Use the language in order to learn it — listen and read as much as possible, you will learn the language when you use it, not when you learn about it
The best way for you to learn a language is by engaging with it meaningfully, achieving comprehension of real information. To do that you need a large amount of input that is both comprehensible and interesting to you.
That can mean reading texts, listening to podcasts, watching videos, writing stories, finding native speakers to practise with, or anything else that takes your fancy.
Languages are learned when you encounter grammar and vocabulary and are prompted to recall their meaning or produce it in context.
Repetition — you need to encounter something a lot before you learn it
Words and grammatical forms will be apprehended only once your brain is exposed to them enough times.
There are three main ways learners get repetition. First, content provides natural repetition as the most common words and forms are encountered frequently in context.
Second, drills such as flashcards that are designed to repeatedly prompt you until you remember. Finally, you can consciously repeat the same piece of content multiple times or review past lessons.
The best repetition follows the principle of spaced repetition, where reviews are done just before the learner forgets. Try to encounter new words or forms again soon after you first learn them.
Engage your memory — try to actively recall the meaning of words and forms before you look them up
One key to effective learning is by actively using your memory during the learning process.
This means, as much as possible, try to actively recall the meaning of words and forms you encounter.
Don’t just passively read or instantly turn to a dictionary or textbook for answers. Flashcards are built on this principle by forcing you to attempt to recall a word’s definition before you can see the answer.
Noticing — Noticing forms in your content is a powerful way to learn
One key to effective learning is by actively using your memory during the learning process. This means, as much as possible, try to actively recall the meaning of words and forms you encounter.
Don’t just passively read or instantly turn to a dictionary or textbook for answers. Flashcards are built on this principle by forcing you to attempt to recall a word’s definition before you can see the answer.
Don’t try to learn things perfectly the first time you encounter them — you need to see the language in context a lot before it will stick in your mind
Learning happens slowly over time, usually well after you are first introduced to a word or concept.
You don’t need a perfect understanding of one lesson before you learn the next. The very act of moving forward with a loose understanding will help teach you things already covered as you encounter them again.
