The different ways of learning languages

Learning a foreign language is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done — and also one of the most trial-and-error-heavy. When I started learning Norwegian from scratch back in 2005, I had no idea which method would work for me. Over the following eight years, I tested virtually every approach on the market: evening classes, PC software, online courses, immersion stays in Norway, textbooks, and passive media input. Some methods worked brilliantly. Others cost me time and money without real results.

What I have learned after more than 20 years and five languages (Norwegian, English, Danish, Swedish, French — and currently Spanish) is this: there is no single best method. But there are clear patterns in what works, for whom, and under what circumstances. This article gives you an honest, experience-based overview of the main language learning methods — what each one delivers, where it falls short, and who it suits best.

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The six most effective ways to learn a language

Before I go into detail, a word on method selection: the best language learning method is the one you will actually stick with consistently. Consistency beats intensity every single time. I have seen people make faster progress with a modest 20-minute daily app routine than with weekend-cram sessions using supposedly superior methods.

1. Structured language classes (group or individual)

Language classes — whether at an adult education centre, a language school, or in one-to-one tuition — are the classic entry point for most learners. You follow a set curriculum, a teacher corrects pronunciation and grammar in real time, and the group dynamic creates a degree of social accountability that is hard to replicate on your own.

From my own experience, the biggest strength of structured classes is the immediate feedback loop. When I made a systematic error in Norwegian — I kept confusing the definite article forms early on — my teacher caught it before it became ingrained. That kind of early-stage error correction is genuinely valuable, and it is something apps and software still cannot replicate reliably.

The downsides are also real. Group classes move at the pace of the group, not your pace. If you are faster — or slower — than the average participant, you will notice the friction. Individual tuition solves this but is considerably more expensive. Online platforms like Preply* have made one-to-one tutoring much more accessible and affordable, which is worth knowing.

Best suited for: Beginners who need external structure, and anyone for whom speaking confidence is the primary goal.

Less suited for: Learners with irregular schedules, or those learning a less common language with limited local class options.

2. Language immersion abroad

If I could only recommend one method, and budget and time were no obstacle, this would be it. Spending two to four weeks in a country where your target language is spoken forces the brain to operate differently. You stop translating and start thinking directly in the language — in my experience, this happens somewhere around day three.

I remember sitting in a café in Oslo during an early business trip, and at some point realising I had gone through an entire two-hour meeting without mentally switching back to German once. That shift is difficult to manufacture through any other method. The combination of cultural context, constant exposure, and the social necessity of communicating creates a learning density that is simply unmatched.

The barriers are equally clear: cost, time, and the fact that immersion only works once you have a foundation to build on. Travelling to Norway with zero Norwegian and expecting immersion to carry you through is a recipe for frustration. I would recommend having at least A2 level before an immersion stay. Otherwise you spend most of your energy managing basic communication anxiety rather than actually absorbing the language.

Best suited for: Intermediate learners (A2 and above) who can invest time and money for a concentrated push.

Less suited for: Complete beginners, and anyone with significant time or financial constraints.

3. Self-study apps and language software

This category has changed more than any other in the past decade, and it is where most people start today. Modern language apps and software-based courses cover listening, vocabulary, speaking (with voice recognition), and reading — all in one place, all at your own pace.

I used PC-based language software heavily during my Norwegian learning phase, well before apps existed. The core advantage has not changed: you choose when you learn, you can pause and repeat as many times as you need, and there is no social pressure. For vocabulary acquisition in particular, spaced repetition — the method used in courses like 17 Minute Languages* — is one of the most research-backed techniques available. I have used it across all five of my languages, and I document exactly how in my language course guides.

The one genuine limitation: unscripted speaking. Apps and software can test whether you can repeat a phrase correctly, but they cannot put you in a real conversation with unpredictable turns and native-speed responses. That is why I always used software as the backbone of my learning — for vocabulary and structure — while complementing it with real listening input and, where possible, speaking practice.

Best suited for: Self-disciplined learners who prefer flexibility, and anyone building vocabulary systematically.

Less suited for: People who need external accountability to stay consistent.

4. Online courses and interactive platforms

Online courses occupy the middle ground between structured classes and pure self-study. Platforms like Babbel* or Mondly* offer structured progression with the flexibility of app-based learning. The better platforms now include speech recognition, grammar explanations, and structured review cycles that go well beyond simple flashcard repetition.

What has changed most recently is accessibility. When I was learning Danish and Swedish (around 2015–2018), the quality gap between software courses and online platforms was still significant. Today, a good online course is on par with — and in some cases better than — boxed software, simply because it can be updated continuously and accessed across any device. For less widely-taught languages in particular, online courses are often the only realistic structured option outside of hiring a private tutor.

Best suited for: All levels, especially learners of less common languages where local class options are scarce.

Less suited for: Learners who specifically need spoken interaction with a human teacher.

5. Passive media input (TV, podcasts, reading)

Let me be direct about something I see misrepresented a lot: you cannot learn a language passively from scratch. Watching Norwegian TV without any prior knowledge of Norwegian will teach you very little beyond a handful of words. The brain needs a framework first.

That said, passive input is an extraordinarily powerful tool once you have that framework. When I was at B1 in Norwegian, I started watching Norwegian news and Norwegian series without subtitles. At first it was uncomfortable. Within a few weeks, I noticed my listening comprehension improving faster than it ever had through structured study alone. The reason is density: you are hearing the language as it is actually spoken, not as it appears in a course designed for learners.

For this reason I always recommend building passive input into a language learning routine from around A2/B1 onwards. Even 20 minutes of a podcast or TV episode in your target language before bed adds up to significant exposure over weeks and months. It is also the cheapest method on this list — most of it is free.

Best suited for: Intermediate and advanced learners as a supplement to structured study.

Less suited for: Standalone use for beginners, and anyone expecting quick progress without a structural foundation.

6. Language studies (university or formal qualification)

Formal language studies at university level go far beyond conversational competence. They cover grammar at a deep structural level, academic writing, translation, and often literature and cultural history. If your goal is to write or translate in the language professionally, or to teach it, this path is unavoidable.

For most self-taught learners, however, a full language degree is neither practical nor necessary. The commitment is full-time, the timeline is years, and the focus on academic language skills is often misaligned with the goal of conversational fluency. I have met university-trained linguists who struggled to hold a casual conversation in a language they had studied formally for three years, precisely because the curriculum emphasised written analysis over spoken production.

Best suited for: Anyone who needs professional-level written accuracy, wants to translate or teach the language, or is interested in linguistics beyond communication.

Less suited for: Learners whose goal is conversational fluency or professional spoken communication.

What actually works: combining methods strategically

After five languages and more than 20 years, I have settled on a model that has worked consistently for me. I use a structured vocabulary course (software or online) as the backbone — this builds the framework. I add passive input (podcasts, series) from A2 onwards to train listening comprehension. And I use speaking practice — either with a tutor, a language exchange partner, or on trips — to bring the productive side online.

When I started Spanish in 2024, I deliberately went back to this same system to test whether it still worked. It does. Within three months I had moved from zero to a solid A2, which matches the pace I had with Danish and Swedish.

The key insight: no single method covers all four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking). A good learning system combines methods to cover all four. Which combination suits you best depends on your learning style, your schedule, and your target level — which I cover in detail in the language learning tips overview.

Research consistently supports the combination approach: a review published by Cambridge University Press confirms that vocabulary acquisition through spaced repetition, combined with contextual input, produces significantly better long-term retention than either method alone.

UP TO 51% DISCOUNT – Get access to your language course or try the free demo*

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More tips and guides in this series:

1. Language learning methods – which one is right for you? ← you are here
2. Learning vocabulary successfully
3. Motivated language learning
4. Train your listening comprehension effectively
5. Learning languages quickly — is it possible?
6. The different types of language learners

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This article in other languages:

• Deutsch – Die verschiedenen Sprachlernmethoden
• Norsk – De forskjellige måtene å lære et språk på

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