I’d like to learn Mandarin and also have interest learning Russian, Arabic and Spanish, but don’t really know where to start. I know apps like Duolingo and Mango exist, but are those the best options? Would I be best off taking a class? To my multi-lingual comrades, where should I start?
Edit: Thanks for all the great replies everyone! I have a lot of resources to look into now.
The only thing Duolingo was good for was helping people build consistent habits. Even then, it wasn’t very good at that.
I used to be fluent in three different languages, and only one of those I spoke as a kid. Due to the lack of use, I’ve mostly lost one of them, which is a very common ocurrence when you stop using a language. This context is just so you know I’m not a professional, just merely a fellow language learner.
A few directions: There are several “methods” to learn a second language as an adult. Some of those methods work well for some people, and not so well for others. People are different, and they learn languages in different way. You’re likely to be better off combining different strategies than following one specific study plan.
The most important thing, by far, is to be consistent. Studying 30 minutes every day is much better than doing 8 consecutive hours once in a blue moon. By far, the most important advice. Be consistent.
Studying a language and practicing a language are two distinct things. You study a language when you study grammar using a book, do your flashcards, watch a lesson, etc. You practice it when you actually use it, that is, when you read a fiction book in your target language, when you listen to live radio, when you talk to people, when you watch a travelling video, etc.
Some “methods” propose only practicing, with no study. As I said above, I don’t like it. It’s more productive to mix it up. However, the opposite is definitely detrimental. Studying a language and never actually using it is a terrible idea.
As for how to study, it comes down to personal preferences. Anki is a good flash card app to memorise some words/sentences at the beginning. For Mandarin, there are several YouTube videos explaining the tongue positions you need to produce those sounds. Some are damn difficult, but you gotta persist. On RedNote, you’re gonna find some videos with minimal pair tests. Those were extremely useful for me, personally, when I was first learning English. (Peach x pitch, ear x year, so on.)
The beginning is actually harder than the lower intermediate level, in my experience. Once you can use your target language, you can practice more and study less, and that’s when you start to really make progress.
My 3 cents =P