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Question for my fellow #AuDHD folx: Has anyone found a good anguage learning method you've been able to stick with? I seriously need to re-up and improve my #Spanish skills as sometimes I get folded into work conversations that started out in Spanish, and I'd like to be able to understand them better. I also feel like learning Spanish better would help me to understand the challenges my students face with English. Boosts welcome and appreciated. @ActuallyAutistic @ActuallyADHD
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@Tarrenvane you could try Rosetta Stone. Very visual and straightforward.
@Tarrenvane I feel like switching methods up works best for me. Depending on your level of Spanish I can really recommend a language exchange tandem, I feel like meeting and talking to a person is what motivates me most to continue learning too :)
@cmdrmoto@hachyderm.io@Tarrenvane The only tactic I found that I was able to stick with: three weeks of full immersion in a foreign land where almost nobody spoke my native language.
There’s just no dopamine hit for me, learning a foreign language in isolation.
No dopamine -> **negative** motivation
(Sorry, I know you’re looking for practical advice - just hoped the dopamine connection might help you find what works for you)
@Tarrenvane I have had good luck with Duolingo, but there are caveats.
If you don't pay (they offer discounts around Xmas), the grind is too much to bother with. You really need to use the paid service to make good progress.
Also, the gamification WILL slow down your progress significantly. Disable all of the "friend" functions and you'll be left with whatever routine you want to build for yourself.
I usually put in about 30-60 minutes, twice a day (although I allow myself the opportunity to skip in the afternoon if I'm too busy).
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Rosetta Stone also sometimes offers discounted rates and those are certainly worth it, but I find their immersion (instead of explaining some things like grammar structures) to be less helpful than with Duo. RS *will* help your pronunciation and "hearing" though.
@Tarrenvane I teach French as a second language in Canada and what I suggest to my learners in addition to use an app is to read, listen, watch, etc. about what they like.
It could be videos, articles, playing games, recipes, etc. anything that can make you practice the skills: listening/speaking, writing/reading because they are all intricated. I don’t know if where you live you can interact with a Spanish speaking community? Through my municipal library I have access for free to Mango Languages, your library might offer similar access to app languages?
I agree with Adeline. The best thing to learn a language is immersion, but that's often not possible. The next best thing to do is to simulate in your life an immersion environment. You can do this by listening to things that interest you, changing the language of your phone or computer GUI, etc.
I'm also relearning Spanish on my own. I use Anki as my flashcard system. I've found Español con Juan on YT to be useful. I watch shows with Spanish audio and subtitles, etc.
@yourautisticlife @adelinej It seems like maybe Juan uses a lot of visuals or something; I had a tough time following him entirely. Or maybe I just need to find his most beginner stuff. I tried Anki, and it almost seems like it should be accessible, but it doesn't let VoiceOver read the cards.
Generally speaking, I don't think Juan is especially visual in his approach. However, there are sometimes some expressions that are explained on screen visually when he speaks. This, however, seems to be common for videos that are aimed at the same level.
I'm not familiar with VoiceOver. The deck I'm using has TTS audio. It is this one:
https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/2813133810
I also create my own cards and these do not have audio.