Language-learners' chat

Friday1989

I just downloaded Duolingo after seeing this thread. I did a Japanese course in 2018 but I didn't do my homework and didn't learn much! I was doing a masters while working full time so not sure my timing was great... I'm not going to be super focused on learning but I'll go on the app when I have a spare moment. 

Scottiedog_3

I'm brushing up my Welsh and Spanish. I did two years of Welsh about 50 years ago and I'm slightly horrified by how colloquial and variable by dialect the Duolingo course is. I think back then I must have been learning biblical Welsh. To stop my brain rotting away completely,  I'm also reviving my Spanish. The Duolingo Spanish  course seems Mexican based so there are "bananas" instead of "platanas". I do a lot of tutting as I used to teach languages for a living and the sheer drudgery of much of the Duolingo exercises strikes me as medieval. However, there's nothing better than a spot of language learning for keeping the brain fighting fit...

CAFCGirl

Yo bebo agua

Is the sum of my lesson today LOL

Tenses are confusing me (I think its tenses anyway). Grammar isn't my strong suit anyway. The changing for the masculine and feminine, On day 2! Heaven help me...

Cherryfudge

CAFCGirl said:

Yo bebo agua

Is the sum of my lesson today LOL

Tenses are confusing me (I think its tenses anyway). Grammar isn't my strong suit anyway. The changing for the masculine and feminine, On day 2! Heaven help me...

I think that would be Eu bebo agua for me (Brazilian Portuguese, Cherryfudge dialect) - but I actually I'm more likely to be drinking coffee.

People seem to have such varied experiences and levels... can I ask if some sort of language learning is a New Year's Res. for any of you? I was going to do that but when I really thought about it, why make a resolution to do something in which I'm already well embedded?

Here's something to make Duolinguists laugh: I knew I had to put in a bit of work to stop losing a league this weekend so I was toiling away yesterday afternoon and got about 300 points (okay, the game aspect goes deep with me)... then realised I have another day before I need to get there! I work shifts and it messes with your head.

Cherryfudge

Rosa_Damascena said:

I'm not too keen on Duolingo as I prefer to learn grammatically (French at school was great for that, Latin even more so). What I have been doing is watching French material on Youtube with subtitles and then progressing without, which forces me to listen carefully. I get the gist although I know I am missing the finer points.

I found that nowadays French - and possibly other languages - are taught without the second person plural which seems to me to leave a gap that has to be filled later when the supporting structure has already been made. Perhaps that's just difficult for me because it's not the way I was taught. I do find the grammar is there in Duolingo French (not sure about other languages) because it's in the 'tips' at the beginning of the exercises. I read them because I'm afraid of going wrong! I think my attitude is to sneak in as much extra as possible, like reading the back of toiletries, in the hope of making up lost ground. (Very useful, knowing the French for 'eyebrows', need that all the time).

My husband watches films in French with subtitles and for him it works. I don't think he watches again without subtitles but he does pick up odd words. He has a good ear though.

I've just tried googling 'French subtitles Youtube' and I can see I'm not the first. The first thing up looks akin to 'Friends' though I'm not sure the standard is quite the same. Really encouraging to find I can follow the story but I'm not sure I can stand their acting for too long. I'm sure there are plenty of others... any recommendations?

Dorisd

I’m learning Portuguese on Duolingo and also Irish ( giving it a break at the moment as it’s too confusing doing 2 at the same time). I did Spanish and French at school GCSE. I didn’t enjoy it at the time but it has come in useful. 

Which reminds me I need to do todays lesson.

Rosa_Damascena

Frith said:

I started Welsh on Duolingo in 2020 but petered out after 6 months or so. I'd like to restart this year.

I did French and Latin GCSEs at school and one beginner's module of German at University. I have no grammar now in any of those languages at all! (Nor in Welsh).

Are you saying that you fail to use the gerund and gerundive in your everyday vernacular?

daz378

I did european finance degree  very early 90s  5 hours german a week from ab initio  for 18 months  then a year in Bremen... i can still get by in german  but not so fluent

gettingtheresometime

Can someone recommend a distance learning course for learning Spanish?

I started with Duolingo but got frustrated when I had to learn phrases like my apartment is pretty.

Mademoiselle

Languages, what fun!  I would like to learn Breton but can't find anything online so that is on hold for the time being.  I do enjoy trying to get by in different languages when we travel (or should that be travelled).  I will be cheering you on