Benny Lewis's Blog, page 20

Learn Kanji: Master 2,000 Japanese Characters in 3 Months

Does it sound like an impossible task to learn Kanji? I’m here to help.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to master the meaning and writing of 2,042 “Standard Use Kanji” (常用漢字・じょうようかんじ) in 90 days. This feat normally takes the Japanese themselves all the way through the end of junior high school, and most non-native learners of Japanese never make it even after years of study.

But worry not! Armed with the right psychology and tools, this seemingly impossible mission becomes a walk in the park.

Table of contentsMission Mental: What’s the Best Way to Learn Kanji?1. Use Social Accountability: Share Your Progress PubliclyCreate a Kanji Learning BlogMake Bets with a Friend or Colleague2. Set Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time Bound GoalsCreate Your List of S.M.A.R.T. Kanji Goals3. Take Baby StepsYour Kanji-Learning Toolkit1. Remembering the Kanji (RTK)Some Tips to Get the Most Out of Remember the Kanji2. Anki3. WWWJDICTakeaway: The 5 Steps to Learn Kanji in 3 Months Mission Mental: What’s the Best Way to Learn Kanji?

The world’s best methods and materials amount to jack-freaking-squat unless you are fired up to use them day in and day out. So before we get to the cool tools you will use to complete your mission, let’s first focus first on the internal.

To succeed in your mission, you are going to apply the holy trinity of motivation:

Social AccountabilityS.M.A.R.T. GoalsBaby Steps1. Use Social Accountability: Share Your Progress Publicly

Homo sapiens, a.k.a. us humans, are an interesting animal. We rarely do things that we know are good for us (or avoid doing things we know are bad for us) unless we know that other people are watching.

While one can argue that a mature, emotionally centered person shouldn’t care too much about what others think, the fact remains that almost all of us do.

Fortunately, the kanji learner can use this psychological phenomenon to their advantage:

Create a Kanji Learning Blog

Contrary to popular belief, blogs are not only tools for self-obsessed narcissists. They are also an extremely effective way to share goals publicly because they trigger our innate psychological programming to succeed in the eyes of others. With blogs, we develop a following that we will feel obligated not to let down.

Blogs are also an outlet for sharing successes and failures during our mission. As Benny Lewis, founder of Fluent in 3 Months, never stops saying, mistakes are a very necessary aspect of language learning.

There are countless blogging platforms to choose from, but don’t get caught up in the nitty gritty details. Just select one you feel comfortable with and get started now. And don’t worry too much about how your blog looks.

The goal is to create accountability, share your triumphs and tribulations, and develop a following (however small). It’s not to show how many hours or dollars you spent tweaking your theme.

Make Bets with a Friend or Colleague

The most powerful form of social accountability involves betting. You can use financial incentives (good) or punishments (better) to boost commitment to your goals.

For money-based bets, agree on an amount that you can both pay, but that will be somewhat painful.

Likewise, punishments should involve something sufficiently detestable, but not so outrageous that you both know from the get go that neither party will actually be forced to follow through when the other wins.

No matter the wager, make sure your competition centers around a specific goal tied to a specific timeframe.

This leads us to the next key for success: goal creation.

2. Set Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time Bound Goals

Most goals are doomed to failure from the beginning.

In a moment of seasonal, alcohol-induced inspiration, we make exciting goals that are too large, too far away, and not clearly defined. It’s no wonder that nearly all New Year’s resolutions never become reality.

Luckily, S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time Bound) goals come to the rescue.

You have likely heard this acronym before, and may brush it aside as nothing but fluffy motivational gibberish. That would be a mistake. If you’ve actually gone through the exercise of making such goals before, you know just how powerful they can be.

So what does a S.M.A.R.T. goal look like? Look no further than the title of this post: “Learn Kanji: Master 2,000 Japanese Characters in 3 Months.”

Specific: Notice I didn’t say something like “Get good at kanji next year”. “Good” is not clearly defined and is therefore meaningless for our purposes.Measurable: The goal includes a specific number, so you know exactly how many kanji you have actually learned by the deadline.Attainable: If you are properly motivated and use the tools I suggest, there is no reason you shouldn’t succeed.Realistic: Learning 2,000 kanji in one week is stretching it, but 3 months is a very doable timeframe if you are consistent.Time Bound: You will be choosing a specific date on the calendar to complete your mission, not some vague “later this year” goal.Create Your List of S.M.A.R.T. Kanji Goals

Now it’s your turn. Take out a piece of paper (writing by hand is better than typing; trust me!) and write down your own S.M.A.R.T. kanji goals.

In addition to what you will do, also consider making goals about what you won’t do. For example, pursue unhealthy, time consuming activities that get in the way of your learning goals, like playing video games, watching T.V., sleeping too much, etc.

If you are stuck, start with the following two goals:

1. How many kanji will I learn each day?

Some simple math will show that you need to learn at least 23 kanji every day to complete your mission on schedule (2,042 kanji ÷ 90 days = 22.7).

What I suggest is learning 25 to 30 a day to buy yourself some breathing room in case of unforeseen emergencies, business trips, social events, or Godzilla attacks.

But no matter how many kanji you actually learn on a given day (even if the number is zero), keep track of it on your blog.

If you fall below 25 kanji on a given day, you can always just make them up the next day. Just don’t let yourself get into that habit or you will quickly find yourself way behind schedule.

2. How many minutes / hours will I commit to learning each day?

While not as crucial as the number of kanji you learn per day, your study time does matter.

After you have gotten into the swing of things, you should have a good idea of how many minutes it takes you on average to learn one kanji. You can then figure out how many minutes per day you need to meet your daily kanji goal.

3. Take Baby Steps

If you ever catch yourself getting overwhelmed by your final kanji goal (we all do once in a while), just take a breath and remember to take things one kanji at a time.

Or as Anne Lamott puts it in Bird by Bird, her must-read book on writing and life:

“Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report written on birds that he’d had three months to write, which was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books about birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.’”

Your Kanji-Learning Toolkit

Now that we have established these needed psychological factors, let’s talk about the tools and technology you will use to accomplish your mission:

Remembering the Kanji (book and iOS app) Anki  (spaced repetition software) WWWJDIC  (web and app-based Japanese dictionary)1. Remembering the Kanji (RTK)

There is a simple reason why it takes Japanese children a decade to learn all standard-use kanji. The same reason is why most foreign adult learners fail to master Chinese characters. It’s rote memory.

Whether in a Japanese elementary school or a Japanese university class in the West, this same tired, ineffective method of learning is applied year after year despite its terrible track record.

Fortunately, James Heisig’s breakthrough work Remembering the Kanji: A Complete Guide on How Not to Forget the Meaning and Writing of Japanese Characters provides us with a far more effective and adult-friendly approach to learning kanji.

Instead of trying to force characters into memory through tedious repetition, Heisig’s approach leverages what he calls “imaginative memory”.

Simply, the technique involves using your creativity and experience to create vivid, unforgettable stories. These stories conjure up the basic meaning of a given kanji and the “primitive elements” of which it is composed.

In Heisig’s words:

“The aim is to shock the mind’s eye, to disgust it, enchant it, to tease it, or to entertain it in any way possible so as to brand it with an image intimately associated with the key word.”

Benny tried something similar himself with Thai symbols. He explained how he learned to be able to read Thai in just a few hours in this post – so with a good imagination, you can also attempt to create the associations yourself.

Some Tips to Get the Most Out of Remember the KanjiDo not start going through the kanji until you have read the book’s introduction. The study method employed in RTK is very different from traditional study and it is essential that you understand the “how” and “why” behind it.Don’t just say the keywords out loud; literally see, hear, taste, smell and feel the stories.Make sure you know the exact meaning of each and every keyword. Look them up on Wikipedia or do a Google Image search if necessary.Study before bed and upon waking. Studying right before bed is a great way to unwind from your busy day. Moreover, our brains consolidate new information while we sleep, so anything you get into your head before the lights go out has a better chance of being retained. Reviewing last night’s kanji upon waking ensures you get some study time in, no matter how hectic your day becomes.Get the official RTK iOS app. It is not a replacement for the book (as it does not include the stories or instructions, but it does provide an excellent, portable way to review what you’ve already learned.Use what Barry M. Farber, author of How to Learn Any Language, calls hidden moments: “those otherwise meaningless scraps of time you’d never normally think of putting to any practical use, and using them for language study—even if it’s no more than fifteen, ten, or five seconds at a time—can turn you into a triumphant tortoise.”

Benny shares his thoughts on utilizing your time better in this post, and how he does it with Anki explained below here].

2. Anki

You may love flashcards or think they are the root of all evil. I personally find them a useful addition to (not replacement of) authentic content and communication with native speakers.

Anki (暗記・あんき), a name which literally means “memorization”, is a computer, web, and app-based flashcard system. It uses the powers of “spaced repetition” to help you better remember words, phrases, and yes, kanji.

Like other spaced repetition systems (SRS), Anki automatically schedules re-exposures to specific cards based on how difficult you rate them. Easier cards will be shown less often while those more difficult will come back around right away.

This makes your study time and energy far more efficient since you won’t have to waste your time going through items you already know.

Thankfully, other studious Anki users have already gone to the trouble of creating Remembering the Kanji flashcard decks. So all you have to do is download them onto your computer or mobile device and use your “hidden moments” for quick reviews throughout the day.

Just make sure that you have actually created strong, imaginative stories for each character first and don’t use Anki to fall back on the highly inefficient rote memorization track.

3. WWWJDIC

Jim Breen’s WWWJDIC is the de facto online Japanese dictionary for non-native speakers.

You can look up kanji dozens of ways, including the character itself, the stroke count, the radical, the reading (in kana, romaji, or Chinese Pinyin), or the index code from any of the major kanji dictionaries.

You can access the dictionary free online or via the iOS app (Kotoba!) and Android app (WWWJDIC)

Use the dictionary any time you come across kanji in Remembering the Kanji that you are not 100% sure of the exact keyword meaning.

Takeaway: The 5 Steps to Learn Kanji in 3 Months

This blog post will self-destruct in five seconds…

5… Set up your kanji blog4… Make bets with your friends3… Create your S.M.A.R.T. goals2… Get Remembering the Kanji1… Download Anki and the WWW JDIC apps.Poof!

You now have everything you need to learn 2,042 kanji in 90 days. Good luck, Mr. Hunt.

Original article by John Fotheringham, updated by the Fluent in 3 Months team.

The post Learn Kanji: Master 2,000 Japanese Characters in 3 Months appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

16 Must-Know Words and Common Phrases For Any Language

You can achieve incredible results by learning just a few common phrases when travelling to another country.

Often, native English speakers believe that everyone speaks English. So when they travel, they don’t bother learning the language of the place they’re visiting. After all, it’s fine to get by in English, right?

Well, maybe. But there’s a much better way of doing things.

I’m not saying you should become fluent in the language of every place you visit (unless that’s your dream). I am saying that learning just a few words and phrases can hugely enrich your travel experience.

Of course, you won’t want to waste your time memorising words and phrases you’ll soon forget or will never use.

In my years of experience in travel and language hacking, I’ve found the following words and phrases to be the most important to learn.

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 a new language for at least 15 minutes with the "Fluent in 3 Months" method. All it takes is 90 days. <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/other... this link to find out more.</a></i>'} else { copy = '<i>A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away with a native speaker for at least 15 minutes with the "Fluent in 3 Months" method. All it takes is 90 days. <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/other... this link to find out more.</a></i>'}var copyToChange = document.querySelector("p.copyText").innerHTML = copy;}runSplitTest();

Table of contentsOllie was “Astounded” After He Learned These 16 Must-Know Common PhrasesHolly’s “Magical” Experience Speaking Burmese… With Just a Handful of Common PhrasesHere’s Why I Avoid English When I’m Travelling1. “Thanks”2. “I’m sorry”3. “Hello”4. “Can I have…”5. “How much does it cost?”6. “Yes”7. “No”8. “I am…”10. “How are you?”11. “Great!”12. “Again, please”13. “More slowly, please”14. “Sorry, I Don’t Understand”15. “Where is (the)…?”16. GoodbyeOllie’s Full Story of his Time in Vietnam Learning Just a Few Words and PhrasesOver to You

Let’s start with some testimonials!

Ollie was “Astounded” After He Learned These 16 Must-Know Common Phrases

Fluent in 3 Months reader Ollie read an earlier version of this article, and he decided to learn some basic phrases in Vietnamese ahead of a trip to Vietnam. He emailed me to tell me about his experience:

It astounded me how much [Vietnamese] people appreciated me just learning a few words in Vietnamese… My best experience was with two men in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, we were queuing for a boat ride when I asked two men what their names were, they looked at each other in astonishment! They couldn’t believe what they were seeing, a white person speaking Vietnamese! They were smiling so much and we conversed for a few minutes, they then stuck to me for the entire trip!

You should also know that Ollie was just 17 when he did this. You can read Ollie’s full email at the end of this article.

Holly’s “Magical” Experience Speaking Burmese… With Just a Handful of Common Phrases

Fi3M’s very own Holly Keenan decided to learn just 20 phrases in Burmese ahead of her trip to Myanmar. Within just a day of arriving she was chatting with the locals. Holly writes:

It’s hard to express what a magical experience it was to have this short conversation with such a friendly group of Burmese women. I kept thinking back to it with a smile over the next several days… I ended up using nearly every one of the few phrases I had learned, and it improved the trip more than I ever would’ve expected.

After that experience, I made a promise to myself to never travel to another country again without learning at least a few sentences in the local language. I want to make the most out of my trips, and that doesn’t just mean seeing the sights. It also (or rather, especially) means interacting and connecting with the people who live there.

You can read the full story of Holly’s experience speaking Burmese in Myanmar here.

Here’s Why I Avoid English When I’m Travelling

I’ve been travelling around the world since 2003 and during that time, have lived in 23 different countries.

My goal at first was to spend as much time as possible learning the native language of each country, before moving on. Some languages I was quick to forget. Others I’ve maintained fluency in to this day.

Along the way, there were a handful of countries I visited that I never intended to spend more than a few days in, so I didn’t try to become conversant in the native language before arrival.

Yet, like Ollie and Holly, I’d still invest whatever time I had available in learning as much of the language as I could in advance. Even if it was only enough to get by.

This is because my personal travel style is to avoid using English as much as possible.

Why? It’s really not that hard to get by in another language. And as you saw in Holly and Ollie’s stories, it opens you up to cultural experiences that you’d otherwise miss.

Researching a place on the Internet can only get you so far. The locals know the best places to eat and shop, the stand-out sights to see, the most beautiful beaches and the most unforgettable cultural experiences.

Fail to learn any of the local language, and you’ll miss all this. You lose out on more than you probably realise.

That’s why I always learn a little bit of the local language in whatever amount of time I have available, even if it’s only hours or minutes. For instance, I made the most of a single hour, learning the basics in Polish.

So the next time you’re heading out to a foreign country where English isn’t the first language, spend a few minutes researching the following phrases in the language of the country you’re visiting.

These are the most important phrases to learn, though for some reason they’re often sprinkled throughout phrasebooks rather than being featured on the first page.

I’ve included translations of these phrases for German, French, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and Italian in this post.

Let’s get started!

1. “Thanks”

The number one word you should learn to say before visiting any country is “thanks”. It’s polite and people will appreciate the effort you’ve made to acknowledge them in their own language.

German: DankeFrench: MerciMandarin Chinese: XièxieSpanish: GraciasItalian: Grazie2. “I’m sorry”

For the sake of good manners, it’s good to know how to say sorry. You can say it when moving through a crowd, or when a general apology is required.

German: Es tut mir leid – “I am sorry” or Entschuldigung – “excuse me”French: Je suis désolé (for male speakers), je suis désolée (for female speakers) or pardonMandarin Chinese: Duìbùqĭ or bù hǎoyìsiSpanish: Lo siento or perdónItalian: Mi dispiace or perdono3. “Hello”

What’s the first thing to do when initiating a conversation with someone? You greet them, like so:

German: HalloFrench: BonjourMandarin Chinese: Nǐ hǎoSpanish: HolaItalian: Ciao4. “Can I have…”

When you travel, chances are you’ll be eating out, spending time in bars, and buying souvenirs. This is a handy phrase to know for ordering in a restaurant, bakery, coffee shop or bar.

German: Kann ich einen Kaffee haben…? – “Can I have a coffee?”French: Je voudrais un croissant. – “I would like a croissant.”Mandarin Chinese: Wŏ yào zhè gè. – “I want this.”Spanish: ¿Me trae dos cafés, por favor? – “Please give me two coffees.”Italian: Posso avere…? – “Can I have…?”5. “How much does it cost?”

It helps to be savvy while travelling, as well as being mindful of whether you’re staying within your budget.

Here’s how to say “How much is that?”:

German: Wieviel kostet das?French: Combien ça coûte ?Mandarin Chinese: Zhè shì duōshǎo qián?Spanish: ¿Cuánto cuesta?Italian: Quanto costa/costano? (singular/plural)6. “Yes”

“Yes” is one of the simplest words to learn and it helps that it tends to remain constant across many Romance languages.

German: JaFrench: OuiMandarin Chinese: Shì (Technically there is no word for “yes” in Mandarin, but in many cases ‘it is’ works – otherwise, you’d repeat the verb of the question.)Spanish: SíItalian: Sì7. “No”

Why would you learn how to say “yes” without learning the translation for “no”?

German: NeinFrench: NonMandarin Chinese: Bú shì (Similarly to yes, as explained above, this actually means ‘it isn’t’, as there’s no single word for ‘no’ in Mandarin. If you put bù (‘not`) before the verb in question that tends to be what you need.)Spanish: NoItalian: No8. “I am…”

“I am” is a much better phrase to learn than “My name is…”. Why? Because you can apply it to a range of topics – not only your name but your job, nationality and many other things. It’s the perfect phrase to use with Tarzan speak.

German: Ich bin…French: Je suis…Mandarin Chinese: Wǒ shì…Spanish: (Yo) soy…Italian: (Io) sono…9. “What’s your name?”

After you’ve introduced yourself, you’ll want to know how to ask for an introduction in return.

German: Wie heißen Sie? (formal) or Wie heißt du?(informal)French: Comment vous appelez-vous ? (formal) or Comment tu t’appelles ? (informal)Mandarin Chinese: Nǐ guìxìng? (formal) or Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi? (informal)Spanish: ¿Cómo se llama usted? (formal) or ¿Cómo te llamas? (informal)Italian: (Lei) come si chiama? (formal) or (Tu) come ti chiami? (informal)10. “How are you?”

If you find yourself in conversation with a local, it’s a mark of common decency to ask how they are.

I find that people across many different cultures who work in service roles really appreciate it when you take the time to ask how they’re doing.

German: Wie geht es dir?French: Comment allez-vous ? or the informal Ça va ?Mandarin Chinese: Nǐ hǎo ma? (While this is technically correct, you’re more likely to hear something along the lines of Nǐ zuìjìn zěnme yàng? – How have you been lately?)Spanish: ¿Cómo está? (formal), ¿Cómo estás? (informal)Italian: Come sta? (formal), Come stai? (informal)11. “Great!”

A quick, go-to response if someone asks how you’re doing.

German: Mir geht es großartig! – “I am great!”French: Ça va bien ! – “I am good!”Mandarin Chinese: Wǒ hěn hǎo!Spanish: BienItalian: Bene!12. “Again, please”

A beginner in any language will have trouble understanding what a native speaker is saying, as they will talk at a fast pace. Don’t panic – just ask them to repeat what they said.

If you’re new to the language, you don’t have to memorise how to say “Sorry, can you repeat that” – a quick “again, please” will usually do the trick.

German: Bitte wiederholen Sie – “Please repeat”French: Répétez s’il vous plaît (“Repeat, please”) or Comment? (“How?”)Mandarin Chinese: Máfán nǐ, zài shuō yībiān – “Please say that again”Spanish: ¿Disculpa?, ¿Perdón? or ¿Cómo? – “How?”Italian: Puo ripetere, per favore? – “Could you repeat that please?”13. “More slowly, please”

This is another phrase you can use when natives speak really fast. It reduces the risk of them repeating themselves at the same pace.

German: Langsamer, bitte.French: Plus lentement, s’il vous plaît.Mandarin Chinese: Qǐng màn màn yīdiǎn.Spanish: Más despacio, por favor.Italian: Più lentamente, per favore.14. “Sorry, I Don’t Understand”

If you’re having issues communicating with a native speaker – tell them!

German: Entschuldigung, das verstehe ich nicht.French: Je suis désolé, je ne comprends pas. (for male speaker) Je suis désolée, je ne comprends pas. (for female speakers)Mandarin Chinese: Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ tīng bù dǒng.Spanish: Lo siento, no entiendo.Italian: Mi dispiace, non capisco.15. “Where is (the)…?”

You’re navigating a new country. Chances are, you’ll get lost now and again. Don’t be afraid to ask a local for directions.

Even if you can’t follow their directions, you can get them to show you your destination on a map.

German: Wo ist (der/die/das)…?French: Où est (le/la)…?Mandarin Chinese: … Zài nǎlǐ?Spanish: Dónde está (el/la)…?Italian: Dov’è (il/la)…?16. Goodbye

Another phrase that’s really good to know.

German: Auf Wiedersehen (formal) or Tschüss (informal)French: Au revoirMandarin Chinese: ZàijiànSpanish: AdiósItalian: Arrivederla (formal), arrivederci (informal and plural)

With these words and phrases in your pocket, you’ll endear yourself to the locals, and you’ll have a more authentic experience. Keep a reminder with you at all times with this infographic:

Speaking even a tiny bit of a foreign language makes you feel more thoughtful, widens your worldview, gives you buckets of self-confidence… and it’s addictive. Once you’ve had a taste of talking with someone in a language that isn’t your own, it can be really hard to stop!

Ollie’s Full Story of his Time in Vietnam Learning Just a Few Words and Phrases

Talking of getting a taste of speaking in another language, here’s the full email I received from my reader Ollie (You’ll remember I shared the first part of Ollie’s story earlier in this article):

Date: Wed, Dec 6, 2017
Subject: Trip to Vietnam, thank you!
To: thankyou@fi3m.com

Hi Benny,

My names Ollie, I’m 17 years old and I live in London. (Thought I’d give you a bit of context as you must get emails from people all over the world!)

I was looking at your blog a few months ago to find out more about trying to learn Spanish when I came across your blog ‘16 Must-Know Words and Phrases For Any Language’. I thought it was a really handy list and told myself next time I go abroad I would learn those phrases. I then found out I would be going to Vietnam in the summer!! So I learnt the phrases in Vietnamese in the few weeks before my big trip and I was very excited to use all the phrases.

I really enjoyed learning the phrases so I bought a phrasebook for a fiver the day before my trip. On the plane journey there, our TVs weren’t working so I spent many hours of the journey creating new sentences and learning the original ones inside out. We finally arrived and my first words were a meek ‘Cam ern’ to the miserable, scary passport man. Even that gave me a kick and made me want more. When we arrived and put our bags down I ventured into the chaos of Hanoi, I had learnt how to say ‘how much is this?’ and all the numbers in Vietnamese, so I confidently asked a shopkeeper the question and she replied with what sounded like gibberish to me! She then said it in English and I felt like a right idiot, but I was ready to keep trying! I’m glad to say it only got better from there. <

We had a trip to Halong Bay where I practiced my Vietnamese on our tour guide, he spoke English very well so helped me out a lot, he was extremely impressed and shocked that I had made the effort to learn some Vietnamese. I then spoke to a woman on the boat who couldn’t speak any English which was a challenge but I managed to converse a little. Again she was very impressed!

My best experience was with two men in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, we were queuing for a boat ride when I asked two men what their names were, they looked at each other in astonishment! They couldn’t believe what they were seeing, a white person speaking Vietnamese! They were smiling so much and we conversed for a few minutes, they then stuck to me for the entire trip! We weren’t even talking! Just walking next to me smiling. I got some photos with them as well!

My other memorable experience was with two little kids on a train to Hoi An, they were two really cute little twin boys who were giggling away and smiling at me, I then said something to them in Vietnamese and they started laughing and singing English songs they knew, we counted to ten in English and Vietnamese! I also talked to their mum for a while and it was all a lovely experience! Which I wouldn’t have had if it wasn’t for you.

I also found learning the phrases useful for conversing with other English speaking travellers, they are all very interested with the Vietnamese I’ve learnt and want to learn some themselves.

Sorry, I went on a bit but I hope you enjoy reading about my experience and I hope you know how grateful I am to you for writing your blog! It astounded me how much people appreciated me just learning a few words in Vietnamese.

Thanks again,
Ollie

Over to You

What’s your experience been when learning a few basic phrases before travelling? Drop me an email (thankyou@fluentin3months.com) to let me know.

If you don’t know where to look for these phrases in your target language, take a look at my favourite language learning resources!

The post 16 Must-Know Words and Common Phrases For Any Language appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

How Online Teachers Can Find Time and Money for Learning a New Language

“Do you want to learn a new language?”

No need to twist my arm to convince me to do it. Learning languages is a part of my DNA. I taught ESL, now I coach other language teachers on teaching online so language learning runs in our blood.

Still, as much as we want to, language learning doesn’t come easy. It’s a challenge to keep the practice going, mainly because we don’t have enough time or money. Somehow over the years of teaching, language learning turned from a passion and delight into (at best) a task we never have enough time or money to do properly. That creates an unhealthy cycle of guilt.

“How can I teach a language when I don’t even have the time to learn a language myself?”

“I get it that I need to learn a language. But when?”

“And can I really afford it?”

I get it. I envy my kids who go to immersion school in the USA, practicing their French every day. I snuggle with them in the evening to read to them in Russian and take them weekly to the Russian language center with other immigrants like myself who are desperately trying to keep a minority language alive.

But what about me? How long will it take me to dust off my old German textbooks and get back into my learning routines? And what about French? When my oldest started at the immersion school I said I’d work on my French with him. Four years into it he’s fluent and me?

It may sound counterintuitive to write a post about finding time and money for language learning while I myself struggle with it. And yet. For me, this is a chance to start again, as many of you I’m sure have experienced. Starting, moving forward, making mistakes and still daring.

While time and money seem to be the main culprits for language learning I believe it’s our mindset that keeps us stalling and putting things off.

In this post, I’ll reflect on a few key mindset changes that we need to adopt in order to get started (or rekindle our motivation). Then I’ll share a few practical tips on how to make time and money available for your language learning. I’m writing this for my fellow language teachers as well as for myself, and I hope we’ll hold each other accountable!

Mindset Shifts for Online Teachers Learning Languages.1. Set Reasonable Goals.

You know they tell us to set a specific and measurable goal for ourselves and how it’s supposed to motivate us? It’s a great tip except in most cases our goals become too far-fetched. If you haven’t been in the habit of learning a language for some time, setting overly specific goals and expecting ourselves to live up to them is nothing more than a recipe for disaster.

Instead, think of why you want to get back into language learning, write down the feelings you experienced when you learned a language consistently and build anticipation.

Whenever I want to motivate myself I’m reminded of the first time I could understand English. I was 15 and had spent months working through several textbooks and cassettes (remember those?) on my own. The sheer sense of wonder is enough to get me excited about my new adventures.

2. Accept That Learning Won’t Be Linear.

As language teachers, it’s easy for us to create a program and a curriculum for other people. In our minds, we feel like we need some kind of a rigid curriculum for ourselves that we will follow religiously for the next several months or years.

Again, this expectation builds up too much pressure that prevents us from getting started where we are. It’s one thing when we’re learning for a specific goal of getting a job or immigrating but when we’re learning language just because we love it we need to revise our rigid curricula.

Adopting a mantra that our learning will not be linear and accepting the fact that some days we’ll finish off a couple of “units from a textbook” while other times we’ll just listen to a song and practice singing along is a healthy starting place. Learning a language will go beyond textbooks and curricula, and that’s OK. Learning can be versatile and still effective.

3. Accept That Learning Will Not Be “perfect.”

Going back to my kids’ immersion school experience, I don’t think it’s fair to compare our learning with that of an immersion program or even our University years. Driven by our nostalgic thoughts of ample language learning experiences, we often discard the new opportunities in the present.

Giving up our ideas of what a “perfect” language learning environment is, accept the new environment as the new norm. In this new environment, you may not be as productive or efficient, but you will be able to exercise your freedom and try out different things. After all the years of mandatory fill-in-the-gap exercises, it’s OK to have some fun and run down rabbit holes when you have a random language-learning question.

4. Accept Your Own Pace.

Though I’m writing for the Fluent in 3 months I encourage you to set your own pace, whether your intention is to become fluent or to dabble in the language or to create a soothing language learning practice as a creative outlet and a self-awareness exercise.

In my coaching work, I use the image of a turtle as a reminder of taking our own time and not rushing things no matter what you do. It’s taken years to realize that taking a slower route has no reflection on my intellectual capacity as a learner. A faster pace doesn’t make me more of a genius. So, determine your own pace and try not to compare it against others.

How to Find Time and Money for Learning a Language.

Do you feel like you can breathe better? Giving ourselves permission to learn in our own way, at our own pace and following our curiosity rather than a rigid plan takes a heavy load off our shoulders, but we still haven’t figured out how to make it all come together.

In this section, I want to utilize my coaching brain and leave you with 3 questions that can help you and me set this language learning practice in motion without guilt, “shoulds” and other external pressure. Imagine setting up your own routines with confidence and excitement! Imagine being in charge of the language learning process and delighting in it. Let’s do it.

Question 1: What do you want?

While we may not be setting lofty goals or putting too much pressure on ourselves, we need to identify what’s behind our language learning process. What do we want? As you answer, try to hear if these wants are your own or someone else’s. Dr. Edith Eger likes to ask a no-less important follow-up question, Who wants it? You can spot someone else’s wants if you add the word should when you answer the what do you want question.

For example, “I want to learn a new language because as a language teacher I should understand the process that my clients are going through.” You can see that the answer isn’t about the person’s wants but rather about living up to someone else’s expectations.

Another common answer is, “I want to learn a language because it’s a shame that after so many years I still cannot speak it.” While it may be a legitimate answer, the motivation comes from a parent or a teacher who used to tell you about your “wasted” years of learning if you have nothing to show for it. This is not a motivation to learn but rather a motivation to prove someone wrong.

I want to learn a language because I want to rekindle my passion and get back to feeling elated when I can understand a line or two from a favorite song. What do you want?

Question 2: What are your main challenges right now?

One current challenge is probably creating space and then adding time and money to make the dream of language learning a reality. Write down different things that you think are keeping you away from your new practice. At this point, you’re not solving anything, just writing things down.

Fears grow in hiding and isolation. In Russian, we say that fear has big eyes, and when we avoid looking at our fears they grow bigger and become uncontrollable. So writing down challenges and fears is a simple technique to reduce the anxiety that shows up when you try to do something new or maybe get back into the routines you left behind some time ago.

Question 3: What are you willing to give up?

The thought of giving up something in order to do something else feels like a threat to our freedom. I loved how Delia Ephron wrote in one of her memoirs that having it all is a mathematical impossibility. It’s difficult to accept that we’re just humans and cannot pick up hobbies on the fly with no change to our lives. But giving up something is not always negative. I mean, if I cut down on the time I mindlessly scroll through Youtube in search of a new funny video to work on my German I gain a new purpose, and my life becomes more meaningful.

The same is true about money. Choosing to cut down on some expenses to afford a new book or a language learning program is healthy and fulfilling. The good news, you do not need to give anything up permanently. I’ve created a calendar template (download below) that can help you create your own language learning experience for 2022, without massive expenses or constant intensive immersion simulation. Just print it out and adjust it the way it works best for you.

Download the workbook

A new year of delightful language learning is ahead. You might be starting in January or in June. Maybe you’re picking it up after months of doing nothing. Let’s leave the guilt behind us. The best time to start again is always now. It’s the time of courage, the time of overcoming our status quo, the time of welcoming wonder into our lives – the thrill of decoding new messages and filling strange-sounding words with meaning. It’s the year of new beginnings for us as language teachers who rekindle their passion for language learning. Bon Voyage!

The post How Online Teachers Can Find Time and Money for Learning a New Language appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

How online teachers can find time and money for learning a new language

“Do you want to learn a new language?”

No need to twist my arm to convince me to do it. Learning languages is a part of my DNA. I taught ESL, now I coach other language teachers on teaching online so language learning runs in our blood.

Still, as much as we want to, language learning doesn’t come easy. It’s a challenge to keep the practice going, mainly because we don’t have enough time or money. Somehow over the years of teaching, language learning turned from a passion and delight into (at best) a task we never have enough time or money to do properly. That creates an unhealthy cycle of guilt.

“How can I teach a language when I don’t even have the time to learn a language myself?”

“I get it that I need to learn a language. But when?”

“And can I really afford it?”

I get it. I envy my kids who go to immersion school in the USA, practicing their French every day. I snuggle with them in the evening to read to them in Russian and take them weekly to the Russian language center with other immigrants like myself who are desperately trying to keep a minority language alive.

But what about me? How long will it take me to dust off my old German textbooks and get back into my learning routines? And what about French? When my oldest started at the immersion school I said I’d work on my French with him. Four years into it he’s fluent and me?

It may sound counterintuitive to write a post about finding time and money for language learning while I myself struggle with it. And yet. For me, this is a chance to start again, as many of you I’m sure have experienced. Starting, moving forward, making mistakes and still daring.

While time and money seem to be the main culprits for language learning I believe it’s our mindset that keeps us stalling and putting things off.

In this post, I’ll reflect on a few key mindset changes that we need to adopt in order to get started (or rekindle our motivation). Then I’ll share a few practical tips on how to make time and money available for your language learning. I’m writing this for my fellow language teachers as well as for myself, and I hope we’ll hold each other accountable!

Mindset shifts for online teachers learning languages.1. Set reasonable goals.

You know they tell us to set a specific and measurable goal for ourselves and how it’s supposed to motivate us? It’s a great tip except in most cases our goals become too far-fetched. If you haven’t been in the habit of learning a language for some time, setting overly specific goals and expecting ourselves to live up to them is nothing more than a recipe for disaster.

Instead, think of why you want to get back into language learning, write down the feelings you experienced when you learned a language consistently and build anticipation.

Whenever I want to motivate myself I’m reminded of the first time I could understand English. I was 15 and had spent months working through several textbooks and cassettes (remember those?) on my own. The sheer sense of wonder is enough to get me excited about my new adventures.

2. Accept that learning won’t be linear.

As language teachers, it’s easy for us to create a program and a curriculum for other people. In our minds, we feel like we need some kind of a rigid curriculum for ourselves that we will follow religiously for the next several months or years.

Again, this expectation builds up too much pressure that prevents us from getting started where we are. It’s one thing when we’re learning for a specific goal of getting a job or immigrating but when we’re learning language just because we love it we need to revise our rigid curricula.

Adopting a mantra that our learning will not be linear and accepting the fact that some days we’ll finish off a couple of “units from a textbook” while other times we’ll just listen to a song and practice singing along is a healthy starting place. Learning a language will go beyond textbooks and curricula, and that’s OK. Learning can be versatile and still effective.

3. Accept that learning will not be “perfect.”

Going back to my kids’ immersion school experience, I don’t think it’s fair to compare our learning with that of an immersion program or even our University years. Driven by our nostalgic thoughts of ample language learning experiences, we often discard the new opportunities in the present.

Giving up our ideas of what a “perfect” language learning environment is, accept the new environment as the new norm. In this new environment, you may not be as productive or efficient, but you will be able to exercise your freedom and try out different things. After all the years of mandatory fill-in-the-gap exercises, it’s OK to have some fun and run down rabbit holes when you have a random language-learning question.

4. Accept your own pace.

Though I’m writing for the Fluent in 3 months I encourage you to set your own pace, whether your intention is to become fluent or to dabble in the language or to create a soothing language learning practice as a creative outlet and a self-awareness exercise.

In my coaching work, I use the image of a turtle as a reminder of taking our own time and not rushing things no matter what you do. It’s taken years to realize that taking a slower route has no reflection on my intellectual capacity as a learner. A faster pace doesn’t make me more of a genius. So, determine your own pace and try not to compare it against others.

How to find time and money for learning a language.

Do you feel like you can breathe better? Giving ourselves permission to learn in our own way, at our own pace and following our curiosity rather than a rigid plan takes a heavy load off our shoulders, but we still haven’t figured out how to make it all come together.

In this section, I want to utilize my coaching brain and leave you with 3 questions that can help you and me set this language learning practice in motion without guilt, “shoulds” and other external pressure. Imagine setting up your own routines with confidence and excitement! Imagine being in charge of the language learning process and delighting in it. Let’s do it.

Question 1: What do you want?

While we may not be setting lofty goals or putting too much pressure on ourselves, we need to identify what’s behind our language learning process. What do we want? As you answer, try to hear if these wants are your own or someone else’s. Dr. Edith Eger likes to ask a no-less important follow-up question, Who wants it? You can spot someone else’s wants if you add the word should when you answer the what do you want question.

For example, “I want to learn a new language because as a language teacher I should understand the process that my clients are going through.” You can see that the answer isn’t about the person’s wants but rather about living up to someone else’s expectations.

Another common answer is, “I want to learn a language because it’s a shame that after so many years I still cannot speak it.” While it may be a legitimate answer, the motivation comes from a parent or a teacher who used to tell you about your “wasted” years of learning if you have nothing to show for it. This is not a motivation to learn but rather a motivation to prove someone wrong.

I want to learn a language because I want to rekindle my passion and get back to feeling elated when I can understand a line or two from a favorite song. What do you want?

Question 2: What are your main challenges right now?

One current challenge is probably creating space and then adding time and money to make the dream of language learning a reality. Write down different things that you think are keeping you away from your new practice. At this point, you’re not solving anything, just writing things down.

Fears grow in hiding and isolation. In Russian, we say that fear has big eyes, and when we avoid looking at our fears they grow bigger and become uncontrollable. So writing down challenges and fears is a simple technique to reduce the anxiety that shows up when you try to do something new or maybe get back into the routines you left behind some time ago.

Question 3: What are you willing to give up?

The thought of giving up something in order to do something else feels like a threat to our freedom. I loved how Delia Ephron wrote in one of her memoirs that having it all is a mathematical impossibility. It’s difficult to accept that we’re just humans and cannot pick up hobbies on the fly with no change to our lives. But giving up something is not always negative. I mean, if I cut down on the time I mindlessly scroll through Youtube in search of a new funny video to work on my German I gain a new purpose, and my life becomes more meaningful.

The same is true about money. Choosing to cut down on some expenses to afford a new book or a language learning program is healthy and fulfilling. The good news, you do not need to give anything up permanently. I’ve created a calendar template (download below) that can help you create your own language learning experience for 2022, without massive expenses or constant intensive immersion simulation. Just print it out and adjust it the way it works best for you.

Download the workbook

A new year of delightful language learning is ahead. You might be starting in January or in June. Maybe you’re picking it up after months of doing nothing. Let’s leave the guilt behind us. The best time to start again is always now. It’s the time of courage, the time of overcoming our status quo, the time of welcoming wonder into our lives – the thrill of decoding new messages and filling strange-sounding words with meaning. It’s the year of new beginnings for us as language teachers who rekindle their passion for language learning. Bon Voyage!

The post How online teachers can find time and money for learning a new language appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

How to Learn Czech: Why Czech Is Easier Than You Think

“I want to learn Czech, but it’s too hard!”

You wouldn’t imagine how many times I’ve heard this sentence.

It might not always be about Czech. I’ve heard it about Japanese, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, , Korean, Finnish, and probably many of the languages you can think of.

Of all the sentences I know in all the languages I know, it’s probably one of the sentences I hate the most. It is simply misleading.

Learning Czech isn’t as hard as you think, and I will tell you why in this post.

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Table of contentsWhat I’ve Discovered from Learning Czech to a Pretty Good Level1. Ignore the Scare Tactics!2. You Can Get Away With Learning Less VocabularyA Few Exceptions3. Learning Czech Grammar Is Easier Than It Seems!Here Are Some Examples4. The Key When Learning Czech Is the Right AttitudeMy Study Tool Recommendations1. Czech, an Essential Grammar (Book)2. Lonely Planet Czech Phrasebook & Dictionary (Phrasebook)3. Online ResourcesWhat I’ve Discovered from Learning Czech to a Pretty Good Level

My Czech experiment was an interesting one and I’m happy with the results and have learned a lot from the conclusions that I’ve drawn!

I chose Czech randomly and was able to reach a good level after two months of casual part-time commitment. (Actually, with no commitment at all in my last month. I had to increase my workload to pay off a debt; hence 2 months instead of 3.)

But I didn’t reach a good level because of some hidden language-gene that I definitely don’t have. It was because of the techniques that I’ve openly discussed on this blog, and the general positive attitude I’ve had from the very start.

This attitude was deeply rooted in the refusal to believe that Czech was a hard language.

Rather than having this philosophy simply from repeating a mantra like “it isn’t hard” over and over again, I was constantly finding evidence to support this theory as I learned more about Czech.

Today I’d like to share these discoveries and the tools that I used. You might be interested in trying this experiment for yourself.

1. Ignore the Scare Tactics!

If you’ve decided to learn Czech, the first thing that other learners or (especially) natives may do is tell you how hard it is. It’s got 7 cases, unpronounceable consonant clusters, irregular plurals, unrecognisable vocabulary, the hard-to-pronounce letter ř, lions and tigers and bears, oh my!!!

As a generally optimistic person, I tend to ignore unhelpful comments like these whenever possible. None of these news flashes were going to help or encourage me to make progress in the language.

So I found another way of looking at them.

Even after studying it for just a few hours, I had already found several reasons to claim that it was easy, such as discovering that it was a phonetic language, unlike, say, French.

(And definitely not like English. I challenge you to say though, through, plough, dough, cough very quickly on the first attempt.)

I also realised that Czech conjugation can be similar to Latin languages.

Since then, I’ve found other ways of looking at the issue that you may find interesting. I’m not trying to say that Czech is “easy”, just that constantly focusing on it being hard is not helpful!

Looking at it the following way may motivate you and help you reach a good level.

2. You Can Get Away With Learning Less Vocabulary

When you learn French, Spanish, etc., you can find that many words are similar in English. That really eases the blow.

Since Czech is in the Slavic language branch, most words you encounter are nothing like their English counterparts, so it can be quite discouraging when you have hundreds of thousands of words to describe all the basic things in life, to learn off.

Even the best memory techniques may not help when you are up against such a vast amount.

Lucky for us, Czech isn’t actually made up of hundreds of thousands of different individual words. Instead, it has a much smaller subset of word roots, prefixes and suffixes. Most of these are linked together in logical or easy-to-remember ways to form many words.

Czech does this way more than the western European languages I’m familiar with (which already do it to a certain extent).

Let me show you what I mean:

Let’s take 4 prefixes; v, vy, od and za, (all but vy are also prepositions) and add them to a word root chod related to the verb chodit, (“to go” habitual).

V by itself and in many verbs means “in”, so when you have something for “going in” you have a…? An entrance! Vchod!

Vý/vy doesn’t exist by itself in this context, but it means the opposite and you have an “exit”: východ.

Od by itself means simply “from”, so what do you think a “from-go” thing would be? A “departure”: odchod!

You’ll actually find that a huge amount of words in Czech are formed by a small number of prefixes added to roots and a lot of them have extremely logical meanings like this.

Compare this to the French for exit, sortie, which is impossible to understand unless you have seen specifically that word or its verb sortir before. I find Czech’s word-formation to be much more logical and it is definitely easier to remember.

So learning a new word sometimes doesn’t actually involve learning any new words at all!

A Few Exceptions

Some examples take a bit of imagination but are still not that illogical if your imagination is good enough.

Taking my last prefix za with chod; za can mean “behind/off”, i.e. going offstage or out of view. Well, if you are excusing yourself to “go” from out of the current “scene” or location, you may be going to… the toilet!

Czech signs say toaleta, but using the word in conversation would be weird because “záchod” is what most people say for toilets!

Yes, I know I’m pushing it a bit! But you have to admit, it’s not that much of a stretch of the imagination! This technique, combined with the very, very many straightforward logical combinations gave me thousands of Czech words for very little work.

In fact, prefix + root combinations multiply.

So if you understand the vague sense associated with the main prefixes do, na, nad(e), ne, o(b), od(e), pa, po, popo, pod, pro, pře, před, při, roz, s(e), spolu, u, v(e), vy, vz, z, za and combine less than half of them with say 10 roots that they may work with, then for the price of learning 20 word-meanings, you actually get 10×10=100 words thanks to all the possible combinations!

When you add suffixes to the mix, it helps for understanding a huge amount of words. And that’s without getting a headache trying to memorise each word individually!

For example, the suffix ař, which means people associated with the root word, and the word for a medicine lék, will give you a lékař… a medicine-person? A doctor!!

Film is the same as in English, but filmař is film maker, ryba is fish, but rybář is fisherman etc.

You can break up so many words like this. Studying the prefixes and suffixes gives you an exponential amount of possibilities to understand the language.

3. Learning Czech Grammar Is Easier Than It Seems!

When I was told that there were 7 cases for each word with a different option for singular and plural in Czech, I was worried that I would have to learn 14 “words” for each individual word.

This is not the case.

Sorry Czech, but your cases don’t scare me in the least. All we need to do is change the end of the word. (Most of the time, simply changing one vowel to another, but practically all other changes follow consistent rules like h->z).

It does take a bit of getting used to that you have to remember if you are changing that last o to an a and which case to use etc. However, if you actually talk with Czechs, they will correct you if you just throw in any odd ending. It will sink in quickly enough.

This is something that you can get used to!

In fact, it soon becomes quite natural! It may seem annoying when starting off, since we don’t have this in English, but you must look at it from within the language itself, instead of from English.

I got so used to the use of Czech cases that I actually find it annoying now when people use the Czech word “Praha” in English instead of Prague without declining it! You can’t say in Praha or to Praha; it would obviously be in Praze and to Prahy, duh!!

Here Are Some Examples

You may be sceptical to think that this is easy, but let’s compare it to other languages: Czech failed to impress me in difficulty in so many counts and noun declensions was one of them.

In Irish, we also have the genitive and vocative sense for example.

However, because of initial mutations on words, when we alter a word, the ending and the beginning is changed. A word starting with a B changes to a V sound for example.

In Czech, all they do is change the ending, and the rules are very consistent.

In French, you can almost never just say a singular word in a sentence without adding an (in)definite article, which requires you to know its gender. Czech doesn’t even have indefinite/definite articles.

It’s true that they use demonstrative (“this/that”) more. However, translating a sentence as “I saw car” (with no “the/a”, which complicates the sentence somewhat in other languages) is completely correct.

However, when you do learn the genders of nouns, they are easy to remember. Almost all of the time, a noun ending in a consonant is masculine. Ending in ‘a’, it is feminine, and ending in ‘o’, it is neuter. There are exceptions, but they follow predictable guidelines.

There may be 3 genders, but it’s very easy to remember which gender a noun is, especially compared to a language like French and to what I remembered from German, which has more complex ending-gender association rules and can seem much more random.

4. The Key When Learning Czech Is the Right Attitude

There is no challenge in the Czech language that you cannot overcome.

The consonant clusters are tricky, but in Czech, some consonants tend to act like vowels. Krk (“neck”) actually sounds a bit like Kirk (although note that the r is rolled), just with the vowel sound reduced.

When you are focused and devoted enough to the language these “noises” do turn into words very quickly. Children learn this language all the time, so a smart adult like you has no excuses!

It’s possible to retort this post with a list of reasons why Czech is hard, but why bother? How can that help language learners?

Czech has great literature and can be a very expressive and difficult language to master. But if your goal is to just speak it, then there is NOTHING holding you back from this. I challenge you to find even more reasons why it’s easy rather than tell me how wrong I am about it not being hard.

Give this language a try.

Apart from these tips specifically for Czech, it’s very important to have an efficient study and learning method.

My Study Tool Recommendations1. Czech, an Essential Grammar (Book)

I got asked a lot about what tools I used to study Czech. A great book that helped a lot was Czech, an Essential Grammar, which you can get directly from Amazon.

It was highly recommended to me and now I highly recommend it to you!

This book goes into great detail about word formations and very clearly explains Czech grammar in a straightforward, no-BS way. It doesn’t waste time with childish pictures or irrelevant examples. Instead, it goes right into explaining the meat of the language. It includes full translations of all examples used and lots of important vocabulary in each chapter.

I just wanted the facts, explained clearly and in detail, so this book was the best for me, but if you need a more lesson-oriented approach this won’t be for you.

2. Lonely Planet Czech Phrasebook & Dictionary (Phrasebook)

As I often mention, I always have a phrasebook in my pocket.

Anytime I was waiting anywhere, I took this one out and learned some words from the dictionary at the back. The dictionary is small enough to get through a whole letter of the alphabet in a 10 minute wait for the tram. And yet, it still covers most of the essential words.

You can also learn a huge amount of phrases from a wide range of categories squeezed into this tiny book.

The Lonely Planet phrasebook series has served me well in several languages and it did a great job in Czech too. There are lots of other phrasebooks, but I like the wide range of topics covered by the phrases by Lonely Planet. You can get this on the Amazon site.

3. Online Resources

If you’re near a computer when studying, there are plenty of websites that can help too!

You can find a very detailed dictionary at Slovnik.cz but sometimes it gives way too many translations for simple words with no context explanation.

I personally prefer the good old Wordreference’s Czech dictionary for looking up simple words.

Here’s an updated list of my favourite Czech online resources on this page.

Benny’s Top Resources for Learning CzechHow to Learn a Language in 2022 – Ultimate Guide with 35+ Language HacksMagnetic Memory Method: An In-Depth Review from a Language LearnerThe Best Way to Learn a Language [Scientifically Proven, Polyglot Tested]Duolingo Review: The Quick, Easy, and Free Way to Learn a Language

The post How to Learn Czech: Why Czech Is Easier Than You Think appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

15+ Korean Books to Learn Korean Fast and Discover Korean Culture

Do you love to read? Use your love of books to learn Korean faster! This list of the best Korean books will get you started.

No matter what level you’re at in your Korean studies (or if you’re looking for a good Korean book in English!), this list will give you something good to read.

I’ll be sharing the best textbooks to start learning Korean so you can better read novels. And I’ll be listing out the must-read Korean books in English translation, too, to learn more about the culture.

Oh, and I’ve included Korean children’s books, for beginners or raising bilingual babies.

function runSplitTest(){var randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * 2) + 1console.log(randomNumber)var copy = "";if (randomNumber == 1){ copy = '<i>A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in Korean for at least 15 minutes with the "Fluent in 3 Months" method. All it takes is 90 days. <b><a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/ch?sr... this link to find out more.</b></a></i>'} else { copy = '<i>A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in Korean for at least 15 minutes with the "Fluent in 3 Months" method. All it takes is 90 days. <b><a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/ch?sr... this link to find out more.</b></a></i>'}console.log(copy)var copyToChange = document.querySelector("p.copyText").innerHTML = copy;}runSplitTest();Table of contentsCan You Learn Korean With Books?What Are the Best Books to Learn Korean?Talk to Me in Korean BooksKorean Grammar in UseOnline Resource: 90 Day KoreanHow Do You Say “Book” in Korean?Best Korean BooksThe Vegetarian by Han KangPlease Look After Mom by Shin Kyung-sookTower by Bae Myung-HoonKim Ji-Young, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-JooThe Plotters by Un-Su KimLove in the Big City by Sang Young ParkNovels Written in KoreanShort Stories in Korean for Intermediate Learners by Ollie RichardsStory Books from Talk to Me in KoreanKorean Children’s BooksThe Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho and Jess X. SnowRice from Heaven: The Secret Mission to Feed North Koreans by Tina Cho and Keum Jin SongPinkfong Music BooksBee-Bim Bop! by Linda Sue ParkHow Can I Buy Korean Books?Be a Korean BookwormCan You Learn Korean With Books?

If you’ve watched any Korean dramas at all, you’ve probably seen huge bookstores and characters reading novels all the time. So if you’ve wondered, “Do Koreans love books?”, the answer is – absolutely they do!

Korea has a phenomenal book culture. They have mega bookstores that carry all kinds of items, not just books. They have comic and book cafes, where you can hang out and read to your heart’s content.

And Korea has incredible literature that will get you hooked.

Besides a general interest in reading, books are one of the best ways to learn a language.

Reading is a powerful tool (and one of the 4 languages skills ). It helps us gain insight into another culture, pick up new words and phrases in natural context, and learn a language through use.

What Are the Best Books to Learn Korean?

First up, let’s look at the best Korean learning books. Because you’ll need some Korean learning resources to help you advance your skills to read easier.

What book is best for learning Korean?

Talk to Me in Korean Books

Talk to Me in Korean is one of the best-known resources out there for learning Korean. They have it all – podcasts, YouTube videos, an online curriculum, and many books and textbooks.

Their textbooks are popular for being easy to use and learn with. And they offer a ton of variety of textbooks on different topics, as well as graded readers.

They have their grammar books from level 1 – 10, ranging from absolute beginner to advanced learning. They include audio so you can listen and work on pronunciation.

Korean Grammar in Use

If you can already read and write hangul and know some basic Korean words, then this textbook is for you.

Widely considered one of the best Korean grammar books, Korean Grammar in Use is easy to follow and focuses on teaching you to build your own sentences.

This is the textbook I used with my italki seonsangnim (“teacher”), and I highly recommend it. Plus, it’s reasonably priced on Amazon!

There’s also an intermediate and advanced version of the textbook for further learning.

Online Resource: 90 Day Korean

Okay, it’s not a traditional textbook, but 90 Day Korean does still have lessons and exercises to go through in a structured course!

90 Day Korean is one of my favorite Korean courses to learn how to speak Korean fast. It’s a well-thought-
out and easy-to-follow course, with lots of vocab and grammar practice.

Plus, they teach you about a lot of fun topics, like KPop and KDramas, too!

How Do You Say “Book” in Korean?

What are Korean novels called?

Well, a “book” is called 책, chaek.

In the case of a “novel”, it’s 소설, soseol.

Here are some other Korean words related to reading you should know:

To read: 읽다, itdaTo write: 쓰기, sseugiReading (noun): 독서, dokseoAuthor: 작가, jakgaComic: 만화, manhwaWebtoons: 웹툰, webtunBookstore: 서점, seojeomBest Korean Books

If you’re looking for the best Korean stories to dive into and learn more about the culture, these are where you should start.

These books are bestsellers and popular modern novels that give insight into life in Korea.

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

You wouldn’t think becoming a vegetarian would be a big deal. But The Vegetarian tells a different story.

Yeong-hye and her husband live a normal life. But Yeong-hye decides to go vegetarian because of weird and graphic dreams. And when she does, everything around her starts crumbling.

The book is a reflection of modern-day Korean society and how strict customs are upheld.

I’ll put a trigger warning here, though, because this book does deal with some heavy and graphic stuff.

Please Look After Mom by Shin Kyung-sook

A popular international bestseller, Please Look After Mom may be one you already know. But if you haven’t read it yet, you’re missing out.

A 69-year-old wife and mom is separated from her husband in the crowded Seoul subway and goes missing. As her two children and husband look for her, they realize they don’t have a recent photo of her for the missing flyers.

This leads them to dig deeper and ask themselves… Do they even really know Mom?

The story takes turns through the narrative of the main characters. It reflects on how well we actually know those around us (especially our moms).

Tower by Bae Myung-Hoon

A sci-fi novel, Tower was published in 2009 in Korea. But only recently in 2021 did it finally get an English translation!

The Tower follows a series of short stories that are all interconnected. The tower itself is called the Beanstalk, and it’s a huge skyscraper that operates as a sovereign nation. Each story shares a look at what life is like in this strange, hypermodern society.

Kim Ji-Young, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo

Kim Ji-Young, Born 1982 is an international bestseller about a millennial Korean woman and her spiral into psychosis.

Ji-young gives birth to her child, and she’s expected to quit her job and take care of her husband and baby full time. But then she starts having strange symptoms of psychosis, like impersonating the voices of other women.

She ends up seeing a male psychiatrist. From there, the story recounts her experience as a woman in Korea from childhood to adulthood. It shows how gender discrimination and trauma affected her life and mental health.

The Plotters by Un-Su Kim

If adrenaline were a book, this would be it.

Set in an alternate Seoul, The Plotters tells the story of an assassins guild operating out of an old library. Reseng, one of the assassins raised by Old Raccoon, has become one of the best on the job.

But he discovers a crazy plot, and has to figure out if he can take control of the situation and the game.

Love in the Big City by Sang Young Park

A tale of Seoul nightlife, hangovers in the morning, and a reflection of millennial and queer life in Korea.

Love in the Big City follows Young. He loves to throw down with soju, meet up with Tinder matches, and hang out with his best friend/roommate, Jaehee.

But Jaehee decides to settle down, and Young is left to start growing up and taking responsibility for his life and his ailing mom. All while possibly finding the greatest love of his life.

Novels Written in Korean

If you’re an advanced learner, any of the books written in Korean above would be an enjoyable read.

But what other novels could you read in Korean, if you can’t read a whole book yet?

Here are some ideas of graded readers to level up your skills.

Short Stories in Korean for Intermediate Learners by Ollie Richards

Ollie Richards is the creator of StoryLearning. I’ve reviewed his Japanese Uncovered course where you learn Japanese through story. (He has one coming out for Korean soon!)

He’s a big proponent of learning through reading, so it’s no surprise he has created a fantastic graded reader for intermediate learners.

Short Stories in Korean contains 8 stories in different genres – everything from sci-fi to historical.

The book focuses on using the 1000 most common Korean words. And includes a glossary, plot summaries, and bilingual word list to help you along.

Plus, there are comprehension questions after each story to help make sure you’ve understood what you’ve read.

Story Books from Talk to Me in Korean

Talk to Me in Korean also has a lot of graded readers that align with their Korean textbook levels.

For example, Have You Seen a Blue Jindo Dog? is for levels 1 – 5 and has both Korean and English translation side-by-side. There’s also their series of Korean Reading with Kakao & LINE Friends for levels 5 – 10.

They have books with children’s poems, collections of easy reading stories, and even a Winnie the Pooh book!

But best of all, they have a collection of 5 short novels by acclaimed authors. They’re all short in length and contain the English translation to help you ease into full-blown novels in Korean.

Korean Children’s BooksThe Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho and Jess X. Snow

This book is so interesting and beautiful. It tells the story of Dayeon, a young girl who wants to be a haenyeo like her grandmother.

Haenyeo (“sea women”) are women divers whose job it is to dive for mollusks, seaweed, and other sea life. They’re from the Jeju province in Korea, an island off the southern coast of Korea.

Dayeon sees the haenyeo as beautiful, strong mermaids, and while she longs to join, she’s scared to get in the water. Dayeon’s halmoni (“grandmother”) helps her overcome her fear and appreciate the ocean.

Rice from Heaven: The Secret Mission to Feed North Koreans by Tina Cho and Keum Jin Song

Another Korean children’s book by Tina Cho. Rice from Heaven: The Secret Mission to Feed North Koreans is based on the true story of a girl who helped feed North Koreans sending balloons across the border.

Yoori’s appa (“dad”) grew up in North Korea and escaped to South Korea. But while living in the North, he grew up starving and never had enough to eat.

So Yoori takes it upon herself to bring her community together to “help the enemy” – and send rice via balloons to those starving in the North.

Appa means “dad” in Korean. But do you know how to say “mom” or “sibling”? I wrote a guide for you to answer these questions: https://www.fluentin3months.com/family-in-korean/)

Pinkfong Music Books

If you’re a parent, you’ve probably heard “Baby Shark” 5 million times by now. Well, the creators of the song, Pinkfong, also make a lot of Korean material.

One such option is their Korean music books with sounds and music, written in Korean. They’re available on Amazon!

Bee-Bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park

Bee-Bim Bop! is an adorable story that celebrates Korean food and preparation as a family.

Bibimbap is a Korean mixed rice dish and a classic staple meal in Korea. In the story, the Korean American mom and child go shopping, prepare the food, and make their favorite meal together.

How Can I Buy Korean Books?

For the majority of the books here in English translation, you can buy them at your local bookstore.

But getting books written in Korean is a bit harder.

Sometimes you can find them on Amazon, but they’re usually pricey.

Books on Korea has a wide range of book options, including textbooks, novels, comics, and children’s books.

Gmarket is a popular choice. It’s a global online shop with tons of options for goods (not just books!) from South Korea directly.

I recently discovered Korean Kids Books which features a small selection of bilingual children’s books for a great price.

And as for finding more Korean book recommendations? I use Goodreads to search for Korean book ideas. I save them to my list, so I remember which ones I want when I order or shop for an ebook!

Be a Korean Bookworm

This is only the tip of the iceberg with Korean books and novels. There are tons more options, in all sorts of genres and topics.

But this will help get you started.

Being a bookworm in your target language will pay off immensely in your language skills! So go forth and read often.

If you’re ready to take the next steps in your learning, why not check out these other articles about learning Korean?

Innovative Language Review – Complete Pod101 Language Course Review (with Screenshots and Video Results)101 Must-Know Korean Verbs to Boost Your VocabularyHow to Learn Korean with SongsKorean Slang: 80+ Words and Phrases to Sound Like a Native90 Day Korean Inner Circle: An In-Depth Review

The post 15+ Korean Books to Learn Korean Fast and Discover Korean Culture appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

60+ Really Useful Spanish Phrases for Conversation and Travel

Planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country? Or prepping for a Spanish conversation on Skype? Then you need to get some simple, really useful Spanish phrases under your belt!

There are tons of benefits in learning to speak the local language when you travel, even if you just learn a few phrases. People really appreciate it when you speak to them in their own language, and there’s a good chance you’ll make memories you can treasure for life.

I started out learning Peninsular Spanish (mainland Spain), but through my travels I’ve grown accustomed to various dialects of Spanish. It always made these adventures much more enjoyable.

By learning a few basic Spanish phrases for travel, you can create lasting friendships all over the world. Making friends, enjoying the culture, and learning about the best spots only locals know – that’s the real dream of travelling, isn’t it?

So let’s get you prepared!

function runSplitTest(){var randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * 2) + 1console.log(randomNumber)var copy = "";if (randomNumber == 1){ copy = '<i>A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in Spanish 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 Spanish course, here’s the course I recommend: <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/olly-... Uncovered - Learn Spanish 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 contentsBasic Spanish Vocabulary for TravelHow to Say “Hello!” in Spanish“Good Morning” in Spanish“Nice to Meet You” in Spanish“Have a Good Day” in Spanish“See You Soon” in Spanish“Goodbye” in SpanishBeing Polite in Spanish as You Travel“Please” in Spanish“Thank You” in Spanish“You’re Welcome” in Spanish“Excuse Me” in Spanish“I’m Sorry” in SpanishChit Chat Phrases in Spanish“How Are You?” in Spanish“What’s Up?” in Spanish“What Are Your Hobbies?” in Spanish“I Like…” and “I Don’t Like…” in Spanish“Where Are You From?” in SpanishTalking About the Weather in SpanishOut on the Town & Getting Around: Key Spanish Phrases for Tourists“I Would Like…” in Spanish“Can I See a Menu, Please?” in Spanish“Check/Bill, Please” in Spanish“Cheers” in Spanish“How Much Does it Cost?” in Spanish“Do You Have…” in Spanish“I Need…” in Spanish“I Want…” and “I Don’t Want…” in Spanish“Where is…” in SpanishDirection Words in Spanish“What Time Is It?” in Spanish“What Is This?” in SpanishAsk the Important QuestionsThe 5 W’s in Spanish“How” in Spanish“Can You Help Me?” in Spanish“Can You Say That Again?” in SpanishThe 5 Best Words and Phrases to Know When Traveling to a Spanish Speaking CountrySpeak. Experience. Enjoy. Use the Spanish Travel Phrases You Know!Basic Spanish Vocabulary for Travel

Before we jump onto the Spanish phrases you will need to use in your travels, you might want to learn a couple of basic Spanish words related to travel.

“Travel” in Spanish is viaje, which is also used for “trip”. If you wanted to say “road trip”, for example, you could say viaje or viaje de carretera.

The verb “to travel” is viajar. Luckily, it’s one of the regular Spanish verbs, meaning that its conjugation follows the pattern of other verbs ending in -ar. (You can read this post on basic Spanish conjugation if you want to learn how to conjugate viajar.)

Now you’re ready to discover 60+ more Spanish phrases for travel.

How to Say “Hello!” in Spanish

Of course, you can’t start a conversation without knowing some Spanish greetings. So here are some common Spanish phrases to get started.

This is the most common greeting is hola. You can use this one at any time of day, and it always sounds natural.

You can also try the following:

“Good Morning” in Spanish

To greet someone in the morning (la mañana), you say buenos días. During the afternoon (la tarde), you can switch to buenas tardes (“good afternoon”), which is also in the plural form.

Related Learning: Hello in Spanish: “¡Hola!” and 70+ More Spanish Greetings for All Occasions

“Nice to Meet You” in Spanish

When you’re introduced to someone, you can say mucho gusto. It translates as “pleasure”, like “It’s a pleasure”. But that’s a bit formal in English, so a more accurate translation would be “Nice to meet you”. In extra formal situations, you can say un placer.

“My Name is…” in Spanish

When you introduce yourself, you can start by saying Me llamo _____. My favourite conversation starter is Hola, soy Benny (“Hi, I’m Benny”). This version is a more conversational way to say your name, but me llamo is more straightforward.

“What’s Your Name?” in Spanish

Once you’ve introduced yourself, you should ask what the other person’s name is (if they don’t beat you to it). To ask someone else’s name, you say ¿Cómo te llamas?

“Have a Good Day” in Spanish

Say goodbye by saying ¡Tenga un buen día! to wish someone well with the rest of their day. If it’s someone you’re close to, you can say it more casually: que tengas un buen dia.

“See You Soon” in Spanish

If you’ve made plans to meet with someone again, throw in a friendlier phrase: ¡Hasta luego!

“Goodbye” in Spanish

You can say adiós for “goodbye”, or cuídate to say “take care”.

Related Learning: 65+ Ways to Say “Goodbye” in Spanish

Being Polite in Spanish as You Travel

Naturally, you want to make sure you can express yourself in a polite way so you don’t offend anyone. So memorize these important phrases to mind your manners.

“Please” in Spanish

When asking for something, make sure to include por favor to say “please”. It usually gets added on at the end of a sentence, much like in English.

“Thank You” in Spanish

Make sure to always say thank you! You can say gracias, or muchas gracias if you want to say “thank you very much”.

“You’re Welcome” in Spanish

If someone says thank you, you can reply with de nada which means “you’re welcome” or “no problem”. You could also use mucho gusto here to say “it was my pleasure”.

“Excuse Me” in Spanish

There are a few main ways to say this in Spanish, depending on how you use it. If you need a favour, you say perdone. And if you need to get by someone, you would say perdón, disculpe or con permiso (this is a bit more polite, like “pardon me”).

“I’m Sorry” in Spanish

Related Learning: ¡Lo Siento! and 25 More Ways to Say “Sorry” in Spanish

If you did something wrong or need to apologise for something, say lo siento. As in English, you can also use disculpe (“excuse me”) for an apology in some situations.

Chit Chat Phrases in Spanish

Now it’s time to start diving into useful Spanish phrases for conversation!

I’m covering some light small talk to get you going, but make sure to check out my Spanish conversation starters to get into deeper discussions.

“How Are You?” in Spanish

There are several ways to ask how someone is doing, but the most common and direct translation is ¿Cómo estás? or ¿Cómo está usted? (which is more polite). If someone asks you this question, you can reply bien for “I’m well” or así así for “so-so”. Follow with ¿Y tú? (“And you?”) to keep the conversation going.

“What’s Up?” in Spanish

For a more casual greeting, you can use the expression ¿Qué tal? You’ll hear this one quite a bit, as it’s more natural in everyday conversation – like “what’s up” or “how’s it going?” When someone says this to you, you can answer the same way as above: bien (or muy bien, meaning “very well”).

“What Are Your Hobbies?” in Spanish

Start getting to know others by asking what they like to do in their spare time. You can ask ¿Cuáles son tus aficiones? for “What are your hobbies?” Un hobby and un pasatiempo are other common ways to say “hobby”. You can also ask ¿Qué haces para divertirte? which means “What do you like to do for fun?”

“I Like…” and “I Don’t Like…” in Spanish

You asked them about their interests, and now they’ve asked you. So how do you express what you like? You say me gusta (“I like”) or no me gusta (“I don’t like”). For instance, me gusta viajar (“I like to travel”) or No me gusta la pizza (“I don’t like pizza”). Just kidding with that last one – who doesn’t like pizza?

“Where Are You From?” in Spanish

Another small talk question that helps to keep the chit-chat going. You can ask someone where they’re from by saying ¿De dónde eres?

Talking About the Weather in Spanish

Weather talk isn’t exactly what you would think of when learning Spanish phrases for travel. However, it’s always handy to know a few words or phrases about the weather, as it’s universal small talk.

The word for “weather” is el clima or el tiempo, and you can say things like ¡Buen clima hoy! (“Nice weather today!”). Or, the opposite: El mal tiempo hoy, eh (“Bad weather today, huh”).

Other phrases you can use are hace calor hoy (“It’s hot today”) and hace frío hoy (“It’s cold today”).

Related Learning: Talking About the Weather in Spanish: 77 Spanish Weather Words (and Phrases) that are Good to Know

Out on the Town & Getting Around: Key Spanish Phrases for Tourists

When you’re travelling, it helps to know how to express yourself when you’re out to eat, shopping, or trying to find your way around!

“I Would Like…” in Spanish

If you want to ask for something, use me gustaría… as the basic Spanish stem to get started. A few common things you might ask for: food, drinks, or to buy something.

If you want to ask for something to eat, say me gustaría comer… For something to drink, you say me gustaría beber… And to say what you would like to buy, you say me gustaría comprar…

Add the word for what you’re trying to get at the end, like Me gustaría comprar un periódico (“I would like to buy a newspaper”).

To make it even easier, you could always point to what you want and say esto for “this.” So in that last example, you could hand the cashier the newspaper you want to buy and say Me gustaría comprar esto (“I’d like to buy this”).

“Can I See a Menu, Please?” in Spanish

If you’re out to eat and trying to figure out what you want to ask for, you can first ask to see the menu. Un menú, por favor (“A menu, please”) will do the trick.

Related Learning: Spanish Food Vocabulary: A Guide to Spanish Cuisine and Spanish Eating Culture — with Lots of Spanish Vocab

“Check/Bill, Please” in Spanish

When you’re finished with your meal, you’ll need to ask for the check/bill. You can ask for it by saying La cuenta, por favor.

“Cheers” in Spanish

Of course, you need to know how to toast at happy hour! Whenever you meet with someone over drinks, say ¡Salud! for “Cheers!”

“How Much Does it Cost?” in Spanish

When you’re out shopping, you’ll likely want to know how much everything is. To ask the price, say ¿Cuánto cuesta eso? which is “How much does it cost?”

“Do You Have…” in Spanish

To ask if someone has something you need, you can say ¿Tienes…? followed by the word for what you need. Are you at the hotel and in need of toiletries, like toilet paper? Ask the receptionist ¿Tienes papel higiénico?

“I Need…” in Spanish

Or, you could say “I need” to express what you’re looking for. You say necesito… and then whatever word you need. Like in the last example, you could say Necesito papel higiénico (“I need toilet paper”).

“I Want…” and “I Don’t Want…” in Spanish

If you remember those old Taco Bell commercials with the little Chihuahua, you probably already know this one: Yo quiero Taco Bell. Any time you want something, you can say yo quiero and any time you don’t want something, you say yo no quiero.

“Where is…” in Spanish

When you’re travelling, it’s easy to get a bit lost or unsure of where things are located. You can use the phrase ¿Dónde está…? to ask for directions or where something is. Some basic Spanish sentences that may be helpful:

¿Dónde puedo encontrar un taxi? (“Where can I find a taxi?”)¿Dónde hay un banco? (“Where is a bank?”)¿Dónde está ____ hotel? (“Where is (your hotel’s name) hotel?” )¿Dónde está el baño? (“Where is the bathroom?”)Direction Words in Spanish

If you’re going to ask where something is located, it’s helpful to know the words to understand the answer. Here are some basic direction words you should know:

Izquierda (“Left”)Derecha (“Right”)Siga recto (“Go straight ahead”)Gire (“Turn”)Aquí (“Here”)Allí (“There”)Adelante (“Up ahead”)Deténgase aquí (“Stop here”)“What Time Is It?” in Spanish

Don’t have a watch? Ask someone for the time by saying ¿Qué hora tienes? You can also ask more casually with ¿Qué hora es?

“What Is This?” in Spanish

One of the most useful basic Spanish phrases you can know when learning the language: ¿Qué es esto?

Anytime you don’t know the word for something, you can ask by saying “What is this?” Then you can keep expanding your Spanish vocab!

Ask the Important Questions

To really find your way around or continue a conversation, you need to know how to ask questions. From asking about a person to trying to understand what someone is saying, these words are crucial to communication, learning, and building your Spanish sentences.

The 5 W’s in Spanish

Who, what, when, where, why. If you know these words, you can get the answers you need.

¿Quién…? (“Who”)¿Qué…? (“What”)¿Cuándo…? (“When?”)¿Dónde…? (“Where?”)¿Por qué…? (“Why?”)“How” in Spanish

To ask “how,” you say ¿Cómo…? And to ask how many, you ask ¿Cuántos? Plus, if you need to know which things, you can ask ¿Cuál? means “Which?”

“Can You Help Me?” in Spanish

If you’re in need of help while out, you can ask ¿Puede ayudarme? This is a good one to remember, too, because if you’re lost or you’re shopping and have a question, you can get their attention with Disculpe. ¿Puede ayudarme?

For an emergency, shout ¡Auxilio! (“Help!”)

“Can You Say That Again?” in Spanish

When you’re starting out learning a language, it’s hard to keep up with native speakers sometimes. If you didn’t catch what they said, you can ask ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor? (“Can you say that again, please?”).

If you still can’t understand, try asking them to say it slowly by asking ¿Puedes hablar más despacio? (“Can you speak more slowly?”)

If all else fails, you can ask ¿Hablas inglés? (“Do you speak English?”) Although, I believe the smartest decision you can make to gain fluency is to aim for full immersion and avoid English when possible.

The 5 Best Words and Phrases to Know When Traveling to a Spanish Speaking Country

If you’re already on a plane towards Cancún or Barcelona, you might not have the time to learn 60+ Spanish Phrases for travel.

Assuming that you know the basics (hola, adiós, sí, no, por favor, gracias), these are the five phrases I would recommend you learn before landing:

¿Cuánto cuesta? – “How much is it?”¿Puede hablar más despacio? – “Can you speak more slowly?”_¿Dónde está ___? – “Where is _____?”¿Puede ayudarme? – “Can you help me?”Me gustaría ______ – “I would like ______”Speak. Experience. Enjoy. Use the Spanish Travel Phrases You Know!

Now you’re ready for your travels and prepared to start having some basic Spanish conversations! The locals will appreciate your efforts, and you’ll have a more meaningful cultural experience.

If you need help with your pronunciation, check out this online pronunciation dictionary called Forvo. And if you’d like more prep leading up to your travels (or for deeper studying!), check out my tips for Spanish home immersion.

The 10 Best Ways to Learn Spanish (Be Fluent Faster!)Spanish Uncovered Review — An Honest, Detailed Review on Learning Spanish with Story¡Lo Siento! and 25 More Ways to Say “Sorry” in SpanishBest Podcast to Learn Spanish? SpanishPod101 In-depth Review With Pros and ConsThings in Spanish: 137 Spanish Words You Need to Know for Everyday Stuff

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Spanish Food: A Guide to Spanish Cuisine and Spanish Eating Culture — with Lots of Spanish Food Words

Can you eat your way to fluency in Spanish? Maybe not, but you can learn all about Spanish food culture, and how to talk about food in Spanish!

If you’re a foodie, then you know that food is the way to the heart of both a person and a culture! Even in your hometown, there may be a unique food culture, type of food, food etiquette or eating habits that everyone enjoys.

It’s an expression of where you live. County Cavan, Ireland, where I’m from, has its very own annual food festival to showcase unique local food.

Spanish cuisine is no exception. Food is a big part of culture in Spain, and it’s often an expression of love and friendship with others.

Everyone likes talking about food; it’s one of those universal small talk topics that most people feel comfortable with. Food vocabulary comes up everyday in conversations!

So, understanding Spanish food words and the Spanish food culture goes a long way.

That’s why there’s no yummier way to learn Spanish than through food. Exciting, right? You can have your cake and talk about it, too!

First thing’s first: the word for “food” in Spanish is comida.

function runSplitTest(){var randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * 2) + 1console.log(randomNumber)var copy = "";if (randomNumber == 1){ copy = '<i>A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in Spanish 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 Spanish course, here’s the course I recommend: <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/olly-... Uncovered - Learn Spanish 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 contentsFood Culture in SpainSpanish Manners & Eating HabitsEl Desayuno (“Breakfast”)La Comida (“Lunch”)La Merienda (“Snack”)La Cena (“Dinner/Supper”)Bocadillo de Medianoche (“Midnight Snack”)Sobremesa (“Over the Table”)Traditional Spanish Foods You Must TryPaellaGazpachoTortilla EspañolaJamón IbéricoPatatas BravasChorizoAlbondigasPollo al AjilloPistoMust-Know: Common Spanish Food WordsBreakfast Foods in SpanishLunch & Dinner Foods in SpanishSnacks and Dessert Foods in SpanishSpanish Words for Around the KitchenVerbs for Cooking & Eating in SpanishOrdering Food in a Spanish RestaurantSpanish “Foodie Fluency”

Hungry yet? You will be once we’re done!

Food Culture in Spain

Food habits in Spain are renowned for being quite unique. Eating and drinking are a big deal in Spanish culture, and bars are everywhere.

There’s always an excuse to grab some tapas (small-portioned appetisers) and socialise at the local drinking hole! Most bars serve as restaurants and hangouts where Spaniards can enjoy fútbol (“football”, or “soccer” in the US) together.

But the biggest difference in Spain’s food culture is how and when they eat.

Spanish Manners & Eating Habits

Eating habits in Spain have largely centered around work life… and I do mean life.

Currently, Spain runs on an 11-hour workday, although that’s changing in some areas. The workday starts around 9 am and doesn’t finish until 8 pm. Because of that, meal times are much farther apart than what most people expect.

El Desayuno (“Breakfast”)

In the morning, Spaniards enjoy a light desayuno (“breakfast”) before heading to work. It often consists of café con leche (“coffee with milk”) and a pastry or roll with jam, like bollos (“sweet rolls”).

Because of the very long gap between el desayuno and la comida (literally, “the food” but means “lunch” in this context), many people will often take a break mid-morning for a snack. (Much like the hobbit eating habit of Second Breakfast or Elevenses.)

This snack usually consists of tapas, like the famous tortilla de patata (“potato omelette”).

La Comida (“Lunch”)

Also called el almuerzo, Spaniards strongly believe that food should be thoroughly enjoyed, so lunch is no rushed affair. In fact, when workers go to lunch around 2 pm, the workplace typically shuts down for two or three hours so Spaniards can go feast.

In Spain, lunch is the largest meal of the day and has three or more courses. It’s even common to drink wine at lunch. It’s often included in the meal price!

Common lunch foods in Spanish culture include a soup or pasta, a protein-filled dish of meat or fish, salad, and dessert such as flan (vanilla custard) or simply fruit. Coffee, wine, and brandy are common drinks at lunch. You’ll almost always find plenty of bread at every meal to wipe the plate clean.

After a long lunch, it’s common to take a siesta or short nap. In some areas of Spain, siestas are even protected by law. In bigger cities like Madrid, however, this isn’t very common anymore.

(I’ve found that including siestas in my daily routine helped me focus better!)

La Merienda (“Snack”)

Because of the long work day, it’s not unusual to stop and grab another snack around 5 or 6 pm.

La merienda is like afternoon tea in England. It consists of something small such as bread, salami, fruit, cheese, chocolate, or other small finger foods.

La Cena (“Dinner/Supper”)

Since the workday finishes around 8 pm, dinner is eaten around 9 or 10 pm. It’s often small and simple compared to lunch, especially because it’s so late.

Arroz cubano is a common meal at dinner, which is a fried egg, rice, and a tomato sauce.

Dinner still usually includes a salad and small dessert of fruit, cheese, or flan.

Bocadillo de Medianoche (“Midnight Snack”)

The average Spaniard goes to bed around midnight every day, so a bocadillo de medianoche is not unheard of!

Churros are often picked up on the way home from a night out socialising at the bar. Or they’ll enjoy a nice, warm cup of Spanish hot chocolate.

Buen Provecho! (“Enjoy Your Meal!”)

In a restaurant, when the waiter delivers your meal to your table, you’re likely to hear ”Buen Provecho!”, which means “Enjoy your meal!” or “Bon appétit!”

In homes and among friends, you’re more likely to hear the less formal ”Que aproveche!”.

You can respond to both with ”Igualmente” (“Same to you”) if speaking to someone who’s eating with you, or simply ”Gracias” if speaking to your waiter or anyone else not partaking in the meal.

Related learning: 97 Common Spanish Phrases to Start Speaking Spanish Right Now

Sobremesa (“Over the Table”)

It’s rude to eat and dash in Spain.

The term sobremesa is used to describe the flow of conversation that happens after the meal is over. Spaniards not only take the time to savour their food, but also each other’s company.

Traditional Spanish Foods You Must Try

So, what are some typical Spanish dishes?

The standard Spanish diet is Mediterranean, featuring lots of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats like olive oil. Spain has many unique and flavourful dishes, but these traditional Spanish foods are a must try!

Paella

One of the most common and traditional Spanish dishes, paella is a saffron rice dish with beans and meat.

There are quite a lot of variations, and it can be topped with meat, fish, shrimp, or veggies. The most traditional dishes use rabbit, chicken, duck or even snails as the main protein, although seafood paella is very common.

No matter where you find it, the ingredient that doesn’t change is the saffron rice. It’s most often eaten for lunch and originates from the beautiful city of Valencia.

Gazpacho

Served chilled, this tomato-based soup is refreshing in the summer heat. It’s so popular, many eat it every day!

Traditional gazpacho also happens to be completely meat-free, making it a perfect choice for vegetarians like me. It’s typically made with bright red, ripe tomatoes, garlic, cucumbers, peppers, bread and olive oil. So delicious!

This soup comes from Andalusia, which is in the southernmost part of Spain where it gets very hot. Understandably, no one wants boiling hot soup there.

Tortilla Española

Possibly the most popular and oft-eaten food in Spain, this potato omelette can be found anywhere and everyone knows how to make it.

Although it sometimes has other ingredients, the traditional version is the potato-and-egg-only omelette.

Jamón Ibérico

Everywhere you go, you’ll find these ham legs on display. There are two kinds, from white pigs (jamón serrano) and black pigs (jamón ibérico), but the latter is more expensive. The meat is thinly sliced off the leg and eaten with bread, as a tapas dish.

Patatas Bravas

Meaning “brave potatoes”, patatas bravas (also known as papas bravas) are a staple on every tapas menu, and a usual go-to choice for vegetarian tapas-lovers. These potatoes are fried and served with a spicy sauce. Spicy food isn’t popular in Spain, but this sauce is the exception to the rule. The sauce varies by region, but the potatoes are always the same.

Chorizo

You may have tried this before since it’s become popular around the world, but ask any Spaniard and they’ll tell you that the best chorizo is found in Spain. This is a spicy and sweet sausage, and usually quite garlicky. You’ll find it in many other recipes to add a depth and richness in flavour. Make sure to bring a breath mint!

Albondigas

Another staple on every tapas menu, these Spanish meatballs are served in a rich tomato sauce. There are some variations, though. In some regions, the meatballs might even be made out of squid!

Pollo al Ajillo

Here’s a classic Spanish comfort food. Pollo al ajillo is a garlic chicken dish that’s cooked with rosemary, thyme, and a splash of white wine or sherry to give it a rich, comforting flavour.

Pisto

Spain’s answer to France’s ratatouille is another amazing vegetarian dish you’ll find all over the country. It’s made with tomatoes, onions, aubergine, courgette and bell peppers, and sometimes served with a fried egg on top. Yum!

Must-Know: Common Spanish Food Words

Is your stomach growling too? You’ve learned about the culture of food and all the meals of the day, so now it’s time to start speaking about it in Spanish.

Breakfast Foods in SpanishBreakfast: DesayunoBread: PanButter: MantequillaSweet rolls: BollosPastry: PasteleríaCoffee: CaféWith: conWithout: sinMilk: LecheAnd: ySugar: AzúcarYoghurt: YogurEggs: HuevosSausage: ChorizoLunch & Dinner Foods in SpanishLunch: AlmuerzoDinner: CenaFood: ComidaPotatoes: PatatasRice: ArrozSoup: SopaPasta: PastaSalad: EnsaladaVegetables: VerdurasOnion: CebollaBell Pepper: PimientoMeat: CarneBeef: ResPork: CerdoChicken: PolloFish: PescadoSquid: CalamaresShrimp: CamaronesSeafood: MariscosTomato: TomateOlive Oil: Aceite de OlivaCucumber: PepinoGarlic: AjoBeans: FrijolesCarrot: ZanahoriaAsparagus: EspárragosFried Egg: Huevo FritoSalt: SalPepper: PimientaDrinks: BebidasWine: VinoBeer: CervezaWater: AguaTea: TéSoda: ColaSnacks and Dessert Foods in SpanishSnack: BocadilloDessert: PostreCheese: QuesoHot Chocolate: Chocolate a la TazaVanilla Custard: FlanCake: TartaCookie: Bollito or GalletaIce Cream: HeladoFruit: FrutaApple: ManzanaPear: PeraCherries: Guindas or CerezasStrawberries: FresasWatermelon: SandíaOrange: NaranjaLemon: LimónFigs: HigosNuts: Nueces

For more fruit vocabulary, check out this post: 44 Spanish Fruits and Spanish Fruit Names – A Yummy Guide!

Spanish Words for Around the KitchenKitchen: CocinaTable: MesaOven: HornoStove: EstufaMicrowave Oven: MicroondasPlate: PlatoNapkin: ServilletaKnife: CuchilloFork: TenedorSpoon: CucharaGlass (for water): VasoGlass (for wine): CopaBowl: Cuenco or TazónPot: OllaFrying Pan: SarténSpatula: EspátulaLadle: CucharónCutlery: CubiertosTablespoon: CucharadaTeaspoon: CucharaditaCup: TazaVerbs for Cooking & Eating in SpanishPrepare: PrepararCook: CocinarCut: CortarChop: PicarPeel: PelarBoil: HervirFry: FreirSauté: SaltearStir: RevolverBake: HornearPour: VertirWhisk: BatirMeasure: MedirEat: ComerDrink: BeberOrder: PedirOrdering Food in a Spanish RestaurantRestaurant: RestauranteWaiter, Waitress: Camarero, CamareraCould I have __, please: ¿Me podría traer __, por favor?I would like___, please: Quisiera ___, por favorI’m allergic to___: Tengo alergia a _____I don’t eat___: No como _____The menu: El menúThe bill: La cuentaCash: EfectivoCredit Card: Tarjeta de CréditoWhat do you recommend?: ¿Qué me recomiendas? (informal), ¿Qué me recomienda? (formal)It’s delicious: Está riquísimoI don’t like it: No me gusta (eso)Spanish “Foodie Fluency”

Feeling confident in your Spanish cuisine vocab yet? You’re on your way to foodie fluency in Spanish!

Learning the culture through food is a great way to understand how people socialise in your target language. It’s always great to be able to share experiences over a delicious, warm meal.

Trying out these Spanish dishes? Don’t forget to take a food picture for social media (and even caption your food in Spanish for practice!) and use the hashtag #fi3m.

¡Salud! (“Cheers!”)

The post Spanish Food: A Guide to Spanish Cuisine and Spanish Eating Culture — with Lots of Spanish Food Words appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

Ainu Language: Learn About The Endangered Indigenous Language of Japan [With 60+ Ainu Words]

Have you heard of the Ainu language? It’s the endangered language of the indigenous Ainu people of Japan.

But it was only recently, in 2019, that the Japanese government enacted a law that recognized the Ainu as indigenous people. This law aimed to revive the Ainu language and culture which has become endangered.

Japan’s colonization policies forced the Ainu to assimilate into Japanese society. They weren’t allowed to speak their language, so it slowly started to die out.

In fact, even today, many people with Ainu heritage don’t claim it or don’t know that they’re Ainu.

A language dies every two weeks. So the United Nations has promoted learning endangered languages to help keep their rich culture and history alive.

That’s how I learned about Ainu. I knew of the Ainu people from my Japanese history studies. But more recently, I began to learn some of the words through Drops, a language learning app.

Drops worked with the Center for Ainu & Indigenous Studies at Hokkaido University to develop their Ainu course in the app to support the language.

It’s important to keep endangered languages alive to preserve their songs, traditions, and cultural arts. So I wanted to share more about the Ainu people and their language with fellow Japanese learners like myself who want to branch out.

et’s learn about the Ainu culture, history, and language.

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Table of contentsWho Are the Ainu People of Japan?Where Did the Ainu Come From?How Many Ainu are There in Japan?Discrimination in JapanAbout the Ainu LanguageHow Many People Speak Ainu Fluently?About Ainu Culture and ReligionLearn Ainu: Ainu Words and Phrases to Get StartedAinu PhrasesRelationships in AinuNature and Weather Words in AinuVerbs in AinuAinu Words:Where to Learn More About AinuOver to You!Who Are the Ainu People of Japan?

The Ainu people are the indigenous people of the northern islands of Japan and east coast of Russia.

Today, most of those identifying as Ainu live in Hokkaido and speak Ainu-itak, アイヌ・イタㇰ, or Hokkaido Ainu.

But they also lived on Sakhalin Island and the Kuril Islands, as well as northern Honshu (the main island of Japan) and Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia.

Many northern regions of Honshu, such as Touhoku, have words and linguistic influences from the hunters and fishermen who migrated to the area from Hokkaido even still. Today, their descendants are called the Matagi.

The Ainu people mainly hunted, fished, and foraged for their food and supplies. They later traded these goods with the Japanese, the Nivkh, and other peoples in the Kamchatka Peninsula.

But because Japan has been fiercely insistent on maintaining one Japanese identity and ethnicity, the Ainu people have struggled to fight against discrimination, stereotypes, and cultural erasure.

Where Did the Ainu Come From?

It’s unclear where the Ainu came from originally. But it’s thought that they’re descendants from another indigenous group who spread throughout northern Asia.

It’s believed that the Ainu people settled in Hokkaido between the 9th and 13th centuries.

How Many Ainu are There in Japan?

Scattered around Hokkaido are a few remaining isolated villages where the Ainu live. It’s estimated that there are about 20,000 Ainu in Japan.

But this number is probably much larger since so many don’t claim or know about their heritage.

Most people of Ainu ethnicity have spread throughout Japan and speak Japanese. Although there’s been growing interest in reconnecting with their culture and language.

There are now several Ainu museums to illustrate their history. At the Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Ainu Kotan (meaning “village”), you can see what life was like for the Ainu people. They also often feature Ainu handcrafted goods and traditional dance and art performances.

Discrimination in Japan

In the 18th century, it’s estimated there were about 80,000 Ainu people living in Hokkaido. But due to forced family separation and assimilation policies, the Ainu population decreased rapidly.

During the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese began calling the Ainu “former aborigines.” Instead of giving them status as an indigenous group, they were forced to assimilate into Japanese society.

This meant they had to take Japanese names and give up their Ainu language, religion, and traditions. Their land was taken over by the Japanese government.

The Ainu were forced to take up small jobs and hard manual labor, as the Japanese government had denied them the right to their traditional hunting.

This led to lower levels of education and income which are still felt today.

Because of intense discrimination, the Ainu often married Japanese men and women in the hopes that their children would fare better.

That’s why many of Ainu descent don’t know of their heritage.

About the Ainu Language

Ainu means “human”. The Ainu called their homeland ainu moshir.

Ainu is an isolated language family. That means it can’t be classified with other language families with shared origin. (Think like Spanish, French, and Italian being Romance languages.)

Even though Ainu does have some similarities to Japanese and other Japonic languages, it’s not because the origins were similar. Rather, the Ainu people have borrowed a lot of characteristics and words from early Japanese. (And vice versa.)

Ainu was originally only an oral language, and the Ainu were master storytellers.

The yukar were Ainu epics performed by talented men and women in the 19th and 20th centuries. The yukar were their traditional oral literature.

Since there’s no original written language, Ainu is written in a modified version of Japanese Katakana or Latin-based alphabet. It’s also been written with Russian Cyrillic, since most Ainu today speak Japanese or Russian.

How Many People Speak Ainu Fluently?

It’s hard to say for certain how many people speak Ainu fluently. But it’s thought that there are only between 2 and 15 living native speakers.

But there are a growing number of Ainu learners, especially in Hokkaido.

About Ainu Culture and Religion

The Ainu hunted, fished, and gathered for their food. So their traditional diet was often bear, ox, fish, veggies, and roots. In Japan, there are a small handful of Ainu restaurants that serve traditional dishes in Hokkaido.

Their homes were huts made from reeds and bamboo. And the community participated together with the village head to lead for the greater good of everyone. Their villages, called a kotan, are by rivers and the seashore for easier fishing.

Most men and women cut their hair to shoulder-length. Women had wide mouth tattoos, and men rarely shaved so most had long beards.

Their traditional robes, called attusi, were made from tree bark, and often wore beaded necklaces called tamasay.

The Ainu believe that everything in nature has a spirit, which they call kamuy. These kamuy, spirit-deities, are always watching over the Ainu and give the gift of life through nature.

When an animal is killed (for food or sacrifice), they would perform a ceremony called iyomante. This ceremony thanked the gods and sent back the kamuy to where they came from.

For the Ainu, bears are especially sacred.

Learn Ainu: Ainu Words and Phrases to Get Started

Ainu sentence structure is like Japanese in many ways.

Sentence order is SOV, subject-object-verb, like Japanese. And instead of prepositions before nouns (like “in the room”), they come after the noun as in Japanese (“room in”).

And Ainu doesn’t have gendered words, and subjects don’t change for number or case either.

Some common phrases have deeper meanings than their translation in English.

For instance, “Hello” in Ainu, irankarapte, translates as “let me touch your heart softly.” And goodbye, suy unukar=an ro, means “let’s meet again!”

Don’t be frightened by the unusual spelling! Later in the article, I’ll give you some recommended sources where the spelling is paired with its pronunciation.

Here are some words and phrases to get you started:

Ainu Phrases“Hello” – irankarapte“What’s your name?” – e=rehe makanak an?“I’m…” – Kani ___ ku=ne“Nice to meet you” – tanepo unukar=an na“How are you?” – e=iwanke a“I’m fine, thanks” – ku=iwanke wa“Yes” – e“No” – somo“Bye” – suy unukar=an ro“Please” – ~wa en=kore“Thank you” – iyayiraykere“Excuse me” – a=nu a=nu“Okay” – pirka wa“What do you do (for a living)?” – nekon an monrayke e=ki“Can you help me?” – e=en=kasuy e=askay ya“Repeat” – kanna“Speak slowly” – ratcino ye yan“This” – tan pe“What?” – nep“When?” – henparaRelationships in Ainu“Mom” – hapo“Dad” – mici“Parents” – onautari“Children” – po“Grandfather” – ekasi“Grandmother” – hutci“Friend” (also another term for the Ainu people) – utari“House” or “home” – chise“Cat” – cape“Dog” – setaNature and Weather Words in Ainu“Water” – wakka“Rain” – apto“Storm” – ruyanpe“Snow” – upas“Ice” – konru“River” – pet“Sea” – atuy“Earth” – toy“Mountain” – nupuri“Weather” – sir“Spring” – paykar“Summer” – sak“Autumn” – cuk“Winter” – mataVerbs in Ainu“To buy” – hok“To eat” – ipe“To go” – oman“To drink” – ku“To make” – kar“To do” – ki“To have” – kore“To sleep” – mokor“To laugh” – mina“To love” – omapAinu Words:Traditional Ainu stringed instrument: tonkoriBeaded necklace: tamasayEarrings: ninkariSword: emusCeremonial crown for men: sapanpeTraditional kimono-robe: attusiHeadband, embroidered with traditional designs: matanpusiGod or spirit: kamuyHeaven: rikunmosirWhere to Learn More About Ainu

If you’re interested in learning more about the Ainu culture and people, here are some places to start.

Check out music by OKI, a Japanese-Ainu artist who plays the tonkori and mixes traditional Ainu music with other styles.Learn about Ainu politician Shigeru Kayano. He was the first Ainu politician, and one of the last fluent Ainu speakers. He wrote over 100 books about the Ainu language and culture and was an activist for Ainu rights.Check out the Ainu subreddit, where Ainu learners from around the world discuss the language and culture.Listen to speakers of the language on YouTube, such as this video from Wikitongues and Maya who teaches short Ainu lessons.Watch this documentary by Dr. Kinko Ito about the Ainu people.Learn Ainu words with Drops.Learn basic Ainu grammar or check out this Ainu course on Memrise.Over to You!

Now it’s your turn to take what you’ve learned about the indigenous language of Japan and put it to good use.

Become one of the growing group of learners speaking Ainu as a second language, or share their history with others.

Here are some other language learning articles to keep your studies going:

How to Learn a Language: 35+ Language HacksHow to Relearn a Language You’ve ForgottenHow to Build Sentences Correctly in Any LanguageLingQ Review: An Honest, In-Depth Review of the LingQ Language Learning ToolMagnetic Memory Method: An In-Depth Review from a Language Learner

The post Ainu Language: Learn About The Endangered Indigenous Language of Japan [With 60+ Ainu Words] appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

12 German Songs to Help You Learn German Faster

If you’re learning German, have you thought about using German songs?

German is one of the first languages I ever learnt (at school in Ireland and later in Berlin). It remains one of my favourite languages.

That said, I remember well how frustrating it could be. I had to wrap my head around German grammar and memorise the intimidating long words. And when you learn a language like that… you risk sounding like a robot!

I’ve already said it in my article about using popular French songs to learn French: music can be a great tool for your language learning. You can learn slang, idioms, contractions, modern words…

All of it in context, and while having a good time! (I’ll expand on that towards the end of the article.)

Whether you want to introduce a new technique to your German learning strategy or are just looking for German song recommendations, this post is for you!

Table of contents1. Rammstein – Ich Will2. Helene Fischer – Atemlos durch die Nacht3. O Tannenbaum4. David Hasselhoff – Du5. Marlene Dietrich – Lili Marleen6. Nena – 99 Luftballons7. Stereo Total – Wir Tanzen Im Viereck8. Disco Pogo – Die Atzen9. Deichkind – So’ne Musik10. Klee – 2 Fragen11. Nicole – Ein bißchen Frieden12. Caterina Valente – Ganz Paris träumt von der LiebeWhy Study German With Songs?Learning German With Music Is Fun!Your Accent Will Improve in Leaps and BoundsIt Will Give You a Unique Insight into German CultureYou’ll Strengthen Your Memory SkillsOverall, Songs are a Great Way to Learn

Now let’s jump to 15 great German song recommendations!

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Rammstein has been rocking around on the world stage since the mid-nineties. The majority of their songs are performed in German, although they often integrate many other languages (English, French and Spanish, to name a few) into their lyrics.

Ich Will is perfect for those at a beginner’s level. The lyrics are short, simple and straight to the point and the song is sung entirely in German. Best of all this particular tune is family-friendly – which is notable in itself. As a hard-core rock band, Rammstein doesn’t tend to see keeping their songs PG as a top priority.

2. Helene Fischer – Atemlos durch die Nacht

Helene Fischer is Germany’s answer to Britney Spears. Her songs are pop-y, fun and catchy – pretty much guaranteed to get stuck in your head.

Atemlos durch die Nacht happens to be the most successful song in German history. I wouldn’t be surprised if I were to find out that most German speakers know the words to it. It’s certainly the impression you get if you’re at a German club and the DJ puts this track on.

Best to learn the lyrics if you should ever find yourself in this particular situation, so as not to look out of place!

(If the video doesn’t load for you, try it here instead)

3. O Tannenbaum

Although O Tannenbaum is a song that is generally best served during the festive season, it’s another good one to start with.

I would be surprised to meet anyone who didn’t know the words of this song by heart in English – my guess is that the words have been deeply ingrained since childhood! The video itself is aimed at children and features subtitles so you can sing along.

4. David Hasselhoff – Du

Have you heard of Du?

David Hasselhoff’s music career may have never got off the ground in the United States, but he was a massive hit in Europe, particularly in German-speaking countries. So much so, that he performed his iconic song “Looking for Freedom” on New Year’s Eve 1989 at the Berlin Wall (the song hit #1 in the German charts that year).

Du is unique among the other songs on this list, as the Hoff is not a native German speaker. He doesn’t run his words together – he sings clearly and distinctly (and with such fervent passion!). This makes the song yet another good choice for those who are just starting to tune their ear to German.

5. Marlene Dietrich – Lili Marleen

Lili Marleen is a German love song that grew in popularity during World War II.

Originally a poem written in 1915 during the first World War, Marlene Dietrich’s cover is probably the most well-known recording of the song.

Funnily enough, the tune was popular on both sides of the trenches during WWII, making it one of the most famous German-language songs in the world.

6. Nena – 99 Luftballons

99 Luftballons is an anti-war protest song that became an international hit when the English version was released.

The original German rendition tells the story of an army general sending pilots to shoot down what turns out to be harmless children’s balloons, floating on a country border. This leads to a 99-year long war, in which there is no winner.

7. Stereo Total – Wir Tanzen Im Viereck

Wir Tanzen Im Viereck is a song you can sing and dance along to! The beat is catchy and the lyrics repetitive. It’s probably the most bizarre song on this list.

The band in question is the multilingual Stereo Total, who mix things up by often producing songs in French and English as well.

8. Disco Pogo – Die Atzen

Disco Pogo is yet another catchy party tune that’ll have you shaking your tail-feather in no time at all. I dare you to keep a straight face during the chorus.

Dingalingaling indeed.

9. Deichkind – So’ne Musik

So’ne Musik takes us well into intermediate to advanced language learner’s territory. Hip-hop is not a genre for everyone, but I recommend you give this song a go.

Deichkind are notorious for their humorous lyrics and So’ne Musik is no exception. If you’re eager to pick up some German slang while testing out your rap skills, then this is the song for you.

10. Klee – 2 Fragen

Klee is a German pop group influenced by English bands such as Coldplay and The Cure.

2 Fragen (“Two Questions”) speaks of the point at the end of a relationship, where you look at your significant other and fail to recognise them. It’s a sweet little song that is fairly easy to sing along to.

You’ll be craving something with a bit of a slower pace after the last two tunes!

11. Nicole – Ein bißchen Frieden

Germany won its first Eurovision with Nicole’s rendition of Ein bißchen Frieden in 1982. Nicole was a highschool student at the time.

The song was also translated into English as “A Little Peace” and topped the charts everywhere it was released.

It’s a great musical choice for fans of ABBA!

12. Caterina Valente – Ganz Paris träumt von der Liebe

Released in 1953, Ganz Paris träumt von der Liebe is one of the most popular German songs. It’s one of the three songs that spent the most weeks at number one in Germany, totalling 21 weeks in 1955.

Ganz Paris träumt von der Liebe, which in English goes by “I Love Paris”, was introduced in the musical Can-Can

Why Study German With Songs?

When people try to tell me that particular languages are hard to learn, I’ll argue back until I’m blue in the face. Why? Because when it comes to difficulty, I think all languages are created equal. German is no exception.

Even so, it doesn’t hurt to oil the wheels of learning with a bit of fun.

I love music and often incorporate it into my language learning process. Here’s why:

Learning German With Music Is Fun!

For me, studying from grammar textbooks can be quite dull at times. Reading tables of verbs doesn’t help me internalise them in any way – I just tend to get bored.

On the contrary, I find music to be a helpful language learning tool, simply because I enjoy it so much.

Listen to a song long enough (especially a catchy and upbeat song), and you will inevitably find yourself singing along to it. I don’t know about you, but I’m generally always up for an impromptu karaoke session.

(Using audio is important for learning the nuances of German, both because of the new sounds and accents and because of the many German dialects.)

Your Accent Will Improve in Leaps and Bounds

There’s a reason why I’m a massive advocate of getting out of the classroom (or onto the Internet) when studying a language.

You’re not going to learn to talk like a native merely from reading a textbook.

You have to get out there and hear how people speak in their native tongue. You can do this in person, through watching films, or listening to music.

To know a language, you have to live it. So, if you want to speak like a German, you’re essentially going to have to pretend to be one.

It Will Give You a Unique Insight into German Culture

Luckily, music is an easily accessible gateway into a foreign culture. You can learn a lot about a people through the tunes that they listen to.

Throughout the ages, human beings have chosen to celebrate and commiserate with the aid of music. It doesn’t matter whether you’re listening to the current top 40, or singing a song from the last millennium. You’ve got a front row seat to an art form that highlights both the values and heritage of a particular culture.

You’ll Strengthen Your Memory Skills

Why is it that we get commercial jingles stuck in our head? Well, it’s because music engages certain parts of your brain that spoken language doesn’t.

So, you’re more likely to remember foreign words, if you hear them in a song, rather than in conversation. The music itself will act as a trigger point, stimulating words that you may otherwise have trouble recalling.

Active repetition of learning via song lyrics will help strengthen your memory skills overtime. That means you’ll be growing your vocabulary while having fun. You’ll also be more likely to remember complex grammar topics such as adjective endings if you hear the differences in context than if you learnt them from a textbook.

And of course, this language hack will give you a wicked advantage over others, the next time you partake in a karaoke session.

Overall, Songs are a Great Way to Learn

I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of songs.

A small warning: Be sure to avoid falling in the trap of passive learning.

Write down the lyrics as you listen to the song, until you have it memorised. Add words you’re unfamiliar with to your vocab list.

Also, don’t be afraid to belt out the lyrics with an exaggerated German accent. You may feel silly at first, but you’ll be sounding like a native in no time at all.

And even if you sound silly, it’s so much fun! To prove that I know what I’m talking about, see this music video I made (with a pretty terrible accent, and off-key, in true karaoke style but clearly enjoying myself) about a song in German that was popular while I was living in Berlin.

Above all, enjoy yourself. Language learning is not supposed to be a chore. It’s something you undertake because you have a particular passion for a country or culture. If you choose to mix up your learning, you’ll be far less likely to get disheartened along the way.

If you’re looking for more German posts, here is a great selection to get you started:

German Pronouns – Here’s Everything You Need to KnowGerman Uncovered Review — Honest, In-Depth Review on “StoryLearning” German [With Video]German Prepositions – The Ultimate Guide (with Charts)Days of the Week in German & Easy Ways to Remember ThemGermanPod101 Review – 25 Hours with GermanPod101

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