Every time people ask what I do for a living and I answer "translations" everyone seems very impressed. They go ahead asking more about which languages I speak and they end up saying: "Oh, I wish I could speak so many languages..." For many years I thought to myself that learning a new language is actually a "piece of cake". I even felt many times that I was under-qualified because I had "only" studied languages. So I worked hard to acquire new skills that would make me more marketable. But some time ago something strange happened: I tried to learn a new language, Japanese, and it's hard! I love this language, I take tea ceremony classes with a Japanese master, I found the best online resources for learning Japanese (just to give you an idea of how good they are: I learned to read Hiragana and Katakana in 2 weeks) BUT, for some reason, I always give up! What is wrong with me? Are you also trying to learn a new language and finding out that it is much harder than you thought?

Hello again. ? I can relate a bit to your story. There is this Korean variety show called Running Man that I have been watching for a few years now or I would sometimes subtitle a Korean movie. I got to understand the basics, some common words or phrases but somehow, no matter what, I still can`t read Hangul or seem to progress somehow. I was always the kid passionate about languages that used to go to all the language competitions in my school. I am also a bit surprised as I would always be a sponge when it comes to anything related to languages.

OANA Could it be that Asian languages are simply harder to learn than what we're used to? On a brighter note, while trying to learn Japanese I realized that there are so many people outhere developing cool methods for learning languages. This is what I found for Japanese: https://www.tofugu.com/ https://www.wanikani.com/ I also found this: https://fluent-forever.com/ Are there any cool online resources for learning Korean?

I completely understand what you mean, as I'm currently trying to learn Japanese as well, finding it ridiculously hard. Not only you need to learn loads of Kanji, but even many different readings, too, which is one of the most difficult parts in my experience. Besides it requires more time to even reach an intermediate level, because everything is just too different to what I'm used to (and most native speakers of European languages). I love Tofugu, too! I also use this for Kanji: https://kanji.koohii.com (a Kanji database which collects stories to help memorize them, like Heisig's method, but with many more stories to choose from, plus the forums are really helpful). And for some easy reading I recommend NHK Easy News, news articles written in a simplified way, plus with furigana to help read them and the audio, too. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/ I'm starting to think that I must be a masochistic, because I keep studying Japanese no matter what ?

ClaudiaBefu I thought so too but I am very stubborn, so I take it as a challenge but it`s not really a priority for me right now. ? Regarding Korean learning tools, I haven`t really tried any, so I not sure I can recommend some but I was recently browsing some online courses and found this one: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/introduction-to-korean/1/todo/13804 It is a free course but if you want a certificate of completion you have to pay and upgrade. It is offered by Hanyang University and that`s what caught my attention. Duolingo.com is probably also worth a chance.

Kudos to all of you for being so 'brave' and trying to learn such difficult languages! I've never studied any Asian language but I'm sure they require a little extra effort compared to, say, 'standard' European languages - and the difference between the Latin alphabet and the Asian logograms is just the tip of the iceberg ? It's so great that the Internet offers us so many means to learn new languages! I know Memrise which is a tool for learning vocabulary, I used it in university for Finnish (which was scaringly difficult!). Right now I'm considering learning French, and/or Danish because my bf and I are thinking of moving to Denmark one day ?

Teresa Wow, respects! You made it to the "easy reading" phase. This means that you'll most probably teach me Japanese soon ? Well, it's not all that bad: even though I'm a lazy ass at learning, I can still enjoy good articles about Japan on tofugu. Check out this lazy guy's crazy story! https://www.tofugu.com/interviews/homeless-rental-kotani/

@ClaudiaBefu @OANA @Teresa It's amazing that you're learning Asian languages, I find them too hard! eleonorang I've never studied any Asian language but I'm sure they require a little extra effort compared to, say, 'standard' European languages Me neither! I'm trying to improve my French and start learning Portuguese. I already speak Galician, which is a regional language in Spain (I live next to the border with Portugal). A few centuries ago Portuguese and Galician used to be the same language, so yes, I'm going with the easy ones for now ? But if I ever want to practice, it's only an hour's drive to Portugal!

March_ts This is a good strategy, going with the easy ones. I speak Spanish and I can read Portuguese pretty well, but I am hesitant to learn more... I am afraid that I will mix up Spanish and Portuguese... since they would both be foreign languages and quite similar seen from the outside... Good luck with French... my first foreign language. I still remember my teacher, she seemed amazing to me as a 9 years old girl... Good times! ?

eleonorang Well, you seem to be pretty heavy caliber yourself with Finnish. I think that must be a VERY difficult language to learn. It has so many vowels... why? Do you have some good stories from learning Finnish? ?

ClaudiaBefu thanks! ? I hope to get to the same level I have in English, but I know it'll take me years!! ClaudiaBefu It has so many vowels... why? And so many cases! Why?! ? It's brave of you to learn Finnish eleonorang

Are you learning a new language?

ClaudiaBefu

eleonorang Is this true? No language can have so many words for dog... or can they?

ClaudiaBefu

I had a look at this website the other day and thought about sharing it with you. It's about language learning methodology...

https://fluent-forever.com

I find it fascinating, especially the cards for learning your first 600 words in a new language accompanied by the pronunciation. I should test it, to see if it works ?

Teresa

eleonorang What's this monster? ?

ClaudiaBefu I know this website! And I agree with it on the usefulness of Spaced Repetition System, be it Anki or a website like Memrise. I use both and they really help me memorize vocabulary or grammar (in context, obviously).

eleonorang

@ClaudiaBefu I never really reached the depths of the Finnish language nor went past the beginner level, but if you consider the 15 grammatical cases with their own suffixes and add the fact that Finnish does not really use prepositions but rather more suffixes with that function.... I have little doubt that this is true ?

Fluent Forever looks really interesting... I can't figure out whether there is already an app for that though?

ClaudiaBefu

eleonorang So Finnish lives up to its reputation of being a hard nut to crack.

Do you mean an app for reading the cards with the 600 words?

eleonorang

ClaudiaBefu An app based on that method. Usually, there's an app for everything ? Fluent Forever's Kickstarter page mentions an app, but it seems it's not out yet...

Dmitry

ClaudiaBefu Well, I can't blame you: I managed to learn German with sweat, blood and tears only because I live in Austria since 15 years... Believe me, it was a veeeeery slooow start and and it went like that for 10 years. Now I can finally speak it.

I once was on vacation or a resort and we had a volleyball net where everyone could play beach volleyball. So it so happened that I was on a team that consisted of all Germans, haha. So, in the middle of the game one of the girls turns around and says something to me in German, and I replied instantly in perfect German:

"Entschuldigung Ich spreche kein Deutsch"

And they were like: "for someone who doesn't speak German, you sound pretty good" ?

Truth is: German was my second language at university, but I pretty much forgot it by now (like a bad nightmare, haha) and only know a few bits and phrases. ?

ClaudiaBefu

Dmitry and I replied instantly in perfect German

Hahahaha! There you go, your memory didn't let you down. So what happened to your German, you never pursued it?

PaulWilliamDixon I love languages and would like to learn something to boost job prospects.

The other day I was looking for some keywords related to translation, and one of the top suggestions with a high amount of monthly searches was: Japanese translations. You're on the right path. ?

PaulWilliamDixon

Teresa Konnitchi wa (Brazilian time) or Gonban wa (Italian time), Teresa-san!
I studied Japanese for six months, learnt the basic katakana but have seen some kanji - they look very complex!
I love languages and would like to learn something to boost job prospects. Possivelmente tornerò a studiare l'italiano, or maybe Esperanto! Thought of Slovenian but the grammar is too complex.

eleonorang

ClaudiaBefu Hahahaha! There you go, your memory didn't let you down. So what happened to your German, you never pursued it?

Yeah, @Dmitry, I want to hear this story too ?

ninadepalma

Anyone here learning Italian for fun? I've been studying it on my own for the past ~6 months. My knowledge of Spanish has helped with grammar, and I've been using Duolingo, random vocabulary sites, and YouTube videos for vocab/listening comprehension.

I love Italian with Lucrezia! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnVc-IW8Q98qFmQcXla5FdQ

eleonorang

ninadepalma Didn't know about this channel! She looks super nice, this should be definitely useful to learn the language! In case of any questions or doubts feel free to ask your friendly neighbourhood Eleonora ?

ninadepalma

eleonorang Didn't know about this channel! She looks super nice, this should be definitely useful to learn the language! In case of any questions or doubts feel free to ask your friendly neighbourhood Eleonora ?

Heh, why thank you! And yeah, Lucrezia's channel is so good.

annagiuliam

I studied English, German and French at University and I thought I was done with it.
Then I met my Belgian husband (he speaks Flemish) and I decided to learn Flemish (Dutch) too.
Since I already knew German it was pretty easy to understand grammar, but I thought vocabulary would be easier!
Well, I learned it taking lessons through Skype, I found a great teacher on Verbalplanet.com and after 2 years of homework in the weekend, I managed to get the C1 Professional certification.
It was pretty satisfying to know to be able to learn an extra language!

If you're learning a language, Verbalplanet is an excellent directory with tons of teachers.

ViktorFallenheart

eleonorang LOL=D