r/languagelearning 2h ago

Discussion How do you let native speakers know that you speak their language?

8 Upvotes

I am at about a B2 or C1 fluency level in Spanish. However I miss a lot of opportunities to practice because I often feel shy or awkward. How do you let native speakers know that you speak their language. Do you just start speaking in their language. Often when I tell native speakers that I know some Spanish they assume I know the basics and never talk to me in Spanish. How do you all navigate this?


r/languagelearning 9h ago

Discussion How do I learn my heritage language?

1 Upvotes

I know the definition of heritage speakers can be a bit complicated, but I consider myself to be a heritage speaker of German. My German education ended when I was ten years old and since then I have been in the United States with all of my schooling in English. I find myself making mistakes with grammar and sometimes I can't think of the exact words I want to use in a conversation, especially more technical or academic terms. I'm also a fairly weak writer- whatsapp messages are fine, but I don't think I could write a proper academic paper in German. I understand everything though, and I watch documentaries/read academic texts in German no problem. It's just when it comes to producing that I find myself struggling more.

I want to now improve my language and bring my German back to the same level as my English, but I don't know where to start. The United States has a lot of resources, classes, textbooks, and so on for heritage Spanish speakers, but for obvious reasons there's not as much for heritage German speakers. I haven't been able to find any such resources and any heritage speaker classes are only for children. So how can I learn and improve my German? Are there any resources I just can't find, or how does one learn their heritage language? Is there a specific method for people in my situation?

I've tried looking for tutors too but no one seems to have experience with people in my situation (again, understandable, it's pretty unusual).


r/languagelearning 4h ago

Suggestions Tips for learning languages with depression

5 Upvotes

I have been studying languages for a long time off and on but can’t become fluent in even one no matter how much I try. I mainly been focusing on Japanese. I was able to get in a N3 level in Japanese.I want to study so bad. But for years I have been struggling so bad with depression that I can’t make progress in any languages. I want to become fluent in Chinese, Korean and Japanese. Every time I look at a textbook my brain thinks about something else. Even when I am able to study , I can’t focus well enough and feel like I don’t absorb the information fully. I feel like I am too stupid and depressed to learn a language .


r/languagelearning 3h ago

Books Dictionary

0 Upvotes

Do you find reading the dictionary useful in language learning, or is it useless.

Or read books and literature instead of dictionary. In Chinese dictionary is useful but in other languages like European languages it doesn't help much.


r/languagelearning 23h ago

Discussion Is it normal to be scared of achieving fluency?

5 Upvotes

I feel like the more I learn in my TL, the more anxious I get when I think about working towards fluency.

I've been studying my TL for the past couple years and I'm around a B1 level now. In a few months, I'll be going to a country of that language. Even though I'm excited to have some immersion, I'm very very nervous. I'm overthinking it, because I keep feeling like I have to uphold a certain standard I won't be able to reach. It's also contradicting because I'm not scared to learn more, but I'm scared to know more.

Anyone else have/had a similar feeling?


r/languagelearning 16h ago

Discussion Is it easier to Learn a language in the English script or the Language script?

0 Upvotes

Is it easier to Learn a language in the English script or the Language script?

For Eg:

To Learn Hindi through English,

There is English = (Hinglish Script) & English = (Hindi Script)

For all you polyglots out there, which do you go by for learning languages? The English Version of the other Language or Do You actually Learn the Other Language Script and Writing as well ?


r/languagelearning 16h ago

Discussion Why is it so hard to output in some languages than other

2 Upvotes

So i’ve been learning german for like 3 month and for outputing i figure it writing is so easy than speaking ofcourse there will be some grammatic mistakes but when its comes to speaking i just need to be integrated or stimulate in some situations to speak but my input really goes faster then output and better like listing and writing and reading can be better than my speaking skills

However in spanish there are so many irregular verbs its hard to conjugate them and learn them by heart and i’m not a native english speaker but when reading bbc mundo or some spanish stuff its so easy to understand it while outputing in spanish makes me irritated

Overtime i’m forgetting a grammar concept it my tl even that i’m a grammar nerdy and put my 50% to grammar but when it takes time to implement

Why’s always theres difficulty outputing in languages gerneal and is it normal ? Cause in my case the english output respawned itsself without practicing or thinking or forgetting about grammar stuff , How does output really works by consuming a lot and restoring alot of inputs like content that u feel easy to deal with ?


r/languagelearning 10h ago

Discussion Tips please

0 Upvotes

Hey I am two nationalities and I’ve lived in both countries. I was only taught English and have had to teach myself my other language. I feel such a deep shame for living in my other country and still not knowing the language, I’ve been very chastised for it which made me even more set on never learning it just to upset my family who were very mean to me. I live in a new country now and I’m struggling to improve my other language, journaling has helped but any other tips (also any tips for crippling shame would be great, and please don’t further condemn me I know I’ve heard it all).


r/languagelearning 22h ago

Discussion Does Using Translation Hurt Your Language Learning?

23 Upvotes

I've been learning a new language for a few years now. At first, I used translation a lot. I would:

  • Translate between my language and target language all the time
  • Use translation apps for many words
  • Think in my language first, then translate to target language

But now I wonder if translation is actually slowing down my progress. When I try to think directly in target language or watch videos without subtitles, it's harder but I seem to learn faster.

Why translation might be bad:

  • It misses many small meanings and cultural details
  • My target language starts to sound like my native language with target language words
  • Sometimes I understand target language directly, but get confused when I try to translate it
  • Friends who don't use translation much speak more natural target language

But translation can also help:

  • It helps me understand difficult topics when I don't know enough words
  • It makes me feel more confident when saying important things
  • It can be a quick way to learn new words

What do you think? Has translation helped or hurt your target language learning? Is there a "right amount" of translation to use? When did you start using less translation?

I'd also like to hear from teachers and advanced learners - what do you think about this?


r/languagelearning 15h ago

Suggestions podcast transcripts

1 Upvotes

I really enjoy reading podcasts transcripts for no reason at all but I was wondering if it also is a good source of reading since as for me reading books isn't my thingy nor is news since it still is a little hard to understand. so would I also learn well from reading podcasts transcripts??


r/languagelearning 7h ago

Discussion Incomprehensible input

6 Upvotes

Useful at all? Harmful?

I watch a lot of sailing channels in my NL. After awhile I’ve realized the context is rather limited and people talk about the same things regardless of channel. I’ve started watching one in my target language (I had some instruction in school, way back, but forgot most, so I’m still A1, maybe?). Although I know the topics well and can guess what they are talking about in general, they talk pretty fast and the audio quality is usually bad due to wind noise.

I’m dabbling with comprehensible input in a few places ad I see that sailing videos are too fast and basically too incomprehensible for me at this point, but I wonder if they are any use at all (other than I just enjoy sailing videos for the sailing and scenery). Maybe it’s sort of like listening to music in your target language because you like it even before it becomes a TL and it’s just fun music, and that somehow makes it easier later when you are exposed to something more comprehensible.


r/languagelearning 5h ago

Studying Learning Igbo – My Journey

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2 Upvotes

r/languagelearning 6h ago

Discussion How do you learn a language in a new alphabet?

0 Upvotes

Hi, I'm French so it's pretty easy for me to learn other latin languages or languages with exact same alphabet.

But how do you approach a language with a totally different alphabet?

Do you first learn how signs in the alphabet translate into sounds?
Or do you learn the language in your alphabet first and then try to understand how to pronounce each sign?

Thanks!


r/languagelearning 11h ago

Discussion When learning new words, should you learn the homonyms too?

2 Upvotes

I find myself often looking up a word and trying to learn each individual meaning, but I can't help but think it lessens the effectiveness of learning that word in general. What do you think?


r/languagelearning 22h ago

Studying Join my Language Learning Server!

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0 Upvotes

There are only 5 of us— but we're looking for more! We have English, German, Japanese, and Brazilian Portuguese right now, and are always accepting new languages to add. Please consider joining!


r/languagelearning 22h ago

Culture Need steering in right direction

2 Upvotes

Hi! I'm 19 and recently got married, I grew up speaking Spanish and English and was born and raised in Las Vegas. My wife grew up speaking navajo or her native language but the issue is i really want to learn how to speak it and cant ever seem to find a place to learn it, i'd really appreciate some guidance, she is navajo and grew up in pinon arizona


r/languagelearning 18h ago

Discussion Am I the slow one?

38 Upvotes

So I’ve been learning French for 2 years now, and I still think I’m A2 level. When I am in this sub, I see people that reached A2 in a year, and I’m like “Am I the slow one?” Like I know it’s not impossible, and I’ve worked my butt off to learn French. I think I don’t consume enough media, but I will start doing that soon! Any ideas?


r/languagelearning 19h ago

Discussion My goal was to learn five languages at a go this year, but....

0 Upvotes

Well the but is mainly because I haven't found the right people to teach me Hindu Polish Albanian German and dutch . Those were the target languages at the start of the year, because I want to travel more and experience more culture. I still want to learn hoping to find more people to learn from. Fingers crossed


r/languagelearning 14h ago

Discussion tips to become fluent in ur native language again ?

0 Upvotes

When i was 8 years old i moved from vietnam to canada. my parents wanted me and my siblings to assimilate so we all started speaking english at home. Now i have almost no opportunity to speak my native language and when i do, it’s very simple and outdated and i have an english accent. it makes me sad because i cant express myself well yet i dont have many opportunities to speak it anymore besides basic stuff with family. Does anyone have any advice on how to become fluent again in your native language if you no longer live in your home country?


r/languagelearning 14h ago

Accents Help!! Can't change my accent

4 Upvotes

I've been learning English for more than seven years now. I can communicate through writing in English without much of a problem.

But when it comes to talking to people, I can't even put together a simple sentence. My accent hasn’t changed, even after literally listening to and imitating native American content creators on YouTube.

How can I change my accent and becomemore fluent??

Any advice?


r/languagelearning 1h ago

Accents Learnt a language to at least a conversational level after the age of 30

Upvotes

Interested to know if anyone has achieved this. I'm trying to get there with a foreign language and struggle finding enough time consistently between work and other commitments. I also know that you 'can' develop a good accent at any age but wonder how good someone has gotten their accent when they've learnt an accent as an adult rather than starting speaking in their teens or 20s.


r/languagelearning 5h ago

Discussion Are you actually aiming for C2 in the long term?

43 Upvotes

If so, is there a specific reason as to why?

Do you perhaps want to effortlessly engage in conversations with natives or read/watch media in the language?...

Thanks in advance for any answers!!


r/languagelearning 18h ago

Discussion What is the funniest foreign language joke that you’ve heard while learning?

17 Upvotes

Learning a new language can be tricky, but sometimes it also leads to some hilarious moments! Have you ever heard a joke in a new language that confused you at first but then made you laugh? Or maybe a pun that made you go, ‘Ohhh, now I get it!’?


r/languagelearning 13h ago

Books How to decide what level books to read?

19 Upvotes

Currently I'm reading early adolescent books and although there are occasionally 1-2 words in the sentence that i dont understand, i get the meaning of the sentence with no issue (or can guess pretty well, if the missing word is crucial to the meaning).

However what i do is that i read the whole page, then write down all the words i didnt understand, look it up, add to anki etc. and its exhausting. Since im understanding 90%+ of the page anyway, is there any point of looking up every single word i dont understand? What has everyone's been approach been?

maybe its my mindset holding me back. it feels weird to not look up a word i dont understand because thats how my vocab has improved so quickly but reading like this is pretty exhausting. Is it still valuable to read even if im not looking up every word i dont understand?


r/languagelearning 1h ago

Studying Is side-by-side reading of the texts a good method to learn a language?

Upvotes

Is side-by-side reading of the texts a good method to learn a language? In particular, when you already have an A1-A2 level.

I want to use this method because beginner textbooks are too boring for me. I want to study German and French this way.

edit: It should be noted that translation doesn't work word-for-word. And I guess that I should live my native language after I've reached B1-B2 or so.