Halfway Fluent: How I Sort of Learned 5 Languages Despite Dyslexia

Learning languages with dyslexia: skip textbooks and create phonetic shorthand, write phrases you actually use, get translations from locals, spell words how they sound to you, then practice aloud until memorized. Traditional methods fail dyslexic learners because reading is the bottleneck. This audio-first system works with how your brain processes information. Here's the method I developed after failing every standard approach.

The Problem With Standard Methods

No matter how hard I tried, no matter how many hours I spent banging my head against the wall, I just could not learn a language the normal way. Duolingo lasted three days before I threw my phone across the room in frustration. Language classes moved too fast, relied too heavily on reading, and made me feel stupid compared to classmates who seemed to absorb information effortlessly.

Reading was slow and painful. Pronunciation guides made no sense when the letters themselves wouldn't stay still on the page. Flashcards were useless when I could barely read the words I was supposed to be memorizing. Grammar explanations might as well have been written in the target language for all the good they did me.

I needed something different. After years of failure, I finally accepted that my brain doesn't work like the textbooks assume. So I stopped trying to force it and started working with what I actually have.

My Dyslexic Shorthand System

Here's the method I developed out of necessity, refined across multiple countries and languages:

1. Write down English phrases I actually need to use frequently. Not textbook phrases, real things I say daily. "Where is the bathroom?" "How much does this cost?" "More ice, please."
2. Mark each phrase with a check mark every time I need it. This tracks frequency and importance.
3. After five uses, get someone to translate it into the local language. A friend, a language exchange partner, a helpful local, anyone who speaks both languages.
4. Write the pronunciation phonetically, ignoring correct spelling entirely. I create my own spelling system based on how words sound to me, using whatever letter combinations help me remember.
5. Read my phonetic version aloud when I need to communicate. Then practice until it's memorized.

For example, "more tissue" in Khmer became "Chil-le ka-bung-time the-it" in my notebook. That looks absolutely ridiculous written down. A Khmer speaker would have no idea what those letters mean. But when I say it aloud using my phonetic system, Cambodians understand me. That's what matters.

Why This Actually Works

I later learned, from a linguist I met at a Da Nang coffee shop who was fascinated by my notebook, that my system accidentally incorporated several proven learning principles:

• Multisensory learning: I was writing, speaking, and listening simultaneously. My brain engaged through multiple channels rather than just the visual processing that dyslexia disrupts.
• Elaborative rehearsal: Creating my own phonetic system forced deeper cognitive processing than passive memorization. I wasn't just seeing words; I was actively reconstructing them.
• Spaced repetition: Only translating phrases after five uses meant I was learning words I actually needed frequently. High-frequency vocabulary stuck; rarely-used phrases didn't waste mental space.
• Self-explanation: Figuring out my own pronunciation system required understanding how sounds worked, not just copying them. This deeper engagement improved retention.
• Context-dependent memory: Learning phrases in situations where I needed them created strong associations between language and real-world use.

My accidental methodology aligned with research I'd never read because I couldn't have read it anyway. Sometimes working around limitations produces better solutions than following standard paths.

The Results

Using this system, I achieved conversational ability in Arabic, Thai, Spanish, Indonesian, French, and Vietnamese. I can navigate daily life in all of these languages, ordering food, negotiating prices, giving taxi directions, having basic social conversations. I've handled emergencies, built friendships, and integrated into local communities in ways that English-only travelers cannot.

In Vietnam, where I now live, my Vietnamese continues improving through daily use. I can joke with vendors, discuss my coffee preferences in detail, and handle most practical situations without needing translation help. That functionality transforms the expatriate experience.

The Limitations

I'll be honest about what this method does not give you:

• I have heavy accents in every language. Native speakers always know I'm foreign within seconds.
• I cannot read or write in most of these languages. My phonetic systems are personal codes, not actual literacy.
• My fluency is practical, not academic. I can't discuss philosophy or politics beyond basic opinions.
• Deep conversation requires years of additional immersion that I haven't invested in any single language.
• Grammar is approximate at best. I communicate meaning rather than speaking correctly.

But for a traveler and expat who needs to function in foreign countries? This gets the job done. And done is better than perfect when perfect was never possible anyway.

Who This Is For

If traditional methods have failed you, if you have learning differences that make textbooks useless, or if you just need practical communication skills fast without years of study, try this approach. It's imperfect but functional. It won't impress linguists, but it will help you order lunch, find your hotel, and make friends in places where English doesn't help.

Sometimes halfway fluent is exactly what you need. And for those of us whose brains work differently, halfway fluent beats zero fluent every single time.

Related Expat Living Guides

• Explore Da Nang - Living in Vietnam
• Education in Da Nang - Learning resources
• Community in Da Nang - Finding language partners

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