Learning foreign languages: methods that work

In short: Foreign languages are best learned regularly, actively and with meaning. A little practice daily beats rare long sessions.

In more detail: Listening, speaking, reading and writing should be combined.

In detail

• Vocabulary: With flashcards and spaced repetition (vergessenskurve-und-wiederholen).
• Listening: Podcasts, series, songs in the target language, first with, then without subtitles.
• Speaking: As early as possible, with tandem partners or language groups; mistakes are part of it.
• Reading: Easy texts, later news and books.
• Writing: Diary or short messages in the target language.
• Grammar: Learn in context, not only as a rule.
• Goals: Concrete and achievable, such as “hold a conversation in three months”.
• Motivation: Connect with interests (motivation-intrinsisch-und-extrinsisch).