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This wiki is intended to provide a list of resources for people hoping to learn a language using comprehensible input.
Comprehensible input is the key element for language acquisition: we acquire language when we understand what we hear or read a natural communicative context (A situation like "Teacher holding a pen and asks student what it is" is not communicative). The concept of Comprehensible Input comes from Comprehension-Hypothesis of Stephen Krashen in the field Second Language Acquisition[1]. But it's not invented by Krashen, as he admitted it[2]. Sometimes, comprehensible input is missunderstood as a method. In fact, it's a necessary, if not sufficient, element to acquire language.
Comprehensible input based language learning is characterized by listening to or reading content in the target language, at or slightly above the level where the learner can understand everything that is being said.[3] Ideally, no use of the learner's native language is used or needed. Visual cues, such as pictures or hand gestures, assist the learner in connecting words with their meanings. The focus of the method is on input (listening, reading) rather than output (speaking, writing). Speaking practice can come after the learner is fairly comfortable with understanding what they hear. Likewise for practicing writing after becoming comfortable with reading.
As opposed to more traditional language learning methods (for example grammar study, rote memorization, etc.), comprehensible input closely resembles the natural language learning of children in their native language, and thus may be more effective and efficient for acquiring new languages. It is certainly easier and more fun than most other methods, as the learner is engaging with content that they almost completely understand already.
This is a wiki, so if you feel like it, you have the power to improve the website in various ways.
- You can add a page for a new language if it doesn't exist here yet (use the input box on this page so that the correct format is preloaded for you).
- You can add links to comprehensible input resources on the language page (for example, Youtube channels or podcasts focused on Comprehensible Input).
- You can add other relevant information or links on a language page (for example Chinese has information about the language itself). Or create a page that provides details about a resource (for example, see You Can Chinese).
- You can write articles related to comprehensible input (for example, a page that discusses the research behind comprehensible input). Just enter the name of the page you would like to create in the search box at the top of the page, hit enter, and as long as the page doesn't exist yet, a link will be provided to create a new page with that name.
- You can improve the wiki in a more "meta" way, such as by improving the visual style of the website, changing the organization of language pages, or creating a more welcoming Main Page for new visitors.
- You can provide suggestions or feedback, or ask questions, at CIW:Community Portal.
If you are at all familiar with the way Wikipedia works, you'll notice that this website runs on the same software as Wikipedia (called MediaWiki). So editing content works the same. Formatting can be added to pages with wikitext or HTML. No need to create an account to edit if you don't want to, although that's useful for keeping track of previous edits, and an account lets you add comments at the bottom of pages.
If you want to add links to a language that you see on this page (Main Page), do it on the language's page, not here. The Main Page will automatically display the links from the language page (it may take up to five minutes for the Main Page to catch up).
To add a new language, type the name of the language below and press Add New Language.
- Videos | - Audio | ||
- Text | - App | ||
- Starts from absolute beginner |
Multiple Languages
American Sign Language
Arabic (Standard)
- Arabic comprehensible
- Arabic for Ummah
- Learn Arabic With Al Jazeera
- Learn Arabic with Khasu (especially older videos, his newer videos are less comprehensible input)
Kids videos
- Original in Arabic
- Adam Wa Mishmish
- Imam Bukhari Series (Note: strong religious content)
- Captain Khalfan (النقيب خلفان)
- Dubbed
Armenian
Basque
Biblical Greek
Biblical Hebrew
Bulgarian
Cantonese
Catalan
https://www.youtube.com/@catalaalnatural1192
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3txIqEqk7eg&list=PL3-Ggx2VjC14gATHTK3oUbi6TUMWpRHB0&pp=iAQB
Chinese
ALG Mandarin Online on Magic Ship
Diane Neubauer 杜雁子 Chinese learning & teaching
Learn Mandarin in Mandarin with Huimin
Story Learning Chinese with Annie
talkin Chinese redred https://youtube.com/@talkinChinese_redred
Unconventional Chinese with Keren
Czech
Czech by the Nature Method - Ayan Academy
Czech-in (Czech comprehensible input)
Danish
Dutch
English
BITS - English Language Learning: Listen & Read
English Comprehensible Input and Vocabulary Review of Most Commonly Used Words
English Comprehensible Input for ESL Beginners
English by the Nature Method by Arthur Jensen - Ayan Academy
English by the Nature Method - Revised Edition
Listen and Understand English (Escuchar y Entender Inglés)
Esperanto
Finnish
French
A Slow French podcast: LanguaTalk (with interactive transcripts)
- French Dialogues with facing English Translation
- French by the Nature Method (Le Français Par La Méthode Nature): All Chapters
Frenchpresso - Slow, Easy French
Toward Proficiency by Cécile Lainé
Le Français facile avec rfi : news and other content in simplified French
German
Greek
Hakka
Hebrew
Videos
Books
Books by Phil Ben
Stories in Easy Hebrew: סִפּוּרִים בְּעִבְרִית קַלָּה - Rut Yudovich
A Hebrew Primer - I A Richards
Hebrew Through Pictures - I A Richards
10 Hebrew-English Short Stories- Rut Avni
Reader: Modern Hebrew Prose and Poetry - Ora Band
Hebrew Short Stories: Dual Language Hebrew-English, Interlinear & Parallel Text - Aron Levi
Other
Newspaper readers. There are two: Ivrit by Jpost and Yanshuf/Bereshit by HebrewToday.
Podcasts
Hindi
Indonesian
Italian
Learn Italian by the Natural Method
TG7 LIS With accurate subtitles and LIS
TG7 LIS Sports with accurate subtitles and LIS
La Biblioteca di Alessandria Storia e videogame
Vanilla Magazine è un progetto di divulgazione storica e culturale. Many have subtitles.
Learn Italian with Teacher Stefano Instruction and CI.
Irish
Japanese
Video
あかね的日本語教室 — Akane's Japanese Classroom
Simple Japanese Listening with Meg-めぐ-Smile
Text
Learn Natively Graded Reader List
Audio
Nihongo con Teppei — Essential Japanese Grammar and Vocabulary in Use
Nihongo con Teppei — Japanese Podcast for beginners
Nihongo con Teppei — Intermediate Original Archives 1-700
Korean
Master Vocabulary (MAVOCA) - Korean
Talk to Me in Korean's Conversations for Learners
TTMIK Stories - requires paid subscription
Latin
60 Latin Youtube Channels Organized : Amazing and comprehensive but might be overwhelming to sift through for a brand-new beginner. The channels with stars next to their names are most recommended by the list creator.
Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata : Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata: Familia Romana is THE beginner textbook for learners seeking comprehensible input. Audio recordings of the entire book by Luke Ranieri are available on YouTube for free.
Beginner Latin A - Comprehensible Input
Beginner Latin B - Comprehensible Input
Legentibus : An app with lots of meaningful beginner reading material + audio recordings of each. It also has Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata: Familia Romana in text and audio form, albeit missing marginalia and illustrations. 10 USD/month.
Learn Latin through Conversations with Caesar - Ayan Academy
Toda-lly Comprehensible Latin stories : Beginner stories from a Latin teacher using CI.
Novella List - Magister P : Huge list of Latin novellas with sheltered vocabulary. Note that this resource is intended more for teachers than it is for students or self-learners. Also keep in mind that beginner Latin novellas tend to be written by teachers in their spare time, and many contain errors! This shouldn't harm you greatly if you're just starting out and need comprehensible reading material, but it's best not to use these as textbooks, or examples of "proper" or "authentic" Latin, unless you can verify the quality of the text.
Norwegian
Occitan
Polish
Film&Clips Całe filmy po polsku
Learn Polish - Video for Beginners
Portuguese
Russian
Russian Accelerator - Learn The Russian Alphabet
Comprehensible Russian with Max
Sanskrit
Sardinian
Ajò a iscola : learning material designed for Sardinian kindergarten, primary or middle school students.
Gherradores : strategic game + quiz on Sardinia-related topics.
Iscola Wiz : general knowledge quiz in Sardinian.
Giogus de peraulas : game to practice Sardinian.
Mistèrios de Grogu : science fiction themed game
Sardoo : Taboo-like game for Android e iOS
Sicilian
Slovak
Spanish
Video
Content for Learners
Adriana Ramírez - Teaching Spanish with Stories
Aprende Español con Tangerine Academy
Dreaming Spanish (Youtube Channel)
Educational TV Shows for Learners
Kid's Shows
Avatar: La Leyenda de Aang y La Leyenda de Korra
Camaleón y las naturales ciencias
Easier Native Content
Audio
Lengua Española: Comprensión - Ayan Academy
Chill Spanish Listening Practice
How to Spanish Lessons and Podcast
LanguaTalk Slow Spanish podcast
Small Town Spanish Teacher - Simple Stories in Spanish
Spanish Language Coach (Cesar)
Text
School textbooks by grade level from 1 to 6 from Mexico.
Video Games
Swahili
Swedish
Video
Absolute Beginner
Agaton Linguistics - Slow Swedish : Long pauses between words and visual aids.
Learneasyswedish : Simple language with pauses between each word. Dual subtitles.
Mat, köket, matord (Svenska med Marie) : Food/kitchen/cooking vocabulary playlist.
SVENSKA FÖR ALLA : Short videos with visual aids.
Other
Cartoon Network - Whole Episodes : Official playlist with full episodes of CN shows dubbed in Swedish.
Lätt Svenska Med Oskar : Youtube channel with different content from the podcast of the same name.
Nyheter på lätt svenska : SVT's news in easy Swedish.
Slow Swedish with Katrin Berndt : Clearly spoken at a variety of speeds, usually with visual aids.
Slow Swedish with Subtitles (The Swedish Lad) : Vlogs and monologues for intermediate learners.
SVT Barn : Sweden's public TV for children. More content accessible from a Swedish IP address.
UR Play : Publicly funded educational content.
Vardag med Marie! : Short vlogs for learners.
Vi ses vi hörs : A course of videos where a fictional learner of Swedish encounters different situations.
Audio
Morgonstund : Easy Swedish podcast with clear pronunciation.
Short Stories in Swedish for Beginners
Simple Swedish Podcast : Intermediate podcast made for learners. Occasional English translations.
Sveriges Radio: 3-8 years old : Public radio programs for kids age 3-8.
Sveriges Radio: 9-13 years old : Public radio programs for kids age 9-13.
Swedish podcast for beginners (Lätt svenska med Oskar) : Easy Swedish podcast with 250+ short episodes. Occasional English translations.
Text
Tagalog
Thai
Toki Pona
Tunisian Arabic
Turkish
- Comprehensible Input Turkish
- Language Transfer
- Comprehensible Turkish
- Turkish by the Nature Method - Ayan Academy
- Teacher Ali Yılmaz
- Easy Turkish
Kids shows
- Originally Turkish
- Dubbed ====
Ukrainian
Vietnamese
Welsh
Yoruba
References