Learning a Language via an App

GSheehy

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Has anyone used a (paid for) app to do a course on a language?

How did you find it? Did you mix it with a classes course?

I believe the app finish rate is a very small percentage.

More than half way through a high B1 level (68% of total units done) and finding it tough going.
 
I started learning Spanish 25 years ago and I’m pretty good (even if I say so myself). It was not continuous because I lost my Spanish mojo for about 3 years before resuming to learn. My Advice:-
1. Buy a Complete Spanish Course book (Teach Yourself with some easy CDs supplied). Take notes.
2. Take your time and don’t move to Chapter 2 until you fully understand Chapter 1.
3. Before you challenge Chapter 3, revise Chapters 1 + 2. And so on.
4. I bought Michel Thomas 8 CD Spanish Course just before I noticed it’s free on YouTube along with his Intermediate and Advanced CDs. No notes necessary, just listen repeatedly. They’re good and passive learning is very beneficial. Keep to your Complete Spanish textbook too.
5. Download the RNE app for radio (Radio Nacional de Espana) and you’ll have the main radio channels in Spain. Within that suite the presenters on Radio Clasica speak slower than the DJs and newsreaders on the other channels. All the radio channels are good for listening.
6. I continue to use Duolingo to keep improving my day to day Spanish. It’s free unless you want ad free etc.
7. When we are in Spain I inflict my Spanish on Spaniards because they want to speak English. They really want to learn English, this I cannot stress enough.
8. Years ago I took classes in Spain and found them fairly staid and generic.
9. These days I do much trekking in Spain with mixed nationalities including Spaniards and I exchange English and Spanish conversations.
10. I used to exchange spoken English for spoken Spanish lessons @ four hours per week, but that faded out. Spaniards tend to lack patience - that’s just a general comment earned by experiences.

Note:- It’s not easy to learn another language despite what you may be told. It takes time, discipline and effort. You can promote your enjoyment by listening to language CDs while you are driving etc. “The Language Tutor” on YouTube is excellent too for French and Spanish.
 
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You can promote your enjoyment by listening to language CDs while you are driving etc.
I agree with this, there has to be some kind of short term pay off. You can't spend a winter learning French just so that you can order in a restaurant next summer. You need to use what you have learned in some positive way regularly, like listening to music as Leper says.
 
Has anyone used a (paid for) app to do a course on a language?

What app are you using Gerard?

I am considering trying for a B1 in French and was considering using italki.com to improve my aural and oral skills. My reading comprehension is already at that level but could never seem to be able to converse to any kind of passable standard, over the years. Does anyone have experience of using something similar?
 
I'm using Duolingo. I don't use/pay for the video call conversation feature so I'd say our needs aren't the same.

I wanted to to increase vocabulary a lot, improve aural and have a good level of reading comprehension. It was born out of a realisation that I wasn't really showing the natives any respect by being a fequent visitor and not making any effort at all. I'm finding that if I make a small effort then natives are happy enough and we get on much better. It can be something small like asking for a return ticket on a bus, but you know it's appreciated.

It's good value for circa €85 pa and I could have spent that time doing something less constructive/positive. Only about 0.1% complete a language course on that app so not sure I'll get to the end, but it's a target.
 
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