What is the most useful method for learning a new language to you?

[Elozaa]

[BungusHighFivePizza]

ChatGPT-4 now. I'm learning 10 times faster than with any teacher. I ask, "What does this mean?" And the AI tells me and sometimes it's wrong so I say, "Oh, that's not what I meant. I meant in this context [provide example] and then AI gives me perfect info.

[BungusHighFivePizza]

Example of convo I just had recently where I learned something I had difficulty even in uni-level Spanish courses.

>> Please teach me about subjunctives in Spanish.

Sure, I can help you with that. The subjunctive is one of the three moods in Spanish, along with the indicative and the imperative1. It is used to express things that are not facts, such as wishes, doubts, emotions, or possibilities12. For example:

Quiero que vengas conmigo. (I want you to come with me.)
Dudo que ella sepa la verdad. (I doubt that she knows the truth.)
Me alegro de que estés bien. (I’m glad that you’re well.)
Es posible que llueva mañana. (It’s possible that it rains tomorrow.)
The subjunctive has different forms for different tenses, such as the present, the past, and the future12. The present subjunctive is formed by taking the yo form of the present indicative, dropping the -o ending, and adding the subjunctive endings3. For example:

Hablar: hablo -> hable (I speak -> I may speak)
Comer: como -> coma (I eat -> I may eat)
Vivir: vivo -> viva (I live -> I may live)
Some verbs are irregular in the subjunctive and have different stems or endings3. For example:

Ser: sea (I may be)
Ir: vaya (I may go)
Dar: dé (I may give)
Do you have any questions so far?

[BungusHighFivePizza]

>> Can you explain to an idiot like me how subjunctives in Spanish relate to ones in English?
Sent message. Can you explain to an idiot like me how subjunctives in Spanish relate to ones in English?

Sure, I can try to explain that. The subjunctive is also a verb form or mood in English that expresses wishes, demands, or hypothetical situations12. However, it is not very common and mostly used by educated speakers1. The subjunctive in English is the same as the infinitive without ‘to’ or the imperative for most verbs13. For example:

I suggest that he leave now. (not leaves)
She insisted that we be on time. (not are)
If I were you, I would study more. (not was)
The only verb that has a distinct past subjunctive form in English is ‘to be’, which becomes ‘were’ for all subjects13. For example:

If he were rich, he would buy a yacht. (not was)
I wish she were here with me. (not was)
The subjunctive in Spanish is more complex and more frequently used than in English3. It has different forms for different tenses and subjects, and it follows specific rules and triggers3. For example:

Quiero que vengas conmigo. (I want you to come with me.)
Si fuera rico, compraría un yate. (If I were rich, I would buy a yacht.)
Does that make sense?

[convo_king89]

Being around people who use it. I think that’s called imeression learning. I’ve people come to this country and learn English why watching movies and tv.

[Andres77]

Colors, directions, prepositions, pronouns, numbers. Basic verbs

[Andres77]

That’s a good solid basic foundation and everything else builds from there

[gag37627]

I watch movies with subtitles from the same language it helps to understand words better.

[Valens96]

For me, I try to do what a child does when learning: learn words first (colors, objects, etc.), how to write them, then learn grammar.

[Ms_Facesitter]

Being forced to use it.

[NathanDavis]

practicing with native/fluent speakers...