Grammar:
After you get some fluency in a range of phrases (aka, "I don't feel like it's coming from memory"), then grammar is a great thing to review.
There's two things to worry about here.
1) Grammar that you can correct yourself.
2) "Grammar" that you won't be able to spot yourself. This is usually always due to an
idiomatic construction unique to the language.
The first aspect is simple: you just have to know the grammar rule. For example, in French, you know that "Il faut que je vais" is wrong due to a grammar rule involving the subjunctive that one learns. And if you know this, then you correct it to "Il faut que j'aille".
For the second aspect, there are two things you can do. One: a deliberate language teacher. As you have mentioned, natives do not correct you, so you can't improve. Indeed, this can be frustrating. You can convince them to correct you (the over-mentioned fluentin3months blog has a post on some "techniques" to facilitate this if you want to search for it).
If you can't do this, then this is why you need a teacher-to-student relationship with someone. You mention "Because of my work schedule, any sort of formal lessons aren't possible", but I believe that if you really want to learn, you will find the time to learn.
If you're thinking about taking formal language classes, then take a glass bottle and smash it over your skull right now. They suck and pretty much reflect high school/university grammar courses. Ever heard anyone say "My high school taught me Spanish very effectively!". From what you have written, it does not seem like you will benefit from these classes anyway.
Instead, one-on-one language lessons are the key. Furthermore, these classes don't have to be in some remote location. This is the 21st century. You can do language lessons at the comfort of your own home and on-line.
Don't complain that you don't have time (not saying that you are) if there is
http://www.italki.com. You can find a teacher there, exchange skype, arrange a time, and for a small fee (or free if you are willing to do an exchange), you have your own personal tutor.
Even with such a simplified process, it's too hard? Then, take a tranquilizer gun and shoot yourself in the head. When you wake up, that should reset your brain and lead you to find
http://www.verbling.com . Just press the switch for "Connect" and in minutes, you are face-to-face with a language exchange partner! No need for skype.
It's really too easy to find a teacher nowadays.
Anyway, one point to emphasize is
the more you are corrected by teachers, the closer and closer your L2 abilities converge to that of a competent speaker.
This should quell your worries on
Quote:Quote:
since there is no feedback, and I'll keep repeating the same thing, thinking it's correct.
Two: if you hear or read a phrase where you think "I would have never come up with that", write it down or note it somewhere. Otherwise, you will most likely forget it!
For example, in French, I might come across "Cela m'a aidé à mettre au point mes propres techniques". Literally, "mettre au point" means "put to the point", but it is an idiomatic expression meaning "develop". I would have never thought of myself, as an English native speaker, to create the combination of words "put" + "to the" + "point". These should be learned and memorized.
Again, I have tons more to say on this issue, but I'm working with a friend to develop a language learning course, so I don't want to reveal too much information for free (though honestly, the gist of what I want to say is there). I still feel that the language learning market could use a lot more
concrete language learning techniques on exactly what to study since the information out there is way too broad (though still useful).
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Here's a brief flash of motivation:
The better your language skills get, the easier it is for you to learn new things.
An analogy: the richer you are, the easier it is to get even richer.
This doesn't need explanation. You should think of this, however, when you feel like you are not making any progress.
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If I practice listening to Indonesian, every day all day, its still just sounds. There is absolutely no reference frame to what any of it means
This, on the other hand, is a sentiment that I highly agree with. "Keep listening" is misguided bullshit.
There's a linguist by the name of Stephen Krashen that emphasizes that
comprehensible input forms the basis of L2 learning.
If you don't understand the enormous bulk of what you hear, then you will forget it and you learn squat. That's that.
The key here is in
targeted, concentrated study. You need to listen to audio that you understand or that you can begin to understand. In addition, you need to spend a lot of time
on the same audio over and over again. Ideally, find
audio with transcripts. Learn it well. This is why so many polyglot and language learners like the
Teach Yourself or
Colloquial series (might as well put these affiliate links here in case anyone ends up buying and wants to treat me to a Gatorade).
The problem here is that it can be a bit boring listening to the same stuff over and over again. It's up to you here to develop or find ways to develop your motivational skills to better your Indonesian in this respect.
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I realized a lot of what I said is a bit jumbled, so it might be a good idea for me to clean it up and post it as a separate forum topic. Perhaps another day. Of course, I'll be happy to answer any other questions.