| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 23:18 - Nov 25 with 1177 views | Match82 |
If you're not fussy about which language, I'd think a good first step would be considering the language structure and how close it is to English.
Dutch for example would be a relatively easy step compared to others because it's so similar...but also limited in actual relevance. German would be fairly similar in terms of language structure. |  | |  |
| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 08:35 - Nov 26 with 1022 views | Pablo |
I've found Italki to be really useful. It lets you find a teacher for 1-1 lessons online, and it usually costs less than 10 pounds an hour - way cheaper than face to face lessons. This way you can practise your conversation live with a teacher you like. If you've already done duolingo this would be a really good complement as you already have a good deal of vocab. |  | | |
| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 15:21 - Nov 26 with 944 views | R_from_afar |
| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 19:50 - Nov 25 by Pdog |
Happy to share what actually worked for me. If you’re gonna do it, go all in.
Pimsleur:
Pick your language and just run through the full course, consistently. Ideally 30mins a day. Eg: Portuguese has 5 levels, 30 lessons each, 30 mins per lesson. Over 70 hours total.
It’s all listening + speaking with repetition. Yes it can get boring and repetitive, but the brain absorbs. No grammar books, kids learn through ears and mouth first.
If you stick with it, even after Level 1 you’ll already be forming sentences. It teaches the most common, high-frequency verbs you actually need.
Preply / Italki:
When you’re comfortable, move into conversations with a native. Doesn’t need to be a pro grammar-heavy teacher (boring), almost any native will do here. By that point you’ve already absorbed the basics and you just need real convo reps to build confidence.
Books:
Get easy-reader books for learners (1000/1500-word vocab). They’re perfect because by now you know most of the core words, and it feels unreal being able to read an actual book in your new language.
Films:
Watch movies with subtitles in your target language. It’s basically like reading a book but way easier, and you’ll pick up tons of vocab casually.
Final Step:
Get a girlfriend who speaks the language / or go stay in some random small town where no one speaks English! Forced immersion works every time.. |
"Final Step:
Get a girlfriend who speaks the language / or go stay in some random small town where no one speaks English! Forced immersion works every time.."
Good idea but no guarantee of success: For a while, I had a French girlfriend and even though I had a degree in French, she regularly told me the phrases I was using were incorrect. I knew my French was grammatically correct, but I think her angle was that some of my French was not current. Fair enough, I suppose.
Another approach which might help some people is to follow a foreign football team on social media. On X, for example, Atalanta tend to tweet in Italian but with the English translation directly underneath. |  |
| "Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1." |
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| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 16:00 - Nov 26 with 889 views | AberystwythR |
Focus on Vocabulary over grammar. As well as English I speak Welsh (family) and Russian (Work with Ukrainian Refugees) and learning as much vocabulary as possible enabled me to converse in both languages much easier, as mentioned above regular conversation in said language is the best way to learn- as long as you have the vocabulary down you'll pick up the correct grammar through conversation | | | |
| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 16:10 - Nov 26 with 866 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 15:21 - Nov 26 by R_from_afar |
"Final Step:
Get a girlfriend who speaks the language / or go stay in some random small town where no one speaks English! Forced immersion works every time.."
Good idea but no guarantee of success: For a while, I had a French girlfriend and even though I had a degree in French, she regularly told me the phrases I was using were incorrect. I knew my French was grammatically correct, but I think her angle was that some of my French was not current. Fair enough, I suppose.
Another approach which might help some people is to follow a foreign football team on social media. On X, for example, Atalanta tend to tweet in Italian but with the English translation directly underneath. |
My girlfriend is from Nottingham. I'm still getting to grips with that lingo.
More great tips. Cheers. |  | | |
| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 17:37 - Nov 26 with 803 views | HantsR |
I took French at GCE A level at school, I passed O level well at 14, and for a while was almost obsessed with the language, especially when trying to master the subjunctive! One of the best spin-off benefits was that it helped me understand my own English language so much better.
Mrs Hants enjoys Duolingo ( stoppit!) for improving her French and I've had a little go in Spanish - seems a fun way to learn? [Post edited 26 Nov 17:39]
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| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 19:17 - Nov 26 with 735 views | eastside_r |
| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 17:37 - Nov 26 by HantsR |
I took French at GCE A level at school, I passed O level well at 14, and for a while was almost obsessed with the language, especially when trying to master the subjunctive! One of the best spin-off benefits was that it helped me understand my own English language so much better.
Mrs Hants enjoys Duolingo ( stoppit!) for improving her French and I've had a little go in Spanish - seems a fun way to learn? [Post edited 26 Nov 17:39]
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I too have French A level but never really spoke it but my verb conjugation was top notch.
Almost four decades later I am also learning Spanish on Duolingo. It’s OK but will look to do more formal classes in the New Year. |  | | |
| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 19:21 - Nov 26 with 716 views | stowmarketrange |
| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 15:21 - Nov 26 by R_from_afar |
"Final Step:
Get a girlfriend who speaks the language / or go stay in some random small town where no one speaks English! Forced immersion works every time.."
Good idea but no guarantee of success: For a while, I had a French girlfriend and even though I had a degree in French, she regularly told me the phrases I was using were incorrect. I knew my French was grammatically correct, but I think her angle was that some of my French was not current. Fair enough, I suppose.
Another approach which might help some people is to follow a foreign football team on social media. On X, for example, Atalanta tend to tweet in Italian but with the English translation directly underneath. |
I’ve joined their FB group so hopefully it will be useful. |  | | |
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| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 00:19 - Nov 27 with 609 views | jonath1 |
Having self learnt Ancient Greek from books to GCSE standard I thought I'd have a go at Amharic because of a family connection and a few visits to Addis. My memory is appalling now though so no amount of Apps, books or flashcards worked. More recently I have gotten over my shyness and just gone and sat in Ethiopian restaurants on Blackstock Road. Chatting really is the best way. Language is coming on nicely now, and I'm getting to eat lots of the amazing food! Another advantage is you get the idiomatic little phrases that make up so much of conversation, but rarely appear in books. | | | |
| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 00:55 - Nov 27 with 573 views | BrianMcCarthy |
| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 16:00 - Nov 26 by AberystwythR |
Focus on Vocabulary over grammar. As well as English I speak Welsh (family) and Russian (Work with Ukrainian Refugees) and learning as much vocabulary as possible enabled me to converse in both languages much easier, as mentioned above regular conversation in said language is the best way to learn- as long as you have the vocabulary down you'll pick up the correct grammar through conversation |
This is a great call. |  |
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| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 07:31 - Nov 27 with 462 views | lassel |
With the proviso that learning Swedish is cheating as English is so prevalent you can start with Swenglish, the formal classroom stuff didn’t work for me, mostly as it was 99% focused on grammar and tenses.
What worked for me was finding a tutor for 1-1 lessons. We grab a coffee and just chat about life which has meant focusing on more real life words and phrases which in turn improved my confidence massively. My Swedish consequently isn’t ’perfect’ grammatically but I can hold my own conversationally and professionally. | | | |
| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 08:27 - Nov 27 with 439 views | JPC |
Duolingo in Spanish is good but uses a lot South American rather than Spanish. Been doing it for the last 18 months - it’s great up to a point. I’ve also started doing a course at the local Adult Education Centre which again is not bad and more structured which is good for grammar etc. Just got back from Tenerife having done an intensive language course which was very good. Nothing beats being wholly immersed and no-one saying anything in English.
I grew up in a french speaking environment, and am as close to being bi-lingual as you can get although getting further away as I get older. What a few other posters have said really resonates - if you want to get a decent accent, listen and talk to the language as much was you can. If you learn from what’s written you’ll end up pronouncing everything with a very heavy English accent
Couldn’t find your Duolingo profile! | | | |
| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 08:32 - Nov 27 with 427 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 08:27 - Nov 27 by JPC |
Duolingo in Spanish is good but uses a lot South American rather than Spanish. Been doing it for the last 18 months - it’s great up to a point. I’ve also started doing a course at the local Adult Education Centre which again is not bad and more structured which is good for grammar etc. Just got back from Tenerife having done an intensive language course which was very good. Nothing beats being wholly immersed and no-one saying anything in English.
I grew up in a french speaking environment, and am as close to being bi-lingual as you can get although getting further away as I get older. What a few other posters have said really resonates - if you want to get a decent accent, listen and talk to the language as much was you can. If you learn from what’s written you’ll end up pronouncing everything with a very heavy English accent
Couldn’t find your Duolingo profile! |
More good advice, cheers.
Profile is here https://www.duolingo.com/profile/BazzaImDachboden?via=share_profile_qr | | | |
| If You Can't Talk Proppa - Learning New Languages on 09:56 - Nov 27 with 325 views | TheChef |
I graduated with a languages degree so I'm all for people learning new languages! Less Little Englandism please - just assuming that all the foreigners can speak English so why should we bother?
BUT the sad truth is, probably down to the internet and social media, is that English is a lot more prevalent around the world now compared to 20 or 30 years ago. Maybe more so for those working in the service or tourism industry - we were in Sicily over the summer, I was looking forward to speaking Italian but nearly all the locals I spoke to came back at me in English. |  |
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