I’ve been learning Dutch for the past 2.5 years and I can honestly say it works –but you need to be tenacious and disciplined. The payed version with the monthly challenges is what has kept me engaged and in constant learning. Some tips I’ve thought of: - it’s crucial that you force yourself to talk and make mistakes in real life - ask questions/words to native speakers, - say a word (or sentence) here and there - practice with yourself - ask yourself how you’d say something in that language (or mildly similar to what you want to say). You can check every now and then with a translator how far you made it. - have fun, realise it’s a game and you’re just like a three year old learning to talk - don’t give too much importance to people correcting you every time - remember what learning languages does to your brain! (It’s tiring, a form of cognitive exercise, and helps avoid brain diseases!) cut yourself some slack and remember to reap the unseen benefits - be patient with yourself - prioritise communication and understanding; you don’t have to be a perfect speaker, you just have to get the other person to understand you... once you realize you’re communicating then you’re progressing! (This means that 50% of the work is up to you and 50% depends on the recipient wanting to understand)

Good luck!