Against the Claim That Learning Two Languages at Once Is Wrong

A common belief is that learning two languages simultaneously is inefficient—it supposedly slows you down, causes confusion, and results in poor progress. Stories of people stuck at an A1 level in several languages without significant improvement are easy to find online.

I have firsthand experience challenging this idea. As a child and teenager, I learned French and English together. Between 18 and 22, I studied Spanish and Italian. In my mid-20s, I took up Russian and German. Now, I’m learning Vietnamese, with some Swahili and Arabic on the side.

From my experience, studying two languages at once does create some short-term confusion, but it doesn’t matter much in the long run.

The Myth of Confusion

It’s natural for learners to transfer vocabulary, grammar, and spelling from one language to another. For instance, when I was in primary school, my French was stronger than my English. I often used French spellings in English, like exercice instead of exercise. Over time, as my English improved, these errors disappeared naturally.

I've experienced this as a teacher too. Many of my Greek students learning Spanish initially apply English rules to Spanish, like keeping the subject pronoun when it’s unnecessary or pronouncing h the English way. But these mistakes fade with practice and exposure.

The key takeaway is that these errors are temporary and don’t significantly impede progress. They are part of the learning process and should be treated as such.

Cross-Language Influence

A curious phenomenon when learning two languages simultaneously is confusing words that aren’t even similar. For example, while speaking Russian, I’ve occasionally thought of a German word instead, even if it sounds entirely different. This momentary confusion has no lasting impact—so long as you recognize the source of the mistake.

What about learning two very similar languages, like Italian and Spanish? When I did this, I often used Spanish words in Italian. However, this wasn’t just because I learned them together; it’s also because my stronger language (Spanish) influenced the weaker one (Italian).

While such mix-ups can be annoying, they can also be beneficial. Similar languages make it easier to recognize words, guess meanings, and transfer skills. For instance, the shared structures of Romance languages allow learners to progress faster across related languages.

Beyond Perfectionism

The worry about confusing languages is overblown and has had harmful consequences, such as discouraging bilingualism or suppressing minority languages. Instead, language learners—and their teachers—should embrace mistakes as natural and necessary. Perfectionism can become a barrier to progress.

As a sidenote, I’ve discovered that switching between languages is a skill that improves with practice. Initially, I faced minor difficulties transitioning from English to Spanish. Switching between Russian and Spanish, however, proved much more challenging. With time and consistent practice, though, this became much less of an issue.

Efficiency and Learning Styles

Another argument against learning two languages at once is that it’s inefficient. Critics claim you need to get through the beginner stage as quickly as possible, and splitting your focus delays that progress.

In reality, this depends on your goals and preferences. For me, once I began learning non-European languages, I found my progress slower and more challenging. Studying multiple languages simultaneously provided variety, keeping me engaged.

Of course, everyone learns differently. Your needs, learning style, and available resources will influence whether learning two languages at once works for you.

Final Thoughts

There’s no universal “best” method for language learning, and it doesn’t need to be all about efficiency. If learning two languages at once appeals to you, it’s worth trying. The journey may have its challenges, but the rewards can make it a deeply enriching experience.