If you are reading this blog right now, it is probably because you have taken an MBTI test and discovered that your personality type is INFP. This means that you have introverted, intuitive, feeling, and prospecting personality traits. You probably are also looking to learn a new language or are currently learning a new language.
If both of these things are true, then this is the right blog for you! From my experience, everyone’s learning style is different. One activity can be effective in learning for one person and another ineffective. What works well for my friend, might not work well for me.
Knowing your personality type can give a lot of insights into what might work well for you when learning languages and what might not work as well. In this blog, you will learn what it means to be an INFP, how to utilize the strengths you have in language learning and what weaknesses can get in the way of an INFP’s language-learning journey, and how to combat them.
MBTI
MBTI stands for Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. It is a test that was created by psychologists to help people understand their personalities better. At the end of the test, you are given one of 16 personality types that fit your personality the closest according to how you answered the test questions.
The 16 personalities are a combination of 8 traits, introversion, extroversion, intuitive, observant, thinking, feeling, prospecting, and judging. Every person leans further towards 4 of these traits than the other 4 traits. The 4 traits your personality tends to lean towards determines your personality type.
Each personality type has strengths and weaknesses. When you understand what it means to have your personality type and come to know your strengths and weaknesses, you get a new sense of self-awareness.
This self-awareness has personally helped me overcome many obstacles and build new strengths. Knowing what it means to be an INFP can help you too! Especially in language learning! When you know what strengths and weaknesses you have as an INFP, you can understand what learning methods and activities work best for you.
INFPs
INFPs are unique and rare individuals. They make up only about 4.4% of the population. INFPs are known for being quiet, passionate, creative, idealistic, and empathetic. They thrive when they are working towards a cause they believe in. They have a deep curiosity about human nature and love to make deep connections with people.
INFPs are also usually very talented in expressing themselves artistically. They thrive in situations where they need to be creative and imaginative. INFPs will often get lost in their own imaginative thoughts and forget where they are. These are only some of the unique characteristics of an INFP.
Many of these characteristics lead to great strengths within INFPs. Some of these characteristics have the potential to become weaknesses in INFPs, especially when it comes to language learning. In the next sections, I will go over some of the strengths and weaknesses INFPs have the potential to carry.
INFP’s Strengths in Language Learning
INFPs have many strengths that can help them in studying a language. The following are some of these strengths and some ideas on how INFPs can use these strengths to learn a language in the most effective way.
Creative, Imaginative
As mentioned above, INFPs are very creative and imaginative people. They are prone to daydream and lose all sense of time. They have a sensitivity to the arts and often thrive in situations where they have room to be creative and express themselves artistically. INFPs can utilize this strength in many ways when learning a language.
INFPs can be more effective learners by constructing language activities that are centered around creativity and imagination. For example, when learning vocabulary, you can draw pictures depicting the vocabulary you are learning. Or, you can learn vocabulary by reading and singing along to the lyrics of a favorite Korean song.
INFPs should use art and creativity in as many ways as they can when learning a language. This will help them connect to the culture of the language they are learning and understand the language on a deeper level.
Drawn to Deep Relationships
INFPs are drawn to deep connections with people. The most cherished people in their lives are the ones they have developed deep relationships with. These people also often have the biggest influence on INFPs' lives and are an INFP’s biggest source of motivation.
When learning a language INFPs should take advantage of this strength by trying to form deep connections with people who speak the language INFPs are trying to learn. By forming these connections an INFP will develop a greater motivation to learn the language because they will want to learn it to connect with people they care about on a deeper level.
By forming close relationships with people who speak the language you are wanting to learn, you also get the benefit of having more opportunities to practice the language and have someone whom you can ask questions to. People who have friends or family who speak their desired language learn at a way faster rate than those who don’t know anyone who speaks their desired language.
So if you are an INFP, make a friend! Make a friend who speaks the language you want to learn and make a deep connection with them. You will find the language acquisition process to be much easier and more fun. You will also have a lot more motivation.
Love to Help Others
People with this personality type love to help people and often make charity work or a good cause the center of their lives. If you are an INFP, try to find a cause that inspires you and also motivates you to learn your target language.
For example, if you are learning Korean, you might find interest in helping North Korean refugees. By getting involved in this cause, you will feel more fulfilled as an INFP and have greater motivation to learn Korean (as an example). Research causes related in some way to your target language and see if any peak your interest.
INFP’s also tend to find motivation and fulfillment in helping others learn their native language. INFPs can participate in language exchanges to learn their target language and also help someone else by teaching them a language.
Passionate
INFPs are very passionate people. When INFPs find a cause, hobby, or person that they love, they devote countless thoughts and hours to it. When learning a language, try to find something that you are passionate about in a language. This could be a cause, or person, or a subject.
If you love animals, try learning words related to animals or watching videos in your target language related to animals. Whatever your passion is, find a way to include it in your studies or make it your motivation for learning a language.
Idealistic
INFPs are naturally optimistic people. They set big goals for themselves and believe that they can achieve them. INFPs can use this to their advantage in language learning. Idealistic people tend to be motivated and stick to their goals for longer. When making language goals as an INFP, be optimistic but realistic. Believe that you will accomplish your goals and you likely will!
INFP’s Weaknesses in Language Learning
Unrealistic
INFPs are idealistic, but with idealism can come unrealistic goals and expectations. This can be a major weakness for INFPs in learning a language. If you set unrealistic goals for yourself, you will likely become discouraged when you don’t reach your goals and then giving up becomes tempting.
INFP personality types should be idealistic but realistic when setting goals to avoid discouragement. Believe that you will learn the language and that you can do hard things, but also be real with yourself on how much time you have, your attention span, and your ability to pick up on new things.
Self-isolating
Part of being an INFP is being introverted. Introverts tend to enjoy spending time with themselves focusing on their own likes and interests. Many introverts can end up isolating themselves from other people if they don’t make conscious efforts to meet people.
When learning a language, you must meet and talk with people in your target language. To avoid self-isolation and stunting their language learning, INFPs need to make conscious efforts to socialize and make friends.
Unfocused
Learning a language requires long-term focus and drive. This can sometimes be difficult for INFPs who are known for day-dreaming and getting lost in thought. To stay focused on their studies, INFPs should make detailed and realistic study plans. For instance, if you tend to lose interest in a topic or daydream after 20 minutes, then plan 15-minute long study activities.
If you know a particular topic bores you and tends to send you into dreamland, then avoid the topic or break it up into consumable parts. These strategies will help you stick to your study plans and consistently study.
Self-critical
INFPs are very self-critical people. They are good at recognizing their weaknesses and making goals to improve them. INFPs are also good at putting themselves down and discouraging themselves. To avoid discouragement and stay motivated, INFPs need to find a balance between recognizing their weaknesses and discouraging themselves.
INFPs can do this by recognizing weaknesses in themselves as it pertains to language study and then making a plan to overcome that weakness. For example, one INFP might recognize that they are not the best at speaking with natives in their target language. If they recognize this weakness and puts themself down for it, they will likely grow discouraged.
Instead, upon recognizing a weakness, an INFP should think of all the ways they can overcome this weakness by making a plan to overcome it. To overcome the above problem, an INFP might decide to make a goal to talk to one native per week or to make one Korean friend in the month. If they complete this goal, they will feel more encouraged and overcome a weakness.
Desperate to Please
People with the INFP personality type love to please others. This can often get in the way of them accomplishing the things they need to or speaking up against things they disagree with. However, while this trait is a weakness in many ways, it can also be turned into a strength when learning a language.
INFPs can take this desire to please others and turn it into motivation. When learning a language, one of the first things you will learn is that natives love to complement people speaking their language. The better you speak your target language, the more compliments and praise you will get.
Loving to please people can become a strength if it motivates you to study harder. And the rewards of compliments and praises will motivate an INFP to study harder.
Conclusion
When learning a language, It is important to recognize the strengths and weaknesses that come with your personality type so that you can utilize them in your language learning. INFPs have weaknesses, but they also have many strengths that give them the potential to become great language learners.
Whether you are an INFP or have another personality type, I hope you read this blog and came away with some ideas on how to improve your language study. If you follow some of the tips I gave you, I can guarantee you will become a more effective language learner. Thank you for reading this blog to the end! Until we meet again!
