Littlelanguagefox - THE LITTLE LANGUAGE FOX

what is the january mood?

General Language Learning Tips

I’ve tried learning a few languages (Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean and a bit of Mandarin) by self study and class study. Here’s what I’ve worked out does and doesn’t work for me. Take it with a pinch of salt!

1) Learn grammar, but don’t sweat it too much. There’s a debate about whether to ignore grammar completely and pick it up, or whether to rigourously study it. Do what you want, but in my experience, learning the concept, then constant application is best.

For example: Learn a new structure, make your own example sentences and then get a native speaker to check them. You’ll end up hearing the grammar too, which can be helpful

I tried the “just pick it up method” for Spanish and French, and it kind of worked, but I made a ton of mistakes with grammar and couldn’t work out how to correct them until I actually learned the concept

2) Don’t just use flashcards for vocabulary learning. They are a great tool, but not alone. Application again is really useful. For example, go through a deck on Quizlet and learn the words. Once you’re sure you’ve memorised them, look at the translation in your native language and write example sentences with those words in your target language, and again check them with a native speaker. This method could also pair with your grammar studies. This is just a recommendation, but try and find a way to apply the vocab.

3) For getting native speakers to correct you, there isn’t always a native or advanced speaker at your disposal. Apps like HiNative or a language exchange app like Tandem is good for this.

4) It’s so easy to get discouraged when you watch a TV show and you struggle to understand, or you read a book and don’t understand every other word. With harder sources, be a little lighter on yourself. Put on subtitles in your target language, or look up every word you don’t understand, then re-read the passage, glancing back at your vocab list. Eventually it will get easier as long as you keep doing it

5) Another way to learn vocabulary is to just look up words that you can’t translate as you come across them. This is how I learn the majority of my Italian vocabulary. I read an article or a text, and I annotate words I don’t know with the translation, then read over the text again. I don’t review the words, I just look them up again if I don’t recognise them the next time I see them. This is great for when you feel lazier or not in the mood to memorise. I used this method with Japanese song lyrics too, and it even helped me with Japanese sentence structure

6) Output>Input. Speak and write whenever you can. Speak to yourself, write a diary, write with a language exchange partner, repeat phrases you hear watching TV.

7) ^^ That being said, give yourself as much input as possible. Listening to music is my favourite method for this, but I’ve started watching a series in Spanish and Italian, which I recommend for intermediate learners. Reading books is also good for intermediate learners. Beginners, I recommend music and children’s books, but still check out stuff for intermediate learners if you wish.

8) When you hit a stump with grammar or vocabulary, or you feel like you can’t speak at all, target that for however long you can. Repetition of phrases and methods should help you. Check different sources for different explanations or a different method. If that really doesn’t work, revisit it in a week or so.

That’s all I can offer. Please message me if have any questions or queries, and I’ll happily answer!

If this inspires you pass it on!🤔♻️📲

CHINESE MASTERLIST!

*for future reference the masterlist link should be under my profile pic on my homepage!

FLASHCARDS

C-SERIES INTEGRATED CONTEXT VOCAB 

01_10 Flashcards 

02_16 Flashcards

03_18 Flashcards

04_18 Flashcards

05_17 Flashcards

06_15 Flashcards

07_18 Flashcards

RADICAL VOCAB 

01_General Vocab

02_Colours 

03_Valentine’s Day

HELLO TALK - Real life Chinese Conversations with Native Speakers 

Part O1 

Work, Continuing a conversation, Clarifying questions, Language ability, Getting ready in the morning

OTHER VOCAB

EMOTIONS

Emotions vocab list (w GIFS)

APPEARANCE

What type of boys do you like?

What type of girls do you like?

CHINESE PARTICLES

The three DE’s

MISCELLANEOUS VOCAB

01_My Mr. Mermaid + Body Parts 

02_My Diary Phrases 

03_My Mr. Mermaid + Body Parts PT2 

04_My Mr.Mermaid ep 2 + 3 

05_My Mr. Mermaid ep 3 + Chinese Pod describing drinks

06_PETS (describing animals/pets)

07_My Mr. Mermaid ep 4 + Home vocab 

08_My Mr. Mermaid ep 4. cont

Sentence Order 

Basic sentence order 

Time/place word order 

Test Yourself:

C-SERIES vocab lists 1-5 

drugs are cool and all but have you ever listened to inspiration by king jonghyun on headphones while holed up in your room at that time of the day that seems to be both 3am and 6pm at once? yeah try that

Federico García Lorca (1898–1936), from Sonetos del amor oscuro

Writing a job application in French!

Monsieur / Madame – dear sir / madam

Aux principaux concernes – to whom it may concern

Je souhaite poser ma candidature pour le poste de... – I would like to apply for the position of…

Je travaille actuellement pour… – I currently work for…

Je suis diplômé / diplômée en… – I am a graduate in…

Mes qualités principales sont… – my strengths are…

Mon domaine d'expertise est… – my area of expertise is…

Ma langue maternelle est… – My first language is…

Mais je parle aussi… – but I also speak…

J'ai une connaissance pratique de… – I have a working knowledge of…

Je suis un utilisateur confirmé de… – I am an experienced user of…

Je suis disponible pour un entretien le... – I am available for an interview on…

Veuillez agréer, Monsieur / Madame – Yours sincerely,

Capacité de communication – communication skills

Capacité de créativité – creative skills

Capacité d'encadrement – management skills

Capacité à résoudre les problemes – problem solving skills

Capacité à prendre la parole en public – public speaking skills

Compétences en organisation – organisational skills

Motivé / motivée - motivated

Travailleur / travailleuse – hardworking

Un CV – A CV

Une lettre de motivation – A cover letter

Une candidature à un emploi – A job application

Pinky promise to shine your light brighter in 2019 ✨ Happy New Year!

🎧: Promise by #JIMIN

Today I discovered this writer’s tactic to face her fear of rejection and failure, and it’s honestly very inspiring?! This kinda rewired my brain and I feel everyone should read and think about it.

Read her short article here

100 Verbs in Korean

묻다 - To ask

물어보다 - To ask

도착하다 - To arrive

대답하다 - To answer

끓이다 - To boil

빌리다 - To borrow, lend

사다 - To buy

태어나다 - To be born

죄송하다 - To be sorry

축하하다 - To congratulate

청소하다 - To clean

울다 - To cry

오다 - To come

요리하다 - To cook

썰다 - To chop, slice

닫다 - To close

고백하다 - To confess

걸다 - To call, dial

꿈꾸다 - To dream

마시다 - To drink

운전하다 - To drive

죽다 - To die

출발하다 - To depart

춤추다 - To dance

튀기다 - To deep fry

하다 - To do

운동하다 - To exercise

먹다 - To eat

들어오다 - To enter

나가다 - To exit

끝나다 - To finish

볶다 - To fry

사랑에 빠지다 - To fall in love

싸우다 - To fight

찾다 - To find,To look for

주다 - To give

일어나다 - To get up

가다 - To go

가지다 - To have

갖다 - To have

도와주다 - To help

듣다 - To hear

서두르다 - To hurry, rush

싫어하다 - To hate, dislike

있다 -To have

소개하다 - To introduce

알다 -To know

거짓말하다 - To lie

배우다 - To learn

사랑하다 - To love

살다 - To live

웃다 - To laugh

좋아하다 - To like

지다 - To lose, be defeated

재다 - To measure, weigh

섞다 - To mix, blend

만들다 - To make

만나다 - To meet

결혼하다 - To marry

모르다 - To not know

없다 - To not have

필요하다 - To need

주문하다 - To order

열다 - To open

내다 - To pay

약속하다 - To promise

연습하다 - To practice

준비하다 - To prepare

굽다 - To roast, grill, bake

읽다 - To read

기억하다 - To remember

쉬다 - To rest

타다 - To ride

휘젓다 - To stir

팔다 - To sell

찌다 -  To steam

자다 - To sleep

앉다 - To sit

시작하다 - To start

보다 - To see

보내다 - To send

공부하다 - To study

가르치다 - To teach

생각하다 - To think

말하다 - To talk, speak

이야기하다 - To talk, chat

전화하다 - To telephone ( call)

찍다 - To take (picture)

사용하다 - To use

벗다 - To undress, take off clothes

입다 - To wear

일하다 - To work

이기다 - To win, defeat

씻다 - To wash

쓰다 - To wear (hat, eyewear

쓰다  - To write

신다 - To wear (shoes, socks, footwear)

기다리다 - To wait

걷다 - To walk

걱정하다  -To worry