What have you learned about language learning in the last two years?

General discussion about learning languages
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Xenops
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Re: What have you learned about language learning in the last two years?

Postby Xenops » Tue Sep 18, 2018 12:00 am

tarvos wrote:Also, screw anyone who says logographic scripts are easy. They're annoying and they will always be, despite the fact I think they're necessary. They do my head in.


May I assume that they have not learned much Chinese nor Japanese, either as native or secondary learners? ;)
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Re: What have you learned about language learning in the last two years?

Postby devilyoudont » Tue Sep 18, 2018 12:27 am

Yeah I wanna know who says it's easy and what they are doing :lol:
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Re: What have you learned about language learning in the last two years?

Postby renaissancemedici » Tue Sep 18, 2018 5:22 am

I learned that language learning can be political, controversial, anger raising for some people (or countries).

That it can bring to the surface lovely things such as:
-pride for speaking a couple of languages instead of humility for really knowing so little after all.
-greed to know it all instead of simplicity in your methods
-wrath about language issues instead of patience with others
-envy for other learners instead of kindness and sharing
-lust in your language daydreaming instead of chastity of goals
-gluttony to consume every resource instead of temperance and wisdom in your plans
-sloth instead of diligence, and I don't have to explain that one

That you should never neglect your own language because you already have a great head start there.
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Re: What have you learned about language learning in the last two years?

Postby Teango » Fri Sep 21, 2018 4:49 pm

victorhart wrote:I am trying to learn to understand Mandarin exclusively by watching authentic videos, as an experiment. I watched a few hundred hours between 2014 and 2015, then stopped, unfortunately, due to life circumstances.

I've tried to pick it back up a few times in 2016 and 2017, without success, but now I believe I am back for good!

Good to see you here on the forum, victorhart. I followed your experiment with interest some years ago, and am intrigued to read you're going to pick up the project again. Will you be going solo this time or include watching Mandarin with your daughter? Good luck!
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Re: What have you learned about language learning in the last two years?

Postby victorhart » Fri Sep 21, 2018 9:56 pm

Teango wrote:Good to see you here on the forum, victorhart. I followed your experiment with interest some years ago, and am intrigued to read you're going to pick up the project again. Will you be going solo this time or include watching Mandarin with your daughter? Good luck!


Thank you, Teango! It's encouraging to hear from you.

My daughter watched The Lion King and Mulan with me in Mandarin with English subtitles the other day, but for the most part, I'm pretty sure I will be going solo.

Good luck on getting getting to a more advanced level in Russian, German, and your various other languages!
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Re: What have you learned about language learning in the last two years?

Postby Decidida » Sat Sep 22, 2018 3:02 am

I've learned to trust myself to know which resources are the most efficient for ME.

I've learned that many native speakers get annoyed with language learners, and some get downright offended. I've learned that Haitian speakers have more patience with me than Spanish speakers.

I have learned that I progress faster when I spend a little money on resources, but that spending a lot of money results in less not more progress.

I have learned that audio-only resources are too hard for me to start with, but that they are critical for me to use later on. I am a visual learner. Listening is HARD work for me!

I have learned that Google Translate is better for some languages, and almost useless for others.
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Re: What have you learned about language learning in the last two years?

Postby leosmith » Sat Sep 22, 2018 4:13 am

tarvos wrote:Also, screw anyone who says logographic scripts are easy. They're annoying and they will always be, despite the fact I think they're necessary. They do my head in.
Just curious - are you finding Korean less time consuming than Mandarin?
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Re: What have you learned about language learning in the last two years?

Postby tarvos » Sat Sep 22, 2018 7:12 am

It's different. I used to live in China, whereas I've never lived in Korea, just been on holiday there. I don't really feel the two are comparable because I never studied Korean with the same intensity, and I actually started it before Mandarin.
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Re: What have you learned about language learning in the last two years?

Postby Uncle Roger » Sat Sep 22, 2018 9:22 am

I've got further confirmation that Listening Is Everything
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Re: What have you learned about language learning in the last two years?

Postby Izabela » Tue Sep 25, 2018 7:27 pm

1. Learn on your own terms if you can.

2 Be persistent. There'll be stretches when it feels like nothing is sticking, but at least some of it is.

3. There will be structures that are markedly different from the ones you were taught with your native language(s). Studying reference materials and explanations might help to make sense of them.

4. Every language has its own peculiar beauty and aesthetic.
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