Self-teaching languages over summer progression thread!

generalebriety

Depends how you like learning. Personally I'd dive straight into grammar and then build up vocab later on by talking to people.

Thanks for the advice :biggrin:

Reply 181

davireland

13

Im hopefully starting modern Greek tommorow (if Amazon gets the books to me), dont know how im going to get on, hopefully I can get the basics before I go to Greece in a couple of weeks.

Reply 182

Hikari

1

I've managed to get my head around Korean hangul, surprisingly not too bad. Going to work on pronunciation now :biggrin:

Currently also reading a book about Korean history

As for Japanese, I re-learned my kana and have learned the on/kun and stroke order for 15-20 kanji so far. Reading an encyclopedia about Japan O:

Reply 183

theworldwonders

15

Hoping to continuing with my French... haven't done it for a year since GCSE, and want to have another language :smile:

It's just fitting it in around work experience and the like :frown:

I only have about 2 weeks free this summer :frown:

Reply 184

Slothuus

2

I did a tiny bit of the Michel Thomas Italian Foundation Course, but I'm postponing it for now... I have more urgent things to do.

However, it was really useful and I'm definitely going to do it later at some point. I go to a boarding school so I can't really do it there (my roomies will go nuts after an hour or so of bad Italian), however, I plan to do the entire Michel Thomas Italian course when I graduate next summer. When exactly does uni in England start? Early September or something? Then I'll have loads of time :smile:

If I get in at UCL to study ESPS then I'll do serious, hardcore studying of Italian or Russian beforehand. Otherwise I hope to continue via outside options at the other unis I'm applying to :smile:

Reply 185

generalebriety

16

Slothuus

I did a tiny bit of the Michel Thomas Italian Foundation Course, but I'm postponing it for now... I have more urgent things to do.

However, it was really useful and I'm definitely going to do it later at some point. I go to a boarding school so I can't really do it there (my roomies will go nuts after an hour or so of bad Italian), however, I plan to do the entire Michel Thomas Italian course when I graduate next summer. When exactly does uni in England start? Early september or something? Then I'll have loads of time :smile:

Generally middle to end of September, sometimes creeping into early October.

Reply 186

Slothuus

2

generalebriety

Generally middle to end of September, sometimes creeping into early October.

Great! That means... hmm... 4 months of summer holiday :banana:

Reply 187

shinyhappy

14

I'm attempting to learn Japanese... I fancied a challenge!

Reply 188

gaijin

1

これめんどうくさいじゃん！「裁判」って言葉とかばかり覚えれる。 :woo:

ほんまにめっちゃボサボサしてるよ。だって今から日本語を勉強したいけど、モチベーションがないよ。>_<

I still need to review another 350 kanji for compounds lol and type up all the verbs and adverbs. I think because I am in a weird mood today, I'll type up the 形容詞 before I go to bed and try and learn them at the gym. I don't know how I'll do that though. :s-smilie:

I've given up on learning new kanji at the minute.

Reply 189

hannah_dru

2

I started re-learning French today although I think I need my old school books. The CD's I have (Earworms 1 & 2) don't start at the basics. However its coming back well. I can now say stuff like, "Bonjour. Je voudrais manger quelque chose et une bouteille du vain." Etc. Gonna go review it later. Really have to stop my German feeding in...I listen to the CD and she goes, "Here's a challenge for you. Now order something to eat and a bottle of wine" and I'm like, "Ich mochte etwas zum essen....crap!! Er...."

Reply 190

x.Charlotte

7

This summer, Im really going to get into my japanese studies, as the last few years i have just sat in japanese pissing around.

So i'm starting from scratch today, i really need to go over my reading and writing of hiragana.

Reply 191

gaijin

1

x.Charlotte

This summer, Im really going to get into my japanese studies, as the last few years i have just sat in japanese pissing around.

So i'm starting from scratch today, i really need to go over my reading and writing of hiragana.

How long have you been studying?

I'm working on trying to use my onomatopoeia more effectively.

サッカー試合を見た後で、家にトボトボ帰った。私の好きなチームが勝ったのに、がっかりした。

After I watched the football match, I trudged home. Even though my team won, I was disappointed.

I think my favourite so far is probably プンプン which means to do something angrily or something which smells odious, sort of lingering smell.

So; 友達はじゃまたねって言って、教室にプンプン出た。

My friend said "see you later" and then stormed out of the classroom.

Well good luck with the kana ne. :cool:

Reply 192

x.Charlotte

7

gaijin

How long have you been studying?

3 school years.
actually starting listening a month ago.
But i have all my books and resources, practise isnt going that bad so far!
I'm a bit better at reading/writing the hiragana.

Reply 193

jonnythemoose

OP

15

I'm so bad with my Spanish, I haven't touched it for a couple of weeks.... :eek:

Reply 194

faber niger

17

Anyone know any good resources they can recommend for brushing up on French? (For any level -- if it doesn't help me, it'll help someone!)

Reply 195

Gooner

14

jonnythemoose

I'm so bad with my Spanish, I haven't touched it for a couple of weeks.... :eek:

I'm in the middle of learning some now :yes:

Reply 196

Lothar

how do you people go about practicing the spoken side of the language you're learning? learning grammar and vocab is all very well, but I really feel I need to talk to someone, and travelling to the country really isn't an option...

Reply 197

LieDown

www.italki.com is good.

And i talk to myself to practise. a lot. it's quite unnerving for my family, i think.

Reply 198

generalebriety

16

Lothar

how do you people go about practicing the spoken side of the language you're learning? learning grammar and vocab is all very well, but I really feel I need to talk to someone, and travelling to the country really isn't an option...