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The purpose of language learning is to create a connection with those who communicate in that particular language. The most ideal communication is relevant information that flows freely. Obstacles that can block inward flow: 1) signal-detection (clarity), the sounds cannot be recognised and 2) signal-processing (comprehension) - the sounds can be recognised but the meaning cannot be established. To improve clarity, train your ear to recognise the elemental sounds individually, then to distinguish these sounds when combined together to produce different syllables/words (ideally at a slow tempo first followed by gradual increases to normal tempo). To improve comprehension, increase vocabulary in a context-dependent manner. Obstacles that can block outward flow (performance): 1) signal-emission (competence) - how much relevant vocabulary is known, how well can the vocabulary be retrieved in a timely and context-dependent manner and how well can the meaning be converted into detectable sounds (vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar). Note the differences between the ability to write versus speak. 2) the willingness to emit signals (confidence) - to increase performance, one needs to increase competence. To increase competence, one needs a certain amount of confidence in the current level of competence. While Duolingo, Pimsleur and other language learning products can help improve both competence and confidence, they only do so to a certain extent. The best way to get better at performing is by performing. In conclusion, get precise about which obstacle is greatly affecting performance, deal with it and then perform. Sooner or later, another obstacle will crop up so rinse and repeat until the obstacles no longer block the connection!

It's definitely vocabulary for me.... Especially with unfamiliar topics! (Portugues Brasileira)

Hey was great sitting down with you the other day. Going in to learning Spanish was to be understood in a tourist context, but you've really made me want to be able to fit in better. I definitely found it how important training the ear is and I'm noticing how bad duolingo is for that. I liked language transfer for audial prior but I don't think it is a native Spanish speaker. I'm looking forward to your new course being released

This is so helpful. Thanks!

Loved this video. I am extremely frustrada though. I have taken Spanish in school for five years. I can write it but I have limited speaking abilities. I freeze when someone is speaking to me in Spanish. I panic. Either I won't understand them, (but I understand them if they are speaking to someone else), or I'll understand them and not know how to respond properly. I am very afraid of using the wrong tenses for some reason. Also, I have no fear if I am speaking to someone who knows no English. I feel like they can't make fun of me for trying to speak Spanish if they can't even speak English, so I feel confident. Also, for the record, I have had tutors and people claiming that they could help me but all I have done is wasted my time and money, and I come out more frustrated than ever. I'm about to give up hope. I feel that there is Spanish locked up in my brain but I don't know how to release it!

As my Spanish teacher says: 'Kasper, you are one of the best in the class to grammar and writing, but you don't understand a word when I'm talking.' So I guess my problem is clarity. How do I work on picking up the pace and rhythm of Spanish?

When I first started speaking in Spanish I was so nervous I would be sweating. Now I still feel nervous, but not sweaty anymore...haha...It does get easier over time. My problem with listening is Clarity an with speaking still lacking good Confidence.

Hey Idahosa, Right now I am learning German (on my own) and improving my Spanish. I’ve never learned a language on “my own” before and feel I am not sure as to what is “a” or “the” most effective way of learning. I’ve been studying German for about a month now and believe I am making progress, but I’m not sure if the way I am spending my time learning is the most effective/an effective way. My way of learning German and Spanish is different as I had taken classes in high school for Spanish and therefore had a base to work from, where as with German I have no base. What I am doing is trying to converse with native speakers as much as possible (unfortunately as of lately it hasn’t been a whole lot), listen to audio programs, repeat the words multiple times and then put the words that were said in the audio into a flash card set and review those words/phrases. For Spanish I am basically doing the same thing along with grammar study. Spanish is about intermediate level German is elementary/basic So my question I guess is, when learning a language, what is your typical study routine, how long, and how often per week? I know you talk about going from listening/pronunciation to eventually getting into grammar/writing/reading- so when do you transition to those? Also, how’s the Hebrew going? Thanks!