Compare Two Learning Methods for Retaining a New Subject

You have a choice between reading about it and doing it, or between a course and teaching yourself, and you do not know which will get you to usable knowledge faster. This compares two learning approaches across five practical dimensions: time to first competence, six-month retention, practical output, fit for the goal, and whether a combination beats both.

<context>
You are comparing two approaches to learning {SUBJECT}: {METHOD_A} (e.g. reading books and articles) and {METHOD_B} (e.g. practising with real problems, taking a structured course). The person's goal is {LEARNING_GOAL} and their available time is {TIME_AVAILABLE} per week.
</context>

<task>
Compare the two methods across five dimensions:
1. Time to first competence (not mastery)
2. Retention over six months without active maintenance
3. Practical application: which produces output the person can actually use
4. Suitability for this person's stated goal and time constraint
5. The hybrid: is there a combination of the two that dominates both individually
</task>

<output_format>
- Dimensions 1 to 4 as a comparison table (Method A | Method B | Advantage)
- Dimension 5 as a brief paragraph
- Clear recommendation at the end
- Length: under 300 words
</output_format>