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40</head><body class="__variable_f367f3 antialiased"><div hidden=""><!--$?--><template id="B:0"></template><!--/$--></div><!--$--><!--/$--><!--$--><!--/$--><!--$--><!--/$--><!--$--><!--/$--><!--$?--><template id="B:1"></template><header class="w-full flex items-center justify-between px-4 lg:px-6 py-1 border-b border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-800 bg-white dark:bg-black sticky top-0" style="z-index:5" data-main-header="true"><div class="flex items-center"><div class="w-32 h-16 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse lg:block hidden"></div><div class="w-10 h-10 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse lg:hidden"></div></div><div class="hidden lg:flex items-center space-x-6"><div class="w-20 h-6 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse"></div><div class="w-20 h-6 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse"></div><div class="w-20 h-6 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse"></div><div class="w-20 h-6 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse"></div></div><div class="flex items-center space-x-4"><div class="hidden lg:flex items-center space-x-2"><div class="w-8 h-8 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse"></div><div class="w-8 h-8 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse"></div></div><div class="w-10 h-10 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded-full animate-pulse"></div><div class="lg:hidden w-8 h-8 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse"></div></div></header><!--/$--><!--$--><!--/$--><!--$--><!--/$--><!--$--><!--/$--><!--$--><a class="fixed bottom-4 right-4 z-50 flex items-center justify-center w-14 h-14 rounded-full bg-primary text-rf-light-onPrimary shadow-lg hover:bg-primary/90 hover:shadow-xl transition-all duration-200 active:scale-95" aria-label="Get help from coaches" href="/coaching"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-message-circle w-6 h-6" aria-hidden="true"><path d="M7.9 20A9 9 0 1 0 4 16.1L2 22Z"></path></svg></a><!--/$--><main class="bg-background"><div class="transition-opacity duration-150 opacity-100"><!--$?--><template id="B:2"></template><div class="min-h-screen bg-background"><header class="w-full flex items-center justify-between px-4 lg:px-6 py-1 border-b border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-800 bg-white dark:bg-black sticky top-0" style="z-index:5" data-main-header="true"><div class="flex items-center"><div class="w-32 h-16 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse lg:block hidden"></div><div class="w-10 h-10 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse lg:hidden"></div></div><div class="hidden lg:flex items-center space-x-6"><div class="w-20 h-6 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse"></div><div class="w-20 h-6 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse"></div><div class="w-20 h-6 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse"></div><div class="w-20 h-6 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse"></div></div><div class="flex items-center space-x-4"><div class="hidden lg:flex items-center space-x-2"><div class="w-8 h-8 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse"></div><div class="w-8 h-8 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse"></div></div><div class="w-10 h-10 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded-full animate-pulse"></div><div class="lg:hidden w-8 h-8 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse"></div></div></header><main class="container mx-auto px-6 py-8"><div class="max-w-6xl mx-auto"><div class="mb-8"><div class="h-8 w-64 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse mb-2"></div><div class="h-4 w-96 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded animate-pulse"></div></div></div></main></div><!--/$--></div></main><section aria-label="Notifications alt+T" tabindex="-1" aria-live="polite" aria-relevant="additions text" aria-atomic="false"></section><!--$--><!--/$-->
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43<div hidden id="S:1"><header class="w-full flex items-center justify-between px-4 lg:px-6 py-1 border-b border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-800 bg-white dark:bg-black sticky top-0" style="z-index:5" data-main-header="true"><div class="flex items-center"><a href="/"><img alt="Refold Home" loading="lazy" width="128" height="64" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="cursor-pointer hidden lg:block" style="color:transparent" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Frefold_logo_with_company_name.png&amp;w=128&amp;q=75 1x, /_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Frefold_logo_with_company_name.png&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 2x" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Frefold_logo_with_company_name.png&amp;w=256&amp;q=75"/><img alt="Refold" loading="lazy" width="40" height="40" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="cursor-pointer lg:hidden" style="color:transparent" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Frefold_logo_birb_only.png&amp;w=48&amp;q=75 1x, /_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Frefold_logo_birb_only.png&amp;w=96&amp;q=75 2x" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Frefold_logo_birb_only.png&amp;w=96&amp;q=75"/></a></div><div class="hidden lg:flex items-center space-x-6"><a class="flex items-center space-x-2 hover:text-primary transition-colors text-foreground" href="/"><svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" class=""><path d="M17.6 22.56H6.4c-1.82 0-3.48-1.4-3.78-3.2L1.29 11.4c-.21-1.24.39-2.83 1.38-3.62L9.6 2.23c1.34-1.08 3.45-1.07 4.8.01l6.93 5.54c.98.79 1.58 2.38 1.38 3.62l-1.33 7.96c-.3 1.77-1.99 3.2-3.78 3.2ZM11.99 2.94c-.53 0-1.06.16-1.45.47L3.61 8.96c-.57.46-.96 1.48-.84 2.2l1.33 7.96c.18 1.05 1.23 1.94 2.3 1.94h11.2c1.07 0 2.12-.89 2.3-1.95l1.33-7.96c.12-.72-.28-1.75-.84-2.2l-6.93-5.54c-.4-.31-.93-.47-1.47-.47Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M12 16.25c-1.79 0-3.25-1.46-3.25-3.25S10.21 9.75 12 9.75s3.25 1.46 3.25 3.25-1.46 3.25-3.25 3.25Zm0-5c-.96 0-1.75.79-1.75 1.75s.79 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75-.79 1.75-1.75-.79-1.75-1.75-1.75Z" fill="currentColor"></path></svg><span class="text-sm ">Home</span></a><a class="flex items-center space-x-2 hover:text-primary transition-colors text-foreground" href="/roadmap"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-compass" aria-hidden="true"><path d="m16.24 7.76-1.804 5.411a2 2 0 0 1-1.265 1.265L7.76 16.24l1.804-5.411a2 2 0 0 1 1.265-1.265z"></path><circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10"></circle></svg><span class="text-sm ">Roadmap</span></a><a class="flex items-center space-x-2 hover:text-primary transition-colors text-foreground" href="/starter-course"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-rocket" aria-hidden="true"><path d="M4.5 16.5c-1.5 1.26-2 5-2 5s3.74-.5 5-2c.71-.84.7-2.13-.09-2.91a2.18 2.18 0 0 0-2.91-.09z"></path><path d="m12 15-3-3a22 22 0 0 1 2-3.95A12.88 12.88 0 0 1 22 2c0 2.72-.78 7.5-6 11a22.35 22.35 0 0 1-4 2z"></path><path d="M9 12H4s.55-3.03 2-4c1.62-1.08 5 0 5 0"></path><path d="M12 15v5s3.03-.55 4-2c1.08-1.62 0-5 0-5"></path></svg><span class="text-sm ">Get Started</span></a><a class="flex items-center space-x-2 hover:text-primary transition-colors text-foreground" href="/decks"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-file-stack" aria-hidden="true"><path d="M21 7h-3a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V2"></path><path d="M21 6v6.5c0 .8-.7 1.5-1.5 1.5h-7c-.8 0-1.5-.7-1.5-1.5v-9c0-.8.7-1.5 1.5-1.5H17Z"></path><path d="M7 8v8.8c0 .3.2.6.4.8.2.2.5.4.8.4H15"></path><path d="M3 12v8.8c0 .3.2.6.4.8.2.2.5.4.8.4H11"></path></svg><span class="text-sm ">Decks</span></a><a class="flex items-center space-x-2 hover:text-primary transition-colors text-foreground" href="/pricing"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-credit-card" aria-hidden="true"><rect width="20" height="14" x="2" y="5" rx="2"></rect>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nAs part of my Mandarin learning journey, I started reading (and listening to) Harry Potter. Again. It's such a good way to improve reading in a new language since you're (probably) familiar with the story and won't get lost as easily.\n\nBut I didn't even think about what it would be like to translate a book, originally written in English, full of entirely made up words with roots from Latin, English-speaking culture and just _vibes_. Translating a basic sentence like \"He stood up and walked to the door\" is straightforward enough, but how on EARTH do you translate \"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?\"?\n\nWell actually, the translation is 波特,那你说说舟形乌头和狼毒乌头有什么区别?, which would literally translate as \"Potter, then why don't you tell us what the difference is between boat-shaped aconite and wolf-poison aconite?\"\n\n\u003cPlayAudio src=\"/api/blog-audio/harry-potter-in-mandarin--monkshood-wolfsbane-zh.mp3\" label=\"听中文\" description=\"Play the Mandarin translation of Snape's monkshood and wolfsbane question\" transcript=\"波特,那你说说舟形乌头和狼毒乌头有什么区别?\" /\u003e\n\n## The four spells at a glance {#at-a-glance}\n\nChinese can't leave a pseudo-Latin spell sitting on the page the way French or German can, because there's no Latin alphabet to leave it in. Every spell had to become characters, and that forced a choice each time: keep the sound, or keep the meaning. Here's how it went for four of them.\n\n| Spell              | In Mandarin                                 | Literally                | What the translator kept |\n| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------ |\n| Petrificus Totalus | **统统石化** _tǒngtǒng shíhuà_              | \"entirely, to stoneify\"  | the sense                |\n| Alohomora          | **阿拉霍洞开** _ālāhuò dòngkāi_             | \"aloho, flung wide open\" | both, one half each      |\n| Expelliarmus       | **除你武器** _chú nǐ wǔqì_                  | \"remove your weapon\"     | the sense, plainly       |\n| Wingardium Leviosa | **羽加迪姆勒维奥萨** _yǔjiādímǔ lèwéi'àosà_ | (nothing)                | the sound                |\n\n**Jump to:** [Petrificus Totalus](#petrificus-totalus) · [Alohomora](#alohomora) · [Expelliarmus](#expelliarmus) · [Wingardium Leviosa](#wingardium-leviosa) · [Names and places](#names-and-places) · [FAQ](#faq)\n\n## Translating the spells {#spells}\n\nMany of the spells of Harry Potter have Latin roots OR are supposed to feel Latiny.\n\n### Petrificus Totalus becomes 统统石化 {#petrificus-totalus}\n\nTake **Petrificus Totalus**, for example. It's fairly easy to see the words \"total\" and \"petrify\", which invoke more or less what the spell does. That might be slightly lost on a 10-year-old the first time they hear it, but \"petrify\" comes up a lot in book 2, so they'll probably get it.\n\nIn Mandarin, that spell becomes 统统石化 (tǒngtǒng shíhuà), which doesn't sound anything like the English version. Instead, it focuses more on the _v i b e s_.\n\n统统 (tǒngtǒng) means something like _totally, entirely, the whole lot_ and 石化 (shíhuà) is something like _to stoneify_ (石 stone + 化 -ify).\n\nIt reverses the Latin word order and translates both halves exactly: Totalus → 统统, Petrificus → 石化.\n\n### Alohomora becomes 阿拉霍洞开 {#alohomora}\n\n**Alohomora** is a spell that does apparently have roots in real West African languages, but that's not known by anyone reading the book for the first time. So it's essentially a nonsense spell in English.\n\nThe Mandarin translation starts out the same, with 阿拉霍 (ālāhuò), syllables that have no meaning here. They're just sounds. But then the second half of the spell is 洞开 (dòngkāi), which means _to be wide open_.\n\nIt's a sorta mix, closer to how something like **Expelliarmus** might feel in English. Parti
44ally nonsense, but that gives you a familiar feeling.\n\n### Expelliarmus becomes 除你武器 {#expelliarmus}\n\n**Expelliarmus**, by the way, is another interesting translation. It's a _lot_ more literal than in English: 除你武器 (chú nǐ wǔqì).\n\n除 (chú) means _to remove, to eliminate_, then 你 (nǐ) means _you, your_ and finally 武器 (wǔqì) straight up means _weapon_. So it's essentially a little sentence that anyone can read as \"remove your weapon\".\n\nIt's a lot more on the nose than any spell is in English (except perhaps, \"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid fat rat yellow\"). However, based on my (limited) experience learning Mandarin, it fits a lot better. There are _tons_ of 4 syllable phrases that are a part of everyday communication in Chinese languages.\n\nThey function like a mix between an idiom, a set phrase and just a normal word. So it's not as weird to see \"remove your weapon\" as a spell as it would be in English (or other European languages).\n\n### Wingardium Leviosa becomes 羽加迪姆勒维奥萨 {#wingardium-leviosa}\n\nThe last spell I want to draw attention to is one of the most famous: **Wingardium Leviosa**. It's also interesting because it uses the final approach to spell translation: just copying the sounds.\n\n羽加迪姆勒维奥萨 (yǔjiādímǔ lèwéi'àosà) is pretty much just sound. Most of the characters used are the same ones that get used to transliterate proper nouns like Disney (迪士尼). The only part that slightly invokes the vibe of \"wing\" is the 羽, which is the character for _feather_ or _plume_. But the rest is just nonsense.\n\nIf you want to see how other languages answered the same question, our [ten Harry Potter translations that rebuilt the magic](/blog/harry-potter-translations) covers Finnish, which threw out the Latin entirely and built its own.\n\n## Translating other made-up terms {#names-and-places}\n\nSpells are just the beginning of the trouble! There are still dozens of words, names or ideas that are used again and again in the books.\n\nLots of them use the same strategy as Wingardium Leviosa and just make the word sound the same. Gryffindor is 格兰芬多 (Gélánfēnduō), Ravenclaw is 拉文克劳 (Lāwénkèláo) and even Hogwarts is just 霍格沃茨 (Huògéwòcí).\n\nMost character and place names are done like this.\n\nHowever, many are translated to match the style and vibes. This is pretty easy with things like \"The Chamber of Secrets\", which becomes 密室 (mìshì), meaning _secret room_ and \"Sorting Hat\" 分院帽 (fēnyuànmào), which is literally _divide house hat_.\n\nThe Whomping Willow does lose a little of the whimsical nature of the original name by becoming 打人柳 (dǎrénliǔ), which literally is _hit people willow_ or _the willow that hits people_.\n\n\u003cBlogInlineAside heading=\"You only notice this stuff by reading the book\" body=\"Every example here is something you trip over while reading, not something you look up. If you've never read a novel in the language you're learning, that's the thing worth trying next.\" linkLabel=\"Why Harry Potter is the best book to start with\" href=\"/blog/learn-a-language-with-harry-potter\" articleSlug=\"harry-potter-in-mandarin\" ctaId=\"mid-aside\" cluster=\"hp\" /\u003e\n\n## Read Harry Potter in your target language {#read-it-yourself}\n\nThere is SO much more to the translations of Harry Potter into Mandarin. I only scratch the surface on the first two books, let alone the whole series.\n\nThe only way you can really experience it is by reading the series in another language! It's a fascinating experience that also helps your language learning a _ton_.\n\nNot only did I learn a lot of Mandarin and improve my reading speed/comfort, but I got to see a piece of English language culture viewed through an entirely different lens.\n\nSomething that surprised me was how, at the end of most chapters, there were footnotes explaining terms in the books that young, Chinese-speaking kids might not know. I remember there being an explanation of what \"dreadlocks\" were (since Lee Jordan is described as having them), since they're not as common or known in the Chinese speaking world.\n\nHarry Potter is translated into over 80 languages, which means it's available for 99% of language learners in the world.\n\n**What? You've never read a book in your target language before?**\n\nThat might feel like a problem, but you can do it! I promise. I've read Harry Potter in (at time of writing) 5 different languages and here are my tips:\n\n- Get the book _and_ audiobook. The audio pushes you along and ensures you don't get stuck on page one\n- Focus on _finishing_, not understanding. It's totally normal not to understand much. You're still learning, but once you finish a book, it unlocks so much for you\n- Use digital versions of the book you can look up words. Don't look up every word, but some targeted lookups here and there go a long way\n- Just DO it! Don't wait for the perfect moment or something, just start today\n\nThat last point is the whole argument of [why Harry Potter is the modern Rosetta Stone](/blog/learn-a-language-with-harry-potter), and it goes into a lot more detail on how to actually get through your first book. If you want the general version instead, [how to use books to increase your vocabulary](/blog/how-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary) covers the same ground for any book in any language.\n\nIf you're learning French, Spanish, German, Italian or English, you should also check out our Harry Potter prestudy decks. They're complete packages of digital flashcards which cover all the words you need to know to survive (
44and thrive) during your first readthrough.\n\nI'm proud of them and there's a 30-day money back guarantee, so you can get them, start reading and then, if you decide it's not for you, I'll personally make sure you get all your money back.\n\n---\n\n\u003cHpDeckBridge cluster=\"hp\" variant=\"toDeck\" articleSlug=\"harry-potter-in-mandarin\" /\u003e\n\n## Frequently asked questions {#faq}\n\n### How was Harry Potter translated into Chinese?\n\nThe Simplified Chinese edition from the People's Literature Publishing House uses three strategies depending on the word. Names of people and places are usually transliterated, so Hogwarts becomes a string of characters chosen for their sound. Descriptive names are translated for meaning, so the Sorting Hat becomes 分院帽, \"divide house hat\". Spells go either way, and several go both ways at once.\n\n### What is Wingardium Leviosa in Chinese?\n\n羽加迪姆勒维奥萨 (yǔjiādímǔ lèwéi'àosà). It's almost pure transliteration, built from the same characters Chinese uses for foreign proper nouns like Disney (迪士尼). The one exception is the first character, 羽, which means \"feather\" and looks like a nod to the \"wing\" in Wingardium, though the translators never said so.\n\n### What is Expelliarmus in Chinese?\n\n除你武器 (chú nǐ wǔqì), literally \"remove your weapon\". Unlike the English, which is pseudo-Latin, the Chinese is an ordinary readable phrase. It works because four-syllable set phrases are a normal part of everyday Chinese, so a spell that reads like a short sentence doesn't feel strange the way it would in English.\n\n### What is Hogwarts in Chinese?\n\n霍格沃茨 (Huògéwòcí), a transliteration with no meaning attached. The houses go the same way: Gryffindor is 格兰芬多 (Gélánfēnduō) and Ravenclaw is 拉文克劳 (Lāwénkèláo). Places with descriptive English names are treated differently, so the Chamber of Secrets becomes 密室, \"secret room\".\n\n### Who translated Harry Potter into Chinese?\n\nThe Simplified Chinese editions were published by the People's Literature Publishing House in Beijing, with Ma Ainong, Ma Aixin and Cao Suling among the translators across the series. Taiwan has a separate Traditional Chinese translation from Crown Publishing, which makes different choices; the forms quoted in this article are the Simplified ones.\n\n### Are the Harry Potter spells in Chinese the same as in English?\n\nAlmost none of them are. Most European translations leave the pseudo-Latin spells untouched, because Latin already looks foreign on a European page. Chinese has no Latin alphabet and no Latin substrate, so leaving a spell alone isn't an option. Every spell had to be rebuilt as characters, which forced a decision on each one about whether to carry the sound or the sense.\n\n### Is reading Harry Potter a good way to learn Chinese?\n\nIt's one of the better options, because knowing the story carries you through the parts you can't read yet. Chinese adds a difficulty that alphabetic languages don't, since you can't sound out a character you've never seen, so reading alongside the audiobook and pre-learning the common vocabulary matters more here than usual.\n\n---\n\n## Sources and methodology {#sources}\n\nEvery Chinese form quoted here was read out of the published Simplified Chinese text of books 1 and 2, not taken from a fan wiki. Pinyin is given in the standard romanization. Glosses of the invented words are readings rather than official translations: 统统石化 is transparently \"entirely\" plus \"to stoneify\", but deciding that 羽 in 羽加迪姆勒维奥萨 is a deliberate nod to \"wing\" rather than an accident of transliteration is interpretation, and I'm flagging it as such.\n\nThe Traditional Chinese translation published in Taiwan is a separate translation with its own solutions. Nothing here describes it.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nThe Rosetta Stone might be one of the most famous stones of all time. Right up there with the Rolling and kidney varieties. Most people know, more or less, what the Rosetta Stone did or why it's important, but probably only the basics.\n\n![The same Harry Potter sentence in English, Spanish and Chinese, stacked in three bands like the three scripts on the Rosetta Stone](/api/blog-images/learn-a-language-with-harry-potter--rosetta-three-registers.png)\n\n## What the Rosetta Stone actually did {#what-the-rosetta-stone-did}\n\nThe stone was (re)discovered in 1799 and was already around 2000 years old _then_. It was used as a piece of construction material, but spread quickly via copies and casts since it was the first major _bilingual_ text that included Ancient Egyptian.\n\nThe stone was actually an official decree written, and this is the important part, in 2 different languages and 3 different scripts. It was in Ancient Egyptian using hieroglyphs, Ancient Egyptian using the Demotic script (not as famous as the hieroglyphs, but also a very cool script) and the final language was Ancient Greek using the already known Greek script.\n\nSince Ancient Greek was already relatively well known and easy to translate, this meant that Ancient Egyptian could now be reconstructed and hieroglyphs deciphered thanks to the Greek part of the Rosetta Stone.\n\nIt was still _very_ difficult, since there isn't actually that much text on the Rosetta Stone and the fact that there's no one you can ask for help. No native speakers, no one who was there who can explain the nuance of one word over another. Not even a recording so that scholars could associate sounds with the written words.\n\n## Harry Potter is today's Rosetta Stone {#harry-potter-rosetta-stone}\n\nIf you're trying to learn a second language, a modernly used one, you have far more tools available to you! Dozens of apps, courses and methods. Hundreds of YouTube videos, podcast episodes and TV shows.\n\nBut there is still an immense amount of value in being able to read a familiar text in that new language.\n\nIf you're trying to learn another language, you should be making use of today's Rosetta Stone: Harry Potter.\n\nNot only does Harry Potter exist in FAR more languages than the Rosetta Stone had (there are around 85 different language versions of Harry Potter using nearly a dozen unique scripts), but many of those languages also have audiobook versions. And the whole Harry Potter series is roughly 1 million words compared to a single broken slab of stone.\n\nSince it's one of the most famous and best selling book series of all time, it's also fairly likely that you've read it (or at least have seen the movies). Not so much the case for Ptolemy V Epiphanes' royal decree.\n\n|                        | The Rosetta Stone | Harry Potter                       |\n| ---------------------- | ----------------- | ---------------------------------- |\n| Languages              | 2                 | around 85                          |\n| Scripts                | 3                 | roughly a dozen                    |\n| Length                 | one broken slab   | roughly 1 million words            |\n| Audio                  | none              | audiobooks in most major languages |\n| Do you know the story? | no                | probably                           |\n\n## Why do you need a Rosetta Stone? {#why-you-need-a-rosetta-stone}\n\nReading a novel in a language you're learning is very difficult. Being honest, most language learners never do it. Many never even _try_. But reading is one of the absolute best ways to improve your language learning.\n\nIt trains vocabulary knowledge and grammar understanding _in context_, it improves processing speed and memory of the language and is much _much_ more engaging than doing flashcards or sitting in a classroom, drilling conjugations.\n\nBut it's HARD. Reading your first novel in your target language can feel impossible. When you open the first page, it's just a mass of words, swimming around on the page. Most of which you hardly even recognize. How on earth do I expect you to _read_ a _book_???\n\nBy starting with your Rosetta Stone! The stone was useful to 19th century linguists because they were already pretty familiar with Greek, so they could break down what the text was about. They also were able to find important names in the Greek text, then locate them in the other texts and thus figure out, more or less, the pronunciation of the symbols.\n\nAssuming you already know the story of Harry Potter, even if roughly, you can do the same! Many translations use identical (or similar) character names. So if you see:\n\n\u003e Harry miró a Hermione y dijo...\n\n\u003cPlayAudio src=\"/api/blog-audio/learn-a-language-with-harry-potter--harry-miro-a-hermione-es.mp3\" label=\"Hear it in Spanish\" description=\"Hear the sentence Harry miro a Hermione y dijo read aloud in Spanish\" transcript=\"Harry miró a Hermione y dijo…\" /\u003e\n\nyou don't need to know much Spanish in order to figure out who's being talked about! And just with the words _miró_ and _dijo_ (which mean \"looked\" and \"said\"), you can pretty easily figure out that it means _Harry looked at Hermione and said..._\n\nYou just read a sentence in Spanish!\n\n_That's_ the core value of reading a story you already know in your new language. It gives you scaffolding and allows you to get through a real novel without being thrown into the deep end with no help.\n\nNames are not always this easy, mind you. Translators rebuilt a great deal of Rowling's invented vocabulary from scratch, and [ten of those rebuilds are worth seeing](/blog/harry-potter-translations) before you start. If you're learning Chinese, where nothing can be left in the Latin alphabet, [the Mandarin translation](/blog/harry-potter-in-mandarin) had to rebuild almost everything.\n\n## Plus you have audio {#reading-with-audio}\n\nEven if you know the story, it's still not easy to make it through the first book. Your eyes aren't used to moving over words in the language, your inner voice doesn't process the words instantly as sound inside your head and you haven't seen thousands upon thous
44ands of sentences.\n\nSo try reading along with the audio! My friend calls this \"scuba reading\" since the audio sorta acts like a scuba tank and allows you to breathe underwater (or stay submerged in the text) for longer than you could normally. The analogy is a little awkward, but once you try it, I think you'll see why it does fit rather well.\n\nWhen I started learning Czech, I downloaded the book + audiobook and started reading along. I'd hardly been learning for 3 weeks, at that point, but just focused on the few words I could recognize, the character names and listening to the audio. And I made it through! The first book was very hard, the second pretty hard, but by the time I got to the seventh book, I understood pretty much everything!\n\nI firmly believe that you can do the same with a little bit of dedication.\n\nI've since done the same thing in four languages, and [why I've read Harry Potter in 5 languages](/blog/reading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language) is the longer version of how each one went.\n\nThe same trick works on audio you aren't reading along with, which is what [intensive listening](/blog/improve-listening-skills-with-intensive-listening) is for.\n\n\u003cBlogInlineAside heading=\"Reading isn't the only channel\" body=\"Books are one way in. Reading sits alongside listening, watching and speaking, and our guide to learning a language covers the whole method.\" linkLabel=\"Read how to learn a language\" href=\"/blog/how-to-learn-a-language\" articleSlug=\"learn-a-language-with-harry-potter\" ctaId=\"mid-aside\" cluster=\"hp\" /\u003e\n\n## But there's still more you can do! {#learn-the-vocabulary}\n\nThe final tip I have for you if you want to read Harry Potter in your target language:\n\nLEARN VOCABULARY. Ideally, learn the specific vocabulary that is going to be helpful for reading Harry Potter.\n\nI don't mean wizard, wand or witch or even nitwit, oddment, blubber or tweak! There are only a few dozen of those words and you'll pick them up by reading. Most of them are pretty clear in the stories.\n\nWhat I mean are the actual common \"glue\" words (or content words) that make up 90% of all books. These are just normal words like _grab_ or _yell_ or _table_. Little grammar words like _it_, _the_ and _we_ are also super common, but those are pretty easy to pick up while reading since they're so plentiful.\n\nBut the nouns, verbs and adjectives that make up everything else are very useful to learn. Especially if you tailor them toward the book you want to read.\n\nThere are a few ways to go about this (and being fully honest, one of them is a product we make and sell, but there are alternatives).\n\n1. Download a premade option from Ankiweb or some other free source. The quality of these can be very hit or miss, but they often do the job\n2. Use a program or AI coding agent to process the text for you and create vocab lists or Anki decks for you (this is getting easier and better every day!)\n3. ???\n4. Check out our premade Anki decks specifically tailored to help you read Harry Potter as quickly as possible\n\nWhichever route you take, [how to use Anki](/blog/how-to-use-anki) covers getting the reviews themselves right, and [how to use books to increase your vocabulary](/blog/how-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary) covers mining words out of what you read.\n\nOur decks include only the most important words you need to know to be able to survive your first read through. Each word has an example sentence, audio, and most have an image to help you \"see\" the meaning. The decks themselves are excellent language practice in and of themselves, but prepare you to do something you've never done before: read an actual book in German (or French or Spanish or Italian or English... whichever language you're learning).\n\nThe words are sorted so that you learn them in the \"optimal\" order, about a day or two before you come across them in the text. That way, you're more likely to recognize and understand them!\n\nClick your target language below to learn more about the decks!\n\n---\n\n\u003cHpDeckBridge cluster=\"hp\" variant=\"toDeck\" articleSlug=\"learn-a-language-with-harry-potter\" /\u003e\n\n## Frequently asked questions {#faq}\n\n### Is Harry Potter good for learning a language?\n\nIt's one of the best choices for a first novel. The writing is aimed at children and gets harder book by book, which matches how y
44our reading ability grows. It has been translated into around 85 languages, most of them with an audiobook. And because you probably already know the story, you can follow the plot through pages you can't fully read yet.\n\n### What level do you need to read Harry Potter in another language?\n\nLower than you think, if you use the audiobook and accept that you won't understand everything. The usual advice is to wait until you're comfortable, which in practice means waiting forever. Start early, use the audio, learn a few hundred common words first, and let yourself be confused. That works better than waiting.\n\n### How do I read a book in a language I barely know?\n\nRead along with the audiobook so you can't stall on a single page, aim to finish rather than to understand, and use a digital copy so you can look up words without losing your place. Look up the words that keep reappearing, not every word you don't recognize.\n\n### Should I look up every word I don't know?\n\nNo. Looking up every word turns reading into decoding and you'll quit. Look up a word when it has come up several times and is clearly load-bearing for the scene, and let the rest go. You'll meet most of them again.\n\n### Can I get Harry Potter in the language I'm learning?\n\nAlmost certainly. The series has been licensed in around 85 languages, across roughly a dozen writing systems, including Latin and Ancient Greek. Audiobooks exist for many of them. If your language has a publishing industry, there's a good chance Harry Potter is in it.\n\n### Is it better to read Harry Potter or listen to the audiobook?\n\nBoth at once. Reading and listening together keeps you moving at the narrator's pace instead of stalling on a hard sentence, and it ties the written word to its sound, which reading on its own never does.\n\n### Should I learn vocabulary before reading Harry Potter?\n\nIt helps a lot, and the useful words are not the wizarding ones. Learning wand and broomstick does almost nothing; learning the ordinary nouns, verbs and adjectives that make up the bulk of any novel is what makes the first chapters readable.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nI've read (or listened to) the Harry Potter series at least 20, probably closer to 30 times. While most of those came from listening to the Jim Dale audiobooks on repeat in my youth, I've reread the series at least 4 more times in the past few years.\n\n![The title of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in English, Spanish, Czech, German and Chinese](/api/blog-images/reading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--five-titles.png)\n\nNot because I particularly _like_ it (complaining about the weird plot holes is a favorite pastime of mine[^1]), but because of how useful the series is as a _language learning tool_.\n\nI learn languages more or less professionally. I'm incredibly lucky that I've been able to make this passion into a way to earn a living. So I have a lot of time to dedicate to language learning, which is why I was able to read Harry Potter in Spanish, Czech, German and Mandarin over the last 5 or so years.\n\nHere is the first book's title in each of them, if you want to hear what you would be walking into:\n\n- \u003cPlayAudio src=\"/api/blog-audio/reading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--title-en.mp3\" label=\"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone\" description=\"Hear the English title of the first Harry Potter book read aloud\" transcript=\"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone\" /\u003e English\n- \u003cPlayAudio src=\"/api/blog-audio/reading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--title-es.mp3\" label=\"Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal\" description=\"Hear the Spanish title of the first Harry Potter book read aloud\" transcript=\"Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal\" /\u003e Spanish\n- \u003cPlayAudio src=\"/api/blog-audio/reading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--title-cs.mp3\" label=\"Harry Potter a Kámen mudrců\" description=\"Hear the Czech title of the first Harry Potter book read aloud\" transcript=\"Harry Potter a Kámen mudrců\" /\u003e Czech\n- \u003cPlayAudio src=\"/api/blog-audio/reading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--title-de.mp3\" label=\"Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen\" description=\"Hear the German title of the first Harry Potter book read aloud\" transcript=\"Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen\" /\u003e German\n- \u003cPlayAudio src=\"/api/blog-audio/reading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--title-zh.mp3\" label=\"哈利·波特与魔法石\" description=\"Hear the Mandarin Chinese title of the first Harry Potter book read aloud\" transcript=\"哈利·波特与魔法石\" /\u003e Chinese\n\nIn this article, I'm going to lay out exactly why Harry Potter is so useful for language learning. We'll be looking at the power of reading, familiarity, and exposure.\n\nHere's the short version of all three.\n\n| The power   | What does it actually do?                                                    | Why a book you know delivers it                                              |\n| ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Exposure    | Hours spent understanding real language, which is what moves you forward     | One book is dozens of hours with the language, and the story keeps you in it |\n| Reading     | Rich, varied vocabulary at a pace you control                                | Books use far more words than conversation does                              |\n| Familiarity | Lets you follow the story on far less than the 95% or so you'd normally need | You already know what happens, so the words you miss stop mattering as much  |\n\n## The Power of Exposure {#exposure}\n\nWe'll start at the end of the list since it's the most fundamental language learning lesson I can give you. Put simply, if you want to learn a language you should spend as much time as possible exposed to that language.\n\nThere are many different kinds of exposure, however. Just putting on French talk radio in the background at work or listening to \"1001 French conversations to listen to while you sleep\" won't work.\n\nThe exposure to the language must be \"high quality\". It's impossible to objectively judge the quality of time with a language, but you should look for:\n\n- Comprehension (you want to understand what's being said, even if a bit)\n- Richness (the language should be varied and natural, not just basic sentences repeated a thousand times)\n- Interesting (you should actually want to understand it. An engaged brain learns much better than a disinterested one)\n\nInterestingly, this kind of exposure is exactly what classrooms do NOT provide. The language you hear or read in a classroom is likely to be boring, repetitive and unnatural. It might be comprehensible, but even if it is, most classes only go for a few hours per week, which isn't nearly enough time.\n\nIf you take just one thing from this article, make it this: use your free time to listen to, read and enjoy the language you're learning. That's the only way to make classes or apps or programs actually effective.\n\n## The Power of Reading {#reading}\n\nReading, I've found, is far and away the best way to get that massive amount of high quality exposure to a foreign language.\n\nOne of the main reasons is due to the nature of reading being at your own pace. You don't need to keep up with the full speed of native dialogue or slow pace of a classroom. You pick your reading speed. If you need to go slow and look up words, great! If the text or section is easier, you can go much faster.\n\nReading is also great for learning because of the richness of language used and the variety of words and grammar patterns. Books use far more words than the typical conversation, which means you're more easily able to learn all the thousands of words that exist in the language.\n\nI don't just think that reading is great, lots of studies have found a very positive relationship between reading and language ability. The more you read for fun, the better you get at the language.\n\nReading isn't the only channel, though. [The channels of input](/blog/the-channels-of-input) covers what listening and watching do that reading can't.\n\n## The Power of Familiarity {#familiarity}\n\nBut reading in a new language is _hard_. Especially when you're still new at the language. Looking at the first page of a book is like looking up Mount Everest. Everything is unknown, the words just blur together on the page. And if you're still learning the writing system of the language (like if you're learning Korean or Japanese or Russian), you might not even recognize the words _as words_.\n\nWhich is where the power of familiarity comes in. If you already know the story, you suddenly have a foothold in the story. Looking at the first page isn't an inscrutable mess of ink on the page, it's just a different way of telling a story you already know.\n\nInstead of needing to know around 95% of the words to be able to comprehend the story, you _already_ know the story and can figure out where you are based on the few words you do know, the words you pick up from context and the character names.\n\nIf you haven't read Harry Potter, I'm sure there's another series that would work for you. Or even a TV show or dubbed movie! The power of familiarity applies to all forms of media.\n\nThe character names carry more of that weight than you'd guess, and they don't always survive the trip. Hogwarts is Poudlard in French and Bradavice in Czech, which is a whole story in itself: [ten translations that rebuilt Rowling's invented words](/blog/harry-potter-translations).\n\n\u003cBlogInlineAside heading=\"Why this book in particular\" body=\"Any story you know 
44well will do, but Harry Potter has some unfair advantages. It exists in around 85 languages, most of the big ones have an audiobook, and book one is short enough to actually finish.\" linkLabel=\"Harry Potter is the modern Rosetta Stone\" href=\"/blog/learn-a-language-with-harry-potter\" articleSlug=\"reading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language\" ctaId=\"mid-aside\" cluster=\"hp\" /\u003e\n\n## It's still not easy {#tools}\n\nEven with the **three great powers**, it wasn't easy. I had to really focus and use all the tools at my disposal to be able to follow the story.\n\nOne tool I really like is the audiobooks. Having the audio and text combined makes it so much easier to focus and stay with the story. You don't need to drag your eyes across every word and try to make sense of it, you also get it read to you. Sometimes the book and audiobook are slightly different, but usually not enough for it to really make a difference.\n\nYou can also use a reader tool. There are lots of tools out there from LingQ to Lute to LinguaThor to Readlang. I used reading tools for my Czech and Mandarin read throughs of the books (I didn't know about them for when I read it in Spanish and was already at a good enough level to just use the audiobooks for German). That part is totally up to you though. However, I would recommend getting the book on an eReader or phone/tablet so that you can use the built in pop-up dictionary to quickly look up unknown words.\n\nWe've written up [a full review of LingQ](/blog/lingq-review) if you're deciding between them. Mandarin is where a reader tool earns its keep most, since a character you've never met gives you nothing to sound out, and [what its translators did to the spells](/blog/harry-potter-in-mandarin) is a story of its own.\n\n## Pre learn the words {#pre-learn}\n\nThe last, and possibly most effective, thing you can do to make reading easier is to learn the words that actually show up in the book. That way, you know (or have a passing familiarity with) the words you come across.\n\nNot just \"wizard\", \"wand\" and \"Hogwarts\", but also the more generic words that appear _all the time_ in the books.\n\nThat's the same principle behind [using books to increase your vocabulary](/blog/how-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary), just done in advance instead of as you go.\n\nWe build vocabulary study decks _tailor made_ for this purpose. They're optimized and sorted so that you learn the words in the same order they become relevant in the Harry Potter books. The first 10 words you learn will show up in the first ~20 minutes of reading. This makes the process of reading even _more_ fun since you constantly feel like you're learning relevant words, which will make the study time easier. It's a positive feedback loop that improves your language skills!\n\nClick your target language below to learn more about the decks!\n\n---\n\n\u003cHpDeckBridge cluster=\"hp\" variant=\"toDeck\" articleSlug=\"reading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language\" /\u003e\n\n## Frequently asked questions {#faq}\n\n### How many languages have you read Harry Potter in?\n\nFive, counting English. Spanish, Czech, German and Mandarin came over the last five years or so, and the English readthroughs go back to listening to the Jim Dale audiobooks on repeat as a kid. That's somewhere past 20 times through the series, and honestly probably closer to 30.\n\n### Does rereading a book you already know actually help you learn a language?\n\nThat's most of why it works. Normally you need to follow about 95% of the words to make sense of a page. If you already know the story, you don't, because you can place yourself using the character names, the few words you do know and whatever you pick up from context. The story does the work your vocabulary can't do yet.\n\n### What reading tools do you recommend?\n\nI used a reader tool for Czech and Mandarin, and there are plenty to pick from, including LingQ, Lute, LinguaThor and Readlang. For Spanish and German I just used the book and the audiobook. Honestly the simplest option is good enough. Read on an eReader, phone or tablet so you can tap a word and get the built-in pop-up dictionary.\n\n### Is listening to the audiobook while you read cheating?\n\nNo. The audiobook is one of the tools I really like, and it's doing real work. You stop having to sound out every word yourself, and the story keeps moving even on the pages you're only half following. Now and then the audiobook and the printed text don't quite match, but it's never enough to lose you.\n\n### What if I've never read Harry Potter?\n\nPick something else you already know well. Any series works, and so does a TV show or a dubbed film. Familiarity is the thing doing the work, not Harry Potter specifically.\n\n### Why doesn't a language class give you the same result?\n\nTwo reasons. The language you meet in a classroom tends to be boring, repetitive and unnatural, and most classes run a few hours a week, which isn't close to enough time. Classes can work, but only if you're also spending your own hours reading and listening to things you actually enjoy.\n\n### Do you have to read, or is watching TV in the language enough?\n\nWatching counts, and you should do it. Reading still wins on vocabulary, because a book will throw words at you that no conversation ever will, and you set the pace yourself. Do both.\n\n[^1]: The most annoying of which is the fact that wizards seem to _be illiterate_. In the 4th book, Mr Weasley needs to ask Harry how to READ THE NUMBERS ON BANK NOTES. He can't tell the difference between a 5 and a 20, even when he acknowledges that he sees them.\n"])</script>
44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"35:T1254c,"])</script>
44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n_Hogwarts_ is a joke. It is _warthog_ with the halves swapped: an ancient castle named after a pig with a skin condition. _Muggle_ leans on _mug_, British slang for someone easily fooled. _Avada Kedavra_ is built to echo _abracadabra_, the one magic word every English-speaking child already knows. _Snape_ sits close enough to _snake_ to be suspicious and far enough away to stay deniable.\n\nNone of that survives a dictionary. Which is the problem the Harry Potter translations had to solve, in around eighty-five languages, on a deadline, and, once the series got big enough, without being allowed to read the book early.\n\nWhat follows is ten of those solutions: a tour of Harry Potter in other languages that starts with the school itself. Each entry is a different **kind** of problem: a place name, a common noun, an invented sport, a magic system, an embedded riddle, a joke acronym, an anagram, a mirror that reads backwards, a character name, and a piece of history. Ten problems, ten languages. Almost every translated word quoted here was read out of the published text rather than a fan wiki; where no edition could be got hold of, the source is named at the end. If this list leaves you wanting to read one of these translations yourself, our guide to [how to learn a language](/blog/how-to-learn-a-language) explains why a book you already love is one of the best tools for it.\n\n![The word Hogwarts written in ten languages, including Poudlard in French, Bradavice in Czech, Roxfort in Hungarian, Tylypahka in Finnish and Zweinstein in Dutch](/api/blog-images/harry-potter-translations--hogwarts-ten-languages.png)\n\n## The 10 Harry Potter translations at a glance {#at-a-glance}\n\nHarry Potter has been translated into around 85 languages. Because Rowling's invented words carry jokes rather than meanings, translators could not simply translate them. Each had to choose, word by word, between building a new joke and leaving the English where it stood. Here are ten who built.\n\n| Language         | English word        | Becomes                                       | Why it works                                     |\n| ---------------- | ------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |\n| French           | Hogwarts            | **Poudlard**                                  | \"Bacon louse\", from the translator's own account |\n| Mandarin Chinese | Muggle              | **麻瓜** _máguā_                              | \"Numb melon\"; now real Chinese slang             |\n| Yiddish          | Quidditch           | **\u003cbdi dir=\"rtl\"\u003eשיסבעזעם\u003c/bdi\u003e** _shisbezem_ | \"Shoot-broom\", compressed from a proverb         |\n| Finnish          | Wingardium Leviosa  | **Siipiirdium lentiusa**                      | An entire fake Latin, built from Finnish         |\n| Turkish          | the sphinx's riddle | **örümcek**                                   | Knitting + hope + the future tense               |\n| Spanish          | S.P.E.W.            | **P.E.D.D.O.**                                | An elf-rights campaign that sounds like a fart   |\n| Greek            | Tom Marvolo Riddle  | **Άντον Μόρβολ Χερτ** _Anton Morvol Hert_     | Even the first name had to go                    |\n| Japanese         | Mirror of Erised    | **みぞの鏡** _Mizo no Kagami_                 | The inscription reversed, kana by kana           |\n| Russian          | Severus Snape       | **Злотеус Злей** _Zloteus Zley_               | Hands down the verdict on page one               |\n| Polish           | the Snatchers       | **szmalcownicy**                              | A real word from the Nazi occupation             |\n\n**Jump to:** [French](#french-poudlard) · [Chinese](#chinese-magua) · [Yiddish](#yiddish-shisbezem) · [Finnish](#finnish-siipiirdium-lentiusa) · [Turkish](#turkish-orumcek) · [Spanish](#spanish-peddo) · [Greek](#greek-anton-morvol-hert) · [Japanese](#japanese-mizo-no-kagami) · [Russian](#russian-zloteus-zley) · [Polish](#polish-szmalcownicy) · [FAQ](#faq)\n\n---\n\n## 1. French: **Poudlard** {#french-poudlard}\n\n\u003e **Replaces:** Hogwarts · **Literally:** \"bacon louse\" · **Translator:** Jean-François Ménard\n\nStart with the school, be
44cause Hogwarts is the clearest illustration of what these translators were up against: a name that means nothing and suggests everything.\n\nRowling built it by inverting _warthog_. Jean-François Ménard, who translated all seven French volumes for Gallimard, worked that out and then had to decide what to do about it, [in his own words](https://www.lesgryffondors.com/2020/03/19/menard-traduction-hp-explications/):\n\n\u003e \"In English it's Hogwarts, and that's an inversion of _warthog_. A warthog is a _phacochère_, which literally means the pig that has warts. Hogwarts plays on that word. I said to myself, pig warts, that's not great. So I tried to get close to something not very appetising for the warts. I arrived at _pou_ [louse], and the pig turned into _lard_ [bacon fat].\"\n\nSo: **Poudlard**. Same pig, new blemish, identical register. A grand institution named after something you would not want on your skin. Ménard adds a detail that tells you the coinage landed: French readers sometimes assumed _Poudlard_ was the English word, and would ask him whether it should be _Poudlard_ or _Poudlarde_.\n\nHis account of **Moldu** for _Muggle_ is the same method applied to a common noun. Muggle has no fixed dictionary meaning, so he hunted for a French word of similar shape, starting with M, that suggested someone slightly soft in the head — _mou du bulbe_, \"soft in the brain-stem\". Not a translation of the word. A translation of the feeling of the word.\n\nAnd once, he quietly improved on the original. Ravenclaw, he decided, came out in French as something like a raven's talon, and he did not care for the bird; the house's emblem is an eagle anyway. So Ravenclaw became **Serdaigle**, \"eagle's talon\": the talon kept, the wrong bird replaced. French readers get a house whose name matches its crest. English readers do not.\n\n### Hogwarts in different languages: the same three-way choice {#hogwarts-in-different-languages}\n\nHogwarts is the cleanest test there is, because there are only three broad things you can do with it: remake the joke, leave it in English, or respell it.\n\n| Language                             | Hogwarts becomes                               | Strategy                                                                          |\n| ------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| French                               | **Poudlard**                                   | Keep the pig, drop the warts                                                      |\n| Czech                                | **Bradavice**                                  | Keep the warts, drop the pig: it is simply the Czech word for _warts_             |\n| Finnish                              | **Tylypahka**                                  | Keep neither, keep the texture: _tyly_ (curt, harsh) + _pahka_ (a burl on a tree) |\n| Dutch                                | **Zweinstein**                                 | _zwijn_ (swine) + _steen_ (stone), with an audible echo of Einstein               |\n| Norwegian                            | **Galtvort**                                   | _galt_ (boar) + a wart                                                            |\n| Hungarian                            | **Roxfort**                                    | Abandon the pig entirely: _Oxford_ × _rokfort_ (Roquefort cheese)                 |\n| German, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese | **Hogwarts**                                   | Leave it                                                                          |\n| Serbian, Greek, Japanese, Chinese    | **Hogvorts, Χόγκουαρτς, ホグワーツ, 霍格沃茨** | Respell it phonetically                                                           |\n\nTranslators have names for the first two of those. _Domesticating_ means remaking the joke inside the target language; _foreignising_ means leaving it in English and letting the reader cope. Respelling it in another script is the same choice with a hair
44cut. Nobody sits at either pole for long, as the next nine entries keep demonstrating.\n\nThe Hungarian is the outlier, and arguably the smartest. Tóth Tamás Boldizsár has explained that he rejected translating _Hogwarts_ literally — in Hungarian it just comes out as \"warthog\" — and started thinking instead about schools. **Roxfort** is what he arrived at: the letters of _Oxford_ crossed with _rokfort_, Roquefort cheese. Rowling's name works by yoking grandeur to something faintly grotesque, and this gets to the same place by a completely different road.\n\n### Also in the French Harry Potter\n\n- The Sorting Hat is the **Choixpeau**: _choix_ (choice) welded into _chapeau_ (hat). Where the English name only describes the hat, the French one is itself the joke.\n- Snape is **Rogue**, which in French means haughty and disdainful. The snake is gone; the personality is louder.\n- Ménard considered translating Dumbledore as _professeur Bourdon_ — _bourdon_ is the French bumblebee, which is exactly what \"dumbledore\" means in old Devon dialect — and rejected it. He also left Hagrid and Minerva alone. Domesticating translators were not maximalists on principle; they judged name by name.\n- Oliver Wood became **Dubois**, and the fate of that name across the other translations is the single best map of the whole problem. When McGonagall asks Flitwick if she may \"borrow Wood for a moment\", Harry — being marched off in terror — wonders \"was Wood a cane she was going to use on him?\" In French she asks to borrow _du bois_, \"some wood\"; Dutch (_Plank_), Serbian (_Drvce_, a little stick), Yiddish (_Holtz_) and the original Italian (_Baston_, from _bastone_) rename him the same way, and all of them keep Harry's question too. Most translations leave the English surname alone, which leaves Harry's question doing work the name no longer does: Czech, Finnish, German, Swedish, Hungarian, Polish, Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese all have Harry wonder whether _Wood_ is some kind of stick — and some of them have to gloss the English word first. Swedish and Japanese spell it out — _\"Wood, det betyder ju trä?\"_, \"Wood, doesn't that mean wood?\" Spanish and Galician keep only the dread, asking whether Wood is the man who administers beatings. The 2014 Italian revision joins them, having handed _Baston_ back: Harry now wonders only what \"his Wood\" could possibly mean, and hopes it is not going badly. Turkish and Greek let the whole thing go.\n- Ménard worked twelve-hour days on the later books, starting at 6am. \"I was on Harry Potter twenty-four hours a day and I even dreamed about it at night. I saw the text of the book unrolling on a screen.\"\n- French readers grew impatient enough during the wait for each translation that _Order of the Phoenix_ became the first English-language book ever to top the French bestseller list.\n\n---\n\n## 2. Chinese: **麻瓜** _máguā_ {#chinese-magua}\n\n\u003e **Replaces:** Muggle · **Literally:** \"numb melon\" · **Translator:** credited as 苏农 \"Su Nong\" — see below\n\nThis is the best-travelled pun in the Chinese Harry Potter, and one of the very few translated Potter coinages anywhere to have escaped the books entirely and entered ordinary speech.\n\nTake it apart. **麻** _má_ means numb, or pins-and-needles. **瓜** _guā_ means melon or gourd, and by long-established slang extension, a head — it is the second half of **傻瓜** _shǎguā_, \"fool\", one of the most common mild insults in Chinese. So _máguā_ is a numb-melon, a dull head, built on a template Chinese speakers already recognise for exactly this sort of dismissive contempt.\n\nIt also happens to sound roughly like \"Muggle\", and Rowling's own word nods at _mug_, British slang for a gullible idiot. Sound, sense and register, all three at once.\n\nThen it kept going. **麻瓜 escaped the books.** A 2018 Chinese explainer describes it as an internet buzzword: it turns up on forums and message boards, aimed at someone less skilled than everyone else. Which is not quite the _mug_ Rowling started from: a _máguā_ is the person who cannot do the thing, not the person who is easily fooled. The word left the books and drifted onto what _Muggle_ actually denotes. Words crossing languages and coming back changed is not a Potter-only phenomenon either; Korean's [Konglish vocabulary](/blog/konglish-demystified) is built almost entirely out of it. The Chinese translation had to rebuild much more than this one word, and [what it did to the spells](/blog/harry-potter-in-mandarin) is its own story.\n\n### Muggle in other languages {#muggle-in-other-languages}\n\n| Language                             | Muggle              | What it suggests                                                    |\n| ------------------------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| English                              | **Muggle**          | _mug_, British slang for someone easily fooled                      |\n| Mandarin Chinese                     | **麻瓜** _máguā_    | numb melon, i.e. a dull head                                        |\n| French                               | **Moldu**           | \"soft in the brain-stem\", Ménard's own gloss                        |\n| Czech                                | **mudla**           | close to _mudlat_, to fumble or bungle                              |\n| Finnish                              | **jästi**           | invented, but shaped like a Finnish word for a blockhead            |\n| Dutch                                | **Dreuzel**         | a dawdler, a plodder                                                |\n| Italian                              | **Babbano**         | close to _babbeo_, a simpleton                                      |\n| Norwegian                            | **gomp**            | from Old Norse _gumpr_, a rump: the dull end of things              |\n| Serbian                              | **Normalac**        | \"a Normal\" — ordinary Serbian, with a colloquial ending             |\n| Polish                               | **mugol**           | shaped like _Angol_, _Jugol_ and other faintly rude Polish demonyms |\n| German, Turkish, Spanish, Vietnamese | **Muggel / Muggle** | left as it is                                                       |\n\nTwo of those glosses come from the translators themselves — Ménard explained _Moldu_, and Polkowski said in interview why his first attempt, _tuman_, was replaced by _mugol_. The rest are readings. The books never explain their own coinages, and neither did most of the people who made them.\n\nThe Serbian is worth pausing on. In a translation that otherwise just respells everything — _Hari Poter_, _Snejp_, _Dambldor_, _Hogvorts_ — **Normalac** relocates the joke. English \"Muggle\" is wizard-world jargon: the contempt arrives wrapped in an invented word. _Normalac_ is a word the reader already owns. Same contempt, borrowed from the playground. It sounds like what a teenager calls the boring people.\n\n### Also in the Chinese Harry Potter\n\n- The Golden Snitch is **金色飞贼** _jīnsè fēizéi_, \"golden flying thief\". The Quaffle is **鬼飞球**, \"ghost-flying ball\". Gringotts is **古灵阁**, \"ancient spirit pavilion\". Parseltongue is **蛇佬腔**, \"snake-fellow accent\".\n- The translator of the first Simplified Chinese volume **does not exist**. Cao Suling (曹苏玲) began the translation and withdrew partway through; Ma Ainong (马爱农) finished it. Rather than credit two names, the credit went to 苏农 \"Su Nong\" — [a blend of the two translators' names](https://www.potterglot.net/su-nong-translator-of-the-simplified-chinese-philosophers-stone-doesnt-exist/).\n- Team translation is routine in Chinese publishing: two or three names on a volume to save time. What is unusual about 苏农 is that it does the reverse: it hides the collaboration instead of crediting it.\n- Taiwan runs its own separate translation and disagrees on almost everything. Diagon Alley is 对
44角巷 \"diagonal alley\" on the mainland and 斜角巷 \"oblique-angle alley\" in Taipei; Knockturn Alley is 翻倒巷 \"knock-over alley\" versus 夜行巷 \"nocturnal alley\".\n- The gap between the English and Chinese editions produced a whole genre of counterfeits. An unauthorised Chinese _Deathly Hallows_ appeared three days after the English release. Alongside the pirate translations came home-grown imitations passed off as the real thing, with titles like _Harry Potter and the Porcelain Doll_ and _Harry Potter and the Big Funnel_.\n\n---\n\n## 3. Yiddish: **שיסבעזעם** _shisbezem_ {#yiddish-shisbezem}\n\n\u003e **Replaces:** Quidditch · **Literally:** \"shoot-broom\" · **Translator:** Arun Schaechter Viswanath\n\nArun Viswanath could have written _kviditsh_ and moved on. Instead he reached for a proverb he first met as a teenager reading Itzik Manger's _Khumesh-lider_:\n\n\u003e **\u003cbdi dir=\"rtl\"\u003eאַז גאָט װיל — שיסט אַ בעזעם\u003c/bdi\u003e**\n\u003e _az got vil — shist a bezem_\n\u003e \"If God wills it, a broom shoots.\"\n\nHe compressed the saying into a single word: **shisbezem**. A Yiddish reader meeting the name of the wizarding sport is standing inside a proverb about the impossible happening when heaven decides it should.\n\nThat is not a translation of \"Quidditch\", because Quidditch means next to nothing. It is a substitution: an empty English coinage swapped for a phrase the receiving culture was already carrying. If anything it is heavier than the original. Nowhere else in this list does a translator solve an invented word by reaching into his own literature and finding one waiting.\n\n### Quidditch in other languages {#quidditch-in-other-languages}\n\n| Language                                      | Quidditch                          | Built from                                                                             |\n| --------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| English                                       | **Quidditch**                      | opaque; readers hear _quiddity_ and _ditch_ in it, Rowling said only Queerditch Marsh  |\n| Yiddish                                       | **shisbezem**                      | \"shoot-broom\", compressed from the proverb above                                       |\n| Dutch                                         | **Zwerkbal**                       | _zwerk_, a poetic word for the firmament, + _bal_: \"sky-ball\"                          |\n| Finnish                                       | **huispaus**                       | _huis_ (something fast) + _-paus_ from _sieppaus_, a snatch                            |\n| Czech                                         | **famfrpál**                       | invention, with a fanfare buried in it                                                 |\n| Norwegian                                     | **rumpeldunk**                     | roughly \"rump-thump\"; the translator's stated reason was that it is an exhausting game |\n| Hungarian                                     | **kviddics**                       | respelt to Hungarian orthography                                                       |\n| Ancient Greek                                 | **Ἰκαροσφαιρική** _Ikarosphairikē_ | \"the Icarus ball-game\"                                                                 |\n| German, Turkish, Spanish, Italian, Vietnamese | **Quidditch**                      | left as it is                                                                          |\n\nThe boldest thing about the Yiddish edition, though, is not the vocabulary. It is the accents.\n\nRowling writes Hagrid in West Country dialect, which does specific social work: warm, rural, uneducated, outside the establishment. Viswanath, in his own words, \"tried to transpose the wizarding world onto a map of the Yiddish-speaking world\" as it was before the war — [\"without making the characters Jewish\"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Harry_Potter_translations):\n\n\u003e \"Hagrid's dialect had to be Polish because the stereotype of the Galitzyaner is someone warm and boisterous with a sense of humor; that's obviously Hagrid. Hagrid is set up in contrast to others like McGonagall and Snape and Filch, so if he was going to be Galitzyaner, they had to be Litvish.\"\n\nThe distinction he is drawing is between register and identity: nobody in the Yiddish Hogwarts is said to be Jewish, but everybody sounds like somebody who is. Dumbledore is made to sound like a well-educated Torah scholar. Filch speaks in a thick Lithuanian Yiddish accent and cannot manage the _sh_ sound, so he says _sabes_ where he should say _shabes_. In the second book, Gilderoy Lockhart speaks heavy _daytshmerish_ — the Germanising register that marks a Yiddish speaker as a pretentious social climber.\n\n### Also in the Yiddish Harry Potter\n\n- Slytherin is **Samderin**. Viswanath's first instinct was to build something on _shlang_, \"snake\"; his wife vetoed it, and he now thinks she was right.\n- The Golden Snitch is a **goldene flaterl**, a golden butterfly — butterflies being a stock image of the Yiddish folksongs he grew up with.\n- Oliver Wood is **Oliver Holtz**; _holtz_ is Yiddish for wood.\n- Unlike the Hebrew translation, which played its Christian references down for an Israeli readership, Viswanath left every one of his intact. A language spoken for centuries alongside those customs already has words for all of them.\n- The project started when his wife asked whether he wanted to raise children in a world with no Yiddish Harry Potter. He is the grandson of the Yiddish linguist Mordkhe Schaechter and the son of Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, who co-edited the _Comprehensive English-Yiddish Dictionary_.\n- Published by Olniansky Tekst in Swede
44n in early 2020, it [sold out in 48 hours](https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-young-translator-of-sold-out-harry-potter-yiddish-is-truly-his-mamaloshen/).\n\n---\n\n## 4. Finnish: **Siipiirdium lentiusa** {#finnish-siipiirdium-lentiusa}\n\n\u003e **Replaces:** Wingardium Leviosa · **Translator:** Jaana Kapari-Jatta\n\nAlmost every translation leaves Rowling's spells alone, and there is a good structural reason for it: inside the fiction, the incantations are already a foreign language: foreign, but not opaque. An English child does not understand _Expelliarmus_, and still half-hears _expel_ in it. Leave the word alone and both halves of that effect survive. Across the seventeen translations I read, _Avada Kedavra_ survives word for word in Czech, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian, Polish, Turkish and Vietnamese.\n\nFinnish is the great exception, though not because it is the only language here without a Latin inheritance, since Hungarian, Turkish and Vietnamese have none either and kept the spells regardless, but because Kapari-Jatta was the only translator who counted the loss and decided to pay for it. And the loss is real. Where English took the Latin word, Finnish usually built its own: a telephone is a _puhelin_, a speaker; a computer is a _tietokone_, a knowledge-machine. There is no dense Latinate layer sitting under everyday Finnish for a spell to chime against. _Expecto Patronum_ rings faintly against _expect_ and _patron_ for an English reader. That faint ring is the same effect that makes [cognates such a shortcut](/blog/cracking-the-code-how-cognates-can-propel-your-language-fluency) for language learners. To a Finnish reader it is noise.\n\nSo Jaana Kapari-Jatta built a substitute: a mock-Latin assembled out of Finnish. Ordinary Finnish verbs and nouns, sliced up and mostly given Latinate endings, so that a Finnish child gets what an English child gets: a word that sounds like an incantation and still lets a root show through. Some of hers show more than Rowling's do.\n\n### Harry Potter spells in Finnish {#harry-potter-spells-in-finnish}\n\n| English spell      | Finnish                   | Made from                                  |\n| ------------------ | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |\n| Wingardium Leviosa | **Siipiirdium lentiusa**  | _siipi_ wing + _lentää_ to fly             |\n| Expecto Patronum   | **Odotum suojelius**      | _odottaa_ to await + _suojella_ to protect |\n| Expelliarmus       | **Karkotaseet**           | _karkottaa_ to expel + _aseet_ weapons     |\n| Riddikulus         | **Naurretavus**           | _naurettava_ ridiculous                    |\n| Protego            | **Varjelum**              | _varjella_ to shield                       |\n| Petrificus Totalus | **Kangistumis tyystilys** | _kangistua_ to stiffen + _tyystin_ utterly |\n| Imperio            | **Komennu**               | _komentaa_ to command                      |\n| Crucio             | **Kidutu**                | _kiduttaa_ to torture                      |\n| Lumos              | **Valois**                | _valo_ light                               |\n\nFor the coinages distinctive enough to count cleanly, the Finnish and English tallies match almost one for one across all seven books: _Odotum suojelius_ 38 times against _Expecto Patronum_ 39, _Karkotaseet_ 27 against _Expelliarmus_ 27, _Naurretavus_ 18 against _Riddikulus_ 18. Which is how you know she never once let the English through. Every incantation, in every book, got its Finnish form — and got the same one each time.\n\n**But look at what the system leaves alone.** _Alohomora_ and _Avada Kedavra_ both stay in Finnish, unchanged, and neither is Latin in origin. _Avada Kedavra_ works by echoing _abracadabra_, the one magic word every child already has, which is why it travels intact into almost every language on this list. Neither was leaning on Latin recognition, so neither needed replacing. The rule is not airtight: _Portus_ is Latin for a harbour and _Anapneo_ is Greek for \"I breathe\", and both stand in the Finnish text exactly as Rowling wrote them. What Kapari-Jatta rebuilt was the working vocabulary — the spells children shout at each other. The furniture she left where it was.\n\n### Also in the Finnish Harry Potter\n\n- **Huispaus** for Quidditch has [Kapari's own explanation](https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-5223699), her reading of the English rather than Rowling's and none the worse for it: \"_Qui_ is something fast, just like the first syllable of the Finnish _huis_. _Ditch_ means diving for home base — it's about catching the Snitch by diving. So I took the ending _paus_ from _sieppaus_ [a snatch].\" That is also why the Snitch in Finnish is the **sieppi**.\n- **Kalkaros** for Snape comes from _kalkkarokäärme_, a rattlesnake.\n- **Tylypahka** for Hogwarts is _tyly_ (curt, harsh) plus _pahka_ (a burl or knot on a tree). The pig let go, and the wart moved onto a tree.\n- **Orave** for Quirrell hears the squirrel in the name (_orava_). **Irveta** for Gringotts is built on _irvistää_, to sneer. **Kuhnusarvio** is Slughorn; a Horcrux is a **hirnyrkki**.\n- She described treating a new word like a strange animal you get acquainted with slowly. In her own words: \"I look at what is around the word, what it has eaten and where it came from. I study what the word feels like and what it smells like.\"\n- In 2008 she published a whole book about the process, _Pollomuhku ja Posityyhtynen_, answering questions Finnish readers had sent her.\n\n---\n\n## 5. Turkish: **örümcek** {#turkish-orumcek}\n\n\u003e **Replaces:** the answer to the sphinx's riddle · **Literally:** \"spider\" · **Translators:** Sevin Okyay \u0026 Kutlukhan Kutlu\n\nDeep in the maze at the end of _Goblet of Fire_, a sphinx sets Harry a rid
44dle assembled from English fragments: a person who lives in disguise (**spy**), the last letter of _mend_ and the middle of _middle_ (**d**), and the noise you make hunting for a word (**er**). Spy-d-er.\n\nNone of that survives translation. But the answer has to stay a spider, because two pages later a giant one attacks. So each translator had to build a new riddle that lands on their own word for _spider_, out of pieces a fourteen-year-old could plausibly find. Almost all of them did.\n\nThe Turkish builds its spider out of things you can hold, plus one piece of grammar. **Örümcek** comes apart like this:\n\n| The sphinx says                                                               | Which gives                                                |\n| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |\n| \"You do what I say, so I may keep warm on a winter night, with two bones\"     | **ör**, from _örmek_, to knit. The \"bones\" are the needles |\n| \"Then the head of trusting-in-tomorrow. Or the end of what you wish to untie\" | **üm**, from _ümit_, hope; and from _düğüm_, a knot        |\n| \"The third is a suffix: not yesterday, not today — it will be tomorrow\"       | **cek**, the Turkish future-tense ending                   |\n\nKnitting, hope, a knot, and the grammatical marker of the future, assembled 
44into a spider.\n\nAnd here is what makes it remarkable: the Turkish Harry Potter leaves the core invented vocabulary exactly as it found it. Hogwarts, Snape, Dumbledore, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Quidditch, Muggle, Bludger, Snitch, Quaffle — all untouched, right through the series.\n\nWhat it does translate is the descriptive layer. Death Eaters become **Ölüm Yiyen**, which is exactly what it says. Dementors become **Ruh Emici**, \"soul-sucker\". The Sorting Hat is the **Seçmen Şapka**, \"selector hat\". Wormtail is **Kılkuyruk**, \"bristle-tail\". The line holds even at the edges: Buckbeak becomes **Şahgaga**, \"shah-beak\", and the Firebolt the **Ateşoku**, \"fire-arrow\" — both of them compounds of ordinary words in English too, and so part of the descriptive layer rather than the invented one.\n\nWhich is why the sphinx stands out. Everywhere else there is a description to translate or a name to leave alone. The riddle and the anagram offer neither: they force a translator who otherwise reaches for invention as little as possible to build a word the English does not contain.\n\n### Nine languages, nine completely different spiders {#spider-riddle-in-other-languages}\n\n| Language  | Word          | Assembled from                                                                                                                                       |\n| --------- | ------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| English   | **spider**    | _spy_ + _d_ + _er_                                                                                                                                   |\n| Turkish   | **örümcek**   | _ör_ (knit) + _üm_ (hope, knot) + _cek_ (future-tense suffix)                                                                                        |\n| French    | **araignée**  | _a_ (the first thing you learn) + _règne_ (a king's reign) + _ée_ (the end of _année_)                                                               |\n| Spanish   | **araña**     | _ara-_ (where Arabia begins) + _-ña_ (where _España_ ends)                                                                                           |\n| Czech     | **pavouk**    | _pav_ (_páv_, the peacock, with its accent stripped — the riddle says so) + _ou_ + _ka_, which assembles the accusative _pavouka_                    |\n| Italian   | **ragno**     | _rag-_ (from _raggiro_, a swindle) + _no_ (what you say when you don't understand)                                                                   |\n| German    | **Spinne**    | _Spi-_ (from _Spion_, spy) + _nn_ (\"the double of the _Gewinn_\") + _e_                                                                               |\n| Finnish   | **hämähäkki** | _hämä_ (from _hämärä_, dusk, minus its last syllable) + _äkki_ (from _äkkiä_, suddenly) — tied together with _hoo_, the Finnish name of the letter H |\n| Hungarian | **pók**       | three clues, three compound words, one shared ending — see below                                                                                     |\n\nThe Spanish answer lies where \"the region of the sand mountains\" begins and \"the land of bulls, blood, sea and street festivals\" ends: **Ara**-bia and Espa-**ña**.\n\nThe Hungarian does not assemble a word at all — it converges on one. Its three clues are a **keresztes** (a crusading knight, who travels in the sign of the Cross), a **kaszás** (the Reaper, because death's weapon is the scythe, _kasza_) and a **madár** (a bird — something whose feet never move that you still cannot catch). Harry says the three out loud and hears what they have in common: _keresztespók_ is a cross spider, _kaszáspók_ a harvestman, _madárpók_ a tarantula. Strip the three modifiers and what is left is **pók**. Spider.\n\nThe Vietnamese translator rendered the English riddle literally and then had Harry grope towards the answer anyway — _\"gián điệp… gián… ơ… gián… nhện\"_. The pieces do not add up to _nhện_, and the scene is reported rather than solved. It is the clearest measure of what the rebuilt riddles were buying everywhere else.\n\n### Also in the Turkish Harry Potter\n\n- Most of the series was translated by **Sevin Okyay**, a well-known Turkish literary critic and cultural commentator, for much of it working alongside Kutlukhan Kutlu. Book one was done by the poet Ülkü Tamer.\n- Voldemort's anagram is solved by throwing the spacing overboard: **TOMMARVOLDO RİDDLE** rearranges into **ADIMLORD VOLDEMORT**, \"my name is Lord Voldemort\", with the word-breaks landing wherever the letters allow and one dotted **İ** quietly becoming a dotless **I**.\n- Turkish also leaves the Quidditch equipment in English. Where Chinese invents a \"golden flying thief\" and Finnish a _sieppi_, Turkish readers get Snitch, Quaffle and Bludger exactly as spelt in London.\n- Sometimes the policy changes mid-series. A Horcrux is still a _Horcrux_ throughout _Half-Blood Prince_, then becomes a **Hortkuluk** — built on _hortlak_, a revenant — for the whole of _Deathly Hallows_.\n\n---\n\n## 6. Spanish: **P.E.D.D.O.** {#
44spanish-peddo}\n\n\u003e **Replaces:** S.P.E.W. · **Stands for:** Plataforma Élfica de Defensa de los Derechos Obreros · **Translators:** Nieves Martín Azofra \u0026 Adolfo Muñoz García\n\n\u003cPlayAudio src=\"/api/blog-audio/harry-potter-translations--peddo-expansion-es.mp3\" label=\"Hear it in Spanish\" description=\"Hear Plataforma Elfica de Defensa de los Derechos Obreros read aloud in Spanish\" transcript=\"Plataforma Élfica de Defensa de los Derechos Obreros\" /\u003e\n\nHermione's house-elf campaign is a two-part joke. The full name — Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare — is worthy and unwieldy in exactly the register of real student activism. The initials spell _spew_. Harry reads the badge, mispronounces it, and Hermione has to spell it out letter by letter.\n\nTo translate it you need an acronym that expands into a plausible campaign and contracts into something faintly disgusting, and the misreading scene has to still play on the page.\n\nThe Spanish is the one that keeps both halves. Harry picks up a badge and reads \"_¿Peddo?_\", one letter away from _pedo_, a fart, and that one letter is precisely what Hermione then has to close by hand: \"_No es 'peddo'. Es pe, e, de, de, o._\"\n\n### Nine languages, nine ways to sound disgusting {#spew-in-other-languages}\n\n| Language   | Acronym              | Stands for                                                     | Heard as                                                              |\n| ---------- | -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| English    | **S.P.E.W.**         | Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare                    | _spew_                                                                |\n| Spanish    | **P.E.D.D.O.**       | Plataforma Élfica de Defensa de los Derechos Obreros           | _pedo_, a fart                                                        |\n| French     | **S.A.L.E.**         | Société d'Aide à la Libération des Elfes                       | _sale_, dirty                                                         |\n| German     | **B.ELFE.R.**        | Bund für ELFEnRechte                                           | _Belfer_, a yapper, with _ELFE_ capitalised in both                   |\n| Finnish    | **S.Y.L.K.Y.**       | Samat yhteiset lait kotitontuillekin -yhdistys                 | _sylki_, spit                                                         |\n| Italian    | **C.R.E.P.A.**       | Comitato per la Riabilitazione degli Elfi Proletari e Alienati | _crepa!_, \"drop dead\"                                                 |\n| Hungarian  | **M.A.J.O.M.**       | a \"Manók Alkotmányos Jogaiért\" Országos Mozgalom               | _majom_, monkey                                                       |\n| Czech      | **SPOŽÚS**           | Společnost pro podporu občanské a životní úrovně skřítků       | _spožús_, pronounceable as a word, though not one that means anything |\n| Vietnamese | **H.V.Đ.C.Q.L.G.T.** | Hội Vận động cho Quyền lợi Gia tinh                            | _Hột Vịt Đẹt_, \"a runt duck egg\"                                      |\n\nThe Vietnamese is the surprise. Lý Lan's is among the most hands-off translations there is — Hogwarts, Snape, Quidditch, Muggle, Gryffindor, Snitch, Quaffle and Bludger all left in English, the sphinx's riddle rendered literally, the Mirror of Erised's inscription simply footnoted — and here she produces an eight-initial monstrosity built backwards from its own punchline, so that the first three land on \"runt duck egg\".\n\nWhich is the real lesson of this list: **no translation is uniformly domesticating or foreignising.** Every one of them is a long series of local decisions about which jokes are load-bearing.\n\n### Also in the Spanish Harry Potter\n\n- Spanish follows roughly the same rule as Turkish: keep the names, translate the descriptions. Hogwarts, Snape, Dumbledore, Gryffindor, Sl
44ytherin, Quidditch and Muggle all stay in English, and so do _snitch_, _quaffle_ and _bludger_ — but Death Eaters become **mortífagos**, the Sorting Hat is the **Sombrero Seleccionador**, a Portkey a **traslador**, and a Horcrux a **Horrocrux**. The Marauders are renamed wholesale: Wormtail is **Colagusano**, Padfoot **Canuto**, Moony **Lunático**, Prongs **Cornamenta**. Only two names bend to a constraint rather than a preference — _Riddle_ respelt **Ryddle** so the anagram balances, and _Erised_ replaced outright by **Oesed**, _deseo_ backwards.\n- The series exists in three regional adaptations: European, Latin American and Southern Cone.\n- In 2003 a pirate Spanish _Order of the Phoenix_ appeared in Venezuela five months before the licensed edition, with the anonymous translator's own confessions left in the text — including \"_Here comes something that I'm unable to translate, sorry._\" Two people were arrested.\n\n---\n\n\u003cBlogInlineAside heading=\"Want to read these translations yourself?\" body=\"If this list makes you want to pick up Harry Potter in another language, that's exactly how we learn languages at Refold: through books we already love. Here's how to actually get through your first one.\" linkLabel=\"Why Harry Potter is the best book to start with\" href=\"/blog/learn-a-language-with-harry-potter\" articleSlug=\"harry-potter-translations\" ctaId=\"mid-aside\" cluster=\"hp\" /\u003e\n\n---\n\n## 7. Greek: **Άντον Μόρβολ Χερτ** _Anton Morvol Hert_ {#greek-anton-morvol-hert}\n\n\u003e **Replaces:** Tom Marvolo Riddle · **Literally:** rearranges into \"Lord Voldemort\" · **Translator:** Kaíti Oikonómou\n\nThe most tightly constrained sentence in the series. In the Chamber of Secrets, Riddle writes his name in the air and rearranges it into **I AM LORD VOLDEMORT**. A translator has to invent a plausible-sounding name that anagrams into a sentence meaning \"I am Lord Voldemort\" in their language — and ideally keeps what the English surname does twice over, since _Riddle_ is both an ordinary name and the word for a puzzle.\n\nMost languages keep Tom and rebuild everything after it: the middle name always goes, and usually the surname with it: _Jedusor_, _Valedro_, _Venster_, _Rowle_. **Greek is the only one I found that gave up Tom as well.** Tom becomes _Άντον_ (Anton), because otherwise the Greek letters would not balance.\n\n### The Tom Marvolo Riddle anagram in other languages {#tom-marvolo-riddle-anagram}\n\n| Language                      | The name written in the air | Rearranges to        | Meaning                                                                                                                                |\n| ----------------------------- | --------------------------- | -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| English                       | TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE          | I AM LORD VOLDEMORT  | —                                                                                                                                      |\n| **Greek**                     | **ΑΝΤΟΝ ΜΟΡΒΟΛ ΧΕΡΤ**       | **ΑΡΧΩΝ ΒΟΛΝΤΕΜΟΡΤ** | \"Lord Voldemort\", with no verb and no pronoun                                                                                          |\n| French                        | TOM ELVIS JEDUSOR           | JE SUIS VOLDEMORT    | \"I am Voldemort\"                                                                                                                       |\n| German                        | TOM VORLOST RIDDLE          | IST LORD VOLDEMORT   | \"…_is_ Lord Voldemort\", with the written name as subject                                                                               |\n| Spanish                       | TOM SORVOLO RYDDLE          | SOY LORD VOLDEMORT   | \"I am Lord Voldemort\"                                                                                                                  |\n| Czech                         | TOM ROJVOL RADDLE           | JÁ LORD VOLDEMORT    | \"I, Lord Voldemort\"                                                                                                                    |\n| Finnish                       | TOM LOMEN VALEDRO           | MA OLEN VOLDEMORT    | \"I am Voldemort\", in a poetic register                                                                                                 |\n| Hungarian                     | TOM ROWLE DENEM             | NEVEM VOLDEMORT      | \"My name is Voldemort\"                                                                                                                 |\n| Turkish                       | TOMMARVOLDO RİDDLE          | ADIMLORD VOLDEMORT   | \"My name is Lord Voldemort\"                                                                                                            |\n| Norwegian                     | TOM DREDOLO VENSTER         | VOLDEMORT DEN STORE  | \"Voldemort the Great\"                                                                                                                  |\n| Italian                       | _(English, since 2014)_     | I AM LORD VOLDEMORT  | «Vedi? Io sono Lord Voldemort» follows in dialogue; the original Salani had an exact one, TOM ORVOLOSON RIDDLE → SON IO LORD VOLDEMORT |\n| Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese | _(no anagram possible)_     | —                    | handled with a footnote or a parallel gloss                                                                                            |\n\nI checked all nine of the working solutions letter by letter, and they fall into three groups.\n\n**Five are exact.** French, German, Spanish, Finnish and Norwegian rearrange perfectly, with nothing left over.\n\n**Two trade a letter for its accented twin.** Czech puts an unaccented **A** into _RADDLE_ and takes an **Á** out of _JÁ_. Turkish swaps the dotted **İ** of _RİDDLE_ for the dotless **I** of _ADIMLORD_, and in Turkish those genuinely are two different letters of the alphabet, not one letter wearing a hat.\n\n**Two take a real liberty, in mirror image of each other.** The Greek is perfect except for a single character: the source has three omicrons, the target has two omicrons and an omega. Greek has two letters for the same /o/ sound, and the translator treated them as interchangeable, a phonetic anagram rather than an orthographic one. Hungarian goes the other way: _ROWLE_ supplies one **W** where _NEVEM VOLDEMORT_ needs two **V**s — a letter conjured out of nothing, except that the Hungarian name for W is _dupla vé_, \"double v\".\n\nThe French solution deserves its own mention, because Ménard did not stop at the anagram. **Jedusor** is a homophone of _jeu du sort_, \"game of fate\" or \"spell-play\". He then wrote a clause into Riddle's speech that does not exist in English, in which Voldemort sneers at \"_the 'jeu du sort' that gave me that filthy name Jedusor_\". The translator rebuilt the puzzle and then had the villain explain his own pun. Ménard 
44is the only translator here who kept both halves of what _Riddle_ does.\n\n### Also in the Greek Harry Potter\n\n- The Greek edition mostly transcribes rather than translates — Χόγκουαρτς, Μαγκλ, Γκρίφιντορ, Σλίθεριν all arrive respelt rather than remade, a policy Máia Roútsou set in book one and Oikonómou inherited from the second. The anagram is the place where transcription simply cannot work, and it is the only name in the Greek books rebuilt from the first letter on.\n- Not everything, though: Fluffy the three-headed dog becomes **Λουλούκο**, Diagon Alley becomes _Η Διαγώνιος Αλέα_ and the Sorting Hat _Το καπέλο της επιλογής_.\n- The Greek _Chamber of Secrets_ opens with a prologue by the novelist Manos Kontoleon, which begins by informing the reader: \"_I must inform you from the outset that, sadly, you belong — like me and many others — to the world of the… Muggles._\"\n- There is also an **Ancient Greek** Harry Potter, translated by Andrew Wilson and, by his own reckoning, the longest text written in Ancient Greek since Heliodorus of Emesa in the third century AD. It took him about a year. Wilson's Quidditch is **Ἰκαροσφαιρική**, \"the Icarus ball-game\" — a sport where children fly and chase a golden object, named for the boy who flew too near the sun. Halloween becomes the **Nekysia**, the Athenian festival of the dead.\n\n---\n\n## 8. Japanese: **みぞの鏡** _Mizo no Kagami_ {#japanese-mizo-no-kagami}\n\n\u003e **Replaces:** the Mirror of Erised · **Literally:** \"the Mirror of the Ditch\" · **Translator:** Yuko Matsuoka\n\n\"Erised\" is \"desire\" backwards, and the frame carries the inscription _Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi_ — \"I show not your face but your heart's desire\", reversed.\n\nThis looks impossible in Japanese, though not for the obvious reason. Kana reverse perfectly well: each one is a single syllable, and flipping them leaves you something a reader can still pronounce. The problem is kanji: a Chinese character is a morpheme rather than a sound and will not turn round at all, so an ordinarily written sentence reverses into nothing. Matsuoka's solution was to write the inscription out in [hiragana](/blog/learn-hiragana-and-katakana), the plain syllable script, with no kanji in it anywhere. Then she inverted it:\n\n\u003e **すつうを みぞの のろここ のたã
44ªã‚ くなはで おか のたなあ はしたわ**\n\u003e\n\u003e read backwards: **わたしは あなたの かお ではなく あなたの こころの のぞみを うつす**\n\n\u003cPlayAudio src=\"/api/blog-audio/harry-potter-translations--erised-inscription-ja.mp3\" label=\"Hear the inscription\" description=\"Hear the Mirror of Erised inscription read aloud in Japanese\" transcript=\"わたしは あなたの かお ではなく あなたの こころの のぞみを うつす\" /\u003e\n\u003e\n\u003e _\"I reflect not your face but the desire of your heart.\"_\n\nAnd the mirror's name falls straight out of it. Reverse _nozomi_ のぞみ, \"desire\", and you get みぞの: _mizo_ plus the _no_ that Japanese already uses to mean \"of\". Better still, _mizo_ is a real word: 溝, a ditch, and figuratively the gulf that opens between two people. So **みぞの鏡** can be heard as \"the Mirror of the Gulf\", the distance between what you want and what is actually in the room. Writing it in hiragana rather than 溝 keeps both readings alive at once.\n\n### Mirror of Erised translations, language by language {#mirror-of-erised-translation}\n\n| Language   | The mirror is called        | Reversal of                                   |\n| ---------- | --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |\n| English    | the Mirror of **Erised**    | _desire_                                      |\n| Japanese   | **みぞの鏡**                | _nozomi_, desire — and _mizo_, \"ditch\"        |\n| French     | le Miroir du **Riséd**      | _désir_                                       |\n| German     | der Spiegel **Nerhegeb**    | _Begehren_, longing                           |\n| Dutch      | de Spiegel van **Neregeb**  | _begeren_, to desire                          |\n| Swedish    | **Mörd**-spegeln            | _dröm_, dream                                 |\n| Finnish    | **Iseeviot**-peili          | _toiveesi_, your wishes                       |\n| Spanish    | el espejo de **Oesed**      | _deseo_, desire                               |\n| Italian    | lo Specchio delle **Emarb** | _brame_, cravings                             |\n| Serbian    | Ogledalo **Ejnduž**         | _žudnje_, of longing                          |\n| Galician   | o Espello de **Oxesed**     | _desexo_, desire                              |\n| Hungarian  | **Edevis** tükre            | _szíved_, \"your heart\"                        |\n| Polish     | Zwierciadło **Ain Eingarp** | _pragnienia_, desires                         |\n| Czech      | Zrcadlo z **Erisedu**       | _desire_, in English, left untranslated       |\n| Turkish    | **Kelid**                   | _dilek_, wish                                 |\n| Vietnamese | Chiếc Gương **Ảo Ảnh**      | \"Mirror of Illusion\" — the reversal abandoned |\n\nTwo of those are half-solutions, and both are visible on the page. The **Czech** inscription is beautifully done — _Mízar bozyhu oteÅ¡ave lařáv ten_ unpicks to \"not your face, but your desires I will show\" — and yet the mirror itself is still called \"the Mirror from Erised\", as though Erised were a place. The **Turkish** does exactly the opposite: the mirror is correctly renamed _Kelid_, but the inscription around the frame is left as reversed English, which no Turkish reader can unpick.\n\n**Mainland Chinese** transcribed the reversed English phonetically into meaningless characters and added a footnote calling it \"a secret Daoist charm\". That is not misdirection so much as a translator sealing the box: the reader is told the words are a charm, and given no route back to the English.\n\n### The interpreter who talked her way into the Japanese rights {#yuko-matsuoka}\n\nIn October 1998, Yuko Matsuoka, a Tokyo conference interpreter, was visiting old friends in Richmond, on the edge of London. Her husband Yukio had died the previous Christmas, leaving behind Say-zan-sha, a tiny publishing house devoted to social history and human rights, which she had resolved to keep alive in his memory. Her friends handed her a children's book that was selling out across Britain.\n\nShe read it in one night, telep
44honed J.K. Rowling's agent the next day, and, by her own account, pleaded for two months. On 8 December 1998 the answer came back: \"_I spoke with the author. We have decided to go with you._\"\n\nShe had never translated a novel. She had no marketing budget. She paid for the first print run out of her own pocket. Then she assembled an ad-hoc editorial team from university juniors and a children's-book translation club, and commissioned the cover from the painter friend who had lent her the book.\n\nIt was published in December 1999, and the first printing was gone within weeks. Matsuoka went on to translate all seven volumes, supervise the Japanese subtitles and dubbing, and in 2009 convene the first International Conference for Harry Potter Translators in Paris.\n\n### Also in the Japanese Harry Potter\n\n- Hagrid speaks **Tōhoku dialect** — provincial, northern, warm — which does roughly the same social work for a Japanese reader that West Country does for an English one.\n- Names are mostly straight katakana, which is simply what Japanese does with any foreign proper noun. The invention is saved for the places where a word is carrying a joke.\n- Knockturn Alley is printed as 夜の闇横丁, \"Darkness-of-the-Night Alley\", with ノクターン _nokutān_ set above it as the reading. The page tells you the meaning in Japanese and instructs you to pronounce it as what looks like an English word — which Japanese readers will connect to _nocturne_.\n\n---\n\n## 9. Russian: **Злотеус Злей** _Zloteus Zley_ {#russian-zloteus-zley}\n\n\u003e **Replaces:** Severus Snape · **Literally:** something like \"Meanteus Meaner\" · **Translator:** Maria Spivak, for Machaon\n\nIncluded not because it is good, but because it fails at one job so cleanly that it shows you what the job was.\n\nRowling's \"Snape\" does a lot of quiet work. It is a real English place name with a whiff of menace and no verdict in it. It sits next to _snake_, _snipe_, _snap_. And that reserve is load-bearing, because the entire architecture of seven books depends on the reader suspecting him and never being able to settle it. **Snape has to stay suspectable for seven books without ever being provable.**\n\n**Злей** is the Russian comparative \"more evil\". **Злотеус** welds _зло_, evil, to a mock-Latin ending. The whole name reads as something like \"Meanteus Meaner\". There is nothing left to doubt. An English child spends seven books suspecting Snape and never quite able to prove it, and that unresolved argument is the machine the plot runs on. A Russian child is handed the answer on page one and never gets to have the argument at all.\n\nThe publishing history behind the retranslation is its own drama, and it runs the other way from what you would guess. Rosman published the first Russian series, and it changed hands constantly: book one went to Igor Oranskij, books two to five to Marina Litvinova, the last two to a rotating cast. Book five alone carries four names, one of them Viktor Golyshev — a distinguished translator of Faulkner and Orwell who made no secret of disdaining the material. When Rosman's licence lapsed, Machaon took over and did the opposite: one translator, all seven books.\n\nThat translator was Maria Spivak, who retranslated the whole series single-handed. Her version has its defenders. This name does not. Russian readers have been arguing about them ever since.\n\n### How everyone else handled Snape {#snape-in-other-languages}\n\n| Language                                             | Snape becomes     | What it does to him                                                                      |\n| ---------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| English                                              | **Snape**         | a real place name with a whiff of menace; verdict withheld                               |\n| Finnish                                              | **Kalkaros**      | from _kalkkarokäärme_, rattlesnake: the snake gets louder, the verdict is still withheld |\n| French                                               | **Rogue**         | haughty, disdainful: accurate, and gives nothing away                                    |\n| Italian, Hungarian                                   | **Piton**         | \"python\": the snake said out loud, the man still unjudged                                |\n| Dutch                                                | **Sneep**         | the English sound in Dutch spelling: menace and deniability both carried over            |\n| Norwegian                                            | **Slur**          | _slu_ and _lur_, two words for sl
44y: a temperament named, a side not                      |\n| Russian (Rosman)                                     | **Снегг** _Snegg_ | near _снег_, snow: a temperature where the snake was, and still no verdict               |\n| Russian (Machaon)                                    | **Злотеус Злей**  | the verdict, on page one, with nothing left to doubt                                     |\n| Czech, German, Swedish, Turkish, Spanish, Vietnamese | **Snape**         | untouched                                                                                |\n\nThe comparison that matters is Finnish **Kalkaros** and French **Rogue**. Both translators did rename him. Both picked something meaningful. Neither settled the question for the reader. And Finnish is not even alone in taking the Snape/snake problem head-on, since Italian and Hungarian both simply say _python_. But _Kalkaros_ is the one that keeps the snake buried the way Rowling did, inside a word that does not look like a snake at all. None of the three says a word about which side he is on.\n\n### Also in the Russian Harry Potter\n\n- Not everything in Spivak's version went badly. Fred's joke about the \"P for prefect\" on Percy's sweater cannot work in Russian, where prefect is _староста_, so her Fred announces the P stands for **пуп земли**, \"the navel of the earth\". The Weasley sweater itself becomes a portmanteau, **Уизвитер**, \"Weas-weater\".\n- The form circulates in two spellings, **Злотеус** and **Злодеус**: the second closer to _злодей_, a villain, which stops describing his temperament and starts assigning him his part in the plot.\n\n---\n\n## 10. Polish: **szmalcownicy** {#polish-szmalcownicy}\n\n\u003e **Replaces:** the Snatchers · **Literally:** \"greasy-palmers\" · **Translator:** Andrzej Polkowski\n\nThe heaviest word here, and the one that shows what happens when a translator decides the local history is more powerful than the invented one.\n\nIn _Deathly Hallows_, the Snatchers are freelance bounty hunters under the Voldemort regime who track down Muggle-borns and blood traitors and sell them to the Ministry. Rowling's word is low and plain: _snatch_, a grab, the verb English uses for a child taken off a street.\n\nAndrzej Polkowski did not coin anything. He reached for **szmalcownicy** — a real Polish word from the German occupation, for the people who blackmailed Jews in hiding, or blackmailed the Poles who were sheltering them, or handed either over to the German authorities for money.\n\nAnd, improbably, it is built on the same image as [_Poudlard_](#french-poudlard), all the way back at the top of this list. It comes from German _Schmalz_ (Polish _szmalc_, **lard**), which in criminal slang meant the money changing hands. Two unrelated words for pig fat: one names a school, the other names the men who sold their neighbours. A _szmalcownik_ is, literally, a greasy-palmer. In Warsaw alone some three to four thousand people did it, and by the summer of 1943 the Polish Home Army had begun carrying out death sentences for it.\n\nIt is not a historical analogy offered to the reader. It is the actual noun, still corrosive in Polish, dropped into a children's fantasy about a regime that hunts people for their blood. He did not invent a parallel; he used the word Polish already had. That makes it the heaviest single word in any translation here, and it arguably tells Polish readers outright what English readers are left to infer.\n\n### The translator who explained his own homework {#polkowski-glossary}\n\nPolkowski's method everywhere else was conservative, and unusually transparent about it. He kept Harry Potter, Dumbledore, Snape, Malfoy, Longbottom and Voldemort in English, on the plain principle that a person's surname is not translated. He kept the four house names too, and there his stated reason was practical: so that Polish children could discuss the books with their English-speaking peers.\n\nThen he did something unusual. **He appended a glossary to the volumes**, explaining the harder names — including, pointedly, the ones he had left in English — along with units of measurement and English dishes. That \"dumbledore\" is an old word for a bumblebee, which matters because the headmaster hums to himself. That _draco_ is Latin for dragon or serpent. That _Malfoy_ is \"bad faith\" in old French.\n\nRather than smuggle the puns in the names into Polish, he handed readers the key and let them unlock the English themselves. It is the same move we recommend to learners who [use books to grow their vocabulary](/blog/how-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary): read the real thing, and keep a key within reach. It runs the other way from the Czech and Dutch, who rebuilt the puns inside their own language rather than leaving any of them for the reader to unlock. Both are defensible, and for opposite reasons: Polkowski trusts a child to do some of the work, the Czech and Dutch trust a child to accept a world rebuilt from scratch.\n\n### Also in the Polish Harry Potter\n\n- Muggle is **mugol**, and a Muggle-born a **mugolak**. Polkowski's first attempt was _tuman_, \"dolt\", which was overruled editorially; _mugol_ was chosen because it patterns with mildly rude Polish demonyms like _Angol_ and _Jugol_.\n- The house names stay English, but their students do not: Gryffindors are **Gryfoni** and Slytherins **Ślizgoni*
44*. Polish needed a form it could decline, and having to build one, he put the gryphon and the slither back in.\n- Cornelius Fudge is **Korneliusz Knot** — a _knot_ in Polish is a candle-wick, and figuratively a botch or a dud. It does the same job the English surname does.\n- Dobby is **Zgredek**, from _zgred_, a codger. Kreacher is **Stworek**, \"little creature\". Wormtail is **Glizdogon**, from _glizda_, earthworm, plus _ogon_, tail: a straight calque, with the worm pinned down to one particular worm.\n- A Portkey is a **świstoklik**: _świst_, a whistling sound, welded to a click.\n- Hogwarts became **Hogwart**, one letter shorter and no less opaque: _hog_ means nothing in Polish, so the pig was gone either way. Polkowski put the pig back by hand. In the digital omnibus the school sings _\"Hogwart, Hogwart, Świński Hogwart\"_ — \"Hogwart, Hogwart, Piggy Hogwart\" — restoring in the song what the name itself could no longer carry. (The 1998 print edition sang a different line again; the Polish text has been revised more than once.)\n- Where meaning was doing real work, he did translate: **Irytek** for Peeves (from _irytować_, to irritate), **Parszywek** for Scabbers, **ulica Pokątna** for Diagon Alley (_pokątny_ meaning shady or under-the-counter), **Tiara Przydziału** for the Sorting Hat and **Śmierciożercy** for the Death Eaters.\n- Polkowski also translated the _Chronicles of Narnia_ into Polish. He died in 2019.\n\n---\n\n## What none of these translators would do {#conclusion}\n\nTen problems, ten languages, and ten different ideas about what a translator owes a reader. Ménard rebuilt the pig. Kapari-Jatta invented a Latin of her own. Viswanath went to a proverb. Matsuoka went to the shape of her own syllabary. Polkowski went to one of the most corrosive nouns in the language. They converge now and then — Italian and Hungarian both landed on _Piton_ without consulting each other, and half of Europe kept Hogwarts' warts and let the pig go — but never for long.\n\nWhat none of them did was the obvious thing, because the obvious thing does not exist. You cannot simply write down what these words _meant_: there is nothing to write down. _Hogwarts_, _Quidditch_ and _Erised_ are sounds doing the work of sense, and you cannot look any of them up. _Muggle_ is the one that bends the rule — it leans on _mug_, and a word for a fool is something every language already has, which is why so many of them found one. Everywhere else you can only work out what a word is doing to an English reader and then build a machine that does the same thing to yours.\n\nThat is why the failures in this list are so specific. The Russian _Злотеус Злей_ is not a mistranslation; it is an over-translation, a name that hands down a verdict the English deliberately withholds, and the wrong verdict at that. The Vietnamese sphinx is not laziness either; it is a translator who invented freely elsewhere, the runt-duck-egg acronym being hers, deciding that this particular puzzle was not worth rebuilding and letting Harry reach the answer anyway. Every entry here is somebody choosing what to lose.\n\nAnd the choices went on being made after publication. Italian readers watched Ravenclaw stop being a black sheep and become a raven, three books in. Russian readers got two incompatible Snapes a decade apart. Somewhere there are now Chinese speakers calling each other _máguā_ who have never read a word of Harry Potter, which is about as complete a victory as a translated invented word can have. If these ten entries have you itching to see a translation firsthand, [Harry Potter is the modern Rosetta Stone](/blog/learn-a-language-with-harry-potter) makes the case for reading one, and [our Harry Potter decks](/decks/hp) teach you the first book's vocabulary so you can do it.\n\n---\n\n\u003cHpDeckBridge cluster=\"hp\" variant=\"toPillar\" articleSlug=\"harry-potter-translations\" /\u003e\n\n## Frequently asked questions {#faq}\n\n### How was Harry Potter translated into so many languages?\n\nPublishers licensed the books territory by territory and hired translators locally, with no shared glossary passing between them — each translator made their own decisions about which invented words to rebuild and which to leave alone. Once the series became a global event the publisher stopped letting anyone see a manuscript before the English release, so from then on translators worked from the finished English book under heavy time pressure, with no idea what happened in later volumes.\n\n### How many languages has Harry Potter been translated into?\n\nAround **85**, including Latin, Ancient Greek, Scots, Welsh, Hawaiian, Māori, Yiddish, Kazakh and Greenlandic. Bloomsbury announced 79 authorised translations at the twentieth anniversary in 2017 and has licensed several more since.\n\n### Why did Harry Potter translations take so long to come out?\n\nTo stop plot leaks, translators were refused any access to the manuscript before the English publication date. A translator in Helsinki learned what happened at the same moment as a child in Bristol: by buying a copy. Pavel Medek, one of the two Czech translators, bought _Order of the Phoenix_ on the morning of Saturday 21 June 2003 (\"if my memory serves me correctly\"), was on page 500 by that evening, finished reading on the Tuesday and started translating on the Wednesday.\n\n### How long did it take to translate a Harry Potter book?\n\nWeeks, not months, once the books became a global event. The Ukrainian team turned _Deathly Hallows_ around in roughly nine weeks to publish first. Jean-François Ménard worked twelve-hour days from 6am. Hungary's Tóth Tamás Boldizsár had from late July to mid-October to hit a Christmas release. Czech readers got _Order of the Phoenix_ from a translator who started work four days after buying the English edition in a shop. The outlier is Andrew Wilson's Ancient Greek _Philosopher's Stone_, which took about a year, but nobody was waiting for it.\n\n### Which language got the last Harry Potter book first?\n\n**Ukrainian.** A-BA-BA-HA-LA-MA-HA in Kyiv published _Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows_ on 25 September 2007: the first translation into any language anywhere, which the publisher said Rowl
44ing's London office had confirmed in advance. Viktor Morozov translated it, with Oleksa Nehrebetskyi and the publisher Ivan Malkovych editing. The English edition had come out on 21 July, which gave the team about nine weeks.\n\n### Who translated Harry Potter into other languages?\n\nA partial roll-call of the translators named in this article: Jean-François Ménard (French), Yuko Matsuoka (Japanese), Jaana Kapari-Jatta (Finnish), Arun Schaechter Viswanath (Yiddish), Sevin Okyay and Kutlukhan Kutlu (Turkish), Kaíti Oikonómou (Greek), Nieves Martín Azofra and Adolfo Muñoz García (Spanish), Andrzej Polkowski (Polish), Maria Spivak and, before her, Igor Oranskij and Marina Litvinova (Russian), Vladimír and Pavel Medek (Czech), Wiebe Buddingh' (Dutch), Tóth Tamás Boldizsár (Hungarian), Torstein Bugge Høverstad (Norwegian), Lý Lan (Vietnamese), Viktor Morozov (Ukrainian), Marina Astrologo and Beatrice Masini (Italian), and Ma Ainong with Cao Suling (Simplified Chinese).\n\n### Are there unauthorised Harry Potter translations?\n\nMany — pirate editions have shadowed the series since the beginning. An unauthorised Chinese _Deathly Hallows_ appeared three days after the English release. A sixteen-year-old in France was arrested for serialising his own. Iran, which is not a party to the Universal Copyright Convention, is the extreme case: the collector-researcher behind Potterglot has catalogued **96 unauthorised Persian translations**, including seventeen different Persian versions of _Philosopher's Stone_ alone.\n\n### Did any Harry Potter translation ever have to be corrected?\n\nItaly's, publicly and in detail. Salani's original translation named Ravenclaw **Pecoranera**, \"black sheep\": assonant, fairy-tale, and completely wrong, because the Hogwarts crest puts a lion, a snake, a badger and a bird of prey around the school's initial, and Salani could not know what that bird would turn out to be. Ravenclaw was renamed **Corvonero**, \"black raven\", at _Goblet of Fire_, and the editor explained why in a published note.\n\nIn 2014 Salani issued a revised edition, and each volume of the digital edition carries a _Glossario delle modifiche_: a list of the names that changed and what they used to be. McGranitt went back to McGonagall, Caramell back to Fudge, Paciock back to Longbottom, Baston back to Wood. The names that survived (_Silente_, _Piton_, _Grifondoro_, _Serpeverde_, _Babbani_) were the ones Italian readers had grown up loving.\n\n### Why does Avada Kedavra stay the same in almost every language?\n\nBecause inside the fiction the spells are already a foreign language. Rowling's pseudo-Latin does not sound like English to an English child either, so leaving it alone preserves the effect rather than losing it. _Avada Kedavra_ also works by echoing _abracadabra_, which is internationally recognisable in its own right. The exception is [Finnish](#finnish-siipiirdium-lentiusa), which rebuilt the entire spell system, and even there _Avada Kedavra_ and _Alohomora_ were left untouched.\n\n### Which Harry Potter translation is the most different from the English?\n\nBy volume of invention, **Czech** and **Dutch**. The Czech gives you _Bradavice_ (Hogwarts), _Brumbál_ (Dumbledore), _Famfrpál_ (Quidditch), _mudla_ (Muggle), _mozkomor_ (Dementor), _Smrtijed_ (Death Eater) and _viteál_ (Horcrux). The Dutch goes further still, consistently making names _more_ meaningful than Rowling made them: Trelawney, a neutral Cornish surname, becomes **Zwamdrift**, roughly \"waffle-mania\", and the Quick-Quotes Quill becomes the **Fantaciteer-Veer**, the \"fantasi-quote quill\".\n\n### Was J.K. Rowling ever unhappy with a Harry Potter translation?\n\nAt least once, on record. In _Conversations with J.K. Rowling_ she objected to the Italian **Silente** for Dumbledore, which came from reading \"dumb\" as \"silent\", when \"dumbledore\" is an old Devon word for bumblebee. The Czech **Brumbál** is an archaic Czech word for exactly that insect: the solution her own etymology called for.\n\n---\n\n## Sources and methodology {#sources}\n\nMost of the translated words quoted here were read out of the published text. The working corpus is 63 EPUB files, some single volumes and s
44ome omnibus editions, covering 18 languages: Czech, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Galician, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Polish, Serbian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish and Vietnamese — extracted to plain text and searched directly. Counts are raw counts from those files. Anagrams were checked letter by letter rather than by eye, treating no two characters as equivalent; the character-substitution findings in the Czech, Turkish, Greek and Hungarian solutions all came out of that check.\n\nThe corpus is complete for some languages and partial for others: it holds all seven books in English, Czech, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Spanish and Turkish, six of the seven in Vietnamese (_Chamber of Secrets_ is missing), and only the first book or two in Dutch, Greek, Japanese, Mandarin, Serbian, Swedish and Galician. Where a Dutch, Japanese or Chinese form comes from a later volume — _Zwamdrift_, the _Fantaciteer-Veer_, the Knockturn Alley device — it comes from Cees Koster or from cjvlang, not from the books directly.\n\nWords attributed to Yiddish, Ancient Greek, Latin, Norwegian, Russian, Hebrew, Ukrainian and Persian come from the sources below, since there is no edition of those in the corpus. One passage carries a further caveat: Yuko Matsuoka's own afterword covers how she got the rights, but the detail of what happened afterwards comes from a machine-generated synopsis of her memoir, and the memoir itself has not been read for this piece. Etymological readings of invented words are interpretation unless attributed directly. Ménard on _Poudlard_ and _Moldu_, Kapari-Jatta on _huispaus_, Viswanath on _shisbezem_, Tóth on _Roxfort_, Polkowski on _mugol_ and Høverstad on _rumpeldunk_ are the translators' own accounts; the note on the Italian houses is Salani's editor, Serena Daniele, not a translator. Everything else — including the Czech, Finnish, Dutch, Serbian, Russian and Norwegian glosses, and the \"made from\" column of the Finnish spell table — is a reading.\n"])</script>
44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"36:T26e9,"])</script>
44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nI've been using (and making) comprehensible input for a few years now in many different languages.\n\nRecently, I've come across a specific trend in the videos I'm watching to learn Chinese.\n\nSeveral creators have started putting a little counter in the bottom right and then highlighting that number of (potentially) new vocabulary throughout the video.\n\nIt looks like this:\n![Image](/api/blog-images/0c719aec-451a-4763-a165-a538add0b748.png)\n\n_Notice the 2/42 in the bottom right and the lājī / 垃圾 in the top left. The other stuff on screen is from the metalayer I use._\n\nAs far as I know, [Zhangkai Chinese](https://www.youtube.com/@ZhangkaiChinese) started this _specific_ trend/layout in Chinese videos, but I've seen similar things in pretty much all comprehensible input in various languages.\n\n![Image](/api/blog-images/2881356f-26cf-423a-90b9-95979e07ea4b.png)\n[Example from Slow Czech](https://www.youtube.com/@slowczech)\n\n![Image](/api/blog-images/61b3e2ea-4e80-403c-b680-a84a1db8918c.png)\n[Example from Chinese at Dawn](https://www.youtube.com/@chinese-at-dawn)\n\n![Image](/api/blog-images/e9216fba-74de-4e83-b2ef-d89fa7f20a4c.png)\n[Example from French Comprehensible Input](https://www.youtube.com/@FrenchComprehensibleInput)\n\n# What is this technique?\n\nThis teaching technique is a form of \"input enhancement,\"[^1] but that's a very broad term. Input enhancement can refer to ANYTHING where the aim is to draw attention to the language. Even subtitles are a kind of input enhancement since they draw attention to the writing system, help users parse words, etc.\n\nMore specifically, this is a variant of \"textual enhancement\" which is where text is modified to make certain things stand out.\n\nBolding words is a simple and clear example:\n\n\u003e Ted needs to go to the **store** and buy milk.\n\nI don't think there's a specific word for this when it's used in primarily spoken content (such as a video). Calling it a variant of textual enhancement makes sense to me, so that's what I'll continue to call it.\n\n# Is textual enhancement useful?\n\nThis is the more important question! Is all this effort that the creators go through actually beneficial to the learner? Zhangkai Chinese added 42 different text enhancements to that video, which must have taken **dozens** of minutes!\n\nThe idea to add the enhancement is tied to the Noticing Hypothesis[^2], which is the idea that in order for input to \"stick,\" a learner must notice it. You can't learn while you're asleep or distracted and focusing on a specific thing (such as a word or grammar form) will help you acquire it.\n\nIt's unclear whether noticing is _required_ for acquisition, or just beneficial, but in our experience, it's incredibly valuable and important. So even if it's not required, you should still try to do it.\n\nHowever, we generally recommend that the LEARNER should be the one to notice things. That it's more beneficial if you use your mind and focus to look for words you're learning or familiar with.\n\nThis kind of textual enhancement comes from the TEACHER (or source of input). Is that actually beneficial?\n\n## What does research say?\n\nCintrón-Valentín and García-Amaya did some tests[^5] on Spanish learners to see if adding enhancement to subtitles would improve their learning of grammar and/or vocabulary.\n\nThe Spanish learners received \"traditional\" lessons and custom-created videos designed to include the target grammar and vocabulary.\n\nThey made 4 groups of learners:\n\n- Lessons + videos (no subtitles)\n- Lessons + videos (subtitles with highlighted vocab)\n- Lessons + videos (subtitles with highlighted grammar)\n- Videos (subtitles with highlighted grammar) _no lessons_\n\nThe results were rather interesting! Immediately after the lessons and videos, the learners who had the enhancement did better in that area (learners with highlighted vocab retained more of the new vocab). But that advantage disappeared after a few weeks.\n\nHighlighting things does draw students’ attention to them, but it doesn't necessarily get acquired more quickly. Continued exposure to the word or concept is required.\n\nAnother study[^3] actually tracked learners’ eyes to see how long they looked at the underlined words. It found that learners did look at the highlighted 
44words for longer (as compared to normal, unenhanced words in the subtitles). But also that there was a positive relationship between how long someone looked at a word and the likelihood they remembered that word on an immediate posttest.\n\nIt's also worth noting that the authors make the comment that it's hard to say definitively that the underlining caused more noticing which in turn caused better recall.\n\nBut the issue of the benefits vanishing after a week or two wasn't addressed.\n\nAn earlier study[^4] also based on eye tracking (carried out by some of the same researchers) tested something different: are full subtitles or \"keyword captions\" more effective?\n\n_Keyword captions are when just a target word/phrase is put on screen, exactly like the examples I have above._\n\nFirst off, the scores of their learners were overall very low. Not a lot of word learning happened, regardless of the group. However, the keyword captions groups were quite a bit better at recognizing the words that were being taught.\n\nNot understanding the words, just recognizing them. Which makes sense, since those were specifically shown on screen.\n\nHowever, actually learning the meaning of the words didn't improve with just the keyword captions when compared to the full subtitles. The \"intention\" of the learner was much more important (they only told 1/2 of the participants they would be tested and everyone who knew that did better on the test, regardless of their subtitle type).\n\nAll this is to say that there might be some benefit to including textual enhancement in the form of keyword captions, but it's certainly not an obvious benefit.\n\nIt's worth doing more research into variations of this technique, but learning words should probably be done with different activities.\n\n## What do my vibes say?\n\nI find that the biggest issue with the textual enhancement on these videos is that they're static. They're part of the video and cannot adapt to the learner. For example, I already know 垃圾 (it means garbage) and so that callout wasn't useful. So it just takes up space.\n\nOr, and this happened to me yesterday, the creator guesses wrong! There was a sentence that said something like \"And there's direct access to the subway.\" It was actually the perfect sentence for me to learn a word, since I knew all but 1 of the words: direct.\n\nBut the creator put the word \"subway\" on the screen.\n\nThis didn't actually affect me in any way, since I use other tools to look up words and mostly ignore the text enhancements. They're just not that useful to me.\n\nThe final problem with some enhancements is when they include a translation or, in the case of Mandarin, the Pinyin. In the example from Chinese at Dawn above, she includes the Pinyin, character and English meaning. This is useful if:\n\n1. You want to see Pinyin\n2. You can read the font for the character\n3. You speak English\n\nBut if you are trying to get used to reading just characters, or they choose a bad font or you don't actually know English (or don't want to use the translations without trying to understand first) then this text enhancement isn't very useful! In fact, it might negatively affect your use of the content for learning.\n\nIn a similar vein, the Czech example has the word \"instrumental,\" drawing attention to the case (the callout means \"to heat _with_ wood\"). What if you don't know what instrumental is? Or learned a different name for the case?\n\n# Should you add text enhancement to your videos?\n\nIn my opinion, no. It's a decent amount of extra work for very little actual benefit. You're basically just guessing which words or concepts your viewers should focus on.\n\nHOWEVER, I do think there's a specific version of this that _is_ very useful.\n\n## Targeted Videos\n\nIf you make a video that's focusing on a specific topic or concept or something like that, then drawing attention to that topic or concept can be VERY useful.\n\nUsing English as an example, let's say you wanted to make a video about the difference between present simple (I eat) and present continuous (I'm eating). In a video like that, it'd be very useful to put examples of those grammar patterns on screen.\n\n\u003e Every day I **eat** breakfast at 9:15, after I **come back** from the gym. Right now, I'm **eating** oatmeal and **drinking** coffee.\n\nSomething like that.\n\n# Conclusion\n\nAt the end of the day, however, it's not a problem to include this kind of textual input. Some people might find it engaging, others can ignore it.\n\nI think, ideally, there'd be a smart, personalized system or extension which could draw your attention to specific words or grammar patterns when YOU need them most...\n\nWhat do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts! [Let me know via email](mailto:[email protected]) or [join our Discord and ping @mycheze](https://refold.link/join).\n\n[^1]: Sharwood Smith, M. (1993). Input enhancement in instructed SLA: Theoretical bases. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 15(2), 165–179\n\n[^2]: Schmidt, R. (1990
44). \"The role of consciousness in second language learning.\" Applied Linguistics, 11(2), 129-158.\n\n[^3]: Puimège, E., Montero Perez, M., \u0026 Peters, E. (2023). Promoting L2 acquisition of multiword units through textually enhanced audiovisual input: An eye-tracking study. Second Language Research, 39(2), 471–492.\n\n[^4]: Montero Perez, M., Peters, E., \u0026 Desmet, P. (2015). Enhancing vocabulary learning through captioned video: An eye-tracking study. The Modern Language Journal, 99(2), 308–328.\n\n[^5]: Cintrón-Valentín, M. C., \u0026 García-Amaya, L. (2021). Investigating textual enhancement and captions in L2 grammar and vocabulary: An experimental study. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 43(5), 1068–1093.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## With the Refold method, of course!\n\nThe [original Refold roadmap](https://refold.la/roadmap/) was written to answer the question: “How can anyone acquire a foreign language?”\n\nEthan, the CEO of Refold, partnered with Matt vs Japan to create the first, complete guide to language fluency through at-home immersion. Over 5 months of full time work, they debated, interviewed, wrote, and rewrote hundreds of essays that eventually became the incredible Refold Roadmap that has helped tens of thousands of people reach fluency (myself included).\n\nBut it was never meant to be the “final” guide. _The one method to rule them all_. It was a first version based on their combined obsession with finding a better way to learn languages. The first version didn’t even launch with a complete Stage 4! It was always meant to evolve.\n\nAs the Refold community has grown and we’ve started coaching learners and making courses, we kept exploring immersion learning and deepening our understanding of the process. The original roadmap was great, but had a few core issues. The biggest one was the comparative weakness of Stages 3 and 4. There was a lot less experience and information to draw from when making those stages. Stage 2 also was a behemoth and needed some refinement. There were also frequent questions about when to move between stages.\n\nThese issues, along with all our learning, have led us to build an internal model, a “new” roadmap, that we use for clients and our products, which guides the way we think about language learning.\n\nWe haven’t been able to officially work on or publish a Roadmap 2.0. Spending months of time to craft a complete document isn’t something we’re able to spend time on (yet).\n\nBut we really want to get these ideas out there! Which is why I’m writing a series of blog posts, covering each of the new phases of our more updated method.\n\nThere will be 8 posts (including this one), which I will try to release as regularly as possible.\n\n## What’s changed?\n\nThe new method is very similar to the original, despite looking very different at first glance. This is mostly due to the different numbering system. The original method used 4 Stages:\n\n1. Lay the Foundation\n2. Build Comprehension\n3. Learn to Speak\n4. Beyond Fluency\n\nThis turns out to be a little _too_ simplified and meant that Stages 2 and 3 were overloaded and were where you spent a majority of your time.\n\nThe new 7 Phases split the process up a little more evenly and make it easier to know when to pass from one to the next.\n\n1. Foundation 🏦\n2. Reading 📖\n3. Listening 🎧\n4. Speaking 🗣️\n5. Writing ✍️\n6. Fluency 💬\n7. And Beyond 🚀\n\nThe original Stage 1 is more or less the same as Phase 1.\n\nStage 2 (Build Comprehension) was split up into Phases 2 and 3 (Reading and Listening).\n\nStage 3 (Learn to Speak) became Phases 4, 5 and a little bit of 6 (Speaking, Writing, Fluency).\n\nAnd then Stage 4 is covered a bit by the end of Phase 6 and all of Phase 7 (And Beyond).\n\nYou’ll also notice the simplified names we’re using for the new Phases. These names more closely match the different skills that people think about in regards to learning a new language.\n\n💡 Each of these phases is named after the **core** focus, but there are many other skills involved.\n\nDuring the Speaking phase, for example, your primary focus is on speaking ability, but you’re also continuing to do lots of listening, reading and even a bit of writing. But having a clear “focus skill” makes it easier to know when to move on to the next level.\n\nThat’s another goal with this new system. Defining when to move on to different Phases (or sub phases). A lot of people struggled to know when to move from Stage 2C to Stage 3, as an example. The new sub-phases have specific criteria that you can quickly reference and know if you should move on.\n\nThe phases are meant to be done in order, but each learner has slightly different needs, interests, desires and goals. A certain amount of customization of the method is required to be successful. This is something we also want to highlight in this new guide.\n\nOne key piece we wanted to add was a rough estimate of your level in each core skill (reading, listening, writing, speaking) you’ll achieve in each phase. This provides expectations that you can measure yourself against. Immersion learning doesn’t improve reading, writing, listening and speaking at the same time. For more information, check out the section below called _Table of Skills_.\n\nIf you want a sneak peek of the preliminary Table of Contents, here it is. Please keep in mind that these blog posts are only able to cover the overview of each Phase and will _not_ be going in depth on any of the sub-phases. Also, it’s not set in stone and is subject to change.\n\n## New Method Table of Contents\n\n- Phase 0 – Immersion Learning 📓\n  - Acquisition vs Learning, Enjoy the Process, Immerse in the Language, Learning Overview\n- Phase 1 – Foundations 🏛️\n  - 1A – The Absolute Basics, 1B – Tracking your Learning, 1C – Begin Comprehension, 1D – Get Comfortable\n- Phase 2 – Reading 📖\n  - 2A – Learn the Core Words, 2B – Develop your Comprehension, 2C – Solidify your Reading\n- Phase 3 – Listening 🎧\n  - 3A – Overcome the Listening Gap, 3B – Choosing a Dialect, 3C – Core Listening Skills, 3D – Understand Native Conversation\n- Phase 4 – Speaking 🗣️\n  - 4A – Preparing for Output, 4B – Speaking Comfort, 4? – Situational Speaking (
44optional)\n- Phase 5 – Writing ✍️\n  - 5A – Writing Comfort, 5B – Writing Accuracy, 5C – Speaking Accuracy\n- Phase 6 – Fluency 💬\n  - 6A – Output Automaticity, 6B – Vocabulary Gaps, 6C – Lots of Practice\n- Phase 7 – And beyond 🚀\n  - 7A – Domain Domination, 7B – Go to School, 7C – Effortlessness, 7D – Going “Native”, 7? – Proficiency Test\n\n## New Method Learning Overview\n\nThe rest of this article is dedicated to a quick tour through what you’ll be working on in each phase.\n\n### Phase 1: Foundations\n\nThe primary learning approach for the entire Refold method is immersion in the language and comprehending messages. This allows your brain to learn the patterns and develop fluency subconsciously. But, you must actually _comprehend_ things in order to learn^1.\n\nBut, how do you understand _anything_ if you’re a beginner?!\n\nThat’s what this foundations phase is for. You’ll be using basic vocabulary and grammar study alongside simple language in order to slowly turn the gibberish that is your target language into… less gibberish.\n\nYour primary goal isn’t to understand much, but rather to feel comfortable with the learning process and with the sensation of not understanding. You still won’t understand much by the end of the phase, but you will have a strong learning process set up to make incredible progress in future phases.\n\n### Phase 2: Reading\n\nYou want to increase your comprehension of the language as quickly as possible, so that you spend the maximum amount of time understanding. Which is why you’ll start with reading. It’s generally much easier than listening and allows you to use your adult literacy skills to make rapid progress.\n\nHowever, you will NOT be ignoring listening. Through the entire reading phase, we recommend you only do reading _along with_ audio. This makes sure to train your ears to hear the language and not only rely on the text.\n\nWhen we use the word **reading**, we’re not referring just to books or articles. Anything with text is considered reading. Some of the best resources during this phase are TV shows and YouTube videos as they usually have subtitles to go along with the audio.\n\nIt’s slightly counterintuitive, but we don’t recommend doing “pure reading” in this phase (like with books). These kinds of texts use much more formal language and a wider range of vocabulary. Reading written versions of spoken content naturally narrows your focus on common, everyday speech.\n\nDuring this phase, you’ll be focused on learning lots of new words and getting used to understanding the language with the help of text.\n\nBy the end of the reading phase, you’ll be able to understand things (when reading) at a fairly high level, certainly far ahead of any traditional learners.\n\n### Phase 3: Listening\n\nFocusing on reading first creates a “reading and listening gap,” where your reading ability is much better than your listening ability. This means:\n\n- You will feel a sudden drop in ability when switching to listening,\n- But you will improve very rapidly as your ears catch up with your knowledge.\n\nThis drop in comprehension is uncomfortable! It feels like all your hard work vanishes in a few minutes. But you aren’t starting from nothing. You already know so much from your time spent on reading, and adapting your ears to hear it takes much less time.\n\nTowards the end of the phase, you will turn your focus to conversations to prepare you for speaking.\n\nBy the end of the listening phase, you’ll have closed the reading and listening gap and be able to understand a regular conversation when just listening.\n\nA big difference from the original roadmap is that it advised perfect (or near perfect) listening before starting to speak. This new model has you continuing to develop your listening while you start to speak.\n\n### Phase 4: Speaking\n\nThe first step when starting to output is to develop comfort with output. By this point, you’ll be extremely comfortable understanding the language, but you’re brand new to output, and it will suck. The first 50 output hours should be dedicated to getting used to speaking and becoming comfortable.\n\nIt might seem like writing would be easier to start with, since you can take your time and think through what you want to say. But this causes overthinking and gets in your way of improving your speaking.\n\nThis is another difference from the original roadmap. The recommendation was to start with writing because you could take your time. In practice, writing is much better for finding and improving mistakes than it is for building initial comfort.\n\nIn the beginning of the phase, you’ll start with some solo speaking practice to make sure you’re comfortable producing the sounds and rhythm of the language, as well as mentally preparing yourself for a first conversation.\n\nThis preparation is important because you will be able to hear a lot of your mistakes and awkward phrasings, despite just starting to speak. This is a **good** thing, even if it might feel bad. You’ve spent so much time on input (reading/listening) that you have an input-output gap, much like in Phase 3. So your first focus is to get over that initial difficulty and build speaking comfort by speaking _a lot_.\n\nThere’s an optional part of this phase which is practicing specific situations and making sure you’re comfortable doing common things in the language. This is useful if you live somewhere with lots of speakers of the language or want to travel and use it. But this sub-phase can be done at any time.\n\nBy the end of the speaking phase, you’ll be able to speak and have a real conversation with a native speaker. You’ll still make mistakes, but be well on your way to fluency. Finishing this stage is roughly equivalent to reaching B1, perhaps a bit further.\n_Check the table below for more specific CEFR level estimations._\n\n### Phase 5: Writing\n\nAfter getting over the initial hurdle of speaking comfort, the next focus is accuracy. Developing your writing is perfect for this, for the exact reason you wanted to avoid writing when just starting to output. You can think about what you’re trying to express and study more formal grammar to make sure your writing is not only understandable, but correct.\n\nYou’ll be using your writing and grammar study to also improve your speaking, slowly reducing your errors and unclear phrasing. This focus on grammar and being more correct will likely slow your output down (but we deal with that in Phase 6).\n\nBy the end of the writing phase, you’ll be comfortable speaking and writing around the level of a high school student. You’ll still make mistakes, and using the language at that level will still require a good amount of effort. Finishing this stage is roughly equivalent to reaching B2.\n_Check the table below for more specific CEFR level estimations._\n\n### Phase 6: Fluency\n\nOnce you’re comfortable and fairly accurate in the language, all that’s left is to increase your fluidity and naturalness, turning you into a fluent user of the language.\n\nThis phase is dedicated to developing your automatic use of the language and solidifying everything from the previous five phases. You will also be spending time filling any gaps in your knowledge, making sure that there’s nothing you skipped over.\n\nAnd of course, lots and lots of practice. Everyone’s definition of fluency is different, but this phase aims to bring you to “functional fluency.” Which means you can live your life, entirely in the language, without it drastically impacting your ability to function. You’re able to have a social life, live in a country that only uses that language, navigate the world, hold a job, and enjoy media.\n\nFinishing this stage is roughly equivalent to reaching C1.\n_Check the table below for more specific CEFR level estimations._\n\n### Phase 7: And beyond\n\nOnce you’re fluent, your journey doesn’t stop! You are now a user of the language and it’s become a part of your life, a part of who you are. During the following years, you will c
44ontinue to read, write, listen, speak and generally use the language, learning more along the way.\n\nBut there are specific things you can do to increase and deepen your fluency purposefully. In this phase, you can focus on becoming an expert in certain areas of the language. Or perhaps put yourself through the motions and lessons that a native speaker would have done during their years of schooling.\n\nPhase 7 is technically never-ending, so it will be a never-ending journey of discovery and learning.\n\n📰 Pursuing a proficiency test (like passing the C2 or equivalent) is also something you might want to do in this phase! Or you might want to do it earlier on. We put it into Phase 7, but if you need to pass the B2 exam for some reason, you can absolutely study for (and pass) the test earlier in the method.\n\n### Table of Skills\n\nThe Refold method develops your language skills in a non-standard order. The CEFR scale^2 assumes that your reading, listening, writing and speaking skills all progress at roughly the same rate. In order to pass a B2 exam, you generally need to have B2 level in all 4 skills (maybe 1 a bit lower than the others).\n\nThis doesn’t work with the Refold method. We prioritize skills in a very different order, to help you make progress faster and more effectively. To illustrate the general skill progression, we put together this graph. The level mentioned refers to (more or less) what your level in that specific skill will be at the _end_ of the phase.\n\n| Phase | Reading | Listening | Writing | Speaking |\n| ----- | ------- | --------- | ------- | -------- |\n| 1 🏦  | A2      | A1        | A1\\*    | A1\\*     |\n| 2 📖  | B2      | A2        | A1\\*    | A1\\*     |\n| 3 🎧  | B2      | B2        | A1\\*    | A2\\*     |\n| 4 🗣️  | B2+     | B2        | A2      | B1+      |\n| 5 ✍️  | C1      | B2+       | B2      | B2       |\n| 6 💬  | C1      | C1        | B2
44+     | C1       |\n| 7+ 🚀 | C2      | C2        | C1\\*\\*  | C2       |\n\n_General note: passing an official CEFR test will almost certainly require some study of the testing structure and method. It is unlikely that you’d be able to pass a test of any level without some study._\n\n- During the first 3 phases, you won’t practice your writing or speaking skills at all. If you never speak or write, you can’t really have _any_ level. So these estimations are what you could achieve with a few hours of activating that knowledge, if you were to do that.\n\n\\*\\* Getting a C2 level in writing requires a specifically high accuracy for grammar and vocabulary knowledge. Even though your other abilities will be at very high levels, in order to officially pass a written exam at the C2 level, almost everyone (including native speakers) needs to do a lot of study.\n\n---\n\n1. Comprehensible input must [actually be comprehensible](https://gianfrancoconti.com/2025/02/27/why-the-input-we-give-our-learners-must-be-95-98-comprehensible-in-order-to-enhance-language-acquisition-the-theory-and-the-research-evidence/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). Even if you listen to 10,000 hours of Cantonese talk radio, if you don’t understand anything, you won’t learn anything.\n2. The [CEFR levels](https://rm.coe.int/CoERMPublicCommonSearchServices/DisplayDCTMContent?documentId=090000168045bb52) are A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nEsa es una de las preguntas más comunes en el mundo del aprendizaje de idiomas.\n\n**¡La gente quiere saber en qué se está metiendo!**\n\nHay varias formas de medir “cuánto tiempo demora aprender un idioma”. Pero la forma más precisa y útil, por mucho, es: “Total de horas de esfuerzo para alcanzar la fluidez”.\n\nIncluso cuando esto tiene sus ambigüedades (por ejemplo: ¿qué se considera fluidez?, ¿qué cuenta como esfuerzo?), sigue siendo un dato muy útil.\n\nEn este blog, voy a profundizar en esas ambigüedades y ayudarte a entender qué significan esas cifras y cómo relacionarlas con el idioma que estás aprendiendo.\n\n## El idioma importa _mucho_\n\nEl primer obstáculo al estimar cuántas horas se necesitan para aprender un idioma es que cada idioma requiere una cantidad distinta de tiempo para cada persona.\n\nLa “**distancia lingüística**” es el factor más importante. Básicamente, ¿qué tan _diferente_ es tu nuevo idioma comparado con tu idioma materno (u otro idioma que ya domines)?\n\nSi tu lengua materna es el español, el italiano se te hará mucho más fácil que el neerlandés. El italiano y el español comparten muchísimo vocabulario, gramática e incluso sonidos. Pero el español y el neerlandés solo tienen unas pocas características en común.\n\nPor ese motivo, solemos clasificar los idiomas (de forma general) en 4 grupos, dependiendo de qué tan diferentes son comparados a tu lengua materna. Ya que Refold es una empresa principalmente en inglés, normalmente usamos este idioma como base de comparación para estas estimaciones. Sin embargo, para este blog hemos adaptado esas cifras usando el español como base de comparación. Si hablas otro idioma, tu versión de este gráfico será distinta.\n\nLos **idiomas similares** comparten muchas cosas. Tienen un ancestro lingüístico en común, una buena cantidad de vocabulario compartido y estructuras gramaticales parecidas.\n\nLos **idiomas lejanos**, en cambio, no comparten casi nada. Tal vez usen algunas cuantas palabras populares del inglés que la mayoría conoce (generalmente por la gran influencia del inglés en el mundo), pero nada más allá de ello. Además, suelen tener elementos que no existen en otros idiomas (como los tonos), lo cual hace que tomen más tiempo en aprenderse.\n\nLos **idiomas “primos”** suelen ser un grupo muy reducido de lenguas que están estrechamente relacionadas. Comparten más del 50 % (muchas veces más) del vocabulario y tienen estructuras y gramática muy similares.\n\nPor ejemplo, está el grupo de las lenguas romances (español, catalán, italiano, francés, portugués, etc.) o de las lenguas eslavas (ruso, ucraniano, polaco, checo, eslovaco, etc.).\n\nTodos los **otros idiomas** caen en una categoría intermedia. No son tan similares ni completamente distintos a tu lengua materna, y todos requieren un tiempo más o menos igual para aprenderse.\n\n_Este gráfico de distancias lingüísticas es un ejemplo basado en el español como lengua materna. No es una lista exhaustiva, ya que existen más de 7000 idiomas en el mundo._\n\n| Idiomas primos | Idiomas similares | Otros idiomas | Idiomas lejanos             |\n| -------------- | ----------------- | ------------- | --------------------------- |\n| italiano       | inglés            | ruso          | japonés                     |\n| portugués      | neerlandés        | hindi         | mandarín                    |\n| francés        | alemán            | indonesio     | coreano                     |\n| catalán        |                   | griego        | árabe (cualquier variación) |\n|                |                   | cherokee      |                             |\n|                |                   | etc.          |                             |\n\nPara hablantes del inglés, la tabla se ve más o menos así:\n\n| Idiomas primos | Idiomas similares | Otros idiomas | Idiomas lejanos             |\n| -------------- | ----------------- | ------------- | --------------------------- |\n| scots          | español           | ruso          | japonés                     |\n| frisian        | francés           | hindi         | mandarín                    |\n|                | alemán            | indonesio     | coreano                     |\n|                | neerlandés        | griego        | árabe (cualquier variación) |\n|                |                   | cherokee      |                             |\n|                |                   | etc.          |                             |\n\nTen en cuenta que la “distancia lingüística” no pretende ser una medida perfecta u objetiva. Todos los idiomas son distintos y requieren diferentes cosas. Pero es necesario agruparlos en categorías si queremos estimar cuánto tiempo tomará aprenderlos.\n\n## Tu experiencia también influye\n\nEl otro gran factor que afecta tu velocidad de aprendizaje eres tú mismo. No solo tu idioma materno, sino también tu experiencia previa con el aprendizaje de idiomas. ¿Ya has logrado aprender otros idiomas anteriormente? ¿Lo hiciste cuando eras niño o adulto?\n\n¡Todos estos son factores importantes a considerar!\n\nSi ya has logrado aprender un nuevo idioma siendo adulto, aprender otro más te será mucho más fácil, incluso si es un idioma lejano. Ya te conoces a ti mismo, sabes cómo aprendes mejor y has superado varios de los obstáculos comunes que se suelen presentar.\n\nPero si esta es la primera vez que intentas aprender un idioma extranjero, tendrás que hacer ambas cosas a la vez: descubrir qué funciona para ti mientras aprendes el idioma en sí.\n\nPor eso, si planeas aprender varios en el futuro, siempre recomiendo _empezar_ con un idioma parecido al tuyo. Este es un tipo de pregunta que recibo muy seguido:\n\n\u003e _“¡Hola! Soy nuevo en el aprendizaje de idiomas. Sé que quiero aprender inglés y japonés. ¿Cuál debería empezar primero si mi idioma materno es el español?”_\n\nAsumiendo que esta persona realmente quiere aprender ambos idiomas, c
44omenzar con inglés le permitirá avanzar más rápido y descubrir cómo aprende mejor. Así, cuando pase al japonés, ya tendrá la experiencia que hará su aprendizaje más eficiente.\n\nOtro factor importante es si ya tienes experiencia con un idioma relacionado al que estás aprendiendo. Por ejemplo, un hablante nativo del inglés que ya habla español con fluidez tendrá una ventaja enorme al aprender italiano, mucho más que alguien que solo habla inglés (como vimos en la tabla anterior).\n\n## ¿Cuáles son tus metas?\n\nEl último factor clave que debo mencionar antes de entrar en cifras concretas es: **¿Cuál es tu meta personal con el idioma?**\n\nSi tu objetivo es volverte súper fluido, mudarte a otro país y abandonar casi por completo tu idioma materno, vas a necesitar esforzarte más que alguien que solo espera no sentirse tan perdido cuando vaya de vacaciones e intente pedir indicaciones.\n\nY no hay nada de malo con una meta u otra. Cada persona tiene sus propias razones para aprender un idioma.\n\nEn nuestras estimaciones de cantidad de horas en total, asumimos que tu meta es lo que llamamos “fluidez funcional”, la cual definimos como “poder vivir cómodamente tu vida en el idioma”.\n\nEsto incluye ser capaz de entender contenido nativo como series o libros con facilidad, poder conversar sobre temas que conoces, y comunicarte sin mayores problemas. Sin embargo, seguirás cometiendo errores y no pasarás como nativo.\n\nTen eso en cuenta si tu meta está por debajo o por encima de esas expectativas. Para alguien que solo quiere ser capaz de mantener una conversación básica, bastará con el 50 % de esta estimación de horas. Si tu meta es estudiar en una universidad extranjera o emigrar al país, puede que debas multiplicar el tiempo por 1.5.\n\n## Estimación de horas en total\n\nBien, aquí está la parte que estabas esperando. Pero si te saltaste toda la página para llegar hasta aquí, te estarás perdiendo muchos detalles que te ayudarán a entender y aplicar mejor estas cifras.\n\nRecordatorio final: **estas cifras son solo estimaciones para ayudarte a planear tu aprendizaje**.\n\nCuánto tiempo se necesita para lograr la fluidez funcional en un…\n\n- Idioma primo: **800 horas**\n- Idioma similar: **1350 horas**\n- Otro idioma: **1800 horas**\n- Idioma lejano: **3600 horas**\n\n¡Estos números son bastante altos! Y no te dicen qué serás capaz de hacer y en qué debes enfocarte después de, digamos, 500 horas de aprendizaje. Por eso, prefiero este gráfico que divide las horas estimadas según cada “Fase de Refold^1”.\n\nLa primera columna para cada categoría indica el número de horas estimadas para completar cada fase. La segunda columna para cada categoría indica el número de horas totales estimadas acumuladas al finalizar cada fase.\n\n| Fase        | PrimosHoras | PrimosHorasTotales | SimilaresHoras | SimilaresHorasTotales | OtrosHoras | OtrosHorasTotales | LejanosHoras | LejanosHorasTotales |\n| ----------- | ----------- | ------------------ | -------------- | --------------------- | ---------- | ----------------- | ------------ | ------------------- |\n| 1: Bases    | 40          | 40                 | 75             | 75                    | 100        | 100               | 200          | 200                 |\n| 2: Leer     | 220         | 260                | 375            | 450                   | 500        | 600               | 1000         | 1200                |\n| 3: Escuchar | 180         | 440                | 300            | 750                   | 400        | 1000              | 800          | 2000                |\n| 4: Hablar   | 90          | 530                | 150            | 900                   | 200        | 1200              | 400          | 2400                |\n| 5: Escribir | 135         | 665                | 225            | 1125                  | 300        | 1500              | 600          | 3000                |\n| 6: Fluidez  | 135         | 800                | 225            | 1350                  | 300        | 1800              | 600          | 3600                |\n| 7: Más allá | ???         | ???                | ???            | ???                   | ???        | ???               | ???          | ???                 |\n\n_“Más allá” no tiene una cifra exacta estimada porque en realidad nunca termina. Después de alcanzar la fluidez funcional, seguirás aprendiendo cada vez más del idioma a lo largo de toda tu vida (a menos que lo abandones por completo)._\n\nVeamos algunos ejemplos.\n\nDigamos que eres un hablante nativo del español y estás aprendiendo alemán, un “idioma similar”. Pero no te interesa alcanzar la fluidez funcional, solo quieres poder tener conversaciones básicas. Entonces tu meta es completar la fase de “Hablar” (que equivale a ser capaz de hablar con una fluidez básica). En este caso, tu meta sería llegar a las 900 horas de alemán.\n\nOtro caso sería si eres un hablante nativo del español y estás aprendiendo japonés. Imaginemos que tu meta es ir más allá de la fluidez funcional, por lo que aquí deberías apuntar a completar las 3600 horas (y seguir aprendiendo más allá de ello).\n\n¡Pero **no te obsesiones con este enorme número meta**!\n\n## Alcanza el “nivel divertido”\n\nEn lugar de eso, concéntrate en alcanzar lo que llamamos el “nivel divertido”. Ese es el punto en el que aprender el idioma deja de sentirse como una obligación. Te vuelves lo suficientemente bueno como para disfrutarlo, y poder consumir el idioma se convierte en algo que esperas con ansias.\n\nLlegar a este nivel toma **alrededor del 20% del tiempo estimado total para alcanzar la fluidez funcional**.\n\nNo pienses en que necesitarás 1800 horas para hablar ruso con fluidez. Concéntrate en llegar a las 360 horas y alcanzar este nivel.\n\nCuánto tarda alcanzar el nivel divertido en…\n\n- Idioma primo: **160 horas**\n- Idioma similar: **270 horas**\n- Otro idioma: **360 horas**\n- Idioma lejano: **720 horas**\n\nSi aprendes dos horas por día (lo cual es bastante, pero manejable si lo integras bien en tu rutina), alcanzarías este nivel de diversión en:\n\n- alrededor de **3 meses** para un idioma primo\n- alrededor de **4.5 meses** para un idioma similar\n- alrededor de **6 meses** para otro idioma\n- alrededor de **12 meses** para un idioma lejano\n\n\u003e Una vez que llegues a ese nivel, ¡no vas a querer parar de aprender!\n\n## Ve lento pero seguro\n\nAprender un idioma no es una carrera. No puedes simplemente hacer 2 000 horas en un par de meses. No solo porque el día solo tiene 24 horas, sino porque tu cerebro no es capaz de absorber más que unas pocas horas de contenido nuevo cada día. No sabemos si hay un límite exacto, pero la mayoría suele dejar de aprender de forma efectiva una vez sobrepasa las 5 horas diarias^2.\n\nPor eso es mejor avanzar despacio pero constante. Crea una rutina diaria de aprendizaje que puedas mantener todos los días, sin falta.\n\nLa razón más común por la que la gente no logra aprender un idioma es el llamado “_burnout_” (agotamiento que lleva a darte por vencido). Muchos empiezan con muchísima energía en la primera semana o el primer mes… pero después no pueden seguir sosteniendo ese ritmo y todo se les desmorona.\n\nEmpieza con solo 45 minutos al día. Una vez que eso se vuelva un hábito sólido, puedes aumentar a una hora. Luego, podrás ir con una hora y media. Y antes que te des cuenta, ¡estarás aprendiendo por 2 horas al día!\n\n## ¿De dónde salen estas cifras?\n\nAhora bien, seguro estarás preguntándote dónde sacamos estas cifras. ¿Nos las inventamos? ¿Tienen alguna base científica?\n\nLa fuente más citada para estimar las horas de aprendizaje de idiomas es el [Foreign Service Institute](https://www.state.gov/foreign-service-institute/foreign-language-training) (FSI) o Instituto del Servicio Exterior de Estados Unidos. Este instituto enseña idiomas a angloparlantes para que trabajen en asuntos exteriores. ¡Tienen mucha experiencia en esto!\n\nDividen los idiomas en 4 
44categorías según su dificultad (aunque no son exactamente iguales a las categorías que nosotros manejamos) y estiman cuántas semanas y cuántas horas de clase se necesitan para alcanzar el [Nivel 3 en la escala ILR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILR_scale#ILR_Level_3_%E2%80%93_Professional_working_proficiency).\n\nSus estimaciones están basadas en horas de clase, ya que sus cursos son bastante estructurados y sus estudiantes aprenden a tiempo completo.\n\nEstas estimaciones suelen _malinterpretarse_ porque la gente solo se fija en las _horas de clase_ cuando busca en la web del FSI, sin tener en cuenta que también se espera que los estudiantes realicen casi la misma cantidad de horas de estudio autónomo cada semana.\n\nUna semana típica incluye 23 horas de clase y 17 horas de estudio autónomo^3. Eso significa que los estudiantes aprenden unas 40 horas por semana. Un trabajo a tiempo completo.\n\nEstas son las horas estimadas para llegar al [Nivel 3 en la escala ILR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILR_scale#ILR_Level_3_%E2%80%93_Professional_working_proficiency) siendo un hablante nativo del inglés:\n\n![FSI Hours Estimates:\n\n- Category 1: 750 hours + 550 self-study hours (1300 total)\n- Category 2: 900 hours + 700 self-study hours (1600 total)\n- Category 3: 1100 hours + 900 self-study hours (2000 total)\n- Category 4: 2200 hours + 1700 self-study hours (3900 total)](/api/blog-images/cuanto-tiempo-toma-aprender-un-idioma--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png.webp)\n\nLas estimaciones del FSI son muy buenas y solíamos usarlas por un buen tiempo cada que hablábamos de cuánto tiempo tomaba aprender un idioma.\n\nPero no se alinean del todo con el aprendizaje por inmersión, ni con el método Refold.\n\nLa principal diferencia es que la inmersión funciona de otra manera. En un curso del FSI, casi el 60% del tiempo de aprendizaje se pasa en un aula. Esto es útil para aprender reglas gramaticales y seguir un libro de texto, pero no es lo mismo que pasar tiempo activo, enfocado, con el idioma.\n\nLa forma en cómo nuestro cerebro adquiere idiomas a través de la inmersión es distinta al aprendizaje por medio de un aula de clases. Y en nuestra comunidad, la gente suele progresar más rápido en los idiomas más difíciles (lo que el FSI llama categorías 3 y 4, y nosotros llamamos “idiomas lejanos”).\n\nAdemás, clasificamos los idiomas de forma diferente. Agregamos la categoría más fácil: “idiomas primos” (el FSI no la incluye porque el inglés prácticamente no tiene), y movimos algunos idiomas de categoría 2. Por ejemplo, el alemán parece más difícil en un aula que al aprenderlo mediante inmersión.\n\nNuestras estimaciones están basadas en décadas de experiencia del FSI, pero adaptadas a la experiencia de más de 70 000 miembros en nuestra comunidad aprendiendo por medio de la inmersión.\n\nLa división por fases está basada en la experiencia de varias personas y nuestras mejores estimaciones. Cuando pasamos de nuestro sistema original de 4 etapas a uno de 7 fases, observamos en qué partes pasaba más tiempo nuestra comunidad y calculamos las cifras en base a ello.\n\nA medida que aprendamos más gracias a la data extraída de la [app de Refold](https://zenith-raincoat-5cf.notion.site/Descargar-la-App-de-Refold-16d4fa7e6fbd80309068c310a36df275), actualizaremos estas cifras de ser necesario. Analizar y estudiar el aprendizaje por inmersión a gran escala es casi imposible en la era en la que vivimos, ¡pero queremos cambiar eso con [nuestra app](https://zenith-raincoat-5cf.notion.site/Descargar-la-App-de-Refold-16d4fa7e6fbd80309068c310a36df275)!\n\nSi quieres ser parte del futuro del aprendizaje por inmersión, ¡[descarga la app y empieza a registrar tu tiempo de aprendizaje hoy mismo](https://zenith-raincoat-5cf.notion.site/Descargar-la-App-de-Refold-16d4fa7e6fbd80309068c310a36df275)!\n\n---\n\n1. Las “7 Fases” son nuestro nuevo modelo para representar las distintas etapas del aprendizaje de un idioma. Son muy parecidas a las 4 Etapas originales del [primer modelo de la Guía de Refold](https://refold.la/simplified/). Pero las Etapas 2, 3 y 4 se dividieron en 2 fases cada una, lo que resulta en 7 fases en lugar de 4. Puedes ver un video explicando las 7 Fases haciendo [clic aquí](https://youtu.be/Jo4ds4mxuhU). Si prefieres leer sobre ellas, están disponibles en [nuestras Guías de Aprendizaje gratuitas](https://refold.la/how-to-learn-spanish/). [↩︎](https://refold.la/blog/cuanto-tiempo-toma-aprender-un-idioma/#33e1dd17-c1ab-481f-bf25-1febd9a781ad-link)\n2. Esto está basado puramente en evidencia anecdótica de miembros de nuestra comunidad. ¡Nos encantaría estudiarlo con más detalle! Si quieres ayudarnos a hacerlo, ¡[empieza a usar la app de Refold para registrar tu tiempo de aprendizaje](https://refold.link/habits-instru
44ctions-public)! [↩︎](https://refold.la/blog/cuanto-tiempo-toma-aprender-un-idioma/#0f2154fe-d829-4651-9225-608637d36dc4-link)\n3. [https://www.state.gov/foreign-service-institute/foreign-language-training](https://www.state.gov/foreign-service-institute/foreign-language-training), Experiencia del FSI en el aprendizaje de idiomas [↩︎](https://refold.la/blog/cuanto-tiempo-toma-aprender-un-idioma/#9306b2c6-57a3-4cf0-b343-67319ff1368c-link)\n"])</script>
44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"39:T43c6,"])</script>
44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nThat is one of the most commonly asked questions in all of language learning.\n\n**People want to know what they’re getting into!**\n\nThere are a few different ways to think about “how long it takes to learn a language.” But by far the most accurate and _useful_ measurement is “Total hours of effort to reach fluency.”\n\nWhile there are issues with even that simple statement (what is fluency? What counts as an hour of effort?), it’s still a very useful number to know.\n\nIn this post, I’m going to dive into the nuance of these numbers and how to figure out what they mean for you and your target language. So let’s jump into it.\n\n## The language _really_ matters\n\nThe first hurdle we face when determining the number of hours it takes to learn a language is that different languages take different amounts of time for different people.\n\n**Language distance** is the most important factor. Basically, how _different_ is your target language from your native language (or another language you already speak)?\n\nIf you speak Spanish as your native language, Italian is much easier than Dutch. Italian and Spanish share a massive amount of vocabulary, grammar and even sounds. But Spanish and Dutch only have a few things in common.\n\nSo, we separate languages (roughly) into 4 different groups, depending on how different they are to your native language. Since Refold is a primarily English speaking company, we use English as the native language for these calculations. But if you speak a different language, your version of this chart will look very different.\n\n**Similar languages** share many things in common. They have a common linguistic ancestor and share a decent amount of vocabulary and may have similar sentence structures.\n\n**Distant languages** have essentially _nothing_ in common. Maybe a few borrowed words (usually due to English’s massive influence in the world), but nothing else. Distant languages also have some things that are _very_ different (such as tones), making them take more time to learn.\n\n**Cousin languages** are usually a very small group of languages that are very closely related. These languages share over 50% (often way more) of their vocabulary and have very similar sentence structures and grammar features.\n\nFor example, the Romance languages (Spanish, Catalan, Italian, French, Portuguese, etc) or the Slavic languages (Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, etc).\n\n**All other languages** fall into a middle category. They’re not particularly distant or similar to your native language and require roughly the same amount of time to learn.\n\n_Example chart of language distances for English as a native language. This list is far from exhaustive, as there are over 7000 languages in the world._\n\n| Cousin languages | Similar languages | All other languages | Distant languages |\n| ---------------- | ----------------- | ------------------- | ----------------- |\n| Scots            | Spanish           | Russian             | Japanese          |\n| Frisian          | French            | Hindi               | Mandarin          |\n|                  | German            | Indonesian          | Korean            |\n|                  | Dutch             | Greek               | (Any) Arabic      |\n|                  |                   | Cherokee            |                   |\n|                  |                   | etc.                |                   |\n\nAnd for a native Spanish speaker, the chart might look a bit like this:\n\n| Cousin languages | Similar languages | All other languages | Distant languages |\n| ---------------- | ----------------- | ------------------- | ----------------- |\n| Italian          | English           | Russian             | Japanese          |\n| Portuguese       | Dutch             | Hindi               | Mandarin          |\n| French           | German            | Indonesian          | Korean            |\n| Catalan          |                   | Greek               | (Any) Arabic      |\n|                  |                   | Cherokee            |                   |\n|                  |                   | etc.                |                   |\n\nPlease keep in mind that “language distance” isn’t meant to be a perfect, objective measurement. All language pairs will have slightly different nuance to them. But, the language groupings are required if we want to figure out how long it will take.\n\n## What’s your experience?\n\nThe other major factor in learning speed is _you_! Not only your native language, but how much experience you have with language learning. Have you successfully learned other languages in the past? Did you try to learn your current target language a decade ago?\n\nAll of these factors are important to consider!\n\nIf you’ve already learned two other foreign languages as an adult, you’re going to have a much easier time with a third one, even if it’s a very distant language. You already understand your personal learning process and have experienced a lot of the pitfalls.\n\nBut if this is your first foreign language, you’ll be figuring all that out, while also learning the language.\n\nThis is the reason why, I recommend that people learn a more similar language _first_, as long as they plan on learning more eventually. I see some form of question like this all the time:\n\n\u003e _“Hi! I’m new to language learning. I know that I want to learn Spanish and Japanese. Which one should I learn first as a native English speaker?”_\n\nAssuming this person truly wants to learn both, starting with Spanish will allow them to make quicker progress and figure out their own learning style and process. Then, when they’re ready to focus on Japanese, they’re already a seasoned language learner.\n\nThe other important factor here is if you have experience learning a language related to your current target language. An English speaker who’s fluent in Spanish will have a much easier time learning Italian than a monolingual English speaker (much like we discussed in the previous section).\n\n## What are your goals?\n\nThe final, critical factor that I need to mention before getting to the actual hours estimations is **your personal goal in the language**.\n\nIf you want to become super fluent and move to the country and practically leave behind your native language, you’re looking at a very different time commitment than someone who wants to chat with market vendors on their vacation and know enough to get around.\n\nThere’s nothing wrong with either of those goals, by the way! Each person has very different reasons to learn a language.\n\nIn our hour estimations, we assume that the goal is what we call “Functional Fluency.” Which we define as “being able to comfortably live your life in the target language.”\n\nThat means you can understand media pretty easily, have conversations on topics you know something about, and can communicate without issue. You will still sound like a foreigner and make plenty of mistakes.\n\nIf your goal is higher or lower than this, keep that in mind. For someone who just wants to make comfortable small talk, around 50% of the functional fluency number is probably more accurate. If you want to go to university and immigrate to a country that uses that language, maybe multiply the number by 1.5.\n\n## Total hour estimates\n\nAlright, here’s the part you’ve been waiting for. If you scrolled down to this section without reading above, you’re missing out on valuable nuance that will help you understand these numbers.\n\nAnd one final reminder: **These numbers are meant to be estimates to help you plan your language learning journey.**\n\nHow long does it take to reach functional fluency in a…\n\n- Cousin language: **800 hours**\n- Similar language: **1350 hours**\n- Other language: **1800 hours**\n- Distant language: **3600 hours**\n\nThose are big numbers! And they ignore a lot of the nuance of where you will be after, say, 500 hours. I much prefer this chart, which breaks down the estimates into roughly how long it takes to get through each “Refold Phase^1.”\n\nThe first number is the amount of hours it takes to get through just that phase. The second number is the estimate of how many total hours you’ll have spent with the language at the end of that phase.\n\n| Phase          | Similar | Similar Total | Other | Other Total | Distant | Distant Total |\n| -------------- | ------- | ------------- | ----- | ----------- | ------- | ------------- |\n| 1: Foundations | 75      | 75            | 100   | 100         | 200     | 200           |\n| 2: Reading     | 375     | 450           | 500   | 600         | 1000    | 1200          |\n| 3: Listening   | 300     | 750           | 400   | 1000        | 800     | 2000          |\n| 4: Speaking    | 150     | 900           | 200   | 1200        | 400     | 2400          |\n| 5: Writing     | 225     | 1125          | 300   | 1500        | 600     | 3000          |\n| 6: Fluency     | 225     | 1350          | 300   | 1800        | 600     | 3600          |\n| 7: And beyond  | ???     | ???           | ???   | ???         | ???     | ???           |\n\n_To get a rough approximation for “cousin languages,” multiply the hours for a similar language by .6_\n\n_The “An
44d beyond” phase doesn’t have numbers since it goes on forever! After you reach functional fluency, unless you totally drop the language forever, you’ll continuously learn more for the rest of your life._\n\nLet’s look at a few examples.\n\nLet’s say you’re a native English speaker learning German, that’d be a similar language. You don’t actually want to reach functional fluency, you just want to have basic conversations. So your goal is to finish the speaking phase (which roughly equates to “small talk fluency.”) Your goal is to hit 900 hours in German.\n\nIf you’re a native English speaker learning Japanese, and your goal is to go beyond functional fluency, you’re looking at aiming for closer to 4000 hours (and then continuing from there).\n\nBut, **don’t think about that big, final number!**\n\n## Reaching the “Fun Threshold”\n\nInstead, you should focus on reaching the “fun threshold.” This is the point where learning stops feeling so much like learning. You’re good enough at the language that immersion and constant learning become fun, something you look forward to doing.\n\nThe fun threshold comes at **around 20% of the functional fluency estimate**.\n\nDon’t think about how it’ll take you 1800 hours to become fluent in Russian. Focus on reaching 360 hours.\n\nHow long does it take to reach the fun threshold in a…\n\n- Cousin language: **160 hours**\n- Similar language: **270 hours**\n- Other language: **360 hours**\n- Distant language: **720 hours**\n\nIf you were to learn for 2 hours per day (which is a lot, but doable if you incorporate it into your day well), the fun threshold will take you:\n\n- about **3 months** for a Cousin language\n- about **4.5 months** for a Similar language\n- about **6 months** for an Other language\n- about **12 months** for a Distant language\n\n\u003e Once you can have fun in a language, you’re never going to want to stop learning!\n\n## Slow and steady wins the race\n\nLanguage learning is not a sprint. You can’t jam 2000 hours into a few months. Not only are there only 24 hours in a day, but your brain can’t absorb more than a few hours of a new language per day. We don’t know if there’s really a limit, but learners start to lose effectiveness beyond 5 hours per day^2.\n\nIt’s a much better approach to go slow and steady. Focus on creating a language learning routine that you can maintain every day, without fail.\n\nThe most common reason people fail to learn a language is burnout. Their first week or month is incredibly strong… but then it becomes too much for them and falls apart.\n\nStart with 45 minutes per day. Then when that’s solid, increase it to an hour. And then an hour and a half. And in no time, you’ll be learning for almost 2 hours every day!\n\n## How did we come up with these numbers?\n\nNow, where did these numbers come from? Did we make them up? What are they based on?\n\nThe most commonly cited hours estimation for language learning comes from the [Foreign Service Institute](https://www.state.gov/foreign-service-institute/foreign-language-training), which teaches English native speakers foreign languages so they can work in foreign affairs. They have a lot of experience teaching languages to people!\n\nThey split languages into 4 categories, based on their difficulty (but they’re a bit different from ours) and give an estimate for how long it takes a learner to reach [Level 3 on the ILR scale](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILR_scale#ILR_Level_3_%E2%80%93_Professional_working_proficiency).\n\nThey make their estimates in terms of number of weeks and classroom hours required. This is because their language courses are fairly standardized and the people they teach are learning full time.\n\nThe time estimates from the FSI are very frequently _incorrectly cited_ since the hours they list on their website are only _classroom hours_. But students are expected to also do nearly as much self study every week.\n\nA typical week is 23 hours per week in class and 17 hours of self-study^3. That means these students are learning for 40 hours per week! A full time job.\n\nHere are their hours estimates for getting to [Level 3 on the ILR scale](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILR_scale#ILR_Level_3_%E2%80%93_Professional_working_proficiency) for an English native speaker:\n\n![FSI Hours Estimates:\n\n- Category 1: 750 hours + 550 self-study hours (1300 total)\n- Category 2: 900 hours + 700 self-study hours (1600 total)\n- Category 3: 1100 hours + 900 self-study hours (2000 total)\n- Category 4: 2200 hours + 1700 self-study hours (3900 total)](/api/blog-images/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-a-language--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png.webp)\n\n_Category 1 languages are similar to English, 2 are a bit further away, or are an “easy” Category 3 language, Category 3 is the “catch all” for everything else, and Category 4 languages are the super hard languages that take English speakers a very long time to learn._\n\nThese estimates from the Foreign Service Institute are very good and we used them for quite a while whenever we talked about time to learn a language.\n\nHowever, they don’t match up perfectly with immersion learning or the Refold method.\n\nThe primary difference is that immersion learning works a little bit different. In an FSI course, nearly 60% of your time with the language is in a classroom. This is great for explicitly learning grammar rules and following a textbook, but it’s not the same as focused, interactive immersion time.\n\nThe ways that our brains acquire languages from immersion learning is very different from classroom learning. People in our 
44community tend to progress a little faster in the more difficult languages (what they call Category 3 and 4 and what we call Distant languages).\n\nThe other main difference is that we group languages differently. We add the easiest category of “Cousin languages” (the FSI doesn’t have this, since English pretty much doesn’t have any) and we shuffle some of the category 2 languages around. The experience of learning German in a classroom, for example, makes it feel harder than it is for someone learning through immersion.\n\nOur hours estimates are based on the Foreign Service Institute’s decades of experience, but modified to better match the experience of our immersion learning community of over 70,000 learners.\n\nAnd the “per phase” breakdown of hours is based on a few people’s experience and our best estimations. When we created the 7 Phase system from the original 4 Stage one, we looked at where people in our community were spending the most amount of time and estimating from there.\n\nAs we learn more about the time it takes to learn a language with the [Refold App](https://refold.link/habits-instructions-public), we will update these numbers if they change! Effectively studying immersion learning on such a large scale is currently impossible, but we want to change that with [our app](https://refold.link/habits-instructions-public).\n\nIf you want to be a part of the future of immersion learning, [download the app and start tracking your time today](https://refold.link/habits-instructions-public)!\n\n---\n\n1. The 7 Phases are our new model for the different phases of learning a language. They’re very similar to the original 4 Stages in the [first version of the Refold Roadmap](https://refold.la/simplified/). But Stages 2, 3 and 4 were converted into 2 phases each, giving us 7 rather than 4. To watch a video explaining the 7 Phases, [watch the 7 Phases explainer video](https://youtu.be/Jo4ds4mxuhU). If you’d prefer to read about them, they’re in [our free Learning Guides](https://refold.la/how-to-learn-spanish/).\n2. This is based purely on anecdotal evidence from learners in our community. We’d love to study it more in detail! If you want to help us do that, [start using the Refold App to track your time](https://refold.link/habits-instructions-public)!\n3. [https://www.state.gov/foreign-service-institute/foreign-language-training](https://www.state.gov/foreign-service-institute/foreign-language-training), FSI’s Experience with Language Learning\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nYouTube is one of the best resources out there for language learners. Creators from all over the world upload tons of videos on just about any topic you can think of.\n\nBut as a new learner, finding language immersion content you actually enjoy can be _really_ overwhelming. You’re starting from scratch on a fresh account and need to train the algorithm—not just to show you videos in your target language, but to show you ones you’ll actually want to watch.\n\nThe problem is, you don’t know what’s out there yet… or even how to start looking.\n\nOr maybe, you’ve been watching content in your target language for a while, but are tired of the recommendations you’re getting and want to watch something new.\n\nThat’s where **seeder playlists** come in.\n\n(**_Prefer to watch a video tutorial? [Watch Ben explain Seeder playlists in this video](https://youtu.be/eh6IstF6kTw)._**)\n\n## Seeder Playlists: Discover Content You Love\n\nSeeder playlists are designed to help “seed” your YouTube account with content from a specific genre in the language you’re learning and help the algorithm understand your likes and dislikes better so it can suggest better content suited to your specific tastes.\n\nTo try them out for yourself, you can search for “seeder playlist” on YouTube or try out one of the several playlists we’ve created on YouTube (scroll down to see the full list).\n\nHere’s how to use them to train your algorithm:\n\n- Pick a playlist\n- Watch the videos on the playlist\n- If you get bored watching a video, stop watching it and move on to the next one\n- If you enjoy a video, like it and subscribe to the creator\n- Repeat for the rest of the playlist\n\n## Complete Collection of Refold Seeder Playlists\n\nTo help you get started, we’ve curated a few seeder playlists in several languages to help you discover new content. Some were made by Refold, and others by amazing community contributors.\n\n_(Don’t see your language or hobby on the list? Scroll down to the next section to learn how to create your own seeder playlist—and how to share it with us!)_\n\n### English Seeder Playlists\n\n- [English Music Theory Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgaTLrZGlk0\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXejk5K-98HLmtWlw8ZkhkGE)\n- [Refold North America English Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjqt8T3tJIE\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXf77upVrSkZJkbbKYAbNt_1)\n\n### French Seeder Playlists\n\n- [French Beginner Playlist](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O37VWYDafg\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXc8DaEgAoCrKLw_VUMKAAJS)\n\n### German Seeder Playlists\n\n- [Refold German Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47dkkl_yiQQ\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXck9lsLyjtspCDUOCKPQgNX)\n- [German Kids Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6khA8eZaD4\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXf1_3hDxiaZWSskXW9_q2t2)\n- [German for Beginners](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4i66o5p9tc\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXfpDmKOdT_AIqB2geK7g7pD)\n- [German TrashTV Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qni-TeUl0wQ\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXeGqnpXKaiZeDUROinpn_wS)\n\n### Japanese Seeder Playlists\n\n- [Japanese Kimono Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ0qP_f6hm4\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXe57SBNma8hwBmDcJM7tUBG)\n- [Japanese Kids Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEpl5viduQk\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXeTZk7s1PJ_psS0JZ4HYzs9)\n- [Japanese Golf Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on64IoD4CVo\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXeN1AD3S2ooQSg_DgyCzx1V)\n- [General Japanese Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-umeYLvhtU\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXeGgs4G_N_BfT62sfm1DSa3)\n- [Refold Japanese Coffee Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uFRKZVrJBQ\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXf9iS9LceBRy6OC94XUn4o1)\n- [Japanese Cooking Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts9daUvJoxE\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXcIeGuAdq23aooGrXphElII)\n- [Japanese Music Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKFJmOfbhXM\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXebek8lCwPuFT8IVB8O9S_g)\n\n### Korean Seeder Playlists\n\n- [Refold Korean Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCRJjr2Qtu0\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXeLfihj8BqW1KldFLEYyHsL)\n- [Korean Kids Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50GYMfVocwg\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXfhjgmDSyGXgjend_bmDSD-)\n- [Korean Comprehensible Input Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvU2Z8Gofz0\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXeadMYCiXV1GxscnkQ94eqp)\n\n### Russian Seeder Playlists\n\n- [Refold Russian Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShQALQRI8Pc\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXekFRj5P_iFEBX7mmx5cyY0)\n- [Russian Video Essay Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpiin1RD1Mk\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXenKIGC9lIF0eTRijLk94zg)\n- [Russian Booktube Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htT14MHk4Z8\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXeUR7xpbqJ_wYXP_WSzUPfv)\n- [Russian Travel Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0peC1Zwzbdg\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXc-RT2f5vl7vTuIIDyV_LAl)\n- [Russian Beginner and Comprehensible Input Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn4GkF3M9WXdIZsiwQ0FcHZr--aLKBPmo)\n- [Russian Travel Seeder 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgCXPHddxl8\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXfZX3SbUZtcQNfqsWYABmIB)\n- [Russian VTuber Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBM2k-kXaFU\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXfew6DvTIeNSSBE0ymjBx4a)\n\n### Spanish Seeder Playlists\n\n- [Refold Spanish Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG0uc1GeVGI\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXc6YpYIrJcsmdj6p7odRhZc)\n- [Spanish Kids Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isCS0qDEvck\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXfGqk9pSAlvSYnBLUS8cCXQ)\n- [Spanish Shorts Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBurqNhlGaY\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXeSBQfkrBgJaMkpqG3hv4ed)\n\n### Tagalog Seeder Playlists\n\n- [Tagalog Kids Seeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLPDRW7S9mM\u0026list=PLn4GkF3M9WXdH0qkt5x7gLtUzIv0irw5t)\n\n## How to Create Your Own Seeder Playlists\n\nDon’t see your language or area of interest on the list? You can make your own seeder playlists! The process is easy. Not only will creating them help you discover new content, but by sharing them, you can help other learners as well!\n\nHere’s how to create your own seeder playlist:\n\n- Think about a to
44pic you want to create a playlist about (travel, video games, cooking, cars, etc.) and look up words in your target language describing that topic.\n- Search for the topic in your YouTube search bar with a keyword and look for a thumbnail that seems interesting.\n- Click the dots on the video and then select “Save in Playlist”\n- Click “New Playlist”\n- Name it using: `Language Name + Topic + Seeder Playlist` (e.g., `Spanish Cooking Seeder Playlist`).\n- Set the visibility to public.\n- Look for more videos that seem interesting and add them to the playlist\n\nOnce you’ve created your playlist, start watching! Skip the videos you’re not into, and like or subscribe to the ones you enjoy. That’s how you train the algorithm to show you more of what you want.\n\nWant to share your playlist with other learners? [Join our Discord](https://refold.link/join)! There, you’ll find dedicated servers for different languages, plus channels for sharing media recommendations. We look forward to seeing you there!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n![](/api/blog-images/best-korean-resources-for-language-learners--image-1-1024x557.jpg.webp)\n\nLearning Korean, but you have no idea where to find the best Korean resources for beginners? Look no further! Our community of language learners banded together to create the [ultimate resource database for Korean learners](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GeplWkjCmCMsKYgGFAUxnrJh4T0w6ML9TAIUDEyixso/edit?usp=sharing).\n\n**Inside, you’ll find links to our community’s favorite resources for…**\n\n- Beginners, intermediate, and advanced learners\n- Grammar\n- Phonology (sound system)\n- Writing system\n- Vocabulary\n- Media (YouTube, books, series, etc.)\n- And more!\n\nClick the button below to try it out for yourself!\n\n[View Korean Resource Database](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GeplWkjCmCMsKYgGFAUxnrJh4T0w6ML9TAIUDEyixso/edit?usp=sharing)\n\n## Want Resources for Other Languages?\n\nLearning another language in addition to Korean? We’ve got you covered! Our 60,000+ member community has compiled resources for over 50 languages. [Click here to check them out](https://refold.la/blog/refold-resource-docs-complete-list)!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n# The r/spanish Community Playlist\n\nLearning Spanish, and you want to discover some new music in Spanish to motivate and inspire you on your journey to fluency?\n\nWe’ve got you covered! We reached out to the r/Spanish community on Reddit to share their favorite Spanish-language artists—and turned their top picks into a [curated Spotify playlist](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3dPWfDo1Cwa7yhYtI7CbkK?si=cda8bebc0fc5415d).\n\nIt’s packed with incredible music, from reggaetón and cumbia to indie alternative and beyond!\n\n💡**Tip:** Duplicate this playlist to your own Spotify library so you can make it your own and discover even MORE music you love.\n\nAs you customize your playlist, Spotify will start recommending new tracks at the bottom that match the style. Just scroll all the way to the bottom until you reach the “Recommended” section. It’s a great way to discover even more Spanish-language music that suits your taste!\n\nHere’s how:\n\n1. Create a new playlist in Spotify.\n2. Open this playlist in Spotify.\n3. Right-click on the playlist name and select “Add to another playlist.”\n4. Click the name of the playlist you want to add these songs to.\n5. Customize your playlist!\n6. Save the songs 
44you love, remove the ones you don’t.\n7. Scroll down to the “Recommended” section of your playlist and add any songs you like!\n\nNow that you have all this great music, you can listen to it for inspiration and even use it to learn Spanish!\n\n## How to Use Music to Learn Spanish (or Any Language)\n\nMusic is a great way to connect with and understand different cultures, stay excited about learning, and remember new words and phrases.\n\nHowever, just passively listening to music won’t increase your comprehension of the language (as fun as it is!). Luckily, some features on Spotify make listening to music a _powerful_ tool for language learners.\n\nAnd one of my favorite ways to use music on Spotify to learn a language is to practice reading.\n\n## How to Practice Reading Spanish with Spotify\n\nSpotify has an awesome feature that allows you to read the lyrics of a song while you’re listening to it.\n\nTo access it, all you need to do is start playing a song in your target language and then click the little microphone icon.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/best-spanish-music-for-language-learners--Spotify-1-1024x568.webp)\n\nThen, your screen will look like this so you can read along while you listen!\n\n![](/api/blog-images/best-spanish-music-for-language-learners--Spotify-2-1024x644.webp)\n\nCool right? It even works on your phone!\n\nHere’s my recommendation for getting the most out of these lyrics:\n\n1. Listen to the song while reading along _without_ looking anything up. Just listen and enjoy.\n2. Once the song ends, look up any words you didn’t know using your favorite dictionary.\n3. _Optional:_ Add unfamiliar words to [Anki](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-use-anki/) or your [Goldlist](https://refold.la/blog/the-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal/) notebook.\n4. Listen to the song again and try to remember the meaning of those words!\n5. Revisit the song after a day or so to see how much you remember!\n\n## Take Your Spanish Skills to the Next Level\n\nDon’t forget to check out our [massive community resource database](https://refold.la/blog/refold-resource-docs-complete-list/) filled to the brim with resources and content recommendations for Spanish. It’s packed with YouTube channels, book suggestions, podcasts, beginner resources, and more!\n\n**Need a little extra support on your language journey?**\n\nWe offer full courses designed to help you build strong habits from day one, so you can stay on track and reach your fluency goals. Each course includes daily lessons, homework, personalized resource libraries, and coaching to keep you motivated and progressing.\n\n[Click here to learn more about our courses](https://refold.link/courses).\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nImproving your listening skills in a foreign language often feels like an impossible task. You get to a point where reading feels easy, maybe even effortless, but the moment you try to listen to a podcast or watch a show without subtitles, you can’t understand a thing.\n\nIt’s like you’re listening to a completely different language.\n\nThat’s because it is. Kind of. Listening requires a completely different set of skills from reading. Even worse, when you search for advice about how to learn how to listen on the internet, you find advice like: _“Just drop the subtitles, you’ll figure it out eventually.”_\n\nBut that’s uncomfortable. So uncomfortable, in fact, that a lot of learners give up because it’s just too hard. They drop the subtitles for a few minutes, only to turn them on because it’s just too difficult.\n\nLuckily, you don’t have to jump headfirst into listening and grit your teeth until you understand it.\n\n## The Best Way to Improve Your Listening Skills in a Foreign Language: Intensive Listening\n\nThere are ways to ease into listening and practice your listening skills, and one of our favorite strategies for this is something called **intensive listening.**\n\nTo sum it up, you “work out” your listening skills by listening to media in your target language. When you don’t understand words, you’ll re-listen to them until you do, or look them up if you don’t understand after re-listening.\n\nWhen doing this exercise, you’ll probably discover that you understand a lot more than you think you do. It’s just that your brain needs some extra time to process what it heard, especially in the beginning. So by giving yourself a few more tries to hear something, you’ll be surprised by just how much you do understand.\n\nHere’s an in-depth video about how it works with a demonstration of the technique:\n\n## How to Do Intensive Listening to Improve Your Listening Skills\n\nI 100% recommend watching the video above to see intensive listening in action and see a step-by-step tutorial. However, for easy reference, here’s the Cliff Notes of how to do intensive listening to improve your listening skills.\n\nHere’s what you need:\n\n- A metalayer to make lookups easy ([ASBplayer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYsf-NOVoYc), Language Reactor, Etc.)\n- A piece of content that has matching subtitles or a transcript.\n- A comfortable environment where you can focus.\n\nOnce you have that all set up, here’s how to get started:\n\n- Pick a show that you know has matching subtitles or a piece of audio with a matching transcript.\n- Watch or listen to your piece of content without text (turn off subtitles, put the transcript to the side).\n- Watch/listen until you can’t understand a word.\n- When you encounter a word you don’t understand, re-listen to it 1-3 times and see if you can understand it. If you can understand, move on. If you can’t understand the word, check the subtitle files and look up the word if you have to. Listen to it again before moving on.\n- Repeat throughout the episode.\n\nReading along with an audiobook is the gentler version of the same idea: the narrator drags you forward whether you're ready or not, and Harry Potter is a good place to try it.\n\n## Ready to Level Up Your Listening?\n\nHands down, intensive listening is one of the best ways to improve your listening skills. However, in order to truly break through the listening barrier, you’ll need to reevaluate your entire language learning routine. The same skills you used to learn to read will not work with listening because the skills are so different.\n\nSo if you’re having trouble navigating the seas of listening, we created a month-long course to help you build your listening skills from the ground up! In the course, we cover listening exercises like intensive listening, listen looping, chorusing, transcription cards, and more! It comes complete with daily lessons, assignments, tutorial videos, and a fully-stocked resource database! Want to learn more? [Click here to learn how to Level Up Your Listening in just one month!](https://refold.la/store/courses/level-up-your-listening/)\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nWelcome to the Refold app guide! This page is a quick overview of how the app works, and how to use it. Best of luck with your studies!\n– Clayton, Refold Coach\n\n### Home Screen\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-the-refold-app--homescreen.png.webp)\n\nHere you can see your daily progress on all of your goals. The 3 numbers on the bottom of the goal card are the different time milestones:\n\n- ✅ Daily Minimum: Accomplish this every day to keep your habit going strong!\n- 🎯 Target: Accomplish this as often as possible to make steady progress in your language learning.\n- 🗻 Stretch: Feeling like going above and beyond today? Try to accomplish your stretch milestone! This one is optional during goal creation.\n\nYou can also click on your name/avatar at the top to go to the user settings / feedback screen\n\n### User Settings / Feedback Screen\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-the-refold-app--settings.png.webp)\n\nClick on your avatar/name to change your community display name.\n\nClick on feedback to leave feedback. You can also use the app-feedback channel in Discord to have more of a discussion rather than just leaving a comment.\n\n### Goals screen\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-the-refold-app--goals.png.webp)\n\nCreate a new goal here! You can also archive/delete your goal if you no longer want to track your daily time milestones on the home screen.\n\n### Tracker screen\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-the-refold-app--tracker.png.webp)\n\nTrack a new action here! An action is essentially a recording of you doing 1 specific language learning activity for a particular amount of time. You can track with the stopwatch, timer, or manual entry modes.\n\nClick on an action history card to edit the action name/activity/time/date etc.\n\n### Social Screen\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-the-refold-app--social.png.webp)\n\nClick on someone’s name/avatar to view their profile.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## About this page\n\nWelcome to the Refold app data import page! This page is a guide on how to import your data from other time trackers into the Refold personal language trainer app.\n\nTo import your data, you will need to have a list of all the various activities you’ve done, categorize them according to the app, format the data correctly, and then upload them to the app on your phone.\n\n## General Process\n\nHere is the general process. There are much more detailed instructions in the Google Sheets linked below, as well as a [full video tutorial](https://youtu.be/5nBXBAh6LOQ) below.\n\n1. Import your data into a personal copy of our import spreadsheets. Tip: It’s best to set up the CSV on a computer! Editing spreadsheets on a phone is a pain in the @$$ and even small issues can cause the import to fail.\n2. Organize your data to match Refold’s expected import format. (Note: If you’re importing from either Toggl or Polylogger our spreadsheets do most of the work for you!)\n3. [Categorize your actions](https://youtu.be/5nBXBAh6LOQ?si=JUD0Vd6qF4E68H28\u0026t=106) (assign activity Ids to each action).\n4. Download the file as a CSV.\n5. Upload the CSV to the Refold App in the “Import Data” screen (can be found in the app’s User Settings).\n6. If you make a mistake that affects many actions, you can delete all of the imported actions for today and try again.\n\n## Click to go to the import sheet:\n\n[Toggl (or users creating their own data manually)](https://refold.link/refold-app-import-from-toggl)\n\n[Polylogger](https://refold.link/refold-app-import-from-polylogger)\n\n## Tutorial video:\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## About this page\n\nWelcome to the landing page for downloading the Refold app!\n\n**Share the app with your friends with this link:** [https://refold.link/habits-instructions-public](https://refold.link/habits-instructions-public)\n\nOnce you’re ready to download the app, follow the instructions below for your specific device.\n\n**Note**: Since the app is still in development, the process to “update” the app is different! Whenever you open the app, it tries to download the most recent version. Occasionally, it needs to be opened (and closed) a few times to get the update.\nIf you see anything that looks off, try opening and closing the app a few times to make sure you’re on the most recent version.\n\n🤖 **Install on Android**\n[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.refoldla.habitsmobile](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.refoldla.habitsmobile)\n\n🍎**Install on iOS (iPhone)**\nClick and download [TestFlight](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/testflight/id899247664) (this is an app for installing apps in development).\nDownload app with this link: [https://testflight.apple.com/join/Uxzp27PD](https://testflight.apple.com/join/Uxzp27PD)\n\n## Need a video tutorial?\n\nIn this video, Ben walks you through how to set things up and shows you some nice tips and tricks for how to best use the app.\n\nWant to import your data?\n\nClick here for the full tutorial on how to import your data into the app and pick up where you left off!\n\nOr you can watch this video:\n\n### Need an app tutorial?\n\nWe have a rough guide to the app here:\n\n[Guide to the Refold App](https://www.notion.so/Guide-to-the-Refold-App-aa043aca20d84e1d8198dc908e009ebc?pvs=21)\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## About this page\n\nThis page contains all the resource documents created by Refold and the Refold community! Click on the link for your language to see what other learners have recommended. Everything from input sources to grammar guides and vocabulary decks.\n– Clayton, Refold Coach\n\n## These languages are in the new and improved format!\n\nThis is the list of **new** docs that are currently being maintained! The link to this page is [https://refold.link/resource-docs-list-complete](https://refold.link/resource-docs-list-complete)\n\nIf your language isn’t in the new format, and you want to be a curator, reach out to Mycheze or George Pig on the [Refold Discord](https://refold.link/join)\n\n| Flag | Language   | Document Link                  | Submit Link                           |\n| ---- | ---------- | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------- |\n| 🇪🇸   | Spanish    | https://refold.link/spanish    | https://refold.link/spanish-submit    |\n| 🇮🇹   | Italian    | https://refold.link/italian    | https://refold.link/italian-submit    |\n| 🇭🇰   | Cantonese  | https://refold.link/cantonese  | https://refold.link/cantonese-submit  |\n| 🇵🇭   | Tagalog    | https://refold.link/tagalog    | https://refold.link/tagalog-submit    |\n| 🇵🇱   | Polish     | https://refold.link/polish     | https://refold.link/polish-submit     |\n| 🇨🇿   | Czech      | https://refold.link/czech      | https://refold.link/czech-submit      |\n| 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿   | Quechua    | https://refold.link/quechua    | https://refold.link/quechua-submit    |\n| 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿   | Hawaiian   | https://refold.link/hawaiian   | https://refold.link/hawaiian-submit   |\n| 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿   | Basque     | https://refold.link/basque     | https://refold.link/basque-submit     |\n| 🇵🇹   | Portuguese | https://refold.link/portuguese | https://refold.link/portuguese-submit |\n| 🇳🇴   | Norwegian  | https://refold.link/norwegian  | https://refold.link/norwegian-submit  |\n| 👽   | Klingon    | https://refold.link/klingon    | https://refold.link/klingon-submit    |\n\n### These languages aren’t in the new format yet, but we are collecting resources…\n\n| Flag | Language        | Submission link                            |\n| ---- | --------------- | ------------------------------------------ |\n| 🇯🇵   | Japanese        | https://refold.link/japanese-submit        |\n| 🇰🇷   | Korean          | https://refold.link/korean-submit          |\n| 🇩🇪   | German          | https://refold.link/german-submit          |\n| 🇨🇳   | Mandarin        | https://refold.link/mandarin-submit        |\n| 🇫🇷   | French          | https://refold.link/french-submit          |\n| 🇮🇱   | Modern Hebrew   | https://refold.link/modern-hebrew-submit   |\n| 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿   | Scottish Gaelic | https://refold.link/scottish-gaelic-submit |\n| 🇵🇰🇮🇳 | Hindi-Urdu      | https://refold.link/hindi-urdu-submit      |\n\n### These languages are in the old format…\n\n| Flag | Language        | Link                                |\n| ---- | --------------- | ----------------------------------- |\n| 🇬🇧   | English         | https://refold.link/english         |\n| 🇯🇵   | Japanese        | https://refold.link/japanese        |\n| 🇰🇷   | Korean          | https://refold.link/korean          |\n| 🇩🇪   | German          | https://refold.link/german          |\n| 🇨🇳   | Mandarin        | https://refold.link/mandarin        |\n| 🇫🇷   | French          | https://refold.link/french          |\n| 🇮🇱   | Modern Hebrew   | https://refold.link/hebrew          |\n| 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿   | Scottish Gaelic | https://refold.link/scottish-gaelic |\n| 🇵🇰🇮🇳 | Hindi-Urdu      | https://refold.link/hindi-urdu      |\n| 🇮🇹   | Italian         | https://refold.link/italian         |\n| 🇷🇺   | Russian         | https://refold.link/russian         |\n| 🇵🇹   | Portuguese      | https://refold.link/portuguese      |\n| 🇦🇪   | Arabic          | https://refold.link/arabic          |\n| 🇸🇪   | Swedish         | https://refold.link/swedish         |\n| 🇳🇴   | Norwegian       | https://refold.link/norwegian       |\n| 🇳🇱   | Dutch           | https://refold.link/dutch           |\n| 🇿🇦   | Afrikaans       | https://refold.link/afrikaans       |\n| 🇮🇩   | Indonesian      | https://refold.link/indonesian      |\n| 🇻🇳   | Vietnamese      | https://refold.link/vietnamese      |\n| 🇩🇰   | Danish          | https://refold.link/danish          |\n| 🇷🇸   | Serbian         | https://refold.link/serbian         |\n| 🇺🇦   | Ukrainian       | https://refold.link/ukrainian       |\n| 🇹🇭   | Thai            | https://refold.link/thai            |\n| 🇮🇱   | Hebrew          | https://refold.link/hebrew          |\n| 🇭🇺   | Hungarian       | https://refold.link/hungarian       |\n| 📜   | Latin           | https://refold.link/latin           |\n| 🇧🇬   | Bulgarian       | https://refold.link/bulgarian       |\n| 🇬🇷   | Greek           | https://refold.link/greek           |\n| 🇿🇦   | isiZulu         | https://refold.link/isizulu         |\n| 🇬🇪   | Georgian        | https://refold.link/georgian        |\n| 🇵🇰   | Urdu            | https://refold.link/urdu            |\n| 🇮🇳   | Hindi           | https://refold.link/hindi           |\n| 🇵🇭   | Ilocano         | https://refold.link/ilocano         |\n| 🇮🇷   | Persian         | https://refold.link/persian         |\n| 🇰🇿   | Kazakh          | https://refold.link/kazakh          |\n| 🇫🇮   | Finnish         | https://refold.link/finnish         |\n| 🇹🇷   | Turkish         | https://refold.link/turkish         |\n| 🇭🇹   | Haitian         | https://refold.link/haitian         |\n| ⚙️   | Tech and Tools  | https://refold.link/techandtools    |\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n![](/api/blog-images/copywork-for-language-learning--1.-intro-image.png)\n\nHey language friends! Bree here! In a previous blog post, I shared [how I use “how-to” articles in my target language](https://refold.la/blog/improve-vocabulary-in-a-foreign-language) to fill gaps in my vocabulary. Today, I want to share a technique that’s helped me improve my writing abilities even more….copywork!\n\nYes, copywork! Copying passages by hand has been a game-changer for me. Stick around, and I’ll show you exactly how to copywork for language learning, boost your memory, and improve writing in your target language.\n\n## Reading is Easy for Me… Noticing is Not\n\n![](/api/blog-images/copywork-for-language-learning--2.-Girl-Reading.png)\n\nNot to brag, but I’m _really_ good at reading Spanish. If I’m reading something in a genre I’m comfortable with, I can understand most of it—even if I stumble on an unfamiliar word here or there. Usually, I can keep up with the plot without grabbing a dictionary.\n\nBut here’s the thing: **I still struggle with noticing small details.**\n\nHow about you?\n\nWhen you read, do you carefully track every… single… word… like… this? Or do you breeze through in chunks, skimming phrases instead of individual words? If you’re like most people (including me), you probably read in chunks. That’s great for speed—but it’s not so great when you’re trying to master the specific patterns of a new language.\n\n## How Copywork Helps with Noticing\n\n![Copywork for language learning helps you catch details you might have missed. ](/api/blog-images/copywork-for-language-learning--3.-Notice-details.png)\n\nWhen I read in Spanish, I often gloss over connector words, verb endings, or prepositions (like _the, a, and, if,_ etc.). Why? Because I don’t _need_ to notice them to enjoy a story. My brain fills in the blanks.\n\nBut here’s the catch: If I want to _use_ those little words and endings correctly when I write or speak, I _do_ need to notice them.\n\nFor a while, I figured this problem would solve itself if I just read more. For some people, that might work. But for me, it didn’t (thanks, ADHD).\n\nI realized that if I wanted to start noticing the small details, I’d have to do it intentionally.\n\nThat’s where copywork comes in.\n\n## What is Copywork?\n\nOk, so you’re sold on the idea, but you’re probably wondering: _“What is copywork anyway?”_\n\nCopywork is exactly what it sounds like: copying a passage by hand.\n\nIt’s a popular practice in the [homeschooling](https://bravewriter.com/program/brave-writer-lifestyle/copywork) community. Students and [aspiring writers](https://www.craftyourcontent.com/copywork-daily-writing-routine/) often use copywork and copy texts of famous authors in order to improve their writing skills in their native language.\n\nThe concept is the same for your target language! I look for passages that I enjoy in my target language and then copy them out by hand.\n\n## Here’s How to Do Copywork for Language Learning\n\n![](/api/blog-images/copywork-for-language-learning--4.-boy-writing.png)\n\n1. **Intensively read a passage.** Look up any words or phrases you don’t know.\n2. **Copy the passage by hand.** While copying, focus on:\n   - Copying entire phrases at a time, not individual words. At first, this was tricky for me, but with time, I started remembering longer and longer chunks.\n   - Paying attention to the words I looked up earlier. If I forget one, I underline it and jot a quick definition in the margin.\n3. **Reread the passage in your handwriting.** I don’t know why, but reading something I wrote by hand makes it stick in my brain better. Plus, it’s really satisfying to look back at what I’ve done!\n\n## Why Copywork Works\n\nCopywork forces you to slow down. Instead of skimming, you have to pay attention to every word, punctuation mark, and nuance of the text. It’s a mindful activity that trains your brain to notice patterns you might otherwise miss.\n\nFor me, this has been the best way to fix my bad habit of glossing over small details. And while copywork isn’t included in the Refold roadmap, many of us in the Refold community swear by it. A few of us even have a small copywork club!\n\n## More Copywork Tips\n\n![More copywork tips for language learning](/api/blog-images/copywork-for-language-learning--5.-Copywork-Tips.png)\n\nIf you’re curious about trying copywork, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of it:\n\n1. **Start slow.** Just 10 minutes a day is plenty. It’s an intense activity, and overdoing it can lead to burnout.\n2. **Write in cursive** (if you know it and it applies to the language you are learning). [Some studies](https://www.psych
44ologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/202010/why-cursive-handwriting-is-good-your-brain) suggest that cursive writing improves memory, but even if you can’t write in cursive, [writing by hand](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/05/11/1250529661/handwriting-cursive-typing-schools-learning-brain) will still help you focus and retain information better than typing.\n3. **Choose content you want to emulate.** Want to sound conversational? Blogs or podcast transcripts might be a better fit. Want to write beautiful prose? Try copying poetry or books.\n\n## Ready to try it?\n\nWhat do you think? Have I convinced you to give copywork a try? I definitely recommend it! It’s a lot of fun, and it’s a _great_ way to boost your concentration and notice things you’ve been struggling with!\n\nWant to go beyond copywork and take your writing to the next level? Click the button below to read my blog about one of my _favorite_ writing exercises—[reaction writing!](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing/)\n\n[Learn About Reaction Writing](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing/)\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing--1.-Intro-1024x502.png)\n\nHey there language learners! It’s me, Bree again! A while ago, I wrote about how much I love [“how-to” articles](https://refold.la/blog/improve-vocabulary-in-a-foreign-language) and how I use [copywork to become a better writer](https://refold.la/blog/copywork-for-language-learning) in my target language.\n\nToday, I want to share another one of my favorite writing exercises to improve writing! I’ve been pairing it with “how-to” articles—a fun exercise that’s helped me take my writing skills to the next level: **reaction writing**.\n\n## Why I Struggled To Improve My Writing\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing--2.-Struggle-1024x569.png)\n\nI found that reading was the _best_ way to target the gaps in my vocabulary. I identified the things I care about and talk about daily—and found content specifically about those things. Then, I used copywork to train myself to notice the small details and emulate the way my favorite authors wrote. However, I needed different exercises to improve my writing.\n\nThese strategies worked wonders for _noticing_ new vocabulary and grammar structures. But when it came time to actually _use_ what I’d learned, I ran into a few challenges:\n\n- **I couldn’t write with focus**: Every time I sat down to write, I either repeated the same ideas over and over or rambled without direction. I felt like I was stuck in a loop, and I wasn’t pushing myself to use the new vocabulary I’d worked so hard to learn.\n- **I lost my flow when I couldn’t remember words**: Words and phrases would get stuck on the tip of my tongue, and I’d freeze. When I had to stop and look something up, it completely broke my flow. By the time I found the word, my train of thought was already gone.\n\nI knew I needed something different—a way to bridge the gap between _noticing_ and actually _using_ new vocabulary. I wanted a strategy that gave me structure, kept me focused, and helped me practice what I was learning—so I tried a new writing exercise, **reaction writing**.\n\n## How to Be a Better Writer With Reaction Writing\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing--3.-Reaction-Writing-Exercise.png)\n\nInstead of just sitting down and writing whatever comes to mind—reaction writing ties writing and reading together to help you get more from BOTH!\n\n**Here’s how I used it to become a better writer:**\n\nYou read an article, and after each paragraph—or every few paragraphs—you write your reaction to what you just read. For example, you can:\n\n- Summarize the key points in your own words.\n- Share your opinion about the ideas presented.\n- Make connections to your own experiences.\n\n**Here’s how I do it:**\n\n- **Find an article in your target language.** Pick something interesting and relevant to you, like a “how-to” article, blog post, news piece, or short story—anything that keeps you motivated to read.\n- **Read and react paragraph by paragraph.** After each paragraph (or every couple), write a quick reaction. Summarize, share your opinion, or make a connection—just keep it natural and stay in the flow.\n- **If you get stuck, borrow from the article.** Can’t find the right word? Look back at the article and reuse its vocabulary. This keeps you writing without breaking your flow and helps you practice using new words in context.\n- **Review your writing to reinforce it.** When you’re done, read back through what you wrote. This helps lock in the vocabulary and phrases you used, making it easier to recall them later.\n\n## Extra Credit: Correct and Copy Your OWN Work!\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing--4.-Spider-Man.png)\n\nWant to make even more progress? Here’s how to go the extra mile with your reaction writing:\n\n1. **Get your writing corrected.** Once you’ve finished your reaction writing, ask ChatGPT or a language tutor for feedback. When you receive corrections, make sure they’re easy to identify (underlined, bolded, etc.) for easy reference later.\n2. **Do copywork with your own writing.** Yes, [copywork](https://refold.la/blog/copywork-for-language-learning) strikes again! After getting your writing corrected, copy it by hand to reinforce what you’ve learned—paying careful attention to the corrections you received. Writing out sentences you’ve created yourself _by hand_ makes them stick even better in your brain.\n\n## What Do You Think?\n\nWill you add reaction writing to your language-learning toolbox? Try it! Did it feel more productive than journaling? Reaction writing has helped me practice using what I learned, and I bet it can do the same for you.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nHey, language learners! Bree here! I’ve been learning Spanish for quite some time now, so I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that despite being an avid reader, I still have some huge gaps in my vocabulary. But I learned how to improve vocabulary in a foreign language, and I’m going to share what I learned with you!\n\n(Woohoo, aren’t you glad you get to learn from MY mistakes?)\n\n## The Issues I Had With Learning Vocabulary\n\nLearning vocabulary is a lot of fun with immersion learning. You see words over and over again in your favorite media, and over time, you acquire them naturally!\n\nI learned so much more from reading books and watching TV shows in Spanish than I ever did in my traditional classes. (Like, 1,000x more…no exaggeration.)\n\nHowever, despite being an _avid_ reader, I hit a wall with my vocabulary knowledge.\n\nWhy? I’m a sci-fi and fantasy addict.\n\n![Image of a girl dressed in fantasy garb struggling to improve vocabulary. ](/api/blog-images/improve-vocabulary-in-a-foreign-language--1.-Witch-Girl.png)\n_How it feels having read mostly fantasy books trying to navigate the modern world._\n\nWhile it’s true that you’ll acquire the _most common_ words regardless of what content you consume, it turns out that reading about spaceships and enchanted forests isn’t how to improve your vocabulary for everyday things. It’s not going to help you learn how to describe what you do for a living or talk about your home.\n\nI mean, I can explain how a fictional sprite can merge into a magical sword, but I still struggle to ask for a mixing bowl in Spanish!\n\nSo, if you’ve run into the same problem with your language and you’ve been wracking your brain, asking yourself, “How can I improve my vocabulary in a foreign language?” You’re in the right place!\n\n## How to Improve Your Vocabulary in a Foreign Language With How-To Articles\n\nTo improve your vocabulary, try googling “how to” articles in your target language to target any vocabulary gaps you might have.\n\nFor example, **I _really_ struggle with household vocabulary**, and lately, I’ve been _really_ into re-organizing my house to maximize the (little) amount of space that I have. I’ve really enjoyed the process, but I needed some help brainstorming and coming up with a plan.\n\nSo, instead of looking up how to tackle my issues in English, I looked up guides in Spanish! And it did not disappoint! I discovered a wealth of content that I had never even thought about reading before, like…\n\n- How to organize your kitchen.\n- Home gadget product reviews.\n- How to care for houseplants.\n\n![Image of a girl improving her vocabulary by reading cooking blogs.](/api/blog-images/improve-vocabulary-in-a-foreign-language--2.-Kitchen-Vocab.png)\n_Me learning vocabulary about the kitchen with blogs!_\n\nBut you don’t have to limit yourself to these topics! You can find articles about just about any interest or hobby!\n\nIt doesn’t matter if you…\n\n- Want to get into beekeeping…\n- Need to build a new deck…\n- Want to use your phone less…\n- Are looking for ways to balance your work/life schedule…\n\nYou can read all about it in your target language! Personally, after I tackle household vocab, I’ll tackle time management next! (Lord knows I desperately need it. 🫠)\n\n## Why Blogs and Magazines are GREAT for Immersion Learning\n\n![](/api/blog-images/improve-vocabulary-in-a-foreign-language--3.-Blogs-and-Magazines.png)\n\nNot only was the content useful, but I found that the _way_ the authors wrote was perfect for immersion learning because of how interesting and helpful they were.\n\nUnlike books or news articles, which can sometimes feel a bit formal, stiff, or use words I’d never use in real life—blogs and magazines often have a friendly, conversational tone. The language feels much more like what people use in real-life conversations, which made it so much easier for me to connect with the material.\n\nThey also use a writing style that I want to emulate. Casual, yet informative, with a healthy mix of personality and practical advice.\n\nAs I read more, I found myself noticing and learning vocabulary and phrases that I knew I could use in day-to-day conversations. And I don’t just mean things like the word for drawer or mixing bowl, but things like….\n\n- How to use connector phrases to connect ideas naturally.\n- How to write clear instructions.\n- How to describe your own home, etc.\n\n## How to Go _Beyond_ Improving Your Vocabulary…\n\n![](/api/blog-images/improve-vocabulary-in-a-foreign-language--4.-Go-Beyond.png)\n\nI found reading these articles _so helpful_ that I decided to use them for even more things than just improving vocabulary. I decided to try to use them for [journaling](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing/) and [copywork](https://refold.la/blog/copywork-for-language-learning) practice. But I’m running out of (virtual) paper in this blog post. Luckily, I wrote separate blogs about these activities, and you can check them out by clicking the buttons below.\n\n[Learn More About Copywork](https://refold.la/blog/copywork-for-language-learning)\n[Learn More About Reaction Writing](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing/)\n\n## That’s it for today!\n\nIn short, if you’re trying to improve your vocabulary in areas that go beyond the basics or your niche interests (like my love for sci-fi and fantasy), blogs and online magazines can be a game-changer.\n\nSo, if you’re in the same boat as me, try searching for some magazines and blogs in the language that target your knowledge gaps. Who knows, you might discover your new favorite immersion content and unlock tons of useful vocabulary!\n"])</script>
44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"45:T18b6,"])</script>
44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## Introduction\n\nLearning a language with a new spelling system can seem daunting. The spelling can be too similar or too foreign. Spanish uses the same Latin script as English, but the letters often have a totally different sound than you would expect as an English speaker!\n\nThe Spanish alphabet is related to the English alphabet, given that they use the same Latin script. There are a few differences though! The Spanish “j” sound does not sound like the English “j” sound! Spanish also uses diacritics or special accent markers to represent some things, such as unique sounds “n” vs “ñ”, or marking stress “hablo” vs “habló”.\n\n## What is the Spanish Alphabet?\n\nSpanish has been a written language for a very long time. The Spanish alphabet is standardized by the Royal Spanish Academy and differs only slightly between the different Spanish-speaking parts of the world.\n\nSpanish spelling has around 27 letters, depending on how you count them. The main difference is that the letters may sound different to what you expect, or they may be modified such as “ñ”.\n\n![The Spanish Alphabet](/api/blog-images/learn-the-spanish-alphabet-the-best-free-spanish-spelling-tool--spinspan-1024x569.jpg.webp)\n_The Spanish Alphabet_\n\n## The Perks of Learning the Spanish Alphabet\n\nYou may be asking, “Why learn the Spanish Alphabet?” Here are a few reasons:\n\n- The Spanish-speaking world (areas where Spanish is spoken natively or as a working language) is a large part of the globe. It is not possible to function in these environments without literacy.\n- Literacy in your target language is like rocket fuel for learning. Books have a large amount of language density, and expose you to massive amounts of the target language in a very short time.\n- Familiarity with the alphabet allows access to Spanish literature, poetry, and folklore in their original form, letting you better appreciate your favorite authors.\n\n## Learning Spanish is Challenging\n\nLearning Spanish **is** challenging, and traditional language learning methods don’t work. Many mainstream approaches fail to engage us effectively, while many language apps resemble glorified video games that prioritize entertainment over genuine language acquisition. It’s time to rethink how we approach learning Spanish and find a [method](https://refold.la/) that truly facilitates understanding and retention.\n\n## That’s why we created the Refold Spanish Alphabet deck!\n\nLearn to read Spanish with this free [Anki](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-use-anki/) deck, complete with native recorded audio!\n\nInstead of learning the letters and what sounds they make, we go _the other direction_. We look at the different sounds of the language and how you can write them. This means that some letters or combinations of letters can represent several sounds, or vice versa!\n\nThis deck is meant to be used with the [Refold method](https://refold.la/) of language learning. It assumes:\n\n- Mass exposure! The deck works best when you practice reading a lot (even Spanish subtitles), because reading real Spanish constantly enforces the new letters in your memory.\n- The deck is not a replacement for a structured path for learning vocabulary. The deck’s vocabulary is limited and focuses on words that include sounds — not the words that you’ll encounter in everyday content. This deck is only going to help you become comfortable with the language’s method of writing sounds. To learn vocabulary, we recommend a frequency-based Anki deck instead.\n\n![Example Card](/api/blog-images/learn-the-spanish-alphabet-the-best-free-spanish-spelling-tool--spinspan2-623x1024.png.webp)\n_Example Card_\n\n## Each Card Contains\n\n- Example words\n- Example sentences\n- Native speaker audio\n- Additional notes for tricky letters\n\nFor more information about the [Refold Method](https://refold.link/refold-in-10) and all the information you could ever want about language learning, [read our full guide](https://refold.link/refold-in-10)!\n\n## How to Use Refold Spanish Alphabet Deck Effectively\n\nThe Refold Spanish Alphabet deck uses a smart algorithm. Unlike “dumb” flash-cards, Anki (the program that runs our deck) uses a smart review system based on the [forgetting curve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgetting_curve). This means you’ll be shown a card right before you forget it instead of randomly. You don’t need to plan what letters to 
44study on a given day, just open up the program and the app chooses what you will review for the day.\n\n**Steps to using the Refold Spanish Alphabet deck:**\n\n- Download and install Anki ([click here for our in-depth guide](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-use-anki/))\n- Download and install the free [Spanish alphabet deck](https://refold.link/spanish-phonetic-deck-blogpost-spellingdeck)\n- Click into your deck to get started\n- When studying your flashcards, click or tap the ▶️ button to hear the name of the letter, an example word, and an example sentence. This will help you associate the sounds of the letter with the shapes. Don’t worry about meaning, just focus on the form!\n- Flip the card to see the back side, along with notes about the letter or sound!\n- You can track your progress by seeing how many days in a row you did your reviews in the Anki review tab. However, missing a day here and there is totally fine, at Refold we don’t believe in streaks, but in hit rate.\n\n## Additional Resources for Learning Spanish\n\nIf you’re just getting started in Spanish, don’t worry. We have a [complete guide](https://refold.la/how-to-learn-spanish/) on our site.\n\nLanguage learning often feels lonely, but you don’t have to go at this alone! We have a [FREE online community](https://refold.link/spanish-community) filled with language learners and teachers! It’s the best place to ask questions, get advice, and make friends with other dedicated language learners just like you!\n\n## Your Path to Mastering Spanish Awaits\n\nReading opens up a world of possibilities, and mastering the Spanish alphabet is your first crucial step in that journey. Our learning deck is designed to be the most effective way to familiarize yourself with the alphabet, paving the way for your reading adventures. Get ready to embark on your path to literacy and discover the richness of the Spanish language!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## Introduction\n\nLearning a language with a new spelling system can seem daunting. The spelling can be too similar or too foreign. German uses the same Latin script as English, but the letters often have a totally different sound than you would expect as an English speaker!\n\nThe German alphabet is related to the English alphabet, given that they use the same Latin script. There are a few differences though! The German “ch” sound does not sound like the English “ch” sound! German also uses diacritics or special accent markers to represent some sounds, along with special combined letters called ligatures.\n\n## What is the German Alphabet?\n\nGerman has been a written language for a very long time. The German alphabet is standardized by the Council for German Orthography and differs only slightly between the different German-speaking parts of the world.\n\nGerman spelling has 26 to 30 letters, depending on how you count them. The main difference is that the letters may sound different to what you expect, they may be modified such as “ä, ö, and ü”, or they may even be two letters mashed together like “ß”, which is a combination of s and z.\n\n![The Austrian variant of the German alphabet](/api/blog-images/learn-the-german-alphabet-easily-with-this-free-tool--german1-942x1024.jpg.webp)\n_The Austrian variant of the German alphabet_\n\n## The Perks of Learning the German Alphabet\n\nYou may be asking, “why learn the German Alphabet”? Here are a few reasons:\n\n- The German-speaking world (areas where German is spoken natively or as a working language) is a large part of the globe. It is not possible to function in these environments without literacy.\n- Literacy in your target language is like rocket fuel for learning. Books have a large amount of language density, and expose you to massive amounts of the target language in a very short time.\n- Familiarity with the alphabet allows access to German literature, poetry, and folklore in their original form, letting you better appreciate your favorite authors.\n\n## Learning German is Challenging\n\nLearning German **is** challenging, and traditional language learning methods don’t work. Many mainstream approaches fail to engage us effectively, while many language apps resemble glorified video games that prioritize entertainment over genuine language acquisition. It’s time to rethink how we approach learning German and find a [method](https://refold.la/) that truly facilitates understanding and retention.\n\n## That’s why we created the Refold German Alphabet deck!\n\nLearn to read German with this free [Anki](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-use-anki/) deck, complete with native recorded audio!\n\nInstead of learning the letters and what sounds they make, we go _the other direction_. We look at the different sounds of the language and how you can write them. This means that some letters or combinations of letters can represent several sounds, or vice versa!\n\nThis deck is meant to be used with the [Refold method](https://refold.la/) of language learning. It assumes:\n\n- Mass exposure! The deck works best when you practice reading a lot (even German subtitles), because reading real German constantly enforces the new letters in your memory.\n- The deck is not a replacement for a structured path for learning vocabulary. The deck’s vocabulary is limited and focuses on words that include sounds — not the words that you’ll encounter in everyday content. This deck is only going to help you become comfortable with the language’s method of writing sounds. To learn vocabulary, we recommend a frequency-based Anki deck instead.\n\n![Example card](/api/blog-images/learn-the-german-alphabet-easily-with-this-free-tool--german2.png.webp)\n_Example card_\n\n## Each Card Contains\n\n- Example words\n- Example sentences\n- Native speaker audio\n- Additional notes for tricky letters\n\nFor more information about the [Refold Method](https://refold.link/refold-in-10) and all the information you could ever want about language learning, [read our full guide](https://refold.link/refold-in-10)!\n\n## How to Use Refold German Alphabet Deck Effectively\n\nThe Refold German Alphabet deck uses a smart algorithm. Unlike “dumb” flash-cards, Anki (the program that runs our deck) uses a smart review system based on the [forgetting curve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgetting_curve). This means you’ll be shown a card right before you forget it instead of randomly. You don’t need to plan what letters to 
44study on a given day, just open up the program and the app chooses what you will review for the day.\n\n**Steps to using the Refold German Alphabet deck:**\n\n- Download and install Anki ([click here for our in depth guide](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-use-anki/))\n- Download and install the free [German alphabet deck](https://refold.link/german-phonetic-deck-blogpost-germanscript)\n- Click into your deck to get started\n- When studying your flashcards, click or tap the ▶️ button to hear the name of the letter, an example word, and an example sentence. This will help you associate the sounds of the letter with the shapes. Don’t worry about meaning, just focus on the form!\n- Flip the card to see the back side, along with notes about the letter or sound!\n- You can track your progress by seeing how many days in a row you did your reviews in the Anki review tab. However, missing a day here and there is totally fine, at Refold we don’t believe in streaks, but in hit rate.\n\n## Additional Resources for Learning German\n\nIf you’re just getting started in German, don’t worry. We have a [complete guide](https://refold.la/how-to-learn-german/) on our site.\n\nLanguage learning often feels lonely, but you don’t have to go at this alone! We have a [FREE online community](https://refold.link/german-community) filled with language learners and teachers! It’s the best place to ask questions, get advice, and make friends with other dedicated language learners just like you!\n\n## Your Path to Mastering German Awaits\n\nReading opens up a world of possibilities, and mastering the German alphabet is your first crucial step in that journey. Our learning deck is designed to be the most effective way to familiarize yourself with the alphabet, paving the way for your reading adventures. Get ready to embark on your path to literacy and discover the richness of the German language!\n"])</script>
44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"47:T1b29,"])</script>
44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## Introduction\n\nLearning a language with a new spelling system can seem daunting. The spelling can be too similar or too foreign. Japanese uses three different methods of writing, so to learn to read Japanese you’ll need to learn hiragana and katakana, as well as kanji.\n\nHiragana and katakana are both “syllabaries”, meaning that each letter usually represents a consonant + vowel pair. That is to say the symbols “か” and “カ” both represent the syllable “ka”; instead of writing the “k” and the “a” sounds separately, they’re written as one unit.\n\nJapanese also has a third script called kanji that descends from Chinese characters. Unlike the syllabaries, kanji is an ideographic script, not dissimilar to hieroglyphs. The kanji “人” represents the idea of “person”, and can be read in various ways depending on the context.\n\n## What are hiragana and katakana?\n\nWritten language first came to Japan in the form of literary Chinese. Chinese, which has a very simple grammar where words do not change often, was written in Chinese characters. These characters were eventually borrowed to write Japanese, sometimes using the Chinese character for its phonetic reading instead of its semantic meaning.\n\nOver time, the Chinese character sets used for writing Japanese simplified down into two character sets called “katakana” and “hiragana”. The usage of the kanas has changed over time, but since the 1940s hiragana is often used for native Japanese words and grammatical elements, and katakana is used for loan words or to act as a sort of italics.\n\n![The evolution of kana from kanji](/api/blog-images/learn-hiragana-and-katakana--kana-1024x618.png.webp)\n_The evolution of kana from kanji_\n\n## The Perks of Learning Hiragana and Katakana\n\nYou may be asking, “why learn the Japanese script?” Here are a few reasons:\n\n- Japan is a highly literate society. Romanized script is not used very often in Japan, so if you want to be able to work or function in Japanese, you’ll need to know how to read.\n- Literacy in your target language is like rocket fuel for learning. Books have a large amount of language density, and expose you to massive amounts of the target language in a very short time.\n- Familiarity with the script allows access to Japanese literature, poetry, and folklore in their original form, allowing you to read your favorite works in Japanese. The Japanese Harry Potter is a great example: its translator reversed the Mirror of Erised's inscription syllable by syllable in hiragana, one of ten translations that rebuilt Rowling's wordplay.\n\n## Learning Japanese is Challenging\n\nLearning Japanese **is** challenging, and traditional language learning methods don’t work. Many mainstream approaches fail to engage us effectively, while many language apps resemble glorified video games that prioritize entertainment over genuine language acquisition. It’s time to rethink how we approach learning Japanese and find a [method](https://refold.la/) that truly facilitates understanding and retention.\n\n## That’s why we created the Refold hiragana and katakana deck!\n\nLearn to read Japanese with this free [Anki](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-use-anki/) deck, complete with native recorded audio!\n\nInstead of learning the symbols and what sounds they make, we go _the other direction_. We look at the different sounds of the language and how you can write them. This means that some letters or combinations of letters can represent several sounds, or vice versa!\n\nThis deck is meant to be used with the [Refold method](https://refold.la/) of language learning. It assumes:\n\n- Mass exposure! The deck works best when you practice reading a lot (even Japanese subtitles or manga), because reading real Japanese will constantly enforce the kana in your memory.\n- The deck is not a replacement for a structured path for learning vocabulary. The deck’s vocabulary is limited and focuses on words that include sounds — not the words that you’ll encounter in everyday content. This deck is only going to help you become comfortable with the language’s method of writing sounds. To learn vocabulary, we recommend a frequency-based Anki deck instead.\n\n![Example card](/api/blog-images/learn-hiragana-and-katakana--kana2.png.webp)\n_Example card_\n\n## Eac
44h Card Contains\n\n- Example words\n- Example sentences\n- Native speaker audio\n- Additional notes for tricky kana\n\nFor more information about the [Refold Method](https://refold.link/refold-in-10) and all the information you could ever want about language learning, [read our full guide](https://refold.link/refold-in-10)!\n\n## How to Use Refold Hiragana and Katakana Deck Effectively\n\nThe Refold hiragana and katakana deck uses a smart algorithm. Unlike “dumb” flash-cards, Anki (the program that runs our deck) uses a smart review system based on the [forgetting curve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgetting_curve). This means you’ll be shown a card right before you forget it instead of randomly. You don’t need to plan what letters to study on a given day, just open up the program and the app chooses what you will review for the day.\n\n**Steps to using the Refold kana deck:**\n\n- Download and install Anki ([click here for our in-depth guide](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-use-anki/))\n- Download and install the free [Japanese spelling deck](https://refold.link/japanese-phonetic-deck-blogpost).\n- Click into your deck to get started\n- When studying your flashcards, click or tap the ▶️ button to hear the name of the letter, an example word, and an example sentence. This will help you associate the sounds of the letter with the shapes. Don’t worry about meaning, just focus on the form!\n- Flip the card to see the back side, along with notes about the letter or sound!\n- You can track your progress by seeing how many days in a row you did your reviews in the Anki review tab. However, missing a day here and there is totally fine, at Refold we don’t believe in streaks, but in hit rate.\n\n## Additional Resources for Learning Japanese\n\nIf you’re just getting started in Japanese, don’t worry. We have a [complete guide](https://refold.la/how-to-learn-japanese/) on our site.\n\nLanguage learning often feels lonely, but you don’t have to go at this alone! We have a [FREE online community](https://refold.link/japanese-community) filled with language learners and teachers! It’s the best place to ask questions, get advice, and make friends with other dedicated language learners just like you!\n\n## Your Path to Mastering Japanese Awaits\n\nReading opens up a world of possibilities, and mastering the Japanese script is your first crucial step in that journey. Our learning deck is designed to be the most effective way to familiarize yourself with the alphabet, paving the way for your reading adventures. Get ready to embark on your path to literacy and discover the richness of the Japanese language!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## Introduction\n\nLearning a language with a new spelling system can seem daunting. The spelling can be too similar or too foreign. French uses the same Latin script as English, but the letters often have a totally different sound than you would expect as an English speaker!\n\nThe French alphabet is related to the English alphabet, given that they use the same Latin script. There are a few differences though! The French “ch” sound does not sound like the English “ch” sound! French also uses diacritics or special accent markers to represent some sounds along with special combined letters called ligatures.\n\n## What is the French Alphabet?\n\nFrench has been a written language for a very long time. The French alphabet was standardized by the Académie française starting in 1635 using a variant of Latin script with a few changes to make it better suited for the sounds of French.\n\nFrench spelling has 26 letters, just like English. The main difference is that the letters may sound different, they may be modified such as “ç, ô, é”, or they may even be two letters mashed together like “æ and œ.”\n\n![The French alphabet in all of its glory](/api/blog-images/master-the-french-alphabet-the-ultimate-french-spelling-tool--French-Alphabet-1024x569.jpg.webp)\n_The French alphabet in all of its glory_\n\n## The Perks of Learning the French Alphabet\n\nYou may be asking, “why learn the French Alphabet”? Here are a few reasons:\n\n- The Francophonie (areas where French is spoken natively or as a working language) is a large part of the globe. It is not possible to function in these environments without literacy.\n- Literacy in your target language is like rocket fuel for learning. Books have a large amount of language density, and expose you to massive amounts of the target language in a very short time.\n- Familiarity with the alphabet allows access to French literature, poetry, and folklore in their original form, enriching appreciation for authors like Victor Hugo, Marcel Proust, and Charles Baudelaire.\n\n## Learning French is Challenging\n\nLearning French **is** challenging, and traditional language learning methods don’t work. Many mainstream approaches fail to engage us effectively, while many language apps resemble glorified video games that prioritize entertainment over genuine language acquisition. It’s time to rethink how we approach learning French and find a [method](https://refold.la/) that truly facilitates understanding and retention.\n\n## That’s why we created the Refold French Spelling deck!\n\nLearn to read French with this free [Anki](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-use-anki/) deck, complete with native recorded audio!\n\nInstead of learning the letters and what sounds they make, we go _the other direction_. We look at the different sounds of the language and how you can write them. This means that some letters or combinations of letters can represent several sounds, or vice versa!\n\nThis deck is meant to be used with the [Refold method](https://refold.la/) of language learning. It assumes:\n\n- Mass exposure! The deck works best when you practice reading a lot (even French subtitles), because reading real French will constantly enforce the new letters in your memory.\n- The deck is not a replacement for a structured path for learning vocabulary. The deck’s vocabulary is limited and focuses on words that include sounds — not the words that you’ll encounter in everyday content. This deck is only going to help you become comfortable with the language’s method of writing sounds. To learn vocabulary, we recommend a frequency based Anki deck instead.\n\n![Example Card](/api/blog-images/master-the-french-alphabet-the-ultimate-french-spelling-tool--paree.png.webp)\n_Example Card_\n\n## Each Card Contains\n\n- Example words\n- Example sentences\n- Native speaker audio\n- Additional notes for tricky letters\n\nFor more information about the [Refold Method](https://refold.link/refold-in-10) and all the information you could ever want about language learning, [read our full guide](https://refold.link/refold-in-10)!\n\n## How to Use Refold French Spelling Deck Effectively\n\nThe Refold French Spelling deck uses a smart algorithm. Unlike “dumb” flash-cards, Anki (the program that runs our deck) uses a smart review system based on the [forgetting curve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgetting_curve). This means you’ll be shown a card right before you forget it instead of randomly. You don’t need to plan what letters to 
44study on a given day, just open up the program and the app chooses what you will review for the day.\n\n**Steps to using the Refold French Spelling deck:**\n\n- Download and install Anki ([click here for our in depth guide](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-use-anki/))\n- Download and install the free [French spelling deck](https://refold.link/french-phonetic-blogpost-spellingdeck)\n- Click into your deck to get started\n- When studying your flashcards, click or tap the ▶️ button to hear the name of the letter, an example word, and sentence. This will help you associate the sounds of the letter with the shapes. Don’t worry about meaning, just focus on the form!\n- Flip the card to see the back side, along with notes about the letter or sound!\n- You can track your progress by seeing how many days in a row you did your reviews in the Anki review tab. However, missing a day here and there is totally fine, at Refold we don’t believe in streaks, but in hit rate.\n\n## Additional Resources for Learning French\n\nIf you’re just getting started in French, don’t worry. We have a [complete guide](https://refold.la/how-to-learn-french/) on our site.\n\nLanguage learning often feels lonely, but you don’t have to go at this alone! We have a [FREE online community](https://refold.link/french-community) filled with language learners and teachers! It’s the best place to ask questions, get advice, and make friends with other dedicated language learners just like you!\n\n## Your Path to Mastering French Awaits\n\nReading opens up a world of possibilities, and mastering the French alphabet is your first crucial step in that journey. Our learning deck is designed to be the most effective way to familiarize yourself with the alphabet, paving the way for your reading adventures. Get ready to embark on your path to literacy and discover the richness of the French language!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## Introduction\n\nLearning a language with a whole new alphabet can seem daunting. The script can either be too foreign and totally alien, or, in the case of the Russian alphabet, just similar enough to be difficult (and even invoke some uncanny valley vibes like я and н). These letters can feel weird at first because they look familiar but not quite the same as the Latin letters we use daily.\n\nThe Russian alphabet is related to the Latin alphabet, both descending from ancient Near Eastern scripts and Greek. However, while the Latin alphabet does not directly descend from Greek, the Cyrillic alphabet is more transparently derived from Greek as it was developed in the 9th century.\n\n## What is the Russian Alphabet?\n\nRussian has been a written language for a very long time. The Russian alphabet was built for Russian by ancient monks, using the Greek alphabet as a basis, and then adapting it for the peculiarities of Russian and related languages (the so-called Slavic languages).\n\nRussian Cyrillic (yes there are different variants of Cyrillic, just like how some languages use a modified Latin alphabet with letters like “ç” that don’t appear in English) has 32-33 letters depending on how you count.\n\n![The Russian Alphabet in all its glory.](/api/blog-images/unlock-the-secrets-of-the-russian-alphabet-with-refolds-free-flashcards--rooskiecyrilic-1024x677.png.webp)\n_The Russian Alphabet in all its glory._\n\n## The Perks of Learning the Russian Alphabet\n\nYou may be asking, “why learn the Russian Alphabet”? Here are a few reasons:\n\n- The Russosphere (areas where Russian is spoken natively or as a working language) is a highly literate part of the globe. It is not possible to function in these environments without literacy.\n- Literacy in your target language is like rocket fuel for learning. Books have a large amount of language density, and expose you to massive amounts of the target language in a very short time.\n- Familiarity with the alphabet allows access to Russian literature, poetry, and folklore in their original form, enriching appreciation for authors like Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Pushkin.\n\n## Learning Russian is Challenging\n\nLearning Russian **is** challenging, and traditional language learning methods don’t work. Many mainstream approaches fail to engage us effectively, while many language apps resemble glorified video games that prioritize entertainment over genuine language acquisition. It’s time to rethink how we approach learning Russian and find a [method](https://refold.la/) that truly facilitates understanding and retention.\n\n## That’s why we created the Refold Russian Alphabet deck!\n\nLearn to read Russian with this free [Anki](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-use-anki/) deck, complete with native recorded audio!\n\nInstead of learning the letters and what sounds they make, we go _the other direction_. We look at the different sounds of the language and how you can write them. This means that some letters or combinations of letters can represent several sounds, or vice versa!\n\nThis deck is meant to be used with the [Refold method](https://refold.la/) of language learning. It assumes:\n\n- Mass exposure! The deck works best when you practice reading a lot (even Russian subtitles), because reading real Russian will constantly enforce the new letters in your memory.\n- The deck is not a replacement for a structured path for learning vocabulary. The deck’s vocabulary is limited and focuses on words that include sounds — not the words that you’ll encounter in everyday content. This deck is only going to help you become comfortable with the language’s method of writing sounds. To learn vocabulary, we recommend a frequency based Anki deck.\n\n![Example card.](/api/blog-images/unlock-the-secrets-of-the-russian-alphabet-with-refolds-free-flashcards--rewskie.png.webp)\n_Example card._\n\n### Each Card Contains\n\n- Example words\n- Example sentences\n- Native speaker audio\n- Additional notes for tricky letters\n\nFor more information about the [Refold Method](https://refold.link/refold-in-10) and all the information you could ever want about language learning, [click here](https://refold.link/refold-in-10)!\n\n### How to Use Refold Russian Alphabet Deck Effectively\n\nThe Refold Russian Alphabet deck uses a smart algorithm. Unlike “dumb” flash-cards, Anki (the program that runs our deck) uses a smart review system based on the [forgetting curve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgetting_curve), this means you’ll be shown a card right before you forget it instead of randomly. You don’t need to plan what letters to 
44study on a given day, just open up the program and the app chooses what you will review for the day.\n\n**Steps to using the Refold Russian Alphabet deck:**\n\n- Download and install Anki ([click here for our in depth guide](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-use-anki/))\n- Download and install the free [Russian alphabet deck](https://refold.link/russian-phonetic-deck-blogpost)\n- Click into your deck to get started\n- When studying your flashcards, click or tap the ▶️ button to hear the name of the letter, an example word, and sentence. This will help you associate the sounds of the letter with the shapes. Don’t worry about meaning, just focus on the form!\n- Flip the card to see the back side, along with notes about the letter or sound!\n- You can track your progress by seeing how many days in a row you did your reviews in the Anki review tab. However, missing a day here and there is totally fine, at Refold we don’t believe in streaks, but in hit rate.\n\n### Additional Resources for Learning Russian\n\nIf you’re just getting started in Russian, don’t worry. We have a complete guide on [our site.](https://refold.la/how-to-learn-russian/)\n\nLanguage learning often feels lonely, but you don’t have to go at this alone! We have a [FREE online community](https://refold.link/russian-community) filled with language learners and teachers! It’s the best place to ask questions, get advice, and make friends with other dedicated language learners just like you!\n\n### Your Path to Mastering Russian Awaits\n\nReading opens up a world of possibilities, and mastering the Russian alphabet is your first crucial step in that journey. Our learning deck is designed to be the most effective way to familiarize yourself with the alphabet, paving the way for your reading adventures. Get ready to embark on your path to literacy and discover the richness of the Russian language!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nLanguage proficiency is often seen as the ultimate goal in language learning, but what does it mean to be proficient in a language? Is it about…\n\n- Speaking without hesitation\n- Understanding native speakers effortlessly\n- Or simply feeling comfortable in a conversation?\n\nAfter living in Mexico for eight months and navigating daily life in Spanish, I’ve realized that **fluency is more complex and personal than it first appears**.\n\nToday, I’ll share my reflections on language proficiency levels—from functional language skills to striving for a native-like fluency.\n\n## But What Does _Fluent_ Mean?\n\nWhen we talk about being “fluent,” we often picture someone [speaking](https://refold.la/blog/how-many-words-to-start-speaking/) effortlessly and blending seamlessly into conversations.\n\n![Tourist practicing their speaking language proficiency by talking to natives.](/api/blog-images/language-proficiency-what-is-fluency--image-17-1024x683.jpg.webp)\n\nBut if we truly want to know what it means to be fluent in a language, the answer is highly subjective. It depends not just on the words you can say, but on your comfort and confidence in expressing yourself in that language.\n\n## Defining What Fluency Means to You\n\nFluency is personal, and it’s not a one-size-fits-all. In fact, sometimes the line between fluent vs intermediate levels of proficiency can be blurry.\n\nThe possible levels of fluency extend beyond stringing sentences together. Here are just a few examples I’ve encountered from friends:\n\n- **Internet Proficiency**: For one friend, fluency means being able to read articles and use websites in Spanish.\n- **Conversational Comfort**: Another friend aims to travel comfortably, chatting with locals without feeling lost.\n- **Media Enjoyment**: Some learners just want to enjoy shows or movies in a foreign language without subtitles.\n\nEach of these is a different but valid form of fluency. Each requires a different level of commitment and time.\n\n## My Journey with Spanish: Reflecting on Spanish Proficiency Levels\n\nI arrived in Mexico with a [strong foundation in Spanish](https://refold.la/blog/learning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again/) and was able to communicate daily with friends, colleagues, and locals. It felt natural, and I never worried about my proficiency level because I could take part in everything. In fact, being deaf in one ear was more of a barrier to my listening than my Spanish level!\n\nI’ve even been told, “We sometimes forget you’re a Spanish learner!” which made me feel warm and fuzzy.\n\n![Me rejoicing because natives complimented my Spanish proficiency level.](/api/blog-images/language-proficiency-what-is-fluency--rejoices-in-spanish.gif)\n\nBut it also felt strange because I was _always_ aware of my limits—whether it’s going blank on a word or stumbling over complex sentences.\n\nTo natives, I was more than _good enough_, but to myself, _I wanted more_.\n\n## Setting Your Own Personal Fluency Goals\n\nIf your goal is to become so fluent that you use your target language as easily and naturally as a native speaker, what do you need to do? That’s the exact question I asked myself a few months ago.\n\nAnd the answer I discovered was simple but challenging: _time_.\n\nAfter reaching what we call “[functional fluency](https://youtu.be/hZV_7NjErbE)” (about 1,300 hours of [immersion](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-learn-a-language/)), I realized the journey to native-level proficiency could require five to ten times that amount.\n\nThere is so much your brain needs to absorb to reach that level, which can feel daunting.\n\n![How it feels trying to absorb a vast language to achieve fluency.](/api/blog-images/language-proficiency-what-is-fluency--giphy.webp)\n\nBut what makes it feel _possible_ for me is knowing I’ll be “best friends” with Spanish for the next… decade? Two? I have no plans to “stop using Spanish,” so maybe for the rest of my life!\n\nBy committing to long-term immersion, you can also trust that time and consistency will help you bridge the gap.\n\n## The Key to Fluency: Patience and Dedication\n\n![Me looking at the clock, realizing the key to achieving language proficiency in my target language is just time and dedication. ](/api/blog-images/language-proficiency-what-is-fluency--image-18.jpg.webp)\n\nThat’s my biggest takeaway. It’s natural to want to be “perfectly fluent” right away, but the reality is that true fluency unfolds gradually. The levels of fluency we experience are like stepping stones.\n\nMost of us have limits to how “naturally gifted” we are at learning languages. Some pick it up faster, while others struggle with certain aspects. **But there’s one powerful factor you _can_ control: your attitude.** You can build lasting proficiency by:\n\n- staying consistent\n- setting realistic expectations\n- and focusing on small, daily progress\n\nLanguage learning is ultimately a lifestyle. The more you incorporate it into your [daily life](https://refold.la/blog/tips-language-immersion-while-busy/)—through conversations, media, reading, and writing—the more fluent and comfortable you’ll become. Every small effort adds up, making the process not only achievable but deeply rewarding.\n\n## What is Fluency for You?\n\nNow, I’d like to turn the question over to you: What does fluency mean to _you_?\n\nIs it about traveling, enjoying media, or connecting with others on a deeper level? Are you working toward your goal, and have you made peace with the time it might take? **Define your own path and embrace the unique journey that language learning offers.**\n\nIn the end, language proficiency is not an ultimate goal you can reach overnight; it’s about consistent growth, patience, and celebrating the milestones along the way. So embrace your journey, _whatever it may look like_, and keep going!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n![The easy way to download subtitles from YouTube, Netflix, and more!](/api/blog-images/how-to-download-subtitles-for-free--1.-Vid-Thumb-1024x576.jpg.webp)\n\nHey there! As an [immersion learner](https://refold.la), subtitles are a _valuable_ resource! However, figuring out where to download subtitles, especially for free, can be tricky! Luckily, this blog post will teach you how to download subtitles from almost _any_ website for free. Once you have your subtitles ready, our free [immersion roadmap](https://refold.la/roadmap) shows you how to turn that content into real progress, one episode at a time.\n\n\u003e Prefer to watch this tutorial instead of read it? You’re in luck! I recorded this entire tutorial as a video. [Click here to watch it.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c8AU_FDmX8)\n\nBut first, you might be wondering…\n\n## Why Should I Download Movie Subtitles?\n\nIf they’re already on the screen while watching a show, why should you download movie subtitles?\n\nBecause the files themselves are _powerful_ vocabulary-building tools! They allow you to directly interact with the script, easily look words up, and more.\n\nHere’s what I mean! With subtitle files, you can…\n\n- **Read them like a book with tools like [Lute](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxfqzdhuCoI) or [LingQ](http://refold.link/lingq)!** This is a great way to review content _before_ you watch it to boost your comprehension and make listening to it easier!\n- **Easily look up new words by copying text directly from the file.** If you don’t have the files, you’d have to manually type in every word you look up in a dictionary. However, if you have a metalayer with a subtitle file, you can copy and paste the subtitles _directly_ from the video player to look them up!\n- **Test your listening skills!** If you’re using a metalayer with a subtitle file, you can enable or disable the subtitles instantly with a keyboard shortcut—so you can check if you’ve heard something _without_ slowing down!\n\n\u003e 💡 **What’s a metalayer?**\n\u003e\n\u003e An immersion metalayer is a tool that enhances your interaction with text or media in your target language. It provides features like instant word lookups, easy copying, pasting, and subtitle navigation controls in videos. These features reduce friction and make interacting with the text easier.\n\nSo now that you see how useful these subtitle files are, let’s move on with the tutorial!\n\n## How to Download Subtitles for Movies and TV\n\nDownloading subtitles for movies, TV, and almost any other video player is easy. There are websites you can check first, like opensubtitles.org, but if you can’t find the show you’re looking for, you can usually download them yourself!\n\n**Here’s how to download subtitles from almost any site:**\n\n_Note: These steps work for less common video players. If you want to download subtitles from YouTube, Netflix, or Amazon Prime, scroll down to the next section._\n\n1. Navigate to your video streaming site and start a video.\n\n2. Enable the subtitles in the video player.\n\n3. Right-click and press “ins
44pect element” or press “f12.”\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-download-subtitles-for-free--2.-f12-inspect-element-1024x490.jpg.webp)\n\n4. Click the little arrows and select “Network.”\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-download-subtitles-for-free--3.-select-network-1024x503.jpg.webp)\n\n5. Click “Fetch/XHR” to filter your search.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-download-subtitles-for-free--4.-filter-search.png.webp)\n\n6. Refresh the page.\n\n7. Look for a language.vtt file. (Note: most subtitles use the .vtt ending but not all.)\n\n8. Enter .vtt or your language code in the search box. (Example language codes: Spanish = ES or ESP, English = EN or ENG, etc.)\n\n![Subtitles download often have .vtt in the file name.](/api/blog-images/how-to-download-subtitles-for-free--5.-vtt-search.jpg.webp)\n\n## How to Download Subtitles From YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, and Other Popular Streaming Services\n\nThe steps from the previous section work for _most_ streaming sites. However, the more popular video services store their subtitle files differently, making it harder to download them on your own.\n\nLuckily, you can _easily_ download subtitle files from YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Hulu, TVer, Bandai Channel, and more with a free tool called [asbplayer](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/asbplayer-language-learni/hkledmpjpaehamkiehglnbelcpdflcab?hl=en).\n\nHere’s how:\n\n1. [Install the asbplayer Chrome extension.](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/asbplayer-language-learni/hkledmpjpaehamkiehglnbelcpdflcab?hl=en)\n\n2. Pin the extension to your taskbar.\n\n![asbplayer is the best free tool to download subtitles from Netflix](/api/blog-images/how-to-download-subtitles-for-free--6.-pin-extension.png.webp)\n\n3. Navigate to your video streaming site and choose a video to watch.\n\n4. Press “CTRL+SHIFT+F”\n\n5. Select the subtitle track.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-download-subtitles-for-free--7.-subtitle-track-1024x484.jpg.webp)\n\n6. Click “ok.”\n\n7. Navigate to the asbplayer icon in your extensions bar. Click the extension and select “Open Side panel”\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-download-subtitles-for-free--8.-open-side-panel.png.webp)\n\n8. Hover your cursor over the side panel, and three buttons should appear on the upper right. Click the download icon to save your subtitle files!\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-download-subtitles-for-free--9.-download-file.png.webp)\n\n9. That’s it!\n\n## How to Use Your Files\n\nNow that you know how to download subtitles, it’s time to put them to good use! Explore new shows, build your vocabulary, and boost your reading and listening skills.\n\nWant to get even more out of your subtitle files? [Check out our guide on the Multipass Method](https://youtu.be/-tQvKGPassU?si=ekcimlYX5Xg-Cetz) for techniques to supercharge your immersion. Or, if you’re curious about using metalayers to make sentence mining easier, [click here to learn more](https://youtu.be/KxLRp1yd8Ro?si=GzUlWcSTnUqfigtW)!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nIn recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed many aspects of our daily lives, and [language learning](https://youtu.be/lh6qIO-3KaU) is no exception.\n\nIf you’re on a journey to learn a new language, you’ve probably relied on bilingual dictionaries at some point (shoutout to [spanishdict.com](http://spanishdict.com/) _#notsponsored_). But as you progress, translations alone won’t cut it. What if you could learn new vocabulary in a more nuanced, authentic way?\n\nThis blog will show you how to leverage AI tools, especially ChatGPT, to learn new words _without_ relying on translations!\n\n## The Bilingual Dictionary: A Beginner’s Best Friend\n\nWhen I first started learning Spanish, my trusty bilingual dictionary was my constant companion.\n\n![A classic bilingual dictionary in paper format. You can also find them online.](/api/blog-images/ai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--image-14.jpg.webp)\n\nAt the beginner stage, bilingual dictionaries are super helpful, allowing you to quickly grasp the basic meanings of new words with definitions in your native language.\n\nBut as you progress, **you’ll start noticing their limitations**. English translations often fail to capture the full _nuance_ or _vibe_ of words in your target language.\n\nFor example, if you look up “empalagar” (a Spanish word), a bilingual dictionary might define it as “to be too sweet.”\n\n![if you look up “empalagar” (a Spanish word), a bilingual dictionary might define it as “to be too sweet.” Limiting your vocabulary.](/api/blog-images/ai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--image.webp)\n\nBut “empalagar” goes beyond that—it conveys the feeling of being overwhelmed or even repelled by an excess of sweetness, whether literal (too much sugar) or metaphorical (overly sentimental situations).\n\n![\"Empalagar\" being used in a more figurative way.](/api/blog-images/ai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--empalagar.gif)\n\n## The Challenge of Monolingual Dictionaries\n\nOnce you reach a certain level, you’ll likely be encouraged to switch to a monolingual dictionary — one that provides definitions in the language you’re learning. It’s a _crucial_ step in [language immersion](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-learn-a-language/) but can also be daunting.\n\nWhy? Because these definitions often include unfamiliar words, or worse, they define words using _the word itself._\n\n![The challenge of monolingual dictionaries.](/api/blog-images/ai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--Untitled-22.png.webp)\n_I used an example from an English monolingual dictionary to prove my point, but this happens all the time in other languages too._\n\nAfter encountering definitions like this over and over, it’s easy to accept defeat and go back to a bilingual dictionary where looking up words feels simpler. But, _should you?_\n\n## Why Monolingual Dictionaries Are Still Important\n\nDespite the difficulties, using a monolingual dictionary has some key benefits:\n\n- **Nuanced understanding**: It provides full context and subtle meanings that translations might miss.\n- **Better fluency**: It forces you to think in your target language, improving fluency over time.\n- **Word description skills**: You learn to describe words you don’t know in your target language, which is a valuable skill in itself.\n\nIf only diving into monolingual definitions wasn’t so challenging, right?\n\nLuckily, this is where the AI language learning tools come in to save the day.\n\n## Ease The Transition with a Personal AI Language Teacher\n\nThanks to free AI language learning tools, learners now have a powerful way to make the switch to monolingual dictionaries much easier. Instead of struggling with complicated definitions, **you can ask ChatGPT to explain words in simpler terms.**\n\nHere’s the prompt I’ve enjoyed using (substitute [language] for your target language):\n\n\u003e I’ll send you [language] words. Please define them in simple [language] for beginners without translating to English.\n\n![Using the prompt in ChatGPT for language learning to look up new vocabulary.](/api/blog-images/ai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--Untitled-23-1024x543.png.webp)\n\nAnd if you don’t understand any of the words in the definition, reply with that word in a message to understand it! Like this 👇\n\n![Asking further clarification, using ChatGPT as an AI language teacher.](/api/blog-images/ai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--Untitled-24.png.webp)\n_Full disclosure…I know what transportation means…_\n\n## How to Use ChatGPT to Learn a Language: Step-by-Step Guide\n\n1. **Pick a word**: Choose a word you want to learn.\n2. **Ask ChatGPT for a definition**: Use the prompt above to get a simplified explanation.\n3. **Clarify further**: If there are still words in the definition you don’t understand, ask ChatGPT for more clarification.\n\n## Closing the Gap to Native-Speaker Dictionaries\n\nOnce you’re comfortable with beginner-level definitions, you can gradually increase the difficulty!\n\nStart by modifying the prompt to request more intermediate-level explanations:\n\n\u003e I’ll send you [language] words. Please define them in [language] for an intermediate learner without translating to English.\n\nThis adjustment exposes you to more complex vocabulary, helping you bridge the gap between beginner definitions and native-speaker language. **As you progress, continue raising the bar**, eventually asking for definitions suitable for advanced learners.\n\nThis gradual approach makes the transition to native-speaker dictionaries smoother and less intimidating. Once you’re ready, you can start using actual dictionaries designed for native speakers of your target language.\n\n## Bonus Tip: Use AI for Language Learning Beyond Vocabulary\n\nWhile we’ve focused on vocabulary, AI tools like ChatGPT can also help you with things like grammar!\n\nAsk it to explain grammar rules in simple terms, or even use it to correct sentences in your target language! **[Click here to learn some more of the best AI language learning methods we have discovered so far!](https://youtu.be/CGTDEvkkRnQ)**\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nHey there language learners! Purchased an Anki deck from us or found one online that you want to use but you have no idea where to start?\n\nYou’re in the right place! Prefer to watch a video? You’re in luck! We recorded the entire tutorial and you can watch that here!\n\n[Anki](https://apps.ankiweb.net/) is a flashcard program that lets you use the language-learning decks created by Refold. It works on all devices, but it can be a bit intimidating at first. This guide will help you learn how to use Anki and install Anki decks.\n\n**Key Features:**\n\n- Compatible with: Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, Android\n\nGetting started with Anki may take some time, but that’s why we’ve created this guide. With our easy instructions, you can set up Anki and install your decks in just a few minutes. Once you’re set up, simply launch the program and start learning!\n\n**Cost Information:**\n\n- Anki is free on most platforms.\n- The native iPhone app costs $25. This fee supports the Anki project.\n- If you’re an iPhone user and want a smoother experience, consider purchasing the app if it fits your budget.\n- For a free option, you can use AnkiWeb.\n\nWe recommend setting up Anki on a computer as well. This makes it easier to manage your settings and deck collection. Plus, there are many useful add-ons that can enhance your learning experience.\n\n## How to Install Anki\n\nInstallation on desktop\n\nTo install Anki on Mac, Windows or Linux, you will need to follow these steps.\n\n1. Download the program from [apps.ankiweb.net](https://apps.ankiweb.net/)\n\n1. Press the large blue Download button.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--downloadbutton.png.webp)\n\n2. Select your operating system, then click the most relevant option (if you’re unsure, choose the top one).\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled.png.webp)\n\n2. Install the program\n\n1. For most computers, this involves double-clicking on the thing you just downloaded.\n\n1. Once installed, open Anki and choose your language.\n\n1. You may need to search with Spotlight or in Windows Search.\n1. This tutorial will use the English interface for the language.\n\n1. You’ve installed Anki! If you plan to study on your computer, move to the “Recommended Anki addons” section.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-1.png.webp)\n\nInstallation on mobile\n\nInstalling the mobile apps is very easy!\n\n1. Find the official app for your phone operating system!\n2. Download the app and open it!\n3. Follow the onscreen instructions.\n\nOn iPhone, open the App Store and search for AnkiMobile Flashcards. You don’t want AnkiPro or AnkiApp.\n\n- [Click me to go to AnkiMobile](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ankimobile-flashcards/id373493387)\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-2-1024x399.png.webp)\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-3.png.webp)\n\nOn Android, open the Google Play Store and search for AnkiDroid.\n\n- [Click me to go to AnkiDroid](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ichi2.anki\u0026hl=en)\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-4.png.webp)\n\nRecommended Anki addons (optional, desktop only)\n\nAdd-ons are simple, additional tools that make your Anki experience (slightly) better. There are three must-haves.\n\n- One of them removes buttons you don’t need.\n  ![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--passfail.png.webp)\n- One adds a [heat map](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/glutanimate/review-heatmap/main/screenshots/review-heatmap-1.png) letting you see how many reviews you’re doing and how your streak is.\n  ![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--heatmap.png.webp)\n- One allows you to see your stats a little bit easier.\n  ![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--stats.png.webp)\n\n1. Click “Tools” in the Anki toolbar.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--tools.png.webp)\n\n2. Choose “Add-ons”.\n\n1. You’ll see a screen like this.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--getaddons.png.webp)\n\n3. Click “Get Add-ons” and paste the following codes:\n\n1. Be sure to press “OK” after each one.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--ok.png.webp)\n\n2. 876946123 (Pass/fail)\n3. 1771074083 (Heatmap)\n4. 738807903 (More stats)\n\n5. Restart Anki\n\nMake an Anki Web account (highly recommended)\n\nAnki has an amazing backup system called “Anki web.” Though optional, we strongly recommend that you set this up!\n\nWithout it, you can’t sync your progress across multiple devices and you run the risk of losing all your progress if you lose or break your device!\n\n1. Make an account on [https://ankiweb.net/account/signup](https://ankiweb.net/account/signup)\n\n1. Be sure to remember/save your username and password!\n\n1. Agree to the terms and conditions.\n1. Validate your email address.\n\n1. Check your email and click the “ver
44ify email” link.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--verify.png.webp)\n\n4. Login to your Anki web account on all devices.\n\n1. On desktop, click the “Sync” button in the top right. Input your username and password.\n1. On iPhone, tap “Synchronize” in the bottom right. Input your username and password.\n1. On Android, tap the little “circle arrows” icon with a red exclamation mark at the top. Input your username and password.\n\n1. If you already have cards/decks, they will start to upload to Anki Web.\n\n1. BE PATIENT. This can take a while if there are a lot of audio or images in your Anki collection.\n1. And then, when you download onto other devices, make sure to give it plenty of time to download everything. One of the most common issues with Anki is that people don’t wait long enough for all the audio and images to download. This may take 10–20 minutes depending on how many files you have.\n\n## How to Install Anki Decks\n\nOnce you have the program ready to go, installing Anki decks is easy!\n\nInstalling on desktop (recommended)\n\n1. (Purchase and) Download the Refold deck!\n\n1. When you purchase a deck on [https://refold.la/decks](https://refold.la/decks), you will receive an email with a download link. Click the black “Download deck” button.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled.png.webp)\n\n2. It will open in your browser and download\n\nIf you’d rather install a free deck:\n\n1. [Go to Ankiweb shared](https://ankiweb.net/shared/decks)\n2. Search for the language you’re learning\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-1-1024x257.png.webp)\n\n3. Choose a deck. (Look for one with high ratings that includes audio and images.)\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--image-2-1024x368.jpg.webp)\n\n4. Click on the blue download button.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--image-3-1024x129.png.webp)\n\n2. Find the deck file on your computer\n\n1. On most browsers, there’s a Downloads section, or you can look in the Downloads folder in your files.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-2.png.webp)\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-3.png.webp)\n\n3. Import the file to Anki.\n\n1. On most computers, you can just double-click that file you downloaded and it’ll import.\n1. Otherwise, on Anki, click Import, then navigate to where that file is and select it.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-4.png.webp)\n\n3. Check “Import any deck presets.”\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-5.png.webp)\n\n4. Press import.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-6.png.webp)\n\n5. Success!\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-7.png.webp)\n\nPOSSIBLE ISSUE: Presets not loading!\n\nOn some computers (like mine), the decks don’t import perfectly, and there are some settings that don’t get applied. If you import a Refold deck and see a 20 under the word New, you also have this issue. Here’s how to fix it:\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-8.png.webp)\n\n1. Open the deck settings, click on “options”.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-9.png.webp)\n\n2. At the top, click “Default (used by 2 decks).” If you have the option “Refold Preset,” choose that and press Save! If not, continue to step 3.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-10.png.webp)\n\n3. If you don’t have the Refold Preset, we’ll make one.\n\n1. Click the little arrow next to “Save” and choose “Add preset”\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-11.png.webp)\n\n2. Name it “Refold Preset” (or whatever you’d like) and press OK\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-12.png.webp)\n\n3. Change these values (you may need to scroll down)\n\n1. New cards/day = 10\n1. Maximum reviews/day = 9999\n1. Leech threshold = 6\n1. Starting ease = 1.31\n1. Interval modifier = 1.91\n1. New interval = .50\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-13-1024x788.png.webp)\n\n4. Press “Save” in the top right.\n\nInstalling an Anki Deck on Android\n\nThis section will cover the premium Refold decks and free community decks.\n\n1. Buy the deck and open the download email (search your inbox for FastSpring)\n\nFor free decks click here\n\n1. [Go to Ankiweb shared](https://ankiweb.net/shared/decks)\n2. Search for the language you’re studying\n3. Choose a deck\n4. Click the blue download button\n5. Open the download folder in your browser and tap the deck\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-14-461x1024.png.webp)\n\n2. Press the black download button.\n3. Wait for the download, then press “open.”\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-15.png.webp)\n\n4. It should open Anki, then click “Add.”\n5. You’re done!\n\nInstalling an Anki Deck on iOS\n\nThis section will cover the premium Refold decks and free community decks.\n\n1. Buy the deck and open the download email (search your inbox for FastSpring).\n\nFor free decks click here\n\n1. [Go to Ankiweb shared](https://ankiweb.net/shared/decks)\n2. Search for the language you’re studying\n3. Choose a deck\n4. Click the blue download button\n5. Open the download folder in your browser and tap the deck\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-14-461x1024.png.webp)\n\n2. Press the black download button.\n3. Confirm the download.\n4. Find where the deck file is:\n\n5. Open your Files app.\n6. Click Browse and then Downloads.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-16-473x1024.jpg.webp)\n\n3. Search for .apkg (unless you already see the file).\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--Untitled-17-943x1024.png.webp)\n\n4. Tap it.\n\n5. It will open Anki, then click “Import.”\n6. You’re done!\n\n## How to use Anki to study\n\nOnce you have Anki and a deck installed, all that is left is to study. Anki uses a smart algorithm to schedule cards, so you don’t have to worry about scheduling pesky reviews.\n\nHow to study on Desktop\n\n1. Open a deck\n\n1. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen\n1. Click study now\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--anki_22sjBpFYHE.gif)\n\n2. Look at the card\n\n1. Press the spacebar to flip the card\n1. Press 1 to “fail” the card\n1. Press 2 or 3 to “pass” the card\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--anki_h69nK5XnYX.gif)\n\n3. Study all the cards until you finish your new cards for the day!\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--image-4.png.webp)\n\nHow to study on Android\n\n1. Tap AnkiDroid to open it.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--ankidroid1new.jpg.webp)\n\n2. Open a deck.\n\n1. Tap your deck to open it.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--ankidroid2-614x1024.jpg.webp)\n\n3. Look at the card.\n\n1. Press “show answer” to flip the card.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--ankidroid3-614x1024.jpg.webp)\n\n2. Press “again” to fail the card.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--ankidroid4-614x1024.jpg.webp)\n\n3. Press “good” to pass the card.\n\n4. Study all the cards until you finish your new cards for the day!\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--image-5.png.webp)\n\nHow to study on iOS\n\n1. Tap AnkiMobile to open it.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--image-6-576x1024.jpg.webp)\n\n2. Open a deck.\n\n1. Tap your deck to open it.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--image-7-576x1024.png.webp)\n\n3. Look at the card\n\n1. Tap the screen to flip the card.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--image-8-576x1024.png.webp)\n\n2. Press “again” to fail the card.\n3. Press “good” to pass the card.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--image-9-576x1024.png.webp)\n\n4. Study all the cards until you finish your new cards for the day!\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-anki--image-10.png.webp)\n\n## Conclusion\n\nAnki is a useful tool in your language learning arsenal. It may seem daunting at first to set it up, but once you use it, you’ll be glad you took the time to learn how to use it. If you want a longer guide on how to use Anki, [watch the full 30-minute guide by Refold](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1excIuX9KI).\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nTo use books to increase your vocabulary, read material that sits a little above your current level, so most of the words are familiar and the new ones stand out. Look up only the words that block your understanding, and let the rest sink in by meeting them repeatedly in context. That is how reading builds vocabulary that actually sticks.\n\nUsing books to increase your vocabulary is one of the easiest and most effective ways to grow your language skills.\n\nWhile many language learners rely on flashcard apps like Anki for vocabulary review, Anki _definitely_ isn’t for everyone. And while there are [Anki alternatives](https://refold.la/blog/a-fun-new-flashcard-app-for-language-learning/) like the [Goldlist method](https://refold.la/blog/the-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal/), sometimes even that can feel like too much.\n\n![Me about to give up on Anki when the only reason I gave it a chance was to increase my vocabulary.](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--tired-office-anki.gif)\n\nIn this post, we’ll share a simple, no-flashcard method for reviewing words from the books you read. It’s a lazy, stress-free approach that ensures you encounter new words regularly and review old ones without feeling overwhelmed.\n\nWhether you’re reading for fun or learning, this strategy is one of the best ways on how to build vocabulary while enjoying the process.\n\n## Why Books Are Perfect for Vocabulary Acquisition\n\nThe beauty of using books to improve vocabulary is that learning happens naturally as you encounter new words in context.\n\n![Me physically acquiring vocabulary I see on my books.](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--kid-physically-acquiring.webp)\n_Me using books to increase my vocabulary naturally._\n\nBooks are immersive, engaging, and they allow you to explore language in its real-world form. Here are more reasons why books are ideal for vocabulary-building:\n\n- **Contextual Learning:** Words learned in context are easier to remember than isolated word lists.\n- **Reinforcement through storylines:** Books naturally repeat key vocabulary, reinforcing new words over time.\n- **Varied Vocabulary Exposure:** Reading introduces you to a wide range of words, from everyday language to more advanced literary terms.\n\nThe immersive nature of books ensures that you’ll come across new vocabulary, and their unique advantages make them the perfect tool for improving your language skills. Picking a story you already know does a lot of this work for you before you even start, which is why Harry Potter makes such a good first novel.\n\n## You Don’t Need the Best Vocabulary Apps\n\nYou can enjoy all the benefits of reading books to increase your vocabulary without any _proper_ review. But while vocabulary practice activities are technically optional, [they can speed up your language acquisition process](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPjviVeE0yQ).\n\nCombining immersion from reading with strategic review turns your book into a powerful tool for expanding your vocabulary.\n\nSo, **_am I out of luck because I’m on an (indefinite) Anki/Goldlist break?_**\n\nAbsolutely not!\n\nI’ve figured out a _super_ easy way to regularly review the new vocab I encounter in books, and today, I’m going to share it with you.\n\n## Digital vs. Physical: What is the Best Format of Books to Improve Vocabulary?\n\nBefore we dive into my review strategy, let’s answer a common question: Should you choose e-books or physical books to expand vocabulary?\n\n![Digital vs. physical books for increasing my vocabulary.](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--image-12.jpg.webp)\n\nDo you need to hunt down the only _Hunger Games_ edition in Korean in your country? Or spend hours searching the internet for a digital version of a local book that’s not even on the most obscure platforms?\n\nWell, I have good news! Whether you prefer e-books or physical books, **both are great for increasing vocabulary**. Here are some of the advantages for each format:\n\n- **E-books:** Instant access, built-in dictionaries, and the ability to highlight and bookmark words easily. E-readers let you quickly check definitions or translations.\n- **Physical books:** Offer a tactile experience. Writing notes, underlining, and flipping through pages can improve memory retention. Manual annotation forces deeper engagement with the text, making it a more active learning process. Plus, physical books can feel more satisfying for some learners.\n\nBoth formats have their strengths, but **the best choice is the one that makes you _excited_ to read.** Whether you prefer the convenience of an e-book or the hands-on nature of a physical book, both will support your vocabulary growth—and both work for this method!\n\n## How to Build Vocabulary _Effortlessly_ Using Books\n\n![Me using books to build and expand my vocabulary.](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--image-13.jpg.webp)\n\nNow that we’ve covered the basics, let me introduce you to _Bree’s Lazy Vocab Review Strategy_ (okay, the name might need some work)—an effortless way to recall new w
44ords without creating complex study systems. It’s incredibly simple, and I’ve found it easy to stick with, even on my laziest and least motivated days.\n\nYou don’t need the best vocabulary apps or a fancy notebook for this method. All you need is:\n\n- **Your book —** It can be digital or physical; it doesn’t matter!\n- **A way to underline words —** For e-books, simply tap and highlight. For physical books, I recommend using a pencil (but you can use a pen or highlighter if that’s your style).\n- **Bookmarks —** For e-books, use the digital bookmark feature. For physical books, sticky notes work well, but you can also use scrap paper, real bookmarks, or even dog-ear the pages (if you’re a psychopath).\n\n## Now that you have your supplies, here’s how it works!\n\n![Me using the best method for increasing vocabulary by reading.](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--Untitled-20.jpg.webp)\n_I wrote lightly so I could erase it later. Good news, it left NO marks!_\n\n1. **Bookmark where you start reading.** This will help you track where to return for review later.\n2. **Underline or highlight the words you look up.** For physical books, you can annotate with numbers and write definitions in the margins for easy reference (optional).\n3. **Place a second bookmark where you finish reading.** Keep looking up words and underlining until you finish reading, and place a bookmark when you finish. This ensures you know where to pick up next time.\n4. **Review the words from the previous day** the next time you read. Start from the first bookmark and look at each word. Try to remember the meaning, then read the word in context. This creates a natural recall process.\n5. **Repeat!** Keep repeating this cycle for effortless, ongoing review.\n\nWhat sets this approach apart from methods like Anki or Goldlist is its _simplicity_. You’re still reviewing vocabulary, but in a way that feels natural and fits seamlessly into your reading routine, making it easier to stay consistent even when motivation is low.\n\n## Extra Challenge: Review it Again!\n\nWait about a week, then go through the words again, chapter by chapter, starting from the beginning. This final review will strengthen long-term retention, which is often a key goal when considering the best way to memorize vocabulary.\n\nTo stay organized, just add a third bookmark!\n\n**Hint**: Your bookmarks should look something like this:\n\n![Me organizing my bookmarks to ensure vocabulary retention.](/api/blog-images/how-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--Untitled-21.jpg.webp)\n\nBy using books to increase vocabulary in a relaxed, stress-free way, you can turn your reading sessions into powerful language-learning tools. Whether you’re flipping through a paperback or tapping through an e-book, this strategy ensures you continue growing your vocabulary with minimal effort.\n\nIf you want a gentler on-ramp into reading, our [reading decks](https://refold.la/decks) teach you the most common words and patterns first, so your early books feel less like a wall and more like a story.\n\nSo, **why not pick up your next book and give it a try?** With just a few bookmarks and some intentional reading, you’ll be expanding your vocabulary in no time!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nHey, language learners. Let’s talk about one of my _favorite_ ways to learn new words in a new language: The Goldlist Method.\n\nThere’s no doubt that Anki and other SRS (spaced repetition system) apps are amazing for learning vocabulary in a new language. But Anki is _not_ for everyone. Especially if….\n\n- You’re tired of looking at computer screens.\n- You _hate_ Anki or other app-based flashcards.\n- You prefer using physical materials like pen and paper.\n\nDoes that sound like you? If yes, you should….\n\n## Try the Goldlist Method\n\n![](/api/blog-images/the-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal--1.-Goldlist-Gold-Notebook.jpg.webp)\n\nThe Goldlist Method is the best way to study vocabulary offline, and it’s one of our favorite Anki alternatives!\n\nTo use this method, all you need is:\n\n- A notebook.\n- Something to write with.\n- Something to read or watch in your target language.\n\n\u003e _By the way, I recorded this entire blog post as a video. If you want to see the method in action, [click here to watch it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi7SCDi4oUE)._\n\nOnce you collect your materials, it’s time to…\n\n## Create Your Goldlist Vocabulary Language Learning Journal\n\nSetting up and using your Goldlist language learning journal is pretty simple.\n\n### For the first week of using The Goldlist Method you’ll…\n\n- Create a fresh two-page spread with four sections, as illustrated below. (Each one gets progressively smaller; you’ll find out why later!)\n  - Include a day number\n  - Target language column\n  - Meaning column\n  - Divide into four sections\n\n![How to set up your gold list method language learning journal.\n](/api/blog-images/the-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal--2.-Sections.jpg.webp)\n\n- Watch a show or read a book in your target language while looking for words or phrases you want to remember.\n- In section 1, write down 10-20 words and their meanings in your Goldlist notebook. The exact number is up to you. Feel free to save sentences, words, or even a mix of both! The most important thing is consistency, so do what you can realistically accomplish _every_ day.\n- Leave sections 2-4 blank. Those will be used to review your vocabulary later!\n- Repeat this process each day for seven days.\n\n### After the first week of using your Goldlist, you’ll…\n\n…continue collecting new words, but you’ll also add reviews to your routine! You’ll review each vocabulary list once a week for three weeks, rewriting the vocabulary you forgot.\n\n![reviewing vocabulary in your language vocabulary journal is easy](/api/blog-images/the-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal--3.-Review-Days.jpg.webp)\n\nHere’s an example of how this would work:\n\n- On day 8, you’ll review everything you wrote on day 1 and rewrite the words/phrases you forgot in section 2.\n- Seven days later, you’ll review section 2 from day one and rewrite the words you forgot in section 3.\n- Then, in seven more days, you’ll review section 3 from day one and rewrite the words you forgot into section 4.\n\n## Keeping Track of Your Goldlist Reviews\n\nAfter a while, you’ll reach a point where you’ll do the following every day:\n\n- Add new words\n- Review words from a week ago\n- Review words from two weeks ago\n- Review words from three weeks ago\n\nTo keep track of your reviews, write the number of your day, then subtract seven from your day number three times so you know which words to review.\n\nIt’ll look like this:\n\n![](/api/blog-images/the-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal--4.-Subtract-7-1024x361.png.webp)\n\n## Congratulations, You’re Learning New Vocabulary!\n\nThe Goldlist method is one of the best ways to learn vocabulary in a new language. Many people report that they can remember up to 80% of the words _without_ studying them.\n\nTry it out, and let us know what you think! We hope you find this Anki alternative as fun and effective as we do!\n\n\u003e We also made a simplified vocabulary review journal for kids that you can download for free! [Click here](https://refold.link/teach-your-child-from-home) to check it out.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n![description](/api/blog-images/best-language-learning-video-games--giphy.gif)\n\nWhen we think of language learning video games, we often think of apps like Duolingo, Babbel, or Memrise—popular [apps for language learning](https://refold.la/blog/the-best-language-learning-apps/) that are supposed to make vocabulary and grammar practice fun.\n\nBut what if I told you some of **the _best_ language learning games aren’t designed for language learning at all**?\n\nIn fact, many of your favorite games—whether they’re MMORPGs, first-person shooters, or strategy games—can be powerful tools for boosting your language skills.\n\nAs a lifelong gamer and language enthusiast, combining these two worlds has been a game-changer _(pun intended)_. It turns casual gaming sessions into effective practice without feeling like study time.\n\nReady to level up both your gaming _and_ your language skills? Let’s dive in!\n\n## How I Discovered One of My Favorite Activities for Language Learning\n\nMost people know me as Refold’s community manager, language coach, and [podcast host](https://refold.link/podcast). But not many know that I used to be a hardcore gamer—especially into [MMORPGs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massively_multiplayer_online_role-playing_game) like _World of Warcraft_.\n\n![Me living that gamer life before knowing I could be learning a language at the same time.](/api/blog-images/best-language-learning-video-games--live-to-win.webp)\n_Me before Refold_\n\nThese games pulled me in with their sense of community and shared goals. However, when I turned 20, I put down the controller to focus on traveling and learning new languages.\n\nFor years, gaming was a thing of the past. That is, until recently, when my love for languages reignited my old hobby.\n\nI had been studying Spanish for a while but felt stuck in my routine. I tried searching for Spanish learning games for adults, but nothing felt as fun as my old English video games. So, on a whim, I downloaded _World of Warcraft_—this time in Spanish. I joined a guild (gaming team), made friends, and soon found myself learning new vocabulary and chatting daily with my teammates—all in Spanish.\n\n![Me practicing my Argentinian Spanish playing my language learning video games with some online friends.](/api/blog-images/best-language-learning-video-games--gamingspanish.jpg.webp)\n\nNow, instead of feeling bored _studying_ the language, _World of Warcraft_ has become my own personal Spanish learning game.\n\nSo, if you’re thinking about giving up gaming to focus on language learning, you might want to re
44consider. I’m going to show you how **gaming can be one of YOUR most effective language activities.**\n\n## The Power of an Interactive Learning Environment\n\nInstead of locking yourself in a room with books or TV, gaming allows you to use the language with other people. You’re teaming up with friends and working toward common goals. This makes the language feel more _real_ and _alive_ because you’re using it to accomplish something together.\n\nWhen you play multiplayer games, you’re not just studying vocabulary in isolation—you’re using the language to communicate with real people to achieve shared objectives. For me, this made the language come alive.\n\nGaming with other players requires me to:\n\n- Talk to them\n- Strategize\n- Collaborate toward common goals\n\nIt’s one thing to read or watch TV in your target language, but it’s a whole different experience to use it actively in teamwork. The social dynamic makes the language feel like a natural part of your life. You’re not just learning _about_ the language—you’re living it.\n\n## Obtain Organic Real-Time Practice\n\nOne of the best things about gaming is that it forces you to think on your feet. Conversations happen in real time, which is perfect for improving both comprehension and response skills. In a game, you don’t have time to pause and look up a word—you have to understand and respond quickly.\n\n![Playing World of Warcraft with Spanish-speaking friends.](/api/blog-images/best-language-learning-video-games--Untitled-18.jpg.webp)\n_There’s nothing like the pressure of trying to complete an objective to boost your comprehension speed._\n\nWhile you can have real-time conversations with language partners on apps like _HelloTalk_ or _Tandem_, I’ve found gaming to be more fun because the conversations aren’t just for language learning’s sake.\n\nWhen I first started gaming in Spanish, I was nervous about making mistakes. But my guildmates didn’t care. They weren’t focused on my grammar or my accent. They just wanted to have a good time and level up—and we do both.\n\n## Be Part of the Subculture and Learn the Lingo\n\nEvery gaming community has its own unique lingo. When you join one in your target language, you dive into a subculture that goes beyond what you’d find in a classroom. By playing games to learn Spanish, I have picked up:\n\n- Inside jokes\n- Memes\n- How people _communicate within the group_\n\nFor instance, I’ve learned that while the official Spanish acronym for “player vs. player” is _JCJ_ (jugador contra jugador), most players use the English term _PVP_ instead.\n\n![Chatting with Spanish-speaking friends and learning the gaming lingo.](/api/blog-images/best-language-learning-video-games--Untitled-19.png.webp)\n_See what I mean about PVP?_\n\n## The Consistency Benefits of Language Learning Games\n\nOne of the biggest challenges in self-guided language learning is staying consistent. That’s where gaming can help. Games have:\n\n- Built-in goals and objectives\n- Conversations that will naturally happen with teammates\n- A clear focus for every discussion, so you never worry about keeping the conversation going\n\nFor example, my team schedules weekly gaming sessions, and I know I’ll get to practice my Spanish with them every Wednesday.\n\n**Playing with a team also adds accountability**—you can’t slack off when your team is counting on you!\n\n## Turn Other Hobbies into Language Activities\n\nNot a gamer? That’s okay! **You don’t need language learning video games, you can apply these same principles to any hobby.** The key is to find an online group in your target language that shares your interests, whether it’s cooking, fitness, or hiking. The goal is to immerse yourself in a community where the language is used naturally.\n\nJust like my _World of Warcraft_ guild, online communities around your hobby offer a social, interactive space for language practice.\n\n![All the possible hobbies you could use for learning your language.](/api/blog-images/best-language-learning-video-games--image-11.jpg.webp)\n\nIf you want more tips on using video games for language learning, check out [this video tutorial](https://youtu.be/TDxNjBSx8Vw) by Ben, where he shares additional strategies.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nThe core part of the Refold method is using media and entertainment to learn a new language. The method works, tons of people have acquired a new language and had a lot of fun at the same time. That is great, in theory, but in practice finding content and quality language learning resources can be difficult.\n\nThat’s where the Refold Crowdsource Docs come in. These are free resources that are curated by our community (By the way, if you’re not a member, you should consider joining our community—it’s free! [Click here to join](https://refold.link/join)).\n\nThey contain the essentials like:\n\n- Links to frequency vocabulary so you learn words that are ACTUALLY used\n- The best dictionaries, so you never have to doubt the quality of the definitions\n- Grammar guides so you can figure out tricky grammar points\n- Links to high-quality YouTube channels and streaming services in a variety of languages!\n\nThe Refold Crowdsource Docs are a valuable resource, particularly for less common languages, where even paid learning materials are difficult to find.\n\nIf you want to watch a video version explaining this page, watch this video:\n\n## Published Language Learning Resources\n\nHere’s a list of our current supported languages! These docs meet a minimum standard of 50 different resources AND a comprehensive beginner’s section!\n\n|     | Language   | Resource Link                  | Submission Link                       |\n| --- | ---------- | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------- |\n| 🇪🇸  | Spanish    | https://refold.link/spanish    | https://refold.link/spanish-submit    |\n| 🇮🇹  | Italian    | https://refold.link/italian    | https://refold.link/italian-submit    |\n| 🇭🇰  | Cantonese  | https://refold.link/cantonese  | https://refold.link/cantonese-submit  |\n| 🇵🇭  | Tagalog    | https://refold.link/tagalog    | https://refold.link/tagalog-submit    |\n| 🇵🇱  | Polish     | https://refold.link/polish     | https://refold.link/polish-submit     |\n| 🇨🇿  | Czech      | https://refold.link/czech      | https://refold.link/czech-submit      |\n|     | Quechua    | https://refold.link/quechua    | https://refold.link/quechua-submit    |\n|     | Hawaiian   | https://refold.link/hawaiian   | https://refold.link/hawaiian-submit   |\n|     | Basque     | https://refold.link/basque     | https://refold.link/basque-submit     |\n| 🇵🇹  | Portuguese | https://refold.link/portuguese | https://refold.link/portuguese-submit |\n| 🇳🇴  | Norwegian  | https://refold.link/norwegian  | https://refold.link/norwegian-submit  |\n| 👽  | Klingon    | https://refold.link/klingon    | https://refold.link/klingon-submit    |\n\n## These languages are in progress and need more resources…\n\n|      | Language               | Submission Link                                   |\n| ---- | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |\n| 🇯🇵   | Japanese               | https://refold.link/japanese-submit               |\n| 🇬🇧   | English                | https://refold.link/english-submit                |\n| 🇰🇷   | Korean                 | https://refold.link/korean-submit                 |\n| 🇩🇪   | German                 | https://refold.link/german-submit                 |\n| 🇨🇳   | Mandarin               | https://refold.link/mandarin-submit               |\n| 🇫🇷   | French                 | https://refold.link/french-submit                 |\n| 🇮🇱   | Modern Hebrew          | https://refold.link/modern-hebrew-submit          |\n| 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿   | Scottish Gaelic        | https://refold.link/scottish-gaelic-submit        |\n| 🇵🇰🇮🇳 | Hindi-Urdu             | https://refold.link/hindi-urdu-submit             |\n| 🇸🇦   | Modern Standard Arabic | https://refold.link/modern-standard-arabic-submit |\n\n_If your language isn’t on here, and you want to be a curator, reach out to Ben (Mycheze) or Clayton (George Pig) on the Refold Discord._\n\n## We hope you find these as useful as we do!\n\nThere are a lot of language learning resources out there. Finding them is the tricky part, and judging them for quality is even trickier (how do you judge something as a beginner). Hopefully, the time the Refold community spent creating these docs will save you tons of time on your language journey!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nSome of the most common questions we receive here at Refold are centered around how many words do you need to know to be fluent in a language. It’s a natural question since words are the building blocks of any language. The answer? It really _depends_ on what you consider “being fluent.”\n\nIf your definition of how many words do you need to know to be fluent involves being able to use _every single_ word in a language, you’re looking at probably hundreds of thousands of words, which can easily feel overwhelming.\n\nThe good news? **You don’t need to know every word to start speaking the language** (not even native speakers do!). You can start small and build from there.\n\nBut this leads us to an even bigger question: **_Am I actually ready to start speaking?_**\n\nI’ve struggled with this myself. Even after reaching a high level of comprehension in Spanish, I didn’t feel confident speaking. If you’ve ever wondered when you’re truly ready to start speaking, this post is for you.\n\n## Language Input vs. Output\n\n![Illustration of the difference between language input vs. output.](/api/blog-images/how-many-words-to-start-speaking--inputvsoutput.webp)\n\nBefore diving into whether you’re ready for output, let’s define what we mean by it.\n\n- **Input**: This means consuming language—reading, listening, or watching content in your target language. Input is crucial for building **comprehension**, which forms the foundation of your language skills.\n- **Output**: This involves actively producing the language, whether through speaking or writing. It’s NOT about:\n  - Reading aloud\n  - Repeating phrases\n  - Practicing pronunciation\n\n  Instead, output means creating your own sentences and expressing your thoughts or ideas in the new language.\n\nFor immersion learners who’ve been following the [Refold Method](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-learn-a-language/) and focusing on input, transitioning to output can feel _especially_ daunting—but it’s a vital step toward fluency.\n\n## Recognizing When You’re Ready to Speak\n\nMany learners hesitate to start speaking, even when they have a strong understanding of a language. I’ve experienced this myself.\n\nFor some, the language just bubbles up naturally after spending enough time with it. But for many, beginning to speak feels awkward and unnatural. Can you relate?\n\n![How I felt when I started speaking my new language.](/api/blog-images/how-many-words-to-start-speaking--cant-speak.webp)\n\nThe truth is, I was _able_ to speak for a while, but it felt uncomfortable.\n\nI kept delaying, thinking I wasn’t ready. While some people instinctively _know_ when they’re ready, I wasn’t one of them. I needed to be sure.\n\nThe good news? There are measurable signs that show you’re ready to start outputting with confidence.\n\n## Take a Vocabulary Size Test\n\nA key factor in readiness is your vocabulary size. Rather than asking how many words do you need to know to be fluent in a language, start asking how many words you need to start speaking.\n\nGenerally, a good target is around **6,000 unique words**. By “unique words,” we mean root words—so “eat,” “ate,” and “eaten” would all count as one.\n\nThis number of words should be enough to:\n\n- Hold conversations\n- Navigate basic social situations\n- Understand a wide range of everyday topics\n\nIf you’re learning Japanese, Spanish, or French, **Refold offers a [vocabulary size test](https://refold.link/VocabAssessment)** to assess your level. (Note: It’s in Beta and maxes out at 5,000 words, but if you hit that limit, you’re probably ready.)\n\n![Refold's vocabulary size test for Japanese, Spanish and French.](/api/blog-images/how-many-words-to-start-speaking--vocabtestrefold-1024x482.webp)\n\nFor other languages, look for similar tests online. If none are available, you can still assess your comprehension with methods like _crosstalk language learning_ (more on that below).\n\n## Listen Before You Speak: What is Crosstalk?\n\nVocabulary size is important, but it’s not everything. You also need to _hear_ and _understand_ words in real-life conversations _at the speed of thought_.\n\nThere are a few ways to test this. For example, you could watch a show in your target language without subtitles or listen to audiobooks to see how easy it is to follow along. My favorite method is crosstalk.\n\nCrosstalk is where you have a conversation with someone who is a native speaker of your target language. Here’s the catch: you both only speak in your own native languages. This allows you to practice listening comprehension 
44without the pressure of speaking. [Click here to learn more about crosstalk.](https://youtu.be/0KsLxyYnZAk)\n\n![Illustration explaining what is crosstalk language learning.](/api/blog-images/how-many-words-to-start-speaking--crosstalk.webp)\n\nIf you can effortlessly understand your crosstalk partner at full speed, it’s a great sign that you’re ready to start developing your speaking skills.\n\n## Numbers Don’t Lie!\n\nEven after maxing out my vocabulary test, enjoying crosstalk conversations, and listening to several audiobooks in Spanish, I still hesitated to start speaking. But when I finally took the leap, I realized I was more than ready.\n\nIf you’re like me, you might just need a bit of a confidence boost.\n\nTesting your skills—whether through vocabulary assessment, crosstalk, or other methods—can give you solid proof that you’re ready and the courage to dive in headfirst and enjoy the process!\n\n## Ok, I’m Ready. Now what?\n\nFantastic! You’ve assessed your skills, and you’re ready to start speaking. But _how_ should you begin?\n\n![How confused you probably feel because you don't know how to start with output.](/api/blog-images/how-many-words-to-start-speaking--now-what.webp)\n\nStay tuned for the rest of the **Output 101** series to find out! We’ll share guides and tips to help you make the most of this phase of your language journey.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nWhen it comes to Language Learning, YouTube is undeniably one of the _best_ resources for language learning. It offers a vast amount of free content, tailored to your interests. _(Learn how to [train the YouTube algorithm in your new language](https://refold.la/blog/youtube-language-learning-account/)!)_\n\nBut here’s the key to getting the most out of language learning with YouTube: **subtitles**! Today, I want to share a tool I wish I had known about when I started immersion learning—_Language Reactor_.\n\n## The Power of Subtitles for Language Learning\n\nBut first, _why are subtitles important?_\n\nSubtitles are one of the best tools for [immersing yourself in your target language from day one](https://youtu.be/j53EP90ZzRY). Subtitles help you understand the language, even if listening is still hard for you! They allow you to read along with what you hear, so you can look up words or phrases you don’t know.\n\n## The Constant and Painful Search for Matching Subs\n\nOne challenge with using YouTube for language learning is finding videos with accurate, human-generated subtitles. While YouTube provides auto-generated captions for many videos, they often include misinterpreted words, cut-off phrases, or just skip over critical parts.\n\nThis constant struggle for reliable subtitles can be frustrating.\n\n![How I feel when I can't find videos with matching human-made subtitles for my language learning with YouTube.](/api/blog-images/language-reactor-for-language-learning-with-youtube--angry-at-computer.webp)\n\n_But there’s a way I get around this._\n\n## The Language Reactor Extension\n\n![Official image and logo for the Language Reactor Chrome extension.](/api/blog-images/language-reactor-for-language-learning-with-youtube--lr.avif)\n_This picture is from their website! Their aesthetic is…unique…_\n\nLet me introduce you to the [Language Reactor](https://www.languagereactor.com/) Chrome extension. It provides an easy way to find YouTube content with human-generated subtitles.\n\nBut that’s not all. Language Reactor also works as a built-in popup dictionary. With just one click on any word, you can see its meaning and, in many cases, hear how it’s pronounced.\n\n![Image demonstrating how you can boost your language learning with YouTube using the Language Reactor extension.](/api/blog-images/language-reactor-for-language-learning-with-youtube--lr-yt.avif)\n\n_You can even use it on your phone! [Watch this quick demo](https://youtu.be/pt9xr888FEA) to learn how._\n\n## How to Use Language Reactor for YouTube Language Learning\n\nGetting started with Language Reactor is very easy. You just need to follow the next steps:\n\n1. **Install the extension**\n   Go to the [Chrome Web Store](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/language-reactor/hoombieeljmmljlkjmnheibnpciblicm) and add the Language Reactor extension to your browser. It’s free and takes only a few seconds. Once installed, you’ll see a new icon next to your address bar.\n\n![Language Reactor in the Google Chrome Store.](/api/blog-images/language-reactor-for-language-learning-with-youtube--lr1.avif)\n\n2. **Navigate to YouTube** Open YouTube as usual. Language Reactor integrates seamlessly, so you won’t notice it until you start using it to search for content.\n\n![Image showing the extra buttons that appear on YouTube when you install the Language Reactor Chrome extension.](/api/blog-images/language-reactor-for-language-learning-with-youtube--lr2-1024x567.avif)\n\n3. **Click the extra button and set your search settings** On the YouTube search bar, you’ll see a new icon that looks like two boxes—one with a Chinese character and one with the letter “A.” Click it to access Language Reactor’s search settings. Customize your preferences, filtering by source language.\n\n![\"Select Language\" option on YouTube.](/api/blog-images/language-reactor-for-language-learning-with-youtube--lr3.avif)\n\n4. **Enter a search term**\n   Search for something that interests you. You’ll get better results if your search term is in your target language.\n5. **Click the blue “CC” button**\n   You’ll see a magnifying glass icon with a blue “CC” in the search bar. Click it to view your search results.\n\n![\"Search for videos with subtitles (CC)\" option on YouTube.](/api/blog-images/language-reactor-for-language-learning-with-youtube--lr4.avif)\n\n6. **Find an interesting video**\n   Scroll through the results and pick a video you like. Videos with matching subtitles will have a blue “CC” box below the description.\n\n![Videos with matching subtitles that appear when you use YouTube with the Language Reactor extension.](/api/blog-images/language-reactor-for-language-learning-with-youtube--lr5-1024x291.avif)\n\n7. **Enjoy your matching subs!**\n   You’re all set to immerse yourself in your target language. Hit play, enjoy the video, and use the built-in popup dictionary by clicking on any word you don’t know!\n\n## Extra Tip: Use Language Reactor with Netflix!\n\nYou can also use Language Reactor as a powerful Netflix language learning extension!\n\nTo get started, just go to Netflix after installing the extension. The tool will automatically sync and offer the same features it provides on YouTube.\n\n![Image demonstrating how you can boost your language learning with Netflix using the Language Reactor extension.](/api/blog-images/language-reactor-for-language-learning-with-youtube--lr-nt.avif)\n\n## Binge-Watch Your Way to Fluency!\n\nReady to transform your favorite content into _enjoyable_ language learning resources?\n\nDive into YouTube or Netflix, and make language learning as fun and effortless as watching your favorite videos!\n\nYou can also use our “seederâ€
44 YouTube playlists to get some initial recommendations. Click [here](https://youtu.be/eh6IstF6kTw?si=T8iR12zMoBQBK1DW) to learn more.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## Introduction\n\n![](/api/blog-images/a-fun-new-flashcard-app-for-language-learning--logo-full1.svg)\n\nHey everyone. Clayton here from the [Refold podcast](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn4GkF3M9WXeUl-xzDcJSjJzBt5Yj8muF). Today, I’m writing about a fun new flashcard app called “[Deckademy](https://deckademy.com/)”. Deckademy is a spiritual successor to another flashcard program called Memrise, which has been taking more and more steps to move away from their crowdsourced and community content. Ordinarily we’d do a video interview for the [Refold Podcast](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn4GkF3M9WXeUl-xzDcJSjJzBt5Yj8muF), but this time we’re swapping things up for a text interview.\n\nI reached out to the developer behind [Deckademy](https://deckademy.com/), who goes by the online handle “ohyzd”, after finding the app on Reddit, trying it, and actually liking it! I’m a big believer that there is more than one way to skin a cat, that is to say there are multiple flashcard or “spaced repetition” tools out there, [beyond just Anki](https://refold.la/blog/srs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster/).\n\nDeckademy has a lot of solid premade decks, originally hosted by maintainers on Memrise, but also decks that were built by contributors just for Deckademy. Deckademy has a lot of features I like, such as:\n\n- Multiple choice questions\n- Typing questions\n- Tapping questions\n\nIt currently has an alpha out on Android, and it feels really low friction for me to whip out my phone and review vocabulary throughout the day.\n\n![multiple choice selection image](/api/blog-images/a-fun-new-flashcard-app-for-language-learning--multiplechoice-1-1024x423.png.webp)\n_An example of multiple choice reviews on Deckademy_\n\nNow, let’s get into the actual interview!\n\n## Tell us about Deckademy, and what inspired you to create it?\n\nAs a long-time user of Memrise, I grew more and more disheartened as several community course features had been removed in the span of a couple of years. The disappearance of “mems\\*” was particularly unfortunate, because I found they contained a lot of useful notes, usage examples and, of course, mnemonics. I also had a few simple ideas that I genuinely think would have greatly improved community courses.\n\nFortunately, I am a software developer and some time in 2019 I decided it would be a fun hobby project to build an alternative from scratch entirely on my own. It would not be unfair to call the starting point a mere clone of Memrise, but the plan was to gradually incorporate all the ideas I had had over the years, making Deckademy a distinct SRS\\* system, one I would want to use myself.\n\nWhen Memrise in late 2023 suddenly announced they intended to drop support for community courses, and instead focus on their official language courses, I considered it a fantastic opportunity to finally introduce Deckademy to the world, so in December 2023 the web version was launched. Since then, I’ve been continually improving the website and I also started the development of Android and iOS versions.\n\n- Mems were a feature of Memrise; they were user-added notes or mnemonics to help you retain information.\n- SRS — A [spaced repetition system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced_repetition).\n\n## What sets Deckademy apart from other spaced repetition systems out there (most notably, Anki and Memrise)?\n\nWhen it comes to sharing your decks, collaboration with your friends or with strangers who use your deck, virtually all platforms with user-generated content fall into one of two categories. Either you have a local copy of a deck, which you can share with others online, and perhaps sync if someone uploads an update (e.g. Anki/AnkiWeb), or the deck is online and its author and appointed users make changes to it directly. Everyone then sees the updated version (e.g. Memrise).\n\nHaving a local copy has both pros (you have complete control over the content you download, forever) and cons (there’s a separation between you and other users of the deck who have perhaps made valuable improvements).\n\nOn the other hand, in the case of Memrise I found that it was very hard to fix mistakes in courses created by others. You first had to somehow get in touch with the author, and they would then either need to give you editing permissions or make the changes in their own free time. Needless to say, this process wasn’t very smooth or quick.\n\nFor Deckademy, I have designed a system of change proposals (heavily inspired by open source software development workflows) where any user can lift the burden off deck authors, draft changes to a deck, whether it’s fixing mistakes or adding new content, and then submit the result as a change proposal. The deck author and other maintainers are then notified, and can with just a couple of clicks choose which changes to accept and reject. Once a proposal is completed, the changes are immediately visible to all users. My hope is that this will result in higher quality and more fleshed out content as people collaborate on their decks for the benefit of the entire community.\n\n![An example of the change proposal screen on the Deckademy webapp.](/api/blog-images/a-fun-new-flashcard-app-for-language-learning--propose-1024x222.png.webp)\n_An example of the change proposal screen on the Deckademy webapp._\n\nFor those who nevertheless prefer the offline experience, I am also tentatively looking to supp
44ort completely local decks on your smartphone in the future.\n\n## Who is Deckademy good for?\n\nEveryone who is looking to memorize vocabulary or any other kind of factual information, such as trivia, school material, scientific facts, etc., using flash cards with spaced repetition. Deckademy is strictly just a spaced repetition platform, so users also need to make use of additional resources for grammar practice, speaking and other aspects of language learning.\n\n![The app has more than just strictly language categories!](/api/blog-images/a-fun-new-flashcard-app-for-language-learning--nonlanguage-1024x271.jpg.webp)\n_The app has more than just strictly language categories!_\n\n## What is your favorite feature of Deckademy that isn’t available in other apps, or maybe a common feature that you use, but you’ve put your unique spin on?\n\nApart from change proposals described above, I’ve enjoyed developing real-time multiplayer reviews. You can create a multiplayer lobby for a deck you are learning, and you’re given a link that you can share with any Deckademy user. When everyone has connected using the link, and after you have started the review, every participant is tested on the same set of items. At the end, you can compare your performance with others. It’s a little break from the monotony of cramming, and I reckon students in class could have some fun with this feature.\n\n## Is it possible for a user to switch from other SRS systems to Deckademy?\n\nIf you’re able to export your course from another system in a CSV or XLS format, you can create a deck and then directly feed in the file to import words/items yourself. Additionally, in the case of Memrise and Anki, I am able to migrate decks on demand, with alts, audio and images preserved, provided the structure is compatible with Deckademy. People interested in the latter are welcome to reach out to me to discuss the process further.\n\n## How are the community decks created?\n\nAny registered user is able to create decks. The process starts with entering a name and image for the deck, choosing whether it’s going to be public or private, and selecting what languages/categories it will show under. The next step involves defining the structure of the deck, represented by columns. Simply put, they are the fields individual items will be able to have. The available column types are text (left to right or right to left), image, audio or markdown (specially formatted text). Finally, you can start adding entries grouped into sections, either manually one by one, or importing from CSV and XLS files.\n\n![The deck creation screen](/api/blog-images/a-fun-new-flashcard-app-for-language-learning--deckcreation-1024x501.png.webp)\n_The deck creation screen_\n\n## How do people become maintainers?\n\nDeck authors have the ability to appoint other users as maintainers with specific permissions. Moreover, in the case of public decks, anyone can become a contributor by proposing changes, and maintainers are encouraged to take the time to review these proposals.\n\nSince the launch of Deckademy, I have gotten to know some users on our Discord a little bit. As the userbase grows, I am hoping to find many trustworthy users, ideally across various languages. These people are crucial to the concept of community-maintained decks that I intend to introduce at some point. Trusted users are a designated group with the ability to review and integrate change proposals for community-maintained decks across all of Deckademy. For now, the plan is to allow authors to opt into this mode themselves, but orphaned decks (i.e. maintainers no longer active on Deckademy) could be switched automatically.\n\n## What features are on the roadmap that you’re excited about?\n\nIn no particular order and no timeline commitment:\n\n- Deckademy for Android and iOS – Preview APKs for Android are already available on our Discord, and a test version will also be available on Apple’s TestFlight at some point. The goal is to eventually distribute Deckademy on Google Play and App Store like any other application.\n- Mnemonic cards – Many people, including myself, have fond memories of Memrise’s mems, so a revival of this feature on Deckademy is certainly something I’d like to make happen.\n- Classrooms – Several teachers have already expressed interested in using Deckademy with their students, so there’s certainly demand for features that are specifically geared towards classrooms, such as progress tracking in a group, classroom leaderboard or anything else teachers might propose.\n\nPlenty of smaller, less exciting improvements are being introduced gradually, and I am also thrilled to hear suggestions from users, although I cannot promise that every single suggestion will be implemented.\n\n## Conclusion\n\nI’d like to thank ohyzd for taking the time to do this interview. I have thoroughly enjoyed using the app, even though it is in an early alpha stage. As someone who doesn’t really like Anki, but likes the concept of spaced repetition, Deckademy has fit nicely into my language learning routine.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n![My thoughts on learning the Spanish language if I had to learn Spanish over again. ](/api/blog-images/learning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--1.-Ben-smacked-on-head-1024x570.jpg.webp)\n\n¡Hola mi gente! ¿Cómo están el día de hoy? Or, in other words…Hey everyone, how are you doing today? My name’s Ben, and I’ve been learning the Spanish language for over three years.\n\nI use the language every single day, and I live in a Spanish-speaking country. I’d say that I’m doing pretty well!\n\nI feel comfortable…\n\n- Communicating.\n- Dealing with the day-to-day issues you face as an expat living in a foreign country.\n- Thinking in the language.\n\nI’d even say that my accent is pretty good, too!\n\n\u003e \\*Want proof? I recorded this entire blog as a video, and the intro is mostly in Spanish. **[Click here to check it out!](https://youtu.be/vn2dsS3rwqs?si=-l5iw6y9K1Nb-j8o)\\***\n\nBut what if I bumped my head and forgot all my Spanish?\n\n![Spanish? What’s that!?](/api/blog-images/learning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--2.-Cute-bump-on-head.jpg.webp)\n_Spanish? What’s that!?_\n\n## How Would I Learn the Spanish Language All Over Again?\n\nHonestly, I wouldn’t change much in learning the Spanish language again. I was lucky to find the Refold method before I spent much time learning. There are a few things I’d do differently, though. I’ll cover all of them in this post.\n\n**But before I get into all that…**\n\nIf you’re here and have never heard of Refold, welcome! We’re thrilled to have you here. I’ll make this guide as beginner-friendly as possible, but this will be a lot of information. So, I recommend you **check out our FREE 6 Secrets of Language Learning course**. It’s a free email course that covers the most important lessons for a new language learner. Enter your email below to sign up!\n\nOk, now let’s go back to how to learn Spanish from zero. To begin with, I’d…\n\n## Start With the Fundamentals of Learning Spanish\n\n![Building a solid foundation is essential for learning Spanish as a beginner](/api/blog-images/learning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--3.-Build-a-foundation.png.webp)\n\nSince I’m a beginner again, I’d start by focusing on the fundamentals of learning Spanish by:\n\n- Learning common vocabulary.\n- Learning the basics of how the language functions.\n- Learning about the shared words (cognates) between Spanish and English.\n\nLucky for you, we have resources for all of those! Many of us at Refold are passionate Spanish learners and love the language. So we put a ton of time into creating resources for beginner Spanish learners, including:\n\n- [The ES1K vocabulary deck.](https://refold.link/es1k) It’s a flashcard deck with 1,000 of the most commonly used Spanish words in media.\n- **[The Spanish Grammar Primer.](https://refold.link/ES_Grammar)** It’s an immersion-friendly grammar resource that breaks down grammar points to help you understand native Spanish media.\n- [The Spanish Cognate Guide.](https://refold.link/spanish-english-cognate-hacks) This guide will help you unlock thousands of words in Spanish by leveraging your English knowledge.\n\nNext, I’ll talk about a resource that I wish I had discovered _much_ earlier in my Spanish journey.\n\n## Dreaming Spanish Videos: The Best Spanish Learning Resources for Beginners\n\n![Dreaming Spanish has some of the best Spanish Learning resources on the internet!](/api/blog-images/learning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--4.-Dreaming-Spanish-1024x660.jpg.webp)\n\nI discovered [Dreaming Spanish](https://www.youtube.com/@DreamingSpanish) _after_ I had reached an upper intermediate level, but I wish I had discovered them earlier when I was learning the Spanish language. It’s truly one of the best Spanish learning resources for beginners.\n\nThey’ve made 100s (maybe even 1,000s) of excellent, easy, and understandable videos for all levels of Spanish learners on a variety of subjects including (but not limited to):\n\n- Daily life\n- Humor\n- Cooking\n- Dating\n- Politics\n- And the list goes on…\n\nHowever, as amazing as their videos are, **I _wouldn’t_ follow all of their advice about how to learn Spanish.** To sum it up, they advocate a strict listening-only approach to language learning and believe that reading too early could “screw up your accent.”\n\nAt Refold, we have not uncovered any evidence to supp
44ort this. In fact, we actually discovered that the _opposite_ is true!\n\nWe’ve found that **reading early on (with accompanying audio) helps beginners progress much faster**. You can see what you should be hearing. You learn words faster and can use more engaging materials quickly.\n\nWith that in mind, if I were to learn Spanish all over again, I’d watch Dreaming Spanish videos _with_ subtitles.\n\nIn addition to watching Dreaming Spanish, I’d also…\n\n## Watch Lots of TV to Learn Spanish\n\n![Can you teach yourself Spanish with TV? Yes!](/api/blog-images/learning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--5.-Watch-TV.jpg.webp)\n\nCan you teach yourself Spanish with TV? Yes! Learning the Spanish language with television IS possible—even if you’re a beginner!\n\nIf I had to start over again, I’d watch TV as early in the process as possible. This is actually something that I did, and I’d do it again if I had the chance.\n\nI watched a ton of TV in Spanish—hundreds and hundreds of hours. I think that’s one of the main reasons I made such quick progress in my Spanish learning. Here’s why it’s great:\n\n- It’s entertaining! The TV shows I watched had huge production budgets with quality video and audio!\n- It was easier to understand because I could read along with the subtitles, listen to the emotion in the actors’ voices, and see what was happening on the screen!\n- I listened to _natural_ Spanish, not the slowed-down, careful speech you hear in beginner resources.\n- I was exposed to a wide range of accents without it being confusing.\n\nI would definitely do that again, starting with simpler shows and working my way up, which brings me to my next point.\n\n## Pick Just One Accent To Focus On When Learning Spanish\n\n![](/api/blog-images/learning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--6.-Mexico-speech-bubble.png.webp)\n\nThis is something else that I’d do. Choosing an accent early on is a good decision because:\n\n- The earlier you choose an accent, the easier it is to understand the regionalisms and dig deep into the culture.\n- It allows you to make fewer decisions and learn more about how real people use the language.\n- With a language like Spanish, there are a lot of differences in the language between countries.\n\nPersonally, I went with Mexico for many reasons, and I’d probably do that again. There is so much great Mexican content out there, and I _live_ in Mexico—so it seems like the obvious choice.\n\nThen, to get the _most_ out of my immersion material, I’d…\n\n## Use Anki to Learn Spanish Vocabulary\n\n![](/api/blog-images/learning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--7.-anki-1024x683.png.webp)\n\nAnki is one of my _favorite_ vocabulary review programs. It’s a flashcard app that allows you to use premade decks and even create your own! ([Click here](https://youtu.be/6BJgxHC3Yuc?si=Bsxo_8IPK9Wy7Go2) to learn more about Anki and how to use it).\n\nI’d use the Refold ES1K vocabulary deck to learn the 1,000 most commonly used words in Spanish media, then transition to sentence mining. This is a technique where you collect new words and sentences directly from your immersion content with a program like **[ASBplayer](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/asbplayer-language-learni/hkledmpjpaehamkiehglnbelcpdflcab?hl=en)** or [Migaku](https://migaku.com/). ([Click here](https://youtu.be/KxLRp1yd8Ro?si=cDGjOWdTygdl5ZpU) to watch my sentence mining tutorial with ASBplayer.)\n\n**[Learn Fundamental Spanish Vocabulary](https://refold.la/store/fundamental-vocabulary-to-learn-spanish/)**\n100 days of new, useful vocabulary to help you learn Spanish. [Get the Deck](https://refold.la/store/fundamental-vocabulary-to-learn-spanish/)\n\nOne thing that I’d change is that I’d _stop_ sentence mining after 2-3,000 cards. Making Anki cards can be _really_ addicting, and it’s easy to make cards till you have 10k or more. But the truth is having that many cards _isn’t_ very useful. There’s a limit to how many words you need to have at the tip of your tongue at every moment, and it’s better to focus on the most common words you encounter often.\n\n## Discover Tons of Content for Spanish Learning\n\n![The best way to learn Spanish is with interesting content! ](/api/blog-images/learning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--8.-Crowdsource-docs-1024x372.png.webp)\n\nAnother thing that I’d change is that I’d utilize the Refold Crowdsource Doc to find immersion content.\n\nUnfortunately, it wasn’t around when I first started learning Spanish, but it would have saved me _so much time_ on my hunt for engaging Spanish content.\n\nThis doc has hundreds of materials for Spanish learners, from YouTube channels and playlists to TV shows, books, and even video games. [Click here to check it out](https://refold.link/spanish).\n\n## Read Early and Often to Learn Spanish\n\n![](/api/blog-images/learning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--9.-Books.jpg.webp)\n\nLet’s talk about learning Spanish with reading. I’ve made **[videos in the past](https://youtu.be/9KlwmHXsXhQ?si=-dailCYYX6UjD0Uh)** talking about my reading in Spanish. I think it’s the other key reason why I’ve gotten so far in a relatively short time. I’ve read millions of words, and that number is only going up!\n\nI would start reading books pretty early, much like I’ve done in Czech. Specifically, I’d use Lute to do my reading. The ability to save all the words I read and access quick lookups is so valuable.\n\nI’d actually use all the tips I gave in my recent video on [reading early](https://youtu.be/ejdXVBq_txg). You can go wat
44ch that video for a more in-depth review, but in short:\n\n- I’d start with graded readers.\n- I’d read books I already knew well.\n- I’d listen along with the audiobooks to help keep speed.\n- I’d read in Lute to save new words and make look-ups easier.\n\n## Jump Into Crosstalk\n\n![](/api/blog-images/learning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--10.-Crosstalk.png.webp)\n\nThis is the final input-related thing that I’d change. I’d get into crosstalk _much_ earlier and spend as much time as possible doing it.\n\nCrosstalk is when you find a native speaker of the language you want to learn that is also learning your language! Then, you have a conversation with them, and you both speak your native language.\n\nFor example, in my case, I’d speak completely in English while my conversation partner speaks only in Spanish.\n\nI’d try to find people around my level (which would be super basic), and I’d have simple conversations with them using some kind of visual aid (like a tablet) so I could draw out the meanings of words that are difficult for them to understand.\n\nIf you want to learn how to start crosstalk, I’ve got a video about that, too. [Click here to watch it](https://youtu.be/sQwOxZWj-Vw)!\n\n## Wait to Practice Speaking in Spanish\n\n![](/api/blog-images/learning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--11.-Tape-mouth.png.webp)\n\nI waited about a year to practice speaking in Spanish, and I don’t regret that one bit. Speaking was too frustrating in the early stages of learning the Spanish language, and I couldn’t comfortably fit it into my schedule.\n\nI would absolutely wait to speak again. There is so much you can do with just crosstalk that I don’t see the need to output.\n\n## Practice Speaking in Spanish Intentionally\n\n![Speaking is optional when learning the Spanish language!](/api/blog-images/learning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--12.-Correct-mistakes.jpg.webp)\n\nThis is something else that I’d change. When I first started learning the Spanish language, I took a brute-force approach and just used the language, letting my mistakes slowly fix themselves. However, I think I could have done this way better.\n\nOne of my main weaknesses in Spanish is the formal use of the language. I don’t know the rules of writing or grammar or spelling. This doesn’t really affect my ability to communicate, but it does limit some of the things that I can do.\n\nI struggled a lot and felt unnatural for a long time, and I don’t think I would have gotten over it without moving to a Spanish-speaking country. That’s not great since it’s not an option for many learners. But it didn’t have to be that way!\n\nInstead, if I could start over again, I’d:\n\n- Work with a tutor long-term—focusing on writing and orthography.\n- Analyze my mistakes when speaking and writing.\n- Write formally in Spanish, focusing on sharing complex ideas in clear ways.\n- Record videos in Spanish to practice my script-writing skills and ability to explain a wide variety of topics.\n\n## I Hope This Helps!\n\nThat about covers how I’d re-learn Spanish if I ever had amnesia that only affected my ability in the language!\n\nTo sum it up, I’d:\n\n- Focus on the fundamentals by learning common vocabulary and grammar patterns.\n- Watch and read _tons_ of content in Spanish—especially with Dreaming Spanish!\n- Use Anki to study common vocabulary and sentence-mining words from media.\n- Chat with native speakers using crosstalk.\n- Wait to speak Spanish until I could effortlessly understand Spanish.\n- Practice writing and speaking _intentionally_ with a tutor by analyzing mistakes and correcting errors.\n\nOne last thing…\n\nIf you’re learning Spanish, you should join our official Refold Spanish Discord community! I haven’t seen a more helpful bunch of learners. It’s the best place on the internet to meet other learners, make friends, and chat about all things learning Spanish! **[Click here to join](https://refold.link/join-spanish)**. We’d love to see you there!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nOne of the best ways to learn a language is through **[language immersion](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-learn-a-language/).** This method means consuming content in your target language—whether it’s listening, reading, or watching. The idea is that with enough exposure and active interaction, your brain will start to pick up the language _naturally_. It works in a similar way to how we learned our native language as children.\n\n## The Reality of Learning a Language as an Adult\n\n![This is how it looks trying to do language immersion while avoiding other chores.](/api/blog-images/tips-language-immersion-while-busy--multitasking-immersion.avif)\n\nHowever… _in reality_, we are not children anymore. While there are perks to learning a language as an adult (I can spend my own money!), **many people feel like they don’t have enough time.**\n\nI’m busy, too. I get it. It’s hard for me to find time to just sit down and learn. I’m a homeschool mom, I work, I exercise, and I taxi my daughter to all her activities. Plus, I’m always battling a mountain of laundry that never… seems… to… disappear.\n\n![Attempting to do laundry while all I want is just to learn my language.](/api/blog-images/tips-language-immersion-while-busy--laundry-mountain.avif)\n_Me attempting to conquer Laundry Mountain. 🧗‍♀️_\n\nYet, somehow, I still manage to fit in Spanish immersion almost every day. How? I pair Spanish with activities I’m _already_ doing! Here are some language learning tips to help you add immersion learning into your busy life.\n\n## 10 Easy Ways to Sneak Immersion Language Learning Into Your Day\n\n## 1. With Your Morning Coffee\n\nUse this time to read the news in your target language or review flashcards on apps like Anki. _(It’s either that or scroll TikTok…so I choose language time instead!)_\n\n![Drinking my morning coffee while doing some reading in my target language.](/api/blog-images/tips-language-immersion-while-busy--coffee-reading.gif)\n\n## 2. While Doing Chores\n\nListen to podcasts or audiobooks in the target language while washing dishes or folding laundry. _(It’s so good, you’ll want to do more chores just to keep listening!)_\n\n## 3. While Exercising\n\nWork out your body _and_ your mind by getting some immersion language learning while exercising.\n\n![Doing immersion learning by listening to my favorite language podcast while exercising.](/api/blog-images/tips-language-immersion-while-busy--exercise-listening.webp)\n\n## 4. Whenever You’re Curious\n\nWhenever you’re curious and want to search for information, use your target language on Google or Wikipedia.\n\n## 5. While Driving\n\nSwap the radio _(and those annoying commercials)_ for audiobooks or podcasts during your commute.\n\n## 6. Waiting at the Doctor’s Office\n\nWaiting can be frustrating, but you can make it fun by turning that time into immersion learning time! _(My favorite way to do it is to download Spanish books onto my Kindle AND the Kindle app on my phone…that way, I never forget.)_\n\n## 7. In the Shower\n\nReplace your usual playlist with music in your target language and sing _(and howl loudly)_ along as part of your routine.\n\n![Singing my favorite songs in my target language while I take a shower.](/api/blog-images/tips-language-immersion-while-busy--showering-singing.webp)\n\n## 8. While Waiting for Your Child\n\nIf you’re sitting through ballet or sports practice, use that time to read a book or listen to a podcast in your target language.\n\n![Waiting for my kid while doing some language immersion.](/api/blog-images/tips-language-immersion-while-busy--ballet-waiting.gif)\n\n## 9. Unwinding in Bed\n\nIf reading a book is your favorite way to end the day and power down your brain, you might as well read it in your target language!\n\n## 10. White Noise Before Sleep\n\nIf you are like me and need some noise to fall asleep to, opt for an audiobook or podcast in your target language to help lull you to sleep.\n\n![Falling asleep to an audiobook in my target language.](/api/blog-images/tips-language-immersion-while-busy--sleeping-listening.webp)\n\n## Things to Keep in Mind for a Successful Immersion Learning Routine\n\nThese tips for learning a new language can help a lot. However, it’s important to remember that immersion learning, _like any method_, has its own challenges. Before you jump in, let me share a few confessions from my own experience. The
44se insights might help you manage your expectations and get the most out of these strategies.\n\n1. **You don’t need to do ALL these Language Immersion activities every day.**\n   I need some quiet time, _and you probably also do_, so I’ll usually pair Spanish with one or two of these activities—that alone can make a _big_ difference.\n2. **It’s easier to do these activities when you’re intermediate-advanced, but you can still use them as a beginner!**\n   If you’re not able to rely heavily on audiobooks and podcasts yet, you can swap new content for review content! Try re-listening to books or re-watching videos in the background. Or use a hands-free grammar-focused learning language podcast, like Language Transfer, to [prime](https://youtu.be/4fXmSlt-zdg) the language you will properly acquire through immersion later. (I’ve done ALL of these, by the way!)\n3. **To make progress, you still need to actively interact with the language.**\n   These activities are a great way to increase the time you spend with the language with freeflow immersion. However, you still need to have dedicated time for [interactive immersion](https://youtu.be/F3l8o2ltSDk) where you can look words up and give the language 100% of your focus.\n4. **Sneaking language immersion time into your day requires preparation.**\n   The only reason I have Spanish books, podcasts, and audiobooks always ready is because I prepared them. But don’t worry, it’s easy! On a free weekend, take an hour to download on all your devices: 2-3 entire books, lots of podcasts and an audiobook or two. Want to download a few YouTube videos as well? You can!\n\n## Small Steps, Big Wins\n\n![Small steps in your immersion learning will eventually turn into big steps towards your fluency goals.](/api/blog-images/tips-language-immersion-while-busy--small-steps.avif)\n\nThere are many moments throughout the day to immerse yourself in the language. **The key is consistency, not perfection.** Every little bit helps.\n\nIf you adopt these small, steady habits, you’ll be amazed at your progress. Stay patient, keep going, and soon enough, you’ll see just how far you’ve come on your language journey!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## You know more Korean words than you think you do\n\n![](/api/blog-images/konglish-demystified--d0e6e552-7063-11ef-b323-4e8159c9eff9-1024x570.avif)\n\nEveryone is aware that Korean is a pretty distant language to English. After all, the two languages developed for hundreds of years on practically opposite sides of Eurasia. So, it may surprise you to find out just how many words in Korean you _already know_.\n\nIntroducing “Konglish”—or Korean English. English is _the_ world language. Even if people say they don’t know any English, _everyone_ knows some of it. English is the language of the internet and Hollywood.\n\nAs a result, English has seeped into the world’s languages. The new vocabulary isn’t _just_ English anymore, it’s adapted, made easier to say in foreign mouths, changed to suit the local palate, a fusion cuisine, like a bibimbap burrito in California.\n\n![Going from English to Korean with Konglish is like a bibimbap burrito.](/api/blog-images/konglish-demystified--bibimbap-burrito-1-768x1024.jpeg.webp)\n\nWith this guide, it’s important to recognize that although many words are loaned into Korean, the pronunciation and meaning are often slightly different and more restricted in “Konglish” (English words used in Korean). The purpose of this guide is just to prime you to start noticing these patterns in Korean media. Remember, the goal is familiarization not memorization—there is no need to memorize this entire list.\n\nContinue reading to learn how Koreans have adapted English into their language and made it their own!\n\n## English to Korean Sound Changes\n\nThe first set of English words in Korean that we’ll be introducing to you, are ones that are set apart by mere sound changes. Just like an American may heavily nativize his French words when trying to sound _haute couture,_ a Korean will Koreanize the sounds in English that are hard for them to make.\n\n### /f/ (English) ↔ /p^h/ \u003cㅍ\u003e (Korean)\n\nKorean famously doesn’t have an /f/ sound as in “father”. That doesn’t stop Koreans from borrowing English words that start with “f”, though. Instead, they have various tactics for Koreanizing the /f/ sound. The first is to turn it into a /p^h/ sound, or in plain English, the sound of “p” in “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” Here are some examples:\n\n| English  | Korean   | Romanized Korean |\n| -------- | -------- | ---------------- |\n| office   | 오피스   | opiseu           |\n| self     | 셀프     | selpeu           |\n| fighting | 파이팅   | paiting          |\n| ferry    | 페리     | peli             |\n| festival | 페스티벌 | peseutibeol      |\n| buffet   | 뷔페     | bwipe            |\n\n### /f/ (English) ↔ /h/ \u003cㅎ\u003e (Korean)\n\nNow, you’ll notice we did mention that Korean has various tactics for Koreanizing that pesky letter “f”. The letter “f” is sometimes borrowed into Korean as the /h/ sound, like in the names **H**arold and **H**oward.\n\n| English    | Korean   | Romanized Korean |\n| ---------- | -------- | ---------------- |\n| foil       | 호일     | hoil             |\n| fighting   | 화이팅   | hwaiting         |\n| frying pan | 후라이팬 | hulaipaen        |\n\n### /z/ (English) ↔ /d͡ʑ/ \u003cㅈ\u003e, \u003cㅊ\u003e or \u003cㅉ\u003e (Korean)\n\nKorean doesn’t have a “z” sound like in the word “buzz”. Konglish uses something approaching the “j” sound like in the word “judge” to compensate for this.\n\n| English | Korean | Romanized Korean |\n| ------- | ------ | ---------------- |\n| cheese  | 치즈   | chijeu           |\n| pizza   | 피자   | pija             |\n| jazz    | 재즈   | jaejeu           |\n| zero    | 제로   | jelo             |\n| zipper  | 지퍼   | jipeo            |\n\n### /v/ (English) ↔ /p/ \u003c ㅂ \u003e(Korean)\n\nThis sound change is a bit less obvious to English speakers. Since Korean doesn’t have the /v/ sound like in “very” they replace it with something similar to a “b” sound. The sound is really a /p/ sound like in the word “spike”, but a “b” sound is probably closer to what your ears will hear it as.\n\n| English    | Korean     | Romanized Korean |\n| ---------- | ---------- | ---------------- |\n| villa      | 빌라       | billa            |\n| navigation | 내비게이션 | naebigeisyeon    |\n| drive      | 드라이브   | deulaibeu        |\n| veranda    | 베란다     | belanda          |\n\n### /ɜ(r)/, /ʌ/, and /ə/ (English) ↔ /ʌ/ \u003cㅓ\u003e (Korean)\n\nThese are three separate sounds that get merged to a single “eo” or “uh” sound in Korean. The “er” sound like in “nurse”, the “uh” sound like in English “cut” or “strut”, and the schwa or “reduced sound”.\n\n| English    | Korean   | Romanized Korean |\n| ---------- | -------- | ---------------- |\n| service    | 서비스   | seobiseu         |\n| burger     | 버거     | beogeo           |\n| terminal   | 터미널   | teomineol        |\n| front      | 프런트   | peureonteu       |\n| bus        | 버스     | beoseu           |\n| sunglasses | 선글라스 | seongeullaseu    |\n| letter     | 레터     | leteo            |\n| center     | 센터     | senteo           |\n\n## Korean words shortened from English words\n\nWords in Konglish are taken from English words and shortened and often recombined to create new words, such as “sel-ka” from “self-camera” meaning “selfie”.\n\n| English           | Korean   | Romanized Korean | Definition                                                                               |\n| ----------------- | -------- | ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| sel(f) + ca(mera) | 셀카     | selka            | selfie                                                                                   |\n| office + hotel    | 오피스텔 | opiseutel        | officetel — a multi-purpose building in Korea with both residential and commercial units |\n| digital + camera  | 디카     | dika             | digital camera                                                                           |\n| (announce)ment    | 멘트     | menteu           | announcement                                                                             |\n| mu(sic)+vi(deo)   | 뮤비     | myubi            | music video                                                                              |\n\n## Blends of Korean and English elements\n\nRemember that bibimbap burrito we talked about earlier? This following batch of words is fusion words, made up of a Korean element and an English element. They come together to create hip new fusion words that are cooler than the sum of their parts.\n\n| English Word | Korean Word      | New Word  | Romanized Korean | Definition                |\n| ------------ | ---------------- | --------- | ---------------- | ------------------------- |\n| no           | 재미 (fun)       | 노잼      | nojaem           | boring                    |\n| chicken      | 맥주 (beer)      | 치맥      | chimaeg          | fried chicken and beer    |\n| team         | 장 (leader)      | 팀장      | timjang          | team leader               |\n| health       | 장 (venue)       | 헬스장    | helseujang       | health club, gym          |\n| belt         | 안전 (safety)    | 안전벨트  | anjeonbelteu     | seat belt                 |\n| cutter       | 칼 (knife)       | 커터칼    | keoteokal        | box cutter                |\n| tip          | 꿀 (honey)       | 꿀팁      | kkultib          | hot tip (lit. honey tip)  |\n| gag          | 아저씨 (uncle)   | 아재 개그 | ajae gaegeu      | dad joke 
44(lit. uncle gag) |\n| live         | 방송 (broadcast) | 라방      |                  | live stream               |\n\n## English words with new meanings\n\nCongratulations on making it this far! This is the final batch of Konglish words you’ll be learning. These are words that come from English, but have totally new meanings in Korean. The fancy pants term for this is “[pseudo-anglicism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudo-anglicism)” (you can read more about it on Wikipedia). These words are deceptive, because at first glance you may think they mean something totally different than how Koreans actually use them.\n\n| English      | Konglish  | Romanized Konglish | New Meaning                         |\n| ------------ | --------- | ------------------ | ----------------------------------- |\n| self         | 셀프      | selpeu             | self service                        |\n| pop song     | 팝송      | pabsong            | English language pop music          |\n| sense        | 센스      | senseu             | wit, tact                           |\n| soul food    | 소울 푸드 | soul pudeu         | comfort food                        |\n| service      | 서비스    | seobiseu           | free, on the house                  |\n| overeat      | 오바이트  | obaiteu            | vomiting                            |\n| villa        | 빌라      | billa              | a small condominium                 |\n| ribbon       | 리본      | libon              | a bow                               |\n| meeting      | 미팅      | miting             | a group blind date                  |\n| handphone    | 핸드폰    | haendeupon         | a cellphone, a mobile phone         |\n| kickboard    | 킥보드    | kigbodeu           | a scooter                           |\n| eye shopping | 아이 쇼핑 | ai syoping         | window shopping                     |\n| howling      | 하울링    | haulling           | an echo or feedback in a voice chat |\n| man-to-man   | 맨투맨    | maentumaen         | a sweatshirt                        |\n| knit         | 니트      | niteu              | a jumper, a sweater                 |\n| multi-tap    | 멀티탭    | meoltitaeb         | an extension cord                   |\n| consent      | 콘센트    | konsenteu          | an electrical outlet                |\n\n## You’re a Konglish pro!\n\nSee, I told you that you already know more Korean than you thought you did! This guide was just a primer to jump start your Korean learning, but there are many more Konglish words out there. You are now armed with the tools to start recognizing English words in Korean and start understanding your favorite K-pop songs.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nHey there, immersion learners! Bree here with a tip that will _seriously_ improve how you use YouTube for language learning. How? By teaching you how to make a YouTube Language Learning account.\n\n📺*Prefer to watch a video? [Click here](https://youtu.be/qDvm4IoPgTI) to watch this tutorial on YouTube.*\n\n## YouTube is an Amazing Language Immersion Tool\n\n![](/api/blog-images/youtube-language-learning-account--1.-Toolkit.webp)\n\nYouTube is overflowing with content from all over the world! It’s one of the _best_ places for language immersion without _actually_ moving to another country. From podcasts to vlogs, Let’s Plays, and educational videos—there’s something for everyone in almost every language!\n\n## The Problem With YouTube for Immersion Learning\n\nThe problem with YouTube for immersion learning is that _most_ people already have YouTube accounts set up! So when you try to use your main YouTube account for immersion learning, YouTube won’t give you content in your new language because it _already_ knows _who_ you are and _what_ _language_ you speak!\n\nThe algorithm won’t suddenly shift overnight just because you have decided to learn a new language.\n\nThe best way to train the algorithm to give you content in your new language is to start over with a new profile _just_ for immersion. But what if you pay for YouTube Premium? Will you need to pay for _two_ accounts?\n\nNo!\n\n## Creating a New Channel: The Solution to Your YouTube Language Learning Issues\n\nThere’s an easy trick to setting up a brand-new YouTube language learning profile without creating a completely separate account!\n\nInstead of creating a new account with a separate email, you’ll set up a **new channel** on YouTube.\n\nHere’s why:\n\n- You can log in to multiple profiles with a single email sign-on.\n- Switching between profiles is quick and painless.\n- If you purchase YouTube Premium, it applies to each channel associated with the main email.\n- You can change the channel’s language and country without affecting your “main” YouTube account!\n\nLuckily, creating a new channel on YouTube is _really_ easy. Here’s how it works…\n\n## How To Create a Language Learning YouTube Account\n\n1. Login to your YouTube account on your computer.\n\n2. Click your profile icon in the upper right-hand corner and click “Switch Account.”\n\n![](/api/blog-images/youtube-language-learning-account--2.-Switch-Account-1024x304.jpg.webp)\n\n3. Click “View all channels.”\n\n![](/api/blog-images/youtube-language-learning-account--3.-View-All-Channels.png.webp)\n\n4. Click “Create a channel.”\n\n5. Name your channel, agree to the terms, and then click “Create.”\n\n![](/api/blog-images/youtube-language-learning-account--4.-Channel-name-1024x643.png.webp)\n\n6. Verify your account by following the prompts.\n\n7. Congratulations! You created a new immersion account!\n\n**Note**: Switching back and forth between your native language and immersion language account is easy! Just click your profile icon in the upper right-hand corner and click “Switch Account.”\n\n![](/api/blog-images/youtube-language-learning-account--5.-Switch-Acct-2.png.webp)\n\n## How to Set Up Your YouTube Immersion Account\n\nNow that you have a shiny new account, it’s time to train it to show you content in your new language! Here’s how:\n\n1. **Change the location of the account.** Click on your profile icon, select “location,” and choose a country that speaks your target language from the dropdown list.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/youtube-language-learning-account--6.-Change-country.png.webp)\n\n2. **Change the account language.** Click your profile icon, select language, then select the language you are learning from the drop-down list.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/youtube-language-learning-account--7.-Change-language.png.webp)\n\n**Now everything should be in the language you’re learning!** If a video in your native language sneaks into your recommendations, you can tell YouTube that you’re not interested in it by hovering over the video in your feed, clicking the three little dots, and selecting “Not Interested.”\n\n![](/api/blog-images/youtube-language-learning-account--8.-Not-intersted.png.webp)\n\n## A Few More Tips…\n\nIf you want to train the new algorithm to show you _interesting_ content in your new language, you’ll need to search for content you enjoy in that language! Translate a few search terms with Google or ChatGPT to help you find content in your new language!\n\nFor example, if you’re learning Spanish and you _love_ travel videos, look up the word for “travel” in Spanish (viajar) and search for it on YouTube!\n\nThere are a few more ways you can train your account! One of our favorites is something we call “seeder playlists.” These are playlists filled with content in your target language that you can use to help quickly train the algorithm. To learn more about how to use them (or even create your own), [click here](https://youtu.be/eh6IstF6kTw?si=T8iR12zMoBQBK1DW)!\n\n## That’s it For Today!\n\nI hope you found this helpful! What’s your favorite language tip, trick, or hack that has helped you on your language journey? Reply in the comments and let me know! I’d love to learn about what you found helpful so we can try it out and share it with the community!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## The Best Language Learning Apps\n\nLearning a language in the modern era is amazing. We have the best language learning apps available to us to make our lives easier! From flashcards, to grammar apps, to just accessing a large amount of native media to enjoy, there’s never been a better time to learn a language, especially if you own a computer.\n\nBut what if you prefer mobile devices or don’t have access to a computer? Are you just out of luck?\n\n**No!** There are tons of amazing language learning apps on mobile devices!\n\nUnlike most blogs that just list a bunch of mobile games disguised as learning tools, this post will focus on the best language learning apps, for immersion learners.\n\nIt’s important to know that there is no _single_ app that will make you fluent. True fluency comes from spending a lot of time listening to and reading the language. However, apps are a great way to get started.\n\n![Balancing the best language learning apps with immersion is the best way to make progress on your language journey.](/api/blog-images/the-best-language-learning-apps--meme.jpg.webp)\n\n## Do Language Learning Apps Work?\n\nEveryone wants to know, do language learning apps work? Yes, they work, but they aren’t enough to teach you a language all on your own. They’re fine supplements to a larger study plan, and they can help fill in the gaps in things like vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, etc.\n\nThe [Refold method](https://refold.la/blog/how-to-learn-a-language/) of language learning is a holistic approach that combines the use of tools like apps, with the power of immersion. Apps can help you reach fluency, but they’re supplements and not the bread and butter of a healthy, well-balanced study plan.\n\n## The Best Language Apps for Learning Vocabulary\n\n### Anki\n\n- Link — [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ankimobile-flashcards/id373493387), [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ichi2.anki)\n- What does it do? — Intelligent multimedia flashcards.\n- What is it good for? — Learning vocabulary.\n- Pros — Cross platform, large library of premade decks, lots of plug-ins and customization.\n- Cons — Requires customization, choosing your own deck(s) and has a steep learning curve.\n- Cost — Free (on all devices except iOS) one time payment of $25 on iOS\n\nIf you’re diving into a new language and need a trusty sidekick for learning vocabulary, [Anki](https://apps.ankiweb.net/) is your go-to app. Anki uses something called [spaced repetition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced_repetition_system) to help you remember vocab just when you’re about to forget it.\n\nAnki is also _highly_ customizable, which is a pro and a con. Whether you learn best with text, images, or even videos, you can tailor your flashcards to suit your style. Plus, you can download [pre-made decks](https://ankiweb.net/shared/decks) or create your own.\n\nYou can use Anki on pretty much any device—Windows, macOS, Linux, or mobile—and your data syncs up perfectly across all platforms. Most of the app is totally free, except for the iOS version, which is a one-time $25 fee for lifetime access. With all these perks, Anki is definitely one of the best language learning apps out there.\n\n![Anki is one of our favorite language learning apps for learning vocabulary!](/api/blog-images/the-best-language-learning-apps--anki.png.webp)\n\n[Check out our premium Anki decks!](https://refold.la/category/decks/)\n\n### Clozemaster\n\n- Link — [Clozemaster](https://www.clozemaster.com/)\n- What does it do? — Helps you learn vocabulary in context in a fun and gamified way.\n- What is it good for? — Learning vocabulary.\n- Pros — Cross-platform, large library of sentences.\n- Cons — Requires internet to use, quality is not consistent among languages\n- Cost — Free for basics, $70/year for premium\n\nClozemaster is a gamified language learning app that makes learning feel engaging and addictive. It uses the [cloze deleti
44on](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloze_test) method where you read a sentence and fill in the blank with the correct answer. This method is good for improving your reading, comprehension, and active recall skills.\n\nWhat sets Clozemaster apart from other language learning apps is that it supports tons of languages (even lesser common ones).\n\nAs you progress in the language of your choice, you earn points and move up the ranks, turning language learning into a fun and competitive game.\n\nThe base free version is good enough for most people as a side tool, but you can pay $69.99 a year to unlock more total flashcards daily and special decks for grammar drilling.\n\n![Clozemaster is a great language learning app that gamifies learning vocabulary.](/api/blog-images/the-best-language-learning-apps--cloze.png.webp)\n\n[Read more about Clozemaster here](https://refold.la/blog/srs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster/)\n\n## The Best Language Learning Apps for Watching\n\n### LingoPie\n\n- Link — [Lingopie](https://learn.lingopie.com/refold)\n- What does it do? — Lets you look up words and videos on all devices.\n- What is it good for? — Interactive watching on the go.\n- Pros — Cheaper than a Netflix subscription, available on computer and mobile.\n- Cons — The library has a lot of B tier movies and soap operas, which might actually be a pro if you like that sort of thing\n- Cost — $71.88 a year\n\n[Lingopie](https://learn.lingopie.com/refold) is an innovative app that turns binge-watching into a language learning session. Imagine picking up Spanish or French while watching TV shows and movies. Sounds fun, right?\n\nWhat makes Lingopie great is that it offers a seamless watching and look up experience, so there’s no need to pause every few seconds to switch apps to look things up! Everything you need is included in just ONE app!\n\nThe best part? It’s pretty affordable. For about $6 a month, you get full access to all their content. That’s less than what many of us spend on coffee in a week!\n\n![](/api/blog-images/the-best-language-learning-apps--lingopie-1024x1024.jpg.webp)\n\n### YouTube\n\n- Link — [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/)\n- What does it do? — Plays videos in almost any language from almost anywhere.\n- What is it good for? — Almost everything, watching, reading, listening.\n- Pros — Free and pre-installed on most devices!\n- Cons — None, except maybe that finding good content isn’t easy!\n- Cost — Free\n\nWhile YouTube isn’t a traditional language learning app, it hosts tons of content to help you on your language journey—regardless of the language you’re learning!\n\nFrom tutorials to podcasts, language lessons, entertaining content, and more, it’s the perfect place to immerse in a new language (without having to move to a new country)! All of these reasons position YouTube as one of the BEST language learning apps available today.\n\nBut note, doing the initial set up on a mobile device is really annoying. We recommend you do it on a computer first, then login on your phone. The process is easy and takes only a few minutes. Watch the video below for a complete step-by-step tutorial.\n\n## The Best Apps for Reading\n\n### LingQ\n\n- Link — [LingQ](https://refold.link/LingQ)\n- What does it do? — Gamified interactive reading, look up words, keep track of vocabulary, and community challenges.\n- What is it good for? — Interactive reading (reading with lookups) on the go.\n- Pros — Cross platform, large library of content.\n- Cons — Pricey for what it offers.\n- Cost — $119.99 a year, or $15 if you choose the monthly option.\n\nThis app is a versatile language learning platform that caters to readers. LingQ offers a vast library of books and podcasts, as well as the unique feature of importing your own e-books directly into the app. Its automatic dictionaries and AI-assisted definitions allow you to easily look up words while you’re reading without having to switch to another app.\n\nAdditionally, its gamification elements, like earning streaks, virtual currency, and leaderboards, add an element of fun and competition to the learning process.\n\nLingQ costs about $119.99 per year, breaking down to roughly $12 a month, or $15 if you opt for a monthly subscription.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/the-best-language-learning-apps--lingq.png.webp)\n\n### Kindle App – The best e-reader for language learning\n\n- Link — [Kindle App](https://amzn.to/47b4fjk)\n- What does it do? — An eReader app that turns any smart device into an e-reader.\n- What is it good for? — Interactive reading (getting definitions).\n- Pros — Easy to buy and read books\n- Cons — Can easily spend hundreds on new books!\n- Cost — The app is free to download, but books cost money.\n\nThe Kindle app is another great choice for readers! Instead of paying a monthly subscription fee, you just buy the books you want to read.\n\nThe Kindle store has a vast library of books in numerous languages! The best part? [You can upload your own content to the Kindle app!](https://amzn.to/3XvNFYd)\n\nOne of our favorite features of the Kindle app is the built-in dictionary and translation feature. Just tap and hold the word for a quick definition or translation without ever leaving the page. It’s super convenient and helps keep the flow of your reading.\n\nPlus, adjusting font size and background color makes reading in your target language easier on the eyes. So, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, the Kindle app is a fantastic tool in your language learning tool kit.\n\n![Kindle is one of the best free language learning apps for reading.](/api/blog-images/the-best-language-learning-apps--image-576x1024.jpg.webp)\n\n## The Best Language Learning App for Speaking\n\n### iTalki\n\n- Link — [iTalki](https://www.italki.com/en/i/ref/eHccHH?hl=en\u0026utm_medium=user_referral\u0026utm_source=copylink_share)\n- What does it do? — Provides a platform for hiring tutors and finding conversation partners.\n- What is it good for? — Practicing speaking the language.\n- Pros — Cross platform, large number of professional and community tutors.\n- Cons — Tutors can be pricey!\n- Cost — Variable depending on the tutor\n\niTalki is one of the best language learning apps to practice your conversation skills, offering a fun approach to mastering new languages.\n\nThis language app is _not_ a language school. Instead, it is a platform (like a marketplace) that connects you with thousands of tutors in hundreds of languages. Each tutor has a video introduction and a description of what sort of lessons they provide, so you can choose someone who matches your goals.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/the-best-language-learning-apps--image-1-1024x630.png.webp)\n\n## The Best App for Listening\n\n### Pocketcasts\n\n- Link — [Pocketcasts](https://pocketcasts.com/)\n- What does it do? — Podcast listening app with a lot of customization.\n- What is it good for? — Practicing listening to the language.\n- Pros — Cross platform, highly customizable.\n- Cons — You may have to adjust to a new podcast app.\n- Cost — Free\n\nPocketcasts is a podcast app that has many little features and customizations that are great quality-of-life enhancers for language learners, including:\n\n- Set specific settings per podcast\n- Change the volume of voices so they’re clearer\n- Remove silence and dead time so you listen to more words per minute\n- Speed up or slow down the speed of the podcast\n- Set the content region to see podcasts popular in different c
44ountries or regions\n\nLearn more about pocket casts from the video below:\n\n## I hope this helps!\n\nWith the right apps, your mobile device can make learning a new language as convenient as it is fun! Language learning apps can be powerful tools in your language learning journey, and they’re super convenient to use. You now have the short-list of some of the best apps for language learning, so get out there and get to it!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nSetting clear goals is one of the most important steps in mastering a new skill. Whether you’re just starting or have been learning for years, understanding your language learning goals and breaking them down into actionable steps can definitely transform your progress. Often, however, you may feel that despite your best efforts, you’re not making any real progress— or at least that’s how it _feels_. In this blog post, we’ll explore the big problem that most language learners don’t even know they’re suffering from, offer solutions, and help you **finally achieve your goals**.\n\n## First things first: What are your language learning goals?\n\nPicture this. You’re a beginner in your target language, and you’ve started watching a TV show. Don’t you wish you could understand at least _some_ of it? That would be so nice, right?\n\nYou learn for weeks and weeks, maybe even months, and _finally_, your language goals start to materialize. You can understand some of a TV show!\n\n![This is you dancing all happy because you finally achieved one of your language learning goals.](/api/blog-images/achieve-language-learning-goals--understanding-tv-in-target-language.gif)\n\nYou’re so happy—\n\n_For a while_.\n\nNext thing you know, you’ve grown used to understanding bits and pieces of the shows you watch. It’s no longer thrilling. Now? You’re eyeing your next target: You want to be able to understand the gist of TV shows. In other words, you want to be able to follow along with the plot. This isn’t a bad goal to have. Who wouldn’t want to understand the plot, right?\n\nUnfortunately, now that you’ve set a new goal, every minute you spend trying to understand the plot and failing causes you to get more and more frustrated. You tell yourself to be patient, as soon as you can follow the plot you’ll never be unsatisfied again.\n\nYou’ll finally be happy when you reach _this_ goal.\n\nReally? Sure.\n\nFor a few days. And then?\n\n_“I’m so sick of missing all these important details! I know the detectives are trying to investigate this guy, but why?! And why are there so many dang words in this language?”_\n\n## The Treadmill of Happiness\n\n![This is what it feels like when you try to achieve your language learning goals with unrealistic expectations.](/api/blog-images/achieve-language-learning-goals--imagen-1024x1017.avif)\n\nWe call this the treadmill of language-learning happiness. With each step you take, you get farther and farther on your language-learning journey, but you’re never any closer to feeling satisfied.\n\nInstead of taking joy in how far you’ve made it and how much you’ve learned, **all you focus on is the next milestone** and a finish line that you never reach.\n\nYou don’t look behind you at how far you’ve come because you’re always focused on future learning goals instead. Your wins and victories only make you happy for a little while, and then they’re forgotten.\n\nCan you relate?\n\n## “Comparison is the thief of joy”\n\nOr maybe you _do_ value your successes, but you can’t help but compare yourself to others around you:\n\n_“Yeah, I guess I did achieve some stuff, but look at Sally over there! She did the same thing in way less time!”_\n\nSo what?! Who cares about what Sally did? Why does it matter so much who achieves their fluency goals faster?\n\n**Language learning is not a race**. One person may dedicate 10 hours a day to studying their language, while another person may [dedicate only one hour](https://youtu.be/6_9okAHKjJk), but in the end they will both reach the same place.\n\nWe guarantee you that when you bust out your fluent foreign language skills in front of your friends, you’re going to get nothing but compliments. And when you tell them it took you years? They aren’t going to immediately dismiss your efforts as “slow” or “bad.” They’re going to be impressed that you made it to fluency at all — something the vast majority of people fail at. _And secretly, they’re probably going to be envious of you too!_\n\n![Everyone being impressed by you finally achieving your fluency goals in your target language.](/api/blog-images/achieve-language-learning-goals--s
44howing-off-fluency.jpg.webp)\n\n## Rethink your language goals\n\nIf you want to enjoy your journey, stop only looking forward to your next goal.\n\nInstead, look backward at how far you’ve come and what you’re capable of _now_. Pat yourself on the back often. Every day that you immerse and put effort into trying to understand another language is another success.\n\nInstead of comparing yourself to others, compare your ability today to **your** ability last month or last year.\n\n## Set smart goals for language learning\n\nAnd maybe most importantly, instead of only having big future-oriented fluency goals, **make it your goal to do the best job you can do, _today_**, to make progress on learning your language.\n\nHaving a clear and consistent daily goal like this can be a great weapon in the fight against dissatisfaction and impatience because it _never_ falls victim to the treadmill of happiness. There is no “next” goal here. It’s just doing your best and giving it your all in every daily language practice. You can even [implement daily habit tracking](https://youtu.be/vQLyFje3Ogs) so you have something concrete to support yourself with.\n\nAnd the result of successfully doing your best day after day? Satisfaction and fluency.\n\n## The choice is yours\n\n![Two different ways you can approach your language journey: \"Focusing on how far you still have to go\" or \"Just doing your best every day.\"](/api/blog-images/achieve-language-learning-goals--imagen.jpg.webp)\n_Who would you rather be?_\n\nThe road to fluency is a long one and you can either arrive at your destination having had a pleasing and satisfactory journey or a journey filled with impatience and [frustration](https://refold.la/blog/streaks-are-meant-to-be-broken-the-dialectic-of-productivity-and-avoiding-burnout/). _The choice is **yours**._\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n![](/api/blog-images/learning-words-in-french--Cognate_Guide1-1024x569.jpg.webp)\n\n## You already know more French words than you think you do\n\nWhen it comes to learning to speak French you need a few things, grammar, a decent accent, but most importantly, you need words! In this post, I’ll be walking you through unlocking the French vocabulary you [already have locked away](https://refold.la/blog/cracking-the-code-how-cognates-can-propel-your-language-fluency/). That’s right, you already know thousands of words in French because you know English!\n\nThe secret to multiplying your vocabulary _instantly_ lies within the power of something called “cognates”. [Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cognate) defines cognates as such; “of a word or morpheme : related by derivation, borrowing, or descent”, this essentially means the words were “born together” or share a common origin, so they have similarities in both languages.\n\n## Understanding French-English Cognates\n\nEnglish is a Germanic language, meaning its closest blood relatives are other Germanic languages such as German and Norwegian. However, even though English is Germanic, 29% of its words are borrowed from French and another 29% are derived from Latin, the parent language of French!\n\n![A huge number of English words are just French in disguise!](/api/blog-images/learning-words-in-french--cognates-1024x1022.png.webp)\n_A huge number of English words are just French in disguise!_\n\nWhy? Because French was once the main language of the government and the upper echelons of English society ([click here for the full story](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influence_of_French_on_English), [it’s an interesting read](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influence_of_French_on_English)). This dominance of French over English left an extraordinary influence on English. Now it is important to note, that although there are more French words than Germanic words in English, they are not always the most commonly used words. French words tend to be “fancier” than English words, you’ll encounter them heavily in formal settings.\n\n## Clear French Words\n\nThe following list shows clear changes between French and English words. By getting a feel for the patterns, you’ll be able to expand your French vocab without much effort. It is important to note that just because French and English words _look_ the same, they don’t always _sound_ the same.\n\nClick the play button to hear the French word pronounced.\n\n### -tion (English) ↔ -tion (French)\n\n- nation (English)\n- [nation](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Fr-nation.ogg) (French)\n\n- information (English)\n- [information](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Fr-information.ogg) (French)\n\n### -ly (English) **↔** -ment (French)\n\n- naturally (English)\n- [naturellement](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Fr-naturellement.ogg) (French)\n\n- generally (English)\n- [généralement](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Fr-g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ralement.ogg) (French)\n\n### -al (English) ↔ -al (French)\n\n- original (English)\n- [original](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Fr-original.ogg) (French)\n\n- musical (English)\n- [musical](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Fr-musical.ogg) (French)\n\n### -ity (English) ↔ -ité (French)\n\n- activity (English)\n- [activité](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Fr-activit%C3%A9.ogg) (French)\n\n- reality (English)\n- [réalité](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Fr-r%C3%A9alit%C3%A9.ogg) (French)\n\n### -ous (English) ↔ -eux (French)\n\n- dangerous (English)\n- [dangereux](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Fr-dangereux.ogg) (French)\n\n- marvelous (English)\n- [merveilleux](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Fr-merveilleux.ogg) (French)\n\n### -ence (English) ↔ -ence (French)\n\n- difference (English)\n- [différence](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Fr-diff%C3%A9rence.ogg) (French)\n\n- experience (English)\n- [expérience](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Fr-exp%C3%A9rience.ogg) (French)\n\n### -ant (English) ↔ -ant (French)\n\n- important (English)\n- [important](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Fr-important.ogg) (French)\n\n- elegant (English)\n- [élégant](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Fr-%C3%A9l%C3%A9gant.ogg) (French)\n\n### -ary (English) ↔ -aire (French)\n\n- necessary (English)\n- [nécessaire](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Fr-n%C3%A9cessaire.ogg) (French)\n\n- revolutionary (English)\n- [révolutionnaire](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/LL-Q150_%28fra%29-WikiLucas00-r%C3%A9volutionnaire.wav) (French)\n\n### -ic (English) ↔ -ique (French)\n\n- automatic (English)\n- [automatique](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Fr-automatique.ogg) (French)\n\n- aeronautic (English)\n- [aéronautique](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Fr-a%C3%A9ronautique.ogg) (French)\n\n### -able (English) ↔ -able (French)\n\n- comfortable (English)\n- [confortable](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Fr-confortable.ogg) (French)\n\n- variable (English)\n- [variable](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/LL-Q150_%28fra%29-GrandCelinien-variable.wav) (French)\n\n### -ent (English) ↔ -ent (French)\n\n- different (English)\n- [différent](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Fr-diff%C3%A9rent.ogg) (French)\n\n- patient (English)\n- [patient](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Fr-patient.ogg) (French)\n\n### -or/-er (English) ↔ -eur (French)\n\nFrench commonly uses the feminine variant of a noun. You may see _-ice_ or -_euse_ instead of **-eur** when dealing with a feminine noun. We’ll cover that a bit later.\n\n- actor (English)\n- [acteur](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Fr-acteur.ogg) (French)\n\n- instructor (English)\n- [instructeur](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/LL-Q150_%28fra%29-Lepticed7-instru
44cteur.wav) (French)\n\n- abandoner (English)\n- [abandonneur](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/LL-Q150_%28fra%29-WikiLucas00-abandonneur.wav) (French)\n\n#### Feminine Variants\n\nThe following pairs are feminine variants of the above words. French commonly employs a slightly different version of a word when the person is female. This is similar to the old-fashioned usage of _-ess_ in English, such as in the following pairs: master-mistress, actor-actress.\n\n- actor (English)\n- [actrice](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/LL-Q150_%28fra%29-Tamahashi-actrice.wav) (French Feminine)\n\n- instructor (English)\n- [instructrice](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/LL-Q150_%28fra%29-Avatea-instructrice.wav) (French Feminine)\n\n## Hard to Notice Changes\n\nUp until now, most of the French words have been very clear and easy to understand, allowing for quick recognition. However, the following words are a bit less obvious, presenting more of a challenge. These words have changes in spelling that make them harder to grasp at first glance.\n\n### s- (English) ↔ -s dropping (French)\n\nThe s is often dropped, and a circumflex ^ may be added to the vowel before the historical s.\n\n- hospital (English)\n- [hôpital](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Fr-h%C3%B4pital.ogg) (French)\n\n- forest (English)\n- [forêt](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Fr-for%C3%AAt.ogg) (French)\n\nOccasionally, the vowel takes ‘ instead of ^. Especially historic e before s.\n\n- school (English)\n- [école](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Fr-%C3%A9cole.ogg) (French)\n\n- screen (English)\n- [écran](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Fr-%C3%A9cran.ogg) (French)\n\n### Vowel Changes\n\nOccasionally, the French words will differ in their vowels. This seems to be most common with “e” and “a” but can happen with other vowels.\n\n- farm (English)\n- [ferme](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Fr-ferme.ogg) (French)\n\n- screen (English)\n- [écran](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Fr-%C3%A9cran.ogg) (French)\n\n### Consonant Changes\n\nSometimes, the French words will also differ in their consonants. This is most common with the hard “c” or /k/ sound in English being pronounced like “sh” /ʃ/, and the /l/ sound being vocalized to /w/ or to a vowel sound in French.\n\n- castle (English)\n- [château](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Fr-ch%C3%A2teau.ogg) (French) _here there are two changes. The /k/ sound is a /ʃ/ and the historical /l/ sound has become a vowel._\n\n- candle (English)\n- [chandelle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Fr-chandelle.ogg) (French)\n\nThis can also happen with words beginning with “w” and “gu”.\n\n- William (English)\n- [Guillaume](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/LL-Q150_%28fra%29-Pamputt-Guillaume.wav) (French)\n\n- wicket (English) as in a cricket arch.\n- [guichet](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Fr-guichet.ogg) (French) as in a cricket arch.\n\n## Conclusion\n\nI hope this guide helped clarify and demystify French words for you. You already know more words in French than you thought you did. Sometimes you just have to squint your eyes and look at them funny, but by harnessing the power of cognates and loan words, you can get to using French faster than you ever thought possible.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nHey there, fellow language learners! If you’re reading this blog, it means that you want to learn how to learn a language on your own. Regardless if you’ve never learned a language before, you’re a seasoned language learner looking for new strategies, or you’ve tried and failed several times to learn a language in the past—you’re in the right place!\n\nIn this blog, we’ll explain how the Refold method for learning languages works and _why_ it’s different from other traditional language methods.\n\n## The Problem with Language Learning\n\nEver wondered how to _actually_ learn a language? Nearly EVERYONE studies a second language as a teen or adult, but the number of people who fluently speak that language well is shockingly low.\n\nHow could that be possible?! Humans are wired to learn language. We’ve been doing it for 150,000 YEARS. It’s literally built into our DNA.\n\nThe reason? **The language learning industry is broken.** The success rate of language learners worldwide is abysmal, and most people _fail_ to learn a language using traditional methods!\n\n## Traditional Language Learning is NOT the Best Way to Learn a Language\n\n![What many people’s language learning experience looked like…](/api/blog-images/how-to-learn-a-language--What-many-peoples-language-learning-experience-looked-like.gif)\n_What many people’s language learning experience looked like…_\n\nThe traditional method of learning is what we call “grammar-translation.” Most people believe that this is the best way to learn a language, even though most people never achieve true fluency with this method.\n\nTraditional learning methods teach you grammar as a way to translate between two languages.\n\nThey think that you can learn a language if you practice translation enough because it will eventually become automatic and instantaneous, and you’ll be fluent.\n\n_In reality, you just end up translating forever._\n\n**Upside**: You can make blazing-fast progress for a few days or weeks and speak pretty quickly. But there is a hard limit to using speaking hacks and memorizing phrases.\n\n**Downside**: Speaking like this creates unnatural language. Other languages aren’t just English but with different pronunciations and word order. It is difficult, or even impossible, for people to reach true fluency with the grammar-translation method.\n\n## What Does Fluency Mean?\n\nWhen people dream of fluency, they imagine speaking a second language as naturally as their first, being able to navigate the language through feeling.\n\nSo, what does fluency mean if you think of it like this? It means you have a “language instinct,” and that’s what we focus on with the Refold method. We want you to use a language without conscious thought. _Grammar-translation will never help you gain an instinct for the language._\n\nDeveloping a language instinct takes a _lot_ of time, even if you’re using the right methods! Another reason people fail is because they rely on motivation.\n\nHowever, the truth is that…\n\n## Motivation is a Scam\n\nMost people think motivation is the key to how to learn a new language by yourself, but learning a language is a long-term goal, and most people fail to recognize that. Many people get the wrong idea by watching polyglot YouTube or Duolingo marketing and think they can learn a language with a bit of focus and minor effort.\n\nMost people end up relying on bursts of motivation for language learning, but these bursts of **motivation don’t last long enough to get learners to fluency.**\n\n![What language learning feels like when your motivation fades…](/api/blog-images/how-to-learn-a-language--What-language-learning-feels-like-when-your-motivation-fades….gif)\n_What language learning feels like when your motivation fades…_\n\nSo, a large part of our method focuses on sustainable habits and processes to ensure you get to fluency, no matter what.\n\n## How to _Actually_ Learn a Language\n\nOk, now that we’ve covered many of the ways that traditional language learning will not work, we’re going to teach you what will! The Refold method is carefully designed to teach you how to _actually_ learn a language and reach your fluency goals!\n\nFirst, if you want to be successful, your goal should be to…\n\n## Building a Language Instinct\n\nHumans are excellent at learning languages; if you think about it, everyone knows how to learn a language! Everyone speaks at least one, without even trying. We pick up the patterns of our native languages as children through observation and interaction. Our brains are pattern-matching MACHINES.\n\nAll we need is exposure to those patterns. Lots and lots of time and repetition lead to excellent pattern recognition, knowledge, _and_ language fluency.\n\nIn order to achieve this instinct, you’ll need lots of something called “input.”\n\n## The Real Way to Learn a Language: Optimal Input\n\nWe learn languages by understanding messages in that language. Understanding the language is called “input” (which is reading/listening or a combination of both).\n\nHowever, you can’t just barrage yourself with the language and hope to learn.\n\n![Input on its own will not teach you a language. You need to utilize it correctly! ](/api/blog-images/how-to-learn-a-language--email-10-throw-book.jpg.webp)\n_If only it were this simple
44!_\n\nYou need what we call “optimal input,” which has a few different parts to it.\n\nOptimal input is:\n\n1. Interesting\n2. Comfortable\n3. Understandable\n\nLet’s dive into each one of these aspects a bit further.\n\n**1. Interesting Immersion Content**\n\nYou must care (at least a little) about the language and what is being said. If you’re totally uninterested in learning, it will be very difficult. No “language” is boring, but the content might be. This is why Refold focuses on helping learners have fun and [find the content that suits them](https://youtu.be/jsmSej05EMk).\n\n**2. Comfortable Environment**\n\nYou also need to be at ease when learning. If you’re stressed or physically uncomfortable (for whatever reason), you are less receptive, and it’ll be harder to learn. It’s important to be free from distractions, have good video/audio quality, and have a nice place to be to maximize your learning ability.\n\n**3. Understandable Content**\n\nAnd finally, input needs to be comprehensible. Not entirely. You only need to understand bits and pieces or individual words. Or even be able to guess what’s happening from actions and visuals.\n\nBut if you’re not understanding _anything_, you’re not learning anything.\n\nOnce you have your content set up, it’s important to manage your expectations and understand that…\n\n## Comprehension Grows with Practice\n\n![How to learn a language with Refold. This graph illustrates how your comprehension in a language improves over time. ](/api/blog-images/how-to-learn-a-language--graph-1024x547.jpg.webp)\n_This graph is for illustration purposes. The hours and understanding level will vary, especially in distant languages._\n\nIn the beginning, you’ll only understand bits and pieces. But don’t worry, if you’re understanding anything, even single words, your brain **is** in the background, learning the patterns of the language.\n\nEventually, your ability will improve to the point where you’re understanding whole sentences. The main idea, or plot, of what’s happening may still elude you.\n\nThen, you’ll reach the point where you understand the main idea, but there will be lots of nuance that you’re still missing.\n\nAnd then, at some point, you’ll be able to understand everything, even the nuance, like a native speaker would.\n\nIt’s easy to get discouraged when even the simplest of things are hard to understand, but with dedication and perseverance, you won’t be able to _avoid_ understanding.\n\nAnother thing you’ll need to remember is that…\n\n## Output Isn’t How to Learn a Language\n\n![Contrary to popular belief, speaking is not how to actually learn a language.\n](/api/blog-images/how-to-learn-a-language--shh-1024x655.jpeg.webp)\n\nThis is contrary to most of the advice you’ll find about how to learn a new language on your own. However, after working with dozens of clients 1:1, hundreds of students, and thousands of people in our community, we learned that **outputting before you have any instinct for the language isn’t a good use of time.**\n\nWhy? Because it can stress you out and make your learning painful, which is an important part of being able to learn. For most people, speaking is NOT comfortable!\n\nThis is counterintuitive advice, but the truth is that speaking and writing help you refine your instinct, _but only what’s already there_.\n\n**Here’s an example…**\n\nImagine that you’ve never heard music before in your life. And suddenly, you’re tasked to learn to play the piano. You can’t sit down at a piano and start learning since you don’t even know the purpose. You’ve never heard music, so you don’t know what good/bad music sounds like. You don’t even know what a piano is and how to make progress.\n\nYou would start by listening to a lot of music and learning what it is. Then, once you know what music sounds like and the fundamental rules, you can start to really learn to play.\n\nThe same goes for speaking a language. If you start saying sentences without any idea what they should sound like, what’s natural, and how a conversation flows, you won’t make any sense or learn. Plus, you can’t understand what someone responds with if you’re in a conversation.\n\n**Focusing on understanding first is much easier and leads to deeper fluency.**\n\n## How to Learn a Language With The Refold Language Learning Stages\n\nThe Refold method of language learning breaks up the learning process into seven distinct stages.\n\nBelow, you’ll find a list of each of the stages and the recommended activities you should do for each stage, including vocabulary practice, grammar practice, listening practice, writing practice, speaking practice, and more!\n\n## Phase 1: Foundation of Language Learning\n\n**Hours**: 100 (100 total) **Goal**: Learn 2000 words\n\nIn phase 1, you’re focused on the absolute basics of the language:\n\n1. Learning vocabulary.\n2. Learning about grammar.\n\nYou want to turn the language from gibberish to familiar gibberish.\n\nYou’ll be spending lots of time with the language through audio and text.\n\n**Potential activities:**\n\n- [Watching YouTube channels for beginners](https://youtu.be/j53EP9
440ZzRY)\n- [Watching children’s shows](https://youtu.be/j53EP90ZzRY)\n- [Rewatching dubbed versions of favorite movies](https://youtu.be/j53EP90ZzRY)Tip: Find your Learner Type. It will help you have more fun depending on what you personally enjoy.\n- [Learning basic vocabulary (Anki recommended)](https://youtu.be/6BJgxHC3Yuc)\n- [Reading about basic grammar patterns](https://youtu.be/4fXmSlt-zdg)\n- Learning cognates\n- Practicing the phonetic writing system\n\n## Phase 2: Reading and Listening Practice\n\n**Hours**: 500 (600 total) **Goal**: Learn 5000 words\n\nIn phase 2, your goal is to understand the language in common scenarios when given time to think. When you slowly watch a scene of two natives chatting with subtitles, you can follow along and understand their meaning.\n\nAgain, you’ll be spending time with text + audio, doing listening practice, reading practice, and learning new words that you come across. This phase is one of the longer ones. A book you already love carries you a long way here; it is why so many learners reach for Harry Potter, whose translations rebuilt Rowling's invented words in about 85 languages.\n\n**Potential activities:**\n\n- [Intensive 3-channel reading](https://youtu.be/9KlwmHXsXhQ)Watching a show while reading the subtitles (both audio and text should be in the language you’re learning) while stopping to look things up that you do not understand.\n- Freeflow 3-channel readingWatching a show while reading the subtitles (both audio and text should be in the language you’re learning).\n- [Interactive reading with a reader tool](https://youtu.be/HxfqzdhuCoI)Reading content and stopping to look things up that you do not understand.\n- [Freeflow reading with an audiobook](https://youtu.be/ejdXVBq_txg)Reading content without stopping to look things up.Recommendation: use a book/story you already know\n- [Freeflow YouTube (easier content)](https://youtu.be/qDvm4IoPgTI)Watching content on YouTube without stopping to look things up.\n- Sentence MiningLooking for sentences in the content you’re using that have just one unknown element (a word you don’t know or a grammar point) and then adding them to a flashcard app like Anki.\n- [Vocab study (Anki recommended)](https://youtu.be/oPjviVeE0yQ)\n- [Grammar Priming](https://youtu.be/4fXmSlt-zdg)Learning about grammar so you recognize it while immersing in content. The goal is recognition NOT memorization!\n- Freeflow listening to basic podcastsListening to content without stopping to look things up.\n- [Crosstalk](https://youtu.be/sQwOxZWj-Vw)A conversation where you speak your native language and the other person speaks their native language. (Example: You’re learning Japanese. You meet a Japanese person who is learning English. You have a conversation where you speak English and they speak Japanese.)\n\n## Phase 3: Listening Practice\n\n**Hours**: 400 (1000 total) **Goal**: Fast comprehension\n\nIn phase 3, you’ll be focusing on taking your decent, slow understanding and converting it to speedy comprehension.\n\nYou’ll do listening practice with audio only to train your ear to hear the language as it is. This phase also can take a while, but it is when the language starts to be “effortlessly fun.” Meaning that you could spend hours enjoying things without too much brain juice.\n\n**Potential activities:**\n\n- [Intensive listening](https://youtu.be/o8857j-RwhA)Listening to content and stopping to look things up that you do not understand.\n- Freeflow listeningListening to content without stopping to look things up.Recommendation: use easier YouTube content or dubs of things you already know\n- Sentence MiningLooking for sentences in the content you’re using that have just one unknown element (a word you don’t know or a grammar point) and then adding them to a flashcard app like Anki.\n- [Vocab study (Anki recommended)](https://youtu.be/oPjviVeE0yQ)\n- [Grammar Priming](https://youtu.be/4fXmSlt-zdg)Learning about grammar so you recognize it while immersing in content. The goal is recognition NOT memorization!\n- Freeflow listening to basic or intermediate podcastsListening to content without stopping to look things up.\n- [Chorusing](https://youtu.be/m5JwiNSIHxY)Unedited demo of chorusingA pronunciation practice activity where you speak with a short audio clip from a native speaker (often on repeat), trying to mimic the sounds exactly.\n- [Crosstalk](https://youtu.be/sQwOxZWj-Vw)A conversation where you speak your native language and the other person speaks their native language. (Example: You’re learning Japanese. You meet a Japanese person who is learning English. You have a conversation where you speak English and they speak Japanese.)\n\n## Phase 4: Speaking Practice\n\n**Hours**: 200 (1200 total) **Goal**: Speaking comfort\n\nIn phase 4, you’re going to do a lot of speaking practice to learn how to speak comfortably. This might sound odd, but when you start, you will feel clumsy and awkward. This happens because you’ll have a language instinct and be able to tell where your problems are. You’ll make plenty of errors, but you’ll improve rapidly and feel… not terrible. Your speaking will be impressive to natives; they’ll say, “Wait, this is only your 3rd conversation ever?”\n\nBut, just as a reminder, there’s more to all these stages. In this phase, you’ll also start writing practice and continue doing reading and listening practice. But speaking comfort is the _main_ focus.\n\nYou’ll be doing a lot of speaking practice with yourself and native speakers, focusing on getting ideas out there instead of your mistakes.\n\n**Potential activities:**\n\n- [Speaking with natives](https://youtu.be/DiGx20C6pVs) (tutors, coaches, friends)\n- Monologue on your own (and record it)\n- N
44arrate your life\n- React to a videoThis is where you watch a video in your target language and talk about it! Just say what you think and talk about the things you see out loud.\n- Read aloud (and record it)\n- [Start a journal or blog](https://youtu.be/teeIdyif5sU)\n- [Chorusing](https://youtu.be/m5JwiNSIHxY)A pronunciation practice activity where you speak with a short audio clip from a native speaker (often on repeat), trying to mimic the sounds exactly.\n- Continue with favorite listening-focused immersion activities\n\n## Phase 5: Writing Practice\n\n**Hours**: 300 (1500 total) **Goal**: Correct output\n\nIn phase 5, you’ll be focusing on all those mistakes you made in phase 4. Now that you don’t feel ridiculous, you can take the time to improve them with writing practice and sound more like an adult rather than a weirdly large and smart 6-year-old.\n\nYou’ll be focusing on slower output, so you need more writing to analyze the language and learn where your biggest mistakes are.\n\n**Potential activities:**\n\n- [Speaking with natives](https://youtu.be/DiGx20C6pVs) (tutors, coaches, friends)\n- Corrected readingIn a session with a native, you read aloud, and they give you comments and suggestions on each sentence until it sounds natural\n- Corrected writingBefore a session with a native, you write something. Then, with them, you go over your writing for mistakes and things that sound strange\n- Mistake miningMuch like sentence mining, but you’re finding mistakes you make and saving them for later review\n- [The 10×10 method](https://youtu.be/z8FACVD9vz4?si=COiefNbQ3S7unDLd\u0026t=459)The video linked above has two parts talking about the method. The timestamp in the link above is the general idea, and this section is how we’d recommend you apply it to this phase.\n- [Start a journal or blog](https://youtu.be/teeIdyif5sU)\n- [Chorusing](https://youtu.be/m5JwiNSIHxY)A pronunciation practice activity where you speak with a short audio clip from a native speaker (often on repeat), trying to mimic the sounds exactly.\n- Continue with favorite listening-focused immersion activities\n\n## Phase 6: Fluency\n\n**Hours**: 300 (1800 total) **Goal**: Easy use of the language\n\nOnce you’re comfortable and mostly correct, it’s time to let that all sink in and become a fluent user of the language. Phase 6 is different for everyone, but it’s more or less time spent getting used to your new abilities.\n\nYou’ll be spending time doing things in the language, exploring new topics, and continuing to learn.\n\n**Potential activities:**\n\n- Explore new topics (also known as domains)For example, classic film, science, art, marketing…\n- Corrected readingIn a session with a native, you read aloud, and they give you comments and suggestions on each sentence until it sounds natural\n- Write essays or articles (anything that requires editing and rewrites)\n- Corrected writing practiceBefore a session with a native, you write something. Then, with them, you go over your writing for mistakes and things that sound strange\n- [The 10×10 method](https://youtu.be/z8FACVD9vz4?si=COiefNbQ3S7unDLd\u0026t=459)This video has two parts. The link above is the general idea, and this link is how we’d recommend you apply it to this phase.\n- [Start a journal or blog](https://youtu.be/teeIdyif5sU)\n- Be a mentor to a native speaker of the new language and help them in their language learning\n- Start reading paper books in the language\n- Continue with all your favorite immersion activities from before\n\n## Phase 7+: Beyond\n\n**Hours**: ??? **Goal**: Expand your abilities\n\nCongratulations! You’re a fluent user of the language, and you’re on your own to explore new topics, make new friends, and continue to practice your abilities.\n\n**Potential activities:**\n\n- [Start a blog](https://youtu.be/teeIdyif5sU) in the language\n- Start a YouTube channel in the language\n- Write essays or articles\n- Make materials for other learners\n- Have fun with the language\n- Learn a dialect or regional accent of the language\n- Study for (and pass) the C2 exam (or equivalent test)\n- Any activity from a previous stage, but with harder materials\n\n## How to Learn a Language by Yourself With a Personal Learning System\n\nAfter looking at all seven stages of language learning, it’s clear that this is a (very) long-term goal. You can’t just hope to be motivated for months and then years. That’s not how to learn a language by yourself because you will fail if that’s your whole plan.\n\n## You Need Strong Habits to Learn a Language\n\n[To ensure your success, you need to have rock-solid habits that will push you to success.](https://youtu.be/1g_StCRqTgc)\n\nWe start with “consistency over intensity.” Start small and build up. It can be tempting to dive in headfirst, but this leads to quick burnout.\n\nInstead, **make things simple by starting with only two learning activities**. That’s it. Our recommendation is learning [simple vocab with a flashcard deck](https://refold.link/decks) and immersing in the easiest content you can find and enjoy.\n\nAfter you’ve built a solid learning habit, you can start to increase your learning time and the complexity of activities. It may be counterintuitive, but going from nothing to something is quite hard. However, going from a little habit to a larger one isn’t too bad!\n\nWe are here to help! [The Refold Discord Community](https://refold.link/join) is a fantastic resource if you need any recommendations.\n\n## Resources for Learning a Language on Your Own\n\n🤝 **[Join the Refold Community](https://refold.link/join) –** This is the best place to make friends with other language learners, ask for advice, and have lots of fun!\n\n👨‍🏫 **[Get the Refold Course](https://refold.la/landing/teach-yourself-a-language) –** This course is a step-by-step guide through the process if you want to be shown what to do each step of the day. Get started on your language-learning journey today!\n\n📝 **[Content Recommendation Docs for tons of languages](https://refold.link/crowdsource-docs-list) –** Our amazing community loves collecting and sharing their favorite language resources and content! The content docs make it easier than ever to find amazing content in the language you’re learning!\n\n## TL;DR\n\nTo summarize, we here at Refold believe that everyone has what it takes to learn a language, but traditional language learning methods are broken! They rely on translation and motivation rather than 
44instinct and strong habits.\n\nThe Refold method was designed to teach you how to learn a language by creating an instinct, nurturing habits, and creating a personalized learning system that works! To learn more, [check out our course](https://refold.link/learn-the-six-secrets)!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## My Search For the Best Spanish Homeschool Curriculum\n\nWhen I first decided to homeschool my daughter three years ago, I went on a quest to find the best Spanish homeschool curriculum. As someone who didn’t grow up bilingual, I didn’t want that for my daughter. I wanted to give my child the gift of language learning.\n\nAs I searched, I discovered company after company claiming to have the best Spanish homeschool curriculum. Each boasted its own unique method, process, and miraculous stories. So, I did what any rational adult who was desperate to teach their child a language would do—I tried as many as I could afford.\n\n## There’s No Perfect Homeschool Curriculum for Spanish…\n\nOn my hunt to find the perfect homeschool curriculum for Spanish, I found and tried several products for homeschool languages. But despite each system’s outrageous claims of success, nothing clicked for my daughter.\n\nWhy? Because…\n\n- **Spanish workbooks** were boring and only taught things like numbers and colors. She hated working through them.\n- **Online Spanish classes** were too intense. My daughter dreaded going. The teachers would drill grammar rules and expect her to speak in a language she couldn’t understand. She was so frustrated that she couldn’t communicate!\n- **Bilingual children’s stories** were fun, but buying books was expensive. She lost interest in them before she absorbed enough information to understand them.\n- **Spanish apps for kids** were entertaining, but progress was slow. They didn’t teach her how people use Spanish in the real world.\n- **None of the Spanish curriculums were complete methods.** Even if I found a resource that I liked, it only focused on one area of the language or didn’t have enough content to teach her enough about the language to understand and use it.\n\n## The Problem With Homeschool Spanish Curriculums\n\nThe problem with most homeschool Spanish curriculum options and traditional language education is that they’re ineffective for most people. (Including me. I’m most people…)\n\nI could count on one hand the number of people who had a good experience in their language classes, and I don’t know _anyone_ who reached fluency with apps like Rosetta Stone or Duolingo.\n\nDo you?\n\nIs this because only a few people have a talent for learning languages? Is your homeschool Spanish student DOOMED to fail _before_ they even start?\n\nNo! **Everyone has what it takes to learn a language!** We were all able to learn our first language, right? (The fact that you’re reading this now is proof of that.) So then, why is learning a foreign language so difficult? The problem isn’t our brains.\n\nThe problem is that the way languages are traditionally taught is fundamentally flawed.\n\n## A New Way to Think About Spanish for Homeschool\n\nWhen I initially decided to teach my daughter a foreign language, I decided that I needed to learn Spanish first if we were going to have any success. I thought, “_How can I homeschool in Spanish if I don’t even know the language?_”\n\nThe problem? I failed to learn a language several times in my life. I thought I was doomed to fail, but after discovering Refold (the company I’m writing this blog for—they hired me), I began to think about Spanish for homeschool differently.\n\nThey taught me a new way to learn a language with immersion (in other words, watching and reading lots of content in Spanish). It seemed too good to be true—learning a language by watching TV and reading fantasy books? But I was desperate, and I gave it a try. And I’m so glad I did because…\n\n- Instead of studying boring textbooks, I learned directly from entertaining Spanish media.\n- Instead of struggling to memorize grammar rules, I learned about grammar as I encountered it naturally through reading.\n- Instead of fumbling my way through conversations I couldn’t understand, I listened to podcasts and audiobooks to learn how people actually used the language.\n- Instead of dreading studying the language, I looked forward to spending time with it **_every day_** for over four years because it was **fun**.\n\nAnd guess what? I went from understanding NOTHING in Spanish to reading giant fantasy books, listening to audiobooks at full speed, having engaging conversations, and having fun ALL in Spanish.\n\nThis experience changed the way I viewed Spanish for homeschool. I wanted to teach my daughter how to teach herself a language, just like I did, so I decided to take matters into my own hands.\n\n## I’ll Send You My FREE Spanish Workbook\n\nSince I couldn’t find a homeschool Spanish curriculum that worked for my daughter, I decided to make a Spanish workbook on my own. And guess what, not only does she love it…but it works! She has a 95% retention rate of all the words she’s learned so far with it.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/best-spanish-homeschool-curriculum--HSA-2-1024x602.jpg.webp)\n\nI shared my notebook with several people in my homeschool 
44communities. After flipping through it, they were shocked that I was just giving it away for free. But I believe that _every_ child should have the gift of language.\n\nThat’s why **I’m sharing the Spanish workbook PDF I made for my daughter AND the email course I created to accompany it for FREE!**\n\nAnd guess what? You don’t need to know Spanish or have any special skills to utilize this homeschool language curriculum. My FREE week-long email course will teach you _everything_ you need to know to teach in order to create your _own_ homeschool language routine that _works_ by harnessing the power of [immersion](https://refold.la/roadmap/stage-2/a/types-of-active-immersion/) at home!\n\nThe best part? You probably _already_ have all the materials you need to teach your child Spanish, or any other language, at home.\n\n**Claim Your Free Spanish Workbook PDF Email Course Today!**\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nHello there, fellow moms and dads! Bree here to talk all about learning Spanish for kids! I’d love to share with you how my daughter and I are learning Spanish at home! I’m Refold’s resident emailer, blogger, and homeschool mom. I’m so glad you’re here!\n\nLike all parents, I want the best for my child. Early in her life, I decided that I wanted to give her the gift of a second language, but I had _no_ idea how to start learning Spanish (let alone teach it)—especially since I wasn’t fluent in another language.\n\nSound familiar? If you’ve ever wondered, “_How do I teach my child a language I don’t know?_”—you’re in the right place!\n\n[In my last blog](https://refold.la/blog/best-spanish-homeschool-curriculum/), I discussed how I tried (and hated) many different Spanish learning programs with my child. That experience drove me to teach myself Spanish with immersion and create the best Spanish learning program for kids so that my daughter would _love_ learning it!\n\nToday, I’m going to give you an inside look into our language learning program and give you lots of helpful tips for learning Spanish online for FREE with your child!\n\n## The Truth About Learning Spanish for Beginners and Kids\n\nWhen most people think about learning Spanish for beginners and kids, they imagine Spanish school classes, textbooks, and apps. But when I created this Spanish learning course, my goal wasn’t to replicate school at home. Like most people, I had a _terrible_ time learning languages when I was a student.\n\nThe thing is, I thought my teachers were great! They were fun and really tried their hardest, but the methods they were required to use didn’t work for me (or anyone else I knew). Tedious grammar drills, elaborate conjugation charts, boring grammar lists, and anxiety-inducing speaking exercises just didn’t cut it for me! It didn’t matter how much I studied—I couldn’t remember a thing!\n\nThe truth is, it doesn’t work for most people. **But we didn’t fail as students; traditional language learning methods failed us!**\n\nWith the right method, anyone can learn a language! I was the _worst_ Spanish student imaginable. But with Refold’s help, I harnessed the power of immersion and achieved a level in Spanish that I previously thought was impossible.\n\nNow, I’m teaching my daughter **how to teach herself,** just like I did—and you can teach your child, too!\n\nLearning Spanish as a beginner might seem tough (especially if you’re trying to teach a language you don’t know), but this routine can work for _anyone—even if you don’t know the language yet!_\n\n## Our Daily Spanish Routine: How we’re Learning Spanish Online\n\nI created a Spanish learning program for kids that was _fun_ and felt more like a game than a lesson. The best part is that we’re _mostly_ learning Spanish online with free tools and subscription services that we _already_ have (like Disney+, YouTube, and Netflix)!\n\n![This is a page of the workbook I created to accompany my daughter’s online learning materials! I LOVE her illustrations!](/api/blog-images/learning-spanish-for-kids--em-notebook-scaled.jpg.webp)\n_This is a page of the workbook I created to accompany my daughter’s online learning materials! I LOVE her illustrations!_\n\nHere’s what a typical day looks like for us!\n\n1. The first thing my daughter does is learn _about_ grammar and vocabulary. To do this, we chose to use Duolingo because she’s seven and likes that it feels like a game. **(10 Minutes)**\n2. Next, we grab her Word Detective booklet, the Spanish learning book that I created, and we do her scheduled reviews for the day. You can download a copy of my workbook for FREE, by the way, just keep reading. 👀 **(5 minutes)**\n3. Then, we pick a simple Spanish show or story and play Word Detective! It’s a game where we look for words she recognizes from Duolingo and her Word Detective booklet. Every time she recognizes a word or phrase, we celebrate, or I’ll give her a prize. **(20 minutes)**\n4. While playing Word Detective, we’re also looking for new w
44ords to add to her Word Detective booklet! If she’s curious about a word, we’ll look it up and write it down in her book!\n5. After the story, she’ll take her Word Detective booklet and create “word clues” for each of the new words that she found by illustrating them. After she illustrates her clues, she shows them to me, and I try to guess which clue goes to each word! **(10 minutes)**\n6. Later in the day, when she wants screen time, I’ll let her watch a video (or two…or three…) of her choice in Spanish! (Usually, it’s about Minecraft.) This screen time is actually very valuable time! It’s teaching her to _enjoy_ the language, and she has no idea she’s actually learning… **(30 minutes)**\n7. Throughout the day, I’ll ask her what she learned and what her favorite word is and keep the conversation going about Spanish, so she stays excited about learning!\n\nAll in all, she spends a little **over an hour learning Spanish each day**! Of course, the actual amount of time varies and depends on her attention span and other commitments.\n\n## My Child Loves Learning\n\nMy favorite part about our Spanish program isn’t that my daughter remembers about 95% of the words in her [Word Detective booklet,](https://refold.link/teach-your-child-from-home) but that she _loves_ learning Spanish and looks forward to it every day!\n\nSetting up her routine and creating the Spanish learning books took some effort, but I’m incredibly proud of her progress so far! I firmly believe every child should have the opportunity to learn a language.\n\nThat’s why I’m giving away free copies of the Spanish workbook I created, along with a FREE email course that will teach you how to start learning Spanish and create a Spanish learning program for your child!\n\nIf you want to kindle your child’s curiosity and foster a love for language learning, sign up below today!\n\nCould I charge good money for these materials? Sure. But I believe that every child should have the gift of language. I hope you enjoy these resources as much as my child and I do!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nHemos estado trabajando arduamente para desarrollar nuestro más reciente [mazo](https://refold.link/phrasal-verbs) de Anki, y aquí te “walk you through it!” (explicaremos al respecto). Este mazo está dirigido a quienes poseen un nivel intermedio en el inglés. Si aún no has alcanzado tal nivel, recomendamos nuestro mazo [inglés mil](https://refold.la/ingl%C3%A9s/deck), el cual te enseñará [el vocabulario](https://refold.la/store/vocabulario-fundamental-para-aprender-ingles/) fundamental del idioma.\n\nEn este artículo aprenderás lo siguiente:\n\n1. ¿Qué son los phrasal verbs?\n2. ¿Por qué son importantes?\n3. Cómo reconocerlos\n4. ¡Y cómo usar tu nuevo [mazo de Anki](https://refold.link/phrasal-verbs)!\n\n![](/api/blog-images/mazo-de-phrasal-verbs--image-1-1024x447.jpg.webp)\n\n## ¿Qué es un phrasal verb?\n\nLos phrasal verbs (o “verbos preposicionales” en español) son muy comunes en el inglés, especialmente en contextos más informales.\n\nEstán compuestos por un verbo y una partícula o, en ocasiones, dos partículas. La partícula a menudo cambia el significado del verbo.\n\nProbablemente, ya conozcas la palabra _walk_. Pero, si a esta le añades through, cambia completamente su significado. Y ahí está la clave de todo. En los phrasal verbs, el significado puede ser **TOTALMENTE** diferente al de la palabra original. Algunos phrasal verbs incluso tienen tres partes, como en _get out of_. _Get out of something_ significa _avoid doing something._\n\nPero también tiene un significado “literal”, puede significar lo escrito literalmente: _remove oneself from_.\n\n- I had to go to dinner with my parents. I couldn’t _get out of_ it.\n- Hey, _get out of_ that box, right now!\n\nUn phrasal verb es simplemente eso. Es una palabra, pero que tiene dos (o tres) partes.\n\n## Pero, ¿por qué son importantes los phrasal verbs?\n\n¿Por qué se habla tanto de los phrasal verbs? ¿Por qué son importantes y por qué son difíciles?\n\nSon importantes porque los usamos… muchísimo. En muchas ocasiones, suena más natural hacer uso de ellos. Esto quiere decir que tienes que acostumbrarte a ellos si quieres que tu inglés suene natural.\n\nY son difíciles porque están compuestos de dos partes, y ambas son “requeridas”. Si olvidas una de las partes, sonará incorrecto y probablemente no se entenderá para nada. Por ejemplo:\n\n- Can you put that candle?\n\nEsa oración no tiene sentido. Le falta algo. ¿Dónde pongo (put) la vela? ¿Qué se supone que haga? Sin embargo, si agrego la otra parte del phrasal verb:\n\n- Can you _put out_ that candle?\n\n¡Inmediatamente cobra sentido! Pero, otra cosa molesta de los phrasal verbs es que, a veces, pueden estar divididos y distribuidos en diferentes lugares de la oración.\n\n- Can you _put_ that candle _out_?\n\nes otra forma completamente natural y común de decir esa misma oración. Y esto es lo que les causa problemas a ustedes, queridas y maravillosas personas que están aprendiendo inglés. Toma tiempo acostumbrarse a la idea de que una palabra se pueda distribuir en varias partes de la oración.\n\nAunque seguramente existe algo similar en tu idioma nativo. Pero estás tan acostumbrado a verlo y usarlo que nunca lo piensas. Lo has escuchado un millón de veces, tanto que ahora es simplemente algo… normal, algo que ocurre en tu idioma y ya. Debes replicar este mismo proceso con los phrasal verbs en el inglés.\n\n¡Eso es precisamente lo que este [mazo de práctica](https://refold.link/phrasal-verbs) te ayudará a hacer!\n\nY hay una cosa más que hace que los phrasal verbs sean difíciles de aprender… suelen contar con varios significados diferentes. Aunque esto es algo muy común en los idiomas en general.\n\nSi haces inmersión en contenido en inglés, aprenderás los significados bastante rápido. Y eso es también lo que este [mazo](https://refold.link/phrasal-verbs) te ayudará a lograr: familiarizarte con los diferentes significados de phrasal verbs comunes.\n\n## Cómo reconocer phrasal verbs\n\nLa clave para aprender los phrasal verbs de forma natural y efectiva es notarlos y entenderlos. Cuanto más los veas e identifiques, más fáciles se volverán y más rápido los entenderás.\n\nCon el tiempo, dejarás de primero tener que notarlos y simplemente los entenderás directamente. En ese momento sabrás que estás desarrollando un instinto para los phrasal verbs.\n\nEsto significa que no tienes que intentar memorizarlos o practicarlos mil veces. Solo necesitas acostumbrarte a verlos y tu cerebro se encargará del resto, te lo prometo. Cada vez que te encuentres con un verbo que crees que conoces, pero sientes que no tiene mucho sentido en la oración, intenta buscar su palabra “compañera”. Esta palabra compañera usualmente será una de las siguientes:\n\n- out\n- up\n- down\n- on\n- back\n- off\n- in\n- through\n- over\n- around\n- to\n- with\n- along\n- for\n- about\n- ahead\n\nNo necesitas memorizar esta lista ni nada por el estilo. Te acostumbrarás a ella y la irás recordando.\n\nEsta “palabra compañera” también puede aparecer en diferentes lugares: justo después del verbo principal, una palabra más adelante, o al final de la oración. Si logras encontrar una palabra compañera, entonces sabrás que encontraste un “phrasal verb”. Si aún no entiendes qué significa ese phrasal verb o no lo intuyes de inmediato, búscalo. Al simplemente buscar en Google “put out definition”, obtengo unas cuantas definiciones excelentes. También puedes hacerlo en la mayoría de diccionarios o preguntarle a una IA.\n\n**Algo a notar:** No todos los verbos compuestos de dos partes son “phrasal verbs”. A veces simplemente funcionan de forma literal. “Go up”, “go down”, “go around” y “go through” tienen todos un significado literal. Solo describen la dirección del movimiento. Los phrasal verbs son aquellos que tienen definiciones extrañas o incluso algo locas.\n\nVeamos algunos ejemplos de phrasal verbs usados en oraciones reales. Las siguientes son algunas oraciones que de hecho se incluyen en el mazo. Intenta encontrar dónde está el phrasal verb. No importa si no sabes qué significa, solo quiero ver si puedes encontrarlo.\n\n- You go ahead and start, and I’ll be there in a few minutes.\n- You should check out the new cafe in town.\n- Shut your computer down before you go home.\n- I accidentally put my pants on backwards this morning.\n\nBien hecho. Si no entendiste ninguna de esas oraciones, no te preocupes. Aprenderás todos los significados de esos phrasal verbs con este mazo. Y hablando del [mazo](https://refold.link/phrasal-verbs)…\n\n## Cómo usar el mazo de Phrasal Verbs para Anki de Refold\n\nAntes que todo, si aún no tienes instalado Anki, lo primero que necesitas hacer es su instalación y configuración inicial. [Aquí encontrarás un tutorial para Anki.](https://youtu.be/Y1excIuX9KI?si=ZfobqrgzQcvZUDzJ)\n\nEl mazo en sí cuenta con dos partes:\n\n- La sección de “priming” o “preparación”\n- La sección de práctica\n\nEn la primera sección, verás cada uno de los phrasal verbs, se presentarán uno a la vez. El frente de la tarjeta solo tendrá el verbo (y mi voz como audio). Tu tarea aquí será intentar pensar en sus significados.\n\nCon 1 o 2 definiciones es suficiente. Estas tarjetas no se supone que sean difíciles. Están diseña
44das para simplemente ayudarte a recordar los significados. En la parte de atrás de la tarjeta, verificarás si recordaste al menos 1 significado. Si lo hiciste, puedes aprobar esa tarjeta con “Bien”. Si no recordaste ningún significado o quieres repasar la tarjeta de nuevo, desapruébala con “Otra vez”. Volviendo a aclarar, estas tarjetas son solo recordatorios. Si no te acuerdas de todo, ¡no hay ningún problema!\n\nYa que, después de completar esas 150 tarjetas de preparación, te aparecerán las tarjetas de práctica. Estas tarjetas comienzan con una oración (y mi voz). Primero deberás identificar el phrasal verb y luego intentar recordar qué significa la oración. Si pudiste identificar el phrasal verb y recordaste el significado (simplemente de forma general), eso será suficiente. Puedes aprobar la tarjeta. Si no pudiste identificar el phrasal verb o habías olvidado qué significa por completo, desaprobarás la tarjeta.\n\nEste mazo solo cubre 150 phrasal verbs y alrededor de 330 significados diferentes. Esta cantidad es enorme, pero ni se acerca a TODOS los que existen en el inglés. No puedes aprender todos ellos solo mediante Anki. Deberás aprenderlos al experimentar el inglés real y natural. Este mazo está diseña
44do para enseñarte a identificar phrasal verbs y hacerlos menos intimidantes.\n\nEntonces ahora puedes ir y comenzar a notar estos phrasal verbs, ¡y dominarlos de una vez por todas! Si tienes algún problema con el mazo, envíanos un correo a [email protected]. Y si existe un problema con una tarjeta en particular, puedes presionar el ícono de exclamación (!) en la tarjeta para enviarnos tus comentarios.\n\n## Acerca de Refold\n\nRefold está dedicado a derribar la barrera del idioma. Aprende idiomas de manera rápida, divertida y efectiva.\n\n**[English Phrasal Verbs Deck](https://refold.la/store/decks/english/english-phrasal-verbs-deck/)**\nMaster phrasal verbs the Refold way. [Get the Deck](https://refold.la/store/decks/english/english-phrasal-verbs-deck/)\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nWe’ve been working very hard on our newest Anki [deck](https://refold.link/phrasal-verbs) and we will “walk you through it!” This deck is for intermediate learners of English, so if you’re not there yet, check out our [inglés mil](https://refold.la/shop/decks/english/mazo-de-vocabulario-para-ingles/) fundamental vocabulary deck instead.\n\nIn this post, you will learn the following:\n\n1. What phrasal verbs are\n2. Why they’re important\n3. How to recognize them\n4. And how to use your brand new [Anki deck](https://refold.link/phrasal-verbs)\n\n![](/api/blog-images/phrasal-verbs-deck--image-1024x447.jpg.webp)\n\n## What is a phrasal verb?\n\nPhrasal verbs are very common in English, especially in more informal contexts.\n\nThey are made up of a verb and a particle or, sometimes, two particles. The particle often changes the meaning of the verb.\n\nYou probably already know the word _walk_. But, if you add the word _through_, it totally changes the meaning. And that’s the key. With phrasal verbs, the meaning can be **TOTALLY** different from the original word. Some phrasal verbs even have three parts, like in: _get out of_. _To get out of_ something means to avoid doing something. But it also has a “literal” meaning of “to remove oneself from.”\n\n- I had to go to dinner with my parents. I couldn’t _get out of it._\n- Hey, _get out of_ that box, right now!\n\nThat’s all a phrasal verb is. One word, but in two (or three) parts.\n\n## Now, why are phrasal verbs important?\n\nWhy are phrasal verbs so often talked about? Why are they important, and why are they difficult?\n\nThey’re important because we use them… a lot. There are many times when it’s more natural to use a phrasal verb. This means that you have to get used to them if you want to understand English. It also means that you’ll need to use them if you want to sound natural in English.\n\nAnd they’re difficult because they’re in two parts, which are required. If you forget one of the parts, it sounds incorrect and, frequently, won’t be understood. For example:\n\n- Can you put that candle?\n\nThat sentence makes no sense. It’s missing something. Where do I put the candle? What’s happening? But if I add the other part of the phrasal verb:\n\n- Can you _put out_ that candle?\n\nNow it suddenly does! But the other annoying part of phrasal verbs is that, sometimes, they can be split up in the sentence.\n\n- Can you _put_ that candle _out_?\n\nis also a totally natural and common way to say that sentence. And this is what causes problems for you lovely amazing English learners. It takes a while to get used to one word actually being in several parts of the sentence.\n\nBut, you almost certainly have similar things in your native language. But you’re so used to it that you never think about it. You’ve heard those things a million times, and so they’re just… normal. That’s what you need to do with phrasal verbs in English.\n\nSo that’s what this [practice deck](https://refold.link/phrasal-verbs) is going to help you do!\n\n**[English Phrasal Verbs Deck](https://refold.la/store/decks/english/english-phrasal-verbs-deck/)**\nMaster phrasal verbs the Refold way. [Get the Deck](https://refold.la/store/decks/english/english-phrasal-verbs-deck/)\n\nAnd there’s one more thing that makes phrasal verbs hard to learn… they usually have several different meanings. Although, that’s pretty common with languages in general.\n\nIf you’re immersing in real English content, you’ll learn the meanings pretty quickly. That’s also what this [deck](https://refold.link/phrasal-verbs) will help you do: become familiar with the different meanings of common phrasal verbs.\n\n## How to recognize phrasal verbs\n\nThe key to learning phrasal verbs naturally and effectively is to notice them and understand them. The more you notice them, the easier they become and the faster you understand.\n\nEventually, you’ll stop noticing them at all and just understand. THAT’s when you know you’re building an instinct for phrasal verbs.\n\nThis means that you don’t need to drill them or practice them a thous
44and times. Just get used to seeing them and your brain will figure out the rest. I promise. Whenever you come across a verb that you feel like you know, but that doesn’t really make sense in the sentence, look around for a “partner” word. That partner word is usually going to be one of these:\n\n- out\n- up\n- down\n- on\n- back\n- off\n- in\n- through\n- over\n- around\n- to\n- with\n- along\n- for\n- about\n- ahead\n\nYou don’t need to memorize this list or anything, you’ll get used to it.\n\nThe partner word can be in a few different places: right after the main verb, one “jump” away, or\nat the end of the idea. If you do find a partner word, then you know you’ve found a “phrasal\nverb.” If you still don’t understand the meaning or it’s not coming to you right away, look it up! If I\njust google “put out definition,” I get some great definitions. You can also search these in most\ndictionaries or ask an AI.\n\n**Quick note**: Not all 2 piece verbs are “phrasal.” Sometimes, they’re just literal. Go up, go down,\ngo around and go through all have literal definitions. They’re just describing how something is\n“interacting with the world.” Phrasal verbs are the ones with weird or crazy definitions.\n\nLet’s look at some examples of phrasal verbs in sentences. These are actually some sentences\nfrom the deck! I want you to see if you can find the phrasal verb. I don’t care if you know what it means, just if you can find it.\n\n- You go ahead and start, and I’ll be there in a few minutes.\n- You should check out the new cafe in town.\n- Shut your computer down before you go home.\n- I accidentally put my pants on backwards this morning.\n\nVery good! If you didn’t understand any of those sentences, don’t worry about it! You’ll learn all\nthe meanings of the phrasal verbs with the deck.\nSpeaking of the deck…\n\n## How to use the Refold Phrasal Verbs Anki deck\n\nFirst, if you don’t have Anki installed, you’ll need to set that up first. [Here is a link to a tutorial from Ben on how to set up Anki.](https://youtu.be/Y1excIuX9KI?si=ZfobqrgzQcvZUDzJ)\n\nThe deck itself actually has two parts:\n\n1. The “priming” section\n2. The practice section\n\nIn the first section, you’ll see each of the phrasal verbs one at a time. The front of the card will have just the verb (and my voice). Your job is to think of what it means.\n\nJust 1 or 2 definitions is fine. This card isn’t meant to be hard. It’s just meant to remind you of the meanings. On the back, check to make sure you remembered at least 1 of the meanings. If you did, pass the card (Good). If you didn’t remember any, or you want to review it again, fail the card (Again). To be clear, these are supposed to be reminder cards. If you don’t remember everything, that’s totally fine!\n\nBecause, after you go through all 150 priming cards, you’ll find the practice cards! These start with a sentence (and my voice). You need to, first, identify the phrasal verb and then try to remember what the sentence means. If you were able to find the phrasal verb and generally remembered the meaning, that’s good enough. Pass the card. If you couldn’t find the phrasal verb, or you were totally surprised by the definition, fail it.\n\nThis deck only covers 150 phrasal verbs and ~330 different meanings. That’s a lot, but not even close to ALL the phrasal verbs in English. You cannot learn all these from Anki. You have to learn them by experiencing real, natural English. This deck is meant to teach you how to identify phrasal verbs and make them less “scary.”\n\nSo, go out there and start to notice these phrasal verbs and conquer them, once and for all! If you have any issues with the deck, send an email to [email protected]. And if there’s an issue with one of the cards, you can press the little ! icon to send us feedback.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## The different types of input channels and why you need to know them!\n\nYou may be thinking, “what are the channels of input, and why should I need to know them”? An input channel, to put it in one sentence, is the type of input you’re receiving. Audio only? 1 channel. Text and audio? 2 channel. Text, audio, and video? 3 channel. We generally recommend starting with a higher number, and moving to a lower number as you advance in the language. Let’s talk about them in depth.\n\n## 3-Channel Input\n\n![](/api/blog-images/the-channels-of-input--image-16-1024x681.jpg.webp)\n\n3-Channel input is the pinnacle of input! With 3-Channel input, you harness the power of video (visual context), audio (aural context), and same-language-subtitles (written context)!\n\nUsing 3-channel input allows you to easily navigate [immersion learning](https://refold.la/simplified/stage-0/a/what-is-immersion/) in your target language. The added visual context allows you to turn slightly-less-than-intelligible input, into something you can derive benefit from (remember, input should be comprehensible). Having audio means you’re able to practice listening to the sounds of a word and parsing it by ear, while at the same time having subtitles to allow ease of lookup and double-checking what you think you heard.\n\n## 2-Channel Input\n\n![](/api/blog-images/the-channels-of-input--image-16-1-1024x681.jpg.webp)\n\n2-Channel input is one step down from 3-Channel. It is lacking one of the channels that helps make input comprehensible. 2-Channel Input is a bit more complex than 3-Channel input, in that there are two types:\n\n- Comics\n- Audio with matching text\n\nComics are 2-Channel input because they have a visual component (the drawings) and they have a text component (the dialog). Once again the visual component comes in clutch by allowing you to better understand the language component of your immersion.\n\nInteractive immersion is still possible with comics by using OCR tools that make the text into soft text, or just by using a little elbow grease and typing the word into a dictionary the old-fashioned way (are electronic dictionaries old-fashioned now?).\n\nAudio with matching text is another form of 2-Channel input. Utilizing things such as audio books and written text, or podcasts with transcriptions. Using e-texts such as epubs or pdfs allows you to do lookups instantly with your handy dandy popup dictionary.\n\n## 1-Channel Input\n\n![](/api/blog-images/the-channels-of-input--image-16-4-1024x681.jpg.webp)\n\nOne channel input! The final frontier! For most people, this means raw listening. No subs. No visual aids. Just raw, unfiltered language. Bonus points if it was recorded through a telephone or potato microphone.\n\nTo make the best use of 1-Channel input, you should be totally focused on trying to understand and enjoy what you’re listening to. Do not just “white noise” the content, in other words do it actively and not passively!\n\nIt may surprise people who are new to immersion learning, but as time goes on and your general comprehension of your target language goes up, you will have an easier time listening to content and doing lookups by ear, thus making interactive listening a feasible task for the intermediate to advanced learner!\n\n## The Fourth Channel?!\n\n![](/api/blog-images/the-channels-of-input--pexels-miguel-a-padrinan-1061139-1024x681.jpg.webp)\n\nMuch to Ethan’s chagrin, the team has taken to calling additional context “the fourth channel”. This additional context can be something as simple as having advanced knowledge of the content in your L1 (such as a doctor immersing in medical content), or it can be the additional context inferred from having followed a show or series in your L1 and then rewatching it in your L2.\n\nUsing the additional context from content you know well, you will have an easier time guessing and interpreting your immersion. It may also make recognition easier for some languages that share “international vocab” such as Greco-Roman loans in western languages, or Chinese loans in some East Asian languages.\n\nAny thoughts about the four channels? Drop a comment in the box below and tell us about them!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nAs an experienced community volunteer and former Refold language coach, I know the one surefire way to strike fear into a new Japanese learner’s heart: Talk about Kanji.\n\nAs a new learner, you’re thinking, Kanji are complex, scary, and there are so many of them! How will I ever hope to read anything in this language?!\n\nApproaching the hurdle of reading in Japanese looks terrifying, but it doesn’t have to be thanks to manga, Japan’s version of comic books!\n\nIn this post, I will be sharing the top 5 manga I would recommend to new learners who want to get started reading without the help of audio.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/top-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--Cognate-Guide-2-1024x569.jpg.webp)\n\n## Sue \u0026 Tai-chan\n\n![](/api/blog-images/top-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--image-77-3.jpg.webp)\n\n[Anilist Page](https://anilist.co/manga/121879/-/)\n[Learn Natively page](https://learnnatively.com/book/4757e36a02/)\n\n_Sue is an aging housecat who’s looking forward to living out her life in peace… but her plans change when the mischievous black tomcat Tai-chan enters the picture! Hey! Sue never signed up to be a catsitter! – Anilist_\n\n**Story**: 3/5\n**Language Learning Rating**: 4/5\n**Overall Score**: 4/5\n\nFirst on the list is Sue \u0026 Tai-chan (スーと鯛ちゃん). This manga would be a great first pick due to its low difficulty without resorting to treating the reader like a baby. A lot of beginner manga will tend to use language that is intended for very young readers, such as mispronunciations of words, which are very confusing for adult language learners! This manga uses very few kanji. When it does, there is always furigana to help.\n\nNote: Furigana is kana (hiragana and katakana) written above kanji to let the reader know how to read the word.\n\n## Teasing Master Takagi-san\n\n![](/api/blog-images/top-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--image-77-5.jpg.webp)\n\n[Anilist Page](https://anilist.co/manga/85533/-/)\n[Learn Natively page](https://learnnatively.com/book/9e1edcb4ba/)\n\n_Middle schooler Nishikata has had it with his classmate Takagi – the chronic teaser who sits nearby. Day in and day out, she comes after him with every sort of trick or prank. Even when he tries to get her back, she’s always one step ahead. But rest assured, it’s only the beginning. He’s not about to give up that easily in this battle of cunning and youth! – Anilist_\n\n**Story**: 3/5\n**Language Learning Rating**: 4/5\n**Overall Score**: 4/5\n\nThe Teasing Master Takagi-san (からかい上手の高木さん) anime is very well known in the Japanese learning community. Due to its expressive visuals, simple plot, and easy yet realistic language, it has been the go-to recommendation to new learners for years. The manga is highly recommended for a lot of the same reasons. Whether you’re brand new to the world of Takagi-san, or you’re diving into the manga already familiar with the anime, you’ll enjoy a valuable, and highly-praised, language-learning resource.\n\n## Happiness\n\n![](/api/blog-images/top-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--image-77-6.jpg.webp)\n\n[Anilist Page](https://anilist.co/manga/86136/-/)\n[Learn Natively Page](https://learnnatively.com/book/1c3774c59c/)\n\n_Nothing interesting is happening in Makoto Ozaki’s first year of high school. His life is a series of quiet humiliations: low-grade bullies, unreliable friends, and the constant frustration of his adolescent lust. But one night, a pale, thin girl knocks him to the ground in an alley and offers him a choice. Now everything is different. Daylight is searingly bright. Food tastes awful. And worse than anything is the terrible, consuming thirst. The tiny shames of his old life have been replaced by two towering horrors: the truth of what will slake his awful craving and high school itself._ – _Anilist_\n\n**Story**: 3/5\n**Language Learning Rating**: 4/5\n**Overall Score**: 3/5\n\nIf the typical beginner recommendations of slice of life make you want to yawn, and you’re not the type to easily get squeamish, the vampire thriller Happiness (ハピネス) might be right up your alley. Despite its dark, psychological themes, the language used is surprisingly easy as long as you have a dictionary at hand. This tense and intriguing story will be difficult to put down, making it easy to forget you’re learning a whole new language!\n\n## Flying Witch\n\n![](/api/blog-images/top-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--image-77-7.jpg.webp)\n\n[Anilist Page](https://anilist.co/manga/76258/-/)\n[Learn Natively Page](https://learnnatively.com/book/ec98c0404c/)\n\n_Makoto Kowata, a novice witch, packs up her belongings (including her black cat familiar) and moves in with her distant cousins in rural Aomori Prefecture, in the far north reaches of Japan, to complete her training and become a full-fledged witch._ – _Anilist_\n\n**Story**: 3/5\n**Language Learning Rating**: 4/5\n**Overall Score**: 4/5\n\nThe Flying Witch (ふらいんぐうぃっち) slice of life anime is another staple recommendation in the community. The atmosphere can even be described as “healing” as the show follows the life of a witch-in-training in the countryside. Aside from the magical and supernatural elements, the story and dialogue are surprisingly simple and down to earth. Sentences are straightforward and conversational with furigana. Being in the countryside, dialectal language and accents are something to be aware of.\n\n## Yotsuba to!\n\n![](/api/blog-images/top-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--image-77-8.jpg.webp)\n\n[Anilist Page](https://anilist.co/manga/30104/-/)\n[Learn Natively Page](https://learnnatively.com/book/830efb7474/)\n\n_Hello! This is Koiwai Yotsuba, Yotsuba Koiwai…um, YOTSUBA! Yotsuba moved with Daddy to a new house from our old house waaaaaaay over there! And moving’s fun ‘cos people wave! (Oh
44hhh!!) And Yotsuba met these nice people next door and made friends to play with (one of ’em acted like one of those bad strangers Daddy told Yotsuba not to go with, but it was okay in the end). I hope we get to play a lot. And eat ice cream! And-and-and…oh yeah! You should come play with Yotsuba too!_\n\n**Story**: 4/5\n**Language Learning Rating**: 4/5\n**Overall Score**: 4/5\n\nThe only recommendation that is more famous in the community than Takagi-san is none other than Yotsuba to! (よつばと!) There are many reasons it holds the title of the go-to manga recommendation for first-time readers. Its wholesome and stress-free story, simplistic dialogue, and low vocabulary size needed for entry are just a few reasons.\n\nOn the flip side, Yotsuba to! takes advantage of a very clever use of the 3 Japanese writing systems. Younger characters have their dialogue written in hiragana-only to reflect their age. Adult characters incorporate kanji in their speech, which is the standard. This can make this deceptively easy manga a little bit of a challenge for first-time readers.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nBree here. There are a lot of reasons I thought I’d never be able to learn a language.\n\n- I’m in my mid-30s\n- I don’t have a _talent_ for languages\n- I’m busy with my family, my daughter’s school activities, and work\n- I have ADHD.\n\nOn paper, I should have been doomed from the start. Especially because of the ADHD, right?\n\nIf you also have ADHD (or any other attention problems), you know what I’m talking about.\n\nHow the heck am I supposed to [learn a language](https://refold.la/) if I can’t focus!!\n\nGrammar? BORING.\n\nBeginning materials? Hell. On. Earth.\n\nMemorizing random kitchen vocab? I’d rather get a root canal.\n\nIt all sounds _sooooooo_ tedious…\n\n![](/api/blog-images/tips-for-learning-a-language-when-you-have-adhd--image-34.png.webp)\n\nDealing with ADHD for my entire life, and after many failed attempts at learning a language, I had pretty much given up completely on the idea that language learning was even possible for me.\n\nThen I discovered [immersion learning](https://refold.la/simplified/stage-1/a/immersion/), and I thought — why not? I’ve always wanted to learn a language, and this method was different. For once, language learning seemed like it could be possible and _fun_.\n\nSo, I gave it one last shot. What was the worst that could happen? I’d just fail again and move on to a new hobby…but that didn’t happen.\n\nFast-forward 3 years later, I’ve put time into Spanish every 👏 single 👏 day 👏 without fail despite my ADHD.\n\nHere’s what worked for me:\n\n## 🏃‍♀️💨 I chased my interests, NOT perfection\n\nThe idea of searching for “perfect” learner content bored me. So I didn’t bother with it. I know what I like and what I don’t like. I just focused on immersing in content that sparked joy (even as a complete beginner).\n\nOne of the ways I did this was by substituting content I was already consuming on a daily basis and swapping them for Spanish equivalents.\n\nI love reading sci-fi and fantasy books. I love watching travel channels on YouTube. I love Anime and Comics. So, I decided to keep consuming all that content _in Spanish_.\n\nWas it level-appropriate? Nope.\n\nWas the content useful for everyday life? Debatable.\n\nWas it interesting? Yes!\n\nDid I still learn a lot? Oh, hell yeah!\n\n## 🔥 I dropped it like it’s hot\n\nNo, I don’t mean the dance. There’s a stereotype that people with ADHD have a tendency to switch hobbies and interests as often as they change their underwear. I’d say that’s not true, but the roller skates, crochet hooks, and yoga mats collecting dust in my closet prove that’s a lie.\n\nHowever, I use this to my _advantage._ Spanish is my vehicle for learning about anything I want to learn. Now, even if my interest changes to something completely new, Spanish remains constant.\n\nLast week I was reading all about health and dieting, but then Luna told me about Stoicism, and now I’m all about that! And, of course, I’m researching it all in Spanish.\n\n## 👬Double trouble\n\nDespite immersing in interesting content and following my weekly whims, at times, I still have issues paying attention.\n\nI know, I know, no surprise there…\n\nTo get over this, I do something called “doubling.” Here’s how [ADD.org](http://add.org/) defines it:\n\n_ADHD body doubling is a productivity strategy used by individuals with ADHD to finish possibly annoying jobs while having another person beside them. This person is the body double._\n\nFor example, during my daughter’s reading time, I’d read as well. In my husband’s office, I’d curl up and review Anki while he focused on his spreadsheets. Sometimes, I’d even join voice calls with friends as we’d silently do our own activities together.\n\nI don’t know _why_ it works, but it does.\n\n## 💫Friendship is magic\n\nThis isn’t exactly a tip, but if you have ADHD, chances are you _love_ chatting about your interests. (I know I do. Just ask my family. 😬) Unfortunately, not many people in my life are as interested in languages as I am.\n\nRelatable, right?\n\nThe FREE Refold community is _the best_ place online to chat about immersion and language learning. So, if you’d like to make friends with people who are just as excited about language learning as you are, it’s the place to be.\n\n[Click here to join](https://refold.la/join).\n\n## That’s it!\n\nThe main takeaways are to do what interests you, don’t force yourself to watch or read things that you hate (even for the sake of efficiency), and pair up with a friend or two to jumpstart your ability to focus. You CAN learn a language, don’t be nervous. Happy immer
44sing!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nYou may be wondering who [Olly Richards](https://refold.link/olly_richards) is or why I’m writing about him. Allow me to explain! Olly Richards is a YouTube polyglot. I don’t know much about him beyond his books. Many graded readers are written in a manner that isn’t appealing to adult learners, but Olly Richards has several series of graded readers that cover a wide range of topics aimed at grown people. In this blog post we’ll explore some of the series he offers.\n\n## Short Stories in [Language]\n\n![](/api/blog-images/exploring-olly-richards-language-learning-books-a-comprehensive-guide--image-77.jpg.webp)\n\n[Short stories in [Language]](https://refold.link/shortstories_olly) are his bread and butter. They’re available in the widest variety of languages, compared to some of the following series that are only available in the more commonly learned languages such as Spanish and French.\n\nShort Stories in [Language] come in one of two difficulties: easy and intermediate. For more popular languages, there is often a second volume of 8 additional stories in the target language at the same relative difficulty level.\n\nI personally like the [Short Stories in [Language] series](https://refold.link/shortstories_olly), as they provide bite-sized stories using the most common words in a variety of different domains and genres. From adventure and time-traveling pirates to sci-fi or slice of life, there is something for everyone.\n\nEach book contains about 8 short stories in different domains. The advantage here is that you get a variety, the disadvantage is that you don’t have that same sense of a long overarching story or plotline that can draw readers in.\n\nIf you’re already a fan of omnibuses/anthologies, you may enjoy this series. If you prefer longer content, fear not, Olly Richards offers a few [longer formatted stories for you as well!](https://refold.link/conversations_olly)\n\n## [Language] Conversations\n\n![](/api/blog-images/exploring-olly-richards-language-learning-books-a-comprehensive-guide--image-77-1.jpg.webp)\n\n[Language] Conversations is a bit of a misnomer. The book series is available in beginner and intermediate difficulties and tells a singular story over the course of a whole book. Although the title is “[Language] Conversations”, this is misleading. The title conjures up images of a dialog book with conversations to memorize, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.\n\nYes, there are conversations, no, it isn’t a book of dialogs for learners. Instead, the series tells a story via very dialog-heavy storytelling, and unlike his Short Stories in [Language] series, the chapters flow into one another like a proper book.\n\nI generally have found this series to be easier than the equivalent difficulty-level short story collections. I think sticking to dialog-heavy stories is a great approach since speech is less language dense than a more literary narrative style. This allows you to follow the story and get into immer
44sion without worrying about superfluous adjectives and adverbs that don’t add to the story.\n\n## [Topic] in Simple [Language]\n\n![](/api/blog-images/exploring-olly-richards-language-learning-books-a-comprehensive-guide--image-77-2-640x1024.jpg.webp)\n\nThe [[Topic] in Simple [Language]](https://refold.link/topics_olly) series is one of Olly Richards’ newer offerings. Each book contains stories about a topic or _domain_ but in simplified language.\n\nIf you want to learn about a certain topic such as global warming, but can’t yet understand native literature about it, this series offers a great way to get into those domains and learn the domain-specific vocabulary needed to understand and converse about the topic at hand.\n\nGiven that the [[Topic] in Simple [Language]](https://refold.link/topics_olly) series is so new, and I’ve long since “aged out” of graded readers in my language journey, I don’t have a lot of first-hand experiences with them. I can only imagine that they’re just as good as the rest of his series though, and they’re something I wish I had when I was in the earlier stages of my learning!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n![](/api/blog-images/bridge-the-gap-embrace-spanish-english-cognates-for-fluent-communication--image-15-5-1024x560.jpg.webp)\n\n## Transparent Cognates\n\nWelcome to our blog post about English to Spanish cognate hacks. What is a cognate you might ask? [As we mentioned in our previous post](https://community.refold.la/blog/cracking-the-code-how-cognates-can-propel-your-language-fluency/), cognates are words that are “born together” or share a common history. If you haven’t already, check out our other post on cognates in a more general sense.\n\nOf the top 5,000 words in Spanish, 2,700 are cognates to words in English and 1,000 are words derived from other words. This means you only need to learn 1,300 words to hit that 5,000 mark.\n\n_in theory_\n\nBut how do you recognize cognates, and take advantage of these 2,700 free words?\nYou just need to learn a few sound or spelling correspondences!\n\nThe charts below don’t need to be memorized, just go over them and prime yourself to recognize the relationship between sounds and changes in your immersion.\n\n| Y -\u003e I                | Ph -\u003e F              | Th -\u003e T                  | -tion -\u003e -ción        |\n| --------------------- | -------------------- | ------------------------ | --------------------- |\n| mito / myth           | teléfono / telephone | teatro / theater         | ficción / fiction     |\n| cínico / cynic        | farmacia / pharmacy  | atleta / athlete         | opción / option       |\n| sicofanta / sycophant | alfabeto / alphabet  | matemático / mathematics | situación / situation |\n\n| -ize -\u003e -izar             | -ous -\u003e -oso/a     | -ble -\u003e -ble              | add -o, -a, or -e      |\n| ------------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------------- | ---------------------- |\n| organizar / organize      | nervioso / nervous | responsable / responsible | moderno / modern       |\n| autorizar / authorize     | curiosa / curious  | memorable / memorable     | gráfico / graphic      |\n| especializar / specialize | famosa / famous    | favorable / favorable     | importante / important |\n\n| -sion -\u003e -sión        | -ity -\u003e -idad                    | -ism -\u003e -ismo        | -ist -\u003e -ista               |\n| --------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------- | --------------------------- |\n| exclusión / exclusion | sociedad / society               | racismo / racism     | artista / artist            |\n| decisión / decision   | responsabilidad / responsibility | turismo / tourism    | ortodoncista / orthodontist |\n| agresión / aggression | comunidad / community            | organismo / organism | optimista / optimist        |\n\n| -ary/ory -\u003e -ario/orio   | -ate -\u003e -ato/ado/ar   | -cy -\u003e -cia            | -age -\u003e -aje            |\n| ------------------------ | --------------------- | ---------------------- | ----------------------- |\n| categoría / category     | privado / private     | agencia / agency       | coraje / courage        |\n| diccionario / dictionary | validado / validate   | fluencia / fluency     | porcentaje / percentage |\n| enfermario / infirmary   | inmediato / immediate | urgencia / urgency     | mensaje / message       |\n| alegoría / allegory      | lobulado / lobate     | relevancia / relevancy | masaje / massage        |\n\n| -fy -\u003e -ficar          | -ance/-ence -\u003e -ancia/-encia     | -er -\u003e -ador/edor/idor/ero | No Change (-al/-ar)     |\n| ---------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------- | ----------------------- |\n| identificar / identify | correspondencia / correspondence | mensajero / messenger      | nacional / national     |\n| clasificar / classify  | licencia / license               | socializador / socializer  | ordinal / ordinal       |\n| justificar / justify   | importancia / importance         | organizador / organizer    | particular / particular |\n| rectificar / rectify   | paciencia / patience             | encubridor / cover         | original / original     |\n\n## Obscure Correspondences\n\nUp to this point, we mostly covered correspondences that were very clear and easy to understand. Just as English has borrowed from Latin and French, Spanish also borrowed from Latin! Words directly from Latin are called [cultismos](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultismo), and words that are partially borrowed from Latin are called [semicultismos](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/semicultismo).\n\nHowever, unlike English, Spanish not only borrowed from Latin but also descended directly from it! This means that it has a large bank of vocabulary that underwent hundreds of years of sound changes. These words can be **much trickier to identify**, but being aware of them can be a huge boon!\n\nBelow you’ll see a list of English cognates, the inherited Spanish form, and the Latin borrowed or semiborrowed forms if they exist:\n\nLatin in _Italics_\nLearned Borrowings Underlined\n\nSound changes in **bold**\n\n| F ~ H                             | T ~ D                         | C ~ G                       | P ~ B                     |\n| --------------------------------- | ----------------------------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------- |\n| fungus / fungus / hongo           | minute / minuto / menudo      | aqua / aqua / agua          | super- / super- / sobre-  |\n| furnace / furnus / horno          | delicate / delicado / delgado | lake / lacus / lago         | people / populus / pueblo |\n| ferrus / ferrus / fierro / hierro | fate / fātum / fado / hado    | sacred / sacrātus / sagrado | opera / opera / obra      |\n| folia / folia / hoja              | Peter / Petrus / Pedro        | state(e) / status / estado  | lupus / lupus / lobo      |\n\n| P ~ W                         | CT ~ CH                                 | D/R ~ L/N               | Diphthongization of Vowels |\n| ----------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | -------------------------- |\n| baptist / baptista / bautista | noct– i.e. nocturnal / nocturno / noche | coda / coda / cola      | port / portus / puerto     |\n| capital / capital / caudal    | oct– i.e. octopus / ocho                | anima / alma            | feast / fiesta             |\n|                               |                                         | anchor / ancora / ancla | terra / tierra             |\n|                               |                                         | arbor / arborem / árbol | record / recuerdo          |\n"])</script>
44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"66:Tf13,"])</script>
44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n![](/api/blog-images/cracking-the-code-how-cognates-can-propel-your-language-fluency--image-5-5-1024x558.jpg.webp)\n\n## Etymology\n\nCognates are words born together. In other words, words that seem similar because of a shared origin. We see this term thrown around a lot in language learning circles. Often in reference to “internationalisms” such as French or Latin loans in the west, Arabic loans in the Middle East, Sanskrit loans in south-east Asia, and even Chinese loans in East Asia.\n\nNo language evolves in isolation. This means that entirely unrelated languages can share vocab. Don’t believe me? Look at these commonly shared words between English and Japanese:\n\n| English | Japanese      | Original Meaning | New Meaning    |\n| ------- | ------------- | ---------------- | -------------- |\n| Honcho  | 班長(honchou) | Squad Leader     | Slang for boss |\n| Tsunami | 津波(tsunami) | Harbor Wave      | Tidal Wave     |\n\nThis doesn’t just apply to English and Japanese: almost all languages have cognates. Some are deeply embedded and treated like normal words, some share a single origin hundreds of years ago, and some are still viewed as slightly foreign, or only exist for foreign concepts. Take a look at some cognates in other languages:\n\n| Borrowed Word   | Original Word        | Original Meaning | New Meaning    |\n| --------------- | -------------------- | ---------------- | -------------- |\n| 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Chef         | 🇫🇷 Chef              | Chief/Leader     | Head Cook      |\n| 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Landlubber   | 🇳🇱 Landloper         | Land Walker      | A new seafarer |\n| 🇵🇭 Kumusta      | 🇪🇸 Cómo está         | How is/are (3ps) | How is/are     |\n| 🇯🇵 今晩(komban) | 🇨🇳 今晩(kˠiɪm mʉɐnX) | This Evening     | This Evening   |\n| 🇮🇩 alkitab      | 🇸🇦 الكتاب(al-kitaab) | The Book         | The Bible      |\n\nYou may have noticed that with cognates, sometimes the meaning is readily apparent — kumusta and cómo está are almost one-to-one the same. In some cases, the cognate may have a slightly different meaning (chef in English is not the same as the chef in French). Cognates are often thought of as free words, but it can be helpful to think of them as words that look, sound, or feel the same. Kind of like nature’s built-in mnemonics.\n\n## How to Identify Cognates\n\nIn some cases, cognates are very apparent. There are often very systematic changes you can follow to deduce cognates. A famous example of this is English to Spanish and Portuguese:\n\n| English       | Spanish         | Portuguese      |\n| ------------- | --------------- | --------------- |\n| -tion-ty-tous | -ción-dad-oso/a | -ção-dade-oso/a |\n\nDepending on how systematic the changes are, it may or may not be worth learning how to identify them. If there are some systematic and regular ways to identify cognates, you can really boost your comprehension, or at least ability to cement a similar word in your mind.\n\n## Are Cognates Free Words?\n\nNo, they are not. You can readily _identify_ them, and it can help you comprehend and immerse. You will not always be readily able to “foreignify” the equivalent word. The expected “foreignification” of the word either may not exist, may have a slightly different meaning, or may exist but in a slightly irregular form (irregular sound shifts, etc.).\n\nRather than calling cognates “free words”, it is better to call them “discounted words”. Cognates are words that easily anchor, and stick, making recognizing them and understanding them in context and during immersion very easy. They, however, are not easy to produce on the fly. Even languages like Portuguese and Spanish that are made up of 89% cognates can cause confusion when trying to output.\n\nNow get out there and get to learning!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## Refold Seeder Playlists\n\n[Learning French](https://refold.la/shop/decks/french/french-vocabulary-deck/), and you want to set up a French immersion YouTube account? Immersion is one of the most fun and effective ways to learn a language, but finding content that’s right for your level can be a daunting task. We’ve got you covered with our collection of YouTube French seeder playlists!\n\nWith the help of one of our amazing Refold community members, SDPhil, we compiled these French YouTube playlists to help you discover new content and set up your very own French YouTube immersion account!\n\n[\u003e\u003e Click here to access our list of French seeder playlists!](https://zenith-raincoat-5cf.notion.site/French-Seeder-Playlist-01c34cd949ee4beaad40cd28442208b4)\n\n### What’s included\n\nOur French playlist collection includes a beginner seeder playlist with content tailored for your level, as well as two content-ladder playlists.\n\nCan’t wait to dive in? The seeder playlists can be watched in any order, allowing you to discover new content creators and kick-start your immersion account on YouTube. To train the YouTube algorithm, make sure to like the videos you like, follow, and watch them all the way through to receive similar content suggestions!\n\nAlternatively, our Content-Ladder playlists offer a more structured approach, guiding you through the material, and are designed to be watched in order from start to finish.\n\n### How to use the seeder playlists\n\nCurious about how to make the most of our seeder playlists? To learn more about how to maximize your experience with our seeder playlists, watch this video by Ben.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nI’ve been a language teacher for over 5 years. I’ve taught English, Tagalog, and even Spanish (I was strong-armed by my school, I swear). I wear a lot of hats at Refold: copywriter, assistant, and marketer. And now, when I proudly tell people I’m no longer a teacher, but a _coach,_ the reaction I get is, “wait, what’s the difference?”\n\n## Teachers vs Coaches\n\nA teacher has a set curriculum that is the same for every student in the class or program. Their job is to teach the book and fulfill the curriculum. They’re great at training people how to pass tests or exams.\n\nOn the other hand, a coach is more multidimensional. Coaches work with the students, often 1:1, to harness their natural attributes and sharpen weak points. To use a food analogy, a teacher is a TV dinner, a coach is a homemade meal made just the way you like it.\n\nTeachers\n\n- Teach skills\n- Spread information\n- Metrics like tests and grades\n\nCoaches\n\n- Help develop abilities\n- Share methods\n- No arbitrary metrics\n\nDoes this mean teachers are bad? No! Heavens no, teachers are the backbone of our society. They serve a purpose for the advancement of knowledge and do very well. The truth is that coaches and teachers are just _different_. Think about it, classrooms have teachers, football fields have coaches. Have you ever heard of a football teacher? Some things need to be taught from the ground up and rely on building upon prior knowledge. An algebra teacher is working under the assumption that their students have the fundamentals of arithmetic under their belts.\n\nLanguage _doesn’t work this way_.\n\nThink about when you were a child, first learning to speak. Many of us didn’t start formal schooling until 4 to 6 years old. We weren’t taught how to speak or socialize, yet we still acquired our first languages, learned how to play kickball, and socialized.\n\nSure, some things are taught better with explicit instruction, like math, science, and most other academic subjects. However, other skills, like language, are best taught implicitly, with input.\n\nLanguage learning is challenging because you’re not just learning one skill. Instead, you need to learn hundreds of skills at the same time, and everyone learns these skills differently. Immersion learning helps you acquire all these skills at the same time in ways that textbooks _can’t_. Teaching one skill is tough enough, but hundreds?\n\nAs a language coach, I give my students the individualized instruction they need to optimize their immersion. If they’re struggling with a certain skill, I’ll help them assess how to reinforce that skill and train them on the tools they need to “work out” those skills on their own. If my students need help finding immersion materials, I work with them to help them find what they need. If they need help staying focused, I help them prioritize their time.\n\nSo to recap: if your goal is to pass a test, go with a teacher — if your goal is true ability in a language, a coach is what you need.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nIf you want to know how to learn Spanish fast, you’re in the right place. Spanish is the 2nd most natively spoken language in the world. It’s incredibly useful to learn for work if you’re living in the United States, or if you want to travel abroad and explore Latin America or Spain.\n\nLearning a new language can be tough, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun and efficient. Here at [Refold](https://refold.la/), our mission is to help learners reach their fluency goals. Here are some tips and tricks to help you understand Spanish faster than you can say “ferrocarril.”\n\n## Understand first. Speak later.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-learn-spanish-fast--image-32-1024x683.jpg.webp)\n\nFor many, this may seem counterintuitive. How are you supposed to learn a language if you don’t practice speaking it? Rest assured, by [focusing on comprehension,](https://refold.la/how-to-learn-spanish/) you’ll find yourself able to speak more and more naturally, without having a speaking-intensive approach. Your speech won’t be perfect (at first), but by understanding what you read and hear you’ll find it easier to navigate abroad, immerse in your target language, and even make friends!\n\n## Immerse, immerse, immerse!\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-learn-spanish-fast--image-32-1-1024x683.jpg.webp)\n\nImmerse! What does that mean? It means submerging yourself in the language.\n\nHow? Throw yourself into the juicy drama of a spicy telenovela. [Sing along to your favorite reggaeton music.](https://community.refold.la/blog/how-learning-to-sing-can-unlock-your-pronunciation-potential/) [Watch sitcoms](https://community.refold.la/blog/mychezes-spanish-show-review/) and [read comics](https://community.refold.la/blog/confessions-of-a-reading-addict/) in Spanish. Make friends at the local Mexican restaurant. Go to the country or a local _barrio_ where Spanish is spoken.\n\nCan’t go to the country? With a little thing called the internet, you can bring the country to you! Immersing from the comfort of your own home has never been easier. Want to learn how? We wrote a guide about how to do just that. [Read it here](https://refold.la/simplified/stage-0/a/what-is-immersion).\n\n## Vocab!\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-learn-spanish-fast--image-32-2-1024x683.jpg.webp)\n\nThe great thing about Spanish is that it shares a lot of words with English. These “shared words” are called “cognates” and you don’t need to learn them. In fact, of the top 5,000 words used in Spanish, 2700 of them are cognates and another 1000 of them are derived from other common words.\n\nThat means you only need to learn **1300** words to reach that 5000-word mark and understand REAL Spanish conversation.\n\n## Don’t know where to start?\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-learn-spanish-fast--image-32-1024x657.png.webp)\n\nUse our flashcard deck with only un-shared words! Meaning that after 90 days of using the deck, you’ll know 1,000 of the 1,300 words to be conversational.\n\n[Understand real Spanish](https://refold.la/store/fundamental-vocabulary-to-learn-spanish/)\n\n## Make Spanish a part of your life.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/how-to-learn-spanish-fast--image-33-1024x683.jpg.webp)\n\nSure 30 minutes of study a day adds up, but once you get to the point where you can enjoy the language stop studying the language and instead study in the language. Once Spanish is part of your life, it gets easier and easier to spend more time in it — without it feeling like work. Take classes on [italki](http://go.italki.com/refold), hang out with your Spanish-speaking friends, and binge-watch your favorite _novela_ or Spanish-speaking YouTuber. The possibilities are endless.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n![The first page](/api/blog-images/lingq-review--image-20-1-1024x586.jpg.webp)\n_The first page_\n\n[LingQ](https://www.lingq.com/en/accounts/new/?next=/en/accounts/subscription/basic_2018/12/b_12month5off/checkout/?referral=RefoldLanguages) is a great, assisted reading app. It is gamified well, it recently got an update that has given it a super sleek look, and it has one of the few immersion learning communities outside of Refold. The content libraries have community volunteers called librarians, and the forums are surprisingly active for our little immersion learning niche. The service can be difficult to use, and this guide aims to remedy that.\n\n## Making an Account\n\n![The sign up screen](/api/blog-images/lingq-review--image-20-1024x586.png.webp)\n_The sign up screen_\n\nWhen you make an account, it will ask some basic information from you such as what language you’re learning, your name, etcetera. Upon selecting the appropriate language and filling out the fields, you will be greeted with a page asking you what intensity level you want to study at. I’ve been an avid user of LingQ for several years and never really paid any attention to this.\n\n![Select an intensity level](/api/blog-images/lingq-review--image-21-1024x586.png.webp)\n_Select an intensity level_\n\nAfter selecting your intensity level, you will be asked about your interests. In theory this is to populate your recommendations/feed with community managed bookshelves, but in practice I’ve never noticed any difference.\n\n![Selecting interests](/api/blog-images/lingq-review--image-22-1024x586.png.webp)\n_Selecting interests_\n\n## Navigation\n\n![The main library](/api/blog-images/lingq-review--image-23-1024x586.jpg.webp)\n_The main library_\n\nAfter signing in, you’ll be greeted with the main library. Just scrolling will take you through the pre-populated categories done by LingQ and LingQ librarians (volunteers). You can also click the big import button at the top right to add your own content. If you don’t like the premade content, be sure to adjust the slider to the appropriate difficulty. Personally, this is where LingQ shines.\n\n## How to Use\n\n[LingQ](https://www.lingq.com/?referral=RefoldLanguages) has a built-in tutorial on the mobile app, however if you’ve signed in for the very first time on desktop this won’t be available to you. They do have a small “8 lesson” tutorial in your target language (for most well studied languages), however it really acts as more of an “8 lesson” infomercial than a tutorial.\n\nChoosing a lesson. LingQ has a standard 60-lesson mini-story course for **every. single. language.** it offers. The mini-stories are designed to teach you the most frequent 1000 lemmas (true words) over the entire course. They’re a bit boring, but they’re a good start to LingQing if you don’t yet have your own graded material (or even native material)! Depending on the language you’re learning, the library may come prepacked with material.\n\n![In a lesson](/api/blog-images/lingq-review--image-23-1024x586.png.webp)\n_In a lesson_\n\nOnce you’ve clicked into the lesson, you’ll be greeted with a page of text, all highlighted in blue. At the bottom left, you will see a ▶️ button that will start the audio. Pressing the play button is optional, and I personally don’t enjoy reading and listening at the same time.\n\nClicking on a blue word will turn it gold. LingQ calls these “LingQs”. You can select from a list of premade definitions for the word. For more widely studied languages, the top-voted definition is usually pretty solid. For less studied languages, the top voted definition may be in a foreign language, or may be totally wrong. If you want to add a custom definition, LingQ provides a list of recommended dictionaries. Select the dictionaries and languages you want (TL-TL) (TL-NL), then copy and paste your definition into a field. Read (and listen if you want) the chosen material, do look-ups when you feel like it, choose the best definitions, and page over to the next page once you’re done. This is the core of LingQ.\n\n![Creating your first LingQ](/api/blog-images/lingq-review--image-24-1024x586.png.webp)\n_Creating your first LingQ_\n\nSaving definitions to words (aka making LingQs) saves them to a word list. This word list can be viewed by navigating back to the main page, and clicking on vocabulary. With the vocabulary list we can choose to review them in LingQ, with LingQ’s native flashcard system, or we can export them to a great free and open source software called “[Anki](https://refold.la/simplified/stage-1/a/vocabulary)” and review them there. We can even ignore them and just keep on reading. I know I do!\n\n![](/api/blog-images/lingq-review--image-25-1024x586.png.webp)\n\nI really like that with LingQ you can mark a word as various levels of known. There is a 0-5 system with 0 being never seen, 1 being seen, 2 being recognized, and so on and so forth, with 5 being known. I personally like to mark words that I am familiar with but not comfortable with as 2-4, before finally marking it as known. A huge debate in SLA or Second Language Acquisition is “what counts as knowing a word”, I’d argue that it isn’t a binary thing, and you can know a word to varying degrees. Marking a word can also just help remind you how many times you’ve seen it!\n\n![The forums](/api/blog-images/lingq-review--image-26-1024x586.png.webp)\n_The forums_\n\nLingQ also provides a sense of a community. On the main library page, you can access the forums by clicking the ‘community’ button. The forums can be searched and function as a great archive of information, the LingQ library can be hard to navigate, so searching for content related to your language here can help you find great courses or media uploaded for your target language. The forums tend to run older than Discord or Reddit communities, so be sure to understand that you’ll be interacting with an older demographic than most of Refold.\n\n![Zoran the support superstar](/api/blog-images/lingq-review--image-27-1024x863.png.webp)\n_Zoran the support superstar_\n\nCustomer service! Surprisingly, LingQ has great customer service and support. If you ever have an issue their Service Level Agreement is 4-5 hours during business hours (something like 8-5 UTC-7 time). They also have a support forum you can post to if you don’t like e-mail.\n\n![Tutors!](/api/blog-images/lingq-review--image-28-1024x590.png.webp)\n_Tutors!_\n\nThe final service offered by LingQ is tutoring. I’ve not personally used their tutoring service, so I can’t speak to how good it is. It does exist though. [In general I would recommend Refolders follow the official advice on how to use tutors, and just replace “italki” with “LingQ”](https://refold.la/simplified/stage-3/c/speaking-practice#Conversation)\n\n## In Conclusion\n\n![Fun metrics](/api/blog-images/lingq-review--image-29-565x1024.png.webp)\n_Fun metrics_\n\nI like LingQ a lot. The ideology behind LingQ is very similar to Refold. The service itself works really well for languages written in the Cyrillic or Latin script. It seems to have a harder time with languages written in some other scripts, notably Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, but possibly the Brahmic scripts in South and South East Asia as well. The way it counts words isn’t perfect, and can inflate or deflate your true known word count depending on the language, but despite that it is a great metric to have and one I enjoy very much. I personally find leaderboards, loads of metrics, and a neat community to be very inspiring. Just be sure to import your own content, and to work with LingQ’s limitations.\n\nAll said and done, I believe LingQ is worth giving a shot. It provides a lot of meat and potatoes in a single package, especially for Refolders who don’t want to use 10 different clunky free tools. Using LingQ should be an easy addition to any Refolder’s immersion regimen, once you get past the quirky UX. It isn’t the smoothest to use, and some competitors outcompete it in some, but not all (or most) of the features it offers. At the time of writing this article, LingQ is the only fully cross-platform service with native iOS and Android applications to offer a complete immersion suite.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## Gamified Flashcards?!\n\n![](/api/blog-images/srs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-7.png.webp)\n\nHi Everyone, George from Refold here with a new series about SRS (spaced repetition systems) that _aren’t_ Anki. We all know that Anki is great! It’s free, open source, has a huge community, great premade decks, and lots of support, but it’s not perfect for everyone. There are many excellent SRS options out there that aren’t Anki. So let’s dive into our first review in this series — Clozemaster!\n\n## Likes and Dislikes!\n\n![](/api/blog-images/srs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-8-1024x410.jpg.webp)\n\n## What’s Clozemaster?\n\nBefore we jump too much further into the review, I’d like to explain what Clozemaster is.\n\nClozemaster is a Freemium app available on iOS, Android, and Web. When you open Clozemaster, the first thing you’re greeted with is its retro arcade-style UI. Once you make an account and sign in, you’re free to use the app.\n\nAs implied by the name, clozes (the adult friendly way of saying fill in the blank exercises) are the main technique used to drill thousands of words and sentences into your head.\n\nThe default “card” is a fill in the blank (or cloze) with an option to type in the missing word, or select it from multiple choice boxes.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/srs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-8-1024x586.png.webp)\n\n## Fluency Fast Track!\n\nThe thousands of example sentences featured in Clozemaster are from _Tatoeba._ There are two options to navigate their massive (and I mean MASSIVE) sentence bank:\n\n- Fluency Fast Track\n- Frequency\n\n_Fluency Fast Track_ is an organized deck where each target word only appears once per deck (each target word has just one sentence in the deck). If you are familiar with the language, this is great to ensure you make swift progress and don’t over-review. However, if you have no experience in the language, this deck might be overwhelming.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/srs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-9-1024x523.png.webp)\n\n## Frequency Decks!\n\nThe _Frequency Decks_ are different from the Fluency Fast Track deck. In them, each word can appear in up to 10 different sentences. For many, this is overkill. To balance the extremes of these two tracks, Clozemaster themselves recommend using the Frequency Decks to learn the first 100 words at a bare minimum, potentially up to the first few hundred for more distant languages.\n\nOnce you’ve mastered those words, you should switch to the Fluency Fast Track. Unfortunately, Clozemaster sentences are not consistently i+1 (with one unknown per sentence). Their premade decks generally target the easiest word in the sentence. However, I’ve seen really easy words appear in hard sentences, so their system isn’t perfect.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/srs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-10-1024x770.png.webp)\n\n## Other Decks?\n\nThere are other decks, **but only for** **premium subscribers**. Clozemaster calls these “Cloze-Collections”. If you’re subbed to the premium version of Clozemaster, you can make and share decks, use other people’s shared decks, or make a private deck. In the screenshot below, you can see an attempt at importing [Refold’s JP1K](https://refold.la/japanese/deck) as a private deck. Unfortunately, due to the difficulties in deck creation, I never added any sentences.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/srs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-11-1024x351.png.webp)\n\n### What are the Premium Features?\n\nClozemaster doesn’t really have a lot of premium features worth writing home about, they give away a lot for free. The following is a list of paid features:\n\n**Radio**\n\n- Can listen to sentences in decks as a form of immersion material.\n- Can do listening only quizzes.\n\n**Review Customization**\n\n- Can change the voices used in the TTS audio.\n- Can change the review algorithm.\n\n**Deck Customization**\n\n- Access to special decks for tests such as the JLPT or HSK tests.\n- Grammar trainer decks for more popular languages.\n- Custom or shared decks. Import your own words, or select from the community supplied wordlists.\n- Can customize lengths of review sessions.\n- Unlimited mode for reviews.\n\n**Offline mode**\n\n- Can use the mobile app offline.\n\n## Are the Premium Features Worth the Cost?\n\nYes and no. If you’re on a budget, I don’t think they’re worth the cost because many of the premium features are things that are already doable on Anki. The core of the app is usable on the free version. The pro version costs 8 USD/MO, 60 USD/year, or 140 USD/Lifetime\\*.\n\nThe paid version is great, but if you’re on a budget, that cash is better spent elsewhere. At the same price for the monthly subscription to Clozemaster, you could get a subscription to LingQ on the half a year plan, which is much better in the long run at the same price point.\n\nThe splurge may be worth it if you wait for a sale or steep discount, only go for lifetime access, and are into gamification and ease of use. The gamification and low friction to use the app can be very appealing to a subset of language learners.\n\n\\*At the time of writing this review, Clozemaster has been known to reduce the price to 60-80 USD for lifetime, if you hold off for deals, or just wait a few weeks after joining, you should get emailed a code to reduce the cost to nearly nothing.\n\n## Features I wish it had.\n\nClozemaster mostly has all the features I desire in a language learning app, however, I feel like it isn’t as customizable in “card” presentation as I would like. Particularly with Chinese and Jap
44anese, there is no way to get furigana, bopomofo, or jyutping on the front of the card. For more commonly learned languages, it would be nice to have human voices instead of text-to-speech.\n\nThe custom decks are nice in theory, but it is so painful to actually import your own sentences (not just words) that it isn’t convenient to do. I’m not sure that it could replace Anki when it comes to mining words or sentences. I wish it had better support for custom decks.\n\n## Final Verdict.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/srs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-12-1024x410.png.webp)\n\nClozemaster is definitely an app I’d recommend, especially to people who aren’t super tech-savvy or don’t want to spend time creating their own decks. It’s also a great option for people who just don’t want to get behind Anki, or who need more carrots and sticks to go with the “boring” part of Refolding, like flashcards.\n\nClozemaster truly feels like playing an arcade game, and it’s quite fun to do your daily reviews on it. I’m addicted to fun metrics and stats.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## The Dialectic of Productivity and Avoiding Burnout\n\n![](/api/blog-images/streaks-are-meant-to-be-broken-the-dialectic-of-productivity-and-avoiding-burnout--image-20-1024x681.jpg.webp)\n\nEach Friday, there’s something Pavlovian about the dopamine rush, the countdown to my working week ending and weekend starting. Funnily enough, I experience this same feeling every Thursday, which is the beginning of my “learn Tagalog” week.\n\nThe first thing I do on Thursday is creating new flashcards. The rest of that evening, as well as the rest of the week—up until Monday—is spent on [immersion](https://refold.la/simplified/stage-0/a/what-is-immersion/), talking with family and friends, and reviewing Anki.\n\nLike the existential dread of going back to work (bless those Sunday nights) it is bittersweet when the end of the “learn Tagalog” week involves spending the last hour before bedtime unwinding with a book. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are for other hobbies and, when Thursday comes ’round again, I am itching and keen to learn some more Tagalog. Rinse and repeat.\n\nThis decision to purposely break my daily streak and have a 2-day “weekend” away from [language learning](https://refold.la/) is inspired by Ken Atchity. In this interview, Ken talks about how people plan to write a book for the entire summer but end up procrastinating because they are unable to manage their time. Ken then recommends that people should write “for five days a week rather than seven days a week”. The explanation?\n\n_“Your brain revolts when you make it stop something that it’s actually enjoying, so if you make it stop after the fifth day it’s very upset and it spends the whole weekend thinking about the project and it’s really raring to go on Monday when you start again. Whereas if you keep it going, it will get worn out and it will get bored eventually ‘cause that’s what brains do.”_\n\n## Refresh and Reset\n\nWhilst Atchity’s advice specifically deals with creativity, there is a general point here: take breaks to avoid burnout. Refresh and reset. As they say, everything in moderation.\n\nOne benefit I’ve found from having dedicated breaks is the lack of pressure to try to maintain a streak every single day. I’ve also avoided the feeling of guilt when the said streak has been broken. Consequently, I’ve avoided the feeling of discouragement and have not gone into any downward spirals where no study is done for weeks. Where learners set study schedules and plan on specific language learning activities, such consideration should equally apply to time away from language learning, to have balance in your life.\n\nMy 2-day weekend away from language learning, barring the occasional Facebook post and occasional chat with family and friends, is [a complete break from all forms of immersion and active study](https://refold.la/simplified/stage-0/a/activities-explained). That said, see what works for you. Maybe try having set days for intensive immersion and active study whilst doing passive listening every single day. Depending on your circumstances, perhaps you could have a 3-day weekend away from one language to allow you to immerse in another. Regardless, consider this post as a timely reminder that rest is just as important as the work!\n\n**Addendum**\n\nTo ensure that Anki’s algorithm is not disrupted by the dedicated days off, you can use the [Migaku Vacation add-on.](https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/605638174) Very useful, especially when you need extended time off from flashcards!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## Intro\n\n![](/api/blog-images/when-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--image-16-7-1024x595.jpg.webp)\n\nA common question I get on my corner of the Refold network, especially from beginners, is what type of content to watch. The [roadmap](https://refold.la/roadmap/stage-0/a/roadmap-overview/) suggests that beginners start with simple scripted shows like dubs and children’s shows, and it’s natural to ask when one’s ready to “graduate” to the next tier of native shows, and graduate further to unscripted native content.\n\nI’m going to talk a bit about my thoughts on this question. By the end of this somewhat comprehensive look at my opinion on the matter, I hope to persuade you that you should start watching some unscripted native content now, and give you some actionable steps to go about doing so.\n\nLanguage learning isn’t a staircase where you progress one step at a time, it’s more like a forest where you wander to whatever you find interesting and note some cool sights.\n\n## The Difference\n\n![](/api/blog-images/when-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--image-1-1024x683.jpg.webp)\n\nTo start, what’s the actual difference between unscripted and scripted content? The short answer is the amount of thought that goes into the dialogue. This manifests in a few different ways.\n\nSomeone writing a script (or a blog post, for that matter) is going to be more careful about the words they choose, is going to clarify things that are unclear, and is going to overall use fewer colloquialisms. They’ll probably also read things more carefully, making the sound more clear. If your language has considerable differences between formal and informal, those will show up too.\n\nOn the other hand, someone speaking on instinct is going to do quite a few things differently. They’re going to use slang. They’re going to mumble. They’re going to occasionally struggle with how to say something, or ramble, or construct weird sentences. In my experience, unscripted dialog is also typically faster. These little differences add up and end up making quite a different sound, and there’s generally a conception that these differences make the language harder to understand.\n\nKeeping these differences in mind, it makes a lot of sense why beginners are advised to stick to friendlier content. The language is more organized, which increases comprehensibility, which increases learning. I agree, and I wouldn’t say to disregard this entirely, but I would caution against the attitude I’ve seen a few times of “I can’t watch X until I can understand Y.” This method works, but there are some benefits to front-loading the difficulty.\n\n## Benefits\n\n![](/api/blog-images/when-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--image.png.webp)\n\nSo unscripted content is more difficult. Great, so what? I think that there are a few benefits to taking the challenge head-on, even as a beginner.\n\n1. It’s fast. I don’t think that there’s anything that can properly prepare a new learner for just how fast everything is. When I first started moving from simplified to native content, it was a common event for me to hear a sentence and know that I could figure out what it means. But, by the time I solved the puzzle, the content was already four sentences ahead. Part of getting used to the content is just being able to keep up.\n2. It’s blurry. This goes hand-in-hand with the speed, but it’s worth mentioning that words and sounds will be blended together. Some words might disappear entirely. At the start, this just sounds like noise, and it takes a lot of time to be able to parse that noise as words. Again, this will sometimes happen in scripted shows, but not quite as much.\n3. It lays groundwork for thinking like a native. Chances are, there is some straightforward slang that your language has, that natives like to use quite often, but doesn’t show up in scripted media. In my target language, German, a relatively common one is “alter,” which is roughly used like the English “dude.” Yes, it’s not going to be too hard to pick this up no matter when you start with native content, but it does start to equip you with some simple tools to think about content when you go into listening mode. I think it’s just plain fun to see something happen and mentally exclaim, “Aaaaaaalter!”\n4. It makes the comprehensible stuff more comprehensible. I’ll disclaim that this one is more from personal experience, but by engaging a bit with content that’s way above your level, you’re actually speeding up the process a little. The mechanism is based on the size of the gaps: if you understand 99% of what you hear, then you’ll generally learn from the remaining 1% well, but those chances to learn are more scattered. Conversely, if you understand 70%, you might only learn from a tenth of the remaining 30%, but that’s still three times as much learning as the other case’s 1%.\n5. It builds some confidence. Once you reach that moment where the full-speed language with background noise and slurring starts to click, then it’s pretty freeing. You’ve started making progress on a final boss of sorts. You can pretty confidently go into any content you might be interested in, because if you can start to pick up on that, nothing can stop you!\n\n## Catching Up\n\n![](/api/blog-images/when-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--image-18-1024x683.jpg.webp)\n\nI mentioned that one of the challenges and benefits of unscripted content is the speed. Depending on where you are in y
44our journey, there are different ways the obstacle can manifest. For an absolute beginner, you may recognize the feeling that the language is just noise, maybe a word or two sticks out. If you’re further along, you might understand most of what you’re hearing, but just can’t keep up with it and lag behind, or lose the occasional details to garbled noise. Naturally, there’s a full gradient between those two.\n\nFortunately, how to catch up to and keep pace with the speed is straightforward enough. The old Refold adage of tolerating ambiguity applies. If you’ve seen the “tolerate ambiguity” phrase tossed around the roadmap or community a few times, you might think that this section is redundant, but I want to reiterate because I’ve seen a lot of people who seem to think that unscripted content is some sort of exception. Yes, it’s going to be confusing and fast and different at first. Even if you understand nothing, your brain is working on figuring it out. Give it time, you’ll get there.\n\n## Where to Start\n\n![](/api/blog-images/when-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--image-18-1-1024x683.jpg.webp)\n\nHopefully by now I’ve convinced you, if you weren’t already convinced, to start putting more time into unscripted native content. That’s easy to say, but what kind of content? Closing off, I think a great place to start is Let’s Plays, especially of familiar games.\n\nLet’s Plays are good because you get a lot of visual cues, and it puts some direct grounding in the words you’re hearing. Usually the background noise and clarity are kept to a reasonable level, and that reduces the obstacles to getting started. If you know the game well, then you’ll collect some free vocabulary, and you get a nice combination of the benefits of scripted and unscripted content.\n\nThere’s also a level of choice between watching single player and multiplayer Let’s Plays. Single player will generally be more clear and typically involves more scripted games. Multiplayer generally is going to be trickier and introduce a lot more of both speed and slang. Both have their benefits, and a running theme in this post is that I think that a healthy mix is best.\n\nAn important factor here is to be comfortable with the ambiguity. Generally this means finding a creator whose voice you like, someone who you can listen to for hours without feeling the need to understand everything. It took me a fair amount of time to find one that worked for me, and will likely be the same for you, so remember to experiment a lot. Once you find your creator of choice, I suggest looking for collabs they’ve done, since that can introduce you to a lot of adjacent creators.\n\n## Numbers\n\n![](/api/blog-images/when-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--image-19.png.webp)\n\nI like numbers. If you also like numbers, you may like seeing some of my concrete numbers for the things I’m saying, courtesy of everyone’s favorite test subject: myself!\n\nStarting from zero and dedicating about 50% of my time to target language Twitch streams, I got to the point of mostly keeping up with the speed for basic sentences after about 100 hours, and I got somewhat comfortable with the word blurring after about 200. Now, nearing 300 hours, most of my barriers aren’t with clarity, but with knowing the language itself (grammar, vocab, etc.).\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## Welcome!\n\nAsk any seasoned immersion learner, and they will have a wealth of knowledge on almost any aspect of the process that you can think of. However, with that wisdom and experience also comes a loss of perspective on what a new immersion learner struggles with. The process of language acquisition isn’t just about what YouTuber to watch or what vocabulary to learn. There are underlying skills that need to be cultivated and mindset shifts that need to take place for someone new, on top of trying to make sense of a foreign language.\n\nI have been [learning Japanese](https://refold.la/shop/decks/japanese/japanese-vocabulary-deck/) with Refold for almost a year now, and I spend a lot of time interacting with new learners and guiding them. Through these numerous experiences, I have organized some tips to share. The goal of this is to be motivating and encouraging, but also, some of this advice will not be what you want to hear. But you need to hear it.\n\n## 1. Be Patient and Set Low-Pressure Goals\n\n![](/api/blog-images/5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner--image-5-1024x683.jpg.webp)\n\nIf you have tried to learn a language in the past, you are more than likely familiar with the traditional method. What I mean by this is, cramming vocabulary lists and drilling grammar with little to no contact with the language itself. One of the main reasons traditional methods have survived for so long (among many others) is that they provide instant gratification. Hearing an uplifting chime sound in your mobile app (that may or may not involve a green owl mascot) whenever you correctly answer a question is an example of this. You get instant, positive feedback from your efforts. And, by extension, you feel a tangible sense of progress. That pesky question that was giving you trouble yesterday is a breeze today.\n\nIn addition, study materials, such as textbooks, are often watered down. They are intentionally made to be easy and digestible. They are an artificial version of the real language. Breaking up natural languages this way is much more palatable to the average person. If you set the bar very low to begin with, almost anyone will clear it.\n\nBut if you stop to think about it, isn’t this a little insulting? Textbooks and apps will basically drip-feed you the language in tiny, bite-sized chunks. It makes you feel good as a beginner, but it’s almost like being sheltered your whole life and being shocked when you try to interact in the real world.\n\nInput-based methods don’t offer such a gentle welcome. It is scary. It will feel as if you are being thrown into the ocean without land in sight. However, you will come out of the experience with an excellent tan, and more knowledge on how to swim than most people you will talk to.\n\nWhat I’m trying to say with my bad analogy is that your efforts will pay off. You won’t be getting instant positive feedback from a mobile app. But you will get something much more rewarding instead. You will be the most prepared out of your peers if you were to find yourself in a situation where you need to communicate with others in your target language. Struggling a little in the beginning means you don’t have to struggle later when it really matters.\n\nAll that being said, you will not notice instant progress. Your rate of progress will depend on many factors, including your target language itself, and how much time you can spend getting input per day. This language acquisition process is unconscious and difficult to notice from the outside. In this way, it’s similar to growing taller during that specific period of your life. You will not notice a drastic change day to day. However, when you look back over a period of weeks, months, and years, the changes will be clear as day.\n\nThat’s not to say you won’t notice progress at all. You will. It just won’t be on day 1, day 2, or even day 7. Be patient and don’t expect too much from yourself in a short period of time.\n\n## 2. Be Prepared For Your Goals To Change\n\n![](/api/blog-images/5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner--image-5-1-1024x576.jpg.webp)\n\nGoals are not a bad thing to have. In fact, they are great things to have. They can act as an important anchor in this confusing sea known as immersion learning.\n\nHowever, after spending some time here, you will naturally become a much stronger swimmer. As a beginner, it’s a good idea to set your expectations low. “I just want to be able to hold my breath for 30 seconds,” you think to yourself.\n\nAs great as that is, don’t hold onto these low-bar goals if they are holding you back. An example of a low bar goal is aiming to pass the lowest level of a certified language proficiency test for your target language. Spending just a year immersing in your target language for at least 1 hour per day will more than likely rocket you way past this goal. Don’t hold yourself back. You should adjust and revise your goals as you progress further.\n\nWhether it’s expecting too much too quickly, or holding onto low expectations, don’t be your own enemy. You already have enough to worry about throughout this process without getting in y
44our own way.\n\n## 3. You Don’t Know As Much As You Think\n\n![](/api/blog-images/5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner--image-5-2-1024x683.jpg.webp)\n\nLooking at this heading, you are probably expecting me to finally roast you and tell you that your 4 years of German in university didn’t matter. It was a complete waste of your time, and you don’t actually know anything.\n\nI’m going to take this in a different direction, though.\n\nI would compare the average traditional learner and the average immersion learner to a sprinter and a marathon runner, respectively.\n\nA sprinter and a marathon runner are both good at what they do, but they have very different skill sets and training.\n\nA traditional learner is very good at packing in tons of information in short bursts very quickly through brute force and rote memorization. However, they will choke if you push them past their comfort zone.\n\nAn immersion learner isn’t built for speed, but for endurance. They are also all about internalizing large amounts of information over a longer period of time. It will not be as fast as the traditional learner, but it will stick for the long term, and they will be able to learn much larger quantities of information in general than the traditional learner.\n\nBoth of these types of learners have their merits. But if you’re reading this, I’m going to guess that you’re looking for something more sustainable than the short burst, brute force method.\n\nIn this case, just as if you are transitioning from sprinting to marathon running, you will need to adapt your strategy. Some knowledge and skills may carry over, but generally, you will need to forget everything you know and embrace your new training routine.\n\nSo, your 4 years of [German](https://refold.la/shop/decks/german/german-vocabulary-deck/) in university isn’t completely useless, but you will need to come to accept that you don’t know everything. You won’t know a lot, actually. Be open-minded and humble yourself as if you are a beginner all over again.\n\n## 4. Don’t Make the Flashcard More Important Than It Actually Is\n\n![](/api/blog-images/5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner--image-5-3-1024x768.jpg.webp)\n\nComing from a traditional learning mindset, a lot of importance is put on flashcards. Whether you make them the old school way with paper or make digital ones, failure when reviewing flashcards is a negative reflection of your effort and intelligence. Because after all, how else will you learn this information? If you can’t remember the answers to your flashcards, what else is there?\n\nIn immersion learning methods, flashcards (using a Spaced Repetition System, SRS), really take more of a backseat in the process. This can be a difficult concept to grasp when you’re new. The reason for this is that the flashcards are not the entire method. Far from it. The core of the method is, well, immersion. Watching content that is engaging for you and hearing certain words repeat is much more effective than any flashcard. This also gives you a much more intuitive understanding of vocabulary through context, similar to natives of that language. This is also something that you simply cannot achieve with flashcards on their own.\n\nUsing immersion methods, your flashcards are more of a primer. Much like when your friend is telling you they bought a yellow car, you will start to notice more yellow cars on the road while driving. This is how the [SRS](https://refold.la/roadmap/stage-1/c/srs-best-practices/) works. You are simply being told what to look for, and let your immersion take care of the rest. There is no such thing as failure. Even if you answer incorrectly in your SRS, you will still continue to see those words, and you will still learn them. It literally doesn’t matter, even if you were to fail every single card in your deck. Let go of the need to get all the right answers when reviewing flashcards.\n\n## 5. Be Self-Sufficient\n\n![](/api/blog-images/5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner--image-5-4-961x1024.jpg.webp)\n\nWhen we think of learning, we almost expect to have a teacher, or someone just as knowledgeable telling us what to do, how to do it, and giving us feedback. We wait for the knowledge to come to us. Or we ask for it, and we instantly get it.\n\nThis is not how immer
44sion learning works, and it would benefit you to come to terms with that quickly. See what we said about the [difference between teaching and coaching](https://refold.la/blog/why-you-need-a-coach-not-a-teacher/).\n\nUnlike other skills such as changing a tire or painting a picture, we cannot tell you the language and have you understand. Language acquisition simply doesn’t work the way other skills do. It requires a lot of self-reflection, a lot of motivation, and a lot of being okay with not knowing the answer right away. If you are constantly spoon-fed, you will never build the confidence to feed yourself. A large part of being a successful immersion learner is learning how to be self-sufficient.\n\nDo your own research, read guides, read FAQs. Almost all of your questions will be answered by simply reading the large amounts of resources that have been written specifically for you and others like you.\n\nIn this confusing time, you will probably feel alone and isolated. You may feel that no one understands, or no one else has gone through what you’re going through. But your struggles as a beginner are not unique. In the immersion learning process, everyone will go through many phases. And as surely as the phases of the moon, you will go through it too, just like everyone before you has. You are not the first. Take advantage of the knowledge that has come before you.\n\nIf you’re still struggling, we are here to help you. But you need to try to find your own answers first. And sometimes the only answer to your problem is to immerse more. You need to make peace with this.\n\nGood luck!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## Tips for Japanese Reading Practice\n\n![Image of a light novel for Japanese reading practice.](/api/blog-images/dj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--image-77-9-1024x656.jpg.webp)\n\n### Intensive Reading\n\n- Set up [Yomichan](https://learnjapanese.moe/yomichan/) to look up unknown words instantly as you read.\n\n[Reading a lot is essential](https://refold.la/#problem-section) for improving your Japanese. There’s no shortcut. You will need to put in the hours and engage with challenging content and do lots of Japanese reading practice.\n\nInitially, you may find yourself “working” through articles, doing many dictionary look-ups. That’s perfectly fine! Over time, as you improve, these look-ups will decrease. You’ll be able to read longer passages without needing to check new words or grammar.\n\n### Set up YomiTan\n\nBefore starting to read websites in Japanese, you’ll need an interactive dictionary to help you make sense of the words. Even if you can sound out the kana, you may not understand what you’re reading. You’ll save a lot of work if you install [YomiTan](https://learnjapanese.moe/yomichan/), the best Japanese learners’ dictionary out there.\n\n### Volume!\n\n- Aim to read for at least **one hour a day**.\n- Don’t forget to include **one hour of active listening immersion** too!\n- If you can read more, go for it!\n\nChoose topics that interest you. Even if the material is above your level, your interest will keep you motivated.\n\n### Varied Difficulty\n\n- Read a mix of **easy** and **challenging** material.\n- Try to balance both types every day.\n\nReading easier content helps you become familiar with vocabulary and grammar. This will improve your reading speed.\n\nConversely, tackling harder content is key to expanding your vocabulary and enhancing your language skills.\n\n## NHK Web Easy\n\n![](/api/blog-images/dj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--image-77-10.jpg.webp)\n\n[Read Here](https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/)\n\n**Story**: 3/5\n**Language Learning Rating**: 4/5\n**Overall Score**: 4/5\n\n_Sue is an aging housecat who’s looking forward to living out her life in peace… but her plans change when the mischievous black tomcat Tai-chan enters the picture! Hey! Sue never signed up to be a catsitter! – Anilist_\n\n- Furigana: Yes\n- Native Audio: No\n- Pictures: Yes\n- Videos: Occasionally\n\n**Summary**\n\n[NHK Web Easy News](https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/) takes normal news articles and rewrites them in simple Japanese so that children can understand current events.\n\n**Features**\n\n1. Names and places are color coded (which just means you can ignore these words for now as a beginner)\n2. Usually 3-5 new articles are posted every weekday.\n3. Some articles have accompanying videos.\n4. Includes a link to the “normal” news article so that you can challenge yourself. Reading the easier article, and then the harder or normal one is a great way to push yourself and bridge the gap between beginner and intermediate reading materials.\n\n## 福娘童話集 {#fukumusume-dowashu}\n\n- Furigana: No\n- Native Audio: Yes\n\n**Summary**\n\n[福娘童話集](http://hukumusume.com/douwa/) is a collection of over 2000 folk tales and campfire ghost stories meant for children. Each story is usually about half a page to a page.\n\nThese short stories are great for getting you used to more descriptive language and dialogue while still at an early level.\n\n**Features**\n\nMost stories also have accompanying audio, where the story is read out loud by a native speaker.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/dj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--image-77-11.jpg.webp)\n\n[Read Here](http://hukumusume.com/douwa/)\n\n**Content:** Folk Tales, Ghost Stories.\n**Difficulty:** 3/10\n\n**Example Paragraph**: むかし、ある浜辺に、やかんが打ち上げられていました。\n これを見つけた男が、\n「何だこれは? ずいぶんと変わった形だが」\nと、やかんを持って考えていると、そこへ大勢の村人が集まって来ました。\n\n## 日本語多読道場 {#nihongo-tadoku-dojo}\n\n![](/api/blog-images/dj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--image-77-12.jpg.webp)\n\n[Read Here](https://yomujp.com/)\n\n**Content:** Graded readers from N5 – N1+\n\n**Example Sentence**: 地震から10日後、インターネットで中学校の友だちの名前を見つけました。地震で亡くなったã
44®ã§ã™ã€‚\n\n- Furigana: Yes\n- Native Audio: Yes\n- Pictures: Yes\n\n**Summary**\n\n[日本語多読道場](https://yomujp.com/) is a website that has graded readers for beginner-intermediate learners. The stories themselves are pretty short, usually only about a page long.\n\n**Features**\n\nEvery story has multiple high-quality photos to help you understand what is going on and also has an audio recording of a native speaker so that you can read and listen at the same time.\n\n## Towards Intermediate Level Reading\n\n![](/api/blog-images/dj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--image-77-13.jpg.webp)\n\nReading these harder sources listed below is a great way to push your abilities, grow your vocabulary, and get into reading actual Japanese material that is meant for a native audience.\n\nNothing is really going to prepare you for tackling this harder material, so it’s best to just jump straight in and try a little bit every day, while also continuing to use the easier resources listed above. Eventually, this content will also become easy!\n\n## 仏教ウェブ入門講座 {#bukkyo-web-nyumon-koza}\n\n- Furigana: No\n- Native Audio: No\n\n**Summary**\n\n[仏教ウェブ入門講座](https://true-buddhism.com/) is a blog that tries to teach various aspects about Buddhism and help people deal with everyday struggles in work, relationships, and at home. It reads more like a self-help/improvement blog rather than anything about religion.\n\nMost other Japanese blogs are written in a similar format, so it’s good practice for learning how to read normal Japanese while also remaining within a daily life genre and not being overly difficult.\n\nBuddhism is a huge part of Japanese history and culture, so it’s important to learn about it for cultural reasons even if you won’t practice it.\n\nYou’re going to learn some cool vocabulary if you read this.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/dj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--image-77-14.jpg.webp)\n\n[Read Here](https://true-buddhism.com/)\n\n**Content:** Self-help, Self-Improvement, Religion\n**Difficulty:** 5/10\n\n**Example Paragraph**:\n\nまずやりたくないことを毎日やらなければならない人は、「なんのために生きるのか」と考えがちです。\n\n早い人なら子供の頃から、なんのために毎日学校へ行って、勉強しなければならないのだろう、ということをきっかけに、なんのために生きるのかという疑問を持ち始めます。\n\n## 小説家になろう! {#shosetsuka-ni-naro}\n\n- Furigana: No\n- Native Audio: No\n\n**Summary**\n\n[小説家になろう](http://syosetu.com/) is a website where aspiring authors will publish chapters/pages of whatever story they are working on. Most stories tend to be isekai/fantasy or romance. This website is great for getting started with reading actual Japanese (light) novels while still being able to take it one page at a time.\n\nUse [jpdb.io](https://jpdb.io/web-novel-difficulty-list) to search for novels by difficulty, length, or character count.\n\n[くまクマ熊ベアー](https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4185ci/) is a good series to start with if you don’t know what to read (and has over 20+ full novels’ worth of content).\n\n![](/api/blog-images/dj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--unknown1-5.webp)\n\n[Read Here](https://syosetu.com/)\n\n**Difficulty:** N/A\n\n**Content:** Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Webnovels\n\n**Example Paragraph**: ゴブリンキングを討伐したあとã
44‚®ãƒ«ãƒ‰ã§ä¾é ¼ã‚’受けつつ、いろいろ実験を行った。\n\n魔法の応用、魔法イメージの仕方、クマ魔法の威力の確認。\n\nゴブリン王の剣の使い方、魔力の通し方、投げナイフの使い方。\n\nクマの攻撃力、クマの防御力の確認。\n\nクマボックスの仕舞える量、おおきさなどの確認。\n\nいろいろと検証した一週間だった。\n\n## Challenge Section!\n\n- Furigana: No\n- Native Audio: No\n\n**Summary**\n\n[日本史事典](https://nihonsi-jiten.com/) is a blog that posts lots of articles about Japanese history, world history, and politics sorted by time period.\n\nThese articles can get pretty tough due to the names of people/places and references to other historical events, so expect it to be a bit more challenging than the other material listed here. It might take you an hour to read one article when you start, but you will get faster as you keep reading more!\n\n**Features**\n\nArticles are sorted chronologically, so you can work your way back/forward in time and learn about each time period in Japan. I think that working your way backward is easier, since you can rely on your knowledge of recent events (21st-century history).\n\nEach article includes multiple pictures.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/dj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--image-79.png.webp)\n\n[Read Here](https://nihonsi-jiten.com/)\n\n**Content**: History, Politics\n**Difficulty**: 7/10\n\n**Example Paragraph:**\n\n世界初の社会主義国家を樹立した革命であるロシア十月革命。\n\nこの革命は世界に社会主義という新しい政治システムを広めることとなるのですが、ロシアはそれ以前から革命の機運が高まっていた国でもあったã
44®ã§ã™ã€‚\n\n今回はそんなロシアの最初の革命が起こるきっかけとなった『血の日曜日事件』について簡単にわかりやすく解説していきます。\n\n(中略)\n\n血の日曜日事件が起こる以前、ロシアという国はその国土の殆どが不毛な大地だったことや、長い間農民を苦しめていた農奴制が1861年まで行われていたこともあり、国内の近代化や工業化があまり進んでいない状態でした。\n\nまた、ロシア国内ではモスクワやサンクトペテルブルクに住んでいる貴族や資本家と農地に住んでいた農民との間に比べ物にならないほどの格差が存在していました。\n\nさらに、ロシアの政治システムも西洋諸国が民主主義を取り入れる中、当時の皇帝ニコライ2世は皇帝による独裁を徹底的に維持し、民主主義を空想だと一蹴していたのです。\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## Beginner Donghua Show Recommendations\n\nMany people believe that there isn’t much interesting Chinese content available. They often compare it to popular East Asian languages like Japanese and Korean. However, this belief is far from true. There is actually a wealth of compelling Chinese content out there.\n\nThe challenge is that much of it is less known in the Western world. A lot of this content hasn’t even been translated into English. This makes it hard to find and even harder to be aware of, especially if your Chinese skills aren’t strong enough to navigate the Chinese internet.\n\nFor beginners, searching for Chinese content online can be daunting. That’s why I’m writing this article—to help you discover great resources.\n\nI have spent about 3000 hours learning Mandarin Chinese over the past 20 months. According to [Refold’s guidelines](https://refold.la/simplified/stage-0/a/whats-my-level/), I reached Stage 3 in just 15 months. During this time, I have:\n\n- Watched numerous Chinese dramas and donghua (Chinese animation)\n- Listened to podcasts\n- Read manhua, web novels, and novels\n\nI’ve explored a lot of Chinese content, even when my language skills were limited. Donghua, in particular, has become one of my favorite ways to immerse myself in the language. I hope this post will help you save time and avoid some of the frustrations I faced while searching for good content.\n\nHere are my top donghua recommendations for beginners. These selections are easy to understand yet engaging enough to keep your interest.\n\n## Lan Mo’s Flower (蓝漠的花)\n\n![](/api/blog-images/alicias-favorite-beginner-mandarin-donghua-animation--image-81-2.jpg.webp)\n\n- Country: Mainland China\n- Season Available: 1\n- Difficulty: Easy\n- Matching Subs: Yes\n\n_Lan Mo is not your typical girl. She’s gluttonous and a bit of a tomboy. But everything changes when she finds a magical hair clip in a mysterious trinket shop. The shop vanishes the next day, leaving her with a powerful secret._\n\n_With the hair clip, Lan Mo can transform into a beautiful and feminine young lady. This new look might finally catch the attention of her childhood friend and crush, Liu Yifeng._\n\n_However, keeping the clip’s secret is not easy. She faces challenges from:_\n\n- _Liu Yifeng’s many admirers_\n- _A mysterious stranger named Xia An_\n\n_As Lan Mo navigates these complications, she begins to wonder if her possession of the hair clip is more than just a coincidence._\n\n**Lan Mo’s Flower** is an older animation by donghua standards. However, it remains one of the best choices for beginners.\n\nHere’s why it’s a great fit:\n\n- **Simple Story**: The narrative is sweet and easy to follow.\n- **Daily Life Vocabulary**: It uses vocabulary that beginners can understand.\n- **Short Episodes**: The show is brief, making it easy to watch.\n- **Standard Romance Plot**: The story is straightforward and relatable.\n\nWhile experienced learners might find the storytelling too simple and the animation a bit dated, **Lan Mo’s Flower** is perfect for those who want something more mature than children’s shows like **Peppa Pig**. It offers a great balance of comprehensibility and engaging content.\n\n## Spicy Girl (麻辣女配)\n\n![](/api/blog-images/alicias-favorite-beginner-mandarin-donghua-animation--image-81-3.jpg.webp)\n\n[Watch on WeTV](https://wetv.vip/en/play/d3nlcn8tpyo8xjl?vid=v00340qcqc3)\n\n- Country: Mainland China\n- Season Available: 1\n- Difficulty: Easy\n- Matching Subs: Yes\n\n_Since childhood, Su Xiao has often been pushed aside. Her frightening aura makes people wary of her. Now, as an actress, she finds herself typecast in villain roles._\n\n_One day, she crosses paths with Xiao Jian. He is a well-known investor and actor._\n\n_While watching a scene between Su Xiao and his manager, he decides to take action. To keep him quiet, Su Xiao signs a contract with him._\n\nI started watching this donghua with some skepticism. I expected it to be just another cheesy romance show filled with fanservice.\n\nHowever, I was pleasantly surprised. **Spicy Girl** quickly became one of my favorites in the donghua slice-of-life category. Here’s why:\n\n- **Well-Written Characters**: The characters feel real and relatable.\n- **Engaging Plot**: The story keeps you interested from start to finish.\n- **Solid Animation Quality**: The visual
44s are impressive and enjoyable to watch.\n\nThese elements make the show easy to binge-watch, even for beginners.\n\nPlus, the opening and ending songs are catchy. You might find yourself humming the tunes long after an episode ends!\n\n## Start to Be a Star Today (今天开始做明星)\n\n![](/api/blog-images/alicias-favorite-beginner-mandarin-donghua-animation--image-81.png.webp)\n\n[Watch on iQIYI](https://www.iq.com/album/super-star-2019-19rrhws815?lang=en_us)\n\n- Country: Mainland China\n- Season Available: 1\n- Difficulty: Easy\n- Matching Subs: Yes\n\n_Qin Ze is a young man starting university. He has always been a talented singer. However, after a traumatic experience, he can no longer sing in public._\n\n_One day, his twin sister, Qin Ya, who is a popular singer, changes everything. She asks Qin Ze to step in for her._\n\n_This moment could change his life forever._\n\n**Start to Be a Star Today** is a donghua that I approached with low expectations. I was wary after reading the synopsis. Shows with similar themes often fall into predictable, clichéd traps.\n\nHowever, this one turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Here’s what I liked about it:\n\n- The plot was well-handled.\n- It had genuine humor in the right moments.\n- There was enough heart to keep viewers invested.\n- The ending was satisfying and mature.\n- The animation is among the best in the slice-of-life genre.\n\nOverall, I came away more than satisfied with the show.\n\n## Twin Spirit Detectives (双生灵探)\n\n![](/api/blog-images/alicias-favorite-beginner-mandarin-donghua-animation--image-82.jpg.webp)\n\n- Country: Mainland China\n- Season Available: 1\n- Difficulty: Medium\n- Matching Subs: Yes\n\n_There is always more to the world than meets the eye._\n\n_This is the motto of twin brothers Xiaotu and Xiaohu. They are paranormal investigators. For them, what terrifies others is just another day at work._\n\n_Usually, they can separate their daily lives from their job. However, everything changes when they investigate a haunting involving a pair of twins._\n\n_During this investigation, they experience a series of bizarre events that challenge their understanding of the supernatural. Suddenly, they find themselves becoming targets of the hauntings._\n\n_It’s a journey that will test their beliefs and their bond as brothers._\n\n**Twin Spirit Detectives** is a bit more challenging than the three shows mentioned earlier. However, I found it easy to follow as a beginner. It was so engaging that I ended up binge-watching it in one night.\n\nHere are some key points about the show:\n\n- The vocabulary is mostly everyday language.\n- The crime and mystery terms are clear and easy to understand in context.\n\nEven though it was produced in 2014, the animation quality stands out. It is still better than many current animations worldwide.\n\nThe soundtrack and atmosphere are exceptional. The sound direction shines, especially in the horror scenes.\n\n- Long, drawn-out drones build suspense.\n- Intense sound effects and orchestrated crescendos heighten the tension.\n\nIn these moments, **Twin Spirit Detectives** can be genuinely frightening.\n\nSo, if you’re easily scared, be cautious! Don’t make the same mistake I did by watching it in the middle of the night.\n\nAnd if you'd rather read than watch some day, the Chinese Harry Potter is another way in. What its translators did to the spells is worth a look on its own.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nHello everyone! George here, you may know me from tagalog.com. In case you don’t, I’m a foreigner who learned Tagalog. This is a list of some of the best books to learn Tagalog. You won’t find any textbooks in this list, instead you’ll find easy to understand native content to help build your Tagalog skills with the power of [immersion](https://refold.la/#problem-section).\n\n## Diary ng Panget\n\n![Diary ng Panget is one of the best books to learn Tagalog.\n](/api/blog-images/george-pigs-beginner-tagalog-recommendations--image-80.png.webp)\n\n[Get the Book](https://www.google.com/search?q=diary+ng+panget+pdf\u0026rlz=1C1GCEU_en\u0026ei=8QaUYqCCO4yd0wSRs784\u0026ved=0ahUKEwjgvua384X4AhWMzpQKHZHZDwcQ4dUDCA4\u0026uact=5\u0026oq=diary+ng+panget+pdf\u0026gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBQgAEIAEMgYIABAeEBYyBggAEB4QFjIGCAAQHhAWMgYIABAeEBYyBggAEB4QFjIGCAAQHhAWMgYIABAeEBYyBggAEB4QFjIGCAAQHhAWOgcIABBHELADOgcIABCwAxBDOgoILhDUAhCwAxBDOgwILhDIAxCwAxBDGAE6BAgAEEM6BAguEENKBAhBGABKBAhGGAFQqQdYkglgvApoAXABeACAAUyIAaACkgEBNJgBAKABAcgBE8ABAdoBBggBEAEYCA\u0026sclient=gws-wiz)\n\n**Story**: 7/10\n**Characters**: 7/10\n**Overall**: 8/10\n\n_“A poor young woman becomes a personal maid for a rich and handsome young man. The two do not get along at first, but as their lives become entangled, their relationship becomes more complicated.”_\n\n- Difficulty: Easy\n- Book\n- Genre: Romance/Slice of Life\n\n_Diary ng Panget_ was the second book I ever read in Tagalog. Originally a Wattpad original, it was later published into a series of four novels — later made into a movie.\n\nThe book has an Anime tier Cinderella story plotline, and it makes more sense if you imagine the characters are actually in high school and not college as the book suggests.\n\nThe book — if read as a single e-book — is over 500 pages in length. The language used is colloquial but dated. It is full of Taglish and slang that is about a decade old. As a certified boomer, I’m okay with sounding a bit out of date.\n\nLike most Tagalog media, I wouldn’t read it for the plot. It is however a great starter book for people with a firm grasp of the fundamentals who are still lacking in vocabulary to learn Tagalog.\n\n## 100 Tales of Horror\n\n![](/api/blog-images/george-pigs-beginner-tagalog-recommendations--image-81.jpg.webp)\n\n[Read on Wattpad](https://www.wattpad.com/story/227053006-100-tales-of-horror)\n\n**Story**: N/A\n**Characters**: N/A\n**Overall**: 9/10\n\n_“A horror book written as a challenge by a published author. One story a day for 100 days”_\n\n- Difficulty: Medium\n- Book\n- Genre: Horror\n\n_100 Tales of Horror_ is my all-time favorite book in Tagalog. The title is self-explanatory. It is a series of 100 short horror stories, some of which are interconnected.\n\nI enjoyed this book because the stories vary in length and none are too long. As a person with ADHD-PI, I found this format very rewarding and easy to get into.\n\nThe plots and characters in the stories can vary, but one thing is consistent — the quality. Kuya Soju is an ethnic Tagalog — only about 30% of Tagalog speakers are native — and it shows. The quality of the Tagalog is consistently higher than much of what is available to us as readers.\n\nThe difficulty of the book is hard to rate because some stories are harder than others. The book is fairly recent and was written during covid. I find the covid horror stories to be an accurate analogy to what it was like to be under the world’s longest covid lockdown.\n\n## Dalaga na si Remison\n\n![](/api/blog-images/george-pigs-beginner-tagalog-recommendations--image-81-1.jpg.webp)\n\n[Read on Wattpad](https://www.wattpad.com/story/165683836-dalaga-na-si-remison)\n\n**Story**: 8/10\n**Characters**: 9/10\n**Overall**: 8/10\n\n_“This is the story of an innocent girl growing up, a simple story that many of us will surely relate to. Join Remison on her quest of growing up while facing different realities of love, friendship, and adult life.”_\n\n- Difficulty: Easy\n- Book\n- Genre: Romance/Slice of Life\n\n_Dalaga na si Remison_ has a special place in my heart. The book is one of the closest things to a graded reader we have in Tagalog.\n\nThe book tells the story of a girl. As the girl grows up so do the characters and the world around her. The difficulty of the language and topics increases as she ages in the book.\n\n_Dalaga na si Remison_ is an interesting way to experience the Pinoy childhood you never had. I am unsure if the book is properly a romance, but it does have romantic themes (and many others
44). The book is a poster child for what slice of life books for early language learners could be.\n\nThe author, Anak ni Rizal, is very prolific and writes in many genres. She also has a YouTube channel talking about books and Wattpad in Filipino.\n\nI hope these books help you to learn Tagalog as well as I have. Remember, no one was born speaking a language, we all learned by listening and practicing for years as a toddler. If I can do it, you can do it!\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## What’s the hardest part of learning Japanese?\n\n![](/api/blog-images/what-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-13-1024x576.jpg.webp)\n\nLet’s analyze various parts of learning Japanese and the common difficulties with them.\n\n## Kanji\n\n![](/api/blog-images/what-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-13-1.jpg.webp)\n\nLearning Kanji can be one of the first challenges for those starting to learn Japanese. Many people find these characters difficult. They can be, especially if you approach them the wrong way. This is a common mistake among beginners. However, once you become familiar with Kanji, they can be a powerful tool. They make it easier to learn new vocabulary.\n\n### Efficient vs. Inefficient Methods for Learning Kanji\n\n**Inefficient Methods:**\n\n- Focus on writing characters by hand.\n- Learn various readings for each Kanji without context.\n\n**Example:**\nTake the character 「生」. It has at least 17 different readings. Even if you memorize all of them, how will you know which one to use? You won’t know without understanding the vocabulary that uses this character. Learning multiple readings for one Kanji is often a waste of time.\n\n**Efficient Methods:**\n\n- Start by recognizing the most common 500 characters. This helps you get used to their shapes.\n- After this, you don’t need to study Kanji separately.\n\nYou can learn to read Japanese by expanding your vocabulary through reading. As you learn new words, you will naturally encounter new characters. The process is straightforward:\n\n- Learn a word.\n- Understand its reading and meaning.\n\nBy treating each word as a separate unit, you will improve your listening skills and reading ability in Japanese.\n\nIf you want to learn how to write Kanji by hand, wait until you can read Japanese novels with ease. This usually takes a couple of years of focused immersion. By then, you will have a solid foundation, knowing 3,000 to 4,000 characters through various words that use them. At this stage, learning to write the characters from memory will be much simpler.\n\n_For a list of words that use 「生」, use [Yomichan](https://foosoft.net/projects/yomichan/) to look up the readings. This will help you confirm that each reading is unique, making it easier to remember each word as a separate entity._\n\n- 生い茂る\n- 先生\n- 生き物\n- 生クリーム\n- 生涯\n- 芝生\n- 生憎\n- 生まれる\n- 生え変わる\n- 瓜生\n- 弥生時代\n- 柳生\n- 生す\n- 生る\n- 壬生\n- 生地\n- 平生。\n\n## Vocabulary\n\n![](/api/blog-images/what-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-13.png.webp)\n\n### Learning Vocabulary in Japanese\n\nLearning new vocabulary is a crucial part of mastering a language.\n\nTo understand nearly all Japanese content, you need to know about **30,000 words**. That’s a lot!\n\nHowever, if you focus on the most common **2,000 words**, you can achieve **70-80% comprehension** of spoken Japanese.\n\n#### Recommended Resources\n\nTo help you get started, consider these resources:\n\n- **[Kaishi 1.5k Deck](https://github.com/donkuri/kaishi)**\n\nThis pre-made Anki deck covers the essential beginner vocabulary systematically. Alongside it, use a basic grammar guide like **[The Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar](https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Basic-Japanese-Grammar/dp/4789004546)**.\n\n#### The Challenge of Advanced Vocabulary\n\nThe remaining **20-30%** of vocabulary contains all the details. Learning these words requires time spent reading, listening, and studying Japanese.\n\n#### Mining Vocabulary\n\nAfter you finish the pre-made decks, the best way to learn new vocabulary is to **‘mine’** words and grammar from materials you enjoy. This approach makes learning more engaging.\n\nUsing a **frequency list** can also help you focus on words that will boost your comprehension the most.\n\n#### Anki Card Types\n\nWhen using Anki, you can choose between two types of cards:\n\n- **Sentence Cards**: Show words and grammar in context. Help with retention but take longer to review.\n- **Vocabulary Cards**: Great for single-meaning words like nouns and some adjectives. Quicker to review but may have lower retention due to lack of context.\n\nWhile learning vocabulary is one of the longest parts of studying Japanese, you can simplify the process. Just remember: **Read, Anki, and Listen**.\n\n![](/api/blog-images/what-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-14.png.webp)\n\n## Grammar\n\n![The Dictionary of Japanese Grammar Series](/api/blog-images/what-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-15.jpg.webp)\n_The Dictionary of Japanese Grammar Series_\n\n### Understanding Japanese Grammar: A Simple Approach\n\nJapanese grammar can seem mysterious and intimidating. However, it is actually straightforward and easy to learn with the right approach.\n\n#### What Should You Avoid?\n\nTo start, let’s discu
44ss what not to do:\n\n- **Avoid grammar tables and workbooks.**\n  These methods can waste your time. They do not help you understand the purpose of grammar study.\n\n#### What is the Purpose of Studying Grammar?\n\nThe main goal of studying grammar is to improve your comprehension. It helps you understand what you read and hear.\n\n- **Grammar study is not for:** Formulating sentences in your head, or translating between Japanese and English\n\nInstead, grammar study introduces you to new sentence patterns. This exposure helps you understand content better and reduces the need for dictionary look-ups.\n\nUsing a spaced repetition system (SRS) like Anki can make your study more efficient. It helps you learn and remember what you encounter while immersing yourself in Japanese.\n\n#### Should You Study Japanese Grammar?\n\nYes! Studying grammar is essential for improving your understanding of written and spoken Japanese.\n\n#### How to Study Japanese Grammar Effectively\n\n1. **Start with a Quick Grammar Guide:** Use resources like Tae Kim or Sakubi. Spend no more than a week skimming through it. Familiarize yourself with basic particles and conjugations.\n2. **Sentence Mine:** After reading the guide, use The Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar. Create Anki flashcards for new grammar patterns and vocabulary. Using sentence cards is ideal because it shows new words and grammar in context.\n3. **Read a Lot:** The best way to learn grammar is through reading Japanese content. If you encounter unfamiliar words, use a dictionary for reference. J-J dictionaries like 大辞林 or 新明解 can help you look up grammar patterns.\n\n#### For Intermediate Learners\n\n- **Read 国語の文法:**\n  This resource teaches you to think about Japanese grammar as it is taught in schools in Japan.\n- **Explore JLPT文法解説まとめ:**\n  This website covers grammar from N5 to N1 and provides multiple example sentences for each pattern.\n  Sentence mine this site and create flashcards for new patterns and vocabulary.\n\n#### Practice Quizzes\n\nTo reinforce your learning, try these quizzes on Discord:\n\n- **JLPT N2 Grammar Quiz:** `k!quiz gn2 nd 20 mmq=2`\n- **JLPT N1 Grammar Quiz:** `k!quiz gn1 nd 20 mmq=2`\n\nBy following these steps, you will find that Japanese grammar is much easier to grasp than it seems!\n\n## Listening Comprehension\n\n![](/api/blog-images/what-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-15-1.jpg.webp)\n\nListening comprehension is one of the hardest abilities to work on when learning Japanese, solely because it requires so much time investment — much more than any other skill here. You may be able to read a sentence, but if you hear the same sentence in audio form, you might have no clue what it means.\n\nSorry to tell you, but there isn’t any solution to this problem other than _brute force_. You simply have to pour in a lot of hours into listening to raw Japanese: anime, drama, movies, podcasts, YouTube videos, and audiobooks. Pick your poison and start listening to raw Japanese whenever you have the chance. Don’t zone out! “Passive” listening isn’t “passive” at all: you must try to pay attention and understand your target language! Leaving Japanese on in the background or while you sleep as noise (and ignoring it) is not going to help your listening ability at all.\n\nSo I just said to listen to a lot of raw Japanese audio, but what about using Japanese subtitles?\n\nGo ahead! I am a big fan of using Japanese subtitles to learn from anime, dramas, movies, etc. In fact, this was a vital component of my routine when I was first learning Japanese and beginning to build my vocabulary count into the thousands. Using Japanese subtitles allows you to look up unknown words and grammar while watching and clear away ambiguity while watching your favorite shows. I highly recommend using [Language Reactor](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/language-learning-with-ne/hoombieeljmmljlkjmnheibnpciblicm?hl=en) so that you can use Yomichan to look up things as you watch Netflix/YouTube. I use [ShareX](https://getsharex.com/) (Windows only) to add sentence audio and images to my Anki cards that I create while watching Japanese content.\n\nNext up is “Intensive Listening”, a technique that you can utilize to bridge the gap between your listening and reading ability, pushing your listening ability to the next level.\n\n1. Watch a show with the JP subtitles blurred out (use Language Reactor in Netflix). This allows you to listen to the show one line at a time.\n2. If you don’t understand the audio as you watch, then you can check the Japanese subtitles simply by hovering over them. You can see if there was an unknown word preventing you from understanding, or if your listening ability is just lagging behind your reading ability (if you can perfectly understand with JP subtitles, then this is the case).\n3. In the second case, you can replay the same audio line multiple times until you can hear the line clearly and understand it.\n4. In the first case, you can make audio sentence cards for Anki using ShareX.\n5. After you finish watching the episode, download the audio (or see if it is already uploaded somewhere) and listen to it repeatedly for about a week. This is great “Passive” listening material.\n\nBonus Tip! Listen to the audiobook of books in order to take your listening ability to the next level. Reading the book and then listening to the corresponding audiobook allows you to mine new vocabulary and grammar and get repetition of content, allowing you to solidify and absorb the things that you learned while reading.\n\nMatt has a great video on developing Listening ability here: [Why you still can’t understand your TL](https://youtu.be/_LIz-Wbt4us).\n\n## Reading Comprehension\n\n![](/api/blog-images/what-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-15-2.jpg.webp)\n\nReading comprehension is easier to develop than listening skills.\n\nYour reading ability mainly depen
44ds on your vocabulary. Books often use a wider and more complex vocabulary than spoken Japanese. There’s no easy way to tackle your first novel (or few novels). It requires determination and effort.\n\nHere are some tips to improve your reading skills:\n\n- **Read daily**: Spend an hour or two reading. Focus on novels, light novels, and visual novels.\n- **Go at your own pace**: Reading allows you to take your time. You can re-read sections and look up unfamiliar words and grammar easily with [Yomichan](https://foosoft.net/projects/yomichan/).\n\nHowever, you will encounter many unknown words when reading authentic Japanese materials, especially novels.\n\nShould you look up every unfamiliar word? Or limit how many words you check per page?\n\nHere’s my suggestion:\n\n- Look up as many words as you feel comfortable with based on your energy level.\n- If you’re motivated, check words more often.\n- If you’re tired, skip some words and keep reading if they don’t seem important.\n\nOver time, you’ll find that new words appear less frequently. At that point, looking up words won’t feel overwhelming.\n\nNow, let’s talk about “speed reading.” This is mostly a myth. Native speakers read about 30,000 to 40,000 characters per hour. Reading faster than this usually means skimming, which can lead to losing comprehension.\n\nAs a language learner, focus on understanding the text. Your reading speed will naturally improve as you read more in Japanese.\n\n**Additional tip**: Don’t forget to read news articles, Wikipedia, and blogs too.\n\n_Check out Matt’s great video on [Why You Should Read Novels](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVbaaMnTmx4)._\n\n## Speaking Ability\n\n![](/api/blog-images/what-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-15-3.jpg.webp)\n\nThe time has come. You need to talk to Japanese people, whether out of interest or necessity. But can you really learn to speak just through immersion?\n\nDon’t worry, fellow immersion learners. I’ve discovered that speaking ability is closely tied to listening ability. After about 18 months of intense immersion learning (around 3000 hours with Anki), I was able to have conversations with native speakers without too much trouble. If you understand a wide range of your immersion content, you should have a similar experience.\n\nI can hear your concerns:\n\n- “I can’t wait a year and a half to speak!”\n- “That’s too long!”\n\nYou can start speaking to native speakers much earlier. It may not be a smooth transition, but you can begin whenever you feel ready.\n\nDon’t worry about fossilization or “early output.” As long as you get a good amount of input every day, you’ll be fine. Speaking with natives can boost your motivation and test your language skills.\n\nWhen you start speaking, you’ll notice your weaknesses in understanding and production. You might misunderstand your partner or make grammar and vocabulary mistakes. These are signs to focus on specific areas during immersion. Pay attention to the correct forms of phrases when reading and listening. This will help bridge the gap between your input and output skills.\n\nStarting to speak creates a positive feedback loop:\n\n- You learn from your immersion.\n- You use your speaking skills with natives.\n- You notice your weaknesses (either by yourself or through native corrections).\n- You return to immersion to address those weaknesses.\n\nThis cycle will help you improve over time.\n\n## Accent\n\n![](/api/blog-images/what-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-15-4.jpg.webp)\n\n**Pitch Accent in Japanese Learning: A Controversial Topic**\n\nPitch Accent is one of the most debated topics in learning Japanese. Here are some common opinions:\n\n- “Pitch Accent is useless as long as I can be understood.”\n- “Pitch Accent is absolutely necessary if you want to sound like a native speaker.”\n- “You should learn Pitch Accent from day one. Avoid reading until you are fluent to prevent bad habits.”\n- “You can fix your accent later, just like Matt, Dogen, Darius, and many others did.”\n\nThere are many strong opinions on Pitch Accent. I will keep this brief because I am working on a more detailed post about it. This upcoming post will guide you on how to develop a natural, native-like accent for free (though it will require time and effort).\n\nIf your goal is to sound like a native Japanese speaker, be prepared to invest significant effort into your pronunciation, accent, and intonation.\n\n## Writing Ability\n\n![](/api/blog-images/what-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image.jpg.webp)\n\nI’ll be straightforward: I don’t see the value in handwriting Kanji. It’s the least useful skill on my list. Instead, focus on:\n\n- Reading\n- Listening\n- Speaking Japanese\n\nThese activities are far more beneficial.\n\nOn the other hand, typing in Japanese is very useful and easy to learn. It’s mostly phonetic, making it accessible.\n\nWhen you’re starting out, writing essays, texting, or tweeting can improve your skills. It allows you to:\n\n- Take your time to organize your thoughts\n- Look up word and phrase differences\n\nI recommend using platforms like:\n\n- [Discord](https://discord.com/)\n- [Twitter](https://twitter.com/)\n- [Italki](https://italki.com/)\n\nAs I mentioned in the Speaking section, writing helps you assess your language level and identify areas for improvement. Use writing to:\n\n- Communicate with native speakers\n- Share your thoughts and opinions\n- Receive corrections from natives\n\nThis approach will help you grow through immer
44sion. That’s all for now, good luck with your Japanese journey.\n\n![](https://i0.wp.com/community.refold.la/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/%E9%98%BF%E8%89%AF%E3%80%85%E6%9C%A8%E3%81%A8%E5%85%AB%E4%B9%9D%E5%AF%BA.jpg)\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n## Introduction\n\nMy name is Dylan. Most people probably know me on Discord or Reddit as DJ_Ddawg. People often ask me, how many hours to learn Japanese?\n\nI have been learning Japanese for just over 2 years at this point (started on May 17, 2020) and I used an [immersion](https://refold.la/roadmap/stage-2/a/types-of-active-immersion/) approach the entire time.\n\nI am 21 years old and am currently a senior in college studying physics, with a minor in mathematics, and I am also in Naval ROTC.\n\n## How did you discover Refold?\n\nI had discovered Matt’s YouTube channel in late 2019 and had watched most of his videos on [learning Japanese](https://refold.la/shop/decks/japanese/japanese-vocabulary-deck/) since I was interested in doing so. I didn’t start learning Japanese until Summer 2020 when he had released his Japanese quick start guide on the old MIA website.\n\n## Why did you choose Japanese?\n\nI have done Judo since I was a teenager (age 13) and this was initially what got me interested in Japan and Japanese culture. I had seen some anime at the time (Naruto), but was never really into other anime.\n\nI have the opportunity to live in Japan for the Navy, so learning Japanese has practical benefits for my daily life. The Navy will also pay me up to an extra $500/month if I pass the DLPT, so there is monetary incentive as well.\n\nThe groundwork was entirely laid out for me: I found Matt’s old Japanese quick-start guide on the MIA website and simply had to execute what was written down. This made it incredibly easy to start, as I didn’t have any doubt about what I needed to do. Execute, do the grind work, improve.\n\n## Future dreams and goals with Japanese?\n\n1. I should be moving abroad to live in Japan within the next couple of years. I hope to live there for at least a couple of years.\n2. I am possibly looking into going to grad school in Japan and doing my master’s degree there (ideally the content will all be in Japanese). This isn’t a guarantee, however, and I could just as well end up going to an American university and using the GI Bill to pay for it, depending on what university I want to go to. I could always do both (Free masters at an American college and then pay for my own at a Japanese university if I want a second one).\n3. I think it would be really cool to go to Announcer/Narrator/Voice Acting school in Japan in order to work on my speaking ability/accent.\n\n## How has Refold changed your outlook on Language Learning?\n\nI had essentially no clue on how to learn a language before coming across Matt vs Japan’s YouTube channel, and my only experience was learning languages in middle and high school via classes (which didn’t have much success).\n\nI jumped full dive into immersing and learning Japanese as much as possible and haven’t looked back. I’ve made significant progress in my ability to read, listen, and speak in the target language, essentially going from zero to now being able to read most novels, watch Netflix and YouTube videos, listen to podcasts, and have conversations with native speakers with little difficulty.\n\nI still have quite a bit of ways to go and there are always things to improve upon in language learning, but I now have a systematic approach for going about tackling these problems and simply need to put in the work in order to do it. Having a solid methodology is an important part of language learning, and I am 100% confident in the methodology that Refold promotes.\n\n## What was your experience learning languages before [immersion learning](https://refold.la/simplified/stage-0/a/what-is-immersion/)?\n\nI had done 2 years of Spanish in Middle School and 3 years of Russian in High School.\n\nThe Spanish classes were entirely traditional “classroom” style of learning: memorize vocab lists, grammar tables, do output exercises, etc. I never listened/watched/read any Spanish content and thus never got very far.\n\nThe Russian classes were actually a style of “comprehensible input” learning, since my teacher was aware of Krashen’s work. We would be told stories in easy Russian using vocab that we had just learned (using mnemonics). Essentially, our teacher would just gossip to us in Russian about recent events in her life while making sure that we understood what she was talking about using pictures, gestures, etc.\n\nWe still did some traditional grammar learning and output exercises, but learning the language through stories was probably the most effective portion of the class. We would also watch old soviet films with Russian subtitles every week. In the higher level classes, we would also read some graded readers and would then have to write about them in Russian (which would then be c
44orrected).\n\n## How has your opinion of Japanese changed over time?\n\nI think a lot of people fall into a trap of thinking that Japanese is something special, when it really isn’t. Japanese is simply a tool for communicating information with other people — the same as any other language. Knowing a second language isn’t really something special, and it isn’t going to fundamentally change your personality/who you are. So if you are doing it to escape to a more “exotic” society, then you should probably re-evaluate why you want to learn Japanese. Many people over-exoticize Japan and then are incredibly disappointed later on once they have sunk thousands of hours into learning the language and learning that the culture/people/media aren’t what they expected it to be in the beginning.\n\nIt is best to temper your expectations in the beginning and have solid reasons for wanting to learn a language to a high level. Language learning requires an exorbitant amount of time and is something that you will have to do every day for the rest of your life. If you aren’t prepared to commit to that relationship (marriage) then you probably shouldn’t learn a second language.\n\nMy opinion of Japanese really hasn’t changed at all over time. It is simply a tool — just as I expected it to be. I enjoy reading and listening to various content and talking with other people — regardless of language. I just made the active decision to try to do most of that in Japanese.\n\nYou will find that going full dive into Japanese immersion will mean that you naturally have to cut out most English sources of media from your life. You probably won’t be able to talk about that awesome Netflix TV show that just came out with your friends and family.\n\nYou might have to sacrifice hobbies in order to devote that time to studying and immersing in your target language. You will probably spend a large majority of your time learning a second language alone, in your room, on your computer or iPad reading some news article, looking up unknown words, struggling and fighting your way just to understand basic messages.\n\nThis is simply the reality of language learning. You are trying to install a completely new operating system in your brain from scratch — that’s going to require a massive amount of time in order to get good at reading, listening, speaking, and writing in a foreign language effortlessly. It is a constant uphill battle where you won’t see progress on the day-to-day timescale. However, you must persevere and continue every day if you want to improve.\n\n## How many hours did you immerse per day?\n\nOn average, I usually did 5-6 hours per day actively.\n~3-4 hours of Active Listening (maybe ~40 – 60% with Japanese subs)\n~1-2 hours of Reading\n~30 minutes of Anki (~10-15 new cards per day)\nPassive listening throughout the day when I can.\n\nIf I could do more (like on the weekends or during vacation) then I would try to.\n\nAt a minimum, I tried to aim for ~2 hours per day when I was really busy in school.\n~1 hour listening\n~1 hour reading\n~finish Anki reps + 5-10 new cards.\n\nI was generally able to average ~500 hours every 3 months.\n\n## When were you able to start enjoying (and understanding) immersion?\n\nI speed ran the beginning stage in the summer of 2020 and then started sentence mining from my immersion material.\n\n1. I finished the Recognition RTK deck in about 2 weeks and simply watched a lot of raw anime and Terrace House at the time. I didn’t understand anything, but I was able to just sit down and watch/listen for hours a day. I would practice recognizing the Kanji I had learned that day by watching some content with Japanese subtitles. I felt massive boosts from day to day since I was learning ~100 cards per day and the kanji learned were so high frequency.\n2. I finished the Tango N5/N4 decks and read through (skimmed) Tae Kim’s grammar guide in another 2 weeks and was able to start understanding NHK easy news and anime with JP subs at this point.\n3. I took another two months to go through the Tango N3 deck and sentence mine the Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar while also doing the Monolingual transition.\n4. After this point I simply sentence mined my immersion material, did Anki, and used monolingual dictionaries. So it took about ~3 months of full time study/immersion (~500 hours) before I was able to work my way through an anime like Death Note (while watching with Japanese subtitles) or an actual NHK news article and be able to understand it.\n5. After about another 3 months of this (~1000 hours total), I started reading my first Light Novel and was able to work my way through about a volume per week (maybe reading ~1-2 hours per day).\n6. After about 1 year (~2000 hours total) I was pretty comfortable watching most TV shows with JP subs and not needing to look much up (~couple words per episode). If I was reading books, then I was fine as long as I was able to use Yomichan to look up unknown words (~8-12 words per page).\n7. After about 18 months (~3000 hours) I started having conversations with actual Japanese people and found that I was able to just jump into having full conversations without too much difficulty or having spoken before. Of course, I made mistakes with vocab and grammar, but I was able to communicate ideas much better than those who had only done Japanese classes.\n8. After 2 years (~4000 hours) I can pretty much read most modern light novels without too much difficulty (~1-3 unknown words per page) and can watch raw anime/YouTube videos or listen to podcasts and understand 98%+ of it the majority of the time. Older literature from the early 20th century is still difficult and has a lot of unknown words. I still have a lot of room to improve my output ability and correct mistakes in grammar, vocab, and accent.\n\n## What are your thoughts on tracking your progress?\n\nI’ve had periods of intensively tracking my immersion, as well as periods of not bothering at all. Both have their benefits. Personally, I don’t track anymore because I can’t be bothered to do it and would rather just actually immerse and have fun with the language.\n\nBenefits of Tracking Stats:\n\n1. Set goals and stay consistent. Putting in numbers every day shows you exactly how much you actually did on a day-to-day basis and can be a good “gut check” to make sure that you are actually putting in the work that is necessary to get the progress that you are wanting.\n2. You can reflect back on monthly progress and try to beat your numbers next month.\n3. Scientific data that you can show or share with others.\n\nBenefits of not tracking:\n\n1. Tracking is kind of a pain to do and can actually get in the way of just sitting down and immersing. You might find yourself too worried about making sure that you are “recording the numbers” instead of just actually doing what is important — lots of listening and reading.\n2. Tracking can be inconsistent sometimes. Listening to podcasts is more “intense” than listening to YouTube videos or anime. Reading light novels is more intense than reading manga. Doing hybrid listening/reading (watching anime with JP subs, reading along with an audiobook, etc.) is difficult to track.\n\nIf you want to use a spreadsheet to track y
44our stats then I recommend the following spreadsheet (I made it): [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18uPz-xQvAH1shTXr6Wj3feHCJkF92G-3y7pHlEgA0To/edit](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18uPz-xQvAH1shTXr6Wj3feHCJkF92G-3y7pHlEgA0To/edit)\n\n## Thoughts on Reading?\n\nI think reading is perhaps one of the most effective and fun ways to learn a language. There is such a wide swath of material that it is virtually unlimited: novels, light novels, visual novels, Wikipedia, blogs, Twitter, manga, etc. I think fiction is really great for boosting your descriptive vocabulary, while non-fiction is great for learning about new things in your target language. I particularly like reading about history, religion, and philosophy when I read non-fiction.\n\nI also think that the written language has a much wider usage of vocabulary and grammar than the spoken language, so it is great for continuing to boost your language abilities to an advanced level and being able to speak on more complex topics that may not come up in your listening immersion.\n\nThose reasons make the written language harder to “burst into” than listening material. I think it is totally fine to start out using graded readers and watch anime with Japanese subtitles when you first start out. I particularly read a lot of NHK Easy News, and a lot of children’s folk tales on [http://hukumusume.com/douwa/](http://hukumusume.com/douwa/). However, eventually you do have to start reading novels, and there really isn’t an approach other than brute force and total volume. Read, look up unknown words with Yomichan, sentence mine, repeat.\n\nThe only downside to reading is that you aren’t hearing native speakers pronounce the words as you are reading. I don’t know if reading “damages” pronunciation, but I think that the gains of reading far outweigh any negative benefits (which can be negated by doing more listening immersion). I think that listening to audiobooks after you finish a book is a great thing to do and makes for excellent shadowing material. I don’t think that you shouldn’t read or put off reading — there are simply too many benefits to ignore it and progress with an all audio approach is much slower + has negligible (if any) benefits. Even if you don’t like reading, I think you should try to get in at least an hour a day.\n\nOne way that you can use your reading to improve your accent is by reading aloud and having native speakers correct your pronunciation/accent/intonation; you can use Discord or italki for this. A tutor might be the best option because you are paying them to correct you, while a friend you usually talk to will probably not want to fix all of your mistakes. A lot of members in the community recommend doing this “pitch focused reading” to work on your accent because it forces you to know the pitch accent of the words as you are reading them aloud. You shouldn’t always do this when reading, but it is a great exercise that you can use to improve your speaking ability and is a “hardcore” approach to fixing your accent, since you will have to look up the correct pronunciation of words that you aren’t sure of.\n\n## Other thoughts?\n\nI spent way too much time writing this.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\nThe best Spanish shows for learners are the ones with clear, natural speech and accurate subtitles, at a level you can mostly follow. Start with simpler, dialogue-driven series and work up to fast, slang-heavy dramas as your ear improves. Below you will find shows grouped by level, so you can choose the right one for where you are now.\n\n## Best Netflix Shows for Spanish Beginners\n\nTV shows and movies are by far my favorite way to immerse in a foreign language. They provide a lot of content, usually have matching subs, clear audio and are very compelling, even when your comprehension is low, but people often ask “what are the best Spanish series on Netflix”?\n\nAt the time of writing this post, I have immersed in [Spanish language](https://refold.la/shop/decks/spanish/spanish-vocabulary-deck/) (okay, mostly Mexican) Netflix for over 200 hours. I attribute a lot of my ability to easily listen and follow stories and topics to watching all these shows.\n\nTo understand more of what you are watching, our [Spanish vocabulary deck](https://refold.la/decks/buy/fundamental-vocabulary-to-learn-spanish) front-loads the most common words with native audio, so more of the dialogue makes sense from the very first episode.\n\nHere is my list of the Best Spanish Series on Netflix:\n\n## Madre solo hay dos\n\n![Best Spanish series on Netflix: Madre solo hay dos](/api/blog-images/best-shows-to-learn-spanish--image-79.jpg.webp)\n\n[Watch on Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/vn-en/title/81002483)\n\n**Story**: 7/10\n**Characters**: 9/10\n**Visual Interest**: 6/10\n**Filmography**: 5/10\n**Overall**: 8/10\n\n_“After realizing their babies were exchanged at birth, two women develop a plan to adjust to their new lives, creating a single — and peculiar — family.”_\n\n- Country: Mexico\n- Seasons Available: 2\n- Difficulty: Easy\n- Matching Subs: Yes\n\nAfter reading the summary for the show, I was skeptical of whether or not I would like it. But, I decided to give it a try anyway and was completely surprised by what I found. _Madre solo hay dos_ quickly became one of my favorite shows I’d watched.\n\nIt’s touching, sweet and feels like there are real learning moments for everyone involved.\n\nThe characters are so well written and acted, that they all feel like people you’ve seen countless times on the bus or on the street.\n\nI really wish there were more seasons of this show since I think it’s one of the best options out there for learners who are looking to start their immersion.\n\n## Las crónicas del taco\n\n![Best Spanish series on Netflix: Las crónicas del taco.](/api/blog-images/best-shows-to-learn-spanish--image-79-1.jpg.webp)\n\n[Watch on Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/vn-en/title/81040704)\n\n**Story**: Not applicable\n**Characters**: 6/10\n**Visual Interest**: 8/10\n**Filmography**: 7/10\n**Overall**: 7/10\n\n_“Many of the most popular taco styles have long and rich, but little-known, histories; this docuseries explores some of them in this eye-opening, mouthwatering food adventure.”_\n\n- Country: Mexico\n- Seasons Available: 2\n- Difficulty: Easy\n- Matching Subs: Yes\n\nThis show is very simple in its premise, but delivers a wonderful experience for both your eyes and ears. Each episode focuses on a different style of taco from a different part of Mexico (and a few other places).\n\nThere are many different “characters” who you get to follow, and it gives the experience of a story being told.\n\nThe aesthetics of the show are very pleasing, from the physical shooting locations to the animations used to tell the history of various tacos.\n\nYou can almost smell the food and should make sure to have snacks close by.\n\n## ¿Quién mató a Sara?\n\n![Best Spanish series on Netflix: ¿Quién mató a Sara?](/api/blog-images/best-shows-to-learn-spanish--image-79-2.jpg.webp)\n\n[Watch on Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/vn-en/title/81166747)\n\n**Story**: 7/10\n**Characters**: 9/10\n**Visual Interest**: 7/10\n**Filmography**: 5/10\n**Overall**: 8.5/10\n\n_“After being framed for his sister’s murder, Alex is hell-bent on exacting revenge and finding the real culprit.”_\n\n- Country: Mexico\n- Seasons Available: 2\n- Difficulty: Medium\n- Matching Subs: Yes\n\nThis show is a great early choice because it’s incredibly compelling as well as being interesting in its storytelling and character development. There are constant twists and turns to keep you interested all the way through.\n\nThe story is told non-linearly but is always clear with what it’s saying. If you enjoy shows where each piece of new information completely warps your guesses and feelings, then this is the show for you.\n\n## Luis Miguel: La serie\n\n![](/api/blog-images/best-shows-to-learn-spanish--image-79-3.jpg.webp)\n\n[Watch on Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/vn-en/title/80191236)\n\n**Story**: 8/10\n
44**Characters**: 9/10\n**Visual Interest**: 7/10\n**Filmography**: 7/10\n**Overall**: 9/10\n\n_“Micky, a young, naturally talented singer, enjoys life, love and security with his beloved mother, but when he turns 11, his father tries to turn him into a superstar.”_\n\n- Country: Mexico\n- Seasons Available: 3\n- Difficulty: Hard\n- Matching Subs: Yes\n\nThis is the only show on the list that I have marked as “hard”, but I think it absolutely deserves to be here. It is amazing. It has great characters, a gripping story and wonderful music to boot. Apparently, all the vocals are done by the actors you have seen on screen, which is amazing!\n\nIf you’ve never heard of Luis Miguel, and you’re learning Spanish, this is probably a very important cultural experience for you. Thankfully, it’s wrapped up in an amazing TV show so it’ll hardly feel like work!\n\nThis is one of the few shows that I would even recommend to people who don’t speak a word of Spanish, it’s just so good and interesting.\n"])</script>
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44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"\n_I think that the recommendation of needing “near-perfect comprehension” without subs to start to output is honestly absurd. – Brent_\n\n## The Output Controversy\n\nThere have been many questions in the community about why we’ve set level 5 comprehension of a domain as the threshold for output. A lot of people think this level is too high and that learners should start speaking earlier.\n\nI want to supply some history about why we decided to set it at level 5 so you can decide for yourself whether you want to wait that long.\n\n## Why We Created the Roadmap\n\nThe [roadmap](https://refold.la/roadmap/stage-0/overview/) is meant to provide clarity to the language learning process. I struggled for years to understand what it _actually_ takes to become fluent. There’s an enormous number of different opinions, tips, and tactics on the internet, but I’ve never found a true “Map to Fluency”. The Roadmap is meant to fix that gap.\n\nWe wanted to create a clear, step-by-step guide to fluency that provides structure to this very long and arduous process; structure that I badly needed for my own learning.\n\nThat does not mean that the steps we created are perfect, or that they can’t be improved, or that they are right for everyone. It’s simply a template that each learner should adapt to their own goals and needs.\n\n## Threshold for Output\n\nThe core framework of the guide has always been the same:\n\n1. Learn to understand the language (input).\n2. Learn to speak the language (output).\n\nAs we broke those two steps down into 4 stages and various substages, we needed to provide clear criteria that learners could use to evaluate their progress and move between levels.\n\nTo graduate from input to output, we created the following self-test:\n\n“You’re ready to move to Stage 3 when you have level 5 comprehension of slice-of-life TV shows intended for adults, without using any significant supports. Watch the episode without subtitles and without pausing. You should have near-perfect comprehension of everything said.” – _[link](https://refold.la/roadmap/stage-2/c/immersion-guide#Level-Up)_\n\nA lot of learners misinterpret this test. To clarify, you don’t need to understand every piece of native content in a domain. You should just have level 5 comprehension in any one piece of content, as long as that content is new to you and is made by natives, for natives.\n\nThis threshold is not set in stone. It’s not a law that you have to blindly follow. It’s simply a proxy for your progress in the language. If you’ve achieved this level, it means that:\n\n1. You’ve experienced the input process.\n2. You have tools and strategies that work for you personally.\n3. You’ve acquired a solid foundation of vocabulary (~7,000 words).\n4. You’ve acquired all the basic grammar structures.\n5. You’ve developed some level of listening automaticity so that you can understand parts of the language instantly without thinking about it.\n\nIt means that you’ve laid a really solid foundation for future fluency.\n\n## The Output Trap\n\nWhen I started [learning Spanish](https://refold.la/how-to-learn-spanish/), I 100% believed that language hacking and extreme output was the path to fluency. Following this method, I hit a wall at around 8 months that felt insurmountable.\n\nMy language abilities were extremely rigid. My sentences were all structured the same and I could tell that they didn’t sound natural. I had mastery of a very small domain, but outside of that, I couldn’t speak at all.\n\nI hit these barriers because I hadn’t laid a foundation with large quantities of input.\n\nNow I have a thousand hours of input under my belt. My language abilities feel unbounded and much more dynamic. My iTalki tutor is constantly delighted at the vocabulary I use in conversation because she’s so used to rigid and limited learners like I used to be.\n\nThe Level 5 threshold is a way for us to ensure that when you do start outputting, your ability won’t be limited the way mine was.\n\n## Why Not Level 6?\n\nAJATT was of the opinion that you shouldn’t start outputting until it felt natural, which in Matt’s experience was Level 5 across many domains. From the perspective of mass-market appeal, that is not a suitable model. Most learners want to start speaking much earlier.\n\nI’m also not convinced that waiting so long is the most efficient way to achieve high-level language proficiency. There are lots of examples of people who have achieved fluency in a second language while using hybrid input/output approaches.\n\nAs I see it, there are two complementary processes that occur simultaneously in [immer
44sion learning](https://refold.la/simplified/stage-1/a/immersion/):\n\n1. The more input you get, the easier traditional methods become.\n2. If you get enough input, your subconscious language abilities take over, and you can speak without thinking.\n\nAJATT’s advice was to only aim for #2 and accomplish it before ever trying to speak. In Refold, #2 is still the goal, but we acknowledge that as long as you have a solid chunk of input under your belt, you can develop good speaking ability much earlier if you do #1 on your way to #2.\n\n## The Input Trap\n\nThere’s this idea in our community that if you just get enough input, then one day you’ll wake up perfectly fluent.\n\nThis is not true. No matter how much input you get, you will still make mistakes and you will need to deliberately practice output. A strong foundation with input simply allows you to improve your output abilities much faster when you choose to start speaking.\n\n![YouTuber Matt versus Japan talking about output.](/api/blog-images/when-are-you-ready-to-output-2--image-4.png.webp)\n\nEven if you get an enormous amount of input your output abilities will still suck on day one. And you’ll know exactly how bad they suck because you will be able to hear all the mistakes you’re making.\n\nThat’s a GOOD thing. Knowing how bad you suck helps you improve much faster.\n\nIf you want to start speaking at level 4, then by all means, do it. Just know that you’ll need more correction from native speakers because you won’t be able to correct yourself.\n\nIf you want to wait until level 6, then by all means, do it. Just know that no amount of input allows you to completely skip the discomfort of output.\n\n## Am I Level 5?\n\nI hit the Stage 3 benchmark about 6 months ago. I could fully understand some native content but it was not common. For most content, my [comprehension](https://refold.la/simplified/stage-2/a/measure-comprehension/) was mid-level 4.\n\nThat’s fine with me. I want to speak earlier and I’m willing to hire an iTalki tutor to correct me.\n\nNow, 6 months later, there’s a lot more content that I can fully understand, but I still would not call myself level 5 in any domain. My comprehension level is definitely improving, but I only get a few hours a week to immerse so it’s a slow process, especially now that I’m balancing that time with output practice.\n\nHowever, the foundation I gained in stage 2 allows me to speak and write in stage 3 at a much higher level than I ever could during my language hacking days and I’m very happy with the amount of active vocabulary and grammar I have at my disposal.\n\n## Summary\n\nThe Refold guide is meant to be an example path to fluency. It’s not a bible. We do our best to explain the theory behind our recommendations so that you can make the appropriate adjustments for your goals and your needs.\n\nWe recommend getting lots of input before you start outputting. The specific amount of input is up to you.\n\nWe recommend focusing on comprehension first before trying to speak. The specific level of comprehension is up to you.\n\nMoral of the story: do the things that make sense for your life and your goals. It is not useful to constantly worry and stress about optimizing your learning path.\n\n_PS: We still love you, Brent._\n"])</script>
44<script>self.__next_f.push([1,"5:[[\"$\",\"div\",null,{\"className\":\"mb-8\",\"children\":[[\"$\",\"h1\",null,{\"className\":\"text-foreground font-displayLarge mb-4\",\"ref\":\"$undefined\",\"children\":\"Blog\"}],[\"$\",\"p\",null,{\"className\":\"font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground\",\"ref\":\"$undefined\",\"children\":\"Insights, updates, and thoughts on language learning.\"}]]}],[\"$\",\"$L31\",null,{\"posts\":[{\"title\":\"How Was Harry Potter Translated Into Mandarin Chinese?\",\"url\":\"harry-potter-in-mandarin\",\"description\":\"Petrificus Totalus became 统统石化. Wingardium Leviosa became pure sound. How the Mandarin translators rebuilt Harry Potter's spells and invented names.\",\"language\":\"en\",\"author\":\"Ben Adams\",\"publishDate\":\"2026-08-20T09:00:00+00:00\",\"status\":\"published\",\"tags\":[\"harry potter\",\"translation\",\"mandarin\",\"chinese\"],\"featuredImage\":\"/api/blog-images/harry-potter-in-mandarin--four-spells.png\",\"authorType\":\"Person\",\"updatedDate\":\"2026-08-20T09:00:00+00:00\",\"toc\":true,\"readingTimeMinutes\":10,\"capsule\":\"The Simplified Chinese translation solves Rowling's invented words three different ways. It calques some of them, transliterates others into meaningless syllables, and mixes both halves inside a single spell. Petrificus Totalus became 统统石化, \\\"entirely petrify\\\". Wingardium Leviosa became eight characters of pure sound. Here's what changed, and why.\",\"sources\":[{\"title\":\"The Harry Potter Project\",\"url\":\"http://www.cjvlang.com/Hpotter/index.html\",\"publisher\":\"cjvlang.com\",\"note\":\"Greg Pringle's long-running comparison of the Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese translations\"},{\"title\":\"Simplified Chinese editions of books 1 and 2\",\"publisher\":\"People's Literature Publishing House\",\"note\":\"every Chinese form quoted in this article was located in the published text rather than taken from a fan wiki\"},{\"title\":\"J.K. Rowling on the origin of Alohomora\",\"publisher\":\"Wizarding World\",\"note\":\"Rowling has said the word comes from Sidiki, a West African Mande term glossed as \\\"friendly to thieves\\\"\"}],\"faq\":[{\"question\":\"How was Harry Potter translated into Chinese?\",\"answer\":\"The Simplified Chinese edition from the People's Literature Publishing House uses three strategies depending on the word. Names of people and places are usually transliterated, so Hogwarts becomes a string of characters chosen for their sound. Descriptive names are translated for meaning, so the Sorting Hat becomes 分院帽, \\\"divide house hat\\\". Spells go either way, and several go both ways at once.\"},{\"question\":\"What is Wingardium Leviosa in Chinese?\",\"answer\":\"羽加迪姆勒维奥萨 (yǔjiādímǔ lèwéi'àosà). It's almost pure transliteration, built from the same characters Chinese uses for foreign proper nouns like Disney (迪士尼). The one exception is the first character, 羽, which means \\\"feather\\\" and looks like a nod to the \\\"wing\\\" in Wingardium, though the translators never said so.\"},{\"question\":\"What is Expelliarmus in Chinese?\",\"answer\":\"除你武器 (chú nǐ wǔqì), literally \\\"remove your weapon\\\". Unlike the English, which is pseudo-Latin, the Chinese is an ordinary readable phrase. It works because four-syllable set phrases are a normal part of everyday Chinese, so a spell that reads like a short sentence doesn't feel strange the way it would in English.\"},{\"question\":\"What is Hogwarts in Chinese?\",\"answer\":\"霍格沃茨 (Huògéwòcí), a transliteration with no meaning attached. The houses go the same way: Gryffindor is 格兰芬多 (Gélánfēnduō) and Ravenclaw is 拉文克劳 (Lāwénkèláo). Places with descriptive English names are treated differently, so the Chamber of Secrets becomes 密室, \\\"secret room\\\".\"},{\"question\":\"Who translated Harry Potter into Chinese?\",\"answer\":\"The Simplified Chinese editions were published by the People's Literature Publishing House in Beijing, with Ma Ainong, Ma Aixin and Cao Suling among the translators across the series. Taiwan has a separate Traditional Chinese translation from Crown Publishing, which makes different choices; the forms quoted in this article are the Simplified ones.\"},{\"question\":\"Are the Harry Potter spells in Chinese the same as in English?\",\"answer\":\"Almost none of them are. Most European translations leave the pseudo-Latin spells untouched, because Latin already looks foreign on a European page. Chinese has no Latin alphabet and n
44o Latin substrate, so leaving a spell alone isn't an option. Every spell had to be rebuilt as characters, which forced a decision on each one about whether to carry the sound or the sense.\"},{\"question\":\"Is reading Harry Potter a good way to learn Chinese?\",\"answer\":\"It's one of the better options, because knowing the story carries you through the parts you can't read yet. Chinese adds a difficulty that alphabetic languages don't, since you can't sound out a character you've never seen, so reading alongside the audiobook and pre-learning the common vocabulary matters more here than usual.\"}],\"itemList\":{\"name\":\"Four Harry Potter spells and what Mandarin did to them\",\"description\":\"Four spells from the Simplified Chinese Harry Potter, and the different strategy each one shows.\",\"items\":[{\"name\":\"Petrificus Totalus: 统统石化 (tǒngtǒng shíhuà)\",\"anchor\":\"petrificus-totalus\",\"description\":\"Both halves translated for meaning and the Latin word order reversed. \\\"Entirely\\\" plus \\\"to stoneify\\\".\"},{\"name\":\"Alohomora: 阿拉霍洞开 (ālāhuò dòngkāi)\",\"anchor\":\"alohomora\",\"description\":\"A hybrid. The first three characters are meaningless sound, the last two mean \\\"flung wide open\\\".\"},{\"name\":\"Expelliarmus: 除你武器 (chú nǐ wǔqì)\",\"anchor\":\"expelliarmus\",\"description\":\"A plain readable phrase, \\\"remove your weapon\\\", far more literal than the English pseudo-Latin.\"},{\"name\":\"Wingardium Leviosa: 羽加迪姆勒维奥萨 (yǔjiādímǔ lèwéi'àosà)\",\"anchor\":\"wingardium-leviosa\",\"description\":\"Almost pure transliteration, using the same characters Chinese uses for foreign proper nouns. Only 羽, \\\"feather\\\", carries meaning.\"}]},\"cluster\":\"hp\",\"seo\":{\"metaTitle\":\"How Harry Potter Was Translated Into Mandarin Chinese\",\"metaDescription\":\"Petrificus Totalus became 统统石化 and Wingardium Leviosa became pure sound. How the Mandarin translators rebuilt Harry Potter's invented words.\",\"canonicalPath\":\"/blog/harry-potter-in-mandarin\",\"primaryKeyword\":\"harry potter in mandarin\",\"secondaryKeywords\":[\"harry potter in chinese\",\"harry potter spells in chinese\",\"harry potter chinese translation\",\"wingardium leviosa in chinese\",\"expelliarmus in chinese\",\"hogwarts in chinese\",\"how chinese translates latin spells\"],\"ogTitle\":\"How Harry Potter Was Translated Into Mandarin Chinese\",\"ogDescription\":\"Fake Latin has nowhere to hide in Chinese. Four spells, three strategies, and what the translators decided to lose.\",\"ogImage\":\"/api/blog-images/harry-potter-in-mandarin--four-spells.png\",\"ogImageAlt\":\"Four Harry Potter spells beside their Mandarin translations: Petrificus Totalus as tongtong shihua, Alohomora as alahuo dongkai, Expelliarmus as chu ni wuqi, Wingardium Leviosa as yujiadimu leweiaosa\",\"twitterTitle\":\"How Harry Potter Was Translated Into Mandarin Chinese\",\"twitterDescription\":\"Expelliarmus in Chinese is 除你武器: literally, remove your weapon. Here is what happened to the rest of the spellbook.\",\"noindex\":false},\"markdownContent\":\"$32\"},{\"title\":\"Harry Potter Is the Modern Rosetta Stone\",\"url\":\"learn-a-language-with-harry-potter\",\"description\":\"Around 85 translations, audiobooks in most of them, and a plot you already know. Why Harry Potter is the best first novel to read in your target language.\",\"language\":\"en\",\"author\":\"Ben Adams\",\"publishDate\":\"2026-08-20T09:00:00+00:00\",\"status\":\"published\",\"tags\":[\"harry potter\",\"reading\",\"language learning\"],\"featuredImage\":\"/api/blog-images/learn-a-language-with-harry-potter--rosetta-three-registers.png\",\"authorType\":\"Person\",\"updatedDate\":\"2026-08-20T09:00:00+00:00\",\"toc\":true,\"readingTimeMinutes\":10,\"capsule\":\"Harry Potter is about the best first novel you can pick in almost any language you're learning. It exists in around 85 translations with audiobooks in many of them, it runs to a million words, and you already know the plot. Knowing the story is the scaffolding that gets you through a book you can't fully read yet.\",\"sources\":[{\"title\":\"Rosetta Stone\",\"url\":\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R
44osetta_Stone\",\"publisher\":\"Wikipedia\",\"note\":\"discovery in 1799, the two languages and three scripts, and the decipherment\"},{\"title\":\"Decree of Memphis (Ptolemy V)\",\"url\":\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decree_of_Memphis_(Ptolemy_V)\",\"publisher\":\"Wikipedia\",\"note\":\"the text of the decree the stone carries, dated 196 BC\"},{\"title\":\"List of Harry Potter translations\",\"url\":\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Harry_Potter_translations\",\"publisher\":\"Wikipedia\",\"note\":\"the translation count and the range of scripts\"}],\"faq\":[{\"question\":\"Is Harry Potter good for learning a language?\",\"answer\":\"It's one of the best choices for a first novel. The writing is aimed at children and gets harder book by book, which matches how your reading ability grows. It has been translated into around 85 languages, most of them with an audiobook. And because you probably already know the story, you can follow the plot through pages you can't fully read yet.\"},{\"question\":\"What level do you need to read Harry Potter in another language?\",\"answer\":\"Lower than you think, if you use the audiobook and accept that you won't understand everything. The usual advice is to wait until you're comfortable, which in practice means waiting forever. Start early, use the audio, learn a few hundred common words first, and let yourself be confused. That works better than waiting.\"},{\"question\":\"How do I read a book in a language I barely know?\",\"answer\":\"Read along with the audiobook so you can't stall on a single page, aim to finish rather than to understand, and use a digital copy so you can look up words without losing your place. Look up the words that keep reappearing, not every word you don't recognize.\"},{\"question\":\"Should I look up every word I don't know?\",\"answer\":\"No. Looking up every word turns reading into decoding and you'll quit. Look up a word when it has come up several times and is clearly load-bearing for the scene, and let the rest go. You'll meet most of them again.\"},{\"question\":\"Can I get Harry Potter in the language I'm learning?\",\"answer\":\"Almost certainly. The series has been licensed in around 85 languages, across roughly a dozen writing systems, including Latin and Ancient Greek. Audiobooks exist for many of them. If your language has a publishing industry, there's a good chance Harry Potter is in it.\"},{\"question\":\"Is it better to read Harry Potter or listen to the audiobook?\",\"answer\":\"Both at once. Reading and listening together keeps you moving at the narrator's pace instead of stalling on a hard sentence, and it ties the written word to its sound, which reading on its own never does.\"},{\"question\":\"Should I learn vocabulary before reading Harry Potter?\",\"answer\":\"It helps a lot, and the useful words are not the wizarding ones. Learning wand and broomstick does almost nothing; learning the ordinary nouns, verbs and adjectives that make up the bulk of any novel is what makes the first chapters readable.\"}],\"cluster\":\"hp\",\"seo\":{\"metaTitle\":\"Learn a Language by Reading Harry Potter\",\"metaDescription\":\"Around 85 translations, audiobooks in most of them, and a plot you already know. Why Harry Potter is the best first novel in your target language.\",\"canonicalPath\":\"/blog/learn-a-language-with-harry-potter\",\"primaryKeyword\":\"learn a language with harry potter\",\"secondaryKeywords\":[\"read harry potter in another language\",\"is harry potter good for learning a language\",\"reading harry potter in spanish\",\"reading a novel in your target language\",\"best book to read in a foreign language\",\"first novel in a foreign language\",\"reading along with an audiobook language learning\"],\"ogTitle\":\"Harry Potter Is the Modern Rosetta Stone\",\"ogDescription\":\"One decree in two languages cracked Ancient Egyptian. Harry Potter is a million words in around 85, and you already know the plot.\",\"ogImage\":\"/api/blog-images/learn-a-language-with-harry-potter--rosetta-three-registers.png\",\"ogImageAlt\":\"The same Harry Potter sentence in English, Spanish and Chinese, stacked in three bands like the three scripts on the Rosetta Stone\",\"twitterTitle\":\"Harry Potter Is the Modern Rosetta Stone\",\"twitterDescription\":\"The Rosetta Stone worked because scholars already knew one of the languages on it. You already know Harry Potter. Same trick.\",\"noindex\":false},\"markdownContent\":\"$33\"},{\"title\":\"Why I've Read Harry Potter in 5 Languages\",\"url\":\"reading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language\",\"description\":\"I've read Harry Potter in Spanish, Czech, German and Mandarin. Here's why a book you already know is the easiest way into reading in a new language.\",\"language\":\"en\",\"author\":\"Ben Adams\",\"publishDate\"
44:\"2026-08-20T09:00:00+00:00\",\"status\":\"published\",\"tags\":[\"harry potter\",\"reading\",\"language learning\"],\"featuredImage\":\"/api/blog-images/reading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--five-titles.png\",\"authorType\":\"Person\",\"updatedDate\":\"2026-08-20T09:00:00+00:00\",\"toc\":true,\"readingTimeMinutes\":9,\"capsule\":\"I've read Harry Potter in Spanish, Czech, German and Mandarin, on top of the twenty-odd times I've been through it in English. It works because of the three great powers. Volume is what moves a language forward, reading gives you rich language at your own pace, and knowing the story carries you over the words you don't have yet.\",\"sources\":[{\"title\":\"The Power of Reading: Insights from the Research\",\"publisher\":\"Stephen D. Krashen, 2nd edition, 2004\",\"note\":\"the book-length case for free voluntary reading\"},{\"title\":\"The Impact of Reading on Second Language Learning\",\"publisher\":\"Warwick B. Elley and Francis Mangubhai, Reading Research Quarterly 19(1), 1983\",\"note\":\"the \\\"book flood\\\" studies\"},{\"title\":\"Unknown Vocabulary Density and Reading Comprehension\",\"publisher\":\"Marcella Hu and Paul Nation, Reading in a Foreign Language 13(1), 2000\",\"note\":\"where the 95% and 98% coverage figures quoted in this article come from\"},{\"title\":\"Extensive reading\",\"url\":\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extensive_reading\",\"publisher\":\"Wikipedia\",\"note\":\"a tertiary overview of the reading-volume research, listed last for that reason\"}],\"faq\":[{\"question\":\"How many languages have you read Harry Potter in?\",\"answer\":\"Five, counting English. Spanish, Czech, German and Mandarin came over the last five years or so, and the English readthroughs go back to listening to the Jim Dale audiobooks on repeat as a kid. That's somewhere past 20 times through the series, and honestly probably closer to 30.\"},{\"question\":\"Does rereading a book you already know actually help you learn a language?\",\"answer\":\"That's most of why it works. Normally you need to follow about 95% of the words to make sense of a page. If you already know the story, you don't, because you can place yourself using the character names, the few words you do know and whatever you pick up from context. The story does the work your vocabulary can't do yet.\"},{\"question\":\"What reading tools do you recommend?\",\"answer\":\"I used a reader tool for Czech and Mandarin, and there are plenty to pick from, including LingQ, Lute, LinguaThor and Readlang. For Spanish and German I just used the book and the audiobook. Honestly the simplest option is good enough. Read on an eReader, phone or tablet so you can tap a word and get the built-in pop-up dictionary.\"},{\"question\":\"Is listening to the audiobook while you read cheating?\",\"answer\":\"No. The audiobook is one of the tools I really like, and it's doing real work. You stop having to sound out every word yourself, and the story keeps moving even on the pages you're only half following. Now and then the audiobook and the printed text don't quite match, but it's never enough to lose you.\"},{\"question\":\"What if I've never read Harry Potter?\",\"answer\":\"Pick something else you already know well. Any series works, and so does a TV show or a dubbed film. Familiarity is the thing doing the work, not Harry Potter specifically.\"},{\"question\":\"Why doesn't a language class give you the same result?\",\"answer\":\"Two reasons. The language you meet in a classroom tends to be boring, repetitive and unnatural, and most classes run a few hours a week, which isn't close to enough time. Classes can work, but only if you're also spending your own hours reading and listening to things you actually enjoy.\"},{\"question\":\"Do you have to read, or is watching TV in the language enough?\",\"answer\":\"Watching counts, and you should do it. Reading still wins on vocabulary, because a book will throw words at you that no conversation ever will, and you set the pace yourself. Do both.\"}],\"cluster\":\"hp\",\"seo\":{\"metaTitle\":\"Why I've Read Harry Potter in 5 Languages\",\"metaDescription\":\"I've read Harry Potter in Spanish, Czech, German and Mandarin. Here's why a book you already know is the easiest way into reading in a new language.\",\"canonicalPath\":\"/blog/reading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language\",\"primaryKeyword\":\"reading harry potter in a foreign language\",\"secondaryKeywords\":[\"what it's like to read harry potter in another language\",\"how to read a book in a foreign language\",\"reading in your target language\",\"language learning through reading\",\"reading with an audiobook to learn a language\",\"best reader tools for language learning\"],\"ogTitle\":\"Why I've Read Harry Potter in 5 Languages\",\"ogDescription\":\"Spanish, Czech, German and Mandarin. Not because I particularly like the books, but because a story you already know is the easiest way into reading a new language.\",\"ogImage\":\"/api/blog-images/reading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--five-titles.png\",\"ogImageAlt\":\"The title of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in English, Spanish, Czech, German and Chinese\",\"twitterTitle\":\"Why I've Read Harry Potter in 5 Languages\",\"twitterDescription\":\"You normally need to follow about 95% of the words on a page. If you already know the story, you don't have to. That's the whole trick.\",\"noindex\":false},\"markdownContent\":\"$34\"},{\"title\":\"10 Harry Potter Translations That Rebuilt the Magic\",\"url\":\"harry-potter-translations\",\"description\":\"Hogwarts became Poudlard, Bradavice and Roxfort. Inside 10 Harry Potter translations that rebuilt Rowling's invented words, checked against the books.\",\"language\":\"en\",\"author\":\"Refold\",\"publishDate\"
44:\"2026-08-17T09:00:00+00:00\",\"status\":\"published\",\"tags\":[\"harry potter\",\"translation\",\"languages\"],\"featuredImage\":\"/api/blog-images/harry-potter-translations--hogwarts-ten-languages.png\",\"authorType\":\"Organization\",\"updatedDate\":\"2026-08-17T09:00:00+00:00\",\"toc\":true,\"readingTimeMinutes\":25,\"capsule\":\"Harry Potter's invented words carry jokes, not meanings, so translators had to decide word by word whether to rebuild the joke or leave it in English. Hogwarts became Poudlard in French and Roxfort in Hungarian, Muggle became máguā in Mandarin, Quidditch became shisbezem in Yiddish. Here are ten of those solutions.\",\"sources\":[{\"title\":\"List of Harry Potter translations\",\"url\":\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Harry_Potter_translations\",\"publisher\":\"Wikipedia\"},{\"title\":\"Potterglot\",\"url\":\"https://www.potterglot.net/\",\"note\":\"the specialist archive behind the Persian count, the Su Nong pseudonym, the Italian revision and Yuko Matsuoka's memoir\"},{\"title\":\"Samderin un Shisbezem: An Interview with Harry Potter Translator Arele Viswanath\",\"url\":\"https://ingeveb.org/blog/interview-translator-arele-viswanath\",\"publisher\":\"In geveb\",\"note\":\"Miranda Cooper, 2022\"},{\"title\":\"Nota alla traduzione italiana\",\"url\":\"https://www.potterglot.net/serena-daniele-note-on-the-italian-translation/\",\"publisher\":\"Salani\",\"note\":\"Serena Daniele, 2002; translation at Potterglot\"},{\"title\":\"Harry Potter and the Italian Revision\",\"url\":\"https://www.potterglot.net/harry-potter-and-the-italian-revision/\",\"publisher\":\"Potterglot\"},{\"title\":\"Pavel Medek: translating the adventures of Harry Potter into Czech\",\"url\":\"https://english.radio.cz/pavel-medek-translating-adventures-harry-potter-czech-8077480\",\"publisher\":\"Radio Prague\",\"note\":\"Jan Velinger, 2003\"},{\"title\":\"The Harry Potter Project\",\"url\":\"http://www.cjvlang.com/Hpotter/index.html\",\"publisher\":\"cjvlang.com\",\"note\":\"Greg Pringle; Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese comparison\"},{\"title\":\"De transfiguraties van Wiebe Buddingh'\",\"url\":\"https://www.tijdschrift-filter.nl/jaargangen/2001/81/de-transfiguraties-van-wiebe-buddingh-41-47/\",\"publisher\":\"Filter 8:1, 2001\",\"note\":\"Cees Koster\"},{\"title\":\"Jean-François Ménard interviews at Les Gryffondors\",\"url\":\"https://www.lesgryffondors.com/2020/03/19/menard-traduction-hp-explications/\",\"note\":\"see also La Gazette du Sorcier's 15th-anniversary interview\"},{\"title\":\"A Love Letter to Harry, and Yuko Matsuoka's memoir\",\"url\":\"https://www.potterglot.net/yuko-matsuokas-love-letter-to-harry/\",\"publisher\":\"Potterglot\"},{\"title\":\"Harry Potter -kirjat uudistavat suomen kieltä\",\"url\":\"https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-5223699\",\"publisher\":\"Yle, 2006\",\"note\":\"Jaana Kapari on huispaus\"},{\"title\":\"Chosen Aspects of the Polish Translation: Translating Proper Names\",\"url\":\"https://translationjournal.net/journal/49potter.htm\",\"publisher\":\"Translation Journal\",\"note\":\"Anna Standowicz\"},{\"title\":\"Szmalcownik\",\"url\":\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szmalcownik\",\"publisher\":\"Wikipedia\"},{\"title\":\"The Russian Philosopher's Stone\",\"url\":\"http://web.archive.org/web/20260807181932/https://www.hp-lexicon.org/2025/01/27/the-russian-philosophers-stone/\",\"publisher\":\"Harry Potter Lexicon\"},{\"title\":\"Ukrainian Potter comes first\",\"url\":\"https://www.kyivpost.com/post/9432\",\"publisher\":\"Kyiv Post, 26 September 2007\"},{\"title\":\"Harry Potter in the Classics: Latin and Ancient Greek\",\"url\":\"https://potterofbabble.com/2022/09/05/harry-potter-in-the-classics-latin-and-ancient-greek/\",\"publisher\":\"Potter of Babble\"},{\"title\":\"For young translator of sold-out 'Harry Potter,' Yiddish is truly his mamaloshen\",\"url\":\"https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-young-translator-of-sold-out-harry-potter-yiddish-is-truly-his-mamaloshen/\",\"publisher\":\"Times of Israel\"},{\"title\":\"Jaana Kapari-Jatta\",\"url\":\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaana_Kapari-Jatta\",\"publisher\":\"Wikipedia\",\"note\":\"see also the Pollomuhku ja Posityyhtynen entry\"},{\"title\":\"The Muggle-Born Registration Commission\",\"url\":\"http://www.cjvlang.com/Hpotter/book7/bk7ch13.html\",\"publisher\":\"cjvlang\",\"note\":\"the character-by-character analysis of 麻瓜\"},{\"title\":\"Ezért Roxfort a magyar fordítása\",\"url\":\"https://promotions.hu/film-sorozat/2024/12/28/magyar-forditas-harry-potter-roxfort-max\",\"publisher\":\"Promotions.hu\",\"note\":\"Tóth Tamás Boldizsár on where Roxfort came from\"},{\"title\":\"网络热词「麻瓜」啥意思\",\"url\":\"https://www.163.com/dy/article/DTNIO0J4054905U5.html\",\"publisher\":\"NetEase, 2018\",\"note\":\"麻瓜 as Chinese internet slang\"},{\"title\":\"Manos Kontoleon's prologue to the Greek Chamber of Secrets\",\"url\":\"https://www.potterglot.net/manos-kontoleons-prologue-to-the-greek-chamber-of-secrets/\",\"publisher\":\"Potterglot\"},{\"title\":\"All 488 Norwegian Harry Potter names explained\",\"url\":\"https://sindrelf.com/2025/02/07/all-488-norwegian-harry-potter-names-explained/\",\"publisher\":\"SindrElf\",\"note\":\"a fan compilation, used for the Norwegian forms only\"}],\"faq\":[{\"question\":\"How was Harry Potter translated into so many languages?\",\"answer\":\"Publishers licensed the books territory by territory and hired translators locally, with no shared glossary passing between them — each translator made their own decisions about which invented words to rebuild and which to leave alone. Once the series became a global event the publisher stopped letting anyone see a manuscript before the English release, so from then on translators worked from the finished English book under heavy time pressure, with no idea what happened in later volumes.\"},{\"question\":\"How many languages has Harry Potter been translated into?\",\"answer\":\"Around 85, including Latin, Ancient Greek, Scots, Welsh, Hawaiian, Māori, Yiddish, Kazakh and Greenlandic. Bloomsbury announced 79 authorised translations at the twentieth anniversary in 2017 and has licensed several more since.\"},{\"question\":\"Why did Harry Potter translations take so long to come out?\",\"answer\":\"To stop plot leaks, translators were refused any access to the manuscript before the English publication date. A translator in Helsinki learned what happened at the same moment as a child in Bristol: by buying a copy. Pavel Medek, one of the two Czech translators, bought Order of the Phoenix on the morning of Saturday 21 June 2003 (\\\"if my memory serves me correctly\\\"), was on page 500 by that evening, finished reading on the Tuesday and started translating on the Wednesday.\"},{\"question\":\"How long did it take to translate a Harry Potter book?\",\"answer\":\"A single summer, working flat out, once the books became a global event. The Ukrainian team turned Deathly Hallows around in roughly nine weeks to publish first. Jean-François Ménard worked twelve-hour days from 6am. Hungary's Tóth Tamás Boldizsár had from late July to mid-October to hit a Christmas release. Czech readers got Order of the Phoenix from a translator who started work four days after buying the English edition in a shop. The outlier is Andrew Wilson's Ancient Greek Philosopher's Stone, which took about a year, but nobody was waiting for it.\"},{\"question\":\"Which language got the last Harry Potter book first?\",\"answer\":\"Ukrainian. A-BA-BA-HA-LA-MA-HA in Kyiv published Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on 25 September 2007: the first translation into any language anywhere, which the publisher said Rowl
44ing's London office had confirmed in advance. Viktor Morozov translated it, with Oleksa Nehrebetskyi and the publisher Ivan Malkovych editing. The English edition had come out on 21 July, which gave the team about nine weeks.\"},{\"question\":\"Who translated Harry Potter into other languages?\",\"answer\":\"A partial roll-call of the translators named in this article: Jean-François Ménard (French), Yuko Matsuoka (Japanese), Jaana Kapari-Jatta (Finnish), Arun Schaechter Viswanath (Yiddish), Sevin Okyay and Kutlukhan Kutlu (Turkish), Kaíti Oikonómou (Greek), Nieves Martín Azofra and Adolfo Muñoz García (Spanish), Andrzej Polkowski (Polish), Maria Spivak and, before her, Igor Oranskij and Marina Litvinova (Russian), Vladimír and Pavel Medek (Czech), Wiebe Buddingh' (Dutch), Tóth Tamás Boldizsár (Hungarian), Torstein Bugge Høverstad (Norwegian), Lý Lan (Vietnamese), Viktor Morozov (Ukrainian), Marina Astrologo and Beatrice Masini (Italian), and Ma Ainong with Cao Suling (Simplified Chinese).\"},{\"question\":\"Are there unauthorised Harry Potter translations?\",\"answer\":\"Many — pirate editions have shadowed the series since the beginning. An unauthorised Chinese Deathly Hallows appeared three days after the English release. A sixteen-year-old in France was arrested for serialising his own. Iran, which is not a party to the Universal Copyright Convention, is the extreme case: the collector-researcher behind Potterglot has catalogued 96 unauthorised Persian translations, including seventeen different Persian versions of Philosopher's Stone alone.\"},{\"question\":\"Did any Harry Potter translation ever have to be corrected?\",\"answer\":\"Italy's, publicly and in detail. Salani's original translation named Ravenclaw Pecoranera, \\\"black sheep\\\": assonant, fairy-tale, and completely wrong, because the Hogwarts crest puts a lion, a snake, a badger and a bird of prey around the school's initial, and Salani could not know what that bird would turn out to be. Ravenclaw was renamed Corvonero, \\\"black raven\\\", at Goblet of Fire, and the editor explained why in a published note. In 2014 Salani issued a revised edition, and each volume of the digital edition carries a Glossario delle modifiche: a list of the names that changed and what they used to be. McGranitt went back to McGonagall, Caramell back to Fudge, Paciock back to Longbottom, Baston back to Wood. The names that survived (Silente, Piton, Grifondoro, Serpeverde, Babbani) were the ones Italian readers had grown up loving.\"},{\"question\":\"Why does Avada Kedavra stay the same in almost every language?\",\"answer\":\"Because inside the fiction the spells are already a foreign language. Rowling's pseudo-Latin does not sound like English to an English child either, so leaving it alone preserves the effect rather than losing it. Avada Kedavra has a second defence, since it was never Latin-shaped to begin with, and works by echoing abracadabra, which is internationally recognisable in its own right. Even Finnish, which rebuilt the entire spell system out of Finnish roots, left Avada Kedavra and Alohomora standing - there was no Latin recognition in them to replace.\"},{\"question\":\"Which Harry Potter translation is the most different from the English?\",\"answer\":\"By volume of invention, Czech and Dutch. The Czech gives you Bradavice (Hogwarts), Brumbál (Dumbledore), Famfrpál (Quidditch), mudla (Muggle), mozkomor (Dementor), Smrtijed (Death Eater) and viteál (Horcrux). The Dutch goes further still, consistently making names more meaningful than Rowling made them: Trelawney, a neutral Cornish surname, becomes Zwamdrift, roughly \\\"waffle-mania\\\", and the Quick-Quotes Quill becomes the Fantaciteer-Veer, the \\\"fantasi-quote quill\\\".\"},{\"question\":\"Was J.K. Rowling ever unhappy with a Harry Potter translation?\",\"answer\":\"At least once, on record. In Conversations with J.K. Rowling she objected to the Italian Silente for Dumbledore, which came from reading \\\"dumb\\\" as \\\"silent\\\", when \\\"dumbledore\\\" is an old Devon word for bumblebee. The Czech Brumbál is an archaic Czech word for exactly that insect: the solution her own etymology called for.\"}],\"itemList\":{\"name\":\"10 Harry Potter translations that rebuilt Rowling's invented words\",\"description\":\"Ten invented English words from Harry Potter and the coinages ten languages built to replace them.\",\"items\":[{\"name\":\"French: Poudlard (Hogwarts)\",\"anchor\":\"french-poudlard\",\"description\":\"Jean-Francois Menard rebuilt Hogwarts as Poudlard, from pou (louse) and lard (bacon fat) - a different image with the same grand-but-grubby register.\"},{\"name\":\"Mandarin Chinese: maguā (Muggle)\",\"anchor\":\"chinese-magua\",\"description\":\"The Chinese Muggle is maguā, literally numb melon, built on the same template as shǎguā (fool). It has since become ordinary Chinese internet slang.\"},{\"name\":\"Yiddish: shisbezem (Quidditch)\",\"anchor\":\"yiddish-shisbezem\",\"description\":\"Arun Schaechter Viswanath compressed the Yiddish proverb az got vil - shist a bezem (if God wills it, a broom shoots) into one word for the wizarding sport.\"},{\"name\":\"Finnish: Siipiirdium lentiusa (Wingardium Leviosa)\",\"anchor\":\"f
44innish-siipiirdium-lentiusa\",\"description\":\"Jaana Kapari-Jatta invented tekovalelatina, a fake pretend-Latin built from Finnish roots, because Finnish has no Latin substrate for Rowling's spells to lean on.\"},{\"name\":\"Turkish: orumcek (the sphinx's riddle)\",\"anchor\":\"turkish-orumcek\",\"description\":\"Sevin Okyay and Kutlukhan Kutlu rewrote the sphinx's riddle so that orumcek (spider) assembles from or (to knit), um (hope, knot) and -cek, the future-tense suffix.\"},{\"name\":\"Spanish: P.E.D.D.O. (S.P.E.W.)\",\"anchor\":\"spanish-peddo\",\"description\":\"Hermione's S.P.E.W. becomes Plataforma Elfica de Defensa de los Derechos Obreros, an acronym that reads as pedo, a fart - preserving Harry's misreading joke.\"},{\"name\":\"Greek: Anton Morvol Hert (Tom Marvolo Riddle)\",\"anchor\":\"greek-anton-morvol-hert\",\"description\":\"Greek is the only translation in this corpus that sacrificed the first name too: Tom becomes Anton so the letters rearrange into ARHON VOLDEMORT, Lord Voldemort.\"},{\"name\":\"Japanese: Mizo no Kagami (the Mirror of Erised)\",\"anchor\":\"japanese-mizo-no-kagami\",\"description\":\"Yuko Matsuoka reversed the inscription kana by kana in plain hiragana; nozomi (desire) reversed gives mizo, which is also the Japanese word for a ditch.\"},{\"name\":\"Russian: Zloteus Zley (Severus Snape)\",\"anchor\":\"russian-zloteus-zley\",\"description\":\"Maria Spivak's Machaon translation renames Snape to something like Meanteus Meaner, delivering on page one the verdict Rowling spends seven books overturning.\"},{\"name\":\"Polish: szmalcownicy (the Snatchers)\",\"anchor\":\"polish-szmalcownicy\",\"description\":\"Andrzej Polkowski translated the Snatchers as 
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44<div hidden id="S:3"><div class="mb-8"><h1 class="text-foreground font-displayLarge mb-4">Blog</h1><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Insights, updates, and thoughts on language learning.</p></div><div class="space-y-6"><div class="space-y-4"><div class="relative"><div class="space-y-1"><div class="relative"><div class="absolute left-3 top-1/2 transform -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" style="width:1.2000000000000002rem;height:1.2000000000000002rem" role="presentation" class="text-muted-foreground"><path d="M9.5,3A6.5,6.5 0 0,1 16,9.5C16,11.11 15.41,12.59 14.44,13.73L14.71,14H15.5L20.5,19L19,20.5L14,15.5V14.71L13.73,14.44C12.59,15.41 11.11,16 9.5,16A6.5,6.5 0 0,1 3,9.5A6.5,6.5 0 0,1 9.5,3M9.5,5C7,5 5,7 5,9.5C5,12 7,14 9.5,14C12,14 14,12 14,9.5C14,7 12,5 9.5,5Z" style="fill:currentColor"></path></svg></div><input class="flex w-full rounded-sm border-1 bg-card file:border-0 file:bg-transparent file:text-sm file:font-medium file:font-inter placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:border-primary disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-50 transition-colors border-input h-10 px-3 py-2 font-bodyMedium pl-10" placeholder="Search blog posts..." value=""/></div></div></div><div class="flex flex-wrap gap-4"><button type="button" id="radix-_R_36av5u5b_" aria-haspopup="menu" aria-expanded="false" data-state="closed" data-slot="dropdown-menu-trigger" class="flex items-center justify-between cursor-pointer h-10 px-3 py-2 rounded-sm border-1 border-input bg-card text-foreground"><div class="flex items-center justify-between w-full">Language<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-chevron-down h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground ml-2" aria-hidden="true"><path d="m6 9 6 6 6-6"></path></svg></div></button><button type="button" id="radix-_R_56av5u5b_" aria-haspopup="menu" aria-expanded="false" data-state="closed" data-slot="dropdown-menu-trigger" class="flex items-center justify-between cursor-pointer h-10 px-3 py-2 rounded-sm border-1 border-input bg-card text-foreground"><div class="flex items-center justify-between w-full">Tag<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-chevron-down h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground ml-2" aria-hidden="true"><path d="m6 9 6 6 6-6"></path></svg></div></button></div></div><div class="space-y-4"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">68<!-- --> post<!-- -->s<!-- --> found</p><div class="grid gap-6 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 items-stretch"><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/harry-potter-in-mandarin"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="How Was Harry Potter Translated Into Mandarin Chinese?" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-in-mandarin--four-spells.png&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-in-mandarin--four-spells.png&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-in-mandarin--four-spells.png&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-in-mandarin--four-spells.png&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-in-mandarin--four-spells.png&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-in-mandarin--four-spells.png&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-in-mandarin--four-spells.png&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-in-mandarin--four-spells.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-in-mandarin--four-spells.png&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-in-mandarin--four-spells.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-in-mandarin--four-spells.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">
44How Was Harry Potter Translated Into Mandarin Chinese?</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Ben Adams</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Aug 20, 2026</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Petrificus Totalus became 统统石化. Wingardium Leviosa became pure sound. How the Mandarin translators rebuilt Harry Potter&#x27;s spells and invented names.</p><div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2 mt-4"><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80">harry potter</span><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80">translation</span><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80">mandarin</span><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80">chinese</span></div></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/learn-a-language-with-harry-potter"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Harry Potter Is the Modern Rosetta Stone" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearn-a-language-with-harry-potter--rosetta-three-registers.png&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearn-a-language-with-harry-potter--rosetta-three-registers.png&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearn-a-language-with-harry-potter--rosetta-three-registers.png&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearn-a-language-with-harry-potter--rosetta-three-registers.png&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearn-a-language-with-harry-potter--rosetta-three-registers.png&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearn-a-language-with-harry-potter--rosetta-three-registers.png&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearn-a-language-with-harry-potter--rosetta-three-registers.png&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearn-a-language-with-harry-potter--rosetta-three-registers.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearn-a-language-with-harry-potter--rosetta-three-registers.png&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearn-a-language-with-harry-potter--rosetta-three-registers.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearn-a-language-with-harry-potter--rosetta-three-registers.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Harry Potter Is the Modern Rosetta Stone</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Ben Adams</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Aug 20, 2026</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Around 85 translations, audiobooks in most of them, and a plot you already know. Why Harry Potter is the best first novel to read in your target language.</p><div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2 mt-4"><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80">harry potter</span><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80">reading</span><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80">language learning</span></div></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/reading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Why I&#x27;ve Read Harry Potter in 5 Languages" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Freading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--five-titles.png&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Freading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--five-titles.png&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Freading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--five-titles.png&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Freading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--five-titles.png&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Freading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--five-titles.png&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Freading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--five-titles.png&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Freading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--five-titles.png&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Freading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--five-titles.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Freading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--five-titles.png&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Freading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--five-titles.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Freading-harry-potter-in-a-foreign-language--five-titles.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Why I&#x27;ve Read Harry Potter in 5 Languages</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Ben Adams</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Aug 20, 2026</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">I&#x27;ve read Harry Potter in Spanish, Czech, German and Mandarin. Here&#x27;s why a book you already know is the easiest way into reading in a new language.</p><div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2 mt-4"><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80">harry potter</span><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80">reading</span><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80">language learning</span></div></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/harry-potter-translations"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="10 Harry Potter Translations That Rebuilt the Magic" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-translations--hogwarts-ten-languages.png&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-translations--hogwarts-ten-languages.png&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-translations--hogwarts-ten-languages.png&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-translations--hogwarts-ten-languages.png&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-translations--hogwarts-ten-languages.png&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-translations--hogwarts-ten-languages.png&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-translations--hogwarts-ten-languages.png&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-translations--hogwarts-ten-languages.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-translations--hogwarts-ten-languages.png&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-translations--hogwarts-ten-languages.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fharry-potter-translations--hogwarts-ten-languages.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">10 Harry Potter Translations That Rebuilt the Magic</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Aug 17, 2026</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Hogwarts became Poudlard, Bradavice and Roxfort. Inside 10 Harry Potter translations that rebuilt Rowling&#x2
447;s invented words, checked against the books.</p><div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2 mt-4"><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80">harry potter</span><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80">translation</span><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80">languages</span></div></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/enhancement-for-ci"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Is Text Enhancement Useful for Comprehensible Input?" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F65c0aa96-a77e-4e0e-97f8-624d09e1a3cd.png&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F65c0aa96-a77e-4e0e-97f8-624d09e1a3cd.png&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F65c0aa96-a77e-4e0e-97f8-624d09e1a3cd.png&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F65c0aa96-a77e-4e0e-97f8-624d09e1a3cd.png&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F65c0aa96-a77e-4e0e-97f8-624d09e1a3cd.png&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F65c0aa96-a77e-4e0e-97f8-624d09e1a3cd.png&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F65c0aa96-a77e-4e0e-97f8-624d09e1a3cd.png&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F65c0aa96-a77e-4e0e-97f8-624d09e1a3cd.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F65c0aa96-a77e-4e0e-97f8-624d09e1a3cd.png&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F65c0aa96-a77e-4e0e-97f8-624d09e1a3cd.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F65c0aa96-a77e-4e0e-97f8-624d09e1a3cd.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Is Text Enhancement Useful for Comprehensible Input?</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Ben Adams</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Dec 31, 2025</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">I frequently see comprehensible input creators go out of their way to draw attention to words they think are important... Should they? Is it a useful practice?</p><div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2 mt-4"><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80">
44comprehensible input</span></div></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/how-do-you-learn-a-foreign-language-to-fluency"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">How do you learn a foreign language to fluency?</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Ben Adams</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Aug 7, 2025</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">The original Refold roadmap was written to answer the question: “How can anyone acquire a foreign language?” Ethan, the CEO of Refold, partnered with Matt...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/cuanto-tiempo-toma-aprender-un-idioma"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="¿Cuánto tiempo toma aprender un idioma?" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcuanto-tiempo-toma-aprender-un-idioma--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcuanto-tiempo-toma-aprender-un-idioma--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcuanto-tiempo-toma-aprender-un-idioma--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcuanto-tiempo-toma-aprender-un-idioma--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcuanto-tiempo-toma-aprender-un-idioma--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcuanto-tiempo-toma-aprender-un-idioma--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcuanto-tiempo-toma-aprender-un-idioma--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcuanto-tiempo-toma-aprender-un-idioma--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcuanto-tiempo-toma-aprender-un-idioma--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcuanto-tiempo-toma-aprender-un-idioma--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcuanto-tiempo-toma-aprender-un-idioma--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">¿Cuánto tiempo toma aprender un idioma?</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">es</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Ben Adams</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Jul 19, 2025</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">
44Esa es una de las preguntas más comunes en el mundo del aprendizaje de idiomas. ¡La gente quiere saber en qué se está metiendo! Hay varias formas de medir...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-a-language"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="How Long Does It Take to Learn a Language?" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-long-does-it-take-to-learn-a-language--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-long-does-it-take-to-learn-a-language--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-long-does-it-take-to-learn-a-language--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-long-does-it-take-to-learn-a-language--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-long-does-it-take-to-learn-a-language--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-long-does-it-take-to-learn-a-language--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-long-does-it-take-to-learn-a-language--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-long-does-it-take-to-learn-a-language--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-long-does-it-take-to-learn-a-language--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-long-does-it-take-to-learn-a-language--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-long-does-it-take-to-learn-a-language--Pasted-image-20250702115233.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">How Long Does It Take to Learn a Language?</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Ben Adams</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Jul 3, 2025</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">How long it takes depends on the language and how you study. Here are honest hour estimates from beginner to fluent, plus the fastest way to get there.</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/how-to-use-seeder-playlists-for-language-learning"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="How to Use Seeder Playlists to Get Better YouTube Recommendations" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-seeder-playlists-for-language-learning--seeder-3.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-seeder-playlists-for-language-learning--seeder-3.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-seeder-playlists-for-language-learning--seeder-3.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-seeder-playlists-for-language-learning--seeder-3.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-seeder-playlists-for-language-learning--seeder-3.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-seeder-playlists-for-language-learning--seeder-3.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-seeder-playlists-for-language-learning--seeder-3.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-seeder-playlists-for-language-learning--seeder-3.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-seeder-playlists-for-language-learning--seeder-3.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-seeder-playlists-for-language-learning--seeder-3.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-seeder-playlists-for-language-learning--seeder-3.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">How to Use Seeder Playlists to Get Better YouTube Recommendations</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Jun 5, 2025</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">YouTube is one of the best resources out there for language learners. Creators from all over the world upload tons of videos on just about any topic you can...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/best-korean-resources-for-language-learners"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Best Korean Resources for Beginners and Intermediate Learners" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-korean-resources-for-language-learners--image-1.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-korean-resources-for-language-learners--image-1.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-korean-resources-for-language-learners--image-1.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-korean-resources-for-language-learners--image-1.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-korean-resources-for-language-learners--image-1.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-korean-resources-for-language-learners--image-1.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-korean-resources-for-language-learners--image-1.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-korean-resources-for-language-learners--image-1.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-korean-resources-for-language-learners--image-1.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-korean-resources-for-language-learners--image-1.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-korean-resources-for-language-learners--image-1.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Best Korean Resources for Beginners and Intermediate Learners</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Jun 2, 2025</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Learning Korean, but you have no idea where to find the best Korean resources for beginners? Look no further! Our community of language learners banded...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/best-spanish-music-for-language-learners"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Our FAVORITE Spanish Music for Language Learners" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-music-for-language-learners--spanish-image-playlist.png&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-music-for-language-learners--spanish-image-playlist.png&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-music-for-language-learners--spanish-image-playlist.png&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-music-for-language-learners--spanish-image-playlist.png&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-music-for-language-learners--spanish-image-playlist.png&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-music-for-language-learners--spanish-image-playlist.png&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-music-for-language-learners--spanish-image-playlist.png&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-music-for-language-learners--spanish-image-playlist.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-music-for-language-learners--spanish-image-playlist.png&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-music-for-language-learners--spanish-image-playlist.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-music-for-language-learners--spanish-image-playlist.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Our FAVORITE Spanish Music for Language Learners</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">May 26, 2025</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Learning Spanish, and you want to discover some new music in Spanish to motivate and inspire you on your journey to fluency? We’ve got you covered! We...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/improve-listening-skills-with-intensive-listening"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="How to Improve Listening Skills With Intensive Listening" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimprove-listening-skills-with-intensive-listening--7.2-Interactive-listening.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimprove-listening-skills-with-intensive-listening--7.2-Interactive-listening.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimprove-listening-skills-with-intensive-listening--7.2-Interactive-listening.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimprove-listening-skills-with-intensive-listening--7.2-Interactive-listening.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimprove-listening-skills-with-intensive-listening--7.2-Interactive-listening.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimprove-listening-skills-with-intensive-listening--7.2-Interactive-listening.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimprove-listening-skills-with-intensive-listening--7.2-Interactive-listening.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimprove-listening-skills-with-intensive-listening--7.2-Interactive-listening.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimprove-listening-skills-with-intensive-listening--7.2-Interactive-listening.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimprove-listening-skills-with-intensive-listening--7.2-Interactive-listening.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimprove-listening-skills-with-intensive-listening--7.2-Interactive-listening.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">How to Improve Listening Skills With Intensive Listening</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center
44 rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">May 22, 2025</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Improving your listening skills in a foreign language often feels like an impossible task. You get to a point where reading feels easy, maybe even...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/how-to-use-the-refold-app"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Guide to the Refold App" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-the-refold-app--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-the-refold-app--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-the-refold-app--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-the-refold-app--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-the-refold-app--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-the-refold-app--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-the-refold-app--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-the-refold-app--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-the-refold-app--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-the-refold-app--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-the-refold-app--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Guide to the Refold App</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Apr 25, 2025</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Welcome to the Refold app guide! This page is a quick overview of how the app works, and how to use it. Best of luck with your studies!  – Clayton, Refold...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/import-your-data-to-refold-app"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Import your Data to Refold App!" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimport-your-data-to-refold-app--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimport-your-data-to-refold-app--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimport-your-data-to-refold-app--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimport-your-data-to-refold-app--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimport-your-data-to-refold-app--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimport-your-data-to-refold-app--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimport-your-data-to-refold-app--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimport-your-data-to-refold-app--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimport-your-data-to-refold-app--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimport-your-data-to-refold-app--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fimport-your-data-to-refold-app--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Import your Data to Refold App!</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Apr 25, 2025</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Welcome to the Refold app data import page! This page is a guide on how to import your data from other time trackers into the Refold personal language...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/refold-app-download"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Refold App Download" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-app-download--maxresdefault1.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-app-download--maxresdefault1.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-app-download--maxresdefault1.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-app-download--maxresdefault1.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-app-download--maxresdefault1.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-app-download--maxresdefault1.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-app-download--maxresdefault1.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-app-download--maxresdefault1.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-app-download--maxresdefault1.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-app-download--maxresdefault1.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-app-download--maxresdefault1.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Refold App Download</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Apr 25, 2025</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Welcome to the landing page for downloading the Refold app! Share the app with your friends with this link: https://refold.link/habits-instru
44ctions-public...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/refold-resource-docs-complete-list"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Refold Resource Docs Complete List" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-resource-docs-complete-list--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-resource-docs-complete-list--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-resource-docs-complete-list--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-resource-docs-complete-list--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-resource-docs-complete-list--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-resource-docs-complete-list--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-resource-docs-complete-list--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-resource-docs-complete-list--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-resource-docs-complete-list--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-resource-docs-complete-list--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Frefold-resource-docs-complete-list--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Refold Resource Docs Complete List</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Apr 25, 2025</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">This page contains all the resource documents created by Refold and the Refold community! Click on the link for your language to see what other learners...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/copywork-for-language-learning"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="How to Use Copywork for Language Learning" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcopywork-for-language-learning--1.-intro-image.png&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcopywork-for-language-learning--1.-intro-image.png&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcopywork-for-language-learning--1.-intro-image.png&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcopywork-for-language-learning--1.-intro-image.png&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcopywork-for-language-learning--1.-intro-image.png&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcopywork-for-language-learning--1.-intro-image.png&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcopywork-for-language-learning--1.-intro-image.png&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcopywork-for-language-learning--1.-intro-image.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcopywork-for-language-learning--1.-intro-image.png&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcopywork-for-language-learning--1.-intro-image.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcopywork-for-language-learning--1.-intro-image.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">How to Use Copywork for Language Learning</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Feb 20, 2025</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Hey language friends! Bree here! In a previous blog post, I shared how I use “how-to” articles in my target language to fill gaps in my vocabulary. Today, I...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/how-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="How to Become a Better Writer With Reaction Writing" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing--1.-Intro.png&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing--1.-Intro.png&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing--1.-Intro.png&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing--1.-Intro.png&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing--1.-Intro.png&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing--1.-Intro.png&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing--1.-Intro.png&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing--1.-Intro.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing--1.-Intro.png&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing--1.-Intro.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-become-a-better-writer-with-reaction-writing--1.-Intro.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">How to Become a Better Writer With Reaction Writing</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Feb 20, 2025</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Hey there language learners! It’s me, Bree again! 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This guide gets you reading kana in days, not months.</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/master-the-french-alphabet-the-ultimate-french-spelling-tool"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Master the French Alphabet: The Ultimate French Spelling Tool" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmaster-the-french-alphabet-the-ultimate-french-spelling-tool--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmaster-the-french-alphabet-the-ultimate-french-spelling-tool--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmaster-the-french-alphabet-the-ultimate-french-spelling-tool--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmaster-the-french-alphabet-the-ultimate-french-spelling-tool--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmaster-the-french-alphabet-the-ultimate-french-spelling-tool--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmaster-the-french-alphabet-the-ultimate-french-spelling-tool--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmaster-the-french-alphabet-the-ultimate-french-spelling-tool--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmaster-the-french-alphabet-the-ultimate-french-spelling-tool--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmaster-the-french-alphabet-the-ultimate-french-spelling-tool--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmaster-the-french-alphabet-the-ultimate-french-spelling-tool--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmaster-the-french-alphabet-the-ultimate-french-spelling-tool--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Master the French Alphabet: The Ultimate French Spelling Tool</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Dec 17, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Learning a language with a new spelling system can seem daunting. The spelling can be too similar or too foreign. French uses the same Latin script as...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/unlock-the-secrets-of-the-russian-alphabet-with-refolds-free-flashcards"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Unlock the Secrets of the Russian Alphabet with Refold’s Free Flashcards" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Funlock-the-secrets-of-the-russian-alphabet-with-refolds-free-flashcards--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Funlock-the-secrets-of-the-russian-alphabet-with-refolds-free-flashcards--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Funlock-the-secrets-of-the-russian-alphabet-with-refolds-free-flashcards--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Funlock-the-secrets-of-the-russian-alphabet-with-refolds-free-flashcards--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Funlock-the-secrets-of-the-russian-alphabet-with-refolds-free-flashcards--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Funlock-the-secrets-of-the-russian-alphabet-with-refolds-free-flashcards--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Funlock-the-secrets-of-the-russian-alphabet-with-refolds-free-flashcards--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Funlock-the-secrets-of-the-russian-alphabet-with-refolds-free-flashcards--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Funlock-the-secrets-of-the-russian-alphabet-with-refolds-free-flashcards--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Funlock-the-secrets-of-the-russian-alphabet-with-refolds-free-flashcards--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Funlock-the-secrets-of-the-russian-alphabet-with-refolds-free-flashcards--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Unlock the Secrets of the Russian Alphabet with Refold’s Free Flashcards</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Dec 10, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Learning a language with a whole new alphabet can seem daunting. The script can either be too foreign and totally alien, or, in the case of the Russian...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/language-proficiency-what-is-fluency"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Understanding Language Proficiency: What is Fluency?" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-proficiency-what-is-fluency--image-17.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-proficiency-what-is-fluency--image-17.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-proficiency-what-is-fluency--image-17.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-proficiency-what-is-fluency--image-17.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-proficiency-what-is-fluency--image-17.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-proficiency-what-is-fluency--image-17.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-proficiency-what-is-fluency--image-17.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-proficiency-what-is-fluency--image-17.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-proficiency-what-is-fluency--image-17.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-proficiency-what-is-fluency--image-17.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%
442Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-proficiency-what-is-fluency--image-17.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Understanding Language Proficiency: What is Fluency?</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Ben Adams</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Nov 7, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Language proficiency is often seen as the ultimate goal in language learning, but what does it mean to be proficient in a language? Is it about… - Speaking...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/how-to-download-subtitles-for-free"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="How to Download Subtitles for FREE" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-download-subtitles-for-free--1.-Vid-Thumb.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-download-subtitles-for-free--1.-Vid-Thumb.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-download-subtitles-for-free--1.-Vid-Thumb.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-download-subtitles-for-free--1.-Vid-Thumb.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-download-subtitles-for-free--1.-Vid-Thumb.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-download-subtitles-for-free--1.-Vid-Thumb.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-download-subtitles-for-free--1.-Vid-Thumb.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-download-subtitles-for-free--1.-Vid-Thumb.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-download-subtitles-for-free--1.-Vid-Thumb.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-download-subtitles-for-free--1.-Vid-Thumb.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-download-subtitles-for-free--1.-Vid-Thumb.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">How to Download Subtitles for FREE</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Ben Adams</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Nov 2, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Hey there! As an immersion learner, subtitles are a valuable resource! However, figuring out where to download subtitles, especially for free, can be tricky!...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/ai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="AI for Language Learning: Upgrade Your Vocabulary with ChatGPT" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--Untitled-23.png&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--Untitled-23.png&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--Untitled-23.png&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--Untitled-23.png&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--Untitled-23.png&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--Untitled-23.png&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--Untitled-23.png&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--Untitled-23.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--Untitled-23.png&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--Untitled-23.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fai-for-language-learning-monolingual-dictionaries--Untitled-23.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">
44AI for Language Learning: Upgrade Your Vocabulary with ChatGPT</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Oct 25, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed many aspects of our daily lives, and language learning is no exception. If you’re on a journey...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/how-to-use-anki"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="How to Use Anki: Set Up and Install Your Decks" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-anki--7.-anki.png&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-anki--7.-anki.png&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-anki--7.-anki.png&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-anki--7.-anki.png&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-anki--7.-anki.png&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-anki--7.-anki.png&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-anki--7.-anki.png&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-anki--7.-anki.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-anki--7.-anki.png&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-anki--7.-anki.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-anki--7.-anki.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">How to Use Anki: Set Up and Install Your Decks</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Oct 23, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">New to Anki? This guide walks you through installing the app, setting it up, and adding your decks on desktop or mobile, so you can start studying fast.</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/how-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="How to Use Books to Build Your Vocabulary in a New Language" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--image-13.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--image-13.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--image-13.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--image-13.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--image-13.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--image-13.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--image-13.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--image-13.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--image-13.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--image-13.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-use-books-to-increase-vocabulary--image-13.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">How to Use Books to Build Your Vocabulary in a New Language</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Oct 18, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Reading is one of the best ways to grow your vocabulary in a new language. Here is how to pick the right book and remember the words you meet.</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/the-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="The Goldlist Method: Your Personal Language Learning Journ
44al" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal--1.-Goldlist-Gold-Notebook.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal--1.-Goldlist-Gold-Notebook.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal--1.-Goldlist-Gold-Notebook.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal--1.-Goldlist-Gold-Notebook.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal--1.-Goldlist-Gold-Notebook.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal--1.-Goldlist-Gold-Notebook.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal--1.-Goldlist-Gold-Notebook.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal--1.-Goldlist-Gold-Notebook.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal--1.-Goldlist-Gold-Notebook.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal--1.-Goldlist-Gold-Notebook.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-goldlist-method-language-learning-journal--1.-Goldlist-Gold-Notebook.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">The Goldlist Method: Your Personal Language Learning Journal</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Ben Adams</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Oct 17, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Hey, language learners. Let’s talk about one of my favorite ways to learn new words in a new language: The Goldlist Method. There’s no doubt that Anki and...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/best-language-learning-video-games"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="The Best Language Learning Video Games You Didn’t Know About" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-language-learning-video-games--gamingspanish.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-language-learning-video-games--gamingspanish.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-language-learning-video-games--gamingspanish.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-language-learning-video-games--gamingspanish.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-language-learning-video-games--gamingspanish.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-language-learning-video-games--gamingspanish.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-language-learning-video-games--gamingspanish.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-language-learning-video-games--gamingspanish.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-language-learning-video-games--gamingspanish.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-language-learning-video-games--gamingspanish.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-language-learning-video-games--gamingspanish.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">The Best Language Learning Video Games You Didn’t Know About</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Oct 10, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">When we think of language learning video games, we often think of apps like Duolingo, Babbel, or Memrise—popular apps for language learning that are...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/language-learning-resources"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="The Best Language Learning Resources" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-learning-resources--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-learning-resources--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-learning-resources--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-learning-resources--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-learning-resources--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-learning-resources--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-learning-resources--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-learning-resources--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-learning-resources--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-learning-resources--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flanguage-learning-resources--freeresources.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">The Best Language Learning Resources</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Oct 8, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">The core part of the Refold method is using media and entertainment to learn a new language. The method works, tons of people have acquired a new language...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/how-many-words-to-start-speaking"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="How Many Words Do You Need to Be Fluent?" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-many-words-to-start-speaking--inputvsoutput.webp&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-many-words-to-start-speaking--inputvsoutput.webp&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-many-words-to-start-speaking--inputvsoutput.webp&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-many-words-to-start-speaking--inputvsoutput.webp&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-many-words-to-start-speaking--inputvsoutput.webp&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-many-words-to-start-speaking--inputvsoutput.webp&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-many-words-to-start-speaking--inputvsoutput.webp&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-many-words-to-start-speaking--inputvsoutput.webp&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-many-words-to-start-speaking--inputvsoutput.webp&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-many-words-to-start-speaking--inputvsoutput.webp&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-many-words-to-start-speaking--inputvsoutput.webp&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">How Many Words Do You Need to Be Fluent?</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Oct 4, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">You do not need every word to speak a language. Here is roughly how many words you actually need, and how to know y
44ou are ready to start speaking.</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/language-reactor-for-language-learning-with-youtube"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Language Reactor: Learn a Language with YouTube and Netflix</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Sep 26, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Language Reactor turns YouTube and Netflix into a study tool with dual subtitles and saved words. Here is how to set it up and learn faster.</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/a-fun-new-flashcard-app-for-language-learning"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">A fun new flashcard app for language learning?</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Sep 24, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">“Hey everyone. Clayton here from the Refold podcast. Today, I’m writing about a fun new flashcard app called “Deckademy”. Deckademy is a spiritual successor...&quot;</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/learning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Learning Spanish: How I&#x27;d Do It Again From Scratch" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--1.-Ben-smacked-on-head.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--1.-Ben-smacked-on-head.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--1.-Ben-smacked-on-head.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--1.-Ben-smacked-on-head.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--1.-Ben-smacked-on-head.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--1.-Ben-smacked-on-head.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--1.-Ben-smacked-on-head.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--1.-Ben-smacked-on-head.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--1.-Ben-smacked-on-head.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--1.-Ben-smacked-on-head.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-the-spanish-language-how-i-would-do-it-again--1.-Ben-smacked-on-head.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Learning Spanish: How I&#x27;d Do It Again From Scratch</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Ben Adams</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Sep 21, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">After three years learning Spanish and living in a Spanish-speaking country, here is exactly how I would learn it from zero again using immersion.</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/tips-language-immersion-while-busy"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">10 Ways to Fit Language Immersion Into Your Busy Day</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Sep 19, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">One of the best ways to learn a language is through language immersion. This method means consuming content in your target language—whether it’s listening,...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/konglish-demystified"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">English to Korean: Konglish</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Sep 17, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Everyone is aware that Korean is a pretty distant language to English. After all, the two languages developed for hundreds of years on practically opposite...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/youtube-language-learning-account"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="How to Make a YouTube Language Learning Account" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fyoutube-language-learning-account--1.-Toolkit.webp&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fyoutube-language-learning-account--1.-Toolkit.webp&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fyoutube-language-learning-account--1.-Toolkit.webp&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fyoutube-language-learning-account--1.-Toolkit.webp&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fyoutube-language-learning-account--1.-Toolkit.webp&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fyoutube-language-learning-account--1.-Toolkit.webp&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fyoutube-language-learning-account--1.-Toolkit.webp&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fyoutube-language-learning-account--1.-Toolkit.webp&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fyoutube-language-learning-account--1.-Toolkit.webp&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fyoutube-language-learning-account--1.-Toolkit.webp&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fyoutube-language-learning-account--1.-Toolkit.webp&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">How to Make a YouTube Language Learning Account</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Sep 14, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Hey there, immersion learners! Bree here with a tip that will seriously improve how you use YouTube for language learning. How? By teaching you how to make a...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/the-best-language-learning-apps"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="The Best Language Learning Apps That Actually Work" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-best-language-learning-apps--Cognate-Guide.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-best-language-learning-apps--Cognate-Guide.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-best-language-learning-apps--Cognate-Guide.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-best-language-learning-apps--Cognate-Guide.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-best-language-learning-apps--Cognate-Guide.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-best-language-learning-apps--Cognate-Guide.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-best-language-learning-apps--Cognate-Guide.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-best-language-learning-apps--Cognate-Guide.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-best-language-learning-apps--Cognate-Guide.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-best-language-learning-apps--Cognate-Guide.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-best-language-learning-apps--Cognate-Guide.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">The Best Language Learning Apps That Actually Work</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Sep 13, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Not every language app is worth your time, so here are the ones that genuinely help you learn. We cover what each does well and which you can happily skip.</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/achieve-language-learning-goals"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-c
44ard-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="How to Set and Achieve your Language Learning Goals" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fachieve-language-learning-goals--imagen-1.avif&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fachieve-language-learning-goals--imagen-1.avif&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fachieve-language-learning-goals--imagen-1.avif&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fachieve-language-learning-goals--imagen-1.avif&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fachieve-language-learning-goals--imagen-1.avif&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fachieve-language-learning-goals--imagen-1.avif&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fachieve-language-learning-goals--imagen-1.avif&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fachieve-language-learning-goals--imagen-1.avif&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fachieve-language-learning-goals--imagen-1.avif&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fachieve-language-learning-goals--imagen-1.avif&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fachieve-language-learning-goals--imagen-1.avif&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">How to Set and Achieve your Language Learning Goals</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Sep 12, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Setting clear goals is one of the most important steps in mastering a new skill. Whether you’re just starting or have been learning for years, understanding...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/learning-words-in-french"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Learning Words in French With The Power of Cognates" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-words-in-french--Cognate_Guide1.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-words-in-french--Cognate_Guide1.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-words-in-french--Cognate_Guide1.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-words-in-french--Cognate_Guide1.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-words-in-french--Cognate_Guide1.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-words-in-french--Cognate_Guide1.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-words-in-french--Cognate_Guide1.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-words-in-french--Cognate_Guide1.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-words-in-french--Cognate_Guide1.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-words-in-french--Cognate_Guide1.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-words-in-french--Cognate_Guide1.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Learning Words in French With The Power of Cognates</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Sep 10, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">When it comes to learning to speak French you need a few things, grammar, a decent accent, but most importantly, you need words! In this post, I’ll be...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/how-to-learn-a-language"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="How to Learn a Language: The Immersion Method, Step by Step" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-a-language--graph.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-a-language--graph.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-a-language--graph.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-a-language--graph.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-a-language--graph.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-a-language--graph.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-a-language--graph.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-a-language--graph.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-a-language--graph.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-a-language--graph.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-a-language--graph.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">How to Learn a Language: The Immersion Method, Step by Step</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Ben Adams</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Sep 7, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Learn any language by immersing in content you understand and enjoy. This guide breaks it into clear stages, from your first words to fluency.</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/best-spanish-homeschool-curriculum"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="What’s The Best Spanish Homeschool Curriculum?" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-homeschool-curriculum--HSA-2.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-homeschool-curriculum--HSA-2.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-homeschool-curriculum--HSA-2.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-homeschool-curriculum--HSA-2.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-homeschool-curriculum--HSA-2.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-homeschool-curriculum--HSA-2.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-homeschool-curriculum--HSA-2.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-homeschool-curriculum--HSA-2.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-homeschool-curriculum--HSA-2.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-homeschool-curriculum--HSA-2.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-spanish-homeschool-curriculum--HSA-2.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">What’s The Best Spanish Homeschool Curriculum?</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Aug 27, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">When I first decided to homeschool my daughter three years ago, I went on a quest to find the best Spanish homeschool 
44curriculum. As someone who didn’t grow...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/learning-spanish-for-kids"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Learning Spanish For Kids—A Glimpse Into Our Daily Routine" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-spanish-for-kids--em-notebook-scaled.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-spanish-for-kids--em-notebook-scaled.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-spanish-for-kids--em-notebook-scaled.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-spanish-for-kids--em-notebook-scaled.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-spanish-for-kids--em-notebook-scaled.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-spanish-for-kids--em-notebook-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-spanish-for-kids--em-notebook-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-spanish-for-kids--em-notebook-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-spanish-for-kids--em-notebook-scaled.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-spanish-for-kids--em-notebook-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flearning-spanish-for-kids--em-notebook-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Learning Spanish For Kids—A Glimpse Into Our Daily Routine</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Aug 27, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Hello there, fellow moms and dads! Bree here to talk all about learning Spanish for kids! I’d love to share with you how my daughter and I are learning...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/mazo-de-phrasal-verbs"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Mazo de phrasal verbs" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmazo-de-phrasal-verbs--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmazo-de-phrasal-verbs--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmazo-de-phrasal-verbs--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmazo-de-phrasal-verbs--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmazo-de-phrasal-verbs--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmazo-de-phrasal-verbs--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmazo-de-phrasal-verbs--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmazo-de-phrasal-verbs--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmazo-de-phrasal-verbs--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmazo-de-phrasal-verbs--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fmazo-de-phrasal-verbs--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Mazo de phrasal verbs</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">es</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Jan 4, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Hemos estado trabajando arduamente para desarrollar nuestro más reciente mazo de Anki, y aquí te “walk you through it!” (explicaremos al respecto). Este...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/phrasal-verbs-deck"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="The Best Way to Learn Phrasal Verbs" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fphrasal-verbs-deck--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fphrasal-verbs-deck--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fphrasal-verbs-deck--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fphrasal-verbs-deck--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fphrasal-verbs-deck--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fphrasal-verbs-deck--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fphrasal-verbs-deck--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fphrasal-verbs-deck--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fphrasal-verbs-deck--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fphrasal-verbs-deck--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fphrasal-verbs-deck--blog-default-cover-image.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">The Best Way to Learn Phrasal Verbs</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Jan 4, 2024</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">We’ve been working very hard on our newest Anki deck and we will “walk you through it!” This deck is for intermediate learners of English, so if you’re not...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/the-channels-of-input"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="The Channels of Input" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-c
44hannels-of-input--pexels-pixabay-221181-scaled.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-channels-of-input--pexels-pixabay-221181-scaled.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-channels-of-input--pexels-pixabay-221181-scaled.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-channels-of-input--pexels-pixabay-221181-scaled.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-channels-of-input--pexels-pixabay-221181-scaled.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-channels-of-input--pexels-pixabay-221181-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-channels-of-input--pexels-pixabay-221181-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-channels-of-input--pexels-pixabay-221181-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-channels-of-input--pexels-pixabay-221181-scaled.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-channels-of-input--pexels-pixabay-221181-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fthe-channels-of-input--pexels-pixabay-221181-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">The Channels of Input</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Sep 27, 2023</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">You may be thinking, “what are the channels of input, and why should I need to know them”? An input channel, to put it in one sentence, is the type of input...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/top-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Top 5 Manga for Beginner Japanese Learners" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftop-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--Cognate-Guide-2.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftop-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--Cognate-Guide-2.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftop-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--Cognate-Guide-2.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftop-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--Cognate-Guide-2.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftop-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--Cognate-Guide-2.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftop-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--Cognate-Guide-2.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftop-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--Cognate-Guide-2.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftop-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--Cognate-Guide-2.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftop-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--Cognate-Guide-2.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftop-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--Cognate-Guide-2.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftop-5-manga-for-beginner-japanese-learners--Cognate-Guide-2.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Top 5 Manga for Beginner Japanese Learners</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Sep 20, 2023</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">As an experienced community volunteer and former Refold language coach, I know the one surefire way to strike fear into a 
44new Japanese learner’s heart: Talk...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/tips-for-learning-a-language-when-you-have-adhd"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Tips for learning a language when you have ADHD" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftips-for-learning-a-language-when-you-have-adhd--pexels-tara-winstead-8378728-scaled.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftips-for-learning-a-language-when-you-have-adhd--pexels-tara-winstead-8378728-scaled.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftips-for-learning-a-language-when-you-have-adhd--pexels-tara-winstead-8378728-scaled.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftips-for-learning-a-language-when-you-have-adhd--pexels-tara-winstead-8378728-scaled.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftips-for-learning-a-language-when-you-have-adhd--pexels-tara-winstead-8378728-scaled.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftips-for-learning-a-language-when-you-have-adhd--pexels-tara-winstead-8378728-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftips-for-learning-a-language-when-you-have-adhd--pexels-tara-winstead-8378728-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftips-for-learning-a-language-when-you-have-adhd--pexels-tara-winstead-8378728-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftips-for-learning-a-language-when-you-have-adhd--pexels-tara-winstead-8378728-scaled.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftips-for-learning-a-language-when-you-have-adhd--pexels-tara-winstead-8378728-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ftips-for-learning-a-language-when-you-have-adhd--pexels-tara-winstead-8378728-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Tips for learning a language when you have ADHD</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Sep 14, 2023</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Bree here. There are a lot of reasons I thought I’d never be able to learn a language. - I’m in my mid-30s - I don’t have a talent for languages - I’m busy...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/exploring-olly-richards-language-learning-books-a-comprehensive-guide"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Exploring Olly Richards’ Language Learning Books: A Comprehensive Guide" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fexploring-olly-richards-language-learning-books-a-comprehe
44nsive-guide--Cognate-Guide-1.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fexploring-olly-richards-language-learning-books-a-comprehensive-guide--Cognate-Guide-1.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fexploring-olly-richards-language-learning-books-a-comprehensive-guide--Cognate-Guide-1.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fexploring-olly-richards-language-learning-books-a-comprehensive-guide--Cognate-Guide-1.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fexploring-olly-richards-language-learning-books-a-comprehensive-guide--Cognate-Guide-1.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fexploring-olly-richards-language-learning-books-a-comprehensive-guide--Cognate-Guide-1.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fexploring-olly-richards-language-learning-books-a-comprehensive-guide--Cognate-Guide-1.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fexploring-olly-richards-language-learning-books-a-comprehensive-guide--Cognate-Guide-1.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fexploring-olly-richards-language-learning-books-a-comprehensive-guide--Cognate-Guide-1.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fexploring-olly-richards-language-learning-books-a-comprehensive-guide--Cognate-Guide-1.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fexploring-olly-richards-language-learning-books-a-comprehensive-guide--Cognate-Guide-1.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Exploring Olly Richards’ Language Learning Books: A Comprehensive Guide</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Aug 23, 2023</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">You may be wondering who Olly Richards is or why I’m writing about him. Allow me to explain! Olly Richards is a YouTube polyglot. I don’t know much about...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/bridge-the-gap-embrace-spanish-english-cognates-for-fluent-communication"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Bridge the Gap: Embrace Spanish-English Cognates for Fluent Communication!" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbridge-the-gap-embrace-spanish-english-cognates-for-fluent-communication--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbridge-the-gap-embrace-spanish-english-cognates-for-fluent-communication--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbridge-the-gap-embrace-spanish-english-cognates-for-fluent-communication--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbridge-the-gap-embrace-spanish-english-cognates-for-fluent-communication--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbridge-the-gap-embrace-spanish-english-cognates-for-fluent-communication--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbridge-the-gap-embrace-spanish-english-cognates-for-fluent-communication--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbridge-the-gap-embrace-spanish-english-cognates-for-fluent-communication--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbridge-the-gap-embrace-spanish-english-cognates-for-fluent-communication--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbridge-the-gap-embrace-spanish-english-cognates-for-fluent-communication--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbridge-the-gap-embrace-spanish-english-cognates-for-fluent-communication--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbridge-the-gap-embrace-spanish-english-cognates-for-fluent-communication--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Bridge the Gap: Embrace Spanish-English Cognates for Fluent Communication!</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Aug 17, 2023</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Welcome to our blog post about English to Spanish cognate hacks. What is a cognate you might ask? As we mentioned in our previous post, cognates are words...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/cracking-the-code-how-cognates-can-propel-your-language-fluency"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Cracking the Code: How Cognates Can Propel Your Language Fluency!" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcracking-the-code-how-cognates-can-propel-your-language-fluency--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcracking-the-code-how-cognates-can-propel-your-language-fluency--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcracking-the-code-how-cognates-can-propel-your-language-fluency--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcracking-the-code-how-cognates-can-propel-your-language-fluency--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcracking-the-code-how-cognates-can-propel-your-language-fluency--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcracking-the-code-how-cognates-can-propel-your-language-fluency--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcracking-the-code-how-cognates-can-propel-your-language-fluency--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcracking-the-code-how-cognates-can-propel-your-language-fluency--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcracking-the-code-how-cognates-can-propel-your-language-fluency--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcracking-the-code-how-cognates-can-propel-your-language-fluency--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fcracking-the-code-how-cognates-can-propel-your-language-fluency--image-5-5-1024x558-1.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Cracking the Code: How Cognates Can Propel Your Language Fluency!</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Aug 9, 2023</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Cognates are words born together. In other words, words that seem similar because of a shared origin. We see this term thrown around a lot in language...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/find-french-youtube-videos-perfect-for-your-level"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Find French YouTube videos PERFECT for your level" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ffind-french-youtube-videos-perfect-for-your-level--pexels-atypeek-5781917-scaled.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ffind-french-youtube-videos-perfect-for-your-level--pexels-atypeek-5781917-scaled.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ffind-french-youtube-videos-perfect-for-your-level--pexels-atypeek-5781917-scaled.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ffind-french-youtube-videos-perfect-for-your-level--pexels-atypeek-5781917-scaled.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ffind-french-youtube-videos-perfect-for-your-level--pexels-atypeek-5781917-scaled.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ffind-french-youtube-videos-perfect-for-your-level--pexels-atypeek-5781917-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ffind-french-youtube-videos-perfect-for-your-level--pexels-atypeek-5781917-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ffind-french-youtube-videos-perfect-for-your-level--pexels-atypeek-5781917-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ffind-french-youtube-videos-perfect-for-your-level--pexels-atypeek-5781917-scaled.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ffind-french-youtube-videos-perfect-for-your-level--pexels-atypeek-5781917-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Ffind-french-youtube-videos-perfect-for-your-level--pexels-atypeek-5781917-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Find French YouTube videos PERFECT for your level</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Mar 16, 2023</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Learning French, and you want to set up a French immersion YouTube account? Immersion is one of the most fun and effective ways to learn a language, but...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/why-you-need-a-coach-not-a-teacher"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Why You Need a Coach not a Teacher" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhy-you-need-a-coach-not-a-teacher--pexels-pixabay-264337-scaled.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhy-you-need-a-coach-not-a-teacher--pexels-pixabay-264337-scaled.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhy-you-need-a-coach-not-a-teacher--pexels-pixabay-264337-scaled.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhy-you-need-a-coach-not-a-teacher--pexels-pixabay-264337-scaled.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhy-you-need-a-coach-not-a-teacher--pexels-pixabay-264337-scaled.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhy-you-need-a-coach-not-a-teacher--pexels-pixabay-264337-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhy-you-need-a-coach-not-a-teacher--pexels-pixabay-264337-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhy-you-need-a-coach-not-a-teacher--pexels-pixabay-264337-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhy-you-need-a-coach-not-a-teacher--pexels-pixabay-264337-scaled.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhy-you-need-a-coach-not-a-teacher--pexels-pixabay-264337-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhy-you-need-a-coach-not-a-teacher--pexels-pixabay-264337-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Why You Need a Coa
44ch not a Teacher</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Jan 13, 2023</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">I’ve been a language teacher for over 5 years. I’ve taught English, Tagalog, and even Spanish (I was strong-armed by my school, I swear). I wear a lot of...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/how-to-learn-spanish-fast"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="How to Learn Spanish Fast" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-spanish-fast--pexels-timmossholder-1618423-scaled.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-spanish-fast--pexels-timmossholder-1618423-scaled.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-spanish-fast--pexels-timmossholder-1618423-scaled.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-spanish-fast--pexels-timmossholder-1618423-scaled.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-spanish-fast--pexels-timmossholder-1618423-scaled.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-spanish-fast--pexels-timmossholder-1618423-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-spanish-fast--pexels-timmossholder-1618423-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-spanish-fast--pexels-timmossholder-1618423-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-spanish-fast--pexels-timmossholder-1618423-scaled.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-spanish-fast--pexels-timmossholder-1618423-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fhow-to-learn-spanish-fast--pexels-timmossholder-1618423-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">How to Learn Spanish Fast</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Nov 17, 2022</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">If you want to know how to learn Spanish fast, you’re in the right place. Spanish is the 2nd most natively spoken language in the world. It’s incredibly...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/lingq-review"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="How to Use LingQ as a Refolder" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flingq-review--326539834_3587736048179418_1835079628161268804_n.png&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flingq-review--326539834_3587736048179418_1835079628161268804_n.png&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flingq-review--326539834_3587736048179418_1835079628161268804_n.png&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flingq-review--326539834_3587736048179418_1835079628161268804_n.png&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flingq-review--326539834_3587736048179418_1835079628161268804_n.png&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flingq-review--326539834_3587736048179418_1835079628161268804_n.png&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flingq-review--326539834_3587736048179418_1835079628161268804_n.png&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flingq-review--326539834_3587736048179418_1835079628161268804_n.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flingq-review--326539834_3587736048179418_1835079628161268804_n.png&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flingq-review--326539834_3587736048179418_1835079628161268804_n.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Flingq-review--326539834_3587736048179418_1835079628161268804_n.png&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">How to Use LingQ as a Refolder</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Oct 27, 2022</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">
44LingQ is a great, assisted reading app. It is gamified well, it recently got an update that has given it a super sleek look, and it has one of the...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/srs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="SRS That isn’t Anki – Clozemaster" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fsrs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-7.png1_.webp&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fsrs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-7.png1_.webp&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fsrs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-7.png1_.webp&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fsrs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-7.png1_.webp&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fsrs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-7.png1_.webp&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fsrs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-7.png1_.webp&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fsrs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-7.png1_.webp&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fsrs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-7.png1_.webp&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fsrs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-7.png1_.webp&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fsrs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-7.png1_.webp&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fsrs-that-isnt-anki-clozemaster--image-7.png1_.webp&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">SRS That isn’t Anki – Clozemaster</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Oct 13, 2022</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Hi Everyone, George from Refold here with a new series about SRS (spaced repetition systems) that aren’t Anki. We all know that Anki is great! It’s free,...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/streaks-are-meant-to-be-broken-the-dialectic-of-productivity-and-avoiding-burnout"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="Streaks Are Meant to Be Broken" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fstreaks-are-meant-to-be-broken-the-dialectic-of-productivity-and-avoiding-burnout--image-20-scaled.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fstreaks-are-meant-to-be-broken-the-dialectic-of-productivity-and-avoiding-burnout--image-20-scaled.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fstreaks-are-meant-to-be-broken-the-dialectic-of-productivity-and-avoiding-burnout--image-20-scaled.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fstreaks-are-meant-to-be-broken-the-dialectic-of-productivity-and-avoiding-burnout--image-20-scaled.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fstreaks-are-meant-to-be-broken-the-dialectic-of-productivity-and-avoiding-burnout--image-20-scaled.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fstreaks-are-meant-to-be-broken-the-dialectic-of-productivity-and-avoiding-burnout--image-20-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fstreaks-are-meant-to-be-broken-the-dialectic-of-productivity-and-avoiding-burnout--image-20-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fstreaks-are-meant-to-be-broken-the-dialectic-of-productivity-and-avoiding-burnout--image-20-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fstreaks-are-meant-to-be-broken-the-dialectic-of-productivity-and-avoiding-burnout--image-20-scaled.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fstreaks-are-meant-to-be-broken-the-dialectic-of-productivity-and-avoiding-burnout--image-20-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fstreaks-are-meant-to-be-broken-the-dialectic-of-productivity-and-avoiding-burnout--image-20-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">Streaks Are Meant to Be Broken</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Jul 14, 2022</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Each Friday, there’s something Pavlovian about the dopamine rush, the countdown to my working week ending and weekend starting. Funnily enough, I experience...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/when-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="When and How to Start Consuming Native Content" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--1.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--1.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--1.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--1.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--1.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--1.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--1.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--1.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--1.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--1.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-and-how-to-start-consuming-native-content--1.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">When and How to Start Consuming Native Content</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Jun 29, 2022</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">A common question I get on my corner of the Refold network, especially from beginners, is what type of content to watch. The roadmap suggests beginners to...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="5 Essential Tips For The New Immersion Learner" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner--pexels-lilartsy-1925536-scaled.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner--pexels-lilartsy-1925536-scaled.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner--pexels-lilartsy-1925536-scaled.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner--pexels-lilartsy-1925536-scaled.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner--pexels-lilartsy-1925536-scaled.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner--pexels-lilartsy-1925536-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner--pexels-lilartsy-1925536-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner--pexels-lilartsy-1925536-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner--pexels-lilartsy-1925536-scaled.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner--pexels-lilartsy-1925536-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2F5-essential-tips-for-the-new-immersion-learner--pexels-lilartsy-1925536-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">5 Essential Tips For The New Immersion Learner</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Jun 13, 2022</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Ask any seasoned immersion learner, and they will have a wealth of knowledge on almost any aspect of the process that you can think of. However, with that...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/dj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="The Best Sources for Japanese Reading Practice" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--pexels-catscoming-406153-scaled.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--pexels-catscoming-406153-scaled.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--pexels-catscoming-406153-scaled.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--pexels-catscoming-406153-scaled.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--pexels-catscoming-406153-scaled.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--pexels-catscoming-406153-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--pexels-catscoming-406153-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--pexels-catscoming-406153-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--pexels-catscoming-406153-scaled.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--pexels-catscoming-406153-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawgs-beginner-reading-sources-for-japanese--pexels-catscoming-406153-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start ju
44stify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">The Best Sources for Japanese Reading Practice</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Jun 5, 2022</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Set up Yomichan to look up unknown words instantly as you read. Reading a lot is essential for improving your Japanese. There’s no shortcut. You will need...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/alicias-favorite-beginner-mandarin-donghua-animation"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="The Best Mandarin Donghua for Beginners (Animation)" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Falicias-favorite-beginner-mandarin-donghua-animation--pexels-mart-production-7333983-scaled.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Falicias-favorite-beginner-mandarin-donghua-animation--pexels-mart-production-7333983-scaled.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Falicias-favorite-beginner-mandarin-donghua-animation--pexels-mart-production-7333983-scaled.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Falicias-favorite-beginner-mandarin-donghua-animation--pexels-mart-production-7333983-scaled.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Falicias-favorite-beginner-mandarin-donghua-animation--pexels-mart-production-7333983-scaled.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Falicias-favorite-beginner-mandarin-donghua-animation--pexels-mart-production-7333983-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Falicias-favorite-beginner-mandarin-donghua-animation--pexels-mart-production-7333983-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Falicias-favorite-beginner-mandarin-donghua-animation--pexels-mart-production-7333983-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Falicias-favorite-beginner-mandarin-donghua-animation--pexels-mart-production-7333983-scaled.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Falicias-favorite-beginner-mandarin-donghua-animation--pexels-mart-production-7333983-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Falicias-favorite-beginner-mandarin-donghua-animation--pexels-mart-production-7333983-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">The Best Mandarin Donghua for Beginners (Animation)</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">May 30, 2022</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Many people believe that there isn’t much interesting Chinese content available. They often compare it to popular East Asian languages like Japanese and...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/george-pigs-beginner-tagalog-recommendations"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="The best books to learn Tagalog" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fgeorge-pigs-beginner-tagalog-recommendations--pexels-kmvinz-902288.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fgeorge-pigs-beginner-tagalog-recommendations--pexels-kmvinz-902288.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fgeorge-pigs-beginner-tagalog-recommendations--pexels-kmvinz-902288.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fgeorge-pigs-beginner-tagalog-recommendations--pexels-kmvinz-902288.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fgeorge-pigs-beginner-tagalog-recommendations--pexels-kmvinz-902288.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fgeorge-pigs-beginner-tagalog-recommendations--pexels-kmvinz-902288.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fgeorge-pigs-beginner-tagalog-recommendations--pexels-kmvinz-902288.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fgeorge-pigs-beginner-tagalog-recommendations--pexels-kmvinz-902288.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fgeorge-pigs-beginner-tagalog-recommendations--pexels-kmvinz-902288.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fgeorge-pigs-beginner-tagalog-recommendations--pexels-kmvinz-902288.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fgeorge-pigs-beginner-tagalog-recommendations--pexels-kmvinz-902288.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">The best books to learn Tagalog</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">May 30, 2022</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Hello everyone! George here, you may know me from tagalog.com. In case you don’t, I’m a foreigner who learned Tagalog. This is a list of some of the best...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/what-is-hard-about-learning-japanese"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="What is hard about learning Japanese?" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhat-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-13-1024x5761-1.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhat-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-13-1024x5761-1.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhat-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-13-1024x5761-1.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhat-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-13-1024x5761-1.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhat-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-13-1024x5761-1.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhat-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-13-1024x5761-1.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhat-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-13-1024x5761-1.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhat-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-13-1024x5761-1.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhat-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-13-1024x5761-1.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhat-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-13-1024x5761-1.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhat-is-hard-about-learning-japanese--image-13-1024x5761-1.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">What is hard about learning Japanese?</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">May 30, 2022</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">Let’s analyze various parts of learning Japanese and the common difficulties with them. Learning Kanji can be one of the first challenges for those starting...</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/dj_ddawg-2-years-of-japanese"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted">
44<img alt="How Many Hours to Learn Japanese? A 2-Year Story" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawg-2-years-of-japanese--pexels-pixabay-301614-scaled.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawg-2-years-of-japanese--pexels-pixabay-301614-scaled.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawg-2-years-of-japanese--pexels-pixabay-301614-scaled.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawg-2-years-of-japanese--pexels-pixabay-301614-scaled.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawg-2-years-of-japanese--pexels-pixabay-301614-scaled.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawg-2-years-of-japanese--pexels-pixabay-301614-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawg-2-years-of-japanese--pexels-pixabay-301614-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawg-2-years-of-japanese--pexels-pixabay-301614-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawg-2-years-of-japanese--pexels-pixabay-301614-scaled.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawg-2-years-of-japanese--pexels-pixabay-301614-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fdj_ddawg-2-years-of-japanese--pexels-pixabay-301614-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">How Many Hours to Learn Japanese? A 2-Year Story</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Refold</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">May 28, 2022</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">After two years of immersion, Dylan went from zero to reading novels and talking with natives. Here is how many hours it took and how he spent them.</p></div></div></a><a class="block h-full" href="/blog/best-shows-to-learn-spanish"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="15 Best Spanish Shows on Netflix to Learn Spanish" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-shows-to-learn-spanish--image-791.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-shows-to-learn-spanish--image-791.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-shows-to-learn-spanish--image-791.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-shows-to-learn-spanish--image-791.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-shows-to-learn-spanish--image-791.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-shows-to-learn-spanish--image-791.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-shows-to-learn-spanish--image-791.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-shows-to-learn-spanish--image-791.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-shows-to-learn-spanish--image-791.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-shows-to-learn-spanish--image-791.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fbest-shows-to-learn-spanish--image-791.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">15 Best Spanish Shows on Netflix to Learn Spanish</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Ben Adams</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">May 26, 2022</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">The best Spanish shows on Netflix for learners, sorted by level from beginner to advanced. Find clear audio, good subtitles, and a path to real progress.</p></div></div></a>
44<a class="block h-full" href="/blog/when-are-you-ready-to-output-2"><div class="rounded-lg bg-card text-card-foreground border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 p-3 md:p-4 hover:shadow-lg transition-all duration-200 hover:scale-[1.02] cursor-pointer h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden"><div class="relative w-full h-48 overflow-hidden bg-muted"><img alt="When are you ready to output?" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="object-cover" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 33vw, (min-width: 640px) 50vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-are-you-ready-to-output-2--pexels-jopwell-2422280-scaled.jpg&amp;w=256&amp;q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-are-you-ready-to-output-2--pexels-jopwell-2422280-scaled.jpg&amp;w=384&amp;q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-are-you-ready-to-output-2--pexels-jopwell-2422280-scaled.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-are-you-ready-to-output-2--pexels-jopwell-2422280-scaled.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-are-you-ready-to-output-2--pexels-jopwell-2422280-scaled.jpg&amp;w=828&amp;q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-are-you-ready-to-output-2--pexels-jopwell-2422280-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1080&amp;q=75 1080w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-are-you-ready-to-output-2--pexels-jopwell-2422280-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1200&amp;q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-are-you-ready-to-output-2--pexels-jopwell-2422280-scaled.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-are-you-ready-to-output-2--pexels-jopwell-2422280-scaled.jpg&amp;w=2048&amp;q=75 2048w, /_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-are-you-ready-to-output-2--pexels-jopwell-2422280-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75 3840w" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fblog-images%2Fwhen-are-you-ready-to-output-2--pexels-jopwell-2422280-scaled.jpg&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75"/></div><div class="flex flex-col space-y-1.5 p-2 md:p-4"><div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-2"><h3 class="text-foreground font-displaySmall leading-none tracking-tight flex-1">When are you ready to output?</h3><span data-slot="badge" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium w-fit whitespace-nowrap shrink-0 [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-3 gap-1 [&amp;&gt;svg]:pointer-events-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive transition-[color,box-shadow] overflow-hidden border-transparent bg-muted text-foreground [a&amp;]:hover:bg-muted/80 uppercase">en</span></div><div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground"><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">Ethan Puzarne</p><span>•</span><p class="font-bodySmall text-muted-foreground">May 26, 2022</p></div></div><div class="p-3 md:p-4 pt-0 flex-1"><p class="font-bodyMedium text-muted-foreground">I think that the recommendation of needing “near-perfect comprehension” without subs to start to output is honestly absurd. – Brent There have been many...</p></div></div></a></div></div></div></div>
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