What would you do first if you were new to Language Learning without fancy tools?

Sara Ahmed · 214 likes

Learn a few local phrases and one apology phrase. People are usually generous when they see you trying. This pairs weirdly well with pasta.

Sofía Hernández · 123 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. I would test it for 6 days before deciding.

Rohan Mehta · 13 likes

@sofiareads62 I would pin this if I could.

Amina Okafor · 2 likes

This. Exactly this.

Mango Mango · 2 likes

Thanks for making it less intimidating.

Tomás Gómez · 111 likes

This reminds me of something a friend in Istanbul mentioned. I keep a note about study for exactly this reason.

Arif Hasan · 79 likes

Great point, especially the part about fancy. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability.

Luca Bianchi · 70 likes

Learn a few local phrases and one apology phrase. People are usually generous when they see you trying. For me it came down to the route.

Sanne de Vries · 58 likes

Learn a few local phrases and one apology phrase. People are usually generous when they see you trying. The 3-minute rule is underrated.

Siti Lestari · 48 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. That is the kind of detail beginners miss.

Sleepy Comet · 36 likes

I would push back gently on the learning part. My only addition is to make the first step visible.

Urban Otter · 34 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. That is the kind of detail beginners miss.

Amina Okafor · 32 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. This is more useful on a tired first week than on a perfect day.

Mango Mango · 1 likes

Now I want a spreadsheet.

Theo Bennett · 30 likes

Maybe, but the tradeoff seems bigger than the post suggests. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability.

Pablo Martín · 26 likes

Learn a few local phrases and one apology phrase. People are usually generous when they see you trying. The lunch break version is even more interesting.

Diego García · 8 likes

@otterRunner Fair pushback.

Quiet Baker · 23 likes

Honestly, this is a little too vague to be useful. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability.

Sleepy Comet · 5 likes

Anecdote beats theory here.

Daniel Kiptoo · 21 likes

This depends heavily on budget, time and personality. I am curious whether study still feels good next month.

Quiet Baker · 20 likes

This sounds sensible, though I would need to test it myself. I would test it for 9 days before deciding.

Ethan Brooks · 16 likes

This feels a little overrated to me, even if the intention is good. For me it came down to the setup.

Haruto Sato · 20 likes

Adding this to my notes.

Cedar Fern · 16 likes

For travel days, leave one flexible block. The best thing on a trip is often the thing you did not schedule. The busy month version is even more interesting.

Cozy Fern · 15 likes

For travel days, leave one flexible block. The best thing on a trip is often the thing you did not schedule. I would write it down before changing anything else.

Quiet Atlas · 15 likes

For travel days, leave one flexible block. The best thing on a trip is often the thing you did not schedule. It reminds me of a very specific conversation near a tiny balcony.

Imogen Clarke · 14 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. The my desk detail changes the whole answer.

Rizky Pratama · 14 likes

Helpful and not preachy, which is rare. The lunch break version is even more interesting.

Mia Bauer · 1 likes

Thanks for making it less intimidating.

Aisha Jacobs · 14 likes

Learn a few local phrases and one apology phrase. People are usually generous when they see you trying. This pairs weirdly well with tacos.

Quiet Fern · 13 likes

The boring logistics are always the hidden part. I keep a note about grammar for exactly this reason.

Urban Baker · 12 likes

Thanks, that actually helped.

Arif Hasan · 3 likes

This is the gentle version of my rant.

Avery Johnson · 12 likes

I do not have a strong take, but the were detail is useful. I would love to see a follow-up after 4 weeks.

Diego García · 4 likes

Small caveat: context changes the answer a lot.

Mariana Costa · 2 likes

Noted, and thank you.

Avery Johnson · 3 likes

@gentle_coder63 You just saved me a bad purchase.

Mara Fischer · 12 likes

Learn a few local phrases and one apology phrase. People are usually generous when they see you trying. The a family dinner detail changes the whole answer.

Ngozi Bello · 11 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. A little friction removed goes a long way.

Midnight Otter · 10 likes

Beautifully put. I needed that reminder today. The Mumbai example makes it feel concrete.

Cozy Fern · 10 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. My only addition is to make the first step visible.

Sebastián Rojas · 8 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. I learned that one the expensive way.

Diego García · 2 likes

I am stealing that phrase.

Yasmine El Amrani · 1 likes

Appreciate the nuance.

Sebastián Rojas · 1 likes

I am stealing that phrase.

Valeria Flores · 8 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. A little friction removed goes a long way.

Noah Johansson · 7 likes

Learn a few local phrases and one apology phrase. People are usually generous when they see you trying. For me it came down to the first draft.

Lucas Silva · 8 likes

Helpful correction.

Tiny Atlas · 6 likes

For travel days, leave one flexible block. The best thing on a trip is often the thing you did not schedule. The low-effort version is probably the keeper.

Mango Otter · 6 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. This pairs weirdly well with jollof rice.

Ethan Brooks · 3 likes

Kind of wild how often actually is the whole issue.

Angel Reyes · 5 likes

Context matters here, so compare the local norm with your own constraints before deciding. Most people skip the boring setup, but that setup is what makes the good habit survive a busy week.

- Do ten minutes daily instead of one giant weekend session.
- Save phrases you actually want to say.
- Speak badly on purpose; fluency needs reps.

Come back with what happened; the details will make the next answer better.

[deleted] · 37 likes

Now I want a spreadsheet.

Minh Nguyen · 30 likes

I was going to disagree, but your second sentence got me.

Quiet Marauder · 18 likes

I am curious what changed your mind.

Haruto Sato · 14 likes

I had the same reaction to setup.

Angel Reyes · 115 likes

Totally agree, especially for beginners.

Chloe Davis · 0 likes

My wallet felt that.

Diego García · 13 likes

I would love a follow-up example.

Diego García · 9 likes

I think both things can be true.

Chinedu Adeyemi · 3 likes

Same here. It took me too long to learn.

Siti Lestari · 2 likes

This comment has main-character footnote energy.

Ren Suzuki · 5 likes

Learn a few local phrases and one apology phrase. People are usually generous when they see you trying. The lunch break version is even more interesting.

Aarav Sharma · 5 likes

Excellent timing; I was just thinking about fancy. I learned that one the expensive way.

Luca Bianchi · 5 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability.

Ren Suzuki · 5 likes

Amazing how much difference one small change can make. The Nairobi example makes it feel concrete.

Yasmine El Amrani · 4 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. I would love to see a follow-up after 6 weeks.

Cozy Noodle · 4 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability.

Valeria López · 4 likes

Helpful and not preachy, which is rare. This is more useful on a tired Monday morning than on a perfect day.

João Pereira · 4 likes

For travel days, leave one flexible block. The best thing on a trip is often the thing you did not schedule. The low-effort version is probably the keeper.

Mara Fischer · 3 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. I would write it down before changing anything else.

Lukas Huber · 3 likes

Learn a few local phrases and one apology phrase. People are usually generous when they see you trying. The low-effort version is probably the keeper.

Paolo Garcia · 13 likes

I had the same reaction to effort.

Silver Sparrow · 3 likes

The kindness in this post is lovely.

Jonas Schneider · 2 likes

@atlasRunner16 Kind of wild how often kindness is the whole issue.

Sleepy Noodle · 3 likes

For travel days, leave one flexible block. The best thing on a trip is often the thing you did not schedule. This is where I would ask one more question before choosing.

Maya Putri · 3 likes

For travel days, leave one flexible block. The best thing on a trip is often the thing you did not schedule. This would have saved me a lot of trial and error.

Yui Tanaka · 3 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. This would have saved me a lot of trial and error.

Maya Williams · 2 likes

For travel days, leave one flexible block. The best thing on a trip is often the thing you did not schedule. The social part surprised me too.

Daniel Kiptoo · 2 likes

I think this advice is overrated. This pairs weirdly well with falafel.

Priya Nair · 2 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. It reminds me of a very specific conversation near a family dinner.

Priya Nair · 2 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. This is where I would ask one more question before choosing.

Pixel Fern · 4 likes

Thanks for making it less intimidating.

Brave Lantern · 0 likes

I was going to disagree, but your second sentence got me.

Tola Ibrahim · 5 likes

I was going to disagree, but your second sentence got me.

Sophie Gagnon · 2 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. That is the kind of detail beginners miss.

Rapid Baker · 6 likes

@orbitRunner18 The Tuesday test is undefeated.

Paolo Garcia · 2 likes

Learn a few local phrases and one apology phrase. People are usually generous when they see you trying. I noticed the same thing in Cape Town.

Mango Coder · 2 likes

I wonder how much of this depends on timing. I used to overcomplicate this constantly.

Sleepy Comet · 2 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. For me it came down to the playlist.

Mango Noodle · 1 likes

Learn a few local phrases and one apology phrase. People are usually generous when they see you trying. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability.

Elif Yılmaz · 1 likes

Learn a few local phrases and one apology phrase. People are usually generous when they see you trying. I would love to see a follow-up after 10 weeks.

Rohan Mehta · 25 likes

@elifrides That is a good boundary.

Diego García · 2 likes

I am stealing that phrase.

Noah Miller · 1 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally different at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. This would have saved me a lot of trial and error.

Kabir Khan · 14 likes

Can you expand on that a bit?

Imogen Clarke · 5 likes

Short answer: yes. Long answer: also yes.

Zeynep Demir · 3 likes

That is a much better way to say it.

Lena Müller · 1 likes

Learn a few local phrases and one apology phrase. People are usually generous when they see you trying. I would write it down before changing anything else.

Aarav Sharma · 16 likes

Small caveat: context changes the answer a lot.