[locallost]

Even though the ability to learn a language decreases in adulthood, I'd say the immersion part is unavoidable. I learned English as a child and teenager, and took a big leap when I first went online and read and read and constantly read. German I learned, or started, in my mid twenties and I'm fairly good, but without living in Germany for over a decade now it wouldn't have worked as well. If you need to process it as you speak it will not really flow. How to achieve immersion without living in a country? I don't know.

As a comparison, I learned a bit of Italian for a vacation with Duolingo and I'll say it helps, but the moment I stopped after the vacation, it was basically all gone. I did not create a meaningful lasting impression in my mind. It would've been better to try to listen to Italian im parallel through movies etc. Still, my son learns French with Duolingo and I noticed it helps him focus on doing the work, I even have a feeling it's improving his overall learning in school.

Another caveat is that the way they speak in Austria or parts of it can be challenging for non native speakers, and even some native speakers.