&gt; Pretty sure the best way to learn a new language involves lots of time practicing speaking.<p>It isn&#x27;t. It really isn&#x27;t. :)<p>While it is a big part, and necessary if you actually want to talk to people, in terms of time spent it is much more important to get the vocabulary in and as much exposure to expressions of the language by competent users as possible.<p>That&#x27;s why people recommend travelling to where a language one wants to learn is spoken; not because one must speak it there as well, but because one hears and reads it there everywhere.