Discussions about methods and strategies. Questions and advice regarding all aspects of language learning. Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:12:49 +0000 Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:12:49 +0000 Welcome to the Language Learning Forum at Polydog http://polydog.org/index.php?forums/learning-techniques-and-advice.6/ Fri, 09 Sep 2022 06:15:46 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/goldlist-anki-hack.468/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/goldlist-anki-hack.468/ Bob Bob Add "14d" to the "Learning Steps" setting. It should now look like "1m 10m 14d"
Change "Graduating interval" to "9999".
Set "Leech Threshold" to "12".
Change "Hard interval" to "1.00". ( This might not actually be needed)

I also suggest setting "new cards per day" to "0". I have always done this so that I can manually add how many cards I want.

*Important* : Answer questions only hard or good. (1 or 3 shortcut)

So what will happen...

Goldlist + Anki Hack]]> 1 Mon, 18 Jan 2016 21:45:30 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/my-technique-to-learn-russian-language-from-home.446/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/my-technique-to-learn-russian-language-from-home.446/ Josu88 Josu88 In order to contribute to this forum Im going to talk about how i learnt Russian language myself from home and from scratch. I went from zero level to fluency in a period of 2 years. (by fluency i mean B2 level, i passed the exam).
Please note that im not an English speaker so maybe some parts of my method wont suit you, also I consider it to be a tough program and it requires discipline, at least 1 or 2 hours...

My technique to learn Russian language from home.]]> 7 Mon, 18 May 2015 02:18:48 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/ipa-worth-learning-or-another-obstacle.438/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/ipa-worth-learning-or-another-obstacle.438/ Marquav3410 Marquav3410
First off I wanted to say thanks for the warm welcome.You guys have been great! I was reading a language reading book the other day, and it mentioned learning the IPA as well as the specific "sound table" for the language in order to be able to accurately depict the sounds in the language in question. Now I definitely see the application of learning something like this, but I just wanted to bring this to the group and get all of your opinions on it.]]> 3 Sun, 12 Apr 2015 23:47:45 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/writing-vs-typing.432/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/writing-vs-typing.432/ pensulo pensulo 3 Fri, 03 Apr 2015 04:57:57 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/my-study-methods-thoughts.431/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/my-study-methods-thoughts.431/ spanglish1205 spanglish1205
Here's a list of how I start a new language. I spend a hell of a lot of time doing it so I was really curious to see if anybody has any other methods to share other than what I am doing and any thoughts. I´d be glad to hear!

I usually go through the following programs to study a language:

Beginner:
-Pimsleur and Michel Thomas during my commute to work. This is good because it is during "dead" time. Pimsleur is especially very good at getting a base, functional level of conversation...

My study methods. Thoughts?]]> 6 Thu, 02 Apr 2015 22:02:10 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/how-to-learn-any-language-in-six-months.127/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/how-to-learn-any-language-in-six-months.127/ Big_Dog Big_Dog ]]> 37 Sat, 14 Feb 2015 05:31:28 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/tired-of-anki-try-goldlist.240/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/tired-of-anki-try-goldlist.240/ Bob Bob nki vs Goldlists vs Iversen stylewordlists has gotten me thinking about expanding my thoughts on Goldlist.

Goldlist is an SRS with no upper limit on how long you should wait. Reviews don't make a huge bubble in the middle of the process, instead dropping off quite quickly.

I haven't really talked about it much here, but I have a log on HTLAL...

Tired of Anki? Try Goldlist]]> 29 Fri, 13 Feb 2015 07:57:59 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/what-are-your-anki-settings.419/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/what-are-your-anki-settings.419/ Bob Bob 4 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 13:25:18 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/mobile-app-language-learning.409/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/mobile-app-language-learning.409/ Marine Marine Here my mobile apps (about language learning).

Dictionary GoldenDict Free : (Android, Computer version)
When you are in a foreign country, it is convenient to have a good dictionary that does not need the Internet.
This dictionary is like an empty shell,...

Mobile app (language learning)]]> Wed, 17 Dec 2014 21:21:27 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/l2-input-learning-rate-formula-volume-parsing-meaning.399/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/l2-input-learning-rate-formula-volume-parsing-meaning.399/ zKing zKing -----------------------
Learning rate = Volume * Parsing% * Meaning%

Volume: words per unit time
Parsing: % of words you individually parse out and really "hear" / "see"
Meaning: % of words/messages you get the meaning for (one way or another)

-----------------------...

L2 Input, learning rate formula: Volume * Parsing% * Meaning%]]> 4 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 06:45:38 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/are-language-schools-any-good.395/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/are-language-schools-any-good.395/ neofight78 neofight78 4 Thu, 23 Oct 2014 23:53:57 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/french-pronunciation-and-learning-french.297/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/french-pronunciation-and-learning-french.297/ invictus invictus
Anyway, I figured if I am to learn another language, French makes the most sense since it is the only one I have any sort of real background in. I guess I'd consider myself a false beginner.

I am intrigued by this Assimil course. It...

French Pronunciation and Learning French]]> 28 Thu, 23 Oct 2014 00:46:26 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/forget-what-you-know-about-good-study-habits.369/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/forget-what-you-know-about-good-study-habits.369/ invictus invictus http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/07/health/views/07mind.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all&_r=0

Interesting article from the NYT. A few years old, but seems to back up spaced repetition for vocab and review as well as studying in multiple places.]]> 12 Thu, 23 Oct 2014 00:43:19 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/the-i-just-deleted-my-anki-deck-celebration-thread.365/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/the-i-just-deleted-my-anki-deck-celebration-thread.365/ Big_Dog Big_Dog
I just deleted all the cards in my Russian Anki deck older than 1 month, and I feel great! It came to about 3000 cards. Reviews were getting to be about 60...

The "I just deleted my Anki deck" celebration thread]]> 28 Wed, 22 Oct 2014 23:32:18 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/learning-synonyms-and-polysemes.375/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/learning-synonyms-and-polysemes.375/ neofight78 neofight78
Of course this leaves a big gap: those L2 words that don't map quite so nicely to a single L1 word. So am wondering how people tackle learning these words. I am interested in hearing about different approaches because, as always, not all methods work for all people and I'd like to find something that...

Learning synonyms and polysemes]]> 11 Wed, 22 Oct 2014 13:56:21 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/fluent-forever-word-list.343/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/fluent-forever-word-list.343/ H.F. H.F. website. The vocabulary section of the website is particularly interesting. He basically says (and backs it up with some research) that by knowing the 1000 most commonly used words in a language, one could understand roughly 70% of the language. By...

Fluent Forever Word List]]> 28 Wed, 22 Oct 2014 05:24:17 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/language-learning-tips-from-a-guitar-teacher.368/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/language-learning-tips-from-a-guitar-teacher.368/ stratfanatic stratfanatic


1. Practice what you can't do, not what you can.

2. Never practice making a mistake. Get it right.

3. Start slowly and get it right before you speed up.

4. Using a timer saves time.

5. Focus on...

Language learning tips from a guitar teacher]]> 10 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 07:04:52 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/listening-reading.334/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/listening-reading.334/ pat tou pat tou http://users.bestweb.net/~siom/martian_mountain/! L-R the most important passages.htm

I know this is a topic that has been thoroughly discused on HTLAL, but hey, I never managed to get my account validated there despite filling out all that information they ask for. So here goes.

Anyone here a fan of this method? I would appreciate some input on my current approach to this method. I discovered...

Listening - Reading]]> 11 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 15:05:39 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/anki-vs-gold-lists-vs-iversen-style-wordlists.238/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/anki-vs-gold-lists-vs-iversen-style-wordlists.238/ Peregrinus Peregrinus
In no particular order I would propose the following metrics, and hopefully others will chime...

Anki vs. Gold Lists vs. Iversen-style Wordlists]]> 57 Wed, 17 Sep 2014 07:16:34 +0000 http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/paul-nobel-vs-michel-thomas.316/ http://polydog.org/index.php?threads/paul-nobel-vs-michel-thomas.316/ Big_Dog Big_Dog this article I stumbled upon. In your opinion, what are the differences and advantages/disadvantages of these methods?]]>