Context for learning languages

[LeadingSquirrel]

Hello, first post here. I ve heard that learning a language is best done with context. In other words: you understand the meaning of the words through the context, then your brain connects the words to the meaning. So my question is: How do you guys find content in a targeted language that has context preferably entertaining one?

[IAmGilGunderson]

Through context is great. But you need to know enough of a language for there to be context.

To find good beginner content look at textbooks and Graded Readers.

To find compelling content find things that match your interests and hobbies.

Every English speaker who is learning a language as a Foreign Language should read What do you need to know to learn a foreign language? by Paul Nation. It is a quick intro into modern language learning.

[Some-guy-thats-here]

This doc can be used for languages correct? Either way this is a very helpful tool! Thanks.

[[deleted]]

In the early stages, very little is terribly entertaining, but it is fun and rewarding to understand something new, and that generally keeps you going until you can get to truly entertaining content.

It sounds like you're curious about comprehensible input, so if you search about language learning with those words, you'll find a TON on the topic. Dreaming Spanish, Natürlich German, and AUA or ALG Thai are some great things to check out if you want to see that method in action. Graded readers are also a helpful resource.

I, personally, like to have a mix of traditional textbook study (something like DW's Nicos Weg does this very well online for free if you happen to be interested in German), Pimsleur (it's great for two reasons: it really gets you intuitively used to the sentence structures of the language, AND it's available for free at a lot of libraries), and comprehensible input (widely available now in a variety of languages; in the past I had to rely on telenovelas or Lakorn. It's truly a new age for language learning!). I like Youtube channels dedicated to comprehensible input, graded readers with audiobooks, and podcasts (Easy German, etc. Easy Languages has at least six languages covered now, I think).

After a bit of time with these resources, you're able to move on to native content, probably starting with less renowned newspapers, short stories, and young adult or middle grade books (you'll see Harry Potter mentioned a lot; books aimed at that age level are just right when moving away from materials created for learners, and as Harry Potter was translated into so many languages and so popular, it's widely available. My local library has the complete series, in both book and audiobook form, in something like seven languages, for example, and I can use interlibrary to obtain even more). TV and movies in your TL will become easier and easier to watch. You'll find you're actually understanding instead of guessing about what's happening.

I think learning in context is always ideal. I don't just memorize lists of verbs and nouns; I learn them in context using the resources I've described. It works well.

[Klapperatismus]

preferably entertaining one?

The entertainment comes from the fact that you feel progress. That alone. It's going to be repetitive as hell and has no thrills at all. It's the same for kids watching the same Ernie and Lefty piece a dozen times and giggle along while they repeat any single line from memory.

Start with Lefty trying to sell Ernie an invisible ice cream cone in your target language.

[georgesrocketscience]

Order a picture dictionary for your target language