Bex wrote:But some methods must be more effective than others?Morgana wrote:You can do whatever you want with them.It seems doubtful to me that all you need to do is read 10,000 pages and you'll magically know Spanish. Maybe that is all there is to it? Maybe you need to do other stuff? And what if 10,000 pages isn't enough, that's a harsh lesson after all that reading/time!Morgana wrote:Some say 10,000 pages is a "magic" number.
No you won't magically "know Spanish" you'll know how to read in Spanish. Reading will increase your vocabulary, but unless you're reading out-loud it will not help your speaking nor will hit help your listening comprehension. Reading a lot helps you read. Speaking a lot helps you speak. Listening a lot helps you listen. (You see the pattern here I'm sure.)
Eventually you'll have to use native materials, because eventually you'll be past the point where they make courses for your level. Eventually you'll need to communicate with someone, so you might as well start practising output.
Bex wrote:I wish I knew how to apply myself and I had a tried/tested methodMorgana wrote:There are people on this forum who go a mostly native materials/comprehensible input route, but like you I always wonder about the "hows" because I'm sure I could be doing things more efficiently but I don't know how to apply myself so I do it lazily. It works too, eventually.
I suppose that is my issue really, it's so slow and quite painful using native materials, especially at my level. It shows me constantly how much I don't know and that is difficult to deal with mentally on a daily basis. The graded readers, or texts for learners are soooo boring AND I have no idea if all this reading will get me to where I want to be anyway
Maybe I'm just wavering in trusting the process. I suspect if you've already learnt a language before and you KNOW your method will work eventually it makes the whole process a lot easier.
You can journey between London and Paris, by bus, plane, train, car, walking, jogging, running, even swimming. Some are quicker than others but all will eventually get you to the objective if you continue. You can also switch between methods, and eventually get there, but the one thing you cannot do is stop. If you stop then you'll never arrive at the destination.
So I wouldn't worry about the method of transportation so much as worrying about progress. Like a good General you need to attack the enemy on all fronts. Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. Work all the various parts and don't focus on only one. Or ...