Can you learn a language while sleeping? Have you ever experienced it? That time when you have fallen asleep watching an English movie? Do you remember you heard something even while you’re dozing off? You might not believe it, but there are ways on how to learn a language while sleeping!
Sleep is crucial when you want to learn a language. You can use it to your advantage by memorizing words and sentences before bedtime. Then, let your subconscious mind do the learning while sleeping. You might not be aware, but you dream several times every night and every time you sleep for a few hours. Plus, you know how much of those dreams make it to your waking world. And if you can learn English while sleeping, then you are a special one. Now, here are the ways on how to learn English while sleeping.
How Sleeping Can Boost Your Learning
Sleep is essential to many brain functions. It includes how nerve cells or neurons communicate with each other. Your brain and body stay in an active state while you sleep. Recent studies suggest that sleep plays an important role. It removes toxins in your brain that build up while you are awake.
When you are asleep, you give your mind-brain a rest. It means that you are not asking it to “encode” new information. You also do not “retrieve” old information the way we do in an inactive state. We often use or see the term “consolidation” to describe a phase in memory and learning. It is where the brain secures the information into a long-term memory structure.
Sleep learning is using the time when asleep to learn information. Sleep helps this in part because we are also bringing in new info to interfere with that process. Some examples are playing tapes containing information to know for school while sleeping.
Another example is giving oneself suggestions before bedtime. These suggestions must be about what one wants to know. Sometimes, people wake up with answers to questions they have asked as they fall asleep. If they look at drawings related to the topic, they are exploring and listening. They often do this to know more information about the subject.
Is Learning English While Sleeping Possible?
Since we already learned the answer to the question, “Can you learn a language while sleeping?”, let’s now delve into a more specific one. Is learning English while sleeping possible? Yes– you can learn English by sleeping! However, it is not easy. Have you ever heard stories about the extraordinary mathematical genius? Srinivasa Ramanujan, an Indian mathematician. He claimed to wake up in the morning only to write some formula God taught him in his dreams.
Some would agree with this thought. You could develop such a complex formula by intuition and without any derivations. It seems impossible, but there is still no explanation for this. There are some other geniuses too, who claimed to learn through their dreams.
While it may still seem a thing far from imagination, dreams can motivate or give ideas. But it depends on how your mind will respond and your interest in something.
That “something” came up in your dream. So somewhere in your plan, you see that you are getting different ideas. It can be anything, like cooking pasta or solving a simple math question. These ideas can be on how to solve that problem or how to make the pasta better.
Though, what would be better would be to get meaningful exposure to the language? There has been some evidence from sleep and brain studies that such a thing might have a slight effect. Besides, you can have a good practice during the day and then an excellent whole night’s sleep.
It is well known that during the different stages of sleep, the brain first moves memories from short-term up to long-term memory. And then, it combines and recombines memories and patterns. In other words, sleep solidifies what you learn during the day while awake.
Reasons Why You Should Try Learning While You Sleep
Sleep learning, on the other hand, is a hotly debated concept. Because there is insufficient data to prove that it works, it is sometimes regarded as a pipe dream. While there is a strong link between sleep and learning, its integration may or may not be possible.
Yet, there are still reasons why you should try this one. Believe it or not, learning while sleeping provides three benefits. It would be best if you consider these points before going the natural ways. Moreover, be careful as you go through each reason and test for yourself.
Gain experience in your target language
One of the most compelling reasons to study a language while sleeping is this. You will not be squandering time. Even if you do not learn anything, you will be sleeping anyhow. So, you will not have lost any time you could have spent doing something else.
It is not time-consuming
Second, it is beneficial to expose yourself to your target language. Even if you do not learn anything while sleeping, you may wake up for a few minutes in the middle of the night. After that, take advantage of the opportunity to expand your vocabulary. You can also improve your pronunciation.
You can enhance your vocabulary retention
Finally, sleep learning may also help with language retention. While the science behind this idea is not there yet, certain studies point in that direction. Any slight boost is beneficial! All the more incentive to use sleep learning. In conjunction with language learning resources available out there, you can do it now.
4 Ways On How To Learn English While Sleeping
1. Eko Languages
On the first stop, we have the Eko Languages. This method is a YouTube channel dedicated to assisting people. This channel helps many people in learning other languages. There are many sleep learning films, as well as general classes. You can explore many resources, such as vocabulary lists and pronunciation guidelines.
Each movie has a soothing tone that will help you drift off to sleep. Then, in English, you will repeat a word three times in the target language. If you stare at your screen long enough, you will notice that the word appears in both languages. That is in English and your target language. The emphasis in the videos is on common words and phrases.
Furthermore, it comes in a variety of languages as well. Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Russian, and Spanish. These are among the languages taught to prospective sleep learners. Sleep learning videos are also available to teach English to native speakers.
There are also sleep learning films available to help Spanish speakers. These videos include learning German, Italian, Russian, and other languages. Finally, while their films are not billed as “sleep-learning,” their videos could be helpful. For sleep-learning, it has a lot of vocabulary because the central focus is listening.
2. Sleep Learning
The second way is almost the same as the Eko Language. That is not other than Sleep Learning. Their YouTube channel aims to teach sleep learning. There are general education themes to help you learn. Things like the periodic table and world capitals are some examples. But let us be honest. The language learning videos are the true showstoppers.
And there are a vast number of languages to learn! Multi-video playlists are available to assist you in learning English. French, Japanese, and Spanish are possible also. Single videos are also available in German, Italian, Korean, and Portuguese.
You have to say a word in English and then three times in the target language in each language video. In the meantime, the film depicts a picturesque scene from a location. In that setting, the target language is present.
3. Sleep Learning 2.0
This name may ring a bell. There is a reason for this: it shares the same name as the previous resource on the list. It is, yet a completely distinct resource with completely different alternatives.
This Sleep Learning offers sleep learning CDs and MP3 downloads for sale. The programs seek to teach you foreign language sounds and words. It makes the bold promise of being able to teach you a new language in 30 days. After that, you must continue it until you can combine them into sentences.
Each program’s purpose is to teach you the 850 most common terms. This offer is in your target language, giving you an essential vocabulary. It also offers courses in more than 50 languages to English speakers.
The offer includes Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, and others. These systems are also available for languages that are not spoken often. Such languages are Basque, Galician, Hmong, Khmer, Macedonian, Marathi, Yiddish, etc.
Sleep Learning also has English language learning programs. This program is for people who speak more than 50 different languages.
4. Sleepy Languages
Finally, we have this fantastic app. SleepyLanguages provides apps that aim to assist you in your sleep. Their apps help you in memorizing vocabulary as well. Furthermore, this app is not like others in that it does not only play words as you sleep. Instead, it pushes you to spend three minutes a day studying vocabulary with the app.
So this is an excellent alternative for skeptics. For those who want to try out learning while sleeping, this is for you. Lessons and exams daily will also assist you in progress in your language skills. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish are available. These are among the 11 language possibilities available through SleepyLanguages.
Steps to Learn English While Sleeping: Can You Learn a Language While Sleeping?
Learning English, let alone anything else, while sleeping may seem impossible. But, by following a few simple steps, you can establish an evening routine. These steps will help you keep all the new vocabulary, grammar, and speaking skills. To which they are the ones you picked up in the day. During your long, exciting day, studying them while you sleep is now possible.
If you are a true dreamer, you began your day by stimulating your intellect in English. After that, you fuel your brain with a champions’ breakfast. You preyed on your commute to and from work as a way to practice more English. Even if you did not use it at work, you would still do it. You took up the challenge of not only learning English but also living it!
It is time to unwind and get ready for bed now that night has arrived. Now is the ideal moment to reflect on all the lessons you learned throughout the day. Meanwhile, your quest to master English is ongoing. Thus, hurry up and get ready for your next adventure.
Now, follow these three steps and establish a consistent nightly English routine. As a result, your subconscious mind will adapt to continue learning while you sleep.
1. Meditate before going to bed
Meditation is a simple method that can help you change your life for the better. Meditation can help you clean your thoughts and concentrate. This point is one of its many advantages. It is a good idea to clear room for all the things you want in your mind. This way, you can focus on it before you start downloading information into your brain.
You must first prepare your thoughts if you wish to study English while sleeping. A good meditation session will leave you feeling calm but concentrated. You are in the ideal frame of mind to learn something new. What is more, you are to recollect vital information from earlier in the day. Meditating prepares your mind for the next step in your sleep learning process.
2. Prepare your mind for success
After you have finished meditating, your mind will be clear and ready to learn English more. Your subconscious will imprint whatever your mind consumes leading up to bedtime. If you want to be a good English speaker, you should feed your mind with positive thoughts. Take these examples for yourself. Hope, purpose, vision, and courage are some of the best concepts before going to bed.
Look for literature that can inspire you to think and dream big about your personal goals. Reading inspirational literature in English is one approach to do this. Find books that will make you feel and dream significant about your aspirations.
You can read books like Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. Also, the 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss or Mindset by Carol Dweck is doable as well. These books will alter your perspective on life and how you approach each day.
You can highlight powerful quotes from the text during the reading process. Afterward, use them later to motivate you when you face a challenge during the day. You can also use them to reach a plateau in your English studies. You may also practice memorizing by writing down new words and creating flashcards.
3. Listen to music while sleeping
Listening to English as you begin to doze off is the final part of your evening routine. After meditating and reading a few pages of your book, you should be sleepy and ready for bed. If you want to get up early and conquer your day in English, you should get to bed by 10 PM. That way you may wake up around 6 AM, rejuvenated and ready to face another day.
As the day draws to a close, it is time to curl up under the blankets in your favorite pajamas. It is also the time to plug in your earbuds and start listening to English. Exposure is the key to this part. The more English you are exposed to, the easier it will be to distinguish word pronunciations. You can also keep new vocabulary when you wake up this way.
According to evidence from a Swiss scientific study, this is how the results go. Students who listened to new vocabulary words as they went to sleep performed better. They outscored pupils who tried to stay awake and listen to the exact phrases.
You can listen to your favorite calming music to help you fall asleep. You can also watch sleep-learning movies made only for learning English while sleeping. To assist you to go asleep, they play soothing sounds in the background. Meanwhile, different words and conversations in English are then played.
Dos And Don’ts When Learning A New Language: Can You Learn a Language While Sleeping?
In this blue-green world, English is one of the easiest languages to learn. Though it is not very complicated, it can be difficult and annoying at times. The goal of these ideas is to assist you in overcoming obstacles and frustrations. This way you can learn and speak English.
1. Do not rely on grammar
Grammar is an essential aspect of the language. It assists you in speaking proper English. Yet, if you rely on Grammar, you are learning it the wrong way. This result happens due to a variety of factors.
To begin, you can break the norms with some constraints while speaking casually. Another factor is that even native speakers do not give concern about grammar. Consider the language you are currently using. Do you always use proper grammar when you speak? You do not have to.
So, why be so concerned about grammar when conversing? Remember that no one will insult you if you make a grammatical error.
2. Try to be patient
The cornerstones to successful language acquisition are perseverance and patience. Always keep in mind that it is a talent, and learning a new skill takes time. If you wish to learn to talk fluently in 30 days, you have a completely erroneous concept.
It takes much more time to learn to speak fluently. Many films and schools offer to teach you how to speak fluently in seven days, ten days, or thirty days. Do not let yourself be fooled by such deceptions; instead, use the proper reasoning.
3. Do it in a practical way
It is advisable to learn languages in a more practical way than intellectual. Do not keep mugging on the books and expecting a miracle to happen. It is impossible to speak English in one day. Reading, writing, hearing, and speaking are the four components you must practice.
Give your weaker components more attention. Practical experience will help you become a language all-rounder. Many people make the mistake of reading books and acquiring grammar and vocabulary. Then they would complain about how difficult it is to speak English.
4. Create your setting
Since you were most likely not from an English country, there will be few native speakers. You will always face the issue of practicing your English. Many people make excuses here. They often claim that they do not have the right atmosphere. Hence, they are unable to communicate in English.
Remember that the majority of those who learn it do not have the same circumstances. Instead of whining, try to come up with a solution. You can make your surroundings in a variety of ways. Use social media or your imagination to come up with a unique way to construct your habitat.
5. Focus on your pronunciation
This skill is undervalued in the language learning process. But your pronunciation is as vital as the other components of the language. It is challenging for others to understand everything you say if you have the wrong accent. They may be able to understand a few words, but this is insufficient.
To make your talk more successful, you should work on your Mother Tongue Influence. Besides, learn to have good pronunciation. If you focus on this, you will have a distinct advantage over others. As many people lack practical communication skills, you can be one step ahead of them.
Follow these bits of advice, and you will be speaking flawless English in no time. Probably not right away, but definitely.
Alternative Ways of Learning English
There is not an easy way to learn any language. Whatever may be your linguistic background, it does not influence your learning ability. In English and your first language, there could be some similarities and differences. But it is so with any two languages.
Make a beginning and assess the speed of progress. You can devote a limited amount of time. It is hard work and will need persistent efforts. So here are some ways to learn English rather than sleeping.
Listen
Listening is the first step to becoming fluent. We all know that a newborn baby learns his native language by listening to his parents. Taking that in mind, start listening to English. It can be anything from watching movies, listening to podcasts, YouTube videos, etc.
Read
This part is necessary if you want to improve your vocabulary. Through this, you can see how sentence formation occurs. Do not start with the newspaper. If you are a beginner, start reading children’s books. You can begin with Aesop Fables or Mother Goose Tales. There is no shame in reading children’s books as they are pretty exciting and fun to read.
After you finish reading, look up the word in the dictionary. See its other forms and also its synonyms and antonyms, then note it down in a notebook. Whenever you come across any new word, mark it and guess the meaning and move on.
Speak
You can practice speaking to a mirror, but we know talking to the mirror does not frigging work. Some people will consider it difficult as they fear that other people will make fun of them. Now, after acquiring confidence, start using it in your daily conversations.
You can install apps like Opentalk, Speaker, and other language-learning apps. These apps are completely free and let you interact with other learners. After two weeks of usage, you will begin to notice changes in your fluency.
Write
Start writing a journal or diary. Initially, it will feel stupid, but you will get better with time. You will get to learn more about your true self. Write one page daily and try to use the words that you learned recently. Writing or noting something down makes it easier to remember. Do not expect yourself to write something as a well-known writer and get disappointed. You should never give up and keep writing.
Immerse
You can only learn English more by immersing yourself in it. That means speaking it every day, reading it, writing it, and listening to it. And make sure you think about it too. You know the natural thoughts that come to your mind in your language; make sure you do it in English. You can only dominate a speech when the words in it become part of your active vocabulary.
Final Thoughts
Why not attempt learning while sleeping? It may assist you in expanding your vocabulary. Moreover, it can improve your ability to compose sentences in your target language. After all, having a second way to improve your language skills can only be a good thing, right?
You now understand how easy it is to learn English while sleeping. Though this three-step technique is not scientifically established. There is evidence that small habits make the most difference. These steps consist of meditating, reading a book, and listening to English. In terms of your growth, this makes you feel better about your success in your learning journey.
Do you believe in the benefits of meditation, the subconscious, and sleep learning? Is it true, or is it a legend? You will never know unless you try it out.
However, this does not imply that your English learning path will be easy for you all the time. Meanwhile, if you use the tactics described in this article, you can learn and improve your English.
To summarize, it is not so much about sleeping as it is about what you learn before and after you sleep. Can you learn a language while sleeping? You can make the most of your time and fit your resting pattern with your learning. Finally, do your best to improve your English even as you are drooling all over that pillow.