10 Best ways to learn a language... Oh Really?

[@tomaco7310]

I've never had a pen pal for language learning, but I can see the benefit over email or something. I think we take more time, read more closely, value more highly a hand-written letter. Especially now, when nothing fun ever comes in the mail (except maybe Amazon packages). That's why my sister and I send each other letters. It's fun! Obviously if you're only getting a letter every few weeks it's not enough by itself, but still. One other that I used for Esperanto (and now for Vietnamese) is when I'm commuting to and from work noticing things, naming them, trying to graduate to simple sentences about my day, to narrating my thoughts.For example early "Pluvas" "aŭto" "hundo" to "La suno brilas" "Hodiaŭ estas ege varma" to "Mia ĉefo aĉetis tagmanĝon por la tuta oficejo" etc. Since they're things I see and my thoughts I know they're words I'll use often, unlike Duolingo feeding me dragon and bear and religion and topics that probably going to be in my normal rotation.

[@coconutpineapple2489]

Having pen-pals works. Because you look up unknown words. People tend to not look them up after having actual conversation. Writing my opinion in the comment section is also good for my English improvement.

[@mixberrycrumble1596]

I think some tips work depend on level, thank you sharing

[@brianmitchell2202]

tools like LLN make movies comprehensible, even at a relatively low levels of proficiency in the same way lingq makes books comprehensible at low levels of proficiency.

[@charliesoto3376]

I'm from Costa Rica, and when I took the English course for almost a year, Spanish was forbidden in the classroom🤣, we must only speak in English, but in my country we're related to English since childhood.

[@diariosdelextranjero]

So does school help most people become fluent ?

[@aggiebattery8354]

As a native English speaker learning French, all the subtitles - or no subtitles at all - are useful to me in different ways. English only: well, I can read them really fast and then listen for the French equivalents that I already know, but I am less likely to learn anything new. French only: develops my reading comprehension (for speed as well as understanding unless I push the pause button) as well as listening comprehension. Both languages: I try my best to stick with the French! No subtitles: I enjoy watching sports, so that type of "story" holds my interest more and I have a better chance of retaining the random words I pick up.

[@FingtamLanguages]

Great to hear that you're finding good ways to get French input! Good job! 😊

[@sametrianetsanet]

Hi. Thanks for your videos. They’re helpful. - I’m learning Amharic, the national Ethiopian language. They have a Semitic language and the letters are Fidel. (Challenging) - I find listening to the music and watching the movies with and without English subtitles very helpful, as this is a very difficult language. Hearing it often helps train my ear for the few words and phrases I do know.

[@FingtamLanguages]

That's great! Good luck with Amharic :)

[@blankb.2277]

Excellent tips! ☺️I am watching Star Trek Voyager dubbed in German (it’s comprehensible because I’ve seen it before in English) and I switch between German subtitles and no subtitles each episode. I find there’s benefits to both.

[@FingtamLanguages]

Yes, there certainly is! Thanks for commenting!

[@imwortyoflove369]

Speaking to yourself in your target language is also one of best ways to learn a language? 🤔

[@FingtamLanguages]

It's not a bad way to practice pronunciation :)

[@cheesybnc6924]

I lol’d so loud with this video! Haha Stellar content!! :)

[@FingtamLanguages]

Glad you enjoyed it! 😂

[@MMmk1]

Gully video, mate!

[@natanesl2049]

Nice content Aaron! I totally agree with your points!

[@MMmk1]

Shite, is his name Aaron? I thought it was Errand or summat

[@FingtamLanguages]

Yes, in most American accents, Aaron and and Erin sound exactly alike.

[@solomonherskowitz]

Did you graduate yet?

[@FingtamLanguages]

I graduated from university two years ago.

[@solomonherskowitz]

@@FingtamLanguages oh nice what degree do you have

[@Maia-qz5br]

The best way to learn a new language... learn Esperanto first. ;)

[@Maia-qz5br]

@H Rel Esperanto is the easiest language to learn, and helps with learning other languages. Learning a third language is easier than a second language. Fingtam himself is an Esperanto speaker, ad I encourage everyone to learn it. Duolingo is a great place to start learning Esperanto.

[@TrinaLena]

What frustrates me as a language learner is hearing "Immersion" and "Comprehensible input" over and over again. Okay, what happens if I can't find enough comprehensible input to be fully immersed in the language? What if I'm only knee deep in comprehensible input? Not only that, then I get told that it's essentially useless to listen/watch input you can't comprehend. Okay, then what about exposure to the language? -Nothing against your video, just something I think a lot of language learners run into especially in the beginning

[@DWpeep]

Exactly! I think it's a load of nonsense when people tell you to keep away from things to try and "speed things along". I'm drawn to anything I'm trying to learn. Why would I not want to be? Why would I avoid listening to the radio? I want to speak like the guys and gals on there!! Uff!

[@TrinaLena]

@@DWpeep I'm not hating on the video or anything it's just if someone could explain the benefits of exposure to a language. Does that exposure have to be comprehensible? Cuz that would make things a lot more difficult 😆😅

[@DWpeep]

@@TrinaLena haha I understand. Comprehensible just means listening, reading or watching something that can be understood on some level. This doesn't have to be difficult but just keep it fun, at the beginning every letter of every word is new. Take it all in. All you can do is open your mind to it and like with anything in life, repetition reinforces the pattern. What language are you studying? I'm studying Russian. I'm not learning anything on a conversational level... I find it boring and not in a hurry to find Russian speakers just to look like a traffic light 😂 I'm just listening to music, reading the lyrics, singing out aloud and translating using a dictionary. A real one. Every time I look up a word I'm repeating it in my mind while I try to find it. No effort but just enjoyment.

[@TrinaLena]

@@DWpeep I'm learning Norwegian :) I love listening to music or watching KZbin videos. But I'm not gonna understand all of them everytime. So it's a bit defeating to hear that listening to things you don't understand is useless. :/ But I still do it cuz I like hearing the language 😊

[@DWpeep]

@@TrinaLena but it's not useless... Only this guy seems to think it is! Every time I try to think of a word and I know it's in this song I'll just sing a bit and many times it comes to me much easier than trying to memorise it like being back at school. Don't listen to anything this guy says but the list he was referring to is actually a VERY useful list. I might actually try to find a pen pal lol. How's your Norwegian coming along? What's your native language? I'm a fluent English speaker but speak some Asian languages too from birth. Tried French at school, loved it but I was too young to really enjoy it.

[@DWpeep]

All you recommended were apps like anki and hellotalk etc. I can see other methods don't work for you but they do for many others. Put the phone down and pick up the pen I say. You even killed the radio and told us to go spotify.. I think all those tips were great, sorry. You were in a negative mindset during this video. How can you not go abroad and learn? You'd be amazed at migrants then! Many speak more than you without ever trying.

[@FingtamLanguages]

Actually, video killed the radio star.