Learning a language

[losenotloose]

Is there a technique? I've always thought I was bad at languages but maybe I just need to learn how, a bit like revision (which I've also never mastered).

Any advice welcome!

You need to use what you learn. I don't buy into immersion as it just didn't work for me. Regular lessons, reading and writing. There's a lot more opportunities online than there were when I was at school. You can watch Peppa pig in lots of languages on YouTube for example.

To supplement formal classes, do whatever you would be doing in English (or other preferred language) in the target language instead e.g., writing your shopping list, reading the news, watching a film. A lot of countries' public broadcasters have free resources, like RFI News in easy French or DW simplified articles in German.

Learning another language is hard and it can take a long time to be reasonably fluent, there's no magic formula.

Personally I don't think you can learn a language other than in a class, but there are so many online resources now which can boost learning. Beginner's classes are easy to find, but it's sometimes hard to progress unless you can find a conversation group.

The more time and effort you put into reading, speaking and listening the better you will be.

Try the DuoLingo app. It's free. I decided to learn Russian as a New Years Resolution, I wanted to push myself learning the different letters etc. Only doing maybe ten mins a day some days. I didn't realise how much I was taking in until we were watching a programme and the presenter was in Russia and I knew what some of the Russian words meant! I know I'd been learning it but didn't seriously think I was absorbing it, if that makes sense, haha. Definitely give it a go, just a little daily habit to support whatever other way you're learning ☺️

It's not on Duolingo and the only class I can find is £310 for 10 weeks!

Here's a blog with some tips and resources tim.blog/2014/03/21/how-to-learn-a-foreign-language-2/amp/

What language is it? There are lots of language learning apps both free and paid that can get you started.

Albanian

Maybe ask on your local Facebook group if there's any Albanians willing to swap lessons ?

You can get low cost private lessons on sites like italki (Albanian) if you're happy to do online classes. Since the tutors will mostly be based in Albania they can offer classes for much less. I've used it for other languages which can be hard to find in person and have always had good experiences.