Started By
Message

re: What is the best way to learn a foreign language as an adult?

Posted on 6/13/24 at 1:56 pm to
Posted by deeprig9
Unincorporated Ozora
Member since Sep 2012
72872 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 1:56 pm to
Also by watching American movies you've already seen, and watching the overdubbed version in Spanish. Or watch a foreign one first with the subtitles, then watch it again without subtitles.
Posted by TygerLyfe
Member since May 2023
2791 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 2:10 pm to
Duolingo
Posted by Carolhdg
St George, LA
Member since Nov 2022
292 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 2:20 pm to
If you’re trying to improve a language you’ve already studied or relearn one you knew as a child, Duolingo is great. I’m currently recovering the Spanish and French I learned as a child. I recommend the paid version (Super Duolingo), as there are more learning options, about $60 a year. I tried Rosetta Stone a few years ago, but it didn’t help me at all.
As many have said, immersion is the best method, which is how I learned Spanish when I lived in Chile as a child. If you can’t do that, I recommend finding 1-3 native speakers to talk to periodically to help you speak because Duolingo and other courses will only teach you to read the language, not speak it with other people. When I was helping out with ESL classes at my church, it was amazing the number of people who had studied English in their countries who could read fluently but struggled to speak.
Posted by Obtuse1
Westside Bodymore Yo
Member since Sep 2016
30005 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 2:22 pm to
quote:

I had 13 Messicans reroof my house three years ago. I didn't learned how to speak any Spanish during that time


Well no shite. With 13 Mexicans on a roof it was finished about an hour after the siesta. You would be hard-pressed to pick up por favor.
Posted by KillTheGophers
Member since Jan 2016
6743 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 2:24 pm to
I studied Spanish in the US for 3 years - two of those years in the honors program.

Went to Mexico for two weeks - learned more Spanish and become more fluent in 2 weeks than I did in 3 years of study.

My wife says the 2 weeks simply sharpens the skills I had learned in those 3 years.
Posted by idlewatcher
Planet Arium
Member since Jan 2012
92167 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 2:24 pm to
Find yourself a spicy Latina to show you the ropes.

Then you show her some ropes.
Posted by Old Money
LSU
Member since Sep 2012
41160 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 2:27 pm to
Well the first thing is you really need an interest in the language/culture. Without any real interest you’ll just quit.

Just learning the thousand most used words & basic grammar rules (something like duolingo) is a very good start and it’s what I used. You can get pretty far on that alone. Think about your vocabulary throughout the day. If it’s not specifically work related, it’s probably pretty basic.

The most important thing that has helped me over many years is to start consuming media in that language. YouTube, movies, shows, state media channels, news. Just doing lessons sucks, it’s very boring so supplement with something fun. You can also find and join a Discord server for learners which will allow you to read more casual conversations in that language, let you type out the language, and join voice calls and speak to others that know, or are learning, the language. Thats the closest you can get to full immersion without living in a different country.
Posted by TygerLyfe
Member since May 2023
2791 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 2:29 pm to
quote:

If you’re trying to improve a language you’ve already studied or relearn one you knew as a child, Duolingo is great. I’m currently recovering the Spanish and French I learned as a child. I recommend the paid version (Super Duolingo), as there are more learning options, about $60 a year.


Great advice. I had known German and Russian from years ago, but they had been dormant a looooooong time. Ive used SuperDuoLingo now for 2 years and I really like it. A few lessons a day and you will improve a lot.
Posted by Ostrich
Alexandria, VA
Member since Nov 2011
10122 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 2:31 pm to
Watch Narcos like 20 times
Posted by Old Money
LSU
Member since Sep 2012
41160 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 2:41 pm to
My only issue with Duolingo is they used to have this amazing feature which was for each problem, on submission you would have a little icon which was a chat box. That box would open a specific forum thread for that exact problem where users would discuss the problem and you could ask questions and have a real understanding as to why you were confused (sometimes duo just writes things incorrectly), or get some clarifying context where other users could reference a great resource for you to use. Duolingo removing that feature genuinely takes away from the power of that app by a lot. Usually someone already asked a question that was on your mind. They also changed the courses and consolidated many parts which also has been a negative. Overall though its still a great resource. It just sucks to lose good features.
Posted by bbap
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Feb 2006
96852 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 2:53 pm to
Yes duolingo removing the community feature was a huge mistake.
Posted by Worldly Bum
Member since Jun 2024
223 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 2:55 pm to
quote:

Immersion in the language. Moving to somewhere where everyone speaks it. Trying to think in that language rather than the constant translation from it to English in your head.


Pretty difficult these days. There's virtually nowhere on the planet where you can't get away with speaking English. You'd have to move to some rural area of Cambodia or South Sudan or something.
Posted by SabiDojo
Open to any suggestions.
Member since Nov 2010
84347 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 2:57 pm to
Learning conjugation rules is important but NOTHING is more important than vocabulary. The more words you know, the better you can understand when someone is speaking to you.

Try a flash card app
This post was edited on 6/13/24 at 3:00 pm
Posted by MaxxPain2
Member since Oct 2021
1214 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 2:58 pm to
i have always had a thing for the latina ladies
Posted by Dragula
Laguna Seca
Member since Jun 2020
6410 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 2:59 pm to
Best?

Moving to the country in question, you'll learn pretty quick...
Posted by tigerfoot
Alexandria
Member since Sep 2006
60594 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 3:05 pm to
quote:

had 13 Messicans reroof my house three years ago. I didn't learned how to speak any Spanish during that time but I did learn how to sign language very well with them. I also kind of got into their music by the time they finished.
13 of em? They were done in a day and a half.

My son was told to take this AP Spanish this summer on line as it was easier. We have been in. The road a bunch, so he is doing it in the truck as we travel, so I hear it all. The course is pretty effective, he has learned a bunch in a couple weeks. So I would think to just buy the most highly rated computer course and complete it
Posted by Midget Death Squad
Meme Magic
Member since Oct 2008
28032 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 3:39 pm to
Watch foreign films with the subtitles on
Posted by Napoleon
Kenna
Member since Dec 2007
73130 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 4:14 pm to
And?. American English is viewed the same way.
Mexico is the largest spanish speaking country.
Ironically India has the most English speakers.
Posted by Limitlesstigers
Lafayette
Member since Nov 2019
3803 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 4:16 pm to
(no message)
This post was edited on 5/4/25 at 9:46 pm
Posted by Rising
Member since Apr 2024
454 posts
Posted on 6/13/24 at 4:21 pm to
Identify as that nationality and it will come naturally
first pageprev pagePage 2 of 4Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram