Can I Really Spend a Whole Hour Just on Comprehensible Input?

I teach languages through a method called StoryLearning.
This is an input-based approach to language learning that encourages you to learn naturally by reading and listening to fun and entertaining stories in your new language.
But is it really wise to spend a whole hour of your language learning time on comprehensible input?
My answer is a definite "yes!"
Watch the video to find out why!
Watch the video, then leave me a comment below and let me know!
My name is Olly Richards, and on this channel I document my experiments in foreign language acquisition:
• Rapid language learning
• Writing Chinese characters
• Languages and travel...on location!
• Daily study routines
• Advanced level tactics
To see some of my previous experiments, why not try...
• Learn Thai in 14 Days:
• Learn Thai Mission
• Learn To Write Chinese (Traditional Characters)
• Playlist
• Daily Study Routines and Schedules
• Foreign Language Study...
If you're interested in becoming a better language learner, and discovering the secrets to learning languages quickly, be sure to check out my podcast:
www.iwillteachyoualanguage.co...

[@skb282]

When you can tell someone is British before they even say a word

[@andym28]

When you can tell someone comes from one of three diverse countries?

[@krem9363]

@@andym28 what?

[@AlexG-wk3nh]

@@krem9363 Britain is Northern Island, Wales, Scotland, and England.. he meant 4

[@awanz]

Tea

[@drts6955]

Well they tend not to TALK SO LOUD AND ENTHUSIASTICALLY ABOUT EVERYTHING "HEEEEEY WELCOME BACK..." Not gonna name names

[@elleryprescott]

110% this is the way to learn. I am grateful I found Steve Kaufman 5 years ago on youtube as I begun learning German on my own. His advice is pretty much exactly the same. It's all about extensive reading and listening to content of interest and getting into real, natural content through transcripts and audio.

[@Ellary_Rosewood]

Super random, but this is the closest I've ever gotten to seeing someone with a name almost like mine! Totally did a double take! You're also a language learner too! 😂

[@AlexG-wk3nh]

hows the German learning going?

[@elleryprescott]

@@AlexG-wk3nh fantastic!

[@mariegreen8763]

Children get corrected by their parents every day and all day!! They don't start soeaking correctky from the very beginning...

[@TheStrataminor]

@@mariegreen8763 Yes they do....they listen day and night to parents and people around them. When they start talking about 1.5 or so years old, then yes they get corrected, but the soaking period is very true!!

[@markpowellmp]

I can relate to this learning order; input first speak later. Our first son said virtually nothing for 18 months. Then after a heated row (frank exchange of views as Politicians say) he got upset and my wife consoled him with “daddy doesn’t mean it” Then like a scene reminiscent of the little girl in the excorcist, back came the reply and pretty much his first sentence with the correct grammar all thrown in “Daddy does mean it” We stood there amazed and the issue we had been rowing about got forgotten there and then QED 🙄

[@marthao5799]

I waited quite a while before I truly began to speak. I didn't think about it so much and I did talk to Italians but more in my native language helping them. I wasn't worried that they were getting more than their share. I didn't have enough "stored input" to enjoy trying to speak. I didn't mind making mistakes but I didn't like the frustration of doing something I just did not have the ability to do. But I did plenty of other things: I read lessons and simple things in Italian, did some listening with subtitles and, most important, I wrote with anyone that would write with me. I learned the words I was missing and the words they were using and then slowly began to speak (at first, just a little but then more and more. Now, I get compliments when I speak and I never want to stop talking, hahahah)

[@daki2223]

I talk in portuguese A LOT. and my grammar is ok. I dont have a ton of vocabulary but i make do. As long as the mistakes u make dont completely affect the meaning kf what ur tryna say, go for it.

[@1979668]

Just amazing, thank you very much!! I love you man!!!))))

[@bpminier342]

Fantastic 👏 Job Ollie, your methodology and teaching of languages has evolved to greater levels, this is absolutely fantastic advice TO ALL LEVELS of language learners.

[@yoko4977]

I can’t agree with you more!!! This is how I learned English and French :)

[@legitprowrestling6653]

Outstanding advice! Thank you sir 🙏🏻

[@jlwhere81]

Very helpful video! I've been getting hung up on completing the second part in each section of Spanish Uncovered, but I'm going to switch that up and focus on listening to the story and getting through the entire thing first. I've also been listening to Harry Potter in Spanish and following along in the Spanish version of the book to help with my listening ability and hearing the sounds of Spanish.

[@barbaragemin5117]

I agree with what you've said Olly. I really believe that all that 'critical mass' of knowledge accrued through systematic listening and reading every day is bound to there to use when it needs to be produced.

[@snakejumper3277]

"Throw a cat among some pigeons"? Hey, I just learned some British with less than two minutes of input!

[@signmeupruss]

Olly, another of your great videos, which I had not yet seen! I think you are absolutely right with the idea that ===> absorbing comprehensible input is practicing!

[@philsconversation]

Great question!

[@Davey441]

So right Olly. I noticed this with my daughter. Just like every baby, they get lots of everyday input during the first 2.5+ years, they'll say a few words but not much. When they do reach 2.5 to 3 years they start speaking. It's amazing to see it!!

[@someperson9536]

This is great advice. I started speaking a foreign language with a native speaker of my target language and I got to the point where I had to ask, "How do I say this? How do I say that?"

[@objectivistathlete]

Love the advice. I've been focusing on (1) reading/listening, (2) re-reading and re-listening to old material, and (3) reading aloud and/or shadowing old material when I'm alone and don't have to worry about others looking at me like a weirdo. Once per week I "practice" speaking with a native speaker using the "direct communicative method" (think: Callan method) for an hour or two, but this is just an add-on for me, since I already spend 7-8 hours per week reading and listening.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

It solves the problem of speaking and then having issues because you don't understand the response. The problem though is that if you're not speaking early on it can become really hard to break through shyness and actually interact with people in their language, which is ultimately the goal that most people have when learning a language. Unless you're learning something like Latin or ancient Greek which are basically just written at this point, chances are the point of learning the language is for interaction. You're probably better off with the opposite approach where you do none of this and just get all your input directly from speakers of the language. The large advantage to just focusing on input is that in most cases that's going to be more readily available. You can listen to the same audio several times if you need to, which would annoy most speakers.

[@Jauhara]

I suggest this, too: Listen to your TL as you would listen to aspects of music. Listen to rhythm, timbre, lilt, accented beats and pitch. You will be surprised at what you might pick up. I also recommend going through the entire Short Stories, listening to the accompanying audio, in one setting. Then go back, read one story at a time, doing the quizzes. By the third time, listen for pleasure. Pause play after each sentence and repeat.

[@Tehui1974]

I've averaged an hour a day of mainly input language exposure this year. My comprehension, reading and writing ability have all improved considerably since the start of the year. Unfortunately, my speaking has only improved marginally. I'm currently at a B1 level in my target language. I'm trusting in the process that I will eventually become fluent (B2) soon.

[@StriverHamza]

What is your target language?

[@Tehui1974]

@@StriverHamza Māori (New Zealand). What are you learning?

[@racpatrice]

@@Tehui1974 Did you achieve your B2 goal?

[@Tehui1974]

@@racpatrice Yes. I'm now trying to improve to a C1 level now. Immersion is king.

[@cloeye32]

The answer is yes you can spend all the time on comprehensible input. I did it for Russian for 5544 hours it does work. You have to be motivated to wanna do it now it’s not just gonna happen on its own. But the more comprehensible input you have the more your language learning comprehension and speaking will improve.

[@owenthompson5214]

How many years is that?

[@karenbaily]

7-8 months non stop! 🙂

[@aquarius4953]

karenbaily 5544:8=693 hours per months. So let's say 30 days per month 693:30=23,1 hours per day ??!

[@aquarius4953]

owen Thompson Calculate yourself.

[@owenthompson5214]

@@aquarius4953 is 23 hours physically possible haha

[@solea59]

This hits the nail firmly on it's head. You need a fair library of vocabulary before you can " Launch " yourself. You can't make something unless you have the materials to hand. You can't cook something unless you have the ingredients.

[@industriouspolyglot1976]

I concur!

[@secretariatgirl4249]

I've started the Italian course and really did all of the excerises for Capitolo 1. Now on Capitolo 2, I started the activities and taking notes and already feel it's slowing me down! I think I'll just start reading through it all and then back. I've been listening to Capitolo 1 today over and over again and sometimes look a word or two I don't know...reviewing does help!

[@jay3timess]

Thank you

[@sharonoddlyenough]

I've been learning Swedish with Duolingo and videos on KZbin. I watch videos with Swedish subtitles, and I have a few that I can't get subtitles for that I just have as background noise when I am doing other things, and I catch different things every time I listen to them. All together, an hour of active and unknown passive hours every day. This week, I'm pretty much dropping Duolingo in favor of the Short Stories In Swedish book. For speaking, I tend to be a parrot, walking around my home repeating words or phrases just because I like the sound, or mumbling sweet nothings to the cat.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

The subtitles are probably hurting you. Subtitles are for people that know the language and have issues hearing. Sure, watch through once with them on to help get a sense of what's going on, but the sooner you turn them off the better. Personally, I don't even bother with videos, I listen to internet radio and just listen for the words and phrases that I've been learning and to try and figure out what's going on. It's hard and you probably don't want to do it for more than an hour at a time, but you'll develop the listening skills necessary to make use of the responses you get back when you speak in no time.

[@sharonoddlyenough]

I've (now) been learning Swedish for 3 1/2 months. I quit Duolingo and also worked through the entire Swedish Drops content. I'm about halfway through my first novel, and I am watching Swedish lessons taught in Swedish without subtitles, as well as the usual subtltled and subtitleless stuff above. I think I'm doing fine.

[@Hadrianus01]

Honestly, knowing that the input method is valuable for language learning has helped keep me motivated. It's good to know that you can still learn passively and don't have to spend every minute exerting effort over grammar drills, speaking practice and other modes of active learning.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

Yes and no, IMHO, the ideal is to cycle through comprehensive and comprehensible input, speaking/writing and studying new bits of language. You're not really going to learn much from just comprehensible input if you're not also using the language and getting corrections. And that applies just as much to native speakers that were corrected a lot, a lot, lot, lot lot as they grew up. I cannot emphaized just how much correction most people get when learning their first language and you're not going to get that just from input without output.

[@lamorena6379]

I really like your videos

[@gonzalomelano8002]

Hey, Olly great video as always. Do you any page to speak with natives speaker like Italki, but for teenagers? I´ve been using this quarantine to listen and read, but I feel I need some output. Italki confuses me because in the terms it says that you must 18 or older but in some teacher´s profile says that they do speaking practise with teenagers. I hope you answer my question. Have a nice day Olly

[@rafaelmessias3620]

Agreed!

[@15minutestoread97]

Agree! an hour a day is great but I would do 30 min in the morning, and 30 min in the evening.

[@davidbrisbane7206]

I practice comprehensive input for at least two hours a day. It makes it easier for me to understand what I hear and what I read. In fact, my comprehension got good enough to understand almost every word I hear or read at native level for ordinary subjects that one might see in a newspapers or blogs. Because I can formulate arguments and positions in my native language quite well, it turns out that I can do the same thing in my target language too. However, none of this this hasn't made me any better at speaking. The only thing that has improved my speaking is speaking itself. At one level, I can communicate through speech well in my target language on many subjects without reverting to English, but on the other hand, as I can actually hear *all of my mistakes* because of all the input I've received, then I must say I don't enjoy speaking for this reason. I can actually write quite well in my target language, as whilst writing I can rework what I want to say several times quite quickly as it turns out, but this correction method isn't efficient enough to correct my speech in real-tine without enourmous concentration, which frankly tires me out. I also found that knowing the grammar rules greatly increased the rate at why I acquired language through listening and hearing, and that my language acquisition skills allowed me to identify grammatical constructs I knew poorly, or hadn't seen before, which allowed me to focus on only these rules of Grammar that I didn't know or knew badly before. Even if I think I understand a word, I often look it up in all its forms and practice seeing this word in many sentences and in many tenses though the magic of AI, which is also a great source of input for a language.

[@choyou3932]

I was doing pomodoro schedule, 30mins + 8min rest + 30mins for every languages that I'm trying to acquire. (🇳🇴🇷🇺🇯🇵🇫🇷🇨🇳) So it equates to 6< hrs per day. Then also listening whenever I can. Hopefully this turns out well for me. I'll post a progress video after a month or two.

[@gustave772]

Hi! Any update?

[@MrJerkdude1]

How'd it go?

[@dajmax]

Hi Olly. What about "practise" in the sense of conversation (versus homework exercises)? Eg, once or twice a week joining a chat group after all that input study? Aferall, during those 3-4 years of baies "just taking it in", they are also experimenting with output - imitating sounds, expressions, even producing some simple words (before the floodgates open)... It's a smooth transition, not all iput phase and then suddenly floodgate output. I attend Meetup groups to practise my conversation. Evenif parts go over my head, it's good to make an effort and have a few hits. :-)

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

What's worked best for me was cycling between listening to radio for native speakers, speaking or writing to other people and studying how to express ideas that interest me. If you're cycling through those things on a regular basis, you're going to get better. My biggest issue is that it can be a real challenge getting that second bit on a regular basis as I don't have good access to German or Chinese where I'm living. But, I'm making more money now, so that allows me to pay for time with somebody that can. If I were going to do just one thing though, it would be to speak the language and hope to get meaningful responses back. I was able to pick up enough Mandarin to conduct basic daily living tasks in a matter of months just learning phrases and vocabulary related to things I needed to do. Focusing on input would have been an absolute nightmare.

[@ronlugbill1400]

I am learning some British English. "Throw a cat among the pigeons." I am an American native speaker and never heard that expression before. Sounds like a bit of a sticky wicket to throw a cat among the pigeons.

[@HakendaNatan]

good

[@urnotjl]

Well said! Olly. However, it raises another problem, how to immersive myself in the target language to really solidify that knowledge in my head? Just reading through without taking any notes? How to do with those notes? Or Flashcards at the beginning? Thanks!

[@brendon2462]

Well, any words or phrases that you don't know. That peaks your interest just write it down using the subtitles. Then go look up the meaning. I use reverso because it gives you several examples in context. You don't need to write down everything you don't know. Then rewatch it again and repeat until you understand all of it. I watch easy German, Netflix, and ndr German tv. But I don't know what language you're into. Eventually you will get everything.

[@urnotjl]

@@brendon2462 Thanks for sharing. It can boil down to spaced repetition. And adding a few contexts when I came across those phases is always helpful~

[@YourMajesty143]

@@brendon2462 - Reverso and Linguee are my go-to resources for context! Yes, agree 100%

[@brendon2462]

@@YourMajesty143 Finally i come across someone else that uses reverso. It's a great dictionary app right? Do you use the pronunciation vocabulary practice on it? I do, after a year using it i feel much more comfortable with pronunciation.

[@brendon2462]

@@urnotjl True true

[@daracroft5045]

Dear olly richards! Have u tried the Assimil method? Do u recommend it? Could u please make a video about it? Thx, greetings from colombia

[@francoisfiset4894]

I've leanred Spanish using that method but I have to tell you its pedagogy is totally outdated. It's based on translation. The end result is that you will translate in your mind instead of directly understanding the language. Nowadays, with the internet, you can do so much better.

[@daracroft5045]

@@francoisfiset4894 thx

[@dmp7252]

Does anyone know if the content in Olly's "Short Stories in Russian," are the same as the content in "Russian Uncovered?" Or are the stories different?

[@OrionDuCros]

I live and work in Korea, I hear the korean language about 8+ hours a day as well as reading at least one hour a day, and doing vocabulary every day too, but I don't feel like I'm making fast progress in my lanugage development, why might that be?

[@run2fire]

After trying to learn Polish using SRS, I have just started using the input for the majority of my time watching short children’s KZbin videos in Polish. I will see what happens in 6 months. Olly, will you have your books in Polish anytime soon? Thanks for the video btw

[@ricchanse9166]

How's your 4 months progress?

[@run2fire]

@@ricchanse9166 Not that great. Are you trying to "acquire" a new language?

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

SRS is great, just go along with phrases that communicate things that you need or want to communicate. Learn every word in those phrases and listen to Polish language radio. Bonus points if you use pictures of the vocabulary you're learning rather than translations.

[@lali2955]

Any new updates?

[@run2fire]

@@lali2955 Still learning Polish but not watching children’s videos. Watch videos I’m interested even though not understanding what is said. Still use SRS vocabulary app. It has a small return on learning. I need to read more. How about you?

[@minkawolf1664]

how long would it take to acually start talking? 6 months? a year? 2?

[@rohansingh5048]

So with Spainsh uncovered it’s best to read and listen to the story and after that then complete all the exercises and worksheets and speaking activities is this correct? please any help would be deeply appreciated anybody as I’m completing spainsh uncovered thank you. And what do you mean on the second round you do it in more detail does that mean completing the worksheets after on the second round?

[@jamesmccloud7535]

Try language transfer for Spanish. The lessons are all free give it a try if you haven't yet

[@josuefuentes1080]

I can help you with practicing

[@autentyk5735]

I do 8 hour sessions all the time.

[@user-lq5hr7ip9d]

guys can someone explain me something about comprehensive input: if I don't understand a word and can't tell the meaning by context can I just move on or I I look for the meaning from the words I don't understand? I really wanna learn with comprehensive input but I'm really lost

[@m.neuville5389]

Steve Kauffman likes this

[@jamesmccloud7535]

Almost every polyglot I see in youtube has the same mindset on comprehensible input

[@eugeneboichuk]

👍

[@Jerry12533]

here is interesting thot: we don't know how we learned implicit knwoleg (also languge as implict) we learn how to ride a bike, car, run, walk etc. implicetly for me english was learned implicetly true video games mostly becous as Slovenijan we don't have transleted or subbtitled video games so I mostly needed to go full english every game. But it was allso thanks to youtube and movies and later when I started reading books in english.

[@dg7438]

Do you have anything for Russian?

[@datudidingsastraw.5101]

This is challanges for who don't like reading 😁

[@niamhbutler5685]

As for a beginner in a language what type of content should we be consuming? A lot of people recommend children’s shows but i feel like those are hard for me to watch because they’re not targeting me. Also, should we consume content we don’t understand when we’re at the beginners stage?

[@OurBrainHurtsALot]

It depends on what type of children's shows. You should find children shows targeted to a 2-5 year old demographic. Children's show for 6+ are just way to advance for a beginner. If you want to consume content you can't understand, keep in mind that when you are consuming it, it would be an active exercise and not a passive one. You should be stopping the video, reading the transcription, looking for the vocab in a dictionary, writing it down, asking for help when you don't understand something, maybe slowing down the speed. It's going to be good old active studying and not the passive acquisition you get with a children's show.

[@MaryMaryMary]

I suggest reading children’s social studies, history or even science material that you have knowledge of. Something that you can predict the information and will enjoy.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

That's why I wouldn't do that. I personally memorized how to communicate ideas and needs that I personally had and then listened for the language in adult radio programming. Yes, it's hard and you won't understand much, but it won't take that long for you to learn enough common words and phrases to follow a long. One of the biggest hurdles is that you've said something that's correct, but you don't understand the response. I usually have the opposite problem where I understand the response, I just need to work on what to say. It's a much, much better problem to have as you can carry a phrase book and pre-teach yourself the phrases to communicate what you need to communicate or just use body language.

[@selvyngilbert9032]

Do you have stories in Brazilian Portuguese?

[@saraeb261]

Selvyn Gilbert Yes he does! You can find it on amazon 😊

[@selvyngilbert9032]

@@saraeb261 Thank you!

[@wolfthequarrelsome504]

The first MONTH!?? I spend an hour a day reading listening to French for 5 months and can't have a decent conversation.

[@idunno8683]

What happen if use 10 - 14 hours a day

[@user-jd9sj1mq2b]

You will acquire the language much faster. This is what I've done for the past three months, pushing 12+ hours every day.

[@idunno8683]

@@user-jd9sj1mq2b which learn did u learn?

[@user-jd9sj1mq2b]

@@idunno8683 I learn a learn learn. Learn.

[@idunno8683]

@@user-jd9sj1mq2b language lol

[@hamishfullerton7309]

What do you think of duo lingo

[@alonyoaz1711]

basically a waste of time

[@LogosTheos]

It sucks. Use Assimil

[@jamesmccloud7535]

It's good as a supplement but definitely should not be used as your main source of learning. You will learn really simple words and phrases from it. I learned a lot from it but just as a start, you should move on to more reliable ones. You can even try using different language learning apps at the same time.

[@nicolasespindola2852]

One hour? Those are rookie numbers! Gotta pump up those rookie numbers! Haha. Nah but really, lots and lots of input is the way to go

[@xXJ4FARGAMERXx]

Well it is very helpful even to the Vetarans to tell them to put in an hour a day, because if you hear 5 hours, you get the fuck out, but if you hear 1 hour, you do it, you say Let's do one more, and another.., and another, and now you're at 5 hours without even trying.

[@MRrZero]

I'm sorry but one hour a day is too little. Immersion is too addictive.

[@kholood2272]

Thank you