Errors in learning a foreign language, 2 years in
Errors and successes in learning foreign languages, 12 years in.<p>Japanese - Fluent (3 years study)<p>This was a resounding success, but actually set me up to fail my next 3 languages.<p>Successes were<p>1) finding Anki and the AJATT method, and just totally embracing it.<p>2) Choosing early on to locate high quality materials on grammar and Anki 3 to 4 sentences per grammar point and front load virtually all Japanese grammar in around 4 months.<p>3) after grammar study was done dropping sentences and instead inputting only single words into Anki<p>4) Finding regular conversation partners, and language exchange clubs with the many Japanese people in my area<p>5) being somewhat unfairly ruthless in pretty much only speaking Japanese<p>Korean - I can understand bits and pieces, after 2 separate and serious attempts each lasting 3 to 6 months<p>Successes were<p>1) repeating all of the input&#x2F;grammar stuff and consuming native media I had done with Japanese as understanding was coming along well<p>Errors were<p>1) not having much utility for the language outside simply just enjoying it for its own sake, while this was true with Japanese also in a way, Japanese gave my life a purpose and direction at a time I had none thus the utility from that standpoint while abstract was huge. Same just didn&#x27;t apply to Korean.<p>2) Not finding any speaking partners. Right at the end of my second attempt I did start to remedy this, but then I started a family and settled down and because Korean had no actual utility in my life it was dropped.<p>Mandarin - still some limited level of understanding and can speak some basic phrases. 2 serious attempts each lasting 3 months<p>Successes were<p>1) first attempt I did all the same things with Anki and native media<p>2) first attempt was actually taking it a semester of it in university which gave a structure I had previously dismissed as inferior but actually found had its merits, most of which was actually practicing output in a controlled manner<p>3) second attempt was 3 months in China on a business trip, and I managed to get access to Chinese equivalents of Spotify&#x2F;Netflix and this massively boosted my native media game<p>3) second attempt being in China meant the language had massive utility so I studied very hard and can still remember how to order Carl&#x27;s Junior haha.<p>Errors were<p>1) When learning it at University I never found suitable conversation partners outside the classroom as everyone also speaks fluent English<p>2) When studying it in China I never found suitable conversation partners because all the people I worked with had better English than my Mandarin and I tried somewhat to go out and meet people but I was just too painfully shy and my Mandarin too low level.<p>3) After 2nd attempt upon returning home Mandarin lost all it&#x27;s utility and given I had no functional speaking ability, though I could understand a lot and passed HSK3, I couldn&#x27;t converse with any of my Chinese co-workers back home, so I dropped it almost instantly<p>French&#x2F;Spanish&#x2F;Italian&#x2F;German - I understand words and phrases here and there from listening to music in these languages, but never actually intended on properly learning them<p>Successes were<p>1) Again with native media, only music for these languages as that was the drawcard, just finding cool new songs and learning to sing along<p>Errors were<p>Well, no errors really, I was just having fun<p>Portuguese - currently 3 months into this! Understanding is getting decent, and speaking ability is starting to develop<p>This time around I&#x27;m putting all the lessons from my successes and errors into practice as follows.<p>1) Anki&#x2F;Grammar, and native media! This has always been stunningly effective at increasing understand very fast<p>2) hiring a tutor! I realised this was the mistake I made after 2nd attempt at Mandarin. My speaking ability is really starting to pick up now<p>3) making sure the language has utility! I&#x27;m learning BJJ and my coach is Brazilian and doesn&#x27;t speak much English.