My Favourite Email This Year
The other day I received an email from someone who reads my Substack publication and email newsletters. Here is what he said:
Over the last 45 years, I've attempted numerous times to learn Spanish with little success. Two years ago I got serious about learning and dedicated over 1,000 hours to learning Spanish using Duolingo. I thought I was making good progress, but then discovered I couldn't even have a very basic conversation in Spanish.
He then followed up with a list of excellent questions:
a. How do I know if I am learning effectively?
b. How do I know if I am progressing nicely or failing dismally? What practices are working and which ones are not?
c. When reading is it more effective to fully understand each sentence before moving on to the next, or should I read with partial understanding of the message?
d. When listening to a narrative in Spanish should I try to follow along with Spanish subtitles, English subtitles, or no subtitles?
e. When writing in Spanish is it better to use Google translate to correct my errors or just keep writing as best I can?
f. When talking with a native speaker, is it better for them to interrupt and correct every error I make or let me keep talking and occasionally give me suggestions.
g. How do I expand my vocabulary most effectively?
Initially I started typing out a reply to each one of his questions, until I realized how long my response would need to be in order to address each question. Therefore, I recorded an audio and uploaded it as a podcast. Click the button below to listen to it or keep reading for a quick summary of my answer to each question. Keep in mind I give more detailed responses in the podcast episode.
How to Know If You Are Using Effective Learning Methods
• You are able to understand more than you could before.
• You are able to communicate more effectively with native speakers than before.
Should You Look Up Every New Word When Reading?
• Yes, or at least enough words to understand the writer’s message. Ensure you select reading material where you understand 90% + of the content without a dictionary or translator, otherwise you will be looking up way too many words.
Should You Use Subtitles?
• Same language subtitles are better than English subtitles.
• Use subtitles as a learning tool, not a crutch.
• Watch videos multiple times - first without subtitles, then with subtitles, and then again without. When subtitles are enabled, you may pause as needed to read and look up unfamiliar terms.
• Consume content that is mostly comprehensible to avoid constantly looking up new words every sentence.
Should You Use Google Translate When Writing?
• Start writing without a translator. Only use a dictionary or a conjugation book.
•You may use a translator after you finished writing to see what you could have said differently.
• Use your brain - don’t let online translators think for you.
• Pick writing topics that aren’t so difficult that you don’t regularly need an online translator to write about it.
Should Native Speakers Correct Every Error While You Speak?
• No. Definitely not.
How to Increase Vocabulary
• Read comprehensible content a lot. Listening to comprehensible content can help as well, along with regular interaction with native speakers.
If you want to hear my full answers to each of the topics above, click here to listen to podcast episode I recorded.
I came for the language tips but stayed for your musings on living a good life. Here’s a good tip I try to remember each day; What is the next best step I can take today? Thinking about the little things I can do keeps things manageable for me. Also, if you like Jordan Peterson, you should listen to his conversations with Bishop Barron. Those two have had numerous interesting conversations.