Recap | How to practice a language

The problem with traditional teaching methods is that they foster learning via intensive study with drills and exercises, and at best give you some supplementary reading materials as homework. That is backwards, you should do it exactly the other way around.

Remember:

1. You need lots of solitary practice in addition to conversational practice.
2. Target specific skills deliberately.
3. Get a good teacher.
4. Practice all the core skills. Particularly, don’t forget writing.
5. Use lots of Comprehensible Input.
6. Actively notice gaps in your knowledge.

At first, we should read with a blitheness practically bordering on superficiality; later on, with a conscientiousness close to distrust.

―Kató Lomb