Remember to try it the other way too, foreign language -> your language. Feedback isn't as reliable but it's a nice easy break and good for vocab/idiom acquisition.
Another thought... If you have trouble with active learning from language tapes, have you tried passive listening? This is where you just put on some background noise of people chatting in the language you want to learn (radio, podcast, Let's Play), maybe put some wordless music on over it, and then just listen for hours and hours while you work or commute with no expectation of understanding anything, like you're sitting in a coffee shop and the language is just washing over you. I've been trying this for a while and I do think it helps to improve the instincts & ear. Also anyone with an internet connection can do it, you can do it for HOURS at a programming job without anyone noticing, and it takes so little willpower (you just turn on the radio) that it's easy to maintain the habit over long periods of time. Most importantly, you can pick podcasts and games you are interested in... you're not just stuck with whatever boring situation is in the tape, like anigbrowl said. Maybe not as efficient as a conversation partner, but it's good for building confidence and good if you don't have a lot of time to ACTIVELY devote to language-learning. I'm not sure how well this would work if you knew next to nothing about the language in question, but that's obviously not your situation. So, yeah... maybe try audio again, but this time give up "trying". (:
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Wow, that's nice idea! Thank you!
Yeah, glad to help!
Remember to try it the other way too, foreign language -> your language. Feedback isn't as reliable but it's a nice easy break and good for vocab/idiom acquisition.
Another thought... If you have trouble with active learning from language tapes, have you tried passive listening? This is where you just put on some background noise of people chatting in the language you want to learn (radio, podcast, Let's Play), maybe put some wordless music on over it, and then just listen for hours and hours while you work or commute with no expectation of understanding anything, like you're sitting in a coffee shop and the language is just washing over you. I've been trying this for a while and I do think it helps to improve the instincts & ear. Also anyone with an internet connection can do it, you can do it for HOURS at a programming job without anyone noticing, and it takes so little willpower (you just turn on the radio) that it's easy to maintain the habit over long periods of time. Most importantly, you can pick podcasts and games you are interested in... you're not just stuck with whatever boring situation is in the tape, like anigbrowl said. Maybe not as efficient as a conversation partner, but it's good for building confidence and good if you don't have a lot of time to ACTIVELY devote to language-learning. I'm not sure how well this would work if you knew next to nothing about the language in question, but that's obviously not your situation. So, yeah... maybe try audio again, but this time give up "trying". (: