent Forever” starts with pronunciation and moves on to repetition techniques and exercises, which are based on the spaced repetition learning system  (SRS). Youll learn tricks that will help you associate sounds and spelling with images. Youll really get into the right frame of mind for  thinking in a language, rather than thinking first in your native language and then translating into your target language.Wyner makes a big promises: W ith his methodologies, you can learn 100 words in a month (that’s more than three words a day!) and this is all laid out for you from the get-go in a chapter on setting your vocabulary goals.Outside of learning strategies, the book also includes a useful FAQ section about language learning, such as how quickly one can realistically expect to become fluent in a language (spoiler: it depends) and what kind of books and resources youll need to move ahead (think workbooks and language groups).One of the greatest things about this guide is that the writing has a humorous and relatable edge. Wyner begins the book with an anecdote about how he had joined the fencing team in high school to get out of gym class. After that,  you feel like you really know and can trust the guyâ€"and youll need to trust him to let his great methods get to work on your brain.In addition to Amazon, this book is available on VitalSource, a place where you can rent or buy e-books and access them on the Bookshelf app (for Kindle, iPad, Android and Chromebook). Their World Languages section is quite robust, so its an excellent resource for dedicated language learners to check out.31 Steps to Learn a New LanguageCheck availability: Amazon’s KindleThe whole title of the book is actually “31 Steps to Learn a New Language: Fun, Fast Easy Steps Learn Any New Foreign Language You Want,” and fast it is: In just 44 pages, this motivating book proves to be a great tool for those who want to learn a language for the first time.Author Philip Veng is like a lesser-known version of do-it-quick, do-it-smart Tim Ferriss (author of “The Four Hour Work Week”), writing about quick routes to accomplishments that are seemingly impossible to the everyday person.“31 Steps” will help you tackle things like setting goals, making a study schedule and determining your learning style. It lists some great resources for everyday learning (like listening to foreign radio stations and reading childrens boo ks) that you may not have thought of.Each chapter is quite shortâ€"averaging a page and a halfâ€"which makes it very digestible for those not looking to read a huge, in-depth book.The True Polyglot Guide: How to Learn Any Foreign Language Fast and for FreeCheck availability:  Amazon’s KindleThis 24-page guide is chock full of language learning methods and secrets that are ideal for those who want to add a second (or third!) language to their arsenal but arent sure how to start.Author Ryan Lair clearly understands the unique challenges of learning multiple languages (like mixing up vocabulary for similar languages). If you’re not sure what language you want to tackle yet, this book offers tips that will help you determine what the easiest language for you to study might be based on your learning style.The book covers the stages of language learning, like spelling, pronunciation and vocabulary, and outlines learning strategies unique to each of them.Lair doesnt leave out the motiv ational factor thats so crucial to the serious commitment of language learning, either. His book promotes the many, many benefits of being multilingual, issuing encouraging claims such as improved mental alertness and increased personal confidence.Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language From Anywhere in the WorldCheck availability:  Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes Noble’s NookSome scientific studies have shown that the ability to learn a foreign language dips significantly after the age of 30, and this 256-page book does a pretty good job of disproving that theory.Yes, the book’s title certainly sounds like a big promiseâ€"but with dedicated effort many language learners have found this book to be true to its word.If you need proof, consider this:  Author Benny Lewis was named a 2013 “Traveler of the Year” by National Geographic Traveler magazine, and is a self-taught polyglot who speaks over 10 languages (he knew just one of them in 2003). Fo r that reason, this e-book offers the advantages of someone who has actually accomplished learning numerous languages at a relatively older  age.The book is divided into two parts: The first goes over how to begin learning a foreign language, and the second part covers how to move into the intermediate and advanced levels.The beginner section doesnt scare you away with the more technical aspects of language learning. Instead, it hones in on what you need to learn for your particular situation (are you a tourist or are you moving there for a job?) and gets you talking as a soon as possible. The second section stresses grammar mastery and immersion through multimedia, which Lewis believes are better saved for when youre more comfortable with your new tongue.Like “The True Polygot,” Lewiss e-book also does a good job of pep-talking you through learning a foreign language and debunks common myths, which makes this a great resource for true beginners.Learn World CalligraphyCheck avai lability:  Amazon’s Kindle  and  Barnes Noble’s NookThis is the best e-book Ive found for taking foreign language learning way beyond speakingâ€"where the emphasis so often liesâ€"and moving  it into writing, a key part of learning a language that doesnt share the same alphabet as your native tongue. It’s also a sure way to impress others, if nothing elseâ€"you can learn to write lesser-known scripts like Celtic, Ethiopian and Mongolian. You’ll also find Greek, Russian, Chinese and Arabic, among others.This beautifully laid out full-color book, which consists of 192 pages of gorgeous calligraphy and step-by-step instructions, is perfect for those who learn visually and by doing.In addition to teaching you how to write in a foreign language, it also provides a history of each language that brings a new appreciation to why scripts have ended up looking the way they do.Since e-books can be limiting when it comes to writing, one extra plus to this book is that you can print out free practice sheets on the author’s site.Theres something for everyone in these e-books, so shop aroundâ€"read some previews and ratings, and get a feel for what will work best for you!Jane K. Callahan is a former teacher turned writer who has traveled to over 30 countries across six continents. She has lived in Ireland, Thailand, Italy, Hawaii and New York City. You can follower her on Twitter at @JaneKCall.And One More ThingIf youre digging these polyglot strategies, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with inter active transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes store  or Google Play store.