Language Learning Tools
Spanish was what I first studied as a foreign language. I was not a good student. I annoyed the teachers and didn’t do very well with the academic method.
Whatever my problems were in high school I now see knowledge of foreign languages (namely French and Spanish) as essential for my livelihood and well-being.
The Impetus
My first exposure to my own limitations with Spanish and the academic method was in Mexico. Yes, I knew some grammar and plenty of vocabulary, but I couldn’t string much together.
So, boot camp for me. I sought out the tools and the strategies that would help me improve. And here’s the kicker – I actually studied! Surprise surprise, it worked.
That’s the difference between those who manage to learn a foreign language and those who don’t; how serious they are about the task. Some parts are boring, I won’t lie. But with a bit of work, you can overcome and realize the benefits.
Perspective
My first adjustment and the most important was in perspective. For that, I can credit Benny Lewis who wrote “Fluent in 3 Months.” In it, he claims that anyone can learn another language, no matter their age. His beginnings were similar to mine – he was a poor academic learner until he finally found focus. Maybe that’s why his book resonated and inspired me.
Fluent in 3 Months – This is Benny Lewis’s website, where he shares inspiring stories, lessons, tools, and tricks. It’s worth a look, especially if you need encouragement or don’t know where to start.
Duolingo – Duolingo is a website where you can study many major languages from beginner level to intermediate.
Duolingo has its limitations I won’t deny it. Nevertheless, I’ve spent untold hours on this site doing lessons and practicing. Their gamified experience is intuitive and easy. And for the relative newcomer, it is great!
I’ve never found another site with the same quality, let alone such a competitive price.
Anki – Anki is a flash-card app. What I always hated about flashcards was the amount of time it takes the create them; Anki solves that problem.
It takes a minute of prep: downloading the app, finding vocabulary decks, setting up the synchronization, etc. But it is well worth it when you can study anywhere you have free time.
Traditional Classes – You may have a tight budget, this might not be for you. But still, signing up for a traditional class is an incredibly good idea. Besides, what better way to spur yourself on than to make a monetary commitment to your goal?
There’s not much mystery when it comes to language – it’s a known quantity. So there are methods that work and a teacher will already know the best tools to set you up with. The key to benefiting most from your class is not falling into the false idea that just taking a class will be sufficient.
You have to do the real work yourself. No teacher can help you with that. And even the homework will only bring you so far.
One of Benny Lewis’s insights is that it’s not the number of years you study a language that’s important – it’s the number of active study hours; assuming they’re not spaced too far apart from one another.
italki – italki is a website that can connect you with teachers anywhere in the world. Depending on the exchange rate you can get very good deals per hour of lesson.
I’m sure many other sites can do the same but italki is one I can personally vouch for. I have enjoyed my experience there and like the intuitive design.
Youtube – Youtube is untouchable when it comes to sheer quantity of content. I don’t have to tell you what it is. But maybe the idea of using it as a language learning tool never occurred to you?
If you want inspiration or confirmation that youtube really can help you with your language learning project – go no further than the Language Lords channel. The dedication of this Youtuber is truly badass, and his methods are very well thought out.
So those are the main tools I’ve used for studying languages aside from books and television series I’ve found online.
Are you aware of any other gems I’ve left out? If so, please leave a comment below.