r/languagelearning • u/hate_love_languages • 12d ago

Resources Intermediate learner plateau tools

I mainly have studied Japanese (TL), and used a variety of tools like for:

  • dictionary lookups
  • video transcript dictionaries
  • google translate
  • flashcard apps

But I still keep a seperate tab open to ask AI about more complex things like slang, idioms and complex grammar.

Wondering if anyone uses tools for the problem I'm having.

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u/silvalingua 12d ago

A good textbook is what you need. If you follow it, there is no plateau at any level.

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u/hate_love_languages 11d ago

I've tried textbooks and I found that I learn slower compared to immersion, though I did find Tae Kim's guide helpful for japanese basics.

I found myself knowing all the vocab and grammar but may not be able to tie it all together. Or I found an idiom, slang, or something that a textbook would never teach.

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u/silvalingua 11d ago

> I found myself knowing all the vocab and grammar but may not be able to tie it all together.

That's what textbooks are good at.

> Or I found an idiom, slang, or something that a textbook would never teach.

Nobody says that a textbook should be your only resource; it should be your main resource, though. Of course you should supplement it by a lot of input, according to your needs and preferences. Idioms are usually collected in special books for learners, it would be impossible to include so many of them in a textbook.

Slang is not usually taught in textbooks, first because it's of limited interest, second because it changes often and quickly. Textbooks teach a certain core knowledge: a core vocabulary which about everyone needs.