pull down to refresh
Interesting, starting straight from fiction? Isn't it quite frustrating to have so many unfamiliar words. 🤔
I actually find it satisfying to be able to pick out "my name is" from the wall of text. My thought process is that because one book contains the building blocks for thousands of conversations, I can simplify learning the language into following a single story, with the aid of a dictionary. I do the same with TV shows (with native subtitles to look up words, not movies since there's less dialogue in those), then I use one-on-one conversations for practice and feedback.
This makes my end goal, conversing, the easiest part of my routine, since the vocabulary and grammar requirements are far fewer and more within my control.
I think grammar is a bit overrated in language learning, I tend not to pay too much attention to it at first. Natives can understand what you mean anyway. And with fluent speaking practice, you can get the feel for it (the way kids naturally learn). That's why I really don't like how most schools teach languages, which tend to focus too much on grammar and words that have so little real-world use.
Yeah, fiat problem for sure. It's teacher-oriented instruction. It's easier to grade fill-in-the-blanks than to cultivate a natural open-ended environment. And it allows every student a method for obtaining a passing grade through rote memorization regardless of actual fluency or understanding.
I tried this a few years ago. Hurt my brain after a page or so... after a chapter or two, I stopped and gave away the books
I try to read light native speaker fiction as soon as possible. Even if all I can read is "the" and "said" etc, it still forces me to drill those words over and over again in a meaningful context.