What do you do to supplement your Duolingo learning?

[NuffSaidSam]

I've just started learning a language via Duolingo and I'm really enjoying it, but wondering what else I can do to enhance/further my learning.

Any tips?

(I've started from scratch so my current level is very, very basic).

Get a grammar book. Duolingo is rubbish at explaining grammar.

See if https://coffeebreaklanguages.com/ do your language, really helpful for the listening side of it.

Watch a show on Netflix, in that language.

Which language? Can you aim to go and visit?

Reading the news, watching tv and reading books in chosen language. As much content as possible.

Which language? But as a general one, textbook to explain the nitty gritty that duo just doesn't, basic/slow news podcasts in the target language, there's a lot of podcasts for language learners that are slow and use basic language

I have a grammar book and a KS3 workbook. Both by CGP which are helpful and also very funny.

News and books in that language, as PP have said.
The Busuu app digs more into grammar, I find.

YouTube native teachers making short videos.

For example Learn French with Alexa. She explains things really well and I need to hear a language to learn it. I have grammar books but prefer YouTube. I needed to practise the French condtional tense this week so just did a YouTube search and played a few 5-7 min videos until I got it.

Also follow French speakers, or whichever language you’re learning, on instagram. I found this better especially in the early days before I could manage a whole film or radio.

I already speak Spanish and decent Dutch so this method of listen and repeat works for me.

I think it depends on how much language learning you've done before. I've previously had lessons in 4 languages and currently doing another. So doing a new language in Duolingo (and doing others as revision) is okay, as I don't need much explanation.

But if I were doing something for the first time - seperable verbs in German,mutations in Welsh, the subjunctive Latin & French - they're things that really threw me when I first came across them,and Duolingo doesn't really explain why they are as they are. It's good for learning patterns, vocab, sounds, but if you want to understand why I would use that tense rather than this one here, you're not likely to get that understanding from Duolingo.

I talk back the sentences to Google translate to Check I'm saying the words correctly.

I started learning a language with Duolingo then because I was enjoying it I signed up for actual classes.

I listen to radio shows in the language I’m learning, read books and magazines and have WhatsApp conversations with my classmates.

Thanks everyone, some great suggestions here.

The language is German so if anyone knows any YouTube channels/podcasts that are good for a complete beginner I'd love to know.

Or any TV shows to watch. I'm guessing I'll need German kids shows to start with 😂

dw have a great beginners course Nicos weg https://learngerman.dw.com/en/beginners/s-62078399
theres lots of slow German podcasts and YouTube videos which are great