Learning Languages - Blog Posts
constantly torn between "i wish I could magically learn this language immediately and speak it perfectly" and "part of language acquisition is the process, and learning it immediately wouldn't have as much meaning or significance to me"
Today is the day of me asking for a realistic non-native English speaker
I wanna see a bilingual person that doesn't have to search for words and has a great vocabulary but, however, still has to ask for a defenition of a certain word they didn't quite understand in someone's speech from time to time.
Non-native speakers (and native speakers as well) can't know all the words in the language, and non-natives usually have a smaller receptive vocabulary than a native speaker.
I'm learning German and this post is not only hilarious, but has taught me the word for "death"
what is the best word for death in any language and why is it the german translation
I know bilingualism done fucked me up when i almost tripped walking on the street today and said out loud: "FUCKING HELL" as an automatic response...completely sincerely and unironically I`m Ukrainian you guys....I live in Ukraine...I
Masterlist for learning languages
Brick-by-brick language learning challenge
Best language learning tips & masterlists from other bloggers I’ve come across
my tips for a language study plan
topics for new vocabulary
how to find a language partner
my tips for how to practice writing in your target language
Recommendations for Learning Languages & Other Stuff
Learning a language = learning a culture
Vocab list templates: #1, #2, #3
Some easy Fantasy books to read in your target language
Language Learning Tips: #1, #2
6 tips for learning languages
App for organizing your language-learning (and anything else): Trello
Apps i use to learn languages
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Requests / Asks:
-> you can find all my answered asks by searching for #ask, #ask response or #request
Indo-European Language Families
Improving your vocab
German infinitive & when to use it
English word order
How to find a language learning partner
Changing a game to your target language & "harmful" learning strategies
Can you get away with just using "das" the majority of the time in Germany?
Do you have any tips on how to improve your writing in your target language?
Do you have any resources/methods about how to reach an academic level in the language you’re learning (& how to improve your writing)?
Do you have any linguistic recourses on Ruhrpott-Deutsch?
How to use Notion for Language Learners - a masterpost
So, I have been learning languages for a while now, and one of the things I have always been struggling with is having a space that could gather all the info I need, the spreads I used to make on my bullet journal, and maybe even something more.
Notion has become my best friend all over the last couple of years, but as I am a pretty sick perfectionist, I am still mastering the art of creating efficient templates, but I am slowly overcoming this problem of mine… In the meantime enjoy my favorite YouTube videos all about Notion x Language Learning:
how to make the best language learning plan | notion templates | AD by Anna Lenks
ULTIMATE LANGUAGE PLANNER IN NOTION FOR POLYGLOTS by me :)
How to make a language learning plan that WORKS ✨ Notion for language learners by Elysse Speaks
How To Make A Sentence Mining Database in Notion | Language Learning | Tutorial + Free Template by Leafling Learns
How I Created a 30-Day Language Study Plan That Works! by Shea Jordan
Create a language learning schedule that works + Notion Template! by Jusuf
updating my language learning notion 🖊 by Jo Renee Languages
Language Learning: Notion, RemNote And Reverso (French) by Red Gregory
How I plan and organize my life and languages | Notion tour 📝 by Lindie Botes
Hope you enjoyed this post, in the meantime I'll go and create the best language-learning hub you will ever see
Best language learning tips & masterlists from other bloggers I’ve come across
(these posts are not my own!)
THE HOLY GRAIL of language learning (-> seriously tho, this is the BEST thing I’ve ever come across)
Tips:
Some language learning exercises and tips
20 Favorite Language Learning Tips
what should you be reading to maximize your language learning?
tips for learning a language (things i wish i knew before i started)
language learning and langblr tips
Tips on how to read in your target language for longer periods of time
Tips and inspiration from Fluent in 3 months by Benny Lewis
Tips for learning a sign language
Tips for relearning your second first language
How to:
how to self teach a new language
learning a language: how to
learning languages and how to make it fun
how to study languages
how to practice speaking in a foreign language
how to learn a language when you don’t know where to start
how to make a schedule for language learning
How to keep track of learning more than one language at the same time
Masterposts:
Language Study Master Post
Swedish Resources Masterpost
French Resouces Masterpost
Italian Resources Masterpost
Resource List for Learning German
Challenges:
Language-Sanctuary Langblr Challenge
language learning checkerboard challenge
Word lists:
2+ months of language learning prompts
list of words you need to know in your target language, in 3 levels
Other stuff:
bullet journal dedicated to language learning
over 400 language related youtube channels in 50+ languages
TED talks about language (learning)
Learning the Alien Languages of Star Trek
.
Feel free to reblog and add your own lists / masterlists!
something so precious about this by
the_crownless_queen
"Did you know Nat talked in her sleep sometimes?"
i love it . in simple words it's amazing. primero hay una intención segundo una acción después la practica luego consistencia mas tarde una costumbre (o habito) finalmente es simplemente parte de ti.
75 essential single-character verbs (单字动词)
When I started consuming more native Chinese content, I quickly discovered an area in which my knowledge was lacking: single-character verbs. In my experience, it’s very easy to focus on learning words consisting of two or more characters and overlook single-character words.
Driven by curiosity, I went through my Anki deck (and also wracked my brain) to generate a list of characters/words that I have learned over the past couple years (roughly). Then I selected 75 verbs that are fairly common and important to know. They skew towards intermediate and advanced vocabulary.
Definitions are from MDBG. For characters with additional meanings that I am not yet familiar with, I have bolded the meanings I want to share.
(1) 抢 qiǎng - to fight over / to rush / to scramble / to grab / to rob / to snatch
(2) 救 jiù - to save / to assist / to rescue
(3) 扶 fú - to support with the hand / to help sb up / to support oneself by holding onto something / to help
(4) 催 cuī - to urge / to press / to prompt / to rush sb / to hasten sth / to expedite
(5) 夹 jiā - to press from either side / to place in between / to sandwich / to carry sth under armpit / wedged between / between / to intersperse / to mix / to mingle / clip / folder / Taiwan pr. [jia2]
(6) 咬 yǎo - to bite / to nip
(7) 砸 zá - to smash / to pound / to fail / to muck up / to bungle
(8) 毁 huǐ - to destroy / to ruin / to defame / to slander
(9) 嚷 rǎng - to shout / to bellow / to make a big deal of sth / to make a fuss about sth
(10) 塞 sāi - to stop up / to squeeze in / to stuff / cork / stopper
(11) 贪 tān - to have a voracious desire for / to covet / greedy / corrupt
(12) 拆 chāi - to tear open / to tear down / to tear apart / to open
(13) 掏 tāo - to fish out (from pocket) / to scoop
(14) 跪 guì - to kneel
(15) 摘 zhāi - to take / to borrow / to pick (flowers, fruit etc) / to pluck / to select / to remove / to take off (glasses, hat etc)
(16) 拎 līn - to lift up / to carry in one’s hand / Taiwan pr. [ling1]
(17) 扛 káng - to carry on one’s shoulder / (fig.) to take on (a burden, duty etc)
(18) 拽 zhuài - to pull / to tug at (sth)
(19) 愣 lèng - to look distracted / to stare blankly / distracted / blank / (coll.) unexpectedly / rash / rashly
(20) 搂 lǒu - to hug / to embrace / to hold in one’s arms
(21) 垮 kuǎ - to collapse (lit. or fig.)
(22) 撑 chēng - to support / to prop up / to push or move with a pole / to maintain / to open or unfurl / to fill to bursting point / brace / stay / support
(23) 甩 shuǎi - to throw / to fling / to swing / to leave behind / to throw off / to dump (sb)
(24) 围 wéi - to encircle / to surround / all around / to wear by wrapping around (scarf, shawl)
(25) 愁 chóu - to worry about
Keep reading
Best language learning tips & masterlists from other bloggers I’ve come across
(these posts are not my own!)
THE HOLY GRAIL of language learning (-> seriously tho, this is the BEST thing I’ve ever come across)
Tips:
Some language learning exercises and tips
20 Favorite Language Learning Tips
what should you be reading to maximize your language learning?
tips for learning a language (things i wish i knew before i started)
language learning and langblr tips
Tips on how to read in your target language for longer periods of time
Tips and inspiration from Fluent in 3 months by Benny Lewis
Tips for learning a sign language
Tips for relearning your second first language
How to:
how to self teach a new language
learning a language: how to
learning languages and how to make it fun
how to study languages
how to practice speaking in a foreign language
how to learn a language when you don’t know where to start
how to make a schedule for language learning
How to keep track of learning more than one language at the same time
Masterposts:
Language Study Master Post
Swedish Resources Masterpost
French Resouces Masterpost
Italian Resources Masterpost
Resource List for Learning German
Challenges:
Language-Sanctuary Langblr Challenge
language learning checkerboard challenge
Word lists:
2+ months of language learning prompts
list of words you need to know in your target language, in 3 levels
Other stuff:
bullet journal dedicated to language learning
over 400 language related youtube channels in 50+ languages
TED talks about language (learning)
Learning the Alien Languages of Star Trek
.
Feel free to reblog and add your own lists / masterlists!
Bro Mandarin is such a fun language to learn but I be having trouble trying to think outside of english. Like, theres a disconnect between when I hear a phrase and can mentally parse it cause im still converting the words to my native language instead of understanding it outright without the extra step, if that makes sense at all. I wonder if other people who are new to learning a second language experience this and how they practiced to get over it. Also I should probably start learning hanzì already but I been lazy since I found out Chinese citizens learn pīnyīn, my ass gotta kick the procrastination habit.
Duolingo Sucks, Now What?: A Guide
Now that the quality of Duolingo has fallen (even more) due to AI and people are more willing to make the jump here are just some alternative apps and what languages they have:
"I just want an identical experience to DL"
Busuu (Languages: Spanish, Japanese, French, English, German, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Polish, Turkish, Russian, Arabic, Korean)
"I want a good audio-based app"
Language Transfer (Languages: French, Swahili, Italian, Greek, German, Turkish, Arabic, Spanish, English for Spanish Speakers)
"I want a good audio-based app and money's no object"
Pimsleur (Literally so many languages)
Glossika (Also a lot of languages, but minority languages are free)
*anecdote: I borrowed my brother's Japanese Pimsleur CD as a kid and I still remember how to say the weather is nice over a decade later. You can find the CDs at libraries and "other" places I'm sure.
"I have a pretty neat library card"
Mango (Languages: So many and all endangered/Indigenous courses are free even if you don't have a library that has a partnership with Mango)
"I want SRS flashcards and have an android"
AnkiDroid: (Theoretically all languages, pre-made decks can be found easily)
"I want SRS flashcards and I have an iphone"
AnkiApp: It's almost as good as AnkiDroid and free compared to the official Anki app for iphone
"I don't mind ads and just want to learn Korean"
lingory
"I want an app made for Mandarin that's BETTER than DL and has multiple languages to learn Mandarin in"
ChineseSkill (You can use their older version of the course for free)
"I don't like any of these apps you mentioned already, give me one more"
Bunpo: (Languages: Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Korean, and Mandarin)
Something great happened!!
Yesterday I was in an online lecture about qualitative research, everything was pretty normal until I noticed that I was writing in English instead of Spanish. I'm so excited because I finally reach the point where I can think in English.
Yesterday’s prep for tonight’s service, the kitchen smelt absolutely DIVINE! Love being a culinary student, best scholarly choice I made lol.
My partners parents found out I’m learning Bulgarian, and now I feel more pressured to learn more, and learn faster 😮💨
This is my mother fr! For example, if I say the American version of an English word, or if I ‘ma però’, or if I mix up any language/sentence structures of any of the languages she knows, she will IMMEDIATELY correct me and point out why I was wrong 🥲. Like sorry Im dyslexic while you have multiple language degrees lol.
Linguists are like vampires but instead of drinking your blood they harass you about a weird irregularity in your speech that no one else would have noticed.
Had a good day of studying today, mainly focused on Русский (Russian). In college today we made banana bread and date scones which were really nice, I love being a culinary student but I really dislike the fact we have to pay for the things we bake ourselves. Apparently it was also ‘freshers’ week for universities so there was loads of stalls set up in the town centre where you would get massive discounts if you were a student.
To the boy who laughed at my Russian translation today иди нахуй! I’m trying my best here 🥲. Hey at least my bestie got my back though helping me correct it and tell me what I got wrong, forever grateful!
"I love languages and learning languages and learning about other cultures through languages I love learning langugaes..." - me, trying to motivate myself to study while struggling with a language I'm willingly learning
THANK YOU
AND HUNGARIAN IS EASY TOO
TANULJ MAGYARUL
I needed to say this for Hungarian too because people also keep saying it's impossible and too hard
CZECH IS EASY. IT IS LIKE BREATHING. IT IS LIKE LOVING. OH Y/I and Z/S IS IN THE AIR! I DONT MIND. WHAT ELSE IS IN THE AIR? LOVE AND NEVERENDING JOY.
FNĚH
UČ SE ČESKY
☽❈☾ Who Am I? ☽❈☾
Hi!
I'm a French ghost who has fallen in love with languages and who loves discovering new things :)
☽ A Polyghost Journey? ☾
I want to use this blog to share my love for languages but also some vocab and other things related to the languages I'm learning. I think it can help me staying motivated and maybe it can help people too!
I'm also a conlanger, so I might post about some of my conlangs (I like to write songs for my Fantasy worldbuilding and translate them in my conlangs)
That's why this blog can be a bit messy, but I just want to have a nice place where I can share a bit of anything and everything :)
(I'll edit this post as I go along)
☽ Languages ☾
❈ French: N — it's my mother tongue, so feel free to ask me if you have questions or if you want to chat in french!
❈ English: B2/C1 — well, I don't now what's really my level, I'm not fluent but I understand most things (I just don't speak as well as I write xD)
→ Goal for 2025: practice!
❈ Spanish (Castellano): A2/B1 — I was B2 but I stopped having classes and I didn't practice so I lost my level x)
→ Goal for 2025: practice to get my level back, read and listen to more Spanish!
❈ Hungarian: A1? — my father's Hungarian but I did'nt learn the language as a child, so now I'm learning it :)
→ Goal for 2025: be able to speak with my father and my grandma in Hungarian! Even if it's only tiny sentences
❈ Russian: A1? — not much explanation here, it's just a language that interests me a lot x)
→ Goal for 2025: be able to have a simple conversation, to write simple sentences about my day etc.
❈ Others: as I said before, I love languages! So I really like discovering new things, including the culture! Listening to music, reading new authors, watching films/series, discovering history, traditions... Feel free to send me a message if you want to talk about those topics! I'm also open to learn with another person, even if it's a new language, especially if it's an Eastern-Europe one (czech, romanian, polish...) or a Native american one (I started learning Navajo/Diné Bizaad once but I struggled finding good resources :/)
☽ And The Most Important ☾
Learning languages is a journey, it doesn't matter how long it takes you or how's your level after x time learning. Take your time, enjoy the process and celebrate your progress, even the tiniest!
And it's ok to sometimes take a break :)
Take care! ❈
You're doing great 🩵
Me in a restaurant
Waiter: here's your glass Me: oh, thank you Waiter: *puts the glass down* Me: thank you Waiter: *fills the glass with water* Me: thank you Waiter: I'll bring your order soon Me: thank you
Some cat vocabulary ^^
Another funny moment from Evening Urgant! This is an old interview with Milla Jovovich. What is Milla talking about? There are tons of Russian fairy tales about baby goats and wolves. One of the most popular ones is “The wolf and the seven baby goats” (Волк и семеро козлят). However, the one Milla is talking about must be a fairy tale called “Grandmother once had a grey baby goat...” (Жил-был у бабушки серенький козлик...). Here’s the link. It doesn’t have an English translation, but I can try and translate it if you’re interested. https://stihi.ru/2012/08/15/7403 Useful words from this video: Страшный (m.), страшная (f.), страшное (n.), страшные (plur.) - scary; Сказка, сказки (f.) - fairy tale, fairy tales; Лес, леса (m.) - forest, forests; Конец, концы (m.) - end, ends; Сильный (m.), сильная (f.), сильное (n.), сильные (plur.) - strong Interesting fact: Last month, Milla made a video of her reading one of the most well-known Russian fairy tales “Fly Tsokotuha” (Муха-Цокотуха). And again, unfortunately, I could not find the English version of this fairy tale. I can try and translate it, but I cannot guarantee my version won’t be cringeworthy. Here’s the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a69FMum_nnM&t=249s
I was watching Evening Urgant as usual and I just couldn’t resist translating this funny bit for you. What is Ivan talking about? Беляш, беляши — bel’ash (sing.), bel’ashi (plur.) Bel’ash is a dish of Kazakh, Bashkir and Tatar cuisine. It’s practically the same as a regular pirozhok with meat. Except the recipes and the forms of the dishes are a bit different.
P. S. Please let me know if you want me to keep tranlsating fun parts from Russian TV shows and wether or not the Russian subtitles above the screen are comfortable for you to watch/are necessary. Thanks for reading my little blog :)
An ancient Russian dish
Here’s a piece of information about the Russian cuisine!
Пирог, пироги — pirog (sing.), pirogi (plur.)
Pirog is a baked case of dough with a sweet or savoury filling. It’s pretty much a regular pie. Pirog is one of the oldest dishes in Russia that our grandmothers bake to this day.
In ancient Russia, there were a lot of traditions regarding the consumption of a pirog. For example, the first bite of a pirog was always taken by the oldest man in the family. After him were younger men, then women and children. People started noticing how inconvenient these traditions were, so Russian women started baking small pirogs. They were more convenient to eat and to even pack for the road. This is how pirozhki (пирожки) were created.
Пирожок, пирожки — pirozhok (sing.), pirozhki (plur.)
There is no known date of when pirozhki were created, but some sources say that they were already around when Ivan the Terrible was ruling Russia (1533).
The most popular flavours of pirozhki are: apple jam, meat, smashed potatoes, eggs and fish.
“I want to invite you to the skating rink*” *Каток (katok) - a word that means both “skating rink” and “road-roller”
Thanks for clearing that up Duo!