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This is a very promising platform. However, it misses some very crucial things about learning languages. Here goes: Learning languages is mostly about getting

This is a very promising platform. However, it misses some very crucial things about learning languages. Here goes: Learning languages is mostly about getting tons of input. I tried using this for a few minutes, but all the input I got was some lines of text. Also: People say that learners don't get as much chances to output as they would like. That isn't mostly true. And even farther from the truth is to say that outputting more would lead to better language acquisition. Nice try, though.

sebzim4500 3y ago
I'm with you as far as input goes, but I don't understand this at all: >Also: People say that learners don't get as much chances to output as they would like. That isn't mostly true. And even farther from the truth is to say that outputting more would lead to better language acquisition. Isn't the only way (for most people) to actually learn a language to speak it as much as possible?
- DoryMinh 3y ago
  nope, unfortunately it isn't. Learners needs tons of comprehensible input before they actually produce anything.
fabiensnauwaert 3y ago
Hey, thanks for the input and happy to have a healthy debate! I'm a bit confused though: > all the input I got was some lines of text Didn't you hear the audio? Or what else were you expecting? I've experimented with the length of answers a bit and people are put off by long answers. · I think people overcomplicate language acquisition. Or at least here's my two cents from learning four foreign languages to fluency and now seeing my kids grow up trilingual. There's a natural language to learning a language: 1. Listen 2. Speak 3. Read 4. Write Foreign language education has been switching the first two with the last two and keeps wondering why the majority of learners have such thick accents. (Meanwhile, kids who grew up with YouTube sounds great.) You need input to observe and 'pick up' the language. But you need experience to grow confident and fluent. No speaking practice means no confidence speaking. e.g. if you never spoke on the phone after years of learning you're likely to get cold sweats on your first phone call for work. Time and motivation play a big role. You just cannot squeeze the equivalent of years of learning as a kid into a couple of months (usually before giving up) as an adult. Making language rewarding (which means seeing progress and having fun) is critical. · Now my observation is that people just don't talk much in most classes and that people should be able to learn foreign languages in the most natural way possible: conversations (listening and speaking.) It's somewhat ironic that ARTIFICIAL intelligence is now enabling this. I'll put my money where my mouth is: I'm still working on the product and when it's ready will use it to learn a language FROM SCRATCH :)

sebzim4500 3y ago

I'm with you as far as input goes, but I don't understand this at all: >Also: People say that learners don't get as much chances to output as they would like. That isn't mostly true. And even farther from the truth is to say that outputting more would lead to better language acquisition. Isn't the only way (for most people) to actually learn a language to speak it as much as possible?

DoryMinh 3y ago
nope, unfortunately it isn't. Learners needs tons of comprehensible input before they actually produce anything.

fabiensnauwaert 3y ago

Hey, thanks for the input and happy to have a healthy debate! I'm a bit confused though: > all the input I got was some lines of text Didn't you hear the audio? Or what else were you expecting? I've experimented with the length of answers a bit and people are put off by long answers. · I think people overcomplicate language acquisition. Or at least here's my two cents from learning four foreign languages to fluency and now seeing my kids grow up trilingual. There's a natural language to learning a language: 1. Listen 2. Speak 3. Read 4. Write Foreign language education has been switching the first two with the last two and keeps wondering why the majority of learners have such thick accents. (Meanwhile, kids who grew up with YouTube sounds great.) You need input to observe and 'pick up' the language. But you need experience to grow confident and fluent. No speaking practice means no confidence speaking. e.g. if you never spoke on the phone after years of learning you're likely to get cold sweats on your first phone call for work. Time and motivation play a big role. You just cannot squeeze the equivalent of years of learning as a kid into a couple of months (usually before giving up) as an adult. Making language rewarding (which means seeing progress and having fun) is critical. · Now my observation is that people just don't talk much in most classes and that people should be able to learn foreign languages in the most natural way possible: conversations (listening and speaking.) It's somewhat ironic that ARTIFICIAL intelligence is now enabling this. I'll put my money where my mouth is: I'm still working on the product and when it's ready will use it to learn a language FROM SCRATCH :)