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1396 questions
14
votes
6 answers
Does watching movies improve language skills?
I doubt that films will help people who are watching in a language that they are entirely foreign to or are already adept in, but if someone already knows a language but is not adept will watching movies in those languages improve their language…
Bob
14
votes
4 answers
Resources for finding a word in natural context
Are there any resources for finding examples of texts which use a particular word, in any language?
One would think that Google would be fit for this purpose, however with Google I cannot find a single page which uses the word vaginate in natural…

dotancohen
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14
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4 answers
Would ASMR improve language learning?
I find ASMR (Autonomous sensory meridian response) interesting, and I sometimes use it to relax at night. Now I am wondering if the "sensation" that ASMR provides can be beneficial to memory retention. For example, if I listen to a soft voice…

user28332
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14
votes
1 answer
Are there differences in effect of advanced language classes for native speakers vs second language learners?
I've seen advanced graduate courses for languages, in which the level of the language itself is higher than average for the average native speaker.
I was wondering if there was any research on whether it would have a different effect on a native…

Regular User
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14
votes
2 answers
Learning through videos: what makes a video easy to understand for learners?
How can you tell if a video is easy to understand for learners? What are the important factors for a video to be easy? I guess slow and clear pronunciation is important. But also the usage of common words, and the help of visual cues.

Vanege
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14
votes
1 answer
How does language ability decrease when one stops actively learning?
Sometimes for various reasons one could not continue to learn as actively as he/she wants and will drop the activity of learning almost entirely except for sometimes reading some lines in the target language to try to maintain his/her level. It is…

永劫回帰
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13
votes
3 answers
Image search for languages with a weak internet presence
I'm setting up flash cards with the word in the L2, and an image of the object, as suggested in "Fluent Forever". The book suggests doing the search in the L2:
If you’re actually learning a word like chien, rather than a more
complex sentence, I…

Golden Cuy
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13
votes
8 answers
Anything similar to Duolingo for learning Tagalog?
I think the way Duolingo executes language learning is great. It's a really fun way to understand the basics/vocabulary and the gamification keeps you interested. Unfortunately, as most users have noticed, Duolingo does not have all languages.
So…

adriennetacke
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13
votes
2 answers
Are there studies testing to see what the the ideal age to begin learning a second language is?
Would it be easier to learn a second language as a child, when you've had limited exposure to language in general, or as an adult, when you already have a strong basis in your first language? Are there any studies testing this? Please include…

fi12
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13
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3 answers
Does forcing students to speak English in school affect the students' knowledge of their native language?
In places where I live some private institutions are forcing students (of age 6 to 17) to speak only in English, regardless of their native language. This restriction is not only placed in English class but on the entire school premises, except…

Kolappan N
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13
votes
2 answers
At which point in learning a language can one be able to grok the meaning of new words or grammar structures?
As a non-native English speaker I've recently noticed that I have the ability to grok the meaning of certain words thanks to the context and expectations of what is going to be said.
The use of the term "grok" is intentional, as it is fairly…

Very
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13
votes
3 answers
What resources exist for learning Fuzhounese?
For a long time now, I've been attempting to learn Fuzhounese, a specific dialect of Chinese spoken in Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China. However, I've found very few resources. All I have found is the examples on the Wikipedia page, some web…

Abhijay Eshwar
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13
votes
2 answers
Devanagari letter grouping
I'm following a tutorial for learning to read Devanagari, but I'm finding that I'm having trouble. The letters are presented in what appears to be a "standard order" (my apologies, I don't actually know much about Devanagari yet). However, it…

Michael Stachowsky
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13
votes
3 answers
How can I improve the listening and speaking skill as a self-learner?
I learn any languages mostly alone, without any school or tutors (as it is insanely expensive and also quite inflexible). I learn it mostly online, starting with apps like Rosetta Stone and Memrise as well as a grammar book, and once I leap over a…

Blaszard
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13
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1 answer
How was the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) list of language learning difficulty compiled?
There is a fairly standard ranking of the difficulty of learning various languages for English speakers, based primarily on its similarity to English. (Note: I've seen some contradictory information about the list). Some of them are fairly clear…

EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine
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