Duolingo
In which Rat prepares for somewhat unlikely events
«Panya wanapenda mkate!» («Rats love bread!») is an actual phrase in the Duolingo Swahili course.
That learning a foreign language all on one’s own doesn’t really work was known well before the internet. I believe it was Gerald Durrell who related a hilarious story of a man who learned some French from a self-learning book and put it to practice by asking a papal nuncio if his sister loved cheese. I couldn’t however find this account in «My Family and Other Animals», so perhaps it was either a different book, or a different writer altogether. I couldn’t have invented it, could I?
Nevertheless, «language learning» isn’t the worst pastime to waste your time on. There are far worse things on the internet.
I think that is right. I learned a language on my own with a book, but also listened to the radio and read a newspaper in that language. Fortunately when I needed to speak it, found out they did understand me!
It's a long, slow process, Rat. I've been learning Spanish for more years than I can remember. It keeps my brain occupied and has given me an excuse to travel the world to participate in Spanish Immersion Programs in a number of countries. I've given up on the books. Immersion is the best way! Nothing like experience as a teacher. Then I come home and forget it all until my next trip. :)