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Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

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Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#91

Post by gwbas1c »

Ok, so the first picture is a lady holding a GIANT glass of wine. Does this mean that the best way to learn a language is to get drunk while doing it?

For those who don't drink wine, that glass probably has about two "servings" and will give anyone who drinks it a small buzz. Large wine glasses like this aren't meant to be filled up, they're meant to help the drinker really swirl the wine. It brings oxygen into the wine which helps release the flavor.

Edit: The amount of alcohol that the lady in the picture is drinking is more than what the article recommends.

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#93

Post by eisrep »

notyourloops wrote: post #23

I learned how to turn a stream of nonsense (from my perspective) into words by listening to hundreds of hours of Spanish TV that I didn't understand. Spanish audio + Spanish subtitles (to figure out how to parse sound, and to map sound to writing), and then Spanish audio only (prevent reliance on reading). Surprisingly effective. Incomprehensible input appears to be quite valuable. At some point I'll try applying my…

This is my experience in learning Japanese. At first, it was kind of an accident haha but you sort of link the general meaning of things after months worth of content. For me though, there was definitely an upper limit (not to mention this does very little for learning how to speak--at least in my experience) and because of that I've started on more concrete methods of learning.

I also feel the process has given me a kind of a boost in my studies as certain words and phrases have already been ingrained into memory.

I still do consume audio/video content primarily in Japanese (mainly because that's what I'm interested in--which definitely helps the learning process) and it's gotten easier and easier to listen/watch without subtitles lately.

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#94

Post by pault »

0xdeadbeefbabe wrote: post #89
melling wrote: post #21

My feeling is that you need an incredible amount of repetition. I never really learned Spanish well until I took immersion classes in Guatemala then continued on backpacking through South America for several months. A decade later I still struggle to retain what I learned. I’ve built many language learning Android and iPhone apps over the years. I still don’t have a great formula but I think my latest iPhone apps are…

My feeling on learning a language is that you break down a language barrier to find an even more difficult cultural barrier.

That's what I always told my friends when I was an expat. You can learn your girlfriend's language, but you'll never get her jokes. :)

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#95

Post by ashton314 »

hwj wrote: post #3

At least for Christians a good way to learn a foreign language is to read the Bible in that language, because (1) they are probably used to read a chapter or two on a daily basis (thus, the routine is already there), (2) and they probably remember some passages in their native tongue (thus, already having a translation of the text). This helped me. YMMV.

I’m a Christian: a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be precise. I served a two-year volunteer mission [1] in Germany, and I read the Bible and the Book of Mormon a lot in both English and German during that time. This helped me tremendously. I now speak fluent German.

It also makes a nice yardstick: you start out having to look at the original text after every verse. Soon you are able to start reading verses, chapters, then entire books without referencing your native language.

[1]: https://www.comeuntochrist.org/belong/meet-missionaries/who-...

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#96

Post by csallen »

mikysco wrote: post #69
hombre_fatal wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also why bother with microoptimizations? Just sound like easy ways to justify excuses — “Welp my 3pm window passed, maybe tomorrow!” The best method is the one you actually do.

Took me song long to realize this. Just * do it is so often a more effective/efficient methodology than "optimize first". Once I have a strong understanding of scope, marginal adjustments carry more weight when starting something new.

Yep. This applies to so many things. Watching your diet? Lifting weights? Learning to code? People will emphasize so many tips, micro-optimizations, recommendations, etc. that can be intimidating and add a ton of work to your plate. But simply showing up every day is 95% of what matters.

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#97

Post by pault »

chanandler_bong wrote: post #25

"German volunteers learning Dutch who’d drunk enough vodka to achieve a blood alcohol level of 0.04 per cent (approximately equivalent to just under a pint of beer for a 70kg male) were rated by independent Dutch speakers as speaking the language more proficiently during a short-test" Based on my limited exposure to Dutch, this sounds about right; drunken German. Edit: "Als vliegen achter vliegen vliegen, vliegen vli…

This is true of all languages. The biggest barrier to learning a language is fear of embarrassment.

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#98

Post by joekrill »

dlkf wrote: post #54

> Evening learning probably isn’t ideal for teenagers either. In a study published in 2012, Johannes Holz at the University of Freiberg, and colleagues, found that 16- and 17-year-old girls performed better on tests of factual memory if they’d learned the material at 3pm than at 9pm. > However, another study, published in Psychological Science in 2016, suggests that evening learning can be beneficial – especially if…

Well, you're discounting this entire article based on one point out of five. It's useful information, regardless. And they are upfront about it. So I don't particularly understand the problem, and calling it "complete fucking bullshit" seems a bit overboard, to me.

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#99

Post by odyssey7 »

wodenokoto wrote: post #65
dlkf wrote: post #54

> Evening learning probably isn’t ideal for teenagers either. In a study published in 2012, Johannes Holz at the University of Freiberg, and colleagues, found that 16- and 17-year-old girls performed better on tests of factual memory if they’d learned the material at 3pm than at 9pm. > However, another study, published in Psychological Science in 2016, suggests that evening learning can be beneficial – especially if…

Or those to experiments simply measure completely different things. One is time of day, the other is review + good sleep.

I know I directly relate to both findings as they're explained in the article. In the morning I can process information more easily, but when prepping for tests I've found that reading the material at night and reviewing my notes the next morning is really impactful.

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#100

Post by pault »

pwinnski wrote: post #71
viraptor wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not a norm. Even in very devout households attending multiple masses every week. (I'm not saying there aren't people doing actual mindful reading every day, but the generalisation to "Christians" in this case is bad)

I believe (without linkable evidence) that Roman Catholics are far less likely to engage in daily reading that protestants, but 27% of Americans[0] read their Bibles several times a week or daily. [0] https://www.barna.com/research/state-of-the-bible-2018-seven...

Is that based on self reporting?
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