I'm no expert in teaching languages but I may be one in learning languages (5 foreign languages so far). I can say that I only really "get" a language when I can start reading on my own (news and such). The approach I'd love to see in a language is one of progressively more difficult texts.
At the very beginning, it's very hard to find texts I can grasp, given limited vocabulary. A collection of interesting texts that ease in vocabulary and grammar would be a godsend. Forget formal grammar training, forget spaced vocabulary repetition. Vocabulary extends naturally when reading texts, formal grammar is much more obvious after I've spotted the pattern on my own (and a drag before).
http://www.newsinlevels.com/ is the perfect news site for English learners based on your suggestion. They present the same news item in three different levels so you can start with the easiest one and progress to the harder two to grasp the usage on your own. We use it for our son, it makes wonders.
At the very beginning, it's very hard to find texts I can grasp, given limited vocabulary. A collection of interesting texts that ease in vocabulary and grammar would be a godsend. Forget formal grammar training, forget spaced vocabulary repetition. Vocabulary extends naturally when reading texts, formal grammar is much more obvious after I've spotted the pattern on my own (and a drag before).