A lot of language advice is torture with slick branding. Buy the book, memorize lists, do the exercises. Plow through. Convince yourself this is enjoyable. You wonder why the language still feels like an exhibit instead of something with a pulse. Why people can vibe with you a little, but not much, because you learned it the way almost nobody actually speaks. There are better ways. 1. Volunteer. Straight up, can’t say this enough. Aside from doing real good for a community, you can’t help but absorb the language in the process. 2. Change the language on your phone and apps. It seems silly at first, but you end up taking in a lot of vocab and context FAST. 3. Work for and with people who speak your target language. Be humble. Ask how to say things more naturally. Get clowned occasionally. It’s all in good fun. Just don’t neglect the actual work. Try not to get fired. 4. Immerse in movies, TV, and music in your target language. For a while, make that your entertainment diet. You’l...