Language-learners' chat

Cherryfudge

Hi and welcome @OrkneyStar! (Nice name).

I'd forgotten about BBC Bitesize but I think that's where I found lots of seriously helpful French cultural tips which made a difference when on holiday there. For instance I would have guessed that 'composter vos billets' meant to put used tickets in the bin, whereas in fact it means to validate them using a machine on the station platform. Guesswork would have led me well astray there, but I'd read on Bitesize about how the French train system works.

I did a little bit of German on Bitesize as well. Do you have plans to travel in Germany?

OrkneyStar

Cherryfudge said:

Hi and welcome @OrkneyStar! (Nice name).

I'd forgotten about BBC Bitesize but I think that's where I found lots of seriously helpful French cultural tips which made a difference when on holiday there. For instance I would have guessed that 'composter vos billets' meant to put used tickets in the bin, whereas in fact it means to validate them using a machine on the station platform. Guesswork would have led me well astray there, but I'd read on Bitesize about how the French train system works.

I did a little bit of German on Bitesize as well. Do you have plans to travel in Germany?

Thanks for your reply and comments.  
Travelling to Germany is becoming more and more appealing to me these days, but it's not going to be in the immediate future - always nice to have dreams and potential plans though.

Mistral001

With my German learning I have found that Duolingo does not do it for me.  I have reached B1 level, but find that the words do not really sink in and I have to keep repeating sections.  I have started to use Quizlet to make my own tests of about 20 words of vocabulary each.  I find this works well and the vocabulary now stays with me. 

As I have said erlier in this thread, languages was my worst subject at school so I accept that will learn at a snail's pace.  I have recently found out that I am slightly dyslexic, so that could account for my poor language skills.   Appartently dyslexia does not just affect the written word, but it also also affects the way we listen and speak.  All round it makes us pretty useless at language-learning. 

Surpisingly, I am told that my German pronunication is very good.  I once lived in Germany for a short while so that definitely has helped me. 

Anybody else use Quizlet for learning a language?  It has a flashcard mode, but I find the tests  mode is better.  I think vocabulary is the key for me. Others can learn phrases and idioms etc. but plain simple words are what gives me confidence in my conversation. 

Cherryfudge

Mistral001 said:

Anybody else use Quizlet for learning a language?  It has a flashcard mode, but I find the tests  mode is better.  I think vocabulary is the key for me. Others can learn phrases and idioms etc. but plain simple words are what gives me confidence in my conversation. 

I haven't come across Quizlet but it sounds a useful reinforcer.

I use Drops for vocabulary: it goes subject by subject (you get to choose) with occasional already-learned words thrown in for reinforcement.

Cherryfudge

Duolingo’s happy hour is back tonight so it sounds as if Fridays from 7 till 8 is no longer set aside for getting your glad rags on… I think it’s five extra points per lesson if you’re feeling competitive.

I’m still fighting a losing battle with ´de' 😞

tiddles

Thank you Cherryfudge 
You have just inspired me to practise my Italian with Duolingo 🙂

Cherryfudge

tiddles said:

You have just inspired me to practise my Italian with Duolingo 🙂

Good luck! I'd love to learn Italian.

tiddles

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/learn-italian

This is quite a good free course, Cherryfudge 🙂

Cherryfudge

tiddles said:

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/learn-italian

This is quite a good free course, Cherryfudge 🙂

Thank you! I've done some excellent free courses on Futurelearn, but I haven't tried any language ones. It's good to have a recommendation and I would love to have some holidays in Italy so perhaps that's a good reason to learn!

OrkneyStar

Mistral001 said:

With my German learning I have found that Duolingo does not do it for me.  I have reached B1 level, but find that the words do not really sink in and I have to keep repeating sections.  I have started to use Quizlet to make my own tests of about 20 words of vocabulary each.  I find this works well and the vocabulary now stays with me. 

As I have said erlier in this thread, languages was my worst subject at school so I accept that will learn at a snail's pace.  I have recently found out that I am slightly dyslexic, so that could account for my poor language skills.   Appartently dyslexia does not just affect the written word, but it also also affects the way we listen and speak.  All round it makes us pretty useless at language-learning. 

Surpisingly, I am told that my German pronunication is very good.  I once lived in Germany for a short while so that definitely has helped me. 

Anybody else use Quizlet for learning a language?  It has a flashcard mode, but I find the tests  mode is better.  I think vocabulary is the key for me. Others can learn phrases and idioms etc. but plain simple words are what gives me confidence in my conversation. 

I like Duolingo for some things, but I use other resources too. BBC Bitesize is great for grammar lessons and that sort of thing, Easy German (on YouTube) is great for listening and learning about German culture too, my son used Quizlet for school and quite enjoyed it. I watch a lot of German series/films, listen to music, try to read articles and so on. I am loving it!