basica's 2018 log: Serbian B+

Continue or start your personal language log here, including logs for challenge participants
User avatar
basica
Orange Belt
Posts: 221
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2015 12:07 am
Location: Australia
Languages: English (N), Serbian (A2ish)
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... hp?&t=7335
x 412

Re: basica's 2018 log: Serbian B+

Postby basica » Tue Dec 12, 2017 1:07 pm

I had this really long reply but I accidentally closed my browser and I honestly lost heart and can't be bothered to type it all out again :evil:

Anyways, the short of it was that I completed my glossika lesson again today. Really feel like I'm getting into a rhythm. I also did some memrise and made some more Serbian friends online to practice with :)

Another thing I wrote was a small story in Serbian. I'm about to go to bed so I'm not writing it again, but in short to spice things up in every update post I'll have a short story (about my day, or something completely random). Corrections are welcome :)

Radioclare wrote:It's quite a sad song about a guy singing about how being drunk is the only way he can get over his (former) girlfriend.


I saw this on my way to work this morning and I thought now that I got the story, perhaps if I concentrate I might be able to decipher what's being said? Unfortunately, it was far from a success. I only made out random words here and there. Near 0 comprehension despite listening to it on repeat in the car on the way to work :(

Also, thanks for the welcome's neofight (glad to see you still around too :D) and Dandelion :) The more the merrier in this log I have to say :)
1 x
Glossika Fluency 1: 16 / 104

Learning or already speak Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian? Join us here! :)

User avatar
Radioclare
Black Belt - 2nd Dan
Posts: 2250
Joined: Sat Jul 18, 2015 12:59 pm
Location: England
Languages: Speaks: English (N), Esperanto, German, Croatian
Learns: Russian
x 10434
Contact:

Re: basica's 2018 log: Serbian B+

Postby Radioclare » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:41 pm

basica wrote:I saw this on my way to work this morning and I thought now that I got the story, perhaps if I concentrate I might be able to decipher what's being said? Unfortunately, it was far from a success. I only made out random words here and there. Near 0 comprehension despite listening to it on repeat in the car on the way to work :(


Have you tried listening while reading the lyrics? I normally find that the best option if I can't catch words after repeated listening. There are only really 3 verses in this one, so my rough (not very poetic) translation is:

Bez nje bi sve u jednu casu stalo
a s' njom i dva zivota mi je malo
svirajte meni samo tuzne pesme
jer ona bila mi je sve

Zbog nje bih ponos bacio u blato
ona i kamen pretvara u zlato
ne mogu zivot zamisliti bez nje
jer ona bila mi je sve

Samo pijan mogu da prebolim
ove noci duge i sudbinu zlu
kradem dane Bogu, a jos je volim
svaka koju ljubim me podseca na nju

Without her everything would stop in a moment
But with her even two lifetimes aren't enough for me.
Play only sad songs for me
Because she was everything to me.

Because of her I would throw my pride in the mud
She can even turn stones into gold.
I can't imagine life without her
Because she was everything to me.

Only drunk can I get through
these long nights and evil destiny.
I'm stealing days from God, but I still love her
Every girl I kiss reminds me of her.
3 x

User avatar
basica
Orange Belt
Posts: 221
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2015 12:07 am
Location: Australia
Languages: English (N), Serbian (A2ish)
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... hp?&t=7335
x 412

Re: basica's 2018 log: Serbian B+

Postby basica » Wed Dec 13, 2017 3:27 am

Radioclare wrote:Have you tried listening while reading the lyrics? I normally find that the best option if I can't catch words after repeated listening. There are only really 3 verses in this one, so my rough (not very poetic) translation is:


Thanks for the translation and the tip. I think I will start doing that to help improve my listening skills :)


Moja Prića

Vreme je danas vruće i sunčano. Otkako sam došao u ovom gradu, ne mogu da uživam njegovo vreme. Kad je leto, baš sam vruće a kad je zimsko onda sam hladan. Nikada je bilo dobro vreme u ovom gradu. Sada sam na poslu i ne želim da radim. Samo mislim o mom dom i koliko sati ima do mogu da idem.

Kad sam kod kuće, ja ću da slušam glosiku i onda radim memrise. Posle toga ću da gledam neke serije na računaru. Možda će biti 'The Walking Dead' ili možda 'The Orville'. Takođe, ću da tražim informaciju o mačkom. Želim da kupim jednu mačku jer sada samo ja u kući i osećam se da imam neku prijateljicu sa mom :)

Sviđa mi se crna mačka ili siva mačka. Mislim ako mačak, onda se zove 'Miša', ali će biti mačka, onda se zove 'Nada' ili 'Sanja'.
3 x
Glossika Fluency 1: 16 / 104

Learning or already speak Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian? Join us here! :)

Daniel N.
Green Belt
Posts: 357
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:44 pm
Languages: Croatian (N), English (C1), German (beginner)
x 733
Contact:

Re: basica's 2018 log: Serbian B+

Postby Daniel N. » Wed Dec 13, 2017 10:49 pm

Radioclare wrote:
Bez nje bi sve u jednu casu stalo


Since they don't write marks on čćšž - only ccsz - it could also be "u jednu čašu stalo" = would fit in a glass :D I can't listen to it on my mobile phone, though...

Basica, even natives sometimes have troubles understanding songs :) It's normal.
2 x
Check Easy Croatian (very useful for Bosnian, Montenegrin and Serbian as well)

User avatar
basica
Orange Belt
Posts: 221
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2015 12:07 am
Location: Australia
Languages: English (N), Serbian (A2ish)
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... hp?&t=7335
x 412

Re: basica's 2018 log: Serbian B+

Postby basica » Thu Dec 14, 2017 12:15 am

Daniel N. wrote:Basica, even natives sometimes have troubles understanding songs :) It's normal.


Thanks man, it's easy to be hard on yourself but you're right even natives can have issues and I know that so I should go a bit easier on myself :)

Moja Prića O Mom Danu

Sinoć nisam mogao da spavam :( Mislim da sam spavao oko 5 sati. Juče je bilo oko 38 stepeni i sinoć je oko 25 stepeni. Bilo je previše vruće za mene i dakle nisam mogao da spavam. Imam klima uređaj u čekaonici, mislim da ću staviti krevet tamo i onda spavam. Imam ventilator u spavaćoj sobi, ali nije bolje nego klima uređaj, naravno.

U svakom slučaju, osećam se bolje nego juče na poslu. Mislim možda ću raditi jako danas :) Posle posao, nemam planove. Možda ću da vežbam srpski i tako dalje. Takođe, mislim da ću slušati neke muzike. Oh, Mislim da ću igrati neke igre na računaru. Pre nekoliko dana, igrao sam Portal 2. Nisam završao ovu igru, ali želim da žavršim jer ta igra je baš zanimljiva za mene.

Takođe, želim da kažem da ova srpska testatura je loša. Zašto je slovo "Z" gde je "Y" kad koristiš tastaturu na engleskom? Ne sviđa mi se :evil:

A, to je sve. Ako nađeš neke greške, ću da hvala na ispravka :)

Čujemo se :)
0 x
Glossika Fluency 1: 16 / 104

Learning or already speak Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian? Join us here! :)

User avatar
basica
Orange Belt
Posts: 221
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2015 12:07 am
Location: Australia
Languages: English (N), Serbian (A2ish)
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... hp?&t=7335
x 412

Re: basica's 2018 log: Serbian B+

Postby basica » Fri Dec 15, 2017 2:15 am

Still plugging away. As you can tell by the daily posts I am in that beginner obsessed phase still :)

I want to make this log a bit useful for other language learners, in particular those learning BCS so I'll figure out a routine of sorts and update my initial post so people get an idea of how I am doing. I'll then post ability updates every couple months or so (e.g. having a discussion with a native speaker and getting them to compare me to previous discussions). The posts here I think will focus more on practicing my Serbian, discussing the ups and downs as I encounter them as well as changes I make in my routine or things I learn along the way. I don't think regular posts of "I did X,Y and Z again today like clockwork" are fun to read, or informative unless they're detailed and help provide some insight (which I don't feel mine have so far) so I'll be changing things up.

I'll also edit in my OP the resources I'm using and find useful so people don't have to trawl through the thread to find all the tidbits. That said, onto Serbian :)

Mačke su lepe

Sada mogu da kupim neke mačke (ali, ću da samo kupim jednu mačku). Baš sam srećan. Mislim da ću tražiti na skloništu. Mnogo mačke nemaju kuće i ne sviđa mi se to :( Mislim da je bolje nego kupim mačku na prodavnici. Uskoro ću da gledam neke mačke na internetu i onda kupim. Nadam se da tražim jednu slatku mačku :)

Večeras ću da vidim jedni prijatelj i njegovu ženu. Ćemo da igramo neke igre (na primer, Monopoly). Sutra ću da imam doručak sa prijateljima. Žena od mog prijatelja je završila njeni doktor (phd) i slavimo :) Mislim da će biti zabavno. Posle toga, nemam ništa. Samo ću biti kod kuće i gledaću Netflix i tako dalje.

To je sve za danas, čujemo se :)
2 x
Glossika Fluency 1: 16 / 104

Learning or already speak Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian? Join us here! :)

User avatar
basica
Orange Belt
Posts: 221
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2015 12:07 am
Location: Australia
Languages: English (N), Serbian (A2ish)
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... hp?&t=7335
x 412

Re: basica's 2018 log: Serbian B+

Postby basica » Sun Dec 17, 2017 1:33 am

So, I've somewhat decided on a routine of musts (will do everyday) and maybes (when I can be bothered). Before I get into that I'll discuss some resources I've discovered:

  • Thanks to our zeleni gušter, iguanamon I came across Global Voices. In short it has articles translated across many languages, including Serbian ;) I plan on at some stage incorporating this into my routine, but for now it's a good to know resource.
  • A site that's just as useful for me is Balkan Insight. In this case everything is related to the Balkans only, but that's fine with me. Like above, no current plans to incorporate it into my routine, but once again good to know.
  • Finding texts that I'm familiar with in English that are in Serbian is a bit difficult (that also match my level). I still have a long way to go. That said, I came across a modern translation of the Bible into Serbian which is designed to be easy to read. It's by a group called Bible League International and you can download it, and other translations here. This is a two for one because it uses cyrillic instead of latin script, but I can live with that. At the very least it gives me an excuse to improve my cyrillic reading skills.
  • In iguanamon's log, I came across the Jesus Film Project which is translating a old film about Jesus into various languages. Of course, they have Serbian and you can download it here. I have to give it to these religious organisations, they sure do get busy with translating their material.

So, what does my routine look like now?

  • Anki is back on the menu boys. I reset my deck and I'm back into it. Let's see how it all goes :)
  • Glossika GSR every day.
  • Haven't decided on the best way to divide it, but I suppose 1 page or so of that Serbian Bible a day will do.
  • Somewhat regular (a couple times a week) conversations with Serbian speakers.
  • GV or BI when I can be bothered
  • Glossika GMS, like above; when I can be bothered

So, that's how things will look like from now on. That said, I'll give a bit of an update later with how things are going.

čujemo se!
1 x
Glossika Fluency 1: 16 / 104

Learning or already speak Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian? Join us here! :)

User avatar
reineke
Black Belt - 3rd Dan
Posts: 3570
Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 7:34 pm
Languages: Fox (C4)
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... =15&t=6979
x 6554

Re: basica's 2018 log: Serbian B+

Postby reineke » Sun Dec 17, 2017 6:04 am

Ću da idem...
Ću da hvala...
etc.

I see that you were making these errors in 2015 as well. Unless this is a particular home flavor you wish to keep, you should try breaking this language habit.
Last edited by reineke on Sun Dec 17, 2017 8:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
0 x

User avatar
basica
Orange Belt
Posts: 221
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2015 12:07 am
Location: Australia
Languages: English (N), Serbian (A2ish)
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... hp?&t=7335
x 412

Re: basica's 2018 log: Serbian B+

Postby basica » Sun Dec 17, 2017 6:32 am

reineke wrote:Ću da idem...
Ću da hvala...
etc.

I see that you wee making these errors in 2015 as well. Unless this is a particular home flavor you wish to keep, you should try breaking this language habit.

What is a better way of expressing future tense? For example I am aware of doing something like "ideću", but was under the impression that "ću da idem" was also acceptable. Is that not the case?
0 x
Glossika Fluency 1: 16 / 104

Learning or already speak Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian? Join us here! :)

User avatar
basica
Orange Belt
Posts: 221
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2015 12:07 am
Location: Australia
Languages: English (N), Serbian (A2ish)
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... hp?&t=7335
x 412

Re: basica's 2018 log: Serbian B+

Postby basica » Sun Dec 17, 2017 1:45 pm

So after getting some input from some native speakers, the form I suggested is the norm, or otherwise I need to avoid using ću as the first word in the sentence, and further if I wish to use that construction it seems ja ću + infinitive is the preferred way (instead of da + present tense). I have no idea how I got the impression this was an acceptable construction, a bit frustrating that I've got this construction ingrained now, but oh well. Will now focus on learning to construct it differently.

Anyways, in other news here are my goals that I wish to reach by the end of 2018.:

  • 500 pages read
  • 2000 minutes of conversation practice (around 30 minutes a week, of which I'll certainly do more).
  • 50000 words written down (most likely through lang-8 I think).
  • Finish my Glossika course. I've previously done fluency 1, but I will go all the way through Fluency 3. At one a day, it'll take me 9 months (but I'll likely fast track Fluency 1 so it'll be a bit shorter).
  • Finish BCS - A textbook with exercises and basic grammar. I've come close before but I need to go through it again as a refresher to be honest.

It'd be great if I can reach a solid B2 level, but I'll take a B1. What's important for me is getting to the stage where I can communicate comfortably about a range of subjects in the present, past and future while also understanding what is being said to me. Ideally, I want to get to the stage where I can follow the news with relative ease. Whether the latter takes longer than another year is perfectly fine with me (and likely will take longer than that).

Will update my original post at some point so this is all in one place :)

That said, it's a bit late here so I'll post an update tomorrow with some new happenings as this has gotten long enough :)
1 x
Glossika Fluency 1: 16 / 104

Learning or already speak Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian? Join us here! :)


Return to “Language logs”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Axon and 3 guests