Apr 15, 2014 - 04:56 PM
It seems to me that where we go after Fluenz-5 has a lot to do with our own personal goals in wanting to learn the language in the first place. There are different layers of fluency, IMO, and different approaches to each layer. For example, I am age 66 and of a literary bent. I enjoy reading the classic works of fiction. My dream goal is to be able to read just a few of these in the original languages. So with Spanish, I have started to read Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" in the original. Even at Level 2-21 of Fluenz, I am finding the grammar of Marquez to be fairly understandable. I use a good English translation side by side and a good online spanish-english dictionary (Word Reference dot com). I am 50 pages into it, and am finding it gets easier with each page as I learn more on Fluenz and acquire more vocabulary. For this type of goal, the solution is read, read read and read. Read anything you can get your hands on from newspapers to kid's books, short stories, etc. I have found lingq-dot-com to be a great source for content and building vocab, as well as hearing the spoken target language. There is no grammar taught on LINGQ.... it's not what they do.
The next layer of fluency might be one of being able to understand the target language when it is spoken at natural speed. So here you might be wanting to watch movies with subtitles in the target language, or none at all. Listen to spanish news programs, telenovelas (soap operas), etc.
The final layer might have the goal of true conversational interaction. Here I would say that one should seek immersion in the target language, either by travel and spending time in the target country, by getting involved with some of the online language sites like Buusu or Livemocha, that have social media components where one can "Skype" directly with native speakers. LINGQ has this too. Or, there is the possibility of finding sites of social interaction in your own community... informal clubs or "hang outs" where the target language is spoken, and where learners of different levels of fluency are welcome. Anyway.... just a few ideas.