I started learning Spanish about 5 years ago totally by myself. At the time i was a student so didn't really have the money for teachers or textbooks. After understanding the basic grammar and vocab i switched to a >90% comprehensible input approach. I will never know how effective it was, since i didn't really have any other learners to compare to or any other experiences, but I enjoyed it for a while and prided myself on learning the 'fun' way and for free.
Eventually i reached the intermediate plateau and i genuinely believe that during a period of three years i did not improve, and possibly regressed. this was despite listening to spanish podcasts most days, reading books, keeping an anki deck and going to language exchanges. i felt like i was doing it all right.
I then decided that i needed to change things up. I started weekly lessons with a teacher, bought a textbook and signed up to a B2 Dele exam. Now my spanish practice is structured around 'active' sessions, with passive CI (reading / podcasts) as a supplement.
I have to say i am loving it! i am learning loads of new words and nuances. There are so many great and difficult exercises in the textbook that really humbled me when i used it for the first time, for example interpreting survey results and having to explain what's going on in a picture.
There isn't much of a point to this post, i just wanted to give the more traditional learning techniques a bit of recognition, since this sub seems to love CI so much. The way i see it is that, like everything, you have to find the right balance. I find that the passive work is great for reinforcing words you already know and increasing fluency, but there's nothing like focused active studying for expanding your vocabulary, understanding nuance and using more appropriate words.
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