4 Exercises To Improve Speaking Skills In Your Target Language:

Allow yourself to be a beginner. No one starts off being excellent.

words of encouragement in Spanish

Animar (to cheer up): Dar ánimo o energía moral a alguien.

(La) Palabra de aliento - word of encouragement

Puedes lograr tus metas con disciplina - You can achieve your goals with discipline

Descansa, pero no te rindas - Take a break, but don’t give up

No me rendiré - I will not surrender /  I will not give up

No dejaré que esto me hunda - I won’t let this bring me down

Quiero que te des cuenta de lo increíble que eres - I want you to realize how incredible you are

La diferencia entre lo que eres y lo que quieres ser está en lo que haces - The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do

Unas personas sueñan con el éxito, mientras otros se despiertan y trabajan - Some people dream of success while others wake up and work

Cae siete veces y levántate ocho - Fall seven times and stand up eight — Japanese proverb (Proverbio japonés)

Siempre es muy pronto para rendirse - It’s always too early to quit. — Norman Vincent Peale

El secreto para ir adelante es empezar - The secret of getting ahead is getting started. — Mark Twain

Las oportunidades no suceden. Tú las creas - Opportunities don’t happen. You create them.  — Chris Grosser

Si puedes soñarlo, puedes hacerlo - If you can dream it, you can do it — Walt Disney

Un hombre exitoso es aquel que puede hacer una base firme con los ladrillos que otros le arrojan - A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that other throw at him — David Brinkley

Para ser exitoso, tus ganas del éxito deben ser mayores que tu miedo al fracaso - In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure  — Bill Cosby

Para tener éxito, antes debemos creer que podemos - In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can — Nikos Kazantzakis

You can always start again. Clean out your social media. Create a new account for your new taste in music. Study or work in a new city. Start socialising with new people. Choose a new signature scent and style and purge the outdated parts of yourself. If you don’t like where you’re at, but you don’t know what to do about it - try starting again.

You know you’re doing an English Major when an essay question is to analyse a 50-word long poem with a 2300 word limit. 

motivational classics quotes

Hi guys! Here’s a masterpost of some inspirational quotes taken from classical literature that you can use in your bullet journal, planner, or whenever you need some extra motivation! Italicized are some of my favorites that really help me stop procrastinating and get through the day :) 

romans:

seneca:

“i will storm the gods, and shake the universe.”

“luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

“if one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.”

“it is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, but because we do not dare, things are difficult.”

“sometimes it is an act of bravery even to live.”

ovid:

“nothing is stronger than habit.”

“let your hook be always cast. in the pool where you least expect it, will be fish.”

“endure and persist; this pain will turn into good by and by.”

“what is without periods of rest will not endure.”

virgil:

“they can because they think they can.”

“let us go singing as far as we go: the road will be less tedious.”

“work conquers all.”

“practice and thought may forge many an art.”

“we cannot all do everything.”

horace:

“adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant.”

“he who has begun has half done. dare to be wise; begin!”

“remember when life’s path is steep to keep your mind even.”

“mix a little foolishness with your serious plans. it is lovely to be silly at the right moment.”

“he who feared that he would not succeed sat still.”

catullus:

“often has leisure ruined great kings and fine cities.”

“if anything has happened to one who ever yearned and wished but never hoped, that is a rare pleasure of the soul.”

“i hate and i love. perhaps you ask why i do this? i do not know, but i feel it happening and i am tortured.”

greeks:

homer:

“the fates have given mortals hearts that can endure.”

“some of the words you’ll find within yourself, the rest some power will inspire you to say.”

“for a friend with an understanding heart is worth no less than a brother.”

“there is a time for many words and there is a time also for sleep.”

sappho:

“may I write words more naked than flesh, stronger than bone, more resilient than sinew, sensitive than nerve.”

“beauty endures only for as long as it can be seen; goodness, beautiful today, will remain so tomorrow.”

“you who judge me, for me you are nothing.”

plato:

“be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

“no one should be discouraged who can make constant progress, even though it be slow.”

“music is a moral law. it gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”

“the first and best victory is to conquer self.”

“the beginning is the most important part of the work.”

aristotle:

“the roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.”

“pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.”

“poetry demands a man with a special gift for it, or else one with a touch of madness in him.”

“we are what we repeatedly do. excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” (misattributed, but too good to pass up :) )

plutarch:

“the mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.”

“what we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.”

“to make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future.”

“painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.”

“to find fault is easy; to do better may be difficult.”

I hope you find these useful, or at least enjoyed reading through them! Let me know which are your favorites! 

xx, penelope

Ne forget pas les quatres food groupes mes amis!

How to Make a Language Notebook

I’ve been using a language notebook for about a month now, and I finally figured out a format that works for me, so I figured I’d share it with you guys! Keep in mind these are only recommendations, feel free to do your own thing if you think it’ll be more convenient for you!

Okay, so to start, here’s what you’ll need:

1) Pens

I recommend three pens of different colours. I used blue, orange and black. The blue is for words/ sentences in my target language. I chose a dark colour so they would stand out more. The orange, a light colour, is for words/ sentences in my native language (or English, in my case). It’s a lighter colour because it makes the blue stand out more, so I focus more on the words in my target language instead of the English ones. The black is for titles, drawings, and words in another language that isn’t my target or my native. For example, I compare German with Spanish in this entry: 

As you can see, the German phrases are in blue because it’s my target language. The explanations in English are in orange, and the title and Spanish words are in black.

2) A notebook

Some people recommend separating grammar and vocabulary. This is an excellent idea if you have many notebooks or notebooks with different sections. If you don’t, it’s not a problem. I only use one notebook, which works for me, because I don’t use it too much (it’s mostly a space to write down stuff I like, not stuff I will necessarily use). If you plan on using your notebook in a more serious manner, but cannot afford to get several notebooks, I recommend you write everything concerning vocabulary (or grammar) in the front of the notebook, and the rest (grammar or vocabulary, it depends) at the back. Make sure to not use a very thin notebook though!

If you don’t feel the need to separate grammar and vocabulary, there are ways of dividing the topics:

3) Sticky Tabs

I have four different topics in my language notebook: vocabulary, grammar, verbs, and miscellaneous. To divide them, I add sticky tabs of different colours next to each entry. For example, vocabulary is pink, grammar is blue, verbs are orange, and miscellaneous is green.

This allows me to see what the topic is immediately, and it makes my notebook very colourful!

4) 4cm margin

It doesn’t exactly have to be 4 centimeters, but it shouldn’t be more than a third of the page. This margin (I place mine on the right of the page) is for any notes you might want to add about the entry. For example, definitions, formal/ informal forms, etc. It doesn’t necessarily have to be used for every entry, but it’s easier to trace it for all, instead of just adding it when you need it. It’s also a good place to put the sticky tabs (refer to the previous image). I trace the line with a pencil so that it’s lighter and more discreet than the rest of the writing, but that’s up to you.

5) Index/ Key

One last thing you’ll (maybe) need: an index/ key! I don’t personally have an index, because I have too many entries per page, but a key is definitely useful if you use the sticky tab method. I still haven’t gotten around to making one, but that’s because I’m lazy Just write it (or stick it) on the back of the cover so you don’t waste a page on it.

Next you’ll need to decide what to write in the notebook. If you already know what to write, great! If not, here are some suggestions:

- Class notes

- Grammar rules/ verb conjugations/ etc. that you struggle with

- Funny sayings or random slang you learn

- Tumblr posts (these are great because they are generally explained simply, but make sure to check the info, because there might be some small mistakes)

- Journal entries (these are a great way to practice what you’ve written in previous entries!)

It doesn’t all have to be useful, necessarily. I have jokes, and puns that I might never use, but that are funny anyways. I find it’s a great way to stay motivated!

If you want more photos from my notebook, you can find ‘em here :) 

So yeah, that’s all! :D I hope you guys like it, and feel free to ask me questions about my language notebook!

Hey! so i just created my very first studygram (shameless self promo @decafstudy follow me) and one of my irl friends saw my stories and posts and asked “How many hours does your day have? ´cause mine only has 24″ and that got me thinking abt how i take the most advantage of my days to make them feel (or look) 48 hours long! Here are a few of the things I incorporate on my daily student life to be more productive!

• IF YOUR FIRST CLASS STARTS LATE IN THE MORNING WAKE UP 2 HOURS EARLIER THAN NEEDED i know, am i crazy? ok so here´s the deal. If your first class starts, let´s say, at 11:00 A.M you might be tempted to wake up at 10:00 A.M, get dressed, and head to school. Not only does this create bad habits for when you get assigned a 7:00 A.M class (which will happen) but you lose MANY HOURS OF PRECIOUS TIME. Get your 8-9 hours of sleep and do not let yourself wake up later than needed. My class sometimes starts at 11:30 A.M so i wake up at 8:00 have a nice morning, relax, work out a bit, light up a candle and get ahead on reading and work for school! Your day will start and feel more productive!

• NEVER LEAVE CLASS WITH A DOUBT ON YOUR MIND I know this might create anxiety for people who are shy and do not like asking questions during class (i am one of those people) If you feel just too scared to ask during class APPROACH THE TEACHER AFTER CLASS ENDS. as soon as he dismisses class, approach him and ask the question. If you are not able to do so DO NOT STRESS, BUT WRITE THAT QUESTION DOWN ASAP ON A POST IT AND STICK IT YOUR NOTEBOOK. that way you will have the question at hand and you can seek tutoring later and ask, or even ask a friend BUT NEVER LET A QUESTION GO, NEVER think “i will ask it later” BECAUSE YOU WON´T and IT WILL DOOM YOU. This will save so much time when you study, because all your questions will be at hand and you will know what you have to focus on studying.

• WHENEVER YOU HAVE FREE TIME, USE IT TO WORK WHILE DOING SOMETHING FUN instead of just diving head first into watching a movie, ask yourself if there is something more productive that you could be doing rn (reading ahead, reviewing, doing extra math exercises) if the answer is yes, then put that movie on mute and work while taking a peek at the movie ever once in a while. This will not only help you with discipline and learning to keep yourself from distractions, but it will occupy your free time in something that your future self will thank you for later on.

• NEVER ASSUME THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO IT LATER again, think in terms of your FUTURE SELF how much would your future self love it if instead of studying 3 days before the exam, you studied a week before it? How much would your future self love it of instead of reading until 12:00 PM tomorrow, you divided the reading between today and tomorrow? never assume that you will have spare time ahead because chances are that you won´t and you will end up with A BUNCH of work that you didn´t do and that you can´t do at the moment. FUTURE SELF THINKING has saved my life.

• LEAVE TIME OPEN FOR MENTAL HEALTH/PHYSICAL/RECREATIVE CARE as much as i always put work first, I KEEP MY THERAPIST VISIT AND MY GYM ROUTINE STABLE no matter how much work i have. This helps me feel more balanced and like i am on top of everything, not just school, feeling good=more productivity.

• POMODORO TECHNIQUE i know many people know about this but if you don´t, this is basically a studying technique in which you work or study for 25-30 minutes straight NO DISTRACTIONS and then have a 5-6 minute break, and then repeat the process as many hours as you need. This really helps me not get burnt out when I have a heavy load of work. Watching study with me videos on yt is a good way of keeping the pomodoro system going. Some good apps that I use for POMODORO are Forest and Tide.

• HAVE AN APP CARPET ON YOUR PHONE THAT IS CALLED “PRODUCTIVITY” ie. download a BUNCH of cute as hell apps that help you get motivated and organised when you look at them. This will make you more prone to look at your phone as an INSTRUMENT rather than a DISTRACTION. (my fave apps are Taskade, Forest, Tide, Brainscape and Pocket)

• Lastly, GET MOTIVATED i know this sounds cliché, but the reason why i love keeping my day busy is because i surround myself with a romanticised idea of studying. Doing these kinds of posts, following a bunch of accounts with pretty notes, having a clean room and desk, going to the library and appreciating the color scheme or sounds around you, listening to relaxing sounds or music while working, downloading many pretty apps to keep myself on track while having a cute aesthetic… all of these things might seem small, but they make you feel cleaner, more balanced and more prone to LIKING the work you do.

Anyways i know most of you already do these cause yall are on top of your game alllll the tiiiiime girl, but if any of these helps, ill be very happy!

“what does it feel like to be a multifandom?”

Tu frase @un-mundo-desordenado 👐💕