As a language teacher and learner this is what I would recommend whenever possible. Supplement them with materials that focus on areas you need help with.
As long as you work on something that you find relevant and interesting, you’ll keep progressing.
You’ll naturally feel that there is something you’re not good at and want to improve. You’ll naturally feel might take classes, exams och pay a teacher to provide assessment and recommendations.
The most important thing is, however, to just be curious about the language and culture and how everything actually works. Keep using your curiosity to find new things to work on. Maybe write a journal where you reflect on your learning process.
Courses, text books or teachers aren't needed. With German and French the first thing I did was learn how to read and understand short stories like Little Red Riding Hood. The sentences were basic enough (i.e. Es war einmal, inmitten eines dichten Waldes, ein kleines Haus, wo ein hübsches kleines Mädchen namens Rotkäppchen wohnte) that with google translate and a lot of rereading and repetition I could eventually understand the gist of the story without needing a translation.
I'd then continue studying and rereading more short stories and eventually kid's books before trying to read the likes of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. After 6-9 months or so this reading comprehension then set the foundation for understanding TV, youtube videos and video games, as well as exercises pertaining to listening, writing and speaking.
This is basically what I do too except I prefer podcasts. I get a simple podcast in the target language where a transcript is available (or use an AI transcribing service) and then listen and read looking up words I don’t know. It is time consuming at the beginning but common words repeat often and so you’ll quickly develop a base. They key is to try to find a podcast solely in your target language that is made for language learners and is therefore simpler than a native podcast, and it helps if there is a manually produced transcript or subtitles if the podcast is on YouTube.
I failed learning Japanese a couple years ago but I learned a lot through my failures. When I wanted to learn spanish, I knew I had to do something different. I found the Refold guide and I've used it to guide my learning since. I don't follow it 100% but everything I do is in the same spirit.
You go through a structured textbook: it moves from simple and common grammar points to more complex ones. And it's not rocket science: it makes zero sense to study the future-in-the-past tense if you haven't mastered the past and future tenses.
Personally, I try to read unadapted literature as soon as possible, so it's common for me to come across a grammar point I haven't started yet. I just make a mental note and don't worry. Again, it makes zero sense to drill the Subjonctif in French if you haven't mastered the Indicatif yet. But it helps to be aware of it, since there are some common stock phrases which use the Subjonctif. The same goes for the historic past in Romance languages.
My strategy rn is to absorb simple written or audio media that i understand maybe 90% of. All the words i don’t understand are slapped onto anki, and after awhile i read/listen to the same media and see if i naturally understand the words.
That’s kinda basic, and i don’t take my language learning too seriously, but it works for me.
There isn't really any structure for me. I studied two languages and what ended up happening both time was, I studied grammar more in the beginning, with vocab, and listening/speaking (usually in the form of Pimsleur), I got an intro book to follow both times.
Once I was done with those I just started using materials that I could understand, children's books/songs/shows and moved on to more advanced books/shows/podcasts/videos when I felt like I could easily understand everything.
Rinse and repeat until I could do things like DnD in the language, understand shows, read full books, etc.
i use genki for japanese, but still find myself looking if other textbooks are better. regardless, i use the textbook as a framework for what materials i should be studying look like. using that textbook, i know what kanji to learn, vocab to add to an anki deck, grammar structures. it’s the easiest way. if ur lucky / practicing a widely spoken language, you may find ppl who actually work through a textbook with you on youtube. extremely helpful
LingQ has been a game changer for me, I have some posts about it that explain my approach. Ultimately though anything that incrementally adds complexity will work. Reading, watching videos, listening to podcasts, conversation practice, etc. The challenge is buliding and maintaining the pipeline of content that is incrementally harder.
Textbooks used to be the only 3rd party way of achieving this. Then with AV tech we got Pimsleur, radio programs, Mazi, etc. Now with the internet, algorithms, and best practice awareness, we have programs available like Dreaming Spanish and LingQ that serve up content curated to your level.
To build your own plan though, do a why > how > what exercise.
Why are you learning this language?
How can you demonstrate proficiency to accomplish that?
What should you consume to build those skills?
Can't answer number 3 effectively without answering 1 and 2.
I just study whatever I need in that moment. Usually I start with basic things, then some verbs and grammar (the one I need in that moment). Im a bit of a chaos, so a lot of times I end up just end up knowing the things I use the most, and the others are just forgotten
Intermediate here. At this stage, I'm mainly watching native language YouTube videos and listening to native language audio books, currently A Man Called Ove in Spanish.
So, no formal study, but rather immersion without travel.
I don't really have a plan tbh. I just try to learn something new everyday. Everything it's so overwhelming when you're a beginner, so now for example I'm reading short and easy stories in russian, watching videos aimed at kids and writing a journal using these new words or grammatical rules. I've been doing this since october and I feel that I progressed a lot...
Anki, comprehensible input, talking to myself, learning random grammar points, sentence mining my input, writing to practice what I learned, yeah that's what I do idk for others but it works for me
When I am a beginner in ANY language, I take a beginner course. There are trained language teachers out there. They know what I don't know: how the language differs from English, basic word order and word usage, and so on. They have experience teaching that language to English speakers. Eventually I will know the new language well enough that I "exactly know what's the right thing to study next". After that I don't need a teacher and course.
There are lots of video (recorded) courses on the internet. They are very cheap, and you can take a class (watch a video) whenever it fits your schedule. They are almost the same as being in a class.
In 2023, I tried to learn Turkish (my 4th language) on my own. I failed. I gave up. Then I learned about the free "Intro to Turkish" course at Language Transfer. I took that course. After that I could speak Turkish. I was still A1, but Turkish sentences made sense to me.
I'm using textbooks, which are often structured for developing along a standard route.
As a language teacher and learner this is what I would recommend whenever possible. Supplement them with materials that focus on areas you need help with.
I use a textbook, so I have a study plan from the get go.
As long as you work on something that you find relevant and interesting, you’ll keep progressing.
You’ll naturally feel that there is something you’re not good at and want to improve. You’ll naturally feel might take classes, exams och pay a teacher to provide assessment and recommendations.
The most important thing is, however, to just be curious about the language and culture and how everything actually works. Keep using your curiosity to find new things to work on. Maybe write a journal where you reflect on your learning process.
Courses, text books or teachers aren't needed. With German and French the first thing I did was learn how to read and understand short stories like Little Red Riding Hood. The sentences were basic enough (i.e. Es war einmal, inmitten eines dichten Waldes, ein kleines Haus, wo ein hübsches kleines Mädchen namens Rotkäppchen wohnte) that with google translate and a lot of rereading and repetition I could eventually understand the gist of the story without needing a translation.
I'd then continue studying and rereading more short stories and eventually kid's books before trying to read the likes of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. After 6-9 months or so this reading comprehension then set the foundation for understanding TV, youtube videos and video games, as well as exercises pertaining to listening, writing and speaking.
This is basically what I do too except I prefer podcasts. I get a simple podcast in the target language where a transcript is available (or use an AI transcribing service) and then listen and read looking up words I don’t know. It is time consuming at the beginning but common words repeat often and so you’ll quickly develop a base. They key is to try to find a podcast solely in your target language that is made for language learners and is therefore simpler than a native podcast, and it helps if there is a manually produced transcript or subtitles if the podcast is on YouTube.
I failed learning Japanese a couple years ago but I learned a lot through my failures. When I wanted to learn spanish, I knew I had to do something different. I found the Refold guide and I've used it to guide my learning since. I don't follow it 100% but everything I do is in the same spirit.
You go through a structured textbook: it moves from simple and common grammar points to more complex ones. And it's not rocket science: it makes zero sense to study the future-in-the-past tense if you haven't mastered the past and future tenses.
Personally, I try to read unadapted literature as soon as possible, so it's common for me to come across a grammar point I haven't started yet. I just make a mental note and don't worry. Again, it makes zero sense to drill the Subjonctif in French if you haven't mastered the Indicatif yet. But it helps to be aware of it, since there are some common stock phrases which use the Subjonctif. The same goes for the historic past in Romance languages.
I just use a textbook, they are already structured. Also get some reading done at my level same with listening. My main issue is speaking
My strategy rn is to absorb simple written or audio media that i understand maybe 90% of. All the words i don’t understand are slapped onto anki, and after awhile i read/listen to the same media and see if i naturally understand the words.
That’s kinda basic, and i don’t take my language learning too seriously, but it works for me.
There isn't really any structure for me. I studied two languages and what ended up happening both time was, I studied grammar more in the beginning, with vocab, and listening/speaking (usually in the form of Pimsleur), I got an intro book to follow both times.
Once I was done with those I just started using materials that I could understand, children's books/songs/shows and moved on to more advanced books/shows/podcasts/videos when I felt like I could easily understand everything.
Rinse and repeat until I could do things like DnD in the language, understand shows, read full books, etc.
Honestly,I use duolingo,its all structured,I just follow the steps
I just continuously learn random things and eventually it all comes together
i use genki for japanese, but still find myself looking if other textbooks are better. regardless, i use the textbook as a framework for what materials i should be studying look like. using that textbook, i know what kanji to learn, vocab to add to an anki deck, grammar structures. it’s the easiest way. if ur lucky / practicing a widely spoken language, you may find ppl who actually work through a textbook with you on youtube. extremely helpful
I have a textbook and an online course. I don't follow them religiously, but they are good for basic structure.
I bought a textbook. It's a great guide, even if I supplement with other stuff.
LingQ has been a game changer for me, I have some posts about it that explain my approach. Ultimately though anything that incrementally adds complexity will work. Reading, watching videos, listening to podcasts, conversation practice, etc. The challenge is buliding and maintaining the pipeline of content that is incrementally harder.
Textbooks used to be the only 3rd party way of achieving this. Then with AV tech we got Pimsleur, radio programs, Mazi, etc. Now with the internet, algorithms, and best practice awareness, we have programs available like Dreaming Spanish and LingQ that serve up content curated to your level.
To build your own plan though, do a why > how > what exercise.
Can't answer number 3 effectively without answering 1 and 2.
You find a curriculum that was designed for learners. Curricula were designed to be sequenced in a sensical, meaningful way.
The Chinese textbooks are not very useful so I just use pdf on grammer and use YouTube for audio and many apps for just reassurance.
For the starting I use structured learning content like a book or app. At intermediate I consume content in my target language and try to have fun.
I just study whatever I need in that moment. Usually I start with basic things, then some verbs and grammar (the one I need in that moment). Im a bit of a chaos, so a lot of times I end up just end up knowing the things I use the most, and the others are just forgotten
Intermediate here. At this stage, I'm mainly watching native language YouTube videos and listening to native language audio books, currently A Man Called Ove in Spanish.
So, no formal study, but rather immersion without travel.
Using Textbook To learn the basics then started reading and watching videos; this helped me a lot.
Just hammering anki and watching dreaming Spanish rn. If anki is good enough for med school its good enough for Spanish
I don't really have a plan tbh. I just try to learn something new everyday. Everything it's so overwhelming when you're a beginner, so now for example I'm reading short and easy stories in russian, watching videos aimed at kids and writing a journal using these new words or grammatical rules. I've been doing this since october and I feel that I progressed a lot...
Journaling in the target language helped me improve so much
Vibes
Anki, comprehensible input, talking to myself, learning random grammar points, sentence mining my input, writing to practice what I learned, yeah that's what I do idk for others but it works for me
When I am a beginner in ANY language, I take a beginner course. There are trained language teachers out there. They know what I don't know: how the language differs from English, basic word order and word usage, and so on. They have experience teaching that language to English speakers. Eventually I will know the new language well enough that I "exactly know what's the right thing to study next". After that I don't need a teacher and course.
There are lots of video (recorded) courses on the internet. They are very cheap, and you can take a class (watch a video) whenever it fits your schedule. They are almost the same as being in a class.
In 2023, I tried to learn Turkish (my 4th language) on my own. I failed. I gave up. Then I learned about the free "Intro to Turkish" course at Language Transfer. I took that course. After that I could speak Turkish. I was still A1, but Turkish sentences made sense to me.
How long did reaching a1 in turkish take you? And how long did you study each day?