4 ms·

At this point, I can read a crime novel and read that last pope writing (got curious took spanish version, no dictionary cause it is printed version). I can wa

by watwut 1mo ago

At this point, I can read a crime novel and read that last pope writing (got curious took spanish version, no dictionary cause it is printed version). I can watch some netflix shows with no subtitles at all - Seinfield, crime shows, documentaries, that sort of thing. I cant watch stuff with more complicated vocabulary ("you" or "the good place" are harder). I listen to spanish radio - causual shows about world news or audiodramas like "retornados". I had an easy small talk once. I dont have people to converse with and honestly dont care about it. Duolingo claims its courses go a little over B1 - you start B2 content but dont finish it. So, it would be unreasonable to expect full on conversation considering I did not finished it. And yes, it is normal for me to not finish long thing I started. When I could watch netflix I ended up binging on it, it was fun, so I dropped the rest. I mean, not doing 10min of duolingo meant watching 10min more.

TFNA 1mo ago
You seem to think of language learning only as learning for passive media consumption, and the plethora of mistakes in your English rather underscores that. Most people learning a language want more than that, e.g. being able to achieve at least a B1 level in all categories for social, job, or residence-permit/citizenship test reasons. And for those masses, Duolingo is a shit way to learn.
- watwut 1mo ago
  1.) What most people want is not relevant here. Ability to consume media is an undeniable proof that I did in fact learned a lot. The exact order in which I learn things is not important, result is real world skill I gained. 2.) You do not know what most people want. You are making a wild guess, based on nothing. You know even less about what most people attracted to Duolingo want. 3.) Most people who need to learn foreign language for school or work reason still dislike language learning. Most people find it both boring and draining. A tool that makes it not sux is a big deal for those people too. 4.) You suggested textbooks. You will NOT pass B1 test with textbooks only. You will have serious issues with listening comprehension. Even if you are that unusual kind of person that will persist learning alone from textbook. 5.) You can pass B1 test with Duolingo only. That is not something unusual or exceptional, it actually gives you everything you need for that particular formal test. B1 is not that high. 6.) People who learn from comprehensible input only/primary are also able to pass B1 tests. 8.) A lot of passive media consumption is necessary for learning foreign language. No matter whether you use textbook or Duolingo or comprehensible input, consuming media is the core part of it all.

by watwut 1mo ago

TFNA 1mo ago

You seem to think of language learning only as learning for passive media consumption, and the plethora of mistakes in your English rather underscores that. Most people learning a language want more than that, e.g. being able to achieve at least a B1 level in all categories for social, job, or residence-permit/citizenship test reasons. And for those masses, Duolingo is a shit way to learn.

watwut 1mo ago
1.) What most people want is not relevant here. Ability to consume media is an undeniable proof that I did in fact learned a lot. The exact order in which I learn things is not important, result is real world skill I gained. 2.) You do not know what most people want. You are making a wild guess, based on nothing. You know even less about what most people attracted to Duolingo want. 3.) Most people who need to learn foreign language for school or work reason still dislike language learning. Most people find it both boring and draining. A tool that makes it not sux is a big deal for those people too. 4.) You suggested textbooks. You will NOT pass B1 test with textbooks only. You will have serious issues with listening comprehension. Even if you are that unusual kind of person that will persist learning alone from textbook. 5.) You can pass B1 test with Duolingo only. That is not something unusual or exceptional, it actually gives you everything you need for that particular formal test. B1 is not that high. 6.) People who learn from comprehensible input only/primary are also able to pass B1 tests. 8.) A lot of passive media consumption is necessary for learning foreign language. No matter whether you use textbook or Duolingo or comprehensible input, consuming media is the core part of it all.