I speak a few languages, and learn a few. Throughout my learning journey I developed a minimal system that is fun, effective and just works for me. This is it:
System
Prime
- Retention: Euphoric Flashcards (a free and open-source spaced-repitition plugin in the also free note taking app Obsidian) for daily review and light review exercises
- Structured Input: Digital Course Material as main source for new concepts
- Notes: Obsidian for grammar-related note-taking
Secondary
- Mass Input: Listening to Songs (probably my main source for fabulous vocabulary :)
- Mass Input: Video Input (for example what the Dreaming platform offers)
Applied actual Learning
- Actual Learning: conversations with friends native in the language
Recommendations for Writing Digital Flashcards
- Create monthly flashcard decks for words
- Include self-derived example sentences you would actually use in the flashcards
- Maintain a separate
core-wordsdeck containing prepositions, connectives, discoursive markers, titles, and all these essential most frequent words you’ll use. It is so much more convenient for browsing when searching one. - Use Obsidian
Things I tried that didn’t stick
- Duolingo: Not fast and grammar-based enough for any aspirational language learning plans. I personally think an hour is better invested by reviewing cards, taking 1-2 free in -depth online course lessons, and forming sentences in exactly that order.
- Dedicated flashcard apps. Too tedious to manage, you’re enclosed in the features that the app gives you, no way of really exporting or transferring vocab sets/lists.
- On-site language courses: I guess that’s personal preference. Person-to-person courses are said to be one of the most effective active learning methods. But I’m an autodidact and prefer self-study.