Learning a language!

[BallyJ]

Since returning from our travels I've decided I'd like to learn a language.

I've looked at the Duolingo app reviews and they're not looking great after the new update, just wondered if anyone is using this and can tell me otherwise?

Or recommend an alternative? Happy to pay

 

[Annagain]

I think things like Duolingo are great to support learning but you can't beat proper interaction so I'd say join an evening class and embrace every opportunity to use the language - join a local language / cultural society (they tend to be more 'mainstream' European languages) or an online meeting group or put out an appeal on Facebook for a native speaker to meet you for a coffee every so often to practice (I do this to support Welsh learners)

 

[HashRouge]

I think things like Duolingo are great to support learning but you can't beat proper interaction so I'd say join an evening class and embrace every opportunity to use the language - join a local language / cultural society (they tend to be more 'mainstream' European languages) or an online meeting group or put out an appeal on Facebook for a native speaker to meet you for a coffee every so often to practice (I do this to support Welsh learners)

This!
Duolingo is fine, but you won't learn the language properly. A good evening class makes a decent starting point, and then any opportunity to practise will help. When I was doing my degree I did a couple of exchanges to improve my speaking - one Brazilian lady I met up with over quite a long period of time and we would do an hour in English and an hour in Portuguese.

 

[AntiPuck]

I learned German enough to pass the B1 exam recently, I personally don't rate apps like Duolingo, I prioritised listening early on and as a result can listen to stuff beyond my level without too much difficulty now.

Main things I used;
- Started off with the BBC Muzzy videos for kids, listened to those through a few times.
- Easy German channel on YouTube, and later the Easy German podcast (There are Easy X channels and podcasts in many languages, but they aren't actually that easy for a total beginner so best saved for later)
- Coffee Break German podcast (again, available in multiple languages)
- Weekly 30 minute Italki conversation sessions with a native speaker - we'd set a topic for the following week so I had some opportunity to look up new vocab and then practice using in the session
- Then lots of Netflix in the target language using subtitles in that language, not in English
- Graded reader books are also great if you can get them, lots on Amazon
- I ended up booking on to an intensive week-long course in the country after learning for a while, which was great fun and a good motivator to keep learning so that I'd be able to keep up once there - nothing like being immersed to boost your level


Once you get more proficient, find content you find interesting that is in the target language - I re-read some of the Harry Potter books in German, for example, and watched a lot of horses vids on YouTube, interesting podcasts etc much easier to keep going than by listening to generic stuff

 

[BallyJ]

I think things like Duolingo are great to support learning but you can't beat proper interaction so I'd say join an evening class and embrace every opportunity to use the language - join a local language / cultural society (they tend to be more 'mainstream' European languages) or an online meeting group or put out an appeal on Facebook for a native speaker to meet you for a coffee every so often to practice (I do this to support Welsh learners)

My husband is fluent in the language I'm wanting to learn - lived there for afew years while he was growing up so I will be conversing with him around the house - aiming to use it as our primary language at home.

 

[BallyJ]

I learned German enough to pass the B1 exam recently, I personally don't rate apps like Duolingo, I prioritised listening early on and as a result can listen to stuff beyond my level without too much difficulty now.

Main things I used;
- Started off with the BBC Muzzy videos for kids, listened to those through a few times.
- Easy German channel on YouTube, and later the Easy German podcast (There are Easy X channels and podcasts in many languages, but they aren't actually that easy for a total beginner so best saved for later)
- Coffee Break German podcast (again, available in multiple languages)
- Weekly 30 minute Italki conversation sessions with a native speaker - we'd set a topic for the following week so I had some opportunity to look up new vocab and then practice using in the session
- Then lots of Netflix in the target language using subtitles in that language, not in English
- Graded reader books are also great if you can get them, lots on Amazon
- I ended up booking on to an intensive week-long course in the country after learning for a while, which was great fun and a good motivator to keep learning so that I'd be able to keep up once there - nothing like being immersed to boost your level


Once you get more proficient, find content you find interesting that is in the target language - I re-read some of the Harry Potter books in German, for example, and watched a lot of horses vids on YouTube, interesting podcasts etc much easier to keep going than by listening to generic stuff

Didn't think about watching YouTube videos etc! That's a really good idea, will look at the books too.

 

[ponynutz]

Duolingo is great when you already know the basics - I use it to further my German after doing German GCSE. Speaking and listening is key and so to start I’d suggest an evening class type situation. Also watching anything in your chosen language with the english subtitles on really really helps also the other way around at the beginning can help you differentiate what is being said rather than it sounding like gibberish.

 

[Annagain]

My husband is fluent in the language I'm wanting to learn - lived there for afew years while he was growing up so I will be conversing with him around the house - aiming to use it as our primary language at home.

I hope that works for you. I find that once I start speaking one language to someone it's very difficult to change - the habit ends up being pretty set. You'll need to be really determined to make that switch.

 

[HannahB]

I learned German enough to pass the B1 exam recently, I personally don't rate apps like Duolingo, I prioritised listening early on and as a result can listen to stuff beyond my level without too much difficulty now.

Main things I used;
- Started off with the BBC Muzzy videos for kids, listened to those through a few times.
- Easy German channel on YouTube, and later the Easy German podcast (There are Easy X channels and podcasts in many languages, but they aren't actually that easy for a total beginner so best saved for later)
- Coffee Break German podcast (again, available in multiple languages)
- Weekly 30 minute Italki conversation sessions with a native speaker - we'd set a topic for the following week so I had some opportunity to look up new vocab and then practice using in the session
- Then lots of Netflix in the target language using subtitles in that language, not in English
- Graded reader books are also great if you can get them, lots on Amazon
- I ended up booking on to an intensive week-long course in the country after learning for a while, which was great fun and a good motivator to keep learning so that I'd be able to keep up once there - nothing like being immersed to boost your level

Once you get more proficient, find content you find interesting that is in the target language - I re-read some of the Harry Potter books in German, for example, and watched a lot of horses vids on YouTube, interesting podcasts etc much easier to keep going than by listening to generic stuff

I'm doing A level german at the moment.
I did use duolingo previously as it is useful for getting some idea about pronunciation, but be warned it does give the craziest phrases to learn sometimes. And it doesn't help grammar wise.
I haven't tried much youtube in german, but I follow a load of german equestrians on instagram which has helped with my horsey vocab massively.
I have also read harry potter in german, as I've read the series so often in English that I was able to follow the series pretty well, with occasional references to the english version. I'm on to the lord of the rings now, which is a lot more challenging. The advantage with harry potter is that its been translated in to so many different languages, I was reading it in french with my friend recently.
The other thing I do relating to all my A levels is when I am going over a topic, like enzymes in biology, I learn some of the vocab in german. It mixes things up a bit just for fun

 

[AntiPuck]

I'm doing A level german at the moment.
I did use duolingo previously as it is useful for getting some idea about pronunciation, but be warned it does give the craziest phrases to learn sometimes. And it doesn't help grammar wise.
I haven't tried much youtube in german, but I follow a load of german equestrians on instagram which has helped with my horsey vocab massively.
I have also read harry potter in german, as I've read the series so often in English that I was able to follow the series pretty well, with occasional references to the english version. I'm on to the lord of the rings now, which is a lot more challenging. The advantage with harry potter is that its been translated in to so many different languages, I was reading it in french with my friend recently.
The other thing I do relating to all my A levels is when I am going over a topic, like enzymes in biology, I learn some of the vocab in german. It mixes things up a bit just for fun

Youtube has a surprising amount of useful material!

There is a mini soap opera called Extras that starts in really simple German and increases in difficulty as the episodes go on (also available in French and Spanish versions), Nico's Weg which are films (available in A2, B1, B2 levels) in German with German subtitles, Easy German as mentioned, loads of others I can't remember right now. Also some German TV shows like Türkisch für Anfänger that have all their shows on YouTube, also great.

Learn German with Anja is a great channel for grammar stuff, and she does paid-for courses that are great because they're based on conversation audios instead of rote word or grammar learning, so easier to pick things up.

 

[BallyJ]

I hope that works for you. I find that once I start speaking one language to someone it's very difficult to change - the habit ends up being pretty set. You'll need to be really determined to make that switch.

I'm hoping we can do it! It's just something to do in the evenings and to keep my brain active. And hopefully next time we go away I won't be the Brit that only speaks English!!

We were in Sri Lanka and our guide spoke Arabic, Chinese, English, Russian, German and Spanish! I was so impressed and told him next time we visit I'll know another language so I can't let him down

 

[HashRouge]

I'm hoping we can do it! It's just something to do in the evenings and to keep my brain active. And hopefully next time we go away I won't be the Brit that only speaks English!!

We were in Sri Lanka and our guide spoke Arabic, Chinese, English, Russian, German and Spanish! I was so impressed and told him next time we visit I'll know another language so I can't let him down

Do you know a bit of the language already?

 

[Winters100]

You could try preply.com - there you can find tutors for many languages for online lessons.

 

[BallyJ]

Do you know a bit of the language already?

A little! Just from playing around

 

[BallyJ]

You could try preply.com - there you can find tutors for many languages for online lessons.

Excellent! Thank you

 

[babymare]

Both me and hubby are using Duolingo to learn spanish. We love it because it’s at your pace and it’s simple to use app. ? been at it over a year now and never missed a day but if I’m honest hubby is doing better than me lol. He can hold a conversation ?

 

[HashRouge]

A little! Just from playing around

I would say that you will make progress more quickly if you have structure to what you're learning. I'd recommend either an evening class, or getting a really decent textbook and taking a more DIY approach, but complementing this with regular speaking sessions. It may depend on how natural a linguist you are as to which works best, or even just how committed/ hard working you are.

Facebook can be a really good way of arranging a language exchange for conversation practice. There are lots of language exchange groups, so you could look up, say, "Italian exchange" and just see what comes up.

I learnt Portuguese ab initio at University and by the end of my first year had a very good level and was able to hold a reasonable conversation. That was with around 4 hours language tuition a week. My Spanish is currently better, but only because I teach it. When I graduated I had similar levels in both, despite having learnt Spanish for much longer.

 

[Landcruiser]

I started learning Greek in lockdown. I used Greekpod 101 and daily Duolingo. Later I got a greek 1-1 teacher and had a weekly online class. This eventually got a bit too pricey for the progress I felt I was making, and I wasn't enjoying so much. Also, Duolingo changed and I hated the new version. I've recently dropped the Greek for now and have picked up German, which I have a basic knowledge of from school but also I lived there for a while, 40 yrs ago. I'm using Babbel, which I'm finding very good. I started right at the beginning (as hadn't done any German for 40 yrs) but have whizzed fairly quickly to B1 level. There are some really good apps on the market, but Duolingo isn't one of them, not for learning a language from the start.

 

[Skib]

We learned spoken Mexican Spanish from Michel Thomas discs and subsequently used them for Russian (followed by evening classes tolearn to read the Cyrilic), Arabic, Italian and German. I bought Polish and Dutch ready to go on holiday there pre Covid.
My only failure was Greek. I just couldnt get the hang of the vocab and when we went to Crete, everyne spoke English for tourists anyway.

 

[sunnyone]

If you want to learn a European language quickly try Italian. It doesn't require you to learn a different alphabet for a start and its grammar makes sense!
When I was a student York Uni got its first years to do an O level in 3 weeks. I was at Leeds at the time, which was a shame as they were not offering the same opportunities.
Then when I was teaching French at a comprehensive Homerton in Cambridge did an evening course specifically for teachers to enable us to teach it after 1 year. Yes! The kids loved it too.

 

[scruffyponies]

Love Muzzy - it kept the kids quiet for hours when they were younger.
I used a long train commute a few years ago to read Harry Potter in foreign languages, including German. It's great if you have long stretches of quiet time and didn't tire me in the way that Michel Thomas on a driving commute did.
Duolingo is OK if you're snatching a few minutes here and there, or as an introduction to the language but as others have said, it won't get you far on its own.
At home I sometimes listen to Deutsche Funk - it's free online, and mostly current affairs conversation.

Thank you to others who have suggested Easy German etc... I shall certainly be looking at some of those.

 

[Lois Lame]

Since returning from our travels I've decided I'd like to learn a language.

I've looked at the Duolingo app reviews and they're not looking great after the new update, just wondered if anyone is using this and can tell me otherwise?

Or recommend an alternative? Happy to pay

I don't know what those first things are but I learned a fair bit of German (from a virtual standstill) by listening to a linguaphone course and reading their book (in German of course) at the same time.

It was all gobbledegook to me at first, but I could follow the sounds to the written words. I found it very helpful to both see and hear the written word at the same time.

I was a little obsessed with German at that time and would listen to the German whenever I felt like it (which was fairly often). After a time (couldn't say how long now) the gobbledegook started to sound like a language that people would understand. I still couldn't, other than words like ja or nein or achtung!

You'll be able to find secondhand linguaphone couses I think. I've certainly seen them around here, at op shops, maybe secondhand bookshops...