If learning platforms and apps didn't exist anymore, would you keep studying the "old fashion" way?

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I saw this on Twitter and found it really interesting.

Imagine if we lost all of our language learning platforms and applications today.

How many of us language learners would keep studying and only learn the old fashion way with very limited technology?

Would you?

When I started learning languages apps didn’t exist so I would mind studying with books again, find friends to practice with.

But it would definitely take more effort! I got used to how easy it is to open an app and get studying, organise and track progress etc

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I think it would be super hard, but I would keep studying; also because I always preferred using pen and paper to study instead of apps and computers, so I think that after a period of shock (:joy: ), I would enjoy it anyways!

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It would be hard for sure with limited platforms. I use a combination of books and paper with my online and digital studying, so I would probably continue learning a little bit, but my pronunciation and character memorization would definitely suffer! But maybe my writing would actually improve… I think there’s actually pros and cons to both ways of learning, but I personally prefer having more learning platforms rather than less. I would probably be less motivated to try things out if I only had books.

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My handwriting, although never particularly pretty, has absolutely gone to pot since we never really write much anymore.

I partly resent that. Whilst it’s great having the convenience of typing I’ve never really had chance to write in other languages. Just bits and bobs here and there.

When I started learning Korean I absolutely loved writing the Hangul, they’re so easy to make look neat and tidy, even for someone with terrible handwriting like me.

I do wonder in years to come if Gen-Z/Millenials just forget how to write!

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for me, no technology is as effective as

  • a motivated & skilled teacher, backed up by a good textbook
  • regular classroom with a a whiteboard
  • plus 1:1 classes with that teacher
  • plus real-life language usage
  • making notes and with pen & paper, and a lot of markers.
  • classmates who participate. If you are better, you learn by repeating for them. If they are better, you learn by listening to their answer.

value-adding technology:

  • SRS system (who carries 5 boxes of flashcards…)
  • stroke order checker (japanese / chinese)

sometimes it’s not possible without tech:

  • without video calls there are no vietnamese classes in my town
    not even a 1-2 week class i could visit in the capital.
  • without preply i wouldn’t have started at all
    I tried finding classes for several weeks before discovering preply and finally arriving to flexiclasses.
  • computer games & internet made me learn english (german school helped, but offered no motivation)

Every person learns differently. I need to visualize things, use and recycle common phrases, understand vocab etymology (cannot learn any word without context). I need to hear something 3x before it makes its way into my brain, need to question the teacher where i can use the word and were I cannot.

This is very different from most students and surely different from people with neurotypical brains.

I tried spanish classes last year, but neither Duolingo (52day-streak!) nor the teacher really helped learning it.

TL;DR: it depends :slight_smile:

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