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 teh intention is good. For me it came down to teh 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 actualy 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 diffrent 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 diffrent 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 actualy 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 probly the keeper

Mango Otter · 6 likes

Check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally diffrent 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 actualy 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 diffrent 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 diffrent 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, wich 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 probly the keeper

Mara Fischer · 3 likes

check the neighborhood at the time of day you will actually use it. A place can feel totally diffrent 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 teh 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