If you've watched all the movies and TV shows on Netflix, played all the board games you have, and prepared for a month ahead, consider spending some of your free time to study (orrepeated language learning.
The prospect of finally mastering, say, French or English guarantees hours of entertainment at home during constant stay-at-home orders, but experts say the first step to successful language learning is your motivation. “People’s goals in learning another language can range from something as serious as having to move and work in a different society, to the other extreme of downloading a phone app and learning a new language just for fun,” says Dr. Julio Torres. Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics, who explains that pedagogical methods differ depending on the learning objectives.
Another thing to keep in mind is your "intrinsic factors" like learning style and interests because "we tend to get emotional about something when it's important to us personally," says Dr. Laura. Becher of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers with Others). Languages) at Hunter College Normal School.
With everything from yoga classes to lectures currently taking place online (often free of charge), this is a unique moment to learn another language through technology. “Language learning has always happened outside of formal online learning, but now you can easily find Zoom calls in other languages to participate in,” says Dr. Sandy Fox, Stanford University Research Fellow and Founder and ProducerVaybertaytsh: Yiddish Feminist Podcast . "This is a special time for language practice."
So, whether you're looking to talk to a neighbor or practice grammar for your distance learning exam, we spoke to six language experts, including a Middlebury language school principal and a polyglot, to find the best programs and resources for your language learning at home.
Best General Language Learning Program
All the experts we spoke with said that traditional online learning programs are the most effective tool for beginner language learners to learn and practice vocabulary and grammar. Unlike "popular language apps" like Duolingo, they are often more heavily researched, combine different learning methods, and typically cost a lot of money. Among the various programs on the market, Pimsleur has been highly recommended for its conversational methodology by two experts, Fox and Vincent Pérez, a French teacher at independent travel bookstore Idlewild Books. While other programs can be too repetitive and pointless to type in words, Perez says Pimsleur "listens a lot, repeats and practices conversations with pre-recorded clips," which helps people learn from conversation. Fox has been introduced to Pimsleur by some of her linguistically minded peers and polyglots, and she says she is "more strict" than the other programs. Overall, she notes that language learning programs are a particularly good "base" for those learning a new language in a language family they already know. With Pimsleur, you can learn over 50 different languages, but the program's six most popular languages start at $19.95 per month.
