u/learnpurple

What would you suggest to those struggling to stay consistent in their language learning?

If you're learning any new language, does putting the emphasis on the right syllable ever get you? Like saying VA-cation rather than va-CA-tion?

Share.

Which helps you feel MEGA confident in your TL?

Honestly, just a few sentences here and there. Or watch a movie in your TL. Or listen to a podcast. But do ONE thing to keep it moving. Happy weekend.

I don't like to hate on other apps, but I helped a friend keep his streak on Duo last night (Spanish), and he had to listen to pieces of a conversation between a boy (baby emoji) and his dad's girlfriend (and then repeat), who had overheard the dad speaking to a Maria, and she said: "But your father cannot have two girlfriends."

I'm standing there in shock. Regardless of the context (Maria ended up being a bird. ????), feels like a super weird direction for an app that's teaching you a language to use. What do you guys think? Funny? Or a little unhinged?

So, I'm trying to stay consistent with my language practice, but sometimes I get bored and I need another voice/screen/image (because ADHD). I tried Talkio the other day, and kinda liked it. Some good tech and thought went into it buuuuuut every time I opened it, it didn't remember anything about me, like about my life, my family, my general situation.

And call me biased, but with Praktika the tutors actually remember stuff, like what I was working on, the conversation I had with my friend in my TL, and I feel like that changes the dynamic, for me at least. It's not a real person, but there's continuity and it makes the lessons have a natural progression.

Again, I don't think one app is the end-all-be-all, and I need to switch it up sometimes, but if an app keeps you coming back, that should be worth noting.

Bueno, BASTA de sonar cómo un estudiante de francés. Acá tienes un par de "filler words" que transforman tu forma de hablar la lengua chic.

Te ayudamos:

Francés	Significado aproximado	Ejemplo
Alors	Entonces, a ver	Alors, on y va?
En fait	De hecho	En fait, je préfère rester.
Du coup	Así que, total	Il pleuvait, du coup on est restés.
Bah	Pues	Bah, je sais pas moi.
Voilà	Listo, ahí está	Tu mets le sel, et voilà.
Tu vois	¿Ves?	C'est compliqué, tu vois?
Disons	Digamos	On se retrouve à, disons, 18h?
Quoi (al final)	Vamos, ya sabes	C'est bizarre, quoi.
Genre	Tipo, como	Il était genre super énervé.
Bref	En fin	Bref, c'était nul.

Seriously, everyone who's starting out learning a language defaults to this sentence.
Why and how do we stop doing this???

It's about learning the little sentences that carry you throughout the day.

When you're a...

Beginner: ¿Cómo se dice...? ¿Puede repetir? ¿Qué significa...? Repeat those sentences out loud like 20 times.

Intermediate: Me sorprendió. No lo podía creer. Short sentences in the past tense that really make you sound like you know what you're talking about.

Advanced: Focus on shadowing. Find 60 seconds of native audio, pause it, copy the rhythm exactly INCLUDING the *"eh..."*s and the pauses.

Try this and tell me if it helps.

...And if you're learning English or Spanish or French, this is your moment to get out there and practice.

Are you one of the lucky ones that gets to be there live? Tell me about it so I can curl up here and cry.

Get your head out of the textbook and learn how to speak French (almost) like a local. Spoken French loves short, punchy expressions. Try these next time you're stuck with "c'est bien" and "c'est super" in your head:

• C'est ouf! — "That's crazy" (in a good way). "Ouf" is "fou" (crazy) spelled backwards, a classic example of verlan, the French slang style of flipping syllables that went fully mainstream.
• C'est chanmé! — "That's sick / awesome." Also verlan, from "méchant" (mean/fierce). Save this one for close friends.
• Trop bien! — "So good." Casual but safe enough to use with almost anyone: your French coworker, your host family, whoever.
• Ça déchire! — "That rips / That slaps." Works for music, films, food, a trip you just came back from. Very casual.
• Stylé! — "Stylish / Cool." For clothes, places, ideas. The French say this the way English speakers say "clean" or "sleek."
• C'est canon! — "It's stunning / gorgeous." Mainly used for visuals like a view, an outfit, a beautifully plated dish.

For those of you learning Portuguese, you might want to embrace the tradition of the Brazilian 'cafezinho', which just means "little coffee". Whenever you walk into someone's home, you might hear them say "Acabei de passar um cafezinho." (I've just made some fresh coffee), and it's usually the traditional drip coffee. Always say yes to it.

If you think about it, it's similar to the Italian espresso culture, and might just fit perfectly into your own routine, no matter where you're from. Bora tomar um cafezinho?

Yup, it's pretty easy.
Just go into your Profile tab, and scroll to the option: "Share Praktika":

Learn with a friend!

Poglish? Ponglish?
Help.

And if so, which one?

That's the question, really.