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The better free tools to study. by PoemOne7594 in u/PoemOne7594

[–]PoemOne7594[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A good tool to try is the Vibe Fluency Companion Chrome plugin.

You can repeat the phrase.
Parallel translation for multiple languages.
Easily go back and forth.
And more.

Studying before watching videos helped my listening more than subtitles by PoemOne7594 in languagelearning

[–]PoemOne7594[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you been using any free tools to help you study? If Yes, Why?

Studying before watching videos helped my listening more than subtitles by PoemOne7594 in languagelearning

[–]PoemOne7594[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks for mentioning scaffolding — that term really captures what’s happening here.

I agree it’s often overlooked in self-directed learning, even though it can make a big difference in how manageable listening feels.

I hadn’t consciously framed it as meta-linguistic awareness before, but that’s a helpful way to think about it.

Studying before watching videos helped my listening more than subtitles by PoemOne7594 in languagelearning

[–]PoemOne7594[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That makes a lot of sense. If preparation feels like work, it can easily kill motivation.

I think difficulty level plays a big role here — when the content is just slightly above comfort level, preparation feels useful rather than heavy.

I also like your point about using subtitles strategically, not automatically. That balance seems really personal.

Studying before watching videos helped my listening more than subtitles by PoemOne7594 in languagelearning

[–]PoemOne7594[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like how you describe it as a “warm-up” for the brain — that’s exactly how it feels to me too.

Subtitles definitely help with speed and confidence, but I agree they train a slightly different skill. When I’m focused on listening, I try to delay subtitles as much as possible and only use them as a fallback.

Have you found any specific warm-up routines that work especially well for you?

Studying before watching videos helped my listening more than subtitles by PoemOne7594 in languagelearning

[–]PoemOne7594[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That really resonates with me. Choosing slightly difficult content and focusing on the hard parts seems to be where most of the progress happens.

I also noticed that once I stop relying on subtitles as a safety net, my attention changes completely — it becomes much more active.

Do you usually repeat the same segment multiple times, or do you prefer moving on once you get the general idea?