How do I learn a more "uncommon" language once I'm semi-intermediate?

Our take

Ah, the intermediate slump — that elusive quicksand where language learners often find themselves stuck, flailing for vocabulary and slang while acutely aware of their gaps. You’re not alone in this! Many who’ve danced with Czech — or any uncommon language — stumble at this juncture. The good news is that your foundation is solid, thanks to your early exposure. Now, it’s all about expanding that rich tapestry with threads of everyday language, idioms, and cultural context. Dive into immersive experiences: podcasts, local films, or even social media interactions that buzz with authentic Czech chatter. Seek out conversation partners who can challenge you and introduce you to the colloquial. It’s not merely about consuming content but engaging with it in ways that feel vibrant and alive. Let’s explore some strategies to shatter that plateau!

Hi all! Sorry for bothering if this is a stupid question.

I'm a native English speaker who was born and raised in Czechia. I am still living here to this day. I didn't take Czech seriously as a kid, but nevertheless, I went to a Czech kindergarten and went through schooling in Czech. Currently, I'm taking it very seriously and genuinely want to improve.

However, I've found myself in the "intermediate slump." I can't seem to improve at all, and all that has happened is that I'm more aware of the mistakes I make but can't express my thoughts any more eloquently than I could years ago. It's honestly hellish because even though everyone around me is very nice and supportive, I still feel stupid compared to them because of my struggles with the language. I got the grammar down, since I internalized it early on, but I struggle with vocabulary, slang, and idioms.

I tried reading. Children's books are too boring and easy for me. Advanced books are so hard it's almost pointless because I have to look up literally every single word I see. I also tried to read intermediate books filled with slang to hopefully internalize some of it, but I faced the same issue as I did with advanced books.

I tried Anki cards, but I didn't find any Czech decks that are more advanced. All I found seemed beginner-intermediate to me, and I already knew all the words in them.

Finding Czech content in general is hard. I managed to find one YouTuber I like, but I don't think that's enough to truly improve in a language. Czech people often favor English media because of the lack of good Czech media, and thus there's a lack of Czech media because no one's interested. 🥲

I have very academic Czech, but I have very weird gaps. I have gaps an low-intermediate learner wouldn't have, but I also have knowledge a high-intermediate wouldn't have. I feel stuck and don't know what to do.

Would anyone have any advice for me? Happy learning & good luck on your studies, everyone. :-)

submitted by /u/anhedonister
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#social media trends#language evolution#philosophy of language#humor in language#creative language use#slang#word meaning#placeholder words#Czech#intermediate#language#improve#vocabulary#idioms#grammar#Anki cards#content#advanced books#semi-intermediate#reading