How can I get over lack of learning resources in "minor languages"

Question

Sometimes I want to learn a language but give up due to the lack of resources available. These languages tend to be the ones that very few people learn using English.

In my opinion, one of the core but often missed factors on the difficulty of language learning is the availability of learning resources. Some languages like Mandarin and Russian are difficult (for English speakers) yet resources-rich, so you can learn them if you are dedicated enough.

But some languages clearly lack resources, such as Cantonese or Persian.

My usual learning method is use apps (Rosetta Stone, Duolingo) as well as finish a grammar book (or online if it has good resources) to reach enough level (B1) and then move to the country and attend a language program. But that is not possible or very hard for some languages that lack resources, such as Cantonese, Ukrainian, Persian and Hebrew. On top of that, it is also difficult to find a language program even in the country the language is spoken in, because there isn't enough demand.

I won't say that the resources are non-existent, but that few resources mean it is difficult to find ones suitable for me, as many resources don't fit me for various reasons (for example I find 2000s-like ugly websites intolerable to see.

In these cases, how can I get over the lack of the resources?

(If the specific language is needed, I'm considering studying Cantonese.)

Answer 1

I think to get over what you think doesn’t exist, you should actually stop focusing on that and instead search for what exists and what’s available. I believe you should expand your research scope for the resources, as sometimes the problem isn’t the lack of the resources; but where we’re looking for them is. I can’t comment on all the languages that you named, but what you’re saying is incorrect about Persian.

1. There are various courses offered to non-native learners in Iran as well as some universities in the US and other countries
2. There are many good books available to buy online on sites like Book Depository
3. There are groups on social media for those who are learning the language or the culture, so maybe search in Facebook or Instagram instead of Google only
4. Rosetta Stone does exist for Farsi/Persian
5. Persian is not that minor of a language when you consider the number of its speakers around the world that was 110 million as of 2009 (Windfuhr, Gernot: The Iranian Languages, Routledge 2009, p. 418)
6. There are a lot of podcasts and Youtube video tutorials
7. There are language exchange groups and other social occasions to learn
8. Worst case scenario, you can always pay a native teacher to teach you individually and assuming even worse that there’s no native teacher around where you physically are, you can always do it over video chat.

Answer 2

Learn Mandarin first. I recommend this for a few reasons. Both in China and abroad, I have found that native Cantonese speakers are more likely to be fluent in Mandarin than vice versa. At least in my experience, I have found Mandarin speakers more supportive in general as I attempt to speak their language.

Once fluent in Mandarin, you will find it easier to learn Cantonese. Most of the Cantonese language learning materials you will find in English are superficial and barely get you past the beginner level. However, you will find plentiful resources for learning Cantonese through Mandarin.

Answer 3

First, I would say I appreciate your effort. I know that it is hard to find a good resource or an effective one. I'm a minor language learner also, now I learn language from learning application named Ling app and I found this app is very useful for minor languages learners because there provide more than 60+ languages which include all the languages that you mention(I just search on app cause I want to know too). Moreover, this app, you can learn from your native language. Nowadays there are also have good books available to buy online. This is also a good way to learn languages.