Can you learn languages the way children do?

[@russelsmithard7566]

Have you heard of the ALG method?

[@bagsy4884]

I have that Thai sentence stuck in my head now

[@mezzoguild]

That's the whole point. :)

[@bagsy4884]

The Mezzofanti Guild I think you’re correct when it comes to learning languages. I learned Chinese by living in China for 6 years and got my Chinese language degree just from learning how to speak and repeating what people say to the point where it feels natural. In fact I didn’t learn much at all from the university. I teach Chinese at a high school now and I notice how the other teachers force grammar on the kids and they hate it. I am trying to learn Russian now by repeating blocks of sentences which I think is working! Thanks for your amazing videos

[@rayterrell1400]

I agree this is a really good way but how are you gonna learn what it means because you know the sound but not what it means that’s what I’m missing because my native(English) I would always repeat words as a kid even when I didn’t know what they meant but my grandma would show me but I don’t have that here:( please give me advice on this

[@mariaporter2015]

Exactly! What you've said makes so much sense. I have been taking textbook-type private Greek language class for the past 8 months, twice per week and I am totally frustrated! Yes, I can read and pick up lots of words- but I can't understand what Greeks are saying to me. I've often said this is not the way to learn a language... I need to learn like children do! The articles, cases, declensions... I feel like I'm putting the cart before the horse and have been ready to throw in the towel umpteenth times. In the past, I've done Pimsleur, which is conversation/dialogue... any suggestions for a first time foreign language learner?

[@maximk7816]

What if you do not really understand some pattern, even if you can pronounce it correctly how you can use it confidently in your own speech? For me it is the expression "here you go" for example.. I can cay it, but I can't use it because I don't know what does it really mean.. Meanwhile everything I do understand I learn quickly and deeply)

[@mezzoguild]

What's your first language? I bet there's an equivalent to "here you go". The goal is not to figure out how it translates literally ("here you go" really doesn't make any sense literally). The goal is to learn the expression in context and 'get a feel' for how and when it's used. E.g. in Egyptian Arabic, they'd say خد (lit. take) or اتفضّل (go ahead) but the context and intention behind it is exactly the same as it is in English. I guess what I'm trying to say is: stop trying to figure out the expressions and just observe how and when they're used.

[@iopqu]

There's a difference between intuitive understanding and understanding something because you read an explanation. For one thing, it takes ages to understand something if you just read about how it works, while intuitive understanding is almost instant.

[@maximk7816]

@@mezzoguild that's what I do. I learn like a baby) my native laguages are ukrainian and russian

[@maximk7816]

@@iopqu yes, when I read a book in English I often do not translate words and learn them just through context, but it's also kinda 'baby style' learning, I mean it takes time. Unfortunately((

[@maximk7816]

@@mezzoguild btw, are you in Australia now? I just gonna go there soon, I would like to take a selfie with you, if you don't mind)