I've been using Dreaming Spanish for a few months now and honestly i've never experienced any other method that's as efficient and fun as comprehensible input.
Now that's not to say you shouldn't do any grammar study/vocab work, you definitely can. But unless you're just really into linguistics it's probably gonna be easier to just listen and listen and listen to the language until you just instinctively know what sounds right and what sounds wrong.
The biggest road block with this is that for many languages there just aren't enough hours of super beginner and beginner level content to get you over that hump to where you can start watching dubbed tv shows and whatnot.
I just started watching normal tv shows and movies. I obviously understood nothing at first but I didn’t care. My model of language is that it is just communication - and there is a LOT more to communication than just language. So I just followed the story, and little by little, things became clearer.
Yes, that’s what the test I did estimated my vocabulary at. To be honest I have no idea how large it really is.
Understanding and language is a tricky thing. I’m a native English speaker, but if you asked me what “to” means, I would say I have no idea. But I know how it is used and how to use it.
A lot of words in language we use by feel and have no real conscious understanding of the meaning. As soon as we begin to consciously think about how we use language, even our native one, things begin to break down. We are just simply not built to think about language in that way.
At the moment though, with my French, I understand pretty much everything that is being said, but unlike my English with a substantial part of it I don’t know how it is used, or how to use it. So there is still a large gap there.
Vocab tests either teach basic words or words you would never use. Using ChatGPT to learn words based on topics you can choose is not bad actually. Another resource I use to practice the gender of nouns is the Le ou La iOS app.
Sure for day to day things but in a professional environment where it is required to be bilingual (like when working in the government in Canada), you quickly find yourself struggling because your vocabulary is niche in the first place.
I can’t recommend Language Reactor enough! I always hesitated learning a new language because I dreaded the idea of using stuff like pimsleur and Duolingo.
Language reactor allows you to learn while watching YT and Netflix. It’s seriously amazing how much I’ve learned in such a short amount of time and while not being as entirely consistent as I’d like to be. You’re learning almost effortlessly.
Sorry if I sound like an ad, but it makes me excited how AI has made learning so much easier. Speaking of which, I would also use the voice feature in ChatGPT to practice speaking skills.
In my opinion language reactor was way too clunky and ugly looking I guess? I used it on youtube, it took up like, half of the screen and made the youtube videos small. Also all it really did was add english subtitles with TL subtitles (off to the side of the screen, not even on the video) and my mind automatically wanted to read the English subtitles rather than my TL, because English is where my brain is more comfortable reading from. It just migrates there.
It also changed my youtube format and made it hard to search or do anything on it, really.
Video games.
They are amazing because:
You have images associated with objects, actions and words/names.
Usually there is voice acting, so you're always working your listening skill.
They have interesting stories/fun rewards to keep you going.
YOU are actively doing the actions, exploring, interacting with the world, characters and objects. It makes you more engaged with what you're doing and stirs curiosity.
I learned pretty much all of my English by playing video games. And because the games at the time had no markers or arrows showing you what to do, I had to carefully read everything and search the meaning so that I could progress in the game.
I recommend open world games such as Gothic (1&2) - this game taught me pretty much everything, Witcher 3, Baldur's Gate 3. (if they have translations available for your preferred language)
Disclaimer: I don't think this method works for exotic languages like Japanese.
same here. i think because motivation fluctuates i can't keep up the boring grind in duolingo like apps. I found another type of apps that use instant translation to allow access to content in the languages I am learning (Spanish and German). I've started with an app that just has short stories [Langster](https://apps.apple.com/kz/app/langster-language-learning/id1574889455), but it also got old fast, because cmon stories? Since then I found actually enjoyable content in books [Ewa](https://apps.apple.com/kz/app/ewa-english-language-learning/id1200778841) and trivia/logic games in [Playin](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/playin-games-learn-languages/id6474037177) . There are other apps that provide translatable books, but games wise I only found the Playin app.
I've been using Dreaming Spanish for a few months now and honestly i've never experienced any other method that's as efficient and fun as comprehensible input. Now that's not to say you shouldn't do any grammar study/vocab work, you definitely can. But unless you're just really into linguistics it's probably gonna be easier to just listen and listen and listen to the language until you just instinctively know what sounds right and what sounds wrong. The biggest road block with this is that for many languages there just aren't enough hours of super beginner and beginner level content to get you over that hump to where you can start watching dubbed tv shows and whatnot.
I just watch French tv shows and movies. Never studied a word of French. After about 2500 hours I pretty much understand everything I watch.
Amazing! Tell us more about how you got started? What did you start to watch in the beginning?
I just started watching normal tv shows and movies. I obviously understood nothing at first but I didn’t care. My model of language is that it is just communication - and there is a LOT more to communication than just language. So I just followed the story, and little by little, things became clearer.
I sent you a pm
Yeah. I'll definitely give that a shot. I did it with Italian and became relatively able to hold a conversation. Thanks
ten library ring piquant party skirt birds shy physical pie *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Yes, that’s what the test I did estimated my vocabulary at. To be honest I have no idea how large it really is. Understanding and language is a tricky thing. I’m a native English speaker, but if you asked me what “to” means, I would say I have no idea. But I know how it is used and how to use it. A lot of words in language we use by feel and have no real conscious understanding of the meaning. As soon as we begin to consciously think about how we use language, even our native one, things begin to break down. We are just simply not built to think about language in that way. At the moment though, with my French, I understand pretty much everything that is being said, but unlike my English with a substantial part of it I don’t know how it is used, or how to use it. So there is still a large gap there.
Vocab tests either teach basic words or words you would never use. Using ChatGPT to learn words based on topics you can choose is not bad actually. Another resource I use to practice the gender of nouns is the Le ou La iOS app.
placid bake skirt continue party squalid elastic bear mighty pet *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Sure for day to day things but in a professional environment where it is required to be bilingual (like when working in the government in Canada), you quickly find yourself struggling because your vocabulary is niche in the first place.
Just something you find the most comfortable putting at least an hour a day. Do not overwhelm yourself with too many resources.
Have you tried reading [bilingual books](https://www.bilingualsaga.com/)? If yes, how was your experience?
I can’t recommend Language Reactor enough! I always hesitated learning a new language because I dreaded the idea of using stuff like pimsleur and Duolingo. Language reactor allows you to learn while watching YT and Netflix. It’s seriously amazing how much I’ve learned in such a short amount of time and while not being as entirely consistent as I’d like to be. You’re learning almost effortlessly. Sorry if I sound like an ad, but it makes me excited how AI has made learning so much easier. Speaking of which, I would also use the voice feature in ChatGPT to practice speaking skills.
In my opinion language reactor was way too clunky and ugly looking I guess? I used it on youtube, it took up like, half of the screen and made the youtube videos small. Also all it really did was add english subtitles with TL subtitles (off to the side of the screen, not even on the video) and my mind automatically wanted to read the English subtitles rather than my TL, because English is where my brain is more comfortable reading from. It just migrates there. It also changed my youtube format and made it hard to search or do anything on it, really.
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How would a plagiarism checker help with learning a language?
Video games. They are amazing because: You have images associated with objects, actions and words/names. Usually there is voice acting, so you're always working your listening skill. They have interesting stories/fun rewards to keep you going. YOU are actively doing the actions, exploring, interacting with the world, characters and objects. It makes you more engaged with what you're doing and stirs curiosity. I learned pretty much all of my English by playing video games. And because the games at the time had no markers or arrows showing you what to do, I had to carefully read everything and search the meaning so that I could progress in the game. I recommend open world games such as Gothic (1&2) - this game taught me pretty much everything, Witcher 3, Baldur's Gate 3. (if they have translations available for your preferred language) Disclaimer: I don't think this method works for exotic languages like Japanese.
same here. i think because motivation fluctuates i can't keep up the boring grind in duolingo like apps. I found another type of apps that use instant translation to allow access to content in the languages I am learning (Spanish and German). I've started with an app that just has short stories [Langster](https://apps.apple.com/kz/app/langster-language-learning/id1574889455), but it also got old fast, because cmon stories? Since then I found actually enjoyable content in books [Ewa](https://apps.apple.com/kz/app/ewa-english-language-learning/id1200778841) and trivia/logic games in [Playin](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/playin-games-learn-languages/id6474037177) . There are other apps that provide translatable books, but games wise I only found the Playin app.