{"id":616,"date":"2015-11-24T11:26:37","date_gmt":"2015-11-24T19:26:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marcusvorwaller.com\/blog\/?p=616"},"modified":"2016-05-12T02:20:56","modified_gmt":"2016-05-12T09:20:56","slug":"how-to-learn-a-foreign-language-in-your-spare-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marcusvorwaller.com\/blog\/2015\/11\/24\/how-to-learn-a-foreign-language-in-your-spare-time\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Learn a Foreign Language in Your Spare Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since this is an <\/span>article<\/span>\u00a0entirely focused on one topic, learning languages,\u00a0I want to start with a non-obvious\u00a0answer to the question \u00a0“why would you spend so much time learning a language?”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The answer is that it’s often the only thing I have time and\/or mental capacity to do. Between\u00a0working full-time and an active family, there aren’t many opportunities left in the day for uninterrupted focus. Then, if there is a block of time, I’m often simply too tired to dig into something that requires my full attention. Language learning, as it turns out, is perfect for those times. As long as some preparation has been done beforehand, I can spend anywhere from 2 minutes to 2 hours opening up an app or some flashcards (see below for examples) and get in some solid learning. Interruptions are fine, having only a few minutes is fine. I can jump in, get a quick session done and go back to whatever else needs my attention. The best part is, it’s fun. Once I have a new word or phrase in my head, I’ll teach it to my kids or repeat it out loud a few times. I’ve found that it gives me the same kind of boost as playing an\u00a0iPhone game.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, apart from all the obvious reasons for learning a language (travel, communication, etc.)\u00a0that’s why learning languages has been so enjoyable for me. Check out the resources below and give it a try, maybe you’ll find some of the same enjoyment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gabriel Wyner, my favorite language learning expert and the author of Fluent Forever<\/i><\/span><\/a>, a must have book for anyone studying languages, has updated his popular learning technique. He\u00a0wrote about it in an article called On Hacking Fluent Forever<\/span><\/a>. Well worth the read.<\/span><\/p>\n

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And… here’s the big list:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n