Benny Lewis's Blog, page 19

Memory Palace: The Perfect Technique to Boost Your Vocabulary

Memory palace… Does it sound too “fairy-tale” to you? Well, it’s not a new Disneyland attraction, but an effective way to become fluent in a new language, faster.

In this post, I’d like to show you a proven language learning technique you can use to memorize and recall difficult new words and phrases: mnemonics.

I’ll explain why mnemonics work, but in a way that you may not have encountered before. I’ll tell you about Memory Palaces and how to construct one expressly for boosting fluency in your target language.

Table of contentsWhat Is the Memory Palace Technique? Let’s Talk About This Specific MnemonicThe Scientific Case for MnemonicsIf Mnemonics Work, Why Don’t More People Use Them?A Short History of the First Memory PalaceHow Does a Memory Palace Work?Create Your Memory Palace In 4 Easy StepsHow to Use Your Memory PalaceYour Memory Will ImproveEnter Abraham Lincoln!Practical Tips for Using Your Memory Palace to Master a Foreign LanguageThe Power of the Memory Palace for Language Learners

Plus I’ll explain how Abraham Lincoln can help you learn faster.

What Is the Memory Palace Technique? Let’s Talk About This Specific Mnemonic

A mnemonic is a learning device that helps you recall difficult information.

One of the most powerful types of mnemonics is the Memory Palace. You can use a Memory Palace to memorize hundreds of words and phrases from your language of choice at will.

If the term “Memory Palace,” isn’t right for you, many people use other terms, including:

memory castlemind castlemind palacemethod of loci

I’ve even heard language learners who use memory techniques call this approach the “vocab journey.”

We’re not going to get hung up on the terminology, but I prefer the term Memory Palace because of how St. Augustine associated what we’ve learned with treasure.

And let’s face it:

There’s nothing most of us treasure more than being able to speak a language.

The Scientific Case for Mnemonics

In his book Learning German with Mnemonics, German teacher Peter Heinrich reports positive results amongst students who used mnemonics to learn and memorize German articles like der, die and das.

As he points out, articles can be difficult to learn because as phonemes, they have no particular meaning.

But if you associate images with words… That’s another story.

For example, a boxer would be associated with all words that take the masculine article der. The feminine article die would be associated with a skirt, and the neutral article das with fire.

With these images, students can make faster progress, because der Bus becomes a boxer pounding on a bus, die Flasche becomes a Coke bottle wearing a skirt and das Band becomes a ribbon covered in flames.

Heinrich found the retention rate of learners not using mnemonics was 47 percent, whereas students learning German verbs, adjectives and other points of grammar using mnemonics had an 82 percent retention rate.

In a now famous study on mnemonic techniques, Professor Richard C. Atkinson demonstrated the ineffectiveness of rote learning by writing words repeatedly. He concluded “Mnemonic strategies have therefore had particular success in the learning of a language.”

Memory techniques don’t apply only to languages that stem from English. James Heisig has helped many students learn Japanese using mnemonics by using an approach similar to Benny Lewis’s for how he learns new words.

If Mnemonics Work, Why Don’t More People Use Them?

A key reason more people don’t use mnemonics is because the books advocating this method of language learning are centered on the authors. They are filled with examples that come from the imagination of the writer rather than teaching the reader how to create their own.

Few books teach you how to come up with your associative-imagery to encode the words and phrases you learn into your memory. But it’s an easy technique that I will show you shortly.

On top of that, mnemonics are rarely taught in the context of language learning or a Memory Palace.

One reason why is that people think using these techniques only adds more work. When used inefficiently, they will. But when used well and with the tips we’ll be covering today, they not only reduce the amount of work needed to learn, but also save you time and create more enthusiasm.

If they were only dreadful hard work, they would not have stood the test of time.

A Short History of the First Memory Palace

Sometime during 556-468 BC, the Greek poet Simonides of Ceos attended a banquet to give a speech. Someone called him outside, and at that moment the roof caved in and crushed everyone left in the building.

Because Simonides used a special memory technique to hold the names of all the attendees and where they had been sitting, he was able to identify all the bodies. Simonides’ achievement helped the bereaved families properly bury their dead.

And with this heroic act of memory, the idea of using a building or Memory Palace to place, store and retrieve information appeared in the western world.

But as memory expert Lynne Kelly has shown in her book, The Memory Code, Aborigines and many other prehistoric cultures used these techniques long before the Greeks discovered them.

Mnemonics truly are part of humanity’s history, and there is no sign of them stopping.

How Does a Memory Palace Work?

A Memory Palace is an imaginary construct in your mind that’s based on a real location. If you can see your bedroom in your mind, then you can build a Memory Palace.

Within your Memory Palace, “stations” are locations like a bedroom or sitting room and the space between them is called a “journey”. As you build your Memory Palace, you will leave words and phrases at these stations and then pick them up later on when you take a journey through your palace.

Please don’t rob yourself of this powerful language learning device by saying you’re not a visual person.

In whatever way feels natural, just think about where your bedroom is in relation to your kitchen. Consider how you would move from the bedroom to the kitchen. Take note of the doors, hallways and rooms along the way.

As an example, this image is a simple drawing of a high school I attended:

Each station in this Memory Palace has a number. These numbers are for creating a top-down or numbered list of the stations in the Memory Palace.

Create Your Memory Palace In 4 Easy Steps

Step 1: Choose a familiar building and draw a floorplan.

This can be your home, a school, church or movie theatre. It can be any building so long as you know it well enough to draw a floor plan.

Step 2: Form a linear path through the floorplan.

Do this before you number your stations. Memory Palaces work best when you don’t cross your own path or lead yourself into a dead end.

Don’t cram every possible station into your first palace. Include the obvious locations like a bathroom, bedroom, living room, kitchen, as well as an entry point.

Here’s an example of the same Memory Palace with arrows:

Notice that my journey is simple and linear. Because I know this location well, it is almost nothing for me to think about as I move from station to station.

You should select buildings with which you have a similar level of familiarity.

Step 3: Make a top-down list of those stations in linear order.

This step is useful for testing purposes. Here’s an example of how you can create such a document:

Step 4: Review your palace.

At this point, you should have:

a floorplan of a familiar buildinga linear path drawn on the floorplan that does not cross itselfdesignated a starting point and exit pointnumbered the stationswritten the top-down listwalked through the Memory Palace (floorplan) several times so you can see or recall each station.

Congratulations on constructing your first Memory Palace!

How to Use Your Memory Palace

Now, it’s time to learn how to place words and phrases on each of the stations in your Memory Palace.

To make these words and stations memorable, we’re going to use the three classic principles of learning and memory. These are:

Paying attention in a special way  to target words and phrases. Encoding  the sound and meaning of information using imagery and action so each word or phrase becomes memorable. Decoding  imagery and actions so you can move words and phrases into long-term memory.

To encode your information, create images that are large, bright, colorful, weird and filled with intense action. You can stick the images to a station in your Memory Palace and revisit them at any time.

Tip: exaggerate this imagery so that you can retrieve them by drawing on sounds and meaning.

For example: If you’re learning Spanish and you discover that “tengo para dar y regalar” basically translates in English to, “I’ve got plenty to share,” would you find that phrase immediately memorable?

Probably not.

But what if I told you I’d seen a strange performance of a tango dance with Darth Vader tangled up in a parachute? And, in his frustration, he’s trilling an “r” with his tongue through his breathing grill while trying to share an egg with his dancing partner. She herself is a giant egg and also tangled up with Darth Vader in the parachute. She says, “no thanks, I’ve got plenty.” Darth Vader responds, “No really, I’ve got plenty to share.”

Are you able to see that scene in your mind? It’s such an unusual image that chances are you can.

Next, imagine this scene taking place in your bathtub. Really concentrate on the elements. This is the kind of outlandish image and sound-based story you need when you bring your mind back to your bathroom tub and decode it.

The equation here is:

Tango + para(chute) + Dar(th Vader) trilling “r” and handing off a r”egg”ular = “tengo para dar y regalar”.

With a few visits to the story and practice decoding it for sound and meaning, followed by use in a speaking session, the phrase will quickly pour itself into long term memory.

Notice how, in this example, I’ve tied sound to meaning using the images and actions. It’s not just that Darth Vader trilling his “r” and handing off an egg helps recall the sound of the word. The action also helps regularize the meaning of the word in the context of the phrase.

Your Memory Will Improve

Obviously, this example doesn’t provide a one-to-one correspondence. I also haven’t incorporated “y,” but if I needed to, it would be as simple as having Darth Vader wearing a “y” shaped neck brace that shouts “eee” at the situation. But in general, small words like “y” tend to take care of themselves if you let them.

As the memory champion Ben Pridmore once said in an interview, if you’re willing to trust your memory after training it with these techniques, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how well it performs.

If you create similar scenes and images on your own, they’ll be close enough to jog your memory. The more you practice, the better you’ll get.

And remember, these are mnemonic examples from my mind. In order for these procedures to work for you, you have to come up with your own images and actions.

The reason this story works for me is because I’m a fan of Star Wars, I love tango music and it’s just the image that my imagination brought to me.

The important principle to notice here is that the more you draw upon information that already exists in your memory, the less work you have to do to get new information in. And if you let yourself relax and your imagination flow, you’ll find that with a minimum amount of practice, you can create memorable and useful images like these too.

Enter Abraham Lincoln!

We can take things further and make the combination of a Memory Palace station like a bathtub much more useful using another technique: a bridging figure.

The concept of a bridging figure will help you supercharge your Memory Palace and accelerate your learning. This figure is someone who takes an imaginary journey through your Palace and interacts with your images for each word.

Ideally, your bridging figure should be a person you already remember.

For example, I use Abraham Lincoln for words that start with “A.”

In this example, you can see Abraham Lincoln assisting me with the memorization of four Spanish words using a journey in my old office in Berlin.

Bed – Abajo: Abraham Lincoln smashing to”ba”cco into a banjo “down below” his feet.

Desk – Abrir: Abraham Lincoln tearing a hole in the “rear” of his pants to reveal an “ear.”

Wall – Abuela: Abraham Lincoln says “boo” in Grandma Ella Fitzgerald’s ear. My Grandpa shouts “lo” (abuelo) and pulls Ella away. She says ,”los” as they pair up (abuelos).

I recommend focusing only on the words that interest you the most and that you think you’ll use.

In other words, you don’t have to memorize an entire dictionary like Dr. Yip to get great results by reaching your vocabulary building goals.

Practical Tips for Using Your Memory Palace to Master a Foreign LanguageBuild a well-constructed Memory Palace using the principles you’ve just learned.Relax. Memory techniques work best when you’re mentally and physically free from stress.Memorize a selected list of words, ideally in alphabetic order.Catalog the words, meanings and mnemonics either by hand on paper or in an Excel file or the equivalent.Remove yourself from your written record or Excel file and all other materials that might cause you to cheat by looking up the meanings of each word.Write out the words and meanings based on your memory on a piece of paper. Don’t worry if you miss a word or your associative imagery fails to trigger the sound and meaning of a word on your list. You can fix this later.Check the list you produced from memory with your record.Use these words in conversations, write them into a ten-sentence email and keep your eyes and ears open for them as you read and listen to your target language.The Power of the Memory Palace for Language Learners

Related Learning: The Best Way to Learn a Language (Scientifically Proven, Polyglot Tested)

A Memory Palace is a powerful language learning device that you can use alongside other techniques to learn and speak a foreign language.

Constructing a Memory Palace takes just a few hours and as you become more proficient building them, this method of learning will help you grow your vocabulary faster.

Once you have stored words and phrases in your Memory Palace, draw on them often as part of your speaking practice. You may stumble and pause while accessing these words and phrases, but don’t worry: this is something we do in our mother tongues too.

If you practice and relax, the words and images you’ve created in your Memory Palace will come back to you when you need them, and they’ll make the process of learning and speaking a foreign language feel easier and more enjoyable.

So if you’re ready and excited to build a Memory Palace and start using it to stock up on words and phrases, you can tap your mind for familiar locations starting right now. Happy memorizing!

If you want more help constructing a memory palace, you can check out the Magnetic Memory Toolkit – it’s free!

Original article by Anthony Metivier, updated by the Fluent in 3 Months team.

The post Memory Palace: The Perfect Technique to Boost Your Vocabulary appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

A Complete Guide to Korean Karaoke: Noraebang Culture and Learning with Kpop

Are you a big fan of Kpop and want to dive into the world of Korean karaoke, or noraebang? Looking to spice up your Korean language learning with some new immersive study strategies?

That’s exactly what this article is all about. Here at Fluent in 3 Months, we’re all about finding new, fun ways to learn and speak a language from day one. Especially when they include immersive native resources.

And what’s more fun than singing your way to Korean fluency?

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You may be wondering, how can you learn Korean with music?

Just ask any BTS fan – music is a great way to learn and practice the language. If music is your thing, then it’ll be a valuable resource for your Korean studies.

That said, you’ll need other awesome Korean resources to help you learn the basics. I’ve linked to some of our own articles to help you at the end of this one.

But for now, let’s talk about noraebang. What is it, the Korean culture and etiquette behind it, some popular Korean songs to practice with, and the best ways to use Kpop to learn.

What is Noraebang?

So… What is Korean karaoke called? After all, karaoke is a Japanese word that’s been adapted into English as well. Karaoke in Korean is noraebang, 노래방.

노래방, noraebang, is a compound word in Korean. It’s made from 노래, norae, which means “song”, and 방, bang, which means room. It’s essentially the Korean karaoke bar or karaoke box rooms like from Japan.

That said, is karaoke a thing in Korea?

Yes! Noraebang has typically been a staple after-work or after-school way to burn off steam and destress, even if you can’t sing. The rooms are soundproof, and you usually sing with only people you know.

In fact, it’s long been a part of office culture. The term 회식, hoesik, means “dining together” but refers to office outings. This is where a boss usually takes the employees out for drinks, food, or fun after work.

While hoesik and noraebang have seen a decline in the past few years, it’s definitely still a part of Korean culture and entertainment.

Understanding Hoesik Culture in Korea

If you find yourself participating in hoesik for the first time, it may come as quite a surprise. Especially if you’re not used to socializing with your co-workers and superiors.

Hoesik is meant to be a work outing where the typically strict hierarchy of Korean society and work are more lax. This allows everyone to get to know each other better, bond, relax, and ease any office tension.

Sometimes, hoesik is the only time when co-workers can speak freely to one another… because there’s a lot of food and alcohol involved.

You may be thinking, drinking with your boss? Yep, and it’s not just a little either.

Hoesik are notorious for being heavy on the alcohol and pressure to drink. Unless you have a legit medical excuse, it’s hard to get out of it. And hoesik are more-or-less mandatory, although this is changing.

These social outings after work usually happen around once a month.

That said, a new anti-grifting law in 2016 (as well as the global pandemic since) has changed how hoesik function and how often.

Because the most senior person (usually the boss) was traditionally expected to pay the entire bill, the new law prohibits that.

Tips for Your First Noraebang and Hoesik Outing

Since noraebang are often a part of these outings, what should you know?

First, even though it’s a more lax environment, it’s still important to know the hierarchy of the situation. Make sure you ask someone’s age – this is very important.

If someone is older than you, even by a year, they are higher in the hierarchy. Same with company position. So wait for them to break down the barriers first, and follow their lead.

When drinking, often the most senior person will pour for others, and an empty glass is considered rude. Don’t drink yours until someone (or yourself) has poured a drink for the most senior person too!

When you pour a drink or have yours refilled, it’s polite to hold it with both hands. And when you drink, you should turn your head or body away from your seniors.

If you’re done drinking, just leave your glass with liquor in it or discreetly get rid of it. (Yes, wasteful, I know – it’s just how it is.) Alcohol is so tied to relationships and getting to know one another, refusing it is like saying you don’t want to bond with the other person.

Again, this is changing, especially among younger generations, but be prepared nonetheless!

Korean Noraebang Etiquette

Okay, we’ve talked about the hoesik and drinking culture tied to noraebang. So now let’s talk about the etiquette and what to expect from Korean karaoke.

Noraebang are usually rented by the hour, with fancier spots being more expensive than others. Some have food and drink service.

Inside the karaoke room, you’ll find the Korean karaoke machine with two microphones, a remote for the TV screen with the song lyrics, and a songbook. Some rooms may also have a tambourine, costumes, or other things to add to your performance.

Often, there will be a variety of music choices from all genres and several languages, including English, Japanese, and Chinese.

The biggest thing to know is this: Don’t sing someone else’s chosen song, and don’t jump into someone’s song unless asked.

Regardless of your ability to sing (or lack thereof), you’ll be asked to take part. It’s a good idea to have a few songs ready in case you are asked to sing more than once.

No one much minds a bad singer at noraebang – it’s just considered a fun stress-reliever. So don’t worry too much!

And regardless of talent, it’s polite to cheer and clap for the singer when they’re finished.

Besides being popular in Seoul (especially in crowded areas and around universities, like Hongdae and Sinchon), you’ll find noraebang spreading in popularity around the world.

For instance, there’s Korean karaoke all over the USA now from San Jose to NYC. Even smaller cities like my hometown of Louisville, KY, has a noraebang called NoraeBar.

And yes, it is different from a Japanese karaoke bar!

One last question you may have: What is a karaoke helper in Korea? Well, they’re called doumi, and they’re women who are hired to drink and hang out with men at noraebang. They’re similar to hostesses in Japan’s hostess clubs.

It’s illegal in Korea to hire a doumi, but it still happens. So it’s just something to be aware of.

Popular Korean Karaoke Songs

So, you might be wondering, “Well… What should I sing at Korean karaoke?” So here are some ideas of popular Korean noraebang songs.

The songs everyone in Korea (and any Kpop fan) knows:

“No Matter What” by Park Sang Cheol“For You” by Im Jae Bum“Fantastic Baby” by BIG BANG“Stay With Me” by Chanyeol“Gangnam Style” by Psy“Ddu-du Ddu-du” by Blackpink“Likey” by TWICE“Celebrity” by IU“Monster” by EXO“Sorry Sorry” by Super Junior“I am the best” by 2NE1“Wild” by 9muses“Lipstick” by Orange Caramel“Wonder Girls” by Nobody“Abracadabra” by Brown Eyed Girls“Heartbeat” by 2PM“Arirang”, a traditional Korean folk song

Some popular Korean karaoke songs you can sing mostly (or all) in English:

“Butter” by BTS“On the Ground” by Rosé from Blackpink“The Boys” by Girls’ Generation“Can’t Nobody” by 2NE1“Eat You Up” by BoA“Lullaby” by GOT7“Highway to Heaven” by NCT 127“Lifted” by CL“This Love” by G-Dragon“Zombie” by DAY6

Pretty much if you pick anything by the insanely popular artists like BTS, Big Bang, Blackpink, Girls’ Generation, EXO, IU, G-Dragon… You’ll be a hit!

You can check out this article about Korean music to get more ideas for songs from every genre.

How to Learn Korean with Kpop

Okay, but what’s the best way to learn Korean with Kpop and karaoke? Here are some tips to get you started.

Look Up Relevant Vocab

When you’re headed out to the noraebang, it’s probably a good idea to learn some relevant music words, as well as time- and money-related words. (Check out this article to learn how to count in Korean for more on this.)

Things like:

mic: 마이크, maikeumelody: 멜로디, mellodilyrics: 가사 / 노랫말, gasa / noraetmalsinger: 가수, gasuselection: 선택, seontaektempo: 템포, tempomusic: 음악, eumakK-pop: 케이팝, keipabbeat: 박자 / 비트, bakja / biteuvolume: 볼륨, bollyumto listen/hear: 듣다, deuddato sing: 노래하다 / 부르다, noraehada / bureudaUse Lyrics and Translations

You can often find K-Pop songs with both the original Korean lyrics and English translation side-by-side, which can be helpful starting out.

Try reading through the Korean lyrics first, understanding what you can on your own. (You’ll want to learn Korean hangul first though if you don’t already know it.)

Then, go back and read through line-by-line.

If there are words or grammar you don’t understand or want to remember, add them to your Korean flashcard deck for later review.

Then, listen to the song… a lot. Listen while reading the lyrics and start connecting the sounds to the words.

Start Singing with the Chorus!

The chorus of a song is the easiest part to remember in any language because it repeats the most. So start there!

Practice singing along with the chorus over and over. It’ll be motivating to feel like you’ve already learned a good chunk of the song.

Speak Along

Taking song to spoken language can be tricky. But speaking the lyrics can help you get used to speaking Korean naturally and understanding it.

Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in the song and singing by memory without thinking about what we’re singing. So speaking the lyrics helps put it into more active practice that can be useful in other situations.

Learn How to Summarize

Summarizing is a great skill to have and a challenging practice that forces you to use your own words from active memory.

So practice speaking and writing a summary of what a song is about in your own words. This is also a great way to practice new grammar patterns and words you learned!

Sing Your Heart Out!

Now that you know all about Korean karaoke – noraebang – you should get your groove on and sing your heart out! After all, it’s a great stress-reliever and way to practice Korean.

So what will you learn next to further your Korean language skills? Here are some other great articles to read next:

101 Core Korean Words to Learn FirstKorean Slang: 80+ Words and Phrases for Everyday UseKorean Grammar for BeginnersInnovative Language Review – Complete Pod101 Language Course Review (with Screenshots and Video Results)90 Day Korean Inner Circle: An In-Depth Review

The post A Complete Guide to Korean Karaoke: Noraebang Culture and Learning with Kpop appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

How to Learn Italian: 5 Top Tips for Italian Learners (Plus 5 Great Reasons to Learn Italian)

You want to know how to learn Italian? Good job!

Italy is a wonderful country. The food, the architecture, the culture, the history, the romance. It’s one of my favourite places in the world.

When you can parlare italiano, Italy opens up to you in a whole new way.

We reached out to some of the most popular Italian YouTubers and teachers. We asked them for their top tips for people who want to speak Italian, just like you, and the reasons why everyone should learn Italian.

Table of contents5 Top Tips on How to Learn ItalianHow to Learn Italian Tip 1: Start with Italian PronunciationHow to Learn Italian Tip 2: Make the Most of Shower and Pillow TimeHow to Learn Italian Tip 3: Listen to Native SpeakersHow to Learn Italian Tip 4: Discover the Italian You Already KnowHow to Learn Italian Tip 5: Try this Easy Approach to Spoken PracticeBonus Tip: Take Action to Learn Italian, TodayNina’s Day 0 Italian VideoNina’s Day 90 Italian Video:Could You Do the Same in 90 Days?

Enter the Italian experts…

5 Top Tips on How to Learn ItalianHow to Learn Italian Tip 1: Start with Italian Pronunciation

Manu from Italy made Easy says:

The Italian language has a very simple phonetic system with just a few tricky sounds and a very predictable and consistent way of pronouncing vowels, consonants and sequences of sounds. Basically, it’s particularly easy to sound good when speaking Italian!

A very smart approach to learning Italian is to start with the pronunciation. You’ll master it in no time and it will give you the best “value for money”. You can have the broadest vocabulary and the most impeccable grammar, but if Italians can’t understand you when you speak, all of that goodness will go to waste.

Focusing on pronunciation is fun and it will give you incredibly fast results.

Here’s the three step process Manu recommends for getting to grips with Italian pronunciation:

Start by mastering the 5 vowels (A, E, I, O, U). Italian vowels are always pronounced clearly and openly and they always sound the same.Then move on to syllables (BA, BE, BI, BO, BU), words (BROCCOLI, FINITO, etc) and entire phrases.Start “shadowing”.

Manu explains shadowing like this:

“Shadowing” is a great and very effective technique to improve and master your Italian pronunciation. Find a video (with Italian subtitles) of a single Italian native speaker speaking clearly. Your goal is to imitate the Italian speaker by copying their speed, intonation, pitch and overall melody. It’s not an easy exercise, but it will do wonders for your Italian pronunciation!

How to Learn Italian Tip 2: Make the Most of Shower and Pillow Time

Mark from Coffee Break Italian says:

One of the best ways to improve your Italian is by getting into a habit of spending some time in the morning and evening talking to yourself. That may sound a bit crazy, but you’ll be amazed at how helpful this easy technique can be.

In the morning, start with a statement about what you’re going to do that day. You can use a simple present tense, e.g. “oggi vado al cinema” (today I’m going to the cinema). If you know more Italian you can start to add in more information, for example when you’re going, who else is going, or what you’re doing before and after the cinema.

Then, in the evening, it’s time to think back over what you’ve done in the day. Just use present tenses again if you prefer, but if you feel comfortable using a past tense you can talk about what you did (using the perfect), how you felt or what the weather was like (using the imperfect), and perhaps even thinking ahead to tomorrow (using a future tense).

For best results, do your morning Italian session in the shower – you can even speak aloud there as no-one will hear you! Then you can complete your evening session as you lay your head on the pillow to go to sleep.

How to Learn Italian Tip 3: Listen to Native Speakers

Lucrezia from Learn Italian with Lucrezia says:

One tip I would give to all of you interested in learning Italian is to listen to native speakers talking. Even if you are an absolute beginner. Spontaneous conversation, which is produced by native speakers, is the best way to get started.

Conversation is in itself very spontaneous and immediate, so native speakers are pressured to produce language in the easiest way they know how. This means that following easy conversation between native speakers will motivate you to act, in this case speak, like them. The emulation game starts!

It goes without saying that, if you are just starting out, it is preferable for you to choose very basic conversations or situational language, for example: at the supermarket, breakfast with friends, a discussion about favourite film, etc.

After listening to a recorded conversation of your choice, try to repeat what they say on screen or audio. Stop and play as many times as you like, up until you feel confident enough to record yourself and listen to your recorded voice speaking Italian. This should help you avoid the initial block beginners often feel towards the active part of learning a language, that is speaking.

How to Learn Italian Tip 4: Discover the Italian You Already Know

Katie and Matteo from Joy of Languages say:

We’ll let you in on a secret – Italian is easier than you think. Let’s try a little experiment. How do you say the word “fantastic” in Italian? Wave your hands around like an Italian and do your best Italian accent.

Did you guess fantastico?

If you did, bravo, your guess was corretto!

Around 58% of English words come from Latin or Romance languages. This means that that 1000s of English words are simile to Italian words. These words are called cognates, and they’re easy to learn and remember.

Start by learning a few basic rules about how to transform English words into their Italian counterparts. For example, many words that end in al, like “formal”, become Italian by adding an -e on the end and pronouncing the ending slightly differently. So the Italian word for “formal” is formale, pronounced form-ah-leh and the Italian word for “general” is generale, pronounced gener-ah-leh. Google “Italian Cognates” and you’ll find loads more.

Now when you start talking, you’ll already have thousands of words that you can use in conversation!

How to Learn Italian Tip 5: Try this Easy Approach to Spoken Practice

Benny Lewis, founder of Fluent in 3 Months, says:

Italian was one of the very first languages that I learned, while I was still very self conscious of making mistakes and worried that I’d be frustrating people. Gli italiani were crucial in giving me the confidence I needed to truly progress in language learning.

It was because they are so pleased to hear a foreigner try to learn their language, that they’ll very patiently hear you out, and encourage you to keep going. And yet, they’ll naturally get back into their bubbly personality of speaking with passion that will keep you on your toes. It’s the right balance of easing you in, but still making sure you have to keep trying.

As a learner, and as someone travelling in Italy by himself, I found it incredibly easy to make new friends and loved how curious they were to hear from this traveller.

Bonus Tip: Take Action to Learn Italian, Today

You can have the most amazing Italian hacks, the most comprehensive Italian materials and the most effective Italian learning methods in the world but it’s completely useless if you don’t put them into a consistent learning routine in your everyday life.

If we all know this, why don’t we do it?

Because most of us scare ourselves to death by imagining how many mountains of hours and hours and hours we need to put in BEFORE we can have a conversation in Italian.

If you asked me “How long does it take to learn Italian?”, I would say:

If we break down the hours of learning Italian to just 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week, you could learn enough Italian to have a conversation with a native in 90 days!

This is exactly what Nina did in the Add1Challenge (now the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge), you can see her result with learning Italian from scratch in the following videos.

Nina’s Day 0 Italian VideoNina’s Day 90 Italian Video:Could You Do the Same in 90 Days?

Most people are surprised by this result, including Nina herself.

Yet Tina (Day 0 / Day 90), Alex (Day 0 / Day 90) and many, many other language learners who took part in the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge (formerly known as Add 1 Challenge) got similar results.

After helping thousands of language learners speaking their target language in holding at least a 15 minute conversation with a native speaker in 90 day, what we found is…

We often underestimate the power of consistency, because we have never been consistent for a long enough to allow the result to reveal itself, especially in learning to speak a language.

A routine of just 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week for 90 days is what we found the minimum sweet spot if you want to be able to have a 15 minute conversation with an Italian in just 90 days.

Learning Italian is not so intimidating anymore right? 🙂

You can now implement these hacks into your learning routine on your own.

Original article by Brian Kwong, updated by the Fluent in 3 Months team.

The post How to Learn Italian: 5 Top Tips for Italian Learners (Plus 5 Great Reasons to Learn Italian) appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

33 German Words We Use in English: “Doppelgänger”, “Schadenfreude”, and More

Have you ever noticed that English has many German words? You might know Bratwurst or Schadenfreude, but many other English words are German. This influence is in part due to widespread German migration to the United States.

Read on to find out which words German has brought to English. It may surprise you where Deutsch has found its way in!

function runSplitTest(){var randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * 2) + 1console.log(randomNumber)var copy = "";//csakamasodikif (randomNumber == 3){ copy = '<i>A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in German for at least 15 minutes with the "Fluent in 3 Months" method. All it takes is 90 days. <b><a href="https://fluentin3months.com/challenge... this link to find out more.</b></a></i>'} else { copy = '<i>Before we get started, if you’re looking for an online German course, here’s the course I recommend: <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/olly-... Uncovered - Learn German Through the Power of Story</b></a>, a course with a fascinating new method by my friend Olly. You can try it for free for 7 days!</i>'}console.log(copy)var copyToChange = document.querySelector("p.copyText").innerHTML = copy;}runSplitTest();Table of contentsEveryday English Words That Come from German Words1. Iceberg2. Kindergarten3. Kitsch4. Gesundheit5. Hamster6. Zigzag7. Glitz8. Gummy Bear9. Noodle10. FoosballGerman Words in Your Food11. Beer Garden12. Frankfurter and Hamburger13. Deli and Delicatessen14. Pretzel15. Muesli16. Sauerkraut17. Schnapps18. StrudelDog Breeds: Many Come from German!19. Rottweiler20. Schnauzer21. Dachshund22. German Shepherd23. AffenpinscherGerman Words, Literary Terms and Abstract Concepts24. Doppelgänger25. Bildungsroman26. Schadenfreude27.Wunderkind28. Leitmotif29. Dasein30. Blitzkrieg31. Ur32. Bauhaus33. ZeitgeistAnd the Best Is… We Use Even More Words of German Origin!

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Everyday English Words That Come from German Words1. Iceberg

Yes, you read that right – the English word “iceberg” comes from the German word Eisberg, or “ice mountain.”

2. Kindergarten

What if we called a Kindergarten a “childrens’ garden”? That’s what this German loanword literally means, being made up of Kinder and Garten.

Kinder, the plural of Kind “child,” is an irregular plural – one of the German language’s funny quirks.

3. Kitsch

One of my favorite German loanwords, “kitsch” is the perfect way to describe something just the right mix of tacky and outdated. Where would we be without this word?

4. Gesundheit

Gesundheit, the German word for “health,” is also used in the German-speaking world for “bless you.” In English, however, particularly in North America, there are also people who use Gesundheit after someone sneezes.

5. Hamster

Yes, hamster is also originally a German word, borrowed around the 1600s from der Hamster. This word descends from Middle High German, which in turn borrowed it from Old Church Slavonic’s chomestoru.

You can read more about the linguistic origins of this fascinating term here.

Today, the verb hamstern in German can refer to storing large quantities. This meaning likely comes from hamsters’ tendency to store food in their cheeks.

How much cuter would English be if we said people “hamstered” toilet paper?

Another fun fact – apparently, before the word “hamster” caught on in English, it was called a “German rat”!

6. Zigzag

Zigzag is an anglicization of the German term zickzack, which means the same exact thing.

You may have known about words like Schadenfreude and Zeitgeist, but the German origins of zigzag is quite the surprise, isn’t it?

7. Glitz

Another surprising entry, glitz is a more recent borrowing. According to several sources, it dates back only to the 60s, when it was borrowed from the Yiddish version of the German word glitzern, “to sparkle.”

8. Gummy Bear

Have you ever had Haribo gummy bears? Delicious, right? Well, did you know that the term “gummy bear” is a calque from the German Gummibär?

Calque is a linguistic term that refers to a direct translation from another language. So, basically, English took the two components of the German word Gummibär (Gummi + bär), translated them directly and slapped them together.

The next time you snack on a deliciously chewy gummy bear, remember to thank a German.

9. Noodle

When you think of noodles, you might think of Chinese stir fry, a big bowl of ramen, or even a nice spaghetti. But did you know the English word “noodle” actually comes from German?

That’s right: although the word “noodle” existed in English, it was not until the 18th century that it referred to the starchy food we love today.

10. Foosball

“Foosball,” or the tiny table-top version of soccer (or football), comes from the German word Fußball. But the German word refers to the actual game of football/soccer, not a miniature table version.

German Words in Your Food

Bratwurst, beer, pretzels bigger than your face: who doesn’t love German food? Read further and learn more about Germany’s culinary contributions.

11. Beer Garden

The German beer garden, or Biergarten, is a cultural institution. It’s so common, in fact, that we recognize the word in English today.

12. Frankfurter and Hamburger

The frankfurter and the hamburger: what would an American picnic be without hot dogs and hamburgers? The names of both these foods come from places, the cities of Frankfurt and Hamburg. With the -er ending, they take on the meaning “of Frankfurt/Hamburg,” referring to the places where such foods were supposedly invented.

Most people believe the common hot dog was invented in Frankfurt, but some believe it comes from Coburg.

For the hamburger, things are more complicated. It could be that the meat came from Hamburg, but that German immigrants in the US invented the dish itself.

What is clear, however, is that these foods are both common and delicious.

13. Deli and Delicatessen

Did you know the word “deli” is short for “delicatessen,” itself an English version of the German word Delikatesse?

In German, the word Delikatesse refers to a delicacy, like a luscious chocolate cake. It can also mean tact and sensitivity. In English, however, a deli is a specific type of restaurant.

But that’s not all – the German word comes from the French word délicatesse.

14. Pretzel

The pretzel, Brezel in German, dates back to the early 12th century, but only came into the English language around the 1830s. Ultimately, the word is related to the Latin word bracchium for “arm.”

In Bavaria, or Bayern, where the Brezel is most famous, it is also called Brezen.

15. Muesli

Have you ever had muesli? A famous Swiss breakfast, it is similar to granola, but different in the fact that the oats are not cooked.

Muesli is a Swiss dialect word: it is the diminutive of the word Mues, or in Standard German Mus, which means something like “puree” or “mush.” So, literally, muesli could be translated as “little mush.” But muesli might sound a bit more delicious…

In German, the word is spelled Müsli. The English spelling derives from the German practice of sometimes replacing umlauts (the two dots over the u in Müsli) with an extra “e.” So, for example, Übersetzung, “translation,” can be written as Uebersetzung.

This is often used in internet addresses, where characters with umlauts are not allowed.

16. Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut, the beloved German side dish, is just one example of an ancient tradition. People believe that the Chinese were the first to pickle cabbage. In fact, it was an important source of nutrition for workers building the Great Wall.

Kimchi, the Korean answer to pickled cabbage, may taste different, but it’s based on the same concept. And if you’re suddenly feeling tempted by Korean cuisine, take a look at this piece on Korean cuisine!

17. Schnapps

Yes, that’s right! If you go to Deutschland and need some schnapps, don’t worry about a translation: you’ll be understood in no time.

If you look closely, you can see the German roots of this word through the “sch” consonant cluster at the beginning, a common sound im Deutschen (“in German”).

18. Strudel

Apple strudel, cherry strudel, toaster strudel, you name it – they all owe their existence to the German language.

If you’re still hungrig for some more German food, check out this article on eating in Germany!

Dog Breeds: Many Come from German!

Perhaps surprisingly, many names of dog breeds are of German origin. Rottweiler, schnauzer, the list goes on. Read below to see some of these German dog breeds.

19. Rottweiler

The name for this dog breed originates from the city of Rottweil in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Although the origin of the breed is unclear, they are famous for being great watchdogs.

20. Schnauzer

Whether giant, miniature, or just standard, the schnauzer’s name comes from the German word for “snout” or even an informal term for “mustache.” These loyal hounds originated in Germany between the 14th and 16th centuries.

21. Dachshund

Literally meaning “badger dog,” the adorable dachshund has a German name. In modern-day Germany, however, the more common name is Dackel.

I sometimes call this dog a wiener dog. The word “wiener” happens to be a German loanword, coming from the word Wiener, “of/from Vienna.” Fun fact, right?

22. German Shepherd

The name for this smart and loyal dog breed is a calque of the German term Deutscher Schäferhund.

23. Affenpinscher

This uncommon breed is a “monkey terrier,” coming from the German word Affe for “monkey.” Do you think this dog looks like a monkey?

German Words, Literary Terms and Abstract Concepts

Germany is sometimes referred to as the Volk der Dichter und Denker, or “the people of poets and thinkers.” This is because of its influence on philosophy, psychology, and many other fields. This influence is easy to see in the loanwords below.

24. Doppelgänger

Now a common word in English, the term Doppelgänger dates back to the late 18th century. Jean Paul, a German writer, is credited with coining the term in 1796.

He originally wrote it as Doppeltgänger and defined it in this way: So heißen Leute, die sich selber sehen (“That’s what people who see themselves are called”).

25. Bildungsroman

The Bildungsroman, translated as “coming-of-age novel,” comes from the words Bildung and Roman.

The two words are attached by an -s in the middle, known in German as a Fugen -s. This -s is added to make the word easy to pronounce.

If you’re looking for a German Bildungsroman, you can try Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre. It is sometimes referred to as the first Bildungsroman.

26. Schadenfreude

Have you ever noticed something unpleasant happening to someone you don’t like? Did you feel guilty for feeling happy? That’s the essence of Schadenfreude, “damage joy,” one of German’s gifts to English.

27.Wunderkind

Are you a fan of The Office? If so, you may remember one episode where Ryan gets promoted to a corporate position. In that episode, he says that others keep calling him a “wunderkind.” (He claims he doesn’t really know what it means.)

Made up of “wonder” + “child,” a Wunderkind is a person with great knowledge or talent despite their young age.

28. Leitmotif

Leitmotif, sometimes spelled “leitmotiv”, is a leading or dominant feature in a work of art. You can find leitmotifs in books, music, and other types of art.

The word comes from leit + motif, where leit derives from the word leiten, or “to guide, to lead.”

29. Dasein

The concept of Dasein is from the German existential philosopher Martin Heidegger. In English, it is usually translated as “existence.”

Dasein translates to “there-being,” where da is “there” and sein is the infinitive form of the German verb “to be.”

30. Blitzkrieg

Blitzkrieg, translating to “lightning war” in English, refers to a German military strategy. The German military found that concentrating on one area was more effective than spreading out their forces.

Although the term became popular around World War II, the idea is older. Check out this article to read more.

31. Ur

Though this German prefix is not widely used in spoken English, it is common in academic contexts. In German, the prefix means “proto, original”. See these examples:

Ursache (Ur + thing): causeUrbild (Ur + image): archetypeUrenkel (Ur + grandchildren): great-grandchildren

In English, we sometimes refer to the “Ur-example” of something. This means the earliest known appearance of a certain phenomenon.

32. Bauhaus

Bauhaus, a 20th-century German architecture school, stands for functional design. The combination of bau (building, or “build!” in the imperative) and haus (“house”) denotes a commitment to simple, functional design.

33. Zeitgeist

Merriam-Webster defines the zeitgeist as “the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era.” In German, the word comes from Zeit (“time”) plus Geist (“ghost, spirit, mind”).

The term was coined by the German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831). The English poet Matthew Arnold, however, was the first to use it in English. The idea of the Zeitgeist contrasts with the “great man” view of history.

And the Best Is… We Use Even More Words of German Origin!

We might not always know it, as you will have realized throughout this post.

German certainly has given English many words, in ways that don’t always appear obvious. I hope you learned something new from this article to help you on your language learning journey!

To learn more about these words, or any other German word, you can check out this website. Here, you can check out definitions, etymology, related words, and more!

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The post 33 German Words We Use in English: “Doppelgänger”, “Schadenfreude”, and More appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

Star Wars and Languages: Learn Star Wars Vocabulary in 8 Fictional and Real Languages!

May the Fourth be with you! To celebrate Star Wars Day and Star Wars Celebration, we’re diving into the Star Wars language universe.

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Table of contentsStar Wars and LanguagesWhat is Aurebesh? Learning the Galaxy’s AlphabetMando’a: The Mandalorian Language and Writing SystemStar Wars Languages: Conlangs or Total Nonsense?Star Wars Phrases and Slang: Canon Phrases to KnowStar Wars in JapaneseStar Wars in ChineseStar Wars in KoreanStar Wars in SpanishStar Wars in GermanStar Wars in FrenchThis is the Way… To Learn Languages!Star Wars and Languages

If you’re a Star Wars fan, you probably already know that the galaxy far, far, away is full of unique alien languages. (There are about 70 or so that we’ve been introduced to so far!)

But the lingua franca of the galaxy, Galactic Basic, is pretty much English… Except it’s written in its own system called Aurebesh.

I’m going to introduce you to Aurebesh so you can catch all the easter eggs inside the movies, and chat a bit about the languages in Star Wars.

But we’re also going to learn Star Wars words in some real life languages too: Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, French and German.

That way you can be a step closer to C3PO’s 6 million forms of communication.

If you love talking about something in your native language, you should learn how to talk about it in the languages you’re learning, too!

I know I have LOVED learning some of the Japanese words and phrases for Star Wars, like フォースとともにあらんことを (fo-su to tomo ni aran koto wo). Which is, of course, “May the Force be with you.”

Are you ready, young Padawan?

What is Aurebesh? Learning the Galaxy’s Alphabet

In the galaxy far, far away that we all know and love, they speak Galactic Basic and use an alphabet system called Aurebesh to write.

Aurebesh has all the same letters as English. But the names of each character are different and there are some English alphabet letters that combine (called digraphs). These are ae, ch, eo, kh, ng, oo, sh, and th.

Check out the Star Wars language alphabet here:

Aurebesh can often be seen on the screens of different Star Wars tech – like in the cockpit of a starfighter or on the Death Star. But there are also lots of easter eggs that you can catch by learning to read Aurebesh.

For example, in Star Wars: Rebels, there’s a wanted poster written for former Jedi padawan Kanan Jarrus in Aurebesh.

If you want to get some practice reading and writing Aurebesh, this site has a practice feature to learn. There’s also an Aurebesh translator where you can translate from English to Aurebesh.

Mando’a: The Mandalorian Language and Writing System

Mando’a is the native language of the planet Mandalore and spoken by the Mandalorian people.

Although we see it less often in the series, it does make an appearance in Episode II: Attack of the Clones, the Clone Wars and Rebels series, as well as The Mandalorian and the Book of Boba Fett.

Boba Fett shows Mando his chain code inside his Mandalorian armor that’s written in Mando’a. It shows it belonged to Boba, his father Jango before him, and info about Jango’s mentor, too.

Here’s what Mando’a looks like written:

There’s not a ton of the language used in the Star Wars universe canon so far, but we do know some:

Hello: Su cuy’garThank you: Vor entyeGoodbye: Ret’urcye mhiPeace: NaakLeader: Mand’alorYes: ElekArmor: Beskar’gamFight: AkaanirStar Wars Languages: Conlangs or Total Nonsense?

There are constructed fictional languages that you can actually learn and speak – like Klingon from Star Trek and Dothraki from Game of Thrones. But most Star Wars languages don’t really meet the “conlang” (constructed language) classification.

Some of the Star Wars languages are more fleshed out than others, and many are rooted in real languages. But they more take some essence, tones, or inspiration from real languages rather than grammar and extensive vocab.

For example, they recently had Troy Kotsur, a Deaf actor and Oscar winner, create the Tusken sign language seen in The Mandalorian. The Tuskens can’t speak Basic, but they sign with Mando to communicate, which is obviously based on ASL.

Another example is Huttese. You may be familiar with some Huttese phrases because it’s probably the most common galactic language we hear. Like: Chuba! – “Hey you!” in Huttese.

Huttese, spoken by Jabba the Hutt among many others, is based on Quechua. It’s the indigenous language spoken in the Andes mountains in South America.

Ewokese, spoken by the Ewoks on Endor, was based on a combo of Tibetan, Indian, and Kalmyk Oirat, an endangered language from the Mongolia region.

Geonosian was lightly based on Xhosa. Some languages are just based on animal sounds to fit the species, like Shyriiwook – one of the main languages of the Wookies.

That said, there are a few real languages that pop up in Star Wars!

One is Finnish, which you can hear in Episode 1: The Phantom Menace when Watto and Sebulba speak to each other.

And Sullustan, spoken by Rebel pilot Nien Nunb, is actually a mix of Kikuyu and Kalenjin from Kenya. That’s because the voice actor, Bill Kipsang Rotich, is Kenyan.

Star Wars Phrases and Slang: Canon Phrases to Know“Wizard!” – “Cool”“Dank farrik” – “Dang it” or “Damn it”“Karabast” – “Dang it” or “Damn it”, a Lasat expletive most often heard from Zeb in Rebels“Bantha crap” or “Bantha fodder” – To be full of shit, or, in the Star Wars PG version: bantha crap.“Don’t give two bantha ticks about it” – Don’t give a crap“Buckethead” – Stormtroopers“Clanker” – Battle droids“Imp” – Imperial“Feed the Sarlacc” – To use the toilet“Scughole” – Someone who’s a pain in the ass“Moof-milker” – “Idiot”“Nerf-herder” – the iconic insult from Leia Organa to Han Solo, where he was a “half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf-herder”. Nerfs are stinky but useful animals found on Alderaan, Lothal, and other similar planets.“Scuttlebutt” – A gossip“Not the brightest lightsaber in the galaxy” – “Not that smart”“Bombad” – Gungan superlative meaning “the best” or “superior”, like “He’s a bombad jedi”“Krayt spit” – “Nonsense!”“Like shooting rancors in a cage” – Doing something that’s easy, but dangerous“Thank the Maker!” – “Thank God!” Threepio’s favorite exclamation, referring to Anakin… his Maker.“Womp rat” – An insult (somewhat jokingly) about someone being difficult or ornery“By the Force!” – An exclamation“For Force’s sake” – “For God’s sake”

Of course, there are also great quotes you could use like:

“Every once in a while, both suns shine on a womp rat’s tail.” – Cobb Vanth“I find your lack of faith disturbing.” – Darth Vader“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” – someone in every movie“It’s a trap!” – Admiral Ackbar“Mind tricks don’t work on me.” – Watto“Who’s more foolish: the fool or the fool who follows him?” – Obi-Wan“I’d just as soon kiss a Wookie!” – Princess Leia“Do it.” – Said as creepily as possible ala Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious Star Wars in Japanese

Japanese Star Wars phrases and words are often loanwords specific to Star Wars. They’re written in katakana. Some phrases don’t translate quite as well – like “I’ve got a bad feeling about this” is actually closer to “Somehow, I feel bad.”

Something is always a little lost in translation, but these get pretty close.

By the way, if you didn’t know, George Lucas based a lot of Star Wars on Japanese culture, religion, and history. Samurai, Buddhism, Daoism, Shinto, and Shogunate history all played a role in shaping the Jedi order and beliefs.

So here are some of the best Star Wars words in Japanese to know!

Star Wars: スター・ウォーズ, suta- uo-zuEpisode: エピソード, episo-doDarth Vader: ベイダー卿, beida- kyou (“Lord Vader”)Princess Leia: レイア姫, reia himeLuke Skywalker: ルーク・スカイウォーカー, ru-ku sukaiuo-ka-Lightsaber: ライトセーバー, raitose-ba-Jedi: ジェダイ, jedaiHope: 希望, kibouEmpire: 帝国, teikokuRevenge: 復讐, fukushuu“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”: 遠い昔　はるかかなたの銀河系で・・・, Tooi mukashi haruka kanata no gingakei de…“Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope”: 助けて オビワンケノービ、あなただけが頼りです, tasukete Obi-Wan Kenobi, anata dake ga tayori desu“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”: 君たちが探しているドロイドではない, kimitachi ga sagashite iru doroido de wanai“I’ve got a bad feeling about this”: なんだかわるいよかんがする, nandaka warui yo kan ga suru“Use the Force!”: フォースを使え, fo-su o tsukae“Do or do not. There is no try.”: やるか、やらぬか。試しなどない。, yaruka, yaranuka. Tameshi nado nai.“May the Force be with you”: フォースとともにあらんことを, fo-su to tomo ni aran koto wo“I’m no Jedi”: ジェダイではありません, jedai dewa arimasen“I love you.” “I know.”: 愛してる。知ってるさ。, aishiteru. shitterusa.Star Wars in Chinese

Learning Mandarin? Then master these Chinese Star Wars phrases so you can nerd out in another language!

And then if you really want to sound wise like Yoda, learn these Chinese proverbs to impress.

Star Wars: 星球大战, xīng qiú dà zhànEpisode: 插曲, chāqǔDarth Vader: 达斯·维德, dá sī wéi déPrincess Leia: 莱娅公主, lái yà gōngzhǔLuke Skywalker: 卢克·天行者, lúkè·tiānxíngzhěLightsaber: 光剑, guāng jiànJedi: 绝地, juédìHope: 希望, xīwàngEmpire: 帝国, dìguóRevenge: 复仇, fùchóu“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”: 很久以前在一个遥远的星系…, hěnjiǔ yǐqián zài yīgè yáoyuǎn de xīngxì…“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”: 这些不是你要找的机器人, zhèxiē bùshì nǐ yào zhǎo de jīqìrén“I’ve got a bad feeling about this”: 我对此有不祥的预感, wǒ duì cǐ yǒu bùxiáng de yùgǎn.“Use the Force!”: 使用原力！, shǐyòng yuán lì!“Do or do not. There is no try.”: 要么做，要么不做。没有尝试, yàome zuò, yàome bù zuò. Méiyǒu chángshì.“May the Force be with you”: 愿原力与你同在, yuàn yuán lì yǔ nǐ tóng zài.“I’m no Jedi”: 我不是绝地, wǒ bùshì juédì“I love you.” “I know.”: 我爱你。我知道, wǒ ài nǐ. wǒ zhīdàoStar Wars in Korean

Strong with Korean Star Wars phrases, you will be:

Star Wars: 스타 워즈, seuta wojeuEpisode: 에피소드, episodeuDarth Vader: 다스 베이더, daseu beideoPrincess Leia: 레이아 공주, leia gongjuLuke Skywalker: 루크 스카이워커, lukeu seukaiwokeoLightsaber: 광선 검, gwangseon geomJedi: 제다이, jedaiHope: 희망, huimangEmpire: 제국, jegukRevenge: 복수, boksu“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”: 오래전 멀고 먼 은하계에…, oraejeon meolgo meon eunhagyee“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”: 이것들은 네가 찾는 드로이드들이 아니다., Igeotteureun nega channeun deurideu-deuri anida“I’ve got a bad feeling about this”: 이거 느낌이 안 좋아, igeo neukkim-i an joh-a“Use the Force!”: 포스를 이용해라!, poseuleul iyonghaera!“Do or do not. There is no try.”: 하거나 말거나 둘 중 하나다. 시도라는 건 있을 수 없다., hageona malgeona dul jung hanada. Sidoraneun geon isseul su eopda.“May the Force be with you”: 포스가 함께하길, poseuga hamkkehagil“I’m no Jedi”: 제다이가 아니다, jedaiga anida“I love you.” “I know.”: 사랑해. 알아요, saranghae. arayoStar Wars in Spanish

After you become a Jedi Master of Spanish Star Wars phrases, make sure to check out the best Spanish movies to learn Spanish and keep practicing!

Star Wars: La Guerra de las GalaxiasEpisode: episodioLightsaber: sable de luz or espada láserJedi Order: La Orden JediHope: esperanzaEmpire: ImperioRevenge: venganzaSpaceship: nave espacialGalaxy: galaxiaTrilogy: trilogía“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”: Hace mucho tiempo, en una galaxia muy, muy lejana…“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”: Éstos no son los androides que estáis buscando.“I’ve got a bad feeling about this”: Tengo un mal presentimiento sobre esto“Use the Force!”: ¡Usa la fuerza!“Do or do not. There is no try.”: Hacer o no hacer. Aquí no hay intentos“May the Force be with you”: Que la fuerza te acompañe“I’m no Jedi”: No soy jedi“I love you.” “I know.”: Te amo. Lo sé.Star Wars in German

Don’t be a scruffy-looking nerf-herder. After you learn how to talk about Star Wars below, learn how to start a conversation in German so you can smooth talk your way through anything, ala Han Solo.

Star Wars: Krieg der SterneEpisode: FolgeSpaceship: RaumschiffGalaxy: GalaxieTrilogy: TrilogieLightsaber: LichtschwertHope: HoffnungEmpire: ReichRevenge: Rache“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”: Es war einmal vor langer Zeit in einerweit, weit entfernten Galaxis…“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”: Das sind nicht die Droiden, nach denen du suchst“Your focus determines your reality”: Ihr Fokus bestimmt Ihre Realität“Never tell me the odds!”: Sag mir niemals die chancen!“Use the Force!”: Nutze die Macht!“Do or do not. There is no try.”: Tue, oder tue es nicht. Es gibt kein Versuchen.“May the Force be with you”: Möge die Macht mit dir sein.“I love you.” “I know.”: Ich Liebe dich…. ich weiß.Star Wars in French

Thank the Maker! Chat away about Star Wars in French with the words and phrases below. Then, try these brilliant workouts to flex your French writing muscles so you can become strong in Force.

Star Wars: La Guerre des ÉtoilesEpisode: ÉpisodeDarth Vader: Dark VadorLightsaber: sabre laserHope: EspérerRevenge: VengeanceSpaceship: Vaisseau spatialGalaxy: GalaxieTrilogy: Trilogie“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”: Il y a bien longtemps, dans une galaxie lointaine, très lointaine…“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”: Ce ne sont pas ces droïdes là que vous recherchez.“I’ve got a bad feeling about this”: J’ai un mauvais pressentiment“Use the Force!”: Utilise la force!“Do or do not. There is no try.”: Fais-le, ou ne la fais pas. Il n’y a pas d’essai.“May the Force be with you”: Que la force soit avec toi“I’m no Jedi”: Je ne suis pas Jedi“I love you.” “I know.”: Je vous aime. Je sais.This is the Way… To Learn Languages!

As Ahsoka once said, “It’s a new day… a new beginning.” A new beginning with a language you’re excited to speak!

Language is what brings us together, and talking about Star Wars in a variety of languages can bring new life to your language routine.

Like Yoda says, “Patience you must have, my young padawan.” So remember to be patient with yourself while you’re still a Padawan in your language studies!

And may the Force be with you… always.

How to Learn a Language in 2022 – Ultimate Guide with 35+ Language HacksRocket Languages Review: Can It Launch Your Language Skills To the Next Level?Innovative Language Review – Complete Pod101 Language Course Review (with Screenshots and Video Results)The Best Way to Learn a Language [Scientifically Proven, Polyglot Tested]

The post Star Wars and Languages: Learn Star Wars Vocabulary in 8 Fictional and Real Languages! appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

The 10 Best Japanese Movies on Netflix (Learn Japanese with Movies!)

Learning Japanese and wondering, “Are there any Japanese movies on Netflix?” Great question! There are actually a lot of good Japanese movies on Netflix to choose from!

function runSplitTest(){var randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * 2) + 1console.log(randomNumber)var copy = "";if (randomNumber == 3){ copy = '<i>A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in Japanese for at least 15 minutes with the "Fluent in 3 Months" method. All it takes is 90 days. <b><a href="https://fluentin3months.com/challenge... this link to find out more.</b></a></i>'} else { copy = '<i>Before we get started, if you’re looking for an online Japanese course, here’s the course I recommend: <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/olly-... Uncovered - Learn Japanese Through the Power of Story</b></a>, a course with a fascinating new method by my friend Olly. You can try it for free for 7 days!</i>'}console.log(copy)var copyToChange = document.querySelector("p.copyText").innerHTML = copy;}runSplitTest();Table of contentsJapanese MoviesRuroni Kenshin: The FinalBleachLupin the 3rd: The Castle of CagliostroGantz:OIn This Corner of the WorldA FamilyHomunculusFull Metal AlchemistThe Door Into SummerFlip A Coin: ONE OK ROCK DocumentaryHow Do I Find Japanese Movies on Netflix?How Can I Watch Netflix in Japanese?How Can I Watch Japanese Movies (Besides on Netflix)?How to Learn Japanese by Watching MoviesLearn with Japanese Movies on NetflixJapanese Movies

Sometimes, as a Japanese learner, it can be frustrating to find native Japanese entertainment. Especially if you look over at Korean learners, who get to bask in KPop idol culture and watch unlimited K-dramas on every streaming service.

Japan tends to not like to share its content as much. While anime is nowadays really easy to access, Japanese dramas and movies are incredibly hard to find.

That’s because Japan cracked down on copyrights and regulations on dramas, movies, and music, except for anime. So while Korean entertainment has been distributed worldwide, Japanese entertainment hasn’t.

Plus, it’s streaming services like Amazon, Netflix, and Disney+ that dominate in Japan. So it has less push for its own high-quality content like Korean streaming services do.

But rest assured – Netflix has some great options for learning Japanese with movies. Especially because they have so many of their own shows globally now!

So here’s a list of 10 killer Japanese movies on Netflix you can enjoy and level up your skills. Plus, stick around to the end – I’ll share the best ways to learn with Japanese movies!

Ruroni Kenshin: The Final

Japanese: るろうに剣心, Ruroni Kenshin
Released: 2021
Director: Keishi Ohtomo
Genre: Action, drama
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

Wondering if there are any samurai movies on Netflix? Of course, there are.

There’s The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise, but it doesn’t have Japanese audio. There are series like Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan, the Korean drama Kingdom (which has Japanese audio), and the anime Yasuke.

But if you’re looking for the best Japanese movies on Netflix and you want to watch one with a samurai… You have to watch Ruroni Kenshin.

Ruroni Kenshin is based on the popular manga and anime by the same name. And it’s widely considered one of the only live-action adaptations of an anime done well.

The movie takes place during the Meiji era and follows Himura Kenshin. He used to be an assassin by the name of Hitokiri Battousai, but he vows to never kill again. Instead, he offers protection to those who need it to ease his guilt over his past.

There are five parts to the film series, but Netflix only has The Final and The Beginning. For the first three movies, you can find them on Amazon Prime.

Bleach

Japanese: ブリーチ, Buri-chi
Released: 2018
Director: Shinsuke Sato
Genre: Fantasy, adventure
IMDb Rating: 6.4/10

Based on the super-popular manga and anime, Bleach is the life-action adaptation. It follows Ichigo, a 15-year-old high schooler who has spiritual energy and can see ghosts. This leads him to Rukia, a Soul Reaper who helps guide souls to the afterlife and purify demons called Hollows.

Ichigo gains the same reaper powers and starts his journey of guiding and reaping souls.

Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro

Japanese: ルパン三世 カリオストロの城, Rupansansei Kariosutoro no Shiro
Released: 1979
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Genre: Animated adventure, comedy
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

An oldie but a goodie! If you’ve never seen Lupin the 3rd, then you’re missing out on some classic anime. Plus, it’s directed by Hayao Miyazaki – need I say more?!

Lupin is a charming thief who uncovers a counterfeit money scheme after robbing a casino. He follows the source of the counterfeit bills to Cagliostro, where he discovers a princess being kept captive by the evil count. Lupin brings in his buddies and his archnemesis Inspector Zenigata to bring down the count and save the princess.

Gantz:O

Japanese: ガンツ：オー, Gantsu: o-
Released: 2016
Director: Keiichi Sato
Genre: Animated sci-fi, action
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

Based on the manga series by Hiroya Oku, this award-winning CGI sci-fi flick follows a boy who wakes up after being murdered. He finds out he was resurrected by a computer, Gantz, and now must fight aliens invading Osaka.

It has subtitles in so many languages, so you can use them to your advantage to learn. (Especially if you’re already fluent in more than one language to practice two at the same time!)

In This Corner of the World

Japanese: この世界の片隅に, Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni 
Released: 2016
Director: Sunao Katabuchi
Genre: Animated drama
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

Get ready for something of a tear-jerker: this animated film will make you feel all the feels.

The story follows Suzu, who lives near Hiroshima during World War II. She gets married and is adjusting to her new life when the war places intense struggles on her and her family.

The movie is fiction, but it’s based on real events and life in Hiroshima around the time of the atomic bombing.

A Family

Japanese: ヤクザと家族, Yakuza Kazoku
Released: 2020
Director: Michihito Fujii
Genre: Crime, drama
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10

Also called, “Yakuza and the Family,” it follows Kenji Yamamoto. When his father dies, he is taken in by the yakuza as a young boy. Kenji and the yakuza boss, Hiroshi, end up having a father-son-like relationship.

Even as times change and Kenji has a family of his own, he’s still sworn to his yakuza family’s code.

Homunculus

Japanese: ホムンクルス
Released: 2021
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Genre: Thriller, horror
IMDb Rating: 5.6/10

There are usually quite a lot of scary Japanese movies on Netflix. But at the moment, there are mostly Japanese and Korean horror shows rather than movies, like Ju-On Origins (based on The Grudge).

But, there is this movie: Homunculus. It’s a thriller and horror movie based on the manga by the same name.

A homeless man named Susumu Nakoshi undergoes an experimental treatment. It allows him to see homunculi, or “distortions” of people and their innermost trauma.

Full Metal Alchemist

Japanese: 鋼の錬金術師, Hagane no Renkinjutsushi
Released: 2017
Director: Fumihiko Sori
Genre: Fantasy, action
IMDb Rating: 5.2/10

While this movie received some very mixed reviews, it’s still making it on the list. Why? Because if you already know the Full Metal Alchemist story, you’ll have an easier time learning Japanese from watching the movie.

The story follows Edward Elric as he tries to restore his brother Al’s body after their attempted resurrection of their mom goes wrong. Meanwhile, the government is watching and there’s lots of danger standing between them and getting the Philosopher’s Stone they seek.

The Door Into Summer

Japanese: 夏への扉 キミのいる未来へ, Natsu e no Tobira Kimi no Iru Mirai e
Released: 2021
Director: Takahiro Miki
Genre: Sci-fi, romance
IMDb Rating: 6.4/10

Based on the American sci-fi book by Robert A. Heinlein. A roboticist is betrayed by his girlfriend and business partner and sent into cryogenic sleep.

After 30 years, he wakes up and tries to get back to the past he knew with the help of a robot he had created. He tries to go back to his adopted sister and fix the past.

Flip A Coin: ONE OK ROCK Documentary

Japanese: Flip a Coin: ONE OK ROCK ドキュメンタリー, dokyumentari-
Released: 2021
Director: Naoto Amazutsumi
Genre: Documentary, music
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

A documentary about one of my favorite Japanese bands, ONE OK ROCK (who wrote the theme songs for the Ruroni Kenshin movies, by the way!). They weren’t able to tour all during 2020 due to the pandemic, so they decided to put together an online concert.

The documentary shows their struggles to match their energy for their live shows (which are INSANE) in an online setting and their journey to the concert.

The band members are super cool, and Taka’s voice and style are heavily influenced by artists like Linkin Park and Foo Fighters. I highly recommend checking them out!

If you like music documentaries and concerts, there’s also Arashi, Utada Hikaru, and others on Netflix.

How Do I Find Japanese Movies on Netflix?

Netflix has a whole section dedicated to Japanese movies and TV shows, and they remove and add things all the time.

So if you’re reading this and wondering what else there is or maybe what new Japanese movies are on Netflix this month, check out their main category page.

If you’re wondering what you can watch on Netflix Japan instead, well, a lot actually. Netflix Japan actually has a larger catalog of movies and shows than US Netflix does. And, of course, there are a lot more Japanese content options.

But to watch Netflix Japan, you’d have to use a VPN because it’s geo-restricted.

How Can I Watch Netflix in Japanese?

If the movie or show is from Japan, the audio should automatically begin with the original Japanese.

But you can adjust the audio and subtitles in the Language & Subtitles settings. This way you can remove subtitles or change them to a different language (when available).

Some Japanese shows and movies have subtitles available in Japanese, which can be really helpful for beginners.

But keep an eye out for Japanese dubs too! Some shows (especially Netflix originals and cartoons) may have a Japanese dub option. The best way to check is to look at the language options for your favorite shows.

But pro-tip: If you also have Disney+, a ton of their shows and movies have Japanese dubs.

If you love samurai movies and/or Star Wars, I highly recommend watching the Japanese dub of The Mandalorian Season 2, Chapter 13: The Jedi. The episode is heavily Japanese-samurai inspired and since most of the characters wear masks, the dub is nearly unnoticeable.

It was a fantastic watch as a Japanese language learner (who also happens to be an insane Star Wars nerd).

How Can I Watch Japanese Movies (Besides on Netflix)?

Netflix doesn’t have what you want and you don’t wanna snag a VPN for Netflix Japan? No worries!

You can also watch Japanese movies on sites like:

Rakuten VikiCrunchyrollAmazon PrimeHuluAsian CrushMidnight PulpHBO MaxPluto TVHow to Learn Japanese by Watching Movies

Watching Japanese movies, even passively, is great for learning:

The cadence of the languageCultural insights and customsBody language and mannerisms

But as for actually learning how to speak Japanese? You’ll probably only pick up a few words here and there unless you have a strategy.

So here are the best ways to learn Japanese with movies:

Put in some prep work before you start watching. Look up words related to the theme and topic of the show. For instance, if you’re going to watch the One Ok Rock documentary, then learn some words related to music. Things like “perform,” “concert,” “live,” “instruments,” and so on. It’ll help you start to grasp some of the language right away when you watch.Watch the movie through so you can enjoy it and know what to expect. Then watch it again, this time in smaller chunks. Rewatch scenes and see what you can understand. Note what you can’t, and try to look up new words and grammar.Practice the grammar and words you learn by making practice sentences. And don’t forget to add them to your flashcard app for review later!Watch things you actually enjoy, on topics you care about. It’ll help you learn the language around things you would actually like to talk about!Try using the browser extension Language Reactor by Language Learning with Netflix. It adds Japanese subtitles with English in time with the movie so you can follow along easier and learn. They also have a whole list of what’s on Netflix in Japanese.

There are more tips to learning with movies in this article here if you really want to master using movies as a study tool!

Learn with Japanese Movies on Netflix

There’s plenty to enjoy in Japanese cinema, and this just touches the tip of the iceberg.

If you want more recommendations, I also wrote this article about great Japanese movies, not just on Netflix. I cannot recommend enough the movie Departures if you haven’t seen it yet.

Now that you’re learning with movies, let’s take your Japanese to the next level, shall we? Here are some other great articles to keep learning Japanese:

42 Great Japanese Books to Learn Japanese FasterA Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Verb ConjugationJapanese Anime Phrases You’ll Hear in Every ShowJapanese Uncovered Review: Is the Force Strong with This One?Innovative Language Review – Complete Pod101 Language Course Review (with Screenshots and Video Results)

The post The 10 Best Japanese Movies on Netflix (Learn Japanese with Movies!) appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

German Reading Practice: 20 Resources for Beginners

Let’s talk about German reading for German learners.

Does it really help? And where can you read in German, then?

That’s where I come in. I’ll help you find the best German reading resources for you in this post.

Table of contentsReading Will Help You Improve Your GermanStay up to Date: Read German Newspapers and MagazinesGerman News in Simple LanguageGermany’s Most Widely Circulated MagazineNews for Younger ReadersCulture Reading: Look Up Online German EncyclopaediasGerman WikipediaHurrakiRead and Relax: Get German NovelsRead Translations of Books You Already KnowDiscover German AuthorsProject GutenbergGerman Short StoriesGermany Through the Eyes of a NewcomerEssays Covering Life in BerlinGerman Children’s StoriesThe Brothers GrimmMax and MoritzGerman-English Poems and PlaysYou’re All Set for Your German Reading Practice!

function runSplitTest(){var randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * 2) + 1console.log(randomNumber)var copy = "";//csakamasodikif (randomNumber == 3){ copy = '<i>A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in German for at least 15 minutes with the "Fluent in 3 Months" method. All it takes is 90 days. <b><a href="https://fluentin3months.com/challenge... this link to find out more.</b></a></i>'} else { copy = '<i>Before we get started, if you’re looking for an online German course, here’s the course I recommend: <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/olly-... Uncovered - Learn German Through the Power of Story</b></a>, a course with a fascinating new method by my friend Olly. You can try it for free for 7 days!</i>'}console.log(copy)var copyToChange = document.querySelector("p.copyText").innerHTML = copy;}runSplitTest();Reading Will Help You Improve Your German

One of the surest ways to become disillusioned with learning a language is to focus on one resource alone. That’s why I advise language learners not to rely too heavily on textbooks and look elsewhere for ways to improve their knowledge.

Anyone wanting to become fluent in German should be continually looking for methods to build three key skills – listening, speaking and reading. There are endless ways and opportunities to enhance them, with many resources available online.

Watching German movies will help you hone your listening skills.

You can improve your spoken German by having conversations with native speakers by any means necessary.

As far as reading goes, there are many methods available to build your vocabulary and learn German fast. From novels to plays, non-fiction texts and children’s stories, there is something for everyone, no matter what their learning level or interests.

Stay up to Date: Read German Newspapers and Magazines

Newspapers can be easily accessed online, often without a subscription.

They offer an insight into politics, current affairs, sports and culture. They’re also written in Standard German, making them accessible even for those at the early stages of learning German.

German News in Simple Language

Nachrichtenleicht, or “News Easily”, is a website that makes news uncomplicated.

Every week, they publish articles about world politics, sport and human-interest stories in simple language. They omit long, difficult words, embrace shorter sentence structure and are largely concerned with presenting information as plainly as possible.

That’s perfect!

The service is designed for people with language difficulties, making it ideal for anyone wanting to learn German online. You can get up to speed on current affairs within Germany and expand your knowledge of the language at a level that’s suitable for beginners.

Germany’s Most Widely Circulated Magazine

Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine, with a circulation of more than one million.

Likened to Time magazine, it’s known across German-speaking countries for its investigative journalism and is cited as being one of Central Europe’s most influential magazines.

It’s for intermediate to advanced learners and will give you exposure to high level German language.

If you are unable to get a hard copy print of the magazine, check out the articles featured on Spiegel.de.

News for Younger Readers

Neon targets a younger audience, using an aesthetically pleasing spread and covering topics ranging from cultural issues to band reviews.

You’ll even find a section titled Useless Knowledge, which contains random gems of information.

For example, German language learners who also own bars will be delighted to discover that “Guests in a premises where the music is 88 decibels loud drink more than guests at a bar with 72 decibels.”

Get that music pumping!

Culture Reading: Look Up Online German Encyclopaedias

It never hurts to have a dictionary on hand when learning a language, whether in hard copy, or online.

The following resources will help you learn all kinds of unfamiliar words and phrases.

German Wikipedia

In case you didn’t know, the world’s most famous online encyclopaedia is available in German.

Navigate to the German version to read articles on just about anything you fancy!

Also make sure to click “Deutsch” on the language menu if you find yourself reading an article in English!

Hurraki

Hurraki is a German online encyclopaedia that works a lot like Wikipedia, with an emphasis on plain language.

It’s an online community where people can add and edit articles in simple German. The website is designed to be easy to reference and read.

Read and Relax: Get German Novels

If you enjoy reading novels in your native language, you have an excellent opportunity to transform passive time into active time!

Read Translations of Books You Already Know

A brilliant way to get German reading practice is to re-read books you’ve already read in your native language. By picking books that are already familiar to you, you’ll find it easier to translate the stories and keep in the loop with what’s going on.

If you grew up devoted to the Harry Potter series and devoured the books in your youth, why not try reading them in German? You can pick up the German versions by searching for Harry Potter German Edition on Amazon.com.

Since the story’s familiar to you, you’ll find it easier to translate what you’re reading.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be Harry Potter – any English book whose plot you know will make for perfect German reading practice.

Discover German Authors

If you wish to delve deeper into the world of German culture, take up the challenge of reading novels written by German speaking authors.

Franz Kafka was a famous novelist of the 20th century, publishing both books and short stories. Die Verwandlung ( The Metamorphosis) is one of his most celebrated novels, which can be purchased in a dual-language format.

Siddhartha is a story by Hermann Hesse, similar to the book The Alchemist with its theme of self-discovery and written in a style that is simple and lyrical. It too can be bought online as a dual-language book, making it ideal for intermediate learners.

Cornelia Funke has been referred to as Germany’s version of J.K. Rowling, penning fantasy tales for young adults. Tintenherz (Inkheart) is the first book of a trilogy about a young girl and her father who have the ability to bring characters to life by reading a story aloud.

Chaos ensues!

Project Gutenberg

If the copyright laws in your country allow it, you might be able to explore the selection of free German eBooks on Project Gutenberg.

German Short Stories

If the idea of reading an entire novel in a foreign language is a bit too overwhelming at this point in your studies, consider reading short stories instead.

Germany Through the Eyes of a Newcomer

Café in Berlin is a collection of ten short stories, which follow the life of a young man from Sicily who has just moved to Berlin.

It explores daily life in the German capital, offering insights about the country and people from a foreign perspective.

The text is targeted at beginners and aims to help language learners build upon their knowledge of isolated words and phrases, to understand how these can be worked into sentences.

Essays Covering Life in Berlin

Wladimir Kaminer is a Russian-born German short story writer. After emigrating to Berlin in 1990, Kaminer immersed himself in the city’s art and literature scenes.

Although Russian is his first language, his writing is entirely in German.

In describing what it is he writes about, Kaminer claims to make notes about the world, the past, present and future, social reality and life observed through the eyes of a migrant.

His first book, Russian Disco, is a series of short autobiographical essays about life in Berlin just after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Use this book as a resource for German reading practice, as well as a direct account of what life was like during one of the most exciting and rapidly changing times in modern German history.

German Children’s Stories

If reading a novel or a short story for adults seems too advanced at this stage in your learning, I’ve got you covered with some great children’s books.

Children’s books are more likely to use simple words and sentences, making them easy to understand. And illustrations can help you get to grips with what’s going on even if you don’t understand every word.

The Brothers Grimm

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were German academics who collected and published folktales during the 19th century.

Their stories, which include the likes of Aschenputtel (Cinderella), Dornröschen (Sleeping Beauty) and Hänsel und Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), have been turned into films by Walt Disney and, more darkly, were used as propaganda by the Third Reich.

The Grimm Brothers’ original stories are still popular bedtime stories – the words of watered down versions of the tales told to children by parents the world over with the hopes of carrying them off to sleep!

The Grimm Brothers’ folk stories are tales many of you would have grown up both reading and having read to you. This makes them an excellent resource for building upon your reading skills in German.

As the original stories are no longer copyrighted, there are resources available online which feature each stories like “Little Red Riding Hood” in German and English.

Max and Moritz

Lesser known in the English-speaking world is the children’s book Max and Moritz (A Story of Seven Boyish Pranks), originally titled Max und Moritz – Eine Bubengeschichte in sieben Streichen.

Written and illustrated by Wilhelm Busch and published in 1865, it’s a humorous tale told in rhyming couplets. The book is well known and adored across German-speaking countries and remains a popular choice for children’s bedtime stories.

The book covers seven pranks that Max and Moritz – tormentors and troublemakers – play on their family members, teachers and acquaintances.

As this text is also available within the public domain, the original German version and English translated text can be found online. Try the “dual language” option to read the story side by side in both languages!

Continue to test your German language knowledge with a series of quizzes on the text.

German-English Poems and Plays

Once you’ve reached a more advanced level of learning, you can look to German poems and plays to build your German skills.

Dual language books are a helpful resource for this. You can read them as a standalone text and have the English version available for when you come across words or phrases you don’t fully understand.

If you have an interest in poetry, start with a dual-language book that features the poems of many renowned German poets, alongside the English translations.

If you want to get more specific, try reading the works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. His poems have been translated and appear in dual language books for easy side-by-side reading.

Fun fact – the Goethe-Institut, an operation that promotes the study of the German language abroad, is named after him!

For German practice through plays, start with Der Besuch der Alten Dame (The Visit of the Old Lady), a tragicomedy written by Friedrich Dürrenmatt. This play is about a wealthy woman who returns to her hometown seeking vengeance. She wants the townspeople to rally together to kill the man who abandoned her, in exchange for money.

The printed version of this play features the full German text on one page, accompanied by the English translation and notes on the next page.

The book also has an extended vocabulary at the back and a detailed introduction in English, explaining the social and historical context of the piece.

You’re All Set for Your German Reading Practice!

I hope you’ve found the ideal resource to get you started on reading German!

(Psst… There’s also plenty of content on the Fluent in 3 Months blog if you’d rather read about German than in German.)

If you need more German content, check out my list of the best online resources to learn German.

Happy practice!

The post German Reading Practice: 20 Resources for Beginners appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

Why are Speakers of Scandinavian Languages so Damn Good at English?

Scandinavian languages include Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian. But Scandinavians aren’t only proficient in their native language.

If you’ve ever met someone from Denmark, Sweden, or Norway, you might have found that they had a near-perfect, if not perfect, grasp of the English language. And you might have asked yourself: “Why are Scandinavians so damn good at English?”

Four Scandinavian nations are in the top five of countries with the highest English proficiency as a second language.

How can this be? Are Scandinavians some sort of super-human language geniuses? Does the mix of cold temperatures and lack of natural light have some sort of positive effect on the brain, that makes one more susceptible to speaking in multiple tongues?

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Table of contentsThe Hidden Root Language That Ties English With Scandinavian LanguagesHow English Is Like SwedishHow English is Like NorwegianHow English is Like DanishScandinavian Education: Language Learning Is a Priority at SchoolScandinavians Recognise the Benefits of Speaking English Outside of ScandinaviaScandinavians Love to TravelScandinavians Have Business SavvyScandinavians Immerse Themselves in EnglishHow Scandinavia Unlocked Language Learning: Immersion is Key!Remember: Nothing is Impossible

So do Scandinavians have a superpower?

Nope! All Scandinavians I’ve met on my travels are just like you and me. What I suspect is at play is language similarity, a cultural interest in English-speaking media and an education system that makes a success out of learning a second language while at school.

Let’s examine why it is that Scandinavians have an aptitude for learning English. Plus, how you can apply these hacks in your own quests to achieve fluency in a new language.

The Hidden Root Language That Ties English With Scandinavian Languages

English and the Scandinavian languages are all considered Germanic languages. The Germanic languages can be subdivided into three branches – North, West and East Germanic.

English – along with Dutch, German, Yiddish and other languages – is considered part of the West Germanic branch of languages.

The Scandinavian languages (Danish, Swedish and Norwegian), as well as Icelandic and Faroese, are North Germanic.

All East Germanic languages (Gothic, Burgundian and Vandalic) are now extinct.

However, it’s not that clear-cut. In 2012, Jan Terje Faarlund, professor of linguistics at the University of Oslo claimed that English is in fact a North Germanic language and therefore Scandinavian. Professor Faarland notes that many Norwegian words closely resemble English – as does the structure of the language.

However, until solid evidence is laid out on the table, we’ll assume that English belongs to the West Germanic family and the Scandinavian languages to the North.

The main point here is that English and the Scandinavian languages come from the same core language family. As such, English shares several similarities with Swedish, Norwegian and Danish. Let’s take a look at these in a little more depth.

(Note: This article relates to the prevalence of English within the three Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. It is not to be confused with the Nordic countries, which includes the likes of Finland, Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the Åland Islands.)

How English Is Like Swedish

1. Shared words

Swedish and English share 1,558 words. Examples include accent, digital and salt.

However, Swedish people learning English must beware of “false friends”. These are Swedish words spelled the same as English words, but with different meanings.

Examples include the Swedish word “bra”, which means “good” in Swedish, and “glass”, which means “ice cream”. Don’t get too confused if a Swede asks you if you would like to eat some glass. They’re not out to get you – quite the opposite in fact!

2. Alphabet

Like English, Swedish uses the Latin alphabet, with the addition of three vowels. They use diacritics – a sign, such as an accent or cedilla, written above or below a letter to mark a difference in pronunciation. These are å, ä and ö.

3. Sentence structure

Sentence structure in Swedish tends to be subject-verb-object based.

That means when a Swedish person speaks “bad” English, you can get the gist of what they’re saying, despite mistakes in word order.

How English is Like Norwegian

1. Ownership in grammar

Ownership is the same in English and Norwegian, at least when it comes to grammar!

To make the possessive in Norwegian, an ‘s’ is added to the end of the word, as is done in English. A man’s bike (mann sykkel) would become manns sykkel.

2. Borrowed words

You’ll find several words in the English language of Norwegian origin, such as fjord, ski and beserk.

3. Sentence structure

Norwegian sentence structure is also subject-verb-object based. Even longer sentences bear a structural similarity to their English counterparts.

How English is Like Danish

1. Phonetics

There are many phonetic similarities between English and Danish.

Øje is eye with the ‘j’ in Danish being pronounced the same as ‘y’ in English. Kold is cold and snegl is snail, with similar pronunciation.

2. Alphabet

The Danish alphabet is identical to Norwegian, as a 29-letter variant of the Latin alphabet. Diacritics consist of æ, ø and å.

From these similarities, you can see that Scandinavians have a bit of a headstart where speaking English as a second language is concerned.

Yet, it is one thing to recognise that your native language bears many similarities to English, another to have the ability to speak it fluently. Let’s take a look at Scandinavian education.

Scandinavian Education: Language Learning Is a Priority at School

Sweden, Norway and Denmark are all famous for their excellent publicly funded schools, with small class sizes that encourage all children to learn.

These schools start teaching students English during their primary years. The Danish tend to start learning English as a foreign language when they are around Grade 3.

Norwegians begin their English studies around Grades 2-7.

In Sweden, English is considered a core subject, along with Swedish and Mathematics.

However, studying a language at school doesn’t necessarily guarantee fluency. Language learners have sent me hundreds of emails telling me how their academic education failed them.

I studied the native language of my own country for eleven years at school, along with five years of German. I absolutely could not claim to be an expert in either subject when I finished my education.

In fact, I couldn’t speak either, even basically.

So, what is it that sets Scandinavians apart from anyone else wishing to achieve fluency in a foreign language?

Scandinavians Recognise the Benefits of Speaking English Outside of Scandinavia

The main reason Scandinavians push to become fluent in foreign languages is unsurprising.

Knowing the language native to your country brings many benefits, in a cultural and community sense. The Scandinavian languages have a rich history and the fact that they have not fallen to extinction as the East Germanic languages have done is to be commended.

Yet, realistically speaking, what good is Swedish outside of Sweden?

Scandinavians recognise that there is a need to learn foreign languages, particularly if they wish to maintain relevance on the global stage.

As English is considered the main international language, there is a particular emphasis put on learning this language, above all others.

Scandinavians Love to Travel

When I first wrote this article back in 2014, a recent poll showed that all three Scandinavian countries made the top five in terms of nationalities who love to travel.

Why do these three small countries make such a point to travel?

Consider this. Americans are notorious for being under-travelled, with only 38% of the population holding a passport in 2015. Although this is a number that is on the rise, do take into account the diversity of the landscape within the United States.

From beachside holidays, hiking in the mountains, camping out in the desert, even chilling for the weekend in any number of the country’s unique cities… whatever your wish, you can guarantee that you’ll find your dream destination somewhere within the 50 states.

Scandinavians don’t have the same option. The Nordic countries make for visually stunning getaways, with unique cultural experiences such as the midnight sun and northern lights. Yet if you’re on the search for some surf, sand and sun, you’re probably going to have to look elsewhere.

I believe there are many advantages to travelling without using English.

However, it is the third most common native language in the world. For people who love to travel, there is no argument against English being a smart choice for a second language.

Scandinavians Have Business Savvy

Another reason for Scandinavians to learn English is to help them make better business deals and to stimulate economic growth.

The Scandinavian countries have an abundance of natural resources, notably oil. The top importer of this resource worldwide until recently was the U.S.

Norway’s economic growth has been fuelled by its abundance of natural resources, from petroleum to fish. It remains one of the top exporters of oil in the world. Denmark ranks number 32 among net exporters of crude oil.

Sweden’s not so much about the oil, though I’m sure you’ll have at least one piece of IKEA furniture lying around your house!

A small country’s economy relies heavily on exports. So it makes sense to put an emphasis on learning the language spoken by those regions most likely to import your goods.

Scandinavians Immerse Themselves in English

We’ve established motive.

Now, the question is: How is it exactly that Scandinavians exhibit such a high level of success in learning English as a foreign language?

The answer is exposure. In Scandinavia, English is everywhere!

The Scandinavian countries are mass consumers of English media. They tend to watch British and American TV and movies with subtitles, as opposed to dubbed versions. The BBC, Britain’s public broadcaster, even has a Nordic channel, which broadcasts to these three countries.

A look at the current Top 40 songs chart in Denmark shows a tendency to favour the music of English-speaking artists.

Thanks to the advent of the Internet, English media is now readily accessible for anyone wishing to engage in it.

Countless resources are available online as well as a steady output of media from the biggest players in the English-speaking field – from the U.S. and Britain to Australia.

Did you know you can improve your language skills by watching the likes of Neighbours and Home and Away?!

How Scandinavia Unlocked Language Learning: Immersion is Key!

You don’t have to leave your home country to learn a foreign tongue, as the Scandinavians have proved. In fact, I’d strongly advise against it!

I can say from experience that learning the language before going to the country makes your time in that country better spent. I learned how to speak Egyptian Arabic during the three months I spent living in Brazil and then could use all my time in Egypt to simply explore the culture, landscape and history of the country.

There are many hacks you can use to learn a foreign language within the confines of your own country:

Make your computer multilingual.Watch foreign language movies – just be sure that you’re viewing them the right way.Don’t feel despondent if you’re lacking motivation. There are ways to keep on track.Hone your listening skills – from music, to radio and podcasts, there is a staggering amount of resources for any language available online.Don’t overwhelm yourself with big goals. Focus on making language learning a daily habit, and over time you’ll make progress.Remember: Nothing is Impossible

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a magical time machine to send you back to your days as a child to learn another language.

You just need a bit of determination, a good plan and a clear focus. A few initial weeks of frustration can lead to a lifetime of rewards.

The post Why are Speakers of Scandinavian Languages so Damn Good at English? appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

15 Epic Chinese Movies on Netflix to Learn Mandarin

Does Netflix have any Chinese movies? Absolutely they do! There are some really good Chinese movies on Netflix – and they’re great to help you learn the language too!

Below you’ll find a list of Chinese movies on Netflix. I also shared some tips for finding things to watch in Chinese

Whether you’re an international movie fanatic, love Chinese culture, or you’re trying to learn Chinese, there’s something for you here.

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The cinema of China (and Hong Kong and Taiwan) is huge. China has the world’s biggest box office, as well as the largest production complex and film studios. They’ve been increasingly investing more into their production, and it’s expected to be a $16+ billion dollar industry in the next few years.

So don’t underestimate Chinese cinema.

While the industry is strictly regulated by the Chinese government, it hasn’t stopped the movies from growing in popularity at home and abroad.

Ready to dive in? Let’s check out some of the best Chinese movies on Netflix – and make sure to stick around to the end to learn how to use movies to study Chinese!

New Chinese Movies on Netflix

Looking for something pretty new to Netflix? Here are some of the latest movies trending on Netflix recently:

1. The Yin Yang Master

Chinese: 侍神令, Shì shén lìng
Released: 2021
Director: Weiran Li
Genre: Fantasy, Action
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10

Based on the insanely popular mobile game, Onmyoji. It follows the Yinyang Master, Qing Ming, who is a half-human-half-demon who works for the Yinyang Bureau.

He becomes embroiled in a conspiracy, framed for murder, and hunted. Meanwhile, the demon king is trying to return to steal the supernatural artifacts Qing Ming was protecting at the Bureau.

So it’s left up to him to try to stop the Demon King and protect the bridge between the human and demon worlds.

The story is pretty wild but the visuals are stunning with lots of old-school martial arts action.

Interestingly, China also realized The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity at almost the same time. And while the movies have almost the same title and listed under the same collection on Netflix, they’re actually different.

The Yin Yang Master is based on the video game, while Dream of Eternity is based on the Japanese novel series (from which the game is based on… confusing, I know).

Nonetheless, if you like one, you’d probably like the other.

2. Wish Dragon

Chinese: 许愿神龙, Xǔyuàn shénlóng
Released: 2021
Director: Chris Appelhans
Genre: Animated adventure
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

A Netflix original animated film, Wish Dragon is super cute and a great watch if you have kiddos learning Chinese with you!

Din is a teen who wants to reconnect with his childhood best friend more than anything. And he’s given the chance when he stumbles upon a magical dragon who grants wishes! (Yep, a genie dragon straight from the teapot.)

You can watch the movie in Putonghua (“common speech” – the dialect of Beijing Mandarin) or Taiwanese Guoyu, with English subs. Jackie Chan voices the character Long in the Mandarin dub! But the English cast is also fire.

3. The Soul

Chinese: 缉魂, Jī Hún
Released: 2021
Director: Wei-Hao Cheng
Genre: Sci-fi, Crime
IMDb Rating: 6.6/10

Based on the novel Yihun Youshu by Jiang Bo. This futuristic Chinese-Taiwanese movie follows the brutal murder of the chairman of a famous corporation.

He was developing a new cancer treatment, and when the investigators begin to dig into his family, they uncover a dark secret.

Best Chinese Movies on Netflix

These movies are award-winners and highly popular Chinese movies you don’t want to miss!

4. The Wandering Earth

Chinese: 流浪地球, liúlàng dìqiú
Released: 2019
Director: Frant Gwo
Genre: Sci-fi, adventure
IMDb Rating: 6.0/10

In the far away future, scientists have redirected Earth’s orbit to prevent the planet’s destruction. But while the scientists succeeded in saving the planet, new unexpected dangers emerge. A group of young people fight to save humanity.

Inspired by the sci-fi book written by Liu Cixin, which is considered a sci-fi masterpiece, it’s one of China’s top-grossing films to date.

5. Ip Man

Chinese: 葉問, yè wèn
Released: 2008
Director: Wilson Yip
Genre: Biography, martial arts, action drama
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

You can’t talk about the best Chinese films on Netflix without talking about the legendary Ip Man!

Starring the amazing Donnie Yen, the movie is based on the real-life story of Wing Chun grandmaster, Ip Man. He was Bruce Lee’s martial arts teacher, among many others.

The movie follows Ip during the Sino-Japanese war, where he’s forced to leave his home after it’s been occupied by the Japanese military.

While it’s a dramatization of the real Ip Man’s life, it’s still a fascinating story and has won tons of awards. There are 4 Ip Man movies in total, so you’ll have plenty to watch!

The movie is in Cantonese, the language of Hong Kong and other regions. So if you’re learning Mandarin, the language will be different, but it’s still worth a watch.

6. Classmates Minus

Chinese: 同學麥娜絲, Tóngxué mài nà sī
Released: 2021
Director: Hsin-Yao Huang
Genre: Drama, Deadpan comedy
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

This one’s quite different from the rest on the list so far. It’s a quirky award-winning dramedy about four friends from high school who’ve hit middle age and are struggling with life.

They have no home, money, or hope about improving their situation. But they keep trying for a better tomorrow.

This movie uses Min Nan, a dialect of Chinese mostly spoken in southeastern China and Taiwan.

Best Chinese Action Movies

There are a lot of options for Chinese action films on Netflix, but here are a few of the latest to hit the streaming site:

7. Double World

Chinese: 征途, Zhēngtú
Released: 2019
Director: Teddy Chan
Genre: Action, Fantasy
IMDb Rating: 6.1/10

Based on the video game, the movie’s set in the fictional world of Central Plains. The world is divided up into ten kingdoms, and war has broken out.

A warlord hosts a competition to find the best warriors in his kingdom. The story follows three warriors who team up for the competition to bring honor to their clan.

This film is in Mandarin Chinese.

8. Gatao: The Last Stray

Chinese: 角頭－浪流連, Jiǎo tóu-làng liúlián
Released: 2021
Director: Jui-Chih Chiang
Genre: Action, crime
IMDb Rating: 6.0/10

A party for a mob boss’ new baby, a new romance, and a full moon? What could possibly go wrong?

Gatao means “big cat” in Portuguese, but in Taiwan, it’s been adapted to mean the mob. An orphan who grew up with the mob, Qing, meets a freelance photographer named Chi when she’s late for her job at the mob boss’ party.

But conflict between two gangs causes Qing to struggle to maintain his mob life and love for Chi.

Since this is a Taiwanese movie, it’s spoken in Guoyu.

9. New Gods: Nezha Reborn

Chinese: 新神榜：哪吒重生, Xīn shén bǎng: Nézhā chóngshēng
Released: 2021
Director: Ji Zhao
Genre: Animated fantasy, action
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Do you like unique animation, steampunk/cyberpunk, and three-thousand-year-long grudges? Then this movie is for you.

The movie follows Li Yunxiang, a punk motorbike rider who discovers he’s the god Nezha reincarnated. He’s just learning how to manage his newfound powers when his old enemies show up and he has to take on those past grudges.

The movie’s set in the fictional city of Donghai, but it’s somewhat based on Shanghai in the 1920s.

As for the language on this one, you can watch it in standard Mandarin (Putonghau) or Cantonese.

Must-Watch Chinese Netflix Originals

Netflix has been rolling out tons of its own originals around the world, so it’s no surprise it has a great stash of Chinese movies.

I’d also recommend checking out some of their Chinese TV shows and dramas!

10. Next Gen

Chinese: 未来机器城, Wèilái jīqì chéng
Released: 2018
Director: Kevin R. Adams and Joe Ksander
Genre: Animated fantasy, action
IMDb Rating: 6.6/10

Mai Su is a rebellious teen who lives in a futuristic world full of sentient robots. She befriends 7723, a top-secret robot, and together they take on evildoers, robots, and bad guys.

The English cast is full of fantastic actors like John Krasinski, Jason Sudeikis, Michael Peña, David Cross, and Constance Wu.

That said, it’s available on Netflix in Mandarin Chinese as well.

11. The Falls

Chinese: 瀑布, pùbù
Released: 2021
Director: Mong-Hong Chung
Genre: Dark drama
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

Set during the pandemic, a daughter and mother’s family dynamic dramatically changes.

The movie starts off with the daughter, Xiao Jing, possibly having caught covid and the tensions that arise from it. But it changes into a story of mental health and reversals in family roles.

You can watch this one in its original Guoyu (Taiwanese) language.

12. Zero to Hero

Chinese: 媽媽的神奇小子, Māmā de shénqí xiǎozi
Released: 2021
Director: Jimmy Wan
Genre: Sports, Biography, Feel-good
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10

Based on the true story of So Wa-wai, Hong Kong’s first Paralympian to win a gold medal. The movie follows his relationship with his mom and how they overcame their struggles to take home the gold.

This movie will leave you feeling inspired! It’s available in both Cantonese and Mandarin.

Fall in Love with Chinese Romances

Last but not least, I can’t leave out the romances! If you’re looking for a fun Chinese rom-com or romantic fantasy, here are some suggestions:

13. Man in Love

Chinese: 當男人戀愛時, Dāng nánrén liàn’ài shí
Released: 2021
Director: Chen-Hao Yin
Genre: Romance, Drama
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10

A gangster with a good heart falls in love with a woman who’s got tons of debt and an ailing father she cares for. He awkwardly tries to win her love in this quirky romantic drama.

It’s the Chinese adaptation of the Korean movie by the same name from 2014, and it’s in Min Nan Chinese.

14. Shanghai Fortress

Chinese: 上海堡垒, Shànghǎi bǎolěi
Released: 2019
Director: Chen-Hao Yin
Genre: Romantic sci-fi
IMDb Rating: 4.3/10

Okay, yes, this movie does have a much lower IMDb score than the other movies on this list. BUT! Hear me out: It stars former K-Pop idol and Exo / Exo-M member Lu Han!

Adapted from the novel by Jiang Nan, Shanghai Fortress takes place in 2035 when aliens have taken over. They’ve been wiping out cities around the world to get energy, but a small group of humans are trying to launch a counterattack.

Enter Jiang Yang (Lu Han), who falls in love with Lin Lan, the heroic general trying to protect Shanghai. You can watch this one in Mandarin.

15. Love 020: The Movie

Chinese: 微微一笑很倾城, Wéiwéi yīxiào hěn qīngchéng
Released: 2021
Director: Tianyu Zhao
Genre: Fantasy, romance
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10

Another movie based on the novel by the same name, two college students play the same role-playing game online. When Xiao Nai sees Bei Wei Wei, he’s instantly in love – because of her mad gaming skills.

Now he’s determined to win her over by using his RPG skills to win her love both in and out of the game. The audio is in standard Mandarin.

How Do I Find Chinese Movies on Netflix?

“How can I find Chinese movies?” you ask?

Well, it’s actually quite easy now! Netflix has whole categories dedicated to Chinese movies and TV shows. A quick Google search will bring you to the main page for Chinese movies on Netflix, but you can also search “Chinese movies” and they’ll pop up!

Now if you’re wondering, “How can I watch Netflix in Mandarin?” Well, it’s simple.

This will depend on how you’re viewing Netflix. But on the TV, change your Language & Audio settings before you start watching. You can then select Mandarin, Cantonese, or whatever else, and turn on or off English subtitles.

On your laptop or phone, once you press play, you’d hit the button that looks like a text bubble and edit your language settings.

This means, too, that you can look for other movies and shows that have a Chinese language dub! For instance, some K-dramas, kid’s movies, and movies produced by Netflix have more language dubs, including Chinese.

Language Learning with Netflix allows you to browse Netflix’s entire catalog of titles in a language. Plus, their browser extension is super helpful for watching and learning Chinese.

A side note here too: If you also have Disney+, they have tons of Chinese dubbed movies and shows. I highly recommend it!

Is Netflix Banned in China?

You may be wondering why there’s all this Chinese content on Netflix when… Netflix is banned in China??

Well, not quite. It’s not that Netflix is banned, it’s that they opted not to stream there due to rigorous application and censorship laws, as well as a very saturated streaming market.

So if you’re in China, you can actually see the Netflix homepage – you just can’t sign up without a VPN.

So why does Netflix have so much Chinese content when it doesn’t have services in China? Because there are millions of people who speak Mandarin outside of China!

How to Learn Chinese by Watching Movies

So what’s the best way to learn with Chinese movies on Netflix?

Well, we wrote a whole article about it here with tons of tips and insights to make the most of your binge-watching.

But here are some key points:

Watch something you’d actually enjoy, and bonus points if the topic is something you’d talk about in real life.Do some prep work before the movie. Look up the character names, location, and subject matter. Then look up words and grammar you think would probably be used a lot. For example, in Love 020, it’s about an RPG video game. So words related to gaming would be helpful to learn.Watch the movie all the way through, then go back and rewatch it in smaller chunks, like short scenes. What can you pick up? Write down any words you don’t know but pick up through listening to look up after.Add your newly learned words or grammar to a flashcard deck for review, and try to use them in a sentence or two.

If you’re an absolute beginner and can’t understand much at all – that’s okay! You can still benefit from hearing the language, the cadence, and watching the body language and cultural insights.

I know in my experience, just hearing the cadence and common phrases often helps me feel and sound 100x more confident in my target language than if I just study from a textbook.

It’s Okay to Binge-Watch Chinese Movies on Netflix!

It’s okay, I give you permission to tell Netflix you’re “still watching.” It’s for a good purpose and learning Chinese, right? 😉

If you’re ready to keep learning more about the Chinese language, here are some next steps:

A Beginner’s Guide to Chinese Dialects121 Core Chinese Words: The Most Commonly Used Words in ChineseHow to Read Chinese Characters and Make Them Less Confusing

The post 15 Epic Chinese Movies on Netflix to Learn Mandarin appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

Imperfect Italian Tense: Easy Language Hacks to Use It Like a Pro!

Confused by the imperfect tense in Italian? Or the Italian past tenses in general?

There are two main ways to talk about the past in Italian: the passato prossimo (perfect past tense) and the imperfetto (imperfect tense). But how do you know which one to use?

Let’s learn it together!

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So what is the difference between the passato prossimo and the imperfetto?

The perfect past tense (not to be confused with the “past perfect” tense), is something like saying “I have eaten” in English. It’s got that extra “have” (in Italian, it can also have an extra “to be”) and some form of the action word.

In Italian, “I ate / I have eaten” would be ho mangiato.

The imperfect tense, on the other hand, is more like “I was eating” and in Italian is just one word, such as mangiavo.

Most grammar books explain this in complex ways, but let’s try to see if we can find a shortcut to decide when to use each form!

As a general rule, when in doubt, use the perfect past tense (avere / essere + “participle” of the action word).

If you guess wrong, don’t worry – you won’t have Italians scratching their heads in confusion.

Because these two forms are essentially like the difference between “I ate” and “I was eating” in English, they are just as understandable as one another. It’s just that one is more grammatically correct than the other.

Don’t get too intimidated by this – perfectionism is your enemy!

Constructing the Italian Imperfect Past Tense

Relate Learning: Language Hacking Italian: 10 Smarter Ways to Learn Italian

Constructing the “perfect past” tense in Italian is something I won’t get into here (I explore it in more depth in my guide, Why Italian is Easy). _

But I will show you how to construct the imperfect past tense in a simple way.

For most verbs, just look up the infinitive form in the dictionary, then just remove the -re from the dictionary (infinitive) form and replace it with:

-vo for “I”-vi for “you”-va for “he”/ “she” / “it” / “you (polite)”-vamo for “we”-vate for “you” plural, and-vano for “they”

This works with all regular verbs.

That’s it! There are a few rare exceptions (the most important is ero, eri… the imperfect past tense of “to be”), but that one explanation will cover most situations for you.

When to Use the Imperfect Past Tense in Italian

Related Learning: 15 Online Language Lessons to Learn Italian for Free

The perfect past tense is the “default” tense to use when in doubt. You should only use the imperfect past tense when:

Describing the ongoing state of objects, places or people in the past.

Examples:

Da piccola avevo i capelli ricci. – “When I was a child, I used to have curly hair.”Era un uomo coraggioso. – “He was a brave man.”La macchina era arrugginita. – “The car was rusty.”

You could add a “used to” or “would” in English to imply consistency in the past.

Examples:

Ogni martedì ci incontravamo al bar. – “Every Tuesday, we used to meet at the bar.”Correva alla porta ogni volta che suonava il campanello. – “He would run to the door every time that the bell rang.”

Describing how a person was feeling or thinking in the past.

Examples:

Aveva sonno. – “She was sleepy.”Gli faceva male la testa. – “He had a headache.”Eravamo tristi. – “We were sad.”

Discussing two things happening at the same time

While an “interrupting” event uses the perfect past tense, an ongoing event uses the imperfect past tense.

Example:

Mentre guardavo la tv è suonato il telefono. – “While I was watching TV, the phone rang.”

There are other times when you’ll need to use the past tense, but these four points will cover you in most situations!

(Thanks to Transparent Language for the examples used!)

There’s no need to feel intimidated by learning Italian!

This blog post is an extract from my language hacking guide, Why Italian is Easy. Pick up your own copy here.

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