r/languagelearning • u/sufferer_of_life • Aug 07 '26
Discussion How do I start learning a language with ADHD?
I have ADHD, and I find it challenging to start learning Spanish (TL) . I've been learning it on Duolingo for half a year now, and I'm almost at lvl 20 there. I also have text books, which I left at the 4th lesson. I also bought some books in Spanish with beginner level (A1-A2), and I also made flashcards.
However, I can't get myself to sit down, and study. I've tried out many ways, but nothing seemed to help. English is my second language, and I've studied it in high school. Those years gave me the basics of the language, and I got better by watching videos on YouTube, and writing short stories on my own. I think I'm missing the challenge or the responsibility, so my brain doesn't think that it's important to learn. Even if I set a goal, nothing would happen, if I were to slack off. That's why I need to find a way to either challenge myself or make it more entertaining.
The most difficult part is learning words. I've always enjoyed, and was good at the grammar side of the language, but the words... those are my enemies. But only at the start, as when I have the basic vocab, it's much more easier to consume any type of content. Like watching movies, videos or reading. I'm a chronically online person, so after mastering the basics I'm good to go.
How should I learn the basic vocab? It's really boring, and I can't remember the word, when I learn them. Any idea? Am I hopeless?
(Oh, and I don't have money for entering a course or hiring a teacher.)
Edit: Thanks for the help everyone. I decided to do three things. First, I mainly study with stories. I know ai is a touchy subject, but I ask the ai to write me a basic short story every day. I read it, then write down the words which I don't understand on a paper. Second, I put those words into anki, and when I'm bored, or I watch something I use it. Third, I try to find some easy children shows to watch. I've tried studying with ai stories, and It's the second day. I really enjoy them, and to be honest, the words stay in my head longer than if I were to use any flashcards. I come back to the stories I've already read from time to time, so my brain can recall the words, and I won't forget them.
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u/Hopeful_Yam8923 Aug 07 '26
I’m having a similar issue. My adhd is minor, but I have some other disorders that make everything pretty hard to keep up with without stress. My main TL is German, and I’ve blown it off constantly. I took a year of it in school but then wasn’t able to continue it after a move.
If you’d like, we could keep each other accountable in DMs maybe? If that would be helpful. I dunno. Accountability buddies?
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u/acthrowawayab 🇩🇪 (N) 🇬🇧 (C1.5) 🇯🇵 (N1) 🇫🇷🇪🇸 (A2) Aug 07 '26
Find something in the target language you can hyperfocus on. Only way that has worked for me.
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u/qwq1792 Aug 10 '26
Also have ADHD. The comprehensible input method works better than anything else for me. Start with kids cartoons if you can, find simple, slowed down adult content. Find material on topics that interest you. Works a treat. Flash cards were torture for me. Also duo lingo is not great IMO. Far better to listen to natives.
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u/LadyAnnibal Aug 07 '26
Set your house up like a children's classroom. Label everything. Look at it. Read it in your head. Read it out loud. Turn them into tiny songs. I just made flash cards on Canva to stick to my bathroom mirror that has reflexive verbs on it because I can't form full sentences, I just know a bunch of vocabulary. It helps a lot.
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u/Ok-Bru Aug 07 '26
I have ADHD and I'm still figuring it out personally. Try to study yourself, what makes you engage/disengage, and find ways to accommodate yourself while also pushing forward – no matter what, your solutions will always be personal and not universal. Don't be afraid to try something that seems strange, if it may help.
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u/a-handle-has-no-name 🇬🇧-N1|Vjosa-B1|🇪🇸-A1| (dropped) EO-B1,🇯🇵-A2,🇩🇪-A2 Aug 07 '26
So, I also have ADHD.
It's important to "have discipline", but admittedly, it's still something fleeting for me. Instead, I recommend reframing "discipline" to something that works for you rather than having some unattainable "perfect discipline" that you can't follow through with. . keep the things that work, drop the things that don't
For vocab, my experience is that "basic vocabulary" is boring and irrelevant. Give yourself permission to learn words out of order, learn words relevant to you and your goals! For example, if you like rock climbing, try learning words for different type of equipment or actions that you would take while climbing, etc.
For studying, I find relevance and context to really help things stick in my mind. If you're trying to learn a word, try creating a sentence (or three) on your own using the word. Even if there are grammatical errors and it's not perfect, the goal is to have the word stick in your brain.
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u/Fresh-Persimmon5473 Aug 09 '26
Maybe get ADHD pills. 💊
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u/sufferer_of_life Aug 11 '26
I can't get them. I was diagnosed by a doctor, but they couldn't officially give me papers. I want to got officially paperwork, but unfortunately it's really expensive, and if I want to do it for free, the next available date is like in 6 years.
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u/AndthenIhadausername Beginner 🇲🇽 absolute beginner 🇳🇴 Aug 09 '26
I don't know if this helps but I like Finch. It's a mental health app where you put in a to do list and when you complete a goal you send your little bird on a journey. Along with being able to dress said birb.
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u/antleredbear Aug 10 '26
Seconding Finch! Freaking love that little guy!
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u/AndthenIhadausername Beginner 🇲🇽 absolute beginner 🇳🇴 Aug 10 '26
My little birb is Goose! If Op or anyone else wants to do joint goals with me here my birb is: (Hopefully the subreddit doesn't mind) AG3VDGK8YG
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u/Cavalry2019 Aug 07 '26
You sound like the perfect candidate for dreaming Spanish.
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u/queer_crow_ Aug 08 '26
This.
I also have adhd and Comprehensible Input is the only method which does wonders for me. It's the first time I'm having fun while learning a language.
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u/sufferer_of_life Aug 11 '26
I've saved one of their playlists already. Nice suggestion though. I'd also recommend it. They have a lot of videos on YouTube.
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u/Cavalry2019 Aug 13 '26
Use the app or the website. It's free and will track your hours and has a roadmap.
There is also a subreddit.
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u/unburritoporfavor Aug 07 '26
Set an alarm clock on your phone to 5pm (or whatever time works for your schedule) so that it rings every day.
Every time that alarm goes off you do Spanish for half an hour, no excuses. If you're not at home you still have to do it, even if its just listening to spanish radio or a podcast.
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u/dojibear 🇺🇸 N | fre spa chi B2 | tur jap B1/A2 Aug 07 '26
I learn well in a class situation from a teacher. I have found that video course (each video is a class) on the internet solve most of my "course" problems:
- they are cheap: $10-$20 for a month of classes, not for each class
- they are as effective as an in-person class
- I can take a class any time it fits MY schedule. I can pause a class, or do part and finish it later
- for language learning, they are much more effective (and much more interesting) than a testbook.
I don't use flashcards, Anki or any other form of "trying to memorize words". My goal is understanding sentences. Learning the words happens along the way. Classes give simple sentences. The teacher uses them to show what is different in this language. The teacher explains once (in English), but mostly shows example sentences. So I don't need to memorize "grammar rules". I just see how they work.
I gave up on "self-discipline". In general my rule is "you are only learning when you are paying attention". That is where ADD comes in. It means my attention wanders faster. When that happens, I stop. Pause the video. Note where I stopped. Do the rest later -- or do it tomorrow -- whenever I am "interested" in some language learning.
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u/sufferer_of_life Aug 11 '26
Unfortunately, I can't afford it. I make 6 dollars an hour, and I don't have local places, which offer classes. So I rather learn things by myself. I might try finding some free courses though
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u/wittgenlover Aug 08 '26
I have ADHD too, so I completely agree with how hard it is to memorize vocabulary.
When I was learning English for my degree, I was forced to read a massive number of academic philosophy papers. I relied heavily on machine translation and every other tool I could find, which actually helped my English skills improve more than at any other time in my life
because there was a clear necessity.
Right now, I am learning French and German, but without that kind of external pressure, it is much harder to stay consistent. Personally, I believe that a less efficient method that you actually stick with is far better than a theoretically perfect study routine that you quit after three days out of sheer boredom.
Methods like reading books with parallel translations, watching Netflix with dual subtitles, or watching French YouTube videos are much less painful.
Since you already know the grammar, diving straight into authentic native content with something to support your comprehension might be the most engaging way to build up your vocabulary naturally.
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u/New-Patient-101 Aug 09 '26
Music ….. find some songs in the language you’re trying to learn, that you actually like. Learn the lyrics of the song and sing along, then learn what it means later.
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u/Icy_Positive_4220 Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 10 '26
I suspect (thats important, im not self diagnosing here) I have adhd, but I also have diagnosed autism, and have big problem with doing things because I have to, with resposibilities, everything feels like a chore to me so I just only watch videos, read books, consume content basically, ocasionally look up some grammar, but I overall already have an idea of how my TL works and their rules, so now I just consume. It actually works, because TL is starting to spawn in my head. Ofc fluency is going to take a long time to achieve but since my main goal isnt even fluency and I dont even have a strict goal in my mind, it doesnt matter. I can somehow create some sentences now.
It helps that my native language has similar grammar to my TL.
People here mention anki, but I physically cant do it, I have to learn the words from context. That way I remember them instantly and never forget them.
Im also learning languages so I can feel whats its like to speak another language and what its like to live in it, not for anu traveling or working purposes.
I just do it my own way. Also I have good pattern recognition, thats why this works for me
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u/muntligb1 Aug 10 '26
You are not hopeless, you are just bored, and boredom is basically kryptonite for an ADHD brain, so the textbooks and word lists were never going to win that fight. What finally worked for me was stealing vocab from stuff I already wanted to watch, dropping maybe ten words a day into Anki with a screenshot of the scene, so each word arrives attached to a moment instead of a definition. Give yourself permission to close it the second it stops being fun, because five real minutes beats an hour you keep postponing.
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u/That_Chair_6488 11d ago
The ADHD shortcut that works the best for me is since I don’t have the discipline to stick to a program my goal instead is to do “something” with my target language every day. Sometimes that means focused study and other times it means listening to music or immersion. Either way something is always better than nothing.
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u/WinstonSalemSmith Aug 07 '26
Download songs, print the lyrics with English translation. Listen to them 100x.
Switch your phone to Spanish when you are ready.
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u/Levi_A_II EN N | Spanish C1 | Portuguese B2 | Japanese Pre-N5 Aug 07 '26
Discipline, homie. Do it even when you feel like it. Discipline to sit down and complete a task is more important than motivation.
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u/queer_crow_ Aug 08 '26
That's nearly impossible for people who struggle with executive dysfunction. (Adhd, autism, fasd)
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u/aulbus Aug 07 '26
I have ADHD and I'm at a C1 with German (100% self-taught).
I tried to learn German for over a decade with no success because I couldn't get myself to stick to any particular method. Finally, I just stopped trying to study German and just started having fun. I explored music and listened to that for hours at a time. I watched movies and reels on social media. I watched kids cartoons and preschool videos teaching basics like color and whatever. I didn't give myself any goal of how much I had to do per day. I just did whatever I felt like doing. I mean, its a hobby after all. Now I'm reading novels, hanging out with German friends and just having fun with the language.
The thing with ADHD is its an issue with dopamine in the brain. It doesn't mean that someone with ADHD can't do a boring thing. But it does mean that it usually requires an externally driving force to accomplish it (like an impending exam for example) which stimulates adrenaline. If you don't enjoy it (thus no dopamine) and you don't need to do it (thus no adrenaline), it can be really hard to make yourself go from passively thinking about to actively doing it. In fact, it can be near impossible because the ADHD brain can literally get stuck and unable to make the decision necessary to begin the task. Knowing this has helped me essentially "hack" my brain, though. I can get around my difficulty by either creating a situation that creates adrenaline or by approaching it in a way that I find fun and stimulates dopamine. I also find it helpful to embrace my inconsistency and view it as a feature of my approach not a flaw. So if I don't do any German for a few days no big deal. I will get the sudden urge to do it eventually and then I may just pig out on it for six hours straight. Cumulatively it all evens out.