Language Learning 101 Top Strategies and Tools

Language Learning 101 Top Strategies and Tools Language Learning 101: Top Strategies and Tools Kató Lomb is my favorite polyglot.She was, to put it mildly, a total badass.She became one of the first simultaneous interpreters  and learned 16 languages.The primary part of her learning method involved reading books.Let me say that again: She taught herself languages to the point where she was able to do the most mind-bogglingly difficult kind of interpretation, by reading.But how? Like, what exactly did she do?Id love to know, because Id like to do it, too.Lombs book  How I Learn Languages  goes into some detail about her methods, but not as much as you might expect considering the sheer level of awesomeness she achieved.Polyglots today, too, willing as they may be to share their language learning philosophies and opinions, can often be difficult to emulate.It can even seem like many people who have learned languages have basically no idea how they did it.Thats not to say you shouldnt try to gain useful tips from language learning superstars. And yes, there are strategies that h ave actually been shown to be effective for language learning.But more importantly, there are multiple strategies that seem to be effective for language learning.As a learner, you owe it to yourself not to be limited by any one persons idea of what works.Today, were going to take a long, relaxed look at some tools, strategies and resources that seem to be helpful for learners. Well also see what research and science have to say about them.Consider this post a sort of dashboard you can use to maximize the comfort, efficiency and fun of your personal language learning.Ready to get started? Language Learning 101: Top Strategies and ToolsThe Best Way to Learn a Language: What Language Learning Strategies Really Work?Below are some language learning methods that show promise.Its important to remember that no study about something as subjective as language learning will be 100% definitive.Its also worth mentioning that one approach probably wont do everything for you. In fact, theres ev idence that using more strategies can mean more successful language learning.And one more thing before we begin: We talk about learning styles in the language learning community a lot, with the best of intentions. But you should know that, scientifically speaking, the idea of learning styles is bogus.Sure, you may prefer certain ways of learning to other ways of learning, and if they help you feel inspired to study, great! But again, theres no reason to limit yourself based on a preconceived idea of how you learn best. This is an open bar, so help yourself.Spaced RepetitionYou may have seen some language learning programs advertising that they use some form of SRS, meaning a spaced repetition system or spaced repetition software.  Simply put, the idea behind spaced repetition is that when youre studying to memorize something, reviewing the material at spaced intervals is more effective than mashing it into a single session.Spaced repetition isnt just about algorithms in apps, its a broader concept thats been shown to be generally effective. What this means in plain English is that regular review is important and helpful.Many hardcore learners swear by the flashcard system Anki, which has become a staple of input-based learning. Some use it as their regular method of study and to learn a lot of vocabulary very fast.Heres something to keep in mind, though: Its not necessarily important to make SRS-based learning your main study approach. For many people, thats not even realistic, especially if youre making your own flashcards. Continually creating your own learning system is a lot of work.Thankfully, you dont have to be an input hound to take advantage of SRS. In fact,  using SRS for review for just a few minutes a day can improve your retention by leaps and bounds. One study involving EFL students showed that students who spent as little as three minutes a day on computer-generated spaced repetition exercises  retained nearly three times as much vocab as other students.Later on in this post, well look at some specific SRS-based tools you can use for your learning.Comprehensible InputComprehensible input is a term used by linguist Stephen Krashen to describe a concept that means pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Its the idea that learners need to be able to understand the material theyre reading or listening to in order for natural learning to take place.This doesnt mean that you cant be taking in material thats a bit over your head. In fact, thats part of the idea: By deducing the parts you dont know from what you do know, you learn the language.Comprehensible input  seems to be  effective for vocabulary retention. Theres additional evidence that input-based study can have many positive effects on language acquisition.So thats all well and good, right? But it may not immediately be obvious how you can apply this to your own studies. How can you ensure your study material meets comprehensible input standards?Here are a few ideas:Use graded readers. These make it easier for you to select and read more material at your level, which gets you more appropriate input, faster.Learn core vocabulary first.  This doesnt directly provide you with level-appropriate material, of course. But learning the most common words in a language first will give you a greater variety of texts and listening material to choose from. Which will, in turn, give you more input.Listen to and read your input extensively. In order for comprehensible input to be effective, it doesnt just need to be comprehensible. You also need to actually take in a substantial amount of it.For some insight on what exactly extensive reading and listening is, read on.Intensive and Extensive Reading and ListeningYou can read for enjoyment over a longer period of time (extensive), or read in shorter bursts in order to more closely analyze and interact with the material (intensive). You can do the same for listening.Both of these types of input are important and ca n help your learning in different ways.Theres evidence that extensive reading can not only aid in vocabulary retention but also increase motivation. Extensive reading may be more effective overall because it provides exposure to more material. However, intensive reading may be more important at the lower levels of learning  (the article in this link downloads automatically).As with extensive reading, there are indications that extensive listening may not only increase proficiency, but also motivation. Intensive listening may have its own distinct benefits. In one study, students who did a series of dictation exercises even discovered that  their speaking capabilities were positively affected by the listening exercises.Weve already discussed some ways to implement extensive reading above, including using graded readers. If you find readers that include reading comprehension questions or exercises for short texts, you can use these for intensive reading as well. Otherwise, try searchi ng [your target language] reading comprehension practice to find online reading exercises.For intensive and extensive listening, you may want to try keeping a listening journal. An article by Anthony Schmidt  details suggestions for engaging in and tracking intensive and extensive listening using a journal. These involve using sites like FluentU (more on this below) and TED Talks. The article is written from the perspective of an ESL teacher, but the activities can easily be adapted by independent learners for their own studies.ShadowingShadowing revolves around a pretty basic concept: You read along with an audio resource, matching its pace, intonation and pronunciation as closely as you can.It was introduced under the name shadowing by polyglot Alexander Arguelles. In its original, now rather quaint incarnation, shadowing is weirdly specific. Youre supposed to go outside with a text, corresponding recording and headphones. Then, you stand up straight while walking around, blasting yourself with the language and speaking along with it as simultaneously as possible in a loud voice.Arguelles is another one of my favorite polyglots and I love that this technique is a thing. However, Ive tried shadowing the old-school way and Im not entirely convinced that the fresh air and exercise part of it is in any way crucial.Look, it makes logical sense to me that attempting to speak along with a recording could be really effective for pronunciation. It also makes sense that occupying yourself with walking and reading while also speaking might help override your normal inhibitions and allow a deeper level of learning.But sort of like with making large amounts of SRS-optimized vocabulary input ones primary learning method, I dont think its a realistic option for the average person. I get stressed out having to go to the grocery store some days; Im not going to be out in a park seven days a week yelling in Korean and opening myself up to any number of awkward interactions.Ho wever, multiple studies have shown the basic technique of shadowing to be an effective learning method. And its simple enough to do the reading and listening part on your own, indoors or wherever you want. Its also simple to alternate shadowing with any listen and repeat prompts you encounter in language learning materials.Speaking of types of learning materialsLearning with Authentic MaterialsThere are certain advantages to using materials specifically designed for language learners. As weve explored above, learner-based content can better aid comprehensible input by better pinpointing a certain level.But there are marked advantages to using authentic materials, or materials intended for native speakers, too.From the study mentioned in the extensive reading section above, we already know that extensive reading itself may increase motivation. However, a separate study on extensive reading with online content showed that  authentic texts, specifically, may be motivating for students. Also,  the value of learning with authentic materials is somewhat self-evident. After all, interacting with authentic material is the goal, the dream. Its the ideal outcome, something that any learner will need to do eventually.The trick is balancing the need for authenticity with level-appropriate material for comprehensive input. To an extent, this is a balance you can achieve as a learner. There are some sites or programs that sort out authentic material for you. You can also use certain tricks to find level-appropriate content.Once you get to an intermediate or advanced level, the exact level of authentic material tends to be less of a concern. When youre still a beginner, however, you may find appropriate authentic material on:Shopping sites.Travel or real-estate sites.Childrens educational sites.Wikipedia.Some Wikipedia articles contain more complex sentences, sure. But they also tend to contain more cognates than your average reading material, making them easier to decipher. Additionally, they follow a certain basic format of headings and subheadings that can help you make more accurate guesses at what youre reading about.Learning with FeedbackThe importance of feedback, especially early in your learning process, is also somewhat self-evident. If you dont have any opportunity or capability to correct your mistakes, its tough to improve your language skills. The question surrounding feedback is more a question of when and how much.Feedback in the language classroom is a complicated and delicate subject. There are ongoing discussions about exactly how corrective feedback should be applied. As a learner, you dont necessarily have control over how any tutor or teacher you work with might choose to incorporate feedback. (Though you should certainly feel okay about taking some control over your own lessons.)When you learn independently, however, you dont have the potentially extremely valuable personalized feedback that a teacher can give you.But theres also something to be said for taking responsibility for your own learning.  One study  showed that students who worked out the correct answers to their own errors with other students and a teacher improved their language skills more than those who were only given corrections and a possible follow-up to ask a teacher questions.Whether or not youre primarily learning with a teacher, it may be beneficial to go over your wrong answers from tests, quizzes or apps with others. You could do this with friends, or you can get in touch with native speakers  through HiNative or another language exchange app.If youre learning on your own and have questions that require more detailed explanations, you may want to get an online tutor, even if only temporarily.Now that weve looked at some strategies you can apply to your language learning, lets look at some resources that align with them.Are Language Learning Apps and Online Programs Actually Beneficial?The short answer is yes. Heres the long answer:In 2018, The Atlantic published a piece by David H. Freedman titled How to Almost Learn Italian,  which details the authors experience using the popular language app Duolingo.In the article, Freedman talks about how he was sucked in by Duolingos addictive features but found, a week before leaving for Rome, that he didnt have the Italian language skills necessary for basic interactions. He quickly grabbed some other resources, including a phrasebook, and found he was able to cram practical language pretty effectively.In other words, it seems Duolingo hadnt given him the exact vocab he needed, but it had given him an understanding of the language that made vocab memorization easier and faster. He later got in touch with the CEO of Duolingo, Luis von Ahn, who verified that the way the app had worked for Freedman was the way it was supposed to work.This story illustrates a couple of important aspects of language apps. One is that theyre still new enough that we often dont really know what to expect from them.Another is that its only logical to assume that an app that drills you with complete sentences and gets you to study every day would be effective up to a point. It doesnt make sense to expect a language app to do everything for you, no more so than expecting a textbook to do everything for you.That doesnt mean, though, that we cant expect greater and greater developments from language apps in the future. It also doesnt mean that they arent already a wonderful tool to use now. In general, studies have linked positive results to popular language apps (well look at some in a moment).They may offer some unique positive benefits as well. For example,  researcher Fernando Rosell-Aguilar suggests  that learners may find apps useful for making errors privately and quelling performance anxiety.Here are some apps (also available to use online) you may find useful for your own learning.FluentUFluentU is unique in that it already brings together many of the strategies discu ssed above, and gives you material to practice all of them.FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like movie trailers, music videos, news, commercials, vlogs, speeches, comedy skits and moreâ€"and turns them into personalized language lessons.The program sorts these authentic videos into six levels and gives you interactive captions, customized quizzes and multimedia flashcards that can be used in a variety of ways.All of this means that you getThe opportunity to use authentic materials early on, and comprehensible input via authentic materials.Level-appropriate materials and features for both intensive and extensive reading and listening.Corrective feedback through quizzes, along with explanatory grammar notes.SRS that helps you know when its time to review words, but that you dont have to adjust yourself or think about too much.Audio that can be used for shadowing.FluentU is a great way to consolidate your learning and to hit a lot of important points in your studies. Plus, it keeps tr ack of all the vocabulary you learn, so you get a 100% personalized experience.DuolingoA study done with learners of Spanish  suggested that for beginner learners, an estimated average of 34 hours with Duolingo was roughly equivalent to a semester of college. It was found to be more effective for beginners than advanced students. It was also more effective for those who were motivated by the prospect of using the language for travel.This all seems consistent with the story linked above, and probably with what most of us already know about Duolingo: Its fun, its popular, its geared towards earlier learners and you have virtually nothing to lose by using it.Getting started is easy, and the format is simple. You work your way through a variety of quiz-like exercises that serve as lessons, and there are grammar explanations available if you need them.With Duolingo, you get corrective feedback that you can explore further on your own. Input should be fairly comprehensible since its doled out by level.Duolingo tests both your reading and listening skills, though the robotic audio can sometimes give you pronunciations that sound a bit off. It also spaces out your learning by letting you know when its time to review material youve learned.Youll eventually need more, but Duolingo has likely gotten a lot of people learning a language who wouldnt be doing it otherwise. For more on what you can expect from Duolingo, check out this New York Times article on the subject.BabbelQueens College conducted the study on Duolingo above and did a similar one on Babbel, which showed that Babbel may be even more effective than Duolingo. It was found that beginner users only needed 15 hours with Babbel to cover the equivalent of a college semester of Spanish.Ive tried Babbel myself and I havent found it as engaging as the two apps above. However, thats not the same as saying that its not effectiveâ€"in fact, I understand why it would be. Babbel is a bit more sophisticated than Duolingo and some similar apps. It focuses on practical language and situations. It allows you to interact with the language through a variety of exercises, some of which include voice recognition.With Babbel, you get intensive work with the language. You get native speaker audio thats comprehensible for your level. As with most apps, you get  corrective feedback.What you get with Babbel is probably more like what you get with classroom learning than any of the other apps on this list. If youre more of an independent learner like me, you may find that stifling, but if you want a lot of guidance, you may find its perfect for you.busuubusuus lessons are topic- and communication-based. The program covers level-appropriate material and prompts for  reading, writing, listening and speaking. With busuu, you can easily track your progress and test your level at any time. I think this is all fantastic.Personally, however, I find busuu a bit too involved for my tastes. There are different stages of each lesson you have to passâ€"there are activities and rewards and opportunities to connect with native speakers, too.For me, that feels like a bit much for one app. I enjoy gameification, but I like to have more control over my learning than busuu offers. That doesnt mean that it doesnt have advantages for those who want it all, though.Im bringing up my personal feelings about busuu and Babbel to show that, regardless of whats supposed to be efficient or effective, individual preferences can make or break whether youll actually get any studying done.On the other hand, you can miss out on a lot if you just listen to what other people say about a given product. If I wanted, I could gripe about how these apps are actually bad for language learners just because I dont prefer them myself, when solid research suggests exactly the opposite  is true.busuu has also gotten high marks in the efficacy department, falling between Babbel and Duolingo in terms of how good it is at replacing coll ege coursework (which, it should be stressed, isnt everything). Like Babbel, Im including it here because research indicates that it gets results and that a lot of people like using it. You could very well be one of them.50LANGUAGESI dont have a study to cite for this app. Im including it here because, like FluentU, it offers content that aligns well with some of the strategies discussed in this post.Its pretty basic, but its free and includes great material for beginners. Lessons are vocabulary-based, with complete sentences for context and audio recordings of each word or phrase that can be played separately or together.This makes it compatible with shadowing, comprehensible input for earlier learners and material for intensive reading and listening.It also offers corrective feedback in the form of flashcards and quizzes.Online Language Learning Course Resources: Your Structure and SupportOnline language courses come with their challenges and may not give you as thorough of an exp erience as an in-person class. However, they may still be a good option for learners who arent currently in a college class, due to the low cost and accessibility.The main catch to taking online courses may be that it takes self-discipline to actually finish them.  Harvard Business Review reports that only 4% of people who watch a Coursera lecture (see below) actually go on to do the whole course. However, many people who do complete courses report they experience practical benefits as a result.Heres where you can get your language learning course fix online.CourseraCoursera is a big name in online learning and currently has courses for Spanish, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, English, French and Russian.Its always worth checking the latest offerings. Courses are taught by professors from actual universities but can enroll thousands of people. You can generally join and complete open courses at any time for free, with certificates available for a fee.AlisonAlison is more of an all-you-can -eat buffet when it comes to language courses. You can pick and choose between specific subjects in a language, like tourism, dining out, writing skills, conversation skills, etc.They currently offer courses for English, Spanish, German, Irish, French, Chinese, Arabic, Swedish and Japanese. Like Coursera, Alison provides free materials to learners, but charges a fee for certificates.Open CultureHeres a list of free course resources that may be especially helpful if youre learning a lesser-taught language.Open Culture includes materials here for learning Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Luxembourgish, Maori, Urdu, Tagalog, Romanian and many more.Language Learning Podcasts: An Underestimated Study SupplementPodcasts can be fun, informative and, best of all, anyone can have one, right? As it turns out, the podcast format may be just as useful for language learning as for dispensing any type of information.  Multiple studies have shown podcasts to be a great all-around learning tool.Na tive-language podcasts are perfect for extensive listening practice, and some podcasts intended for language learners are great for intensive listening practice, particularly for beginners. Lets start with those.Innovative LanguageInnovative Language delivers some lessons that are available on their YouTube channels for free; others become accessible when you subscribe. Either way, you can carry engaging, level-appropriate audio featuring native speakers on your phone with you throughout the day. Lessons are currently available in 34 languages.Coffee Break LanguagesCoffee Break Languages gives you podcast-style lessons that teach French, Italian, Chinese, German and Spanish. You can access lessons for free on their website but have the option of signing up for additional content. Lessons include discussions of cultural subjects, grammar points and more.News in SlowThis collection of slowly-spoken news podcasts is fantastic for learners of Spanish, French, Italian and German.Simplifi ed audio based on cultural material is such a good language learning tool, especially around the intermediate levelâ€"though News In Slow is available for beginning, intermediate and advanced learners. Its essentially learner-friendly material with an authentic flavor.More Language Learning PodcastsLooking for more podcasts for a specific language? Here are a few lists to get you started:The 9 Most Riveting Korean Podcast Resources for Language Learners9 Elite Russian Podcasts for Winning Learners10 Awesome French Podcasts for French Learners9 Awesome German Podcasts to Accelerate Your Language Learning8 Japanese Podcasts for Accelerating Your Learning7 Italian Podcasts for Mastering the LanguageNative Language Podcasts and Radio: Necessary Language Listening PracticeSo now about that extensive, authentic listening. We already discussed why extensive listening is important. However, you may also be interested to know that even passively listening to speech while doing other activiti es  can be beneficial to your learning.Here are a couple of sources to provide you with a continuous stream of your target language.TuneInTuneIn gives you access to stations and podcasts from all over the world. Browse by language or location to find what youre looking for.RFI LanguagesDont want to spend time searching? RFI (Radio France Internationale) broadcasts world news in 16 languages.More Authentic Language PodcastsWant more? Below are some lists of radio stations and podcasts for specific languages:Authentic Brazilian Portuguese Listening in 11 Podcasts6 Native Chinese Podcasts for an Authentic Learning ExperienceThe 5 Best Spanish Talk Radio Stations to Give You Spanish Ears5 Great French Talk Radio Shows for Your Learning and Listening PleasureImprove Your German Listening with 9 Made in Germany PodcastsThe Best 3 Japanese Radio Stations and Their Top Talk Radio ProgramsTune In to the 6 Best Italian Radio Stations for Learning the LanguageLive and Breathe Russian? Check Ou t These 10 Radio Stations for Language LearningLearning Korean with Radio: 7 Essential Tips for Streaming SuccessYoull Need Lots of Foreign Language Reading Material, Too!And all the better if its free. Here are some accessible resources for your intensive and extensive reading needs.Project GutenbergYou wont find the freshest reads here, but you do get public domain texts in over 60 languages.The Foreign Language Library OnlineThis is a simple, non-intimidating resource you can use to read short articles in your target language, provided your target language is English, French, Spanish, German or Russian.You can search by language or topic category. Categories include Literature, Movies, History and In the News.Deutsche WelleHeres another news site offering up a linguistic smorgasbord. Choose from current events in 30 languages.Everything Else: Language Learning Websites for Additional Language PracticeSo at this point, weve covered almost everything in terms of language learning r esources you can access from a computer or phone, but not quite everything. There are always those resources that serve their own very specific purposes or are just handy to have bookmarked.Here are a few you might find helpful for practicing and testing your skills along the way.italkiOn italki, you can quickly find an online teacher and pay by the lesson with no long-term commitment. This makes it a convenient resource for getting speaking practice or having your language skills evaluated.Its also a great resource for  getting in-depth feedback or explanations of concepts youre struggling with.Lang-8With Lang-8, youre able to test your other language output skill: writing. On the Lang-8 website, you can write posts thatll then be corrected by native speakers, and you can provide the same service for others.Its like an open pen pal platform thats focused on corrections and more convenient for everyone. This is a good way to get personalized feedback without a teacher.Freerice.comHe res a straightforward vocabulary game that includes quizzes for English, German, Spanish, French, Italian and Latin. Theres nothing mind-blowing about it, but its an easy and fun way to memorize new words.If you play regularly enough, youll see some of the same words go by again as you work your way up through the levels, which will help you get in some review and repetition.Plus, as you play, youre earning donations for the World Food Programme.BBC LanguagesBBC Languages is just an all-around good free resource to be aware of. It gives you access to audio and video courses and links to sources for authentic materials.  Content is available for 40 languages.Whew, thats a lot! Hopefully, you see now that effective language learning isnt about any one big solution. Its more about applying certain key principles and strategies when and how you can.Most of the resources above are instantly accessible, and many of them are free. So theres no reason not to start building up a language rou tine that works for you right now.Happy learning, and have fun!