My 2025 year resolution is that I finally reach C2 on Norwegian (I'm at B2) and that I learn Russian, but I never seem to be able to sit down and study anything or engage in the language because I simply feel too lost when it comes to what I should actually be studying.

My method for learning languages is, in the very early stages, I gather up the most common words, mainly prepositions, conjunctions, the 20 most common verbs like "to be, to have, to eat, to sleep, to go, to use" and some other little "particles" that I notice are common in writing, but, from there on, I just consume media in that language to attempt enrich my vocabulary and don't really put up any work on the grammar side or any actual study at all, which often leads me to grow confused and demotivated.

Can someone please tell me how I can start studying for Russian? I feel like I am at a level in Norwegian where I can proceed through natural acquisition, since I have already studied the "norsken enkelt forklart" grammar book (probably mispronounced it) and I'm quite confident in that parameter, but I feel very lost with Russian.

Any kind of advice will be heavily appreciated, I really want to see progress this year and not slack off as always!

Hey All~

I use a lot of materials to study languages, but occasionally, I still love using the old-fashioned textbook approach; especially when starting to learn a new language!

That being said, I always have an issue marking it... Even if it's a textbook that I bought for myself, even if I printed and binded it myself using the PDF version, I just can't fully bring myself to write in it...

Is anyone else here having this issue? Would love to hear your opinions!

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i struggle a bit with finding internal motivation to learn languages.

on a surface level i want to learn japanese, korean, and chinese but whenever i start studying them i get the feeling that i am wasting my time, and wonder if it's worth the time investment.

part of the reason is that i also learned italian and spanish to a fairly proficient level but i don't feel it really changed me. it's cool to talk to people in their native language and i guess i get reactions but i barely use them in my daily life.

i also learned a bit of korean to a conversational level but stopped studying for this reason. though i feel like i want to get back into it i just have this feeling like that time is wasted, i'm so busy already with school and my job and friends and a relationship.

how do you guys find the motivation to not just learn but master languages? how is it worth it to you? i want to want to learn :/

what the title says, I want to immerse and play videogames at the same time, basically any game that requires little to no thinking but is still entertaining is good, i've started a minecraft world and so far so good, but if you know anything else (you can only have so much minecraft) i would very much appreciate it

I was forced to go to Chinese school as a kid and hated it—like, full-on pretending to be sick to avoid class. It felt boring, repetitive, and disconnected from anything I actually cared about. Was fortunate enough to spend some time abroad in china in my middle school years which made me fall in love and appreciate the language more. Now I actively keep up with the language and would consider myself bilingual (speaking writing listening reading at native proficiency in Chinese as well as English).

Talking to friends, it seems like a lot of them had that epiphany way later—college, chatting with grandparents, traveling abroad. So many wished they had stuck with it earlier.

For those who’ve struggled with this—curious whether you tried learning your heritage language later in life or tried (and maybe failed) to teach your kids—what was your experience like? What do you think makes the difference between kids who resent it vs. those who embrace it? Happy to answer any questions as well on actually grasping the language

I would love to learn Chinese as my second language but I have no idea where to start. I would love to pay for a Chinese teacher online and how can I find some platforms to try? I would appreactiate it if you can give me some advice!! Thanks!

What did you learn from learning a language or other skills did you pick up as a result of learning another language?

I am learning Mandarin Chinese and Español simultaneously.

For Mandarin: I consume content upto HSK 3-4 level on YouTube (like Vlogs and some listening practice videos)

For Español: I have recently started it and use Duolingo and Airlearn app.

Five years ago, when I still struggled to watch YouTube videos in another language, I came across an article (which I can’t find anymore) that explained how spaced repetition works. It suggested learning words in context—through sentences—focusing on the meaning of the sentence rather than just its translation. The idea was simple: collect 10 sentences with one or two unknown words, then read each three times while concentrating on its meaning. For spaced repetition, you’d follow a fixed schedule: review on days 1, 2, 4, 7, 15, and 30—then consider it learned. No ranking how well you remember it, just straight repetition.

I started collecting sentences, writing them down with the unknown word’s translation on the side (so I could cover it when reading). I also added six checkboxes, one for each review session.

At first, honestly, it felt awkward. It didn’t seem like it would actually work.

But after a week, something clicked. With about 30 sentences in rotation, I realized I could remember their meanings, the moment I first encountered them and their context. Then I notice that i repeat them in my head unconsciously like a song when I woke up or was busy during the day.

After a month, I stopped. Not because it wasn’t working, but because it became hard to find new sentences naturally. I had to rely on 'artificial' methods like searching Reverso Context, and, honestly, I had already hit my goal—I could watch YouTube content without struggling. I didn’t need the practice anymore, so I just enjoyed what I had gained.

Now, I want more out of the language:

I want to understand speech effortlessly, especially in movies.

I want to read books in their original form, but their vocabulary is way harder than YouTube content.

I want to bring this practice back. I’m 99% sure it will help again, and, if anything, I hope it’ll even improve my speaking—yes, without much actual speaking practice.

What do you think of this method? I’ve never tried the classic Anki-style spaced repetition, so I wonder how my experience would compare. What do you use in your practice, and how has it helped you?

Does anyone know some good resources for sentences to start (and join) a conversation (any language)?

Examples:

I agree with you, but...

I must insist on telling you that...

I hate to bring you bad news, but...

What you said is true, however I think...

As you are no doubt aware...

This may sound like a crazy idea, but...

I'm no expert on the topic, but...

I'm afraid I will have to disagree with you because..

I just very recently started learning Spanish and I usually have no problem reading a sentence in Spanish or translating what someone is saying in my head (unless the person is speaking way too fast, but that's another issue) as long as they are using words I have learned. Even if I know 80% of the words they are using I can usually guess what the other words mean based on context.

But when it comes to writing or speaking in Spanish I usually have trouble finding the words or remembering the exact grammar rules for exactly what I want to say, other than the typical sentences people memorize when first starting out such as "¿Cómo te llamas?" and "¿Cómo estás?"

Is this pretty normal when first starting out? Will I eventually get the hang of it with more practice?

I want a way to remain learning without taking Spanish classes

Hey all,

I am currently A1 in Spanish, taking a community college A1 course and doing duolingo every day (vocab exposure mostly). I live in San Diego and am exposed to casual spanish conversation and writing every day. Right now I can shakely order off of a menu and hope they don't have any follow up questions. I am better at understanding other people's conversations than I am engaging in one. Reading/writing at an A1 for sure, speaking almost non existent.

I'm moving to Spain in October and will spend the first year studying spanish at the University of Valencia. The program is listed as an A1-B2 year-long study program where you spend the first semester studying A1/A2 and second longer semester studying B1/B2 spanish. The program is 4 hours a day 5 days a week totaling 600 hours of in class instruction, plus access to out of class-time speaking opportunities and engagement. My partner is also fluent in Spanish and I will try my best to not get comfy in an expat english speaking community.

How realistic or difficult would it be for me to achieve B2 spanish speaking skills in that amount of time? Will just being in Spain and studying 5 days a week be enough to get there or will I have to do some more heavy lifting outside of school? Any other recommendations to really get me to B2?

Goal:

Be comfortable following complex instruction like at a bank or government institution.

Be comfortable in conversation at dinner amongst 2 or 3 spanish speaking friends.

Walking about my everyday life I don't have to "think" about speaking spanish to the shopkeeper, bank teller or passerby. I can pretty much exist comfortably in everyday life without getting flustered and expend so much energy trying to convert my thoughts to spanish.

Are these reasonable goals to reach in a 9 month program?

Good day to you all,

After entering college, I used to study both French and English. Now that I have finished it, I want to retake them or at least try to keep the level that I already had. And I'm thinking of starting to learn a new language if I have time enough.

At the moment, I write down every new word that I learn and then I make flashcards, I have to confess that I don't use them to much.

Apart from this, which other exercises do you do to not lose level in the languages you have studied in the past?

Thanks for all

I’ve been studying Spanish consistently for two weeks, I started a few years ago but stopped. I just went over flash cards I made the week I started and I forgot a lot of them. I googled if other people had this problem and saw people saying it’s normal. It just makes me feel like what’s the point of studying these words if I’m just gonna forget. I watch videos and movies in Spanish and I just started listening to Spanish podcasts. I also listen to Spanish R&B/Pop daily, it’s one thing I REALLY enjoy. Would these things help me recall words better?

I have to learn a language by obligation. (I have been trying to learn it for 6 months. The progress is not good, I am too anxious and I don't study a lot because I don't really like it.)
How to FORCE yourself learn a language fast if you don't actually like it?

I am a current B1 level in Spanish. I grew up taking Spanish in school and didn’t retain much like everyone else but in the past few years really took a liking to the language as I had a lot of new Hispanic friends, love the music, and culture. Through comprehensible input, a few online classes, music, podcasts, etc I have been able to reach a B1 level, definitely on the lower end of B1. I’ve tried the Anki method and just haven’t been able to stick to it. I can watch hours of Spanish YouTube using language reactor, listen to the same Spanish songs on repeat, and listen to podcasts and not get bored but I just don’t enjoy Anki and drilling flashcards. How much am I missing out by not doing this “traditional” method of studying? Can I just brute force myself to a closer to c1 native level through my current methods or will I have to eventually give in, create flashcards, and go to the traditional method of studying to really reach my goal of c1 fluency? What’s been your experience going from b1 to the levels beyond?

My boyfriend is a native Spanish speaker, and has limited English abilities (A2-B1). He is currently taking English classes in his country so that he can move to the USA with me later this year. My native language is Korean, but I have a very advanced level in English, having done all my higher education in the US. We have been trying to practice speaking in English, but our default language (including any difficult conversation) is Spanish because he doesn't feel comfortable with English and also because he thinks my Spanish accent is cute LOL. Considering that I'm that temperamental Korean girlfriend who went from 0 to B2 in 6 months by constantly arguing in Spanish, I suggested to him that we fight in English instead, but he doesn't want to...

Our primary goal currently is to get him to a level in English so that he can pursue a university degree in the US. However, I am also hoping to bring him to Korea in few years to meet my family, the majority of which speaks only Korean or very limited English, let alone Spanish (my dad didn't know hola is hello in Spanish).

How realistic do you guys think it would be to have him start studying Korean, for instance from next year, and get to a basic conversational level in a year while taking university classes in English? I was thinking that perhaps he can take a Korean class at the university. He is definitely interested in learning Korean, and I am happy to be his conversation partner. However, I'm not sure if that is something realistic since I'm sure taking university level classes in a non-native language will be challenging on its own.

Anyone here have experience concurrently studying two unrelated languages? Have you been successful? I know that Korean is difficult for English native speakers to learn, but I know less about Spanish -> Korean, so I would also love some personal accounts from native Spanish speakers who studied Korean to a conversational level. Thanks!

I am pretty new to this sub, but I have always been interested in language learning. I speak around six languages, but only two of these fluently. The rest is around A2-B1 level. I am 21 now, and I was wondering if anyone here have had any experience achieving fluency during adulthood. Can it be done, and if so, how?

Could you transfer your knowledge from one language you learnt on it e.g. Greek into another lesson e.g. Finnish vocab wise?

Hi everyone,

I have been living and working in the Netherlands for almost 4 years; I speak and write in Dutch and use it daily in my work and daily activities. I work as a consultant in water management for a governmental office.

Knowing Dutch is my third language, I struggle most of the time to think clearly when I am exposed to a Dutch conversation, even when I fully understand the topic, and even when I try to reply in English.

These days, I cannot come up easily with ideas in English or Dutch.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? Any advice?

I appreciate the help.

Cheers!!

How long, on average, does it take to reach fluency in each language group?

How many languages is suggested to study at once?

I'm a language learning nerd who also loves cogsci / neuroscience. I've been fascinated by language acquisition for many years now, and have researched deeply into the field from the literature like Krashen's original paper on Comprehensible Input, to more popular consumer end platforms like AJATT, Dreaming Spanish, Refold, Duolingo, etc.

I decided to try taking what I've learned and distilling it into one framework for adult language learning, which I try to argue is the most optimal method. I hope there's things in here that are useful, and I'm happy to be wrong so if you find any issues in it please comment them!

https://blog.evan.hu/p/optimal-adult-language-learning

i don’t really have any care for writing or reading a language but knowing a language phonetically seems useful, which languages are straightforward for this?

Hey everyone,

I’ve been learning English for a while now, and I feel pretty comfortable when it comes to writing. I can express my thoughts clearly in texts, emails, and even essays. But the moment I have to speak, everything falls apart. 😅

My mind goes blank, I struggle to find the right words, and sometimes, I feel too nervous to even start a conversation. It’s frustrating because I know the words—I just can’t get them out naturally when I speak.

For those of you who have improved your spoken English, how did you do it? Did you practice with native speakers, use any specific techniques, or follow a routine? I’d love to hear what worked for you!

Looking forward to your advice!

I'm doing a uni exchange semester and I found out there's a voice acting club that I'd love to try to join. But I'm confident they won't accept me at my current level since I'm only lower intermediate (been stuck in the intermediate plateau for so long). So far, I've been doing my best to practice my TL as much as possible such as talking to natives, reading comics out loud, watching youtube videos in TL, shadowing, revising newly learned vocab via Anki, etc. I feel like there isn't much else I can do at this point as intermediate learners now just need to absorb as much native material as possible, and there's no one "hack" to speed up progress, but do you guys have any recommendations to prepare for voice acting in your TL specifically? Honestly I don't have much hope my TL skills will be at a high enough level by the time the club starts accepting members but I'll still aim to do my best until then.

I've been reading and listening to a lot of content in my target language (English) for a relatively long time. And now that I have a good comprehension I feel like I should start to exercise on speaking (I didn't started immediately because I thought it would be better to take some time to "study" the language by a passive point of view before going to the active spoken part).

So, my question is: Where should I start?

What kind of path should I follow?