Well, I have to say that I'm very proud of my Italian Duolingo streak! And sometimes I only do one lesson, late in the evening, just to maintain my streak. But the upshot is: I'm still making progress. However, I think to maintain motivation and momentum in our language learning, we need to shake things up a bit.
Here are some of the things I do:
If you have a hobby, look for YouTube videos in the language you're learning. (I've discovered that Nordic Walking is quite big in France!)
Netflix is a great way to immerse yourself in a language. Did you know the 3rd series of A Parisian Agency has come out? If you love looking at beautiful properties, it's definitely worth a gander.
With phones being so intelligent, my Facebook feed is now showing me reels in French and Spanish about fitness.
Look for your French, Spanish or German idol on Insta and follow them. Or a famous chef who explains their recipes.
And don't be afraid to jump onto TikTok. The short videos are perfect! I've just found a TikToker who posts videos on how to make pizzas à l'italienne - I know what we'll be eating tonight!
Novels and magazines in the foreign language are a great way to acquire vocabulary. If a novel written in English is recommended to me, I look for the Spanish or French translation. Top tip: reading a play in a foreign language is easier than a full-blown novel.
And there are podcasts galore out there! I love 'Hoy Hablamos' for Spanish. There's a new podcast every day.
And don't forget Spotify for music with foreign lyrics. If you're not sure who to listen to, google 'contemporary singers' in the language you're learning.
And if you're a dreamer, search for houses or châteaux to buy in your country of choice. Reading the property details is lovely incidental reading.
Things have really moved on since I was studying A level French and we all used to get excited when someone brought in a French, out-of-date newspaper :) With regards to free and paying resources, we're now spoilt for choice. Which is a nice place to be...
What do you do to increase your knowledge of the language you're learning? Let me know in the comments or let me know if you try any of the suggestions above.
Angela