The Biggest Mistake People Make in Language Learning

People stay with the beginner book or course too long. They think they have to stay with it until they understand it or can remember everything. Forget it. Believe me you will. You will need to keep on going back to the beginner book. In the meantime, get into interesting authentic content. Do it as soon as possible, even if you don't understand it very well. Don't even use graded readers. Learn a language at: http://www.lingq.com Visit my blog: http://blog.thelinguist.com

Comments

1. The rule of thirds?
2. This actually applies to a lot of things in life.
3. I don't agree. We must learn deeply. That's how children learn their own language. That's how you can learn to speek without thinking. Just automatically. If we master low beginner level then we can do something more difficult and master it. However the most important thing is just not quitting. Continuing to learn English,
4. Steve, Although I agree with you on this, most people want to have constant reinforcement of the vocabulary and grammatical structures they learn and to add to them constantly. Going from a beginner 1 textbook to an article on neuro science is silly because it introduces a whole lot of new vocabulary that just won't be reinforced. Also, I presume you already had a grasp of other Slavic languages prior to embarking on your study of Czech. Having some knowledge of the grammar and vocabulary of similar languages makes making the leap from beginner textbooks to realia MUCH easier. For instance, an Italian taking up Spanish would have little trouble as opposed to taking on Chinese within the first month of study. I would suggest that beginner textbooks provide a framework which should be maintained with substantial supplementation with mid range realia.
5. wish I would have watched this a ear ago
6. Makes sense. Just like working out, need to lift heavier weights. Otherwise there is no growth.
7. thanks the advice. I'll do the same for my german and mandarin.
8. Oh waw! This is my first time hearing this kind of language advice. This really open-up my mind. TYSM! 😃
9. This is a very good point. I keep hearing that when learning a language you should understand 80% of the materials you're working with. If at any point when I was starting out learning English I could understand that much I would assume that I already know it.
   And it must be really boring to stay at the beginner level for too long.
10. I agree with this. You should as soon as possible be going for material that is a little bit above yourcurrent level. Not far above your level but a little bit. The step into the swimming pool analogy is an apt one.
11. I want to ask you if you have tried to learn Arabic before. Even though it is difficult but I think it is really interested for western people and you have the qualities to learn it as languages expert.
12. i want to ask you why u are not trying to learn persian???!!!! i think u must give it a try!!
13. I think you should just get into the real language right away. I got into the real Japanese, Swedish, and even Turkish right away before looking for things in help at beginner level online in Turkish and with a book in Swedish. Is that cool?
14. 佩服老师。语言难在文学吧，学精通非常困难。
15. ありがとうございます！
16. less beginner material.. got it
17. Concordo plenamente!
18. is it possible to teach myself mandarin with no teacher?
19. Hi Steve
    I have suffering a problem since few days I am fluent in Spanish but not in English and when I try to listen podcast I don't know from where it comes in my mind that if i learn English-speaking I will forget lots of word in Spanish and that creating me lots of stress because English is very important in order to find a job
    so please give me some advice to out of this stress because this creating me lots of obstacle in both language
20. that was very entlightening, that you for the very informativ Video