215: What's the deal with "triangulating" languages?

Neil asks: "Should I use triangulation to learn French?"

Episode Summary:

On today's podcast:

• Episode 014: Can you use one language to learn another?
• Episode 106: How useful is laddering?
• "Triangulation" - also know as laddering or bridging

The big questions:

• My Spanish is B2 level. Is now the right time to learn French?
  • Yes, I'd say so
• Will I lose Spanish once I go back to French?
  • This is a valid concern
  • However, it will never be "lost"
  • There will likely be a period of needing to "recalibrate" his Spanish in a world that now includes French
• Should I work on both languages together, so as to develop the ability to keep both languages separate in my mind?
  • Not at first
  • The principle learning challenge is to learn French (not to maintain Spanish)
  • Therefore, he'll need to approach learning French with as much dedication as if it were his first foreign language
  • Once he's reached a conversational level in French, then it'll be time to learn to use it at the same time as Spanish

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

• Glossika Custom Course Builder - learn one language through another

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