This is a fairly good basic guide for developing low-level proficiency. This type of method is good for learning the language needed to get around in a country

This is a fairly good basic guide for developing low-level proficiency. This type of method is good for learning the language needed to get around in a country in which the language is spoken as well as engage in some casual small talk. I discussed the issue of proficiency levels in quite a bit of detail in my response : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12719463 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12719463 You mention a few points about memorizing vocabulary: > The rate you tend to be taught vocabulary in college level courses is crazy low. This is absolutely correct in most courses in the US. That said, most people I have know who went on to work in the foreign language they learned in school spent a lot of time learning beyond what was required for class. > at only 15 words a day you could deeply learn ~5400 words a year with anki This is largely a trap. At approximately 1000-2000 words in most languages, it is important to make a gradual shift from memorization tasks to fluency tasks. Memorization can be great to review learned vocabulary and/or to learn and review technical vocabulary, but most of the learning time should be spent immersed in authentic target language (e.g., reading content by native speakers for native speakers, watching TL videos, etc.). There are no shortage of situations where a person will know the word/phrase for manifold or nuclear non-proliferation treaty, but they will not have the discourse skills to use these words in a meaningful way. Have you used this level of memorization successfully? If so, what other language tasks were you engaging in at the same time? I am genuinely curious -- a clean way to shift from high levels of memorization to higher levels of functional fluency is not a fully cracked nut.