What's the best way to (start) learning a language? (lemmy.world)

submitted 23 hours ago by vladmech@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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I traveled to Japan for a few weeks last year and had grand plans to learn a bunch of phrases, but got lazy and punked out. I still had a great time, everyone was super kind, but it was embarrassing how well so many folks spoke English and I couldn’t even be assed to put in a bit of work.

My wife is half Mexican and we’re in California, and she gets a lot of people initially talking to her in Spanish, which she can’t speak beyond an ordering food level, and would like to change that.

What’s the best way for us both to get to a beginning conversational level in Spanish? I tried Duolingo a while ago and it was eh, and I’ve heard it’s all AI these days. Any other recommendations?

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[-] drre@feddit.org 6 points 23 hours ago

started learning French during the pandemic, first with some app but then switched to an 1-1 online course, one hour every week, and stayed with it. right now I'm somewhere at B1 level which might but be much, but suffices for reading (technical) books, newspapers, and everyday communication. i try to listen to a lot of French music (with lyrics on, to help me get into the rhythm if the language and maybe learn some new lingo), watch movies (Love Star Trek), listen to the radio, bla blub.

the things is to find something you care about in the other language/culture. then, learning the language will give you access to something which is already important to you and keeping up with your learning becomes more easy. my2c

this post was submitted on 24 Feb 2026

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