Hello.
Yesterday I have seen TEDx talk by Gabriel Wyner about learning new languages. What hit me the most, was conception about learning new language just by using only this language. I want to learn Spanish and I always thought, that at first I have to learn enough to comunicate freely (A1 or A2) and then search for someone to help me improve. But after the video I though "maby I can try oposite". I know only some Spanish words, and few sentences but maby someone can speak with me using just Spanish. In return I can try to speak in Polish even if someone dont know Polish language.
Are You intrested in such way of learning? If answer is "Yes", feel free to call me.
Have You ever learn that way? What are Yours experiences and what do You think about it?
Hi, Boguslaw. I haven't seen the video you mention, but I have read (most of) Gabriel's book and I have purchased several of his products, such as Anki flashcards and word lists.
My current point of view is this one:
You can acquire (aka "pick up") a language mostly by Comprehensible Input alone. Google "Stephen Krashen" to read more about the Input Hypothesis. And yes, you can get lots of Comprehensible Input by talking to native speakers who can speak in a comprehensible way. That is, they can adjust their pronunciation, their vocabulary, their speech rate and sentence structure to match your level, and make good use of gestures, images, objects and context to make their speech more comprehensible. They also must have nearly infinite patience. Unfortunately, most of the time the only people likely to do this for you if you're a beginner are... your parents. When you were a baby.
The next best things are:
1) A teacher who uses the Comprehensible Input approach.
2) Videos that use very simple language, targeted at learners.
Of course, once you're past the beginner stage your options increase a lot.
