kulaputra wrote:I don't see why "The "No Way In Hades You Can Do This At All, Yes This Means YOU!, Free and Legal Challenge" should be categorically more difficult then the other challenges. It just seems like a matter of degree, not kind. Getting to C1 with only free and legal materials (assuming this includes a conversational partner) in major languages like Spanish, French, Italian, and even Russian doesn't seem that much harder then doing it the non-free way, given the plethora of resources online these days. ...
This is tongue in cheek hyperbole because some folks here tend to get "irrationally exuberant" about language-learning challenges, especially in the beginning. While it indeed,
can be done. I doubt if anyone will actually
want to go this route.
Look at the Super Challenge. In big languages like FIGS and Russian, culture is an important part of the desire to learn these languages and books, series and films help a self-learner to advance. Not being able to read modern novels, watch television series and current films that would be paid would be an impediment. So, my contention is that no one will actually
want to try to get to C1 without these resources. Of course, if a learner had access to a public library with a large selection of TL books, films and series, then it would be a lot easier. If a learner lived in a TL country or had access to TL television, even easier. Still, the artificial limitation of only free and legal resources is the challenge. My respect for anyone who manages to reach C1 with free and legal limitations would be tremendous!