Reviewing Your Possible Options
If you want to learn another language, but don’t know where to start, you have come to the right place. With so many resources to choose from, it’s hard to know which ones are the most effective. Thankfully, this blog post will help 🙂 For those of you that would prefer listening to this blog post instead of reading it, I made a podcast about this same topic which is directly below this paragraph.
Prefer listening over reading? Click the play button above to listen to this blog post!
Let's Start with the Conclusion: What IS the Best Way to Get Started?
This blog post evaluates seven different language learning resources, each one with their pros and cons. Assuming efficient progress is your main goal, be sure to select:
→ At least 1 resource that involves at a fluent speaker of your target language (private/semi-private lessons, HelloTalk/Tandem, or Meetup/Duolingo Events)
→ At least 2 other resources of your choosing
It is also worth mentioning that the best overall way to guarantee progress is private/semi-private lessons. With that aside, have a read through to see which resources appeal the most to you!
If you would like us to build you a personalized study plan, contact us or book a free consultation. Â
How Useful Are Free Self-Study Apps? (e.g., Duolingo)
- Speaking: usually not helpful
- Writing: usually not helpful
- Printing: usually not helpful
- Reading: moderately hepful
- Listening: moderately helpful
- Grammar: usually not helpful
- Vocabulary: moderately helpful
- Engagement level: high
- Affordability: high
- Ease of use: very easy
Free self-study apps are a great way to get your feet wet since they don’t cost any money and fun to use. Free apps can also be moderately effective for improving listening, reading, and vocabulary especially for beginner learners. However, seeing as most free apps fall short in terms of helping with speaking, writing, and grammar you will eventually want to incorporate other resources. It is also worth mentioning that free apps are typically less useful for intermediate and advanced learners.
How Useful Are Paid Self-Study Programs (e.g., Pimsleur or Babbel)
- Speaking: moderately helpful
- Writing: not helpful
- Printing: not helpful
- Reading: moderately helpful, depending on the program
- Listening: moderately helpful
- Grammar: moderately helpful
- Vocabulary: moderately helpful
- Engagement level: moderate
- Affordability: generally affordable
- Ease of use: very easy
Paying for a self-study program is an affordable and structured way for self-motivated and self-accountable individuals to learn the basics of a new language. There are plenty of programs to choose from with Babbel and Pimsleur being two of the most popular ones. It is worth pointing out that while paid self-study programs are useful, they will not take you all the way to fluency. There is no substitute for interacting with real speakers of your target language.
How Useful Are Private/Semi-Private Lessons?
- Speaking: very helpful
- Writing: very helpful
- Printing: moderately helpful
- Reading: very helpful
- Listening: very helpful
- Grammar: very helpful
- Vocabulary: very helpful
- Engagement level: high
- Affordability: moderate
- Ease of finding a skilled tutor: moderate
Assuming you can find a good tutor, private/semi-private lessons are one of the best tools to have in your language learning tool belt. This is why it is the primary service offered at the Calgary Language Nerds. Click here to learn more. If our prices are well outside your budget, book a free consultation for third-party budget options.
Private/semi-private lessons allow you to interact with a real speaker of the target language, learn in a low-pressure and friendly environment, have peace of mind that you will have a reliable person to practice with, be held accountable to your learning, and have lessons tailored to your level and needs. Private tutors are also one of the only resources that can help you improve in literally every element of a foreign language (speaking, writing, printing, reading, listening, grammar, and vocabulary). It is recommended to take at least 2-4 lessons per month.
An alternative to taking private/semi-private lessons is to enrol in a group class. They are a little bit cheaper, though you will progress more slowly due to a lack of personalization and individual attention from the teacher.
Book a free consultation if you would like to inquire further about lessons with us.
How Useful Are HelloTalk and Tandem?
- Speaking: very helpful
- Writing: moderately helpful
- Printing: not helpful
- Reading: moderately hepful
- Listening: very helpful
- Grammar: moderately helpful
- Vocabulary: very helpful
- Engagement level: high
- Affordability: very affordable
- Ease of use: difficult
HelloTalk and Tandem are two apps that facilitate language exchanges. Language exchanges are a way for you to help someone learn your first language and, in exchange, they will help you learn their first language. For example, a native English speaker trying to learn Spanish may connect with someone from Mexico to swap languages. The result is that both parties improve their fluency in their respective target languages. It is without a doubt this is an excellent way to interact with real native speakers and make new international friends.
The biggest drawback is that language exchanges tend to be unstructured. As a result, finding topics to talk about can be difficult, language exchange partners are often flaky, you sometimes end up speaking more in one language than the other, and language exchange partners may not be able to answer grammar-related questions. Additionally (and unfortunately), there are also a number of people using HelloTalk and Tandem for dating purposes instead of language practice purposes. This is why I said that the ease of use for HelloTalk and Tandem is difficult.Â
Therefore, my conclusion is that language exchange apps are great for extra practice, but most beginners should pair HelloTalk or Tandem with a more structured resource mentioned in this blog post.
How Useful is Social Media? (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, etc.)
- Speaking: not helpful
- Writing: not helpful
- Printing: not helpful
- Reading: not hepful
- Listening: very helpful
- Grammar: very helpful
- Vocabulary: very helpful
- Engagement level: high
- Affordability: high
- Ease of use: moderate
The plethora of free content online to learn a language is a double-edged sword. On one hand, the sheer amount of content means that everyone is able to find something that is useful for them considering their learning needs. On the other hand, the high quantity of videos, podcasts, and blog posts has the potential to lead to decision paralysis. Thus, free online content can be one of the best ways to start learning a language and develop the basics, provided that you can overcome decision paralysis and find the right materials for you. This is why I have rated the ease of use as moderate instead of easy.
How Useful Are Meetup and Duolingo Events?
- Speaking: moderately helpful
- Writing: not helpful
- Printing: not helpful
- Reading: not helpful
- Listening: moderately helpful
- Grammar: moderately helpful
- Vocabulary: very helpful
- Engagement level: high
- Affordability: high
- Ease of use: moderate
Meetup and Duolingo Events are two websites to find free or low-cost events and classes to practice speaking another language. Duolingo Events only has online events/classes whereas Meetup has in-person and online ones. Both websites are useful, provided you are able to find events/classes at your level that fit your learning style. Events/classes are usually in larger groups of 10+ people.
How Useful Are Books and Worksheets?
- Speaking: not helpful
- Writing: moderately helpful
- Printing: very helpful
- Reading: very helpful
- Listening: not helpful
- Grammar: very helpful
- Vocabulary: very helpful
- Engagement level: moderate
- Affordability: high
- Ease of use: moderate
While books (i.e., textbooks) and worksheets might not be the first resource that comes to mind in today’s technology-driven world, they are still valid. Granted, you won’t improve your listening and speaking, but they are moderately to very helpful for writing, printing, reading, grammar, and vocabulary. Using books and worksheets is especially effective when paired with other resources in this blog post.
How to Find the Best Resources for You
Book a free consultation with us! We’ll provide you with unbiased advice and help you find the most appropriate resources for you. Your learning needs, budget, availability, and learning style will be considered.
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