I started teaching myself how to read Chinese in 2023. Reached a level of comprehension within six months where I could read news articles and novels in the language. I'm currently on my second semester of Spanish, which is a gen ed requirement for my degree. I decided when starting these Spanish courses to just stick to what was being taught in the classes, nothing extra beyond the study materials provided. I cannot read articles beyond the very basics and can barely understand any spoken English. If I'd followed my own method for learning a language? I'd be far more advanced than I am now, but being advanced actually gets penalized in formal courses. I'm half-tempted to get a master's in foreign language instruction just so I can start creating language learning content that actually works.