Sometime, I will be able to write an essay about the different methods for learning foreign languages. Honestly, I like doing it. Today, I encountered again a new method, only new for me, of course. I found a video, naturally on YouTube, describing and criticizing a book called “Fluency Forever” by Gabriel Wyner. Although this is not a new one, the first edition had been published in 2014. Now an extended version was put on the market, which seems worth discussing it again. As always, by the mysterious algorithm of YouTube, a second review of this book followed by another podcaster, who also recommended it, but with some slightly negative comments, I think. But I’m not sure about that, because I had big difficulties understanding him. And this was not a matter of language comprehension, but of grasping his content at all. Honestly, it was too complicated to follow his flow of thoughts. I should repeat it a third time. Now, shortly about this book. It was written by a classic singer, and understandably, he was learning languages by exercising the pronunciation, without regard to the meaning. Let’s write down his three essential points of language acquisition. First, pronunciation. Second, don’t translate. Third, repetition. You see, this kind of language learning can only be invented by a singer. Nevertheless, there seems to be a lot of general validity. If I compare this way with the way of the Italian polyglot, Luca, I see a great difference. Luca starts with a full translation, forward and backward. It would be interesting to learn of a study which compares both methods.
I think, I will buy this book and will come back to it later on.