Language learning

None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.

How this was put together

If you only read a few

Learn a language by playing video games in that language.
One person reported learning German this way in about half a year.
- Based on one person's experience with German.
one person who lived it
Listen to music in the target language to help piece together words and discover new genres.
It helps immerse yourself and pick up interesting new swear words.
- This does not work well with languages having multiple dialects because you may not know which one is being spoken.
3 people, independently
- Listen frequently to music in the target language to get used to hearing its sounds, even if you do not yet understand the lyrics.1
Accept that language learning progress is non-linear and often invisible day-to-day; look back month-to-month to see accumulation.
Day-to-day effort can feel like nothing, but it adds up over time.
one person who lived it
Read books or articles in the target language instead of your native one to help maintain fluency.
It helps with staying fluent.
one person who lived it
Start learning English and Spanish if you are unsure which languages to focus on.
Fluency in these two languages allows you to operate comfortably in over 100 countries.
one person who lived it

target, learning, vocabulary, words37

Create flashcards for new vocabulary to accelerate the learning process.

Save weekly voice memos or writing samples in your target language to review later and see tangible progress.
Progress is often hidden until you look back at older recordings or texts.
one person who lived it
Play role-playing games with dense lore to practice inferring meaning from context.
Reading through complex dialogue to figure out next steps is a valuable skill.
one person who lived it
Set your smartphone, news sources, books, podcasts, and movies to your target language to immerse yourself in daily use.
Regular use leads to better speaking ability.
one person who lived it
- Practice your target language every day to build a habitual routine.2
- Incorporate news articles or short clips into daily life to improve recognition.1
Watch shows and movies with subtitles in the language you are learning.
Dubbing is not always available.
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Invest in a beginner's book and dedicate 10 minutes a day to studying.
Repetition is key.
one person who lived it
Acknowledge that internet-based learning via smartphone is insufficient for full fluency because it lacks speaking and writing practice.
You need to hear, speak, and write the language.
one person who lived it
Watch films or TV shows in the target language to gain context alongside vocabulary.
Visuals help you link what you hear to specific meanings, providing real-world context for new words.
3 people, independently
Set subtitles on games or movies to the target language to pick up vocabulary outside of school.
It is an easy way to learn vocabulary not covered in school.
- You need a good grasp of grammatical base for this to help much.
- Watching subtitled movies alone may not result in speaking ability.
one person who lived it
Practice speaking, reading, and comprehending instead of just studying grammar rules and vocabulary lists.
High school classes teach lists and rules but not how to speak.
one person who lived it
Watch telenovelas with Spanish subtitles to maintain Spanish proficiency.
This is the number one way to maintain Spanish in the United States.
one person who lived it
Watch TV or movies with both audio and subtitles in the target language.
It really helps to improve speaking and listening skills.
one person who lived it
Acquire a second language to improve memory, attention span, and problem-solving skills.
Research shows it exercises the brain, challenges concentration, and boosts problem-solving skills.
one person who lived it
Learn the words for 'settings' and 'language' in major languages so you can revert device interfaces to English if accidentally switched.
This allows you to change the language back without needing external help.
- This method does not work for non-phonetic alphabets like Chinese unless you memorize the specific characters.
- Using Google Translate is an alternative to save brain space.
one person who lived it
Recognize that changing language settings is less effective for languages with different writing systems if you cannot read the alphabet.
It is harder to read if you do not understand the alphabets, such as Japanese or Chinese.
one person who lived it
Translate short poems in the target language to learn sentence structure without committing to a full story.
Poetry consists of well-crafted sentences that teach a lot about structure.
one person who lived it
If you have a theoretical grasp of grammar, study language structure in parallel with immersion to speed up progress.
A foundational understanding helps you get started more quickly once immersed.
one person who lived it
Type out translated words manually instead of copy-pasting them to add to memory retention.
Manual typing helps with learning a lot.
one person who lived it
- Read books in the target language and look up unknown words manually instead of using translators.1
Watch the same show repeatedly in this sequence: first with English subtitles, then with target language subtitles, then with no subtitles, and finally again without subtitles.
Knowing the content well allows the language to seep in, mimicking how children acquire language.
one person who lived it
Learn grammar rules as a shortcut to understanding patterns rather than inferring them solely from examples.
It avoids the need to gather many examples to infer rules.
one person who lived it
Listen to fun, morning-show style radio programs in the target language rather than news or political broadcasts.
This provides exposure to everyday, colloquial speech.
one person who lived it
Label household items like food, furniture, and utensils with their names in the target language.
Seeing the words constantly and associating them with items helps you learn quicker.
one person who lived it
Read short texts like emergency cards in the target language and check context against your native language to infer meanings.
one person who lived it
- Listen to songs in the target language and translate the lyrics to understand meaning and grammar.3
- Create flashcards for new vocabulary to accelerate the learning process.4
Listen to music in the target language once moderately proficient to learn colloquial phrases and speak authentically.
It links phrases to emotions and contexts, helping you avoid sounding like a tourist.
one person who lived it
Play The Sims in the target language to learn common actions, locations, objects, and emotions through interactive gameplay.
The game lists actions and items in the desired language, providing useful context beyond basic vocabulary like 'apple'.
2 people, independently
Watch children's television and read children's books in the target language to absorb simplified vocabulary and pronunciation.
Content aimed at children is naturally simplified and easier to absorb, serving as a launching point for learning.
2 people, independently
Switch familiar media, such as Disney movies, to the target language once you are hooked on the plot.
one person who lived it
Use Duolingo as a supplementary study tool for your academic language class.
One person reported it was the greatest thing they did to assist themselves academically.
one person who lived it
Translate study material from one language to another to ensure you have fully understood it.
Accurate translation requires full comprehension of the source material.
one person who lived it
Play video games in your target language using a paper dictionary instead of digital tools to force active recall of characters and words.
It forces you to 'hammer down' character recognition (like hiragana/katakana) without relying on digital shortcuts.
- You must already know basic scripts (e.g., hiragana/katakana) to use this method effectively.
one person who lived it
Read children's books or books you have already read in another language to leverage known plots and simple vocabulary.
Children's books use pictures to help make connections; familiar plots make it easier to work out unknown words.
one person who lived it
Rely on necessity rather than choice for immersion; seek environments where you must use the target language to survive or function.
one person who lived it
Avoid changing device languages if unfamiliar technical terms hinder usability.
Operating an unfamiliar interface in a foreign language creates trouble.
one person who lived it

Focus on developing your own personality and finding enjoyable hobbies rather than chasing girls, so you can attract a partner with similar interests.
Working on yourself helps you find a partner who shares your interests.
one person who lived it
Learn key words and sentences to flatter the person by showing interest in their language and culture, which may entice them to teach you.
The person will be flattered by your interest in their language and culture.
one person who lived it