Thanks for the kind words.

I still stand by what I said 100%. No use in conversing when you have “nothing” to converse about. 😉

I’m at the “breaking into conversation” stage but each one is frustrating … and thrilling … at the same time. But they make me wonder how much progress I’m actually making so I think your recommendations are brilliant. Thanks so much.

Sounds good, Paul.

I agree with you, learning from multiple sources is absolutely essential to maximize your progress. I’ve written about that in the past.

It seems like you have an outstanding language partner because most of the time it’s hard to find the right person. If I were in your shoes, I would really treasure and protect that relationship. Not only do you teach and learn from each other, most likely the relationship also makes it so that you hold each other accountable for staying the course. Great stuff.

Noel

Thanks Noel,
I am conversing with people who say “whoa” if I make a mistake. I do not “fear” tests, as good old Duolingo has many sentences spoken directly to you, and goes “red”, “bong your wrong”, if you make a translation mistake of the oral words just spoken to you.
When I was at school (many years ago), all we had was to study the grammar, have “unseen” passages of writing to translate etc. Boring and none of us could speak the language (fluently) after years of study.
I think many people have many different learning styles, where the style you like is the one that will give you the final result of being able to speak (and read / write) the language. You can never have too many language courses. I use multiple sources for language learning, text books, teachers, Skype, videos, Duolingo, listening to foreign radio through the Internet etc etc. My Skype language exchange person and I read a book in (parallel) languages and correct each other as we go paragraph by paragraph.

Cheers, Paul

Thanks for sharing your views, Paul.

I appreciate it.

Here are mine:

Conversing is extremely important and can be a good motivational tool as well as a DEmotivation tool, depends on the person. Most people will get extremely frustrated if they start conversing from the get-go as they can’t express themselves or understand what’s being said to them.

Yes, you can have a little conversation here and there, but if you’re just starting out conversing shouldn’t be your main method to learn a language.

Cause if you do so, you’ll have fossilized errors in abundance. I see this all the time. Yes they are communicating with other people, and if you’re not competent in that language, it may even seem impressive, but the amount of errors, the lack of conjugating of verbs etc. is often really bad. Yes, you’re conversing earlier, which may give you a rush of motivation, but you’ll be conversing WELL way later, if at all.

As you progress, conversing should become gradually more important, until it becomes one your most important tools to master the language. But using it as such in the beginning is not only a waste of time, but can actually hurt you in the long run. (The only exception being that you absolutely hate all other language-learning activities.)

Now, we shouldn’t confuse conversing with speaking. You should always start speaking directly if speaking means replicating the sounds of your new language, or creating sentences on your own with feedback etc.

I agree with you that the way they taught languages in schools sucked (heard it’s better now, but can’t confirm this). Of course, you should never study grammar in isolation, unless you want to. 🙂 But why fear tests? They give you an indication of how you’re doing with your new language. If you fear to know how you’re doing with your new language, then learning one becomes extremely difficult, even conversing would be hell.

All the best,
Noel