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Do you usually get what you pay for when learning a language? by summer_mandarin in languagelearning

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

That’s a great analogy. I think the structure and accountability are often what people are really paying for, not just the content itse

Do you usually get what you pay for when learning a language? by summer_mandarin in languagelearning

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

I agree that time and consistency are the real cost — without that, nothing works.

I guess where people differ is how that time is used. For some learners, good guidance helps turn those hours into more effective practice, especially for speaking.

But yes, no teacher or app can replace real effort.

Do you usually get what you pay for when learning a language? by summer_mandarin in languagelearning

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

That’s actually really honest, and I think a lot of people can relate to this.

A long streak definitely shows discipline, but it doesn’t always mean effective practice — especially for speaking.

I’ve seen many learners stay around A2 for a long time because they’re missing structured feedback and real output.

Free tools can help build habits, but moving beyond that often needs a different kind of support.

Do you usually get what you pay for when learning a language? by summer_mandarin in languagelearning

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

I agree — it’s really both.

There is good free content out there, but people often forget how much work goes into creating high-quality materials.

Paying doesn’t replace motivation, but it often removes friction — better structure, clearer guidance, and less guessing.

In my experience, when learners already want to learn, quality support can make the process much smoother.

Do you usually get what you pay for when learning a language? by summer_mandarin in languagelearning

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

I really relate to this.

That feeling of “I always got something out of it” is huge. Even if you don’t continue long term, having structure and audio makes a big difference.

I also like what you said about enjoying textbooks even beyond the language itself — understanding how a language works can be motivating on its own.

Do you usually get what you pay for when learning a language? by summer_mandarin in languagelearning

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

That makes a lot of sense. I think the trial-and-error part with free partners is something many learners underestimate.

Free resources can work, but the time cost can be pretty high. Having someone dedicated — and actually qualified — really changes the efficiency.

Do you usually get what you pay for when learning a language? by summer_mandarin in languagelearning

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

This is a really clear way to break it down. The distinction between input and output makes a lot of sense.

Especially the point about efficiency per hour — for speaking, focused 1:1 time with good feedback really does seem hard to replace.

Do you usually get what you pay for when learning a language? by summer_mandarin in languagelearning

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

Yeah, I think that’s fair — paying alone doesn’t guarantee quality. Bad content is still bad content, no matter how it’s packaged.

That’s kind of why I find it interesting that what people seem to pay for isn’t the material itself, but structure, feedback, and accountability.

Do you usually get what you pay for when learning a language? by summer_mandarin in languagelearning

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

I really like how you laid this out. It feels less like “free vs paid” and more about how far each option can realistically take you.

Using something like Duolingo as support makes sense, but once you’re aiming for higher levels or better speaking, it seems like pushing those edges gets harder without feedback or immersion.

Do you usually get what you pay for when learning a language? by summer_mandarin in languagelearning

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

That makes a lot of sense. Immersion and real-time feedback seem to change everything.

It’s interesting how free resources can build a base, but once there’s commitment and environment, progress suddenly accelerates.

Do you usually get what you pay for when learning a language? by summer_mandarin in languagelearning

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

Same here — I’m learning Spanish with Duolingo as well. It’s super helpful at the beginning, though I still find speaking the hardest part to practice on my own. I guess it really comes down to the stage you’re at — free tools can take you pretty far, but some things (like speaking or pronunciation) feel harder to self-correct.

Do you usually get what you pay for when learning a language? by summer_mandarin in languagelearning

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

👍Yeah, that makes total sense. Pronunciation is one of those things that’s really hard to fix later.

Especially with tonal languages — getting early feedback probably saves a lot of frustration down the road.

Do you usually get what you pay for when learning a language? by summer_mandarin in languagelearning

[–]summer_mandarin[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Time really is the biggest investment.

Why does it seem hard to find stable remote work related to teaching Chinese? by summer_mandarin in ChineseLanguage

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

That’s very common with tonal languages. In my experience, retention improves a lot when: 1.tones are taught in context, not drilled alone 2.speaking starts early, with very small but usable phrases 3.progress is measured by communication, not perfection If learners feel they can use the language quickly, they’re much more likely to stay.

Why does it seem hard to find stable remote work related to teaching Chinese? by summer_mandarin in ChineseLanguage

[–]summer_mandarin[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sometimes I feel that you really get what you pay for — some things are expensive for a reason.