“They seek him here, they seek him there…” That old refrain from The Scarlet Pimpernel sums up my approach to language learning. In everything I do, I seek words and structures. I look for them in podcasts, books, conversations—wherever I can find them.

Fluency is the long-term goal, but comprehension is what I focus on day by day. My routine is simple: I listen, I read, I review, and I speak—but always with comprehension at the centre.

Step 1: Listen While Living

I start my day listening. When I’m making breakfast or exercising, I’m most likely listening to a podcast in Persian. I don’t worry about understanding everything. What matters is the consistent exposure. I’ll recognize words and phrases, reinforcing previous knowledge and continuing to familiarize myself with the language.

Step 2: Read and Review

Later in the day, I set aside time for reading. I’m able to multi-task while listening to my target language, but I prefer to give reading my full attention. I’ll sit down, grab my tablet, and start reading. On LingQ, I look up words, save phrases, and switch between sentence mode and full-page reading. Review activities on LingQ help keep my reading dynamic, and I’m able to visualize my growth through progress tracking as well as LingQ’s colour-coded system for known and unknown words.

Step 3: Speak as a Reward

Finally, I speak. A few times a week, I meet with my tutor on italki. Speaking is enjoyable. I always leave conversations feeling good about myself and my progress. I’m using the language to communicate with other people, and these sessions provide consistent motivation.

You can’t speak if you can’t understand. So comprehension-based activities—listening and reading—take up most of my time between each session.

Why Comprehension Comes First

Conversation is two-way. If I can’t understand, the exchange breaks down. But if I understand most of what’s said, I can stumble my way through speaking and still connect. That’s why I don’t chase words or worry about mistakes. I just keep seeking out content, and comprehension naturally builds over time.

My daily routine is simple, but it works: listen, read, review, speak. Every day I do a little more, and every day I understand a little more. And that’s what moves me forward.

FAQs

1. Shouldn’t my goal be speaking from the start?

Not really. Without enough understanding, conversations stall. I suggest building up your comprehension to a good level before you start prioritizing speaking.

2. How much should I listen vs. read?

Listening builds familiarity with sounds, while reading helps you notice vocabulary and structures. Ideally, you’re listening and reading simultaneously. LingQ helps you do this

3. How can I comprehend more if I keep forgetting words?

That’s normal. The brain needs repeated exposure in different contexts before words stick. You’ll forget, recognize, and recall as you continue interacting with the language.

4. How often should I practice speaking?

This depends on you and your goals. If you enjoy speaking and find it motivating, you should speak more often. Align your learning with your preferences.

5. How do I know I’m improving?

Notice how much more you understand today compared to yesterday or last week. Re-read an article or give a podcast another listen. Progress is gradual but steady.