This One Exercise Made Me Fluent In French (In 30 Days!)

Summary

In this video, the host introduces a powerful language learning exercise that contributed to their fluency in French. The method involves recording oneself telling a personal story in the target language, identifying and learning unknown words and sentence structures with the help of DPL and Anki apps. The process is repeated multiple times to build vocabulary and improve speaking skills. The host also suggests using Anki for memorization and finding a language partner for corrections and practice, emphasizing the importance of practice and context for true fluency.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video suggests a single exercise using two apps, DPL and Anki, to significantly improve language fluency.
• 🎥 Record yourself telling a personal story in the target language for five minutes, even if it's not perfect.
• 🔍 After recording, review the video to identify unknown words and sentence structures.
• 📝 Use DeepL to translate unknown words and create an Anki deck specifically for those words from the story.
• 📋 Record sentences with incorrect structures in a Google Sheet for further review.
• 🔁 Repeat the storytelling exercise, improving upon the previous attempt by incorporating new vocabulary and sentence structures.
• 📈 Practice the storytelling for a week until it becomes automatic, then move on to a new story to expand vocabulary.
• 📚 Anki is used to internalize new words by reviewing the deck multiple times a day.
• 🤝 Get a language partner to review and correct the story, improving grammar and natural language use.
• 🌐 The speaker found language partners on HelloTalk, an app for language exchanges.
• 🔑 The key to fluency is the ability to use known words in various contexts, not necessarily knowing a vast number of words.

Q & A

What is the main exercise recommended in the script for learning a new language?

The main exercise recommended is to record oneself telling a story in the target language for five minutes, using two free apps called dpl and Anki.

What are the two free apps mentioned in the script that can be used for language learning?

The two free apps mentioned are dpl and Anki, which are used for recording and reviewing language learning content.

What should the story be about when performing the language learning exercise?

The story should be about the learner themselves, something they feel comfortable telling to others, and that they know very well.

What should a learner do if they don't know a word or sentence structure in their target language while recording the story?

If a learner doesn't know a word or sentence structure, they should say it in their native language and then try their best to guess the structure in the target language.

Why is it important to experience discomfort during the language learning exercise?

Experiencing discomfort is important because it indicates that the learner is pushing their boundaries, which is necessary for making speaking progress and ultimately achieving fluency.

How should the learner review their recorded story to improve their language skills?

The learner should watch the video, noting down words they didn't know and sentences they couldn't structure, then translate these into their native language and create an Anki deck and a Google sheet for review.

What is the purpose of creating an Anki deck and a Google sheet after each recording session?

The Anki deck is for memorizing new words used in the story, while the Google sheet is for recording sentence structures that the learner struggled with, aiding in language retention and improvement.

How often should the learner repeat the storytelling exercise with the same story?

The learner should repeat the storytelling exercise with the same story for a week straight, then move on to a new story the following week.

What is the significance of using Anki to internalize the words learned from the storytelling exercise?

Using Anki helps to reinforce the memory of new words by reviewing the Anki deck multiple times a day, which aids in faster recall during subsequent storytelling sessions.

How can a language partner help in improving the learner's fluency and understanding of the target language?

A language partner can provide corrections and suggestions on the learner's story, helping to improve grammar and find more natural expressions in the target language.

What platform does the script recommend for finding language partners?

The script recommends using the app HelloTalk to find language partners for practice and exchange.