Questions tagged [learning-methods]
For questions about methods, techniques, and/or practices that assist in learning another language
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Is doing a huge amount of grammar exercises helpful for learning English?
Some books that teach English come with pages and pages of grammar exercises. Are these helpful?
I see that a few exercises are helpful to help you understanding the grammar. However, after that, ...
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Is it necessary to learn the characters of a language that uses logograms [Japanese]?
I want to learn Japanese and most books or guides begin with how to draw an logogram and to repeat the process of "writing" and single character dozens of times. And learning hundreds of those signs ...
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Has the "direct method" of language learning been shown to be superior to translation-based methods?
The textbook I'm using to learn Latin, called Lingua Latina per se Illustrata, is an example of the "direct method" of language instruction. The text is entirely written in Latin, and progresses ...
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What are some techniques to better differentiate between the two languages?
I grew up learning Spanish in school (I'm from Arizona) and became fluent in Spanish. Later, in college, I started learning French. I noticed many of the linguistic similarities between the two ...
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How can I avoid confusion or interference when studying two similar languages?
For example, consider Tamil and Malayalam. They are two very similar languages with many similar words.
The point is I get confused by the minor differences as I cannot remember them. I usually ...
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What is the impact of studying a third language in a second language?
when learning a third language, what are the relative advantages or disadvantages of studying the third language in either my native language or my second language?
More specifically, if I choose to ...
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How can I expand my active vocabulary in a foreign language?
I’ve been learning a foreign language for 5 years. Now, I easily understand everything I read, I know lots of words and everything seems to be alright, but I still have a problem. My active vocabulary ...
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Is it possible to learn grammar through spaced repetition, and if yes, how?
Spaced repetition is mostly used for learning vocabulary, but learning vocabulary is not all there is to learning a foreign language. Grammar also needs to be acquired, one way or another. Since doing ...
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How can I prevent myself from forgetting a language?
Many people forget languages entirely after enough time. I've become fluent in Spanish, but I haven't used it in over a year, and most of my family and friends don't speak it fluently. With all the ...
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How can I verify my pronunciation without a native speaker?
I've been learning Japanese for a short while, and it uses some sounds that aren't in my native language (English). (For example, the "r" sound, which has been described to me as a combination of "d", ...
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Does writing out by hand generally strengthen retention better than computerized memorization methods?
Language learning (well, in my experience) involves a lot of review. A LOT. Pounding that vocabulary into my brain again and again; over and over.
I spend a lot of time on the computer, so, naturally,...
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Can listening to music (lyrics) help increase listening skill?
Music is usually everywhere and in every language known on Earth probably. They also contain lyrics in foreign languages - which seemingly can help improve our skills and fluency with that particular ...
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What strategies can I use to learn the gender of irregular nouns?
The problem
When a foreign language uses genders for nouns and pronouns, memorizing these genders is a difficult process.
Sometimes it is possible to follow rules or hints: 1; 2; 3. E.g.:
In French,...
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When learning a foreign language, should one focus on vocabulary or grammar first? [closed]
When I learned Spanish, I focused entirely on learning the grammar and conjugations before learning a plethora of vocabulary. As a result, I was able to speak properly given what I knew, but I often ...
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How can I learn a language with little documentation/resources (Georgian)?
I've been trying to learn Georgian for almost 9 months now but have got no where.
I do know a Georgian, even despite his undeniable skill in English he can't explain Georgian grammar to me.
Georgian ...
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How many new words at a time?
I have a 1000 flash cards of new words. I pick a flash card at random to test if I remember the word. If not, I take a moment to try to remember it.
With a 1000 flash cards I feel that I see too many ...
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How can I get over lack of learning resources in "minor languages"
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 ...
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Which of these is more effective: having a silent period, or speaking from day one?
Nowadays, people usually learn languages in one of two ways: silent learning or speaking the new language from day one. They have their pros and cons but differ from each other greatly.
A silent ...
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What research is there on the efficiency of online language learning compared to in person learning?
Have there been enough studies to draw any definitive conclusions on how well sites such as Duolingo or Livemocha work in comparison to classroom learning?
user136
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What approaches can I take to overcome 'leeches'?
It's not uncommon that I come across a leech while studying my Anki cards. Usually this is the result of confusing two similar items (vocabulary terms, IPA symbols, whatever).
Once I've identified ...
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Is SRS more effective than traditional study for vocabulary augmentation?
Spaced Repetition Software (SRS), such an Anki, has become somewhat popular in the language-learning realm for increasing one's vocabulary and similar reasons.
However, is there any evidence that ...
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How does learning vocabulary through sentences compare to learning with words alone?
When learning vocabulary, especially with the use of SRS (Spaced Repetition System), it is interesting to use flashcards. A commonly encountered problem is how to formulate those for maximum ...
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When using flashcards, should the word or the definition be hidden?
A lot of language learning methods use flash cards to allow them to remember words and their definitions and to test their memory. Some people hide the words, while others hide the definition, which ...
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How can I develop an accent in a foreign language?
I have been teaching myself Italian for 2 years so far, and I still sound very foreign. When I am speaking Italian with someone else, it is difficult to imitate their accent properly, and when I try, ...
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Learning a language, for someone who can't stand flash cards
I can't stand memorizing words. I've found that the best way to memorize vocabulary is using (digital) flash cards, however I find studying flash cards to be one of the most mind-numbing and ...
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How can I improve the listening and speaking skill as a self-learner?
I learn any languages mostly alone, without any school or tutors (as it is insanely expensive and also quite inflexible). I learn it mostly online, starting with apps like Rosetta Stone and Memrise as ...
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Are some people good at learning grammar first, and other in a natural way first?
I could dare to say that most of people like to learn a new language in a so called "natural way", that is reading and understanding basic dialogues with little to no grammar that is getting bigger as ...
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Modern Hebrew before Biblical Hebrew?
I have heard it said more than once that there are advantages to gaining a basic fluency in Modern Hebrew before attempting Biblical Hebrew. Getting comfortable with text decoding, basic vocabulary, ...
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First learn speaking and then writing OR both at once?
I am a novice to the Japanese language, and this question might have some opinion-based answers but I could use some advice.
Should I learn to speak some basic words and sentences up to a level where ...
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How can I avoid learning an incorrect pronunciation due to a word's spelling?
I've noticed that I and others (sometimes entire communities) mispronounce words in a second language, which they could in theory pronounce well using phonemes of their first language, because of the ...
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How do I lose an accent in a foreign language?
Sometimes, an accent just doesn't go well with a language you are trying to speak. This means that the accent is probably going to go bye-bye. Except losing an accent is really hard. Gaining one is ...
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How can I help someone improve their listening comprehension?
A bit of background: My girlfriend is Taiwanese and will attend TesDaF (German test) in a week. She has been previously learning for about 8 months now while being in Germany. So far, all points (...
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Can practicing vocabulary from L2 to the same L2 instead of from L2 to L1 be more effective for learning the vocabulary?
Can practicing vocabulary from a second language to the same second language instead of from a second language to your first language be more effective?
Example: Suppose I know German and I’m ...
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How to practice speaking a language with no speakers?
How can I practice speaking, and hopefully eventually become fluent in, a language with no fluent speakers, either native or otherwise?
(I'm interested in the constructed language Glosa, but this ...
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What are effective ways to memorize sign languages?
I've learned spoken languages by writing words down, hearing them and remembering them, and working on websites.
However, I don't see that helping if I learn a sign language. None of those techniques ...
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What are the advantages of a paper dictionary over an online dictionary?
It has been a while now since I opened a paper dictionary to translate words from a language to another. I still have two paper dictionaries at home: one for English-French translations and one for ...
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How can I strengthen vocabulary knowledge of words learned with flash cards?
I've used flash cards a lot to learn Korean words, and it doesn't take long to memorize words well enough that I can recall them very quickly. It's especially easy to go from English to Korean - I ...
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How to get the most out of story-reading as a learning technique
I am going to look for a native speaker on Italki to practice my English in this way:
First I get a story, which is new to me. This story is a little bit hard for me like I can understand 80-90 ...
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At which point in learning a language can one be able to grok the meaning of new words or grammar structures?
As a non-native English speaker I've recently noticed that I have the ability to grok the meaning of certain words thanks to the context and expectations of what is going to be said.
The use of the ...
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Is the “T-Coding Method” a reliable method to learn vocabulary?
In Iran someone named "Mr Taraghghi" has imported a method for learning English vocabulary called "Vocabulary Coding" for Persian native speakers that works like this example:
Consider the word "...
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How to improve writing fluency
I have been studying French and Spanish for several years, to the point of passive fluency in both languages. I can speak French (and a little Spanish) but my writing abilities are almost non-existent....
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How did Cardinal Mezzofanti learn foreign languages?
Giuseppe Caspar Mezzofanti (1774-1849) was an Italian cardinal who also became famous for his language skills. According to his biographer Charles William Russell, he spoke at least 30 languages very ...
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Evidence that learning radicals speeds up character learning in Chinese?
Characters — in Chinese or Japanese (or Korean Hanja) — can be learnt in various ways, and it is plausible that paying attention to radicals helps memorisation and retention. But is there any hard ...
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How can I overcome fear and failure when speaking to native speakers of my L2?
I've been studying Russian language on my own for more than 1.5 years. And I'm still bad at it because of lack of speaking practice. I didn't study everyday as I also paused for several months so I'm ...
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Improving a language at B1 level
I am learning Russian and English. I speak in English and understand everything most of the time when my friends talk. I understand about 60% of the words in movies and news. I also struggle with ...
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Learn languages by memorizing rhymed poems
My native language is Portuguese and I had the initiative to read and memorize Os Lusíadas by Camões, the principal literary work in Portuguese.
So I started to memorize the Divina Commedia by Dante ...
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Repetition interval during initial learning within a day
I found that some words hard to recall after several minutes or on next day when learned them from flash cards.
With longer period of time between recalls (5/10/60 min) and after working with another ...
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How to learn the vocabulary of an ancient language like Aramaic, which is based on scripture only?
I've lately attended a series of lectures on the history of Christianity held by a Coptic scholar. He gave a few examples of Aramaic or Syriac sentences (translated from the Bible) which might be ...
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Learning L3 through L1, L2 or L1+L2? [closed]
I can study L3 with L1 or L2 material/textbooks/dictionaries, or combination of L1 and L2 materials (switching daily for instance).
Which will be most beneficial?
My main concern is retention of new ...
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How do you master adpositions, besides memorisation?
Summary of Question: Many popular books only suggest memorisation (useless for many) and do not explain adpositions and their uses. Beyond memorisation, how else can a language learner master the ...
user90