In a multilingual country like Switzerland, many people want to do everything at once: improve their English and their German, or start Italian and English together. The enthusiasm is good, but the plan is often costly. For most people, one language at a time leads further, and faster.
One thing at a time
Robin Callan, the creator of the Callan Method, liked to quote an old English saying: one thing at a time, and that done well, is a very good thing. Studying two or three languages at once works for natural linguists. Most people are not natural linguists, and they split their attention, time and energy between goals that are already hard on their own.
Reaching a useful level in a language takes hundreds of hours of practice. Running two such projects at once, with a full-time job, is the most common recipe for making little progress in both.
Why English usually comes first
English is the international language. With it you can communicate in practically any country, work with any company and access most technical and scientific knowledge. Other languages open doors in specific countries; English opens them everywhere.
Callan observed that English is learned out of necessity, the way a writer learns to type: he may not like the idea, but he needs it for the job. Other languages are usually learned for personal reasons: love of the language, family ties, a fascination with a country. Excellent reasons, but they make more sense once the main need is met.
English is also easier to start
Besides its relatively simple grammar, English has a huge advantage: you already know hundreds of words before you start, such as computer, stop, shopping, manager or weekend. And you are surrounded by it, in films, music, series and online.
When to start the second language
Callan suggested starting another language only after reaching a level equivalent to Cambridge B2 First in English. By then English is consolidated and won’t be lost when the new language arrives. And the experience of having really learned one language makes the second much easier.
And if you live in a multilingual region?
If your daily life or job requires the local language, such as German in Zurich or French in Geneva, it is a real need. Even so, English is often the working language of international companies. In that case, set priorities: which language do you need to use first, and how urgently? If the answer is English, concentrate on it with frequent lessons. See also intensive English: how many hours a day?
This article was inspired by Mr Q’s study of the handbooks written by Robin K. T. Callan and by the dozens of hours of conversation he had with Mr Robin Callan at his home, conversations that were recorded and that Mr Q considers a treasure trove of knowledge.