What books had the biggest impact on your life and why?

The biggest breakthrough for me was consuming media in my target language daily — podcasts during commute, switching my phone's language, watching TV shows without subtitles. After 6 months of consistent immersion, I could finally think in Spanish. Tools like Anki for spaced repetition of vocabulary are gold, but real fluency comes from making it part of your daily life, not just studying it.

The plateau you're describing is actually a well-known phenomenon called the 'intermediate plateau.' To break through, focus on output rather than input. Start writing journal entries, find a conversation partner on Tandem or HelloTalk, and most importantly — embrace making mistakes. Native speakers are usually very appreciative when you're trying.

What worked best for my clients: combining structured lessons with a passionate interest. If you love cooking, learn recipes in Spanish. If you're into football, watch Spanish league commentary. The emotional connection makes vocabulary stick much better than rote memorization.