What is the best way to learn a second language in 2026?

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I’d like to have books to study out of and maybe some types of slideshows. Something with a clear outline of the path ahead would be nice.

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The real answer is rough, because there are no shortcuts.

The best way to do it is the same way you learned your primary language. Learn just enough through study to be able to use a little bit of the language, and then actually start using it.

Talk with people who speak it, and learn to read and write all over again. Sound like a tourist for a couple years as you pick up more and more. Eventually you’ll be fluent.

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I’ve heard watching kid’s shows in the language you’d like to learn works pretty well for newbies.

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The best method is the one you can stick to.

What works great for me, is boring to another one. Even if I have the most optimal way of learning, if you abandon that, you won’t learn anything.

That said, the availability of podcasts, videos, online courses, AI for checking your output, asking follow-up questions, and having real time conversations, are all tools we could have only dreamed of even 10 years ago. Even if people here dismiss the use of AI, it will get you up to CEFR B2/C1 level easily.

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Pretty much this. I couldn’t commit to self-study enough to make any meaningful progress even though I tried really hard. I’m sure other people can just pick up a book and some audio tapes and do well on their own. I ended up doing lessons in iTalki because I need the guidance and live feedback. It’s been great so far although I’ve only been at it for a few weeks. Looking forward to see where I am in a year.

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Comprehensible input is far and away the best way to learn a language. If the language you want to learn is Spanish, I highly recommend Dreaming Spanish. I believe there is also a French version.

If you want a different language than above, search “Comprehensible Input [target language]” and you should be able to find lists of resources in your target language.

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She/Her

Lengualytics is a really good tool for comprehensible input in any language. Basically it’s a collection of comprehensible input videos found and submitted by other users, and ranked according to language, dialect and difficulty level.

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To jump onto your comment as a current Spanish learner, dreaming Spanish is pretty good. Language Transfer however is, in my opinion, the beat single tool for learning Spanish.

I think it is best coupled with some other methods, like dreaming Spanish, but I have learnt more from Language Transfer than anywhere else.

Obligatory never use Duolingo, it is fucking trash!

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Thanks for the advice! I want to learn Polish and I didn’t even know where to begin.

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leaving trial by fire

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