Old Versus New Language Learning Methods

Hi everyone! In this video, I talk about some methods of language learning that I have observed, give my opinions, and talk about my experiences.
Hi, my name is Laura and I am studying five languages (Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian, and German). I have a passion for traveling and translation!
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[@RogerRamos1993]

The way I feel is 30%, at best, of language learning is taking lessons, using a grammar or textbook, checking the meanjng of unknown words, flashcards (not my thing at all), apps, drills. 70% of it is reading and listening. Depending on your personality, you can talk a lot, which will help tremendously, but if you don't talk much your brain will only need a bit of time to transform all of those hours of input into an ability of speaking when it's necessary.

[@MaxEnglishCoach]

I loved your breakdown of old vs. new language learning methods! You're spot on about the importance of contextual learning, especially when it comes to vocabulary retention. Keep up the good job!

[@Nancy-sj7yg]

I have used both paper flashcards and electronic ones on my phone (i use the Anki app). I usually write the new vocabulary (mined from my reading) in a notebook, along with the definition and an example sentence, and then put the words that I feel most interesting or useful into Anki. This allows me to write the material, then type it. I prefer the electronic flashcards because it cuts down on the clutter in my life. And I have a routine where I review 25 words (or phrases, or sentences) morning and evening while brushing my teeth. I also like the spaced repetition feature. Great video by the way - thanks.

[@ThuyKieuTuyetXuan]

When I first started learning a new language, I used the textbooks to try and get ahead, but it didn’t work out so well for me. Now that I use Immersive Translate to supplement my language learning, I started to get somewhere. I personally use it to watch my shows and movies on Netflix every day, and this kind of structure has really helped me learn a lot.

[@agmaxwell6476]

Flashcards, turning pages of a dictionary, jotting down, these are tactile sensations and help register better. My fav dictionary is the Random House, Chambers next. Living in a milieu of native speakers is the best method.

[@davidbrisbane7206]

Remember, in the past, people learned multiple languages even in times when most people were actually illiterate. Just saying.

[@jeremiahreilly9739]

I enjoyed this presentation very much because you discussed techniques and approaches often omitted, overlooked, or disdained by other language influences. I too like old fashioned flash cards, although I am not entirely disciplined about reviewing them, I think the simple act of writing out the flash card has benefit. I also liked that you pointed out that how you progress in a language varies with your proficiency. Personally I think rote memorization is useful for beginners-you need something to work with and you might as well get it as soon as possible. I prefer to use source material which is created for native speakers. For instance, I know German very well, but my German is academic German, meaning I am comfortable with technical talks. To compensate for my weaknesses, I am reading Japanese manga translated to German, to pick up everyday phrases. I am currently working my way through an exercise book, Sicher ins Gymnasium, a study book written for native German students who plan to take the entrance exam for the Gymnasium (academic high school). I find the material very easy, but-here comes the important but-I am learning all the stuff I never learned because I did not attend a German speaking schools as a child. Lastly, I find transcription marvelously helpful and unforgiving. I can transcribe any German I hear, even if I have no idea as to the substance. Thank you!

[@wimalism]

How many languages do you speak.?

[@jeremiahreilly9739]

@@wimalism Five languages: English (native), German (near native), French (functional), Italian and modern Greek (survival).

[@leornendeealdenglisc]

I prefer both digital and physical copies of textbooks when it comes to language learning. Both have their pros and cons.

[@paulwalther5237]

I personally found that making my own paper flash cards was similar to doing one good study session with the cards. So while it was helpful it wasn’t really any different than using a premade set I downloaded or bought. In the long run it didn’t matter at all - what mattered was if I continued reviewing the cards or not. But I’m on the fence between using paper versus electronic cards over the long term. My guess is it really doesn’t matter. But I’m going to give paper cards a shot again. I bought a ton of blank ones on Amazon. For sure having a computer or app schedule your reviews over time is going to be way more convenient than trying to do that yourself with paper ones. But I also find I burnout on my Anki or other SRS apps anyway and just delete or start the decks over anyway so the advanced scheduling isn’t as big a deal as it seems. At least for me. Paper has another big advantage in that you can better control your study session while you’re studying. You can review the cards using recognition to warm up and then switch to production and vary how you highly you review the cards dynamically as you go. With apps you can change these things but it’s a lot less convenient. It’s like it wants you to pick one way and stick with it forever. I’m no artist. So my paper flash cards are just English and target language and maybe a sentence. Electric cards can have pictures and audio. I’m not sure how much this helps.

[@ikhlastijani6431]

Thank you for the great video

[@diegoo12lp26]

What a enjoyable video! I noticed that you have a different ideas about a learning a language than me, I mean, in my current situation. I started with the classic youtube lessons, after a 5-6 months and like 50-60 lessons (I dunno remember well) then, I quit that activity and start with a so-called advanced c1 app lessons plus a phonetic-speaking app. The last one was more worthwhile than the first. And finally, I moved on to use the natural acquisition throughout a massive input, specially listening and watching tv series, films and other youtube stuff, and well I'm here, writting a text that I hope it'll make sense XD. I'm completely agree with you when you said that methods must change when you're a begginer or not, also with the fact that reading and writting are a very important, unluckly I don't have that habit... Anyway, I started to learn by myself in order to get a better job position but also to get more involve with the english comunitty, as a ordinary things like communicate in a online videogame. You got a new sub, keep going!

[@languageswithlaura]

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@akashas6012]

What phonetic speaking app did you use?

[@MegaAsdzxcqwe]

Gracias :)

[@yashkumarsingh]

Thank You for the Insight, I am Learning Japanese, I got some tips from this video. Thanks

[@GenkoKenja]

a physical dictionary is just a bit inconvenient as it takes 2 seconds to just type it on your phone vs looking it up in a physical dictionary can take a minute or 2 per word....and the more of a beginner I am in a language, the more I have to use a dictionary so it would just add to the time I'm looking away from content A lot of people still prefer to read very basic stuff vs reading what you would enjoy, especially the more of a beginner you are and how hard your target language is...native level content is very challenging at first (I learned Japanese with only native level content...and it was...definitely hard, but because I was so obsessed with the language, I didn't care about looking at the same 3 sentences for 1.5 hours. With Korean it's more challenging as I'm not as into the language as Japanese, so it feels more like a hassle. Italian is just way too easy because of my Spanish) I definitely prefer books over sites or videos for grammar and the main reason is because I usually pick a book that has really good structure that keeps learning the basics to as little time as possible so I can spend more time doing immersion. I started to understand the value of a preset vocab list when I started learning Korean. Because I'm not into the language as much as Japanese, my level of patience is not great. I never used preset list for Japanese, but for Korean it makes consuming content bearable

[@AhmedTelleserDehyer]

Actually, people nowadays can learn a new language by using modern applications. For me, I usually use Immersive Translate to help me look up unfamilar words' meanings 😂😂

[@ernestomaldonado2547]

BRAVO

[@RogerRamos1993]

The languages I have studied so far are: English, French and Italian. The Spanish I know I acquired only through input (native BR Prtuguese speaker). This year, I have mostly been studying Romanian and German. I can read, but not speak Catalan, as well. As I'm almost 31, I have already come to to grips with some facts of life, so for English, Spanish, French and Italian I have a goal, which is enjoying and improving these languages as long as I live. For the other languages, including all of those I will study someday, being able to read and understand them is enough for me, and if I happen to live in Germany, for sure I'll try to become orally fluent in it. If I happen to travel for Romania for 2 weeks, I'll try to improve my spoken Romanian, and so on. As for the the languages I mentioned first, I want to perfect them, even if I never set foot outside my house again.

[@languageswithlaura]

That is awesome! Thank you for sharing!

[@hcm9999]

I never use flashcards

[@Curly3373]

Could you possibly share the resources you use for (UAE) Arabic reading or listening or speaking, pease?

[@deberg.]

Laura el sonido del vídeo se quedó mucho bajo! Gracias por la enseñanza!

[@KarlLew]

I learn PT by playing Horizon Forbidden West in PT. It is immersive and fun. When I find a phrase I don’t know, I just say the PT phrase to Google Translate until I get it right. I am a boomer…video games are useful

[@languageswithlaura]

That is very creative!

[@Manchainsaw]

Jeez I have a lot of comments, Ok.. First your Spanish is lovely AF🥰 I'm not just being language learner polite hehe, 2nd I feel 100% the algorithm brought me here cuz I was hearing about Language learning and ChatGPT, I want to try for my Russian and I'm a little afraid it's too good I'd prefer it than real ppl (my biggest issue with language partners is Time management but that's solved with chatGPT I think) and Last about Dictionaries I was thinking about this recently but a nuance there is that not having digital dictionaries makes you lazy to search for every single thing which is more natural for the brain, my conjecture is that the "inferring" the meaning is what benefits memory and connections aaand acquiring the language REGARDLES of being right or wrong, with time you would get it right anyways, but when you see the translation the brain immediately discards the TL word (Brain being efficient after reading a translation: "Ohh so this is the meaning.. I guess this other new weird thing is useless for me, Lets forget it as soon as we go back to the text") so by that maaaybe translating too much is just making us require even more exposure, if that makes sense)))

[@paidmovie7394]

Love from india ❤ Laura

[@pierreabbat6157]

How do you become an interpreter in a language you already know? Once I was in church and a Polish man sat through the service, not even sure what kind of church it was. There was a Polish couple who belonged to the church, but they were out that day, so someone asked me to interpret, since I know some Russian. I understood about half of what the Pole said, and I guess he understood the same.

[@languageswithlaura]

In the US you can go through a process to get certified. There are classes you can take (including as an adult) that aren't language classes but specifically interpretation classes with the idea that you already know the language in general. You have to complete 40 hours of experience or practice and then you can take an exam to become certified. I know that you can be a specific interpreter or a community interpreter, but there might be more for other specific topics such as law. Polish and Russian have some similarities which allow them to be understood, but they are still two different languages. I had a friend who spoke Polish and we loved talking to each other in Polish/Russian and see how long it took before we lost track of what we were talking about.

[@usrenaem]

S’il vous plaît, c’est bon!

[@ngingavunge2729]

I❤

[@mohammediprakimdiprakim-nd6et]

eyes2, why?

[@yearlymandonothack]

Что языков вы знаете? Я уцycb русский язык. Мне грамматика самы плохой... Могу вы помогаете мне?

[@yearlymandonothack]

Может нет могу.... 😅

[@languageswithlaura]

Я выучил русский язык, когда жил в Кыргызстане. Я говорю на английском (родном), испанском, французском, арабском и немецком языках.

[@davidbrisbane7206]

New methods are just old methods re-packaged so they can be marketed and sold to people as something new 😂.

[@zhisongcui8254]

I'm Barry from China~I just want to say you're so cute

[@Littlesupermanman]

You are beautiful

[@douaizeit]

Estudar cinco línguas ao mesmo tempo é burrice

[@samuraijack7295]

So much .... uptalk

[@user-br1nb9ec5q]

you are so beautiful

[@albin2232]

I hope for a future where languages no longer exist, not even sign language and not even grunts.

[@putinisakiller8093]

The best method is the future one. Because we live in the XXI century. There is no need to comrape XIX and XX. ;)