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Olly Richards’ Uncovered Courses: A Complete Review

The Uncovered series by Olly Richards of Storylearning is a comprehensive language course designed to help learners achieve language skills through an innovative storytelling method. It’s currently available for more than a dozen languages including Spanish, French, and even Latin.

Now let’s get down to why you’re really here.

Do I recommend the Uncovered courses? Yes.

Here’s a summary of the pros and cons (I’ll explain them more in-depth below if you keep reading.

The Pros of Product:

Engaging learning materialTaught by a native speakerSelf-pacedCultural insights and context

The Cons of Product:

Can either be too challenging or too easy depending on the level of the learnerYou need to be self-motivatedSome errors in the courseGet Uncovered Now

For a limited time, you can get up to 50% off Uncovered.

From July 18th to July 23rd, you can take advantage of one of Storylearning’s biggest sales of the year on the Uncovered courses for the following languages:

SpanishFrenchGermanItalianJapaneseMandarin ChineseRussianKoreanTurkishLatinBrazilian PortugueseArabicSwedishDanishNorwegian

Please note, if you choose to purchase one of the courses using one of the links above, I’ll make a small commission at no additional cost to you. If you decide to purchase Uncovered, please consider using my links — the commission helps support me in continuing to create content here on Eurolinguiste!

What You Need to Know About Product

It’s easy to get bored with your learning resources. They tend to be repetitive and pretty generic. Olly Richards’ Uncovered courses offer something different.

If you’re looking for a more engaging way to learn a language, Uncovered might be for you.

While each of the courses follow a formula, you’ll still find learning content specific to the language you’re learning and the culture tied to it. In the course, you get a blend of immersive storytelling and a structured language course.

You’re given instructions on how to follow the course, but with the range of material provided in the course, you have a lot of freedom to work with it and adapt it to your needs and preferences.

Each course includes a mix of:

Reading and listening materialCognates lessonsVocabulary lessonsGrammar lessonsPronunciation lessonsCultural insightsSpeaking activitiesComprehension checksMy Experience Using Product

I’ve now explored the Uncovered courses for both German and Norwegian and my experience has me eager to dive in with the other languages in my wheelhouse offered by the program.

The lessons are thorough without becoming overwhelming. Most of the videos are around 20 minutes in length, so you can fit your learning in even with the busiest schedule.

Having a native speaker and experienced teacher guide you through the course is extremely helpful. With German, I found that the lessons were right at my level. With Norwegian, which was a mostly new-to-me language, they were a little more challenging but not inaccessible.

I personally imported all of the texts and audio into LingQ (privately of course), so that I can study them on the go and really power up my learning with the two tools combined.

Pros In-DepthEngaging learning material

The immersive experience of following a story in your target language makes the learning process enjoyable and less daunting. You get to know the characters, learn through interesting stories, and get to explore the material you’re learning through a variety of contexts whether that’s pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, or culture.

Taught by a native speaker

Olly collaborated with native speakers with backgrounds in teaching their languages and it really shows in the course content.

Self-paced

Unlike many other language courses, you can complete Uncovered at your own pace and revisit the material as often as you need.

Cultural insights and context

Each of the courses are tailored to the language that they’re teaching. The courses share a structure across languages without being cookie cutter. The stories and learning content are created to be unique to each language, so as you study with Uncovered, you gain not just language skills but cultural insight as well.

Cons In-DepthCan either be too challenging or too easy depending on the level of the learner

When I first started the Uncovered course in Norwegian, I was a little overwhelmed. I really didn’t know enough of the language feel ready for the course. I had to trust in the process and push through those feelings. Importing the content into LingQ helped.

While browsing the first level for French, however, I felt the opposite. The content was below my level in that language.

Thankfully, Olly came prepared and many of the languages, like Spanish and French, have up to three levels to choose from.

You need to be self-motivated

If you aren’t a self-starter, this course may not be for you. While there is a community aspect to the course, you really need to be accountable to yourself to get through it. There aren’t deadlines, you don’t have a coach or tutor, and so it’s really up to you to see the course through.

Some errors in the course

Because the structure of the course is similar across languages, there are some mistakes in the course. It was a little jarring to sometimes read things about “Italian” while working through a “Norwegian” course — obviously some overlooked mistakes from copying and pasting the more generic aspects of the course.

These weren’t huge glaring mistakes, or mistakes with the language content. But, they still felt a little awkward to come across while going through the course.

Conclusion

The Uncovered courses are an effective option if you’re looking for a structured program for your language that is a language course. It offers a unique and enjoyable way to learn your new language, making it suitable for both beginners and those looking to refresh their skills. And with levels 2 and 3, even intermediate to advanced learners.

With its engaging content, thorough lessons, and supportive community, the Uncovered series is a valuable investment for anyone serious about mastering one of the languages offered.

FAQWhat is Olly Richards’ Uncovered?

Uncovered is a comprehensive online course designed for learners at levels A0, A1, or A2 in the CEFR system. There are up to two additional levels for several languages for those at higher CEFR levels for French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, and Korean.

The Level 1 course is based around a 20-chapter story in simple language, and includes everything learners need to go from the complete beginner level (A0) to the intermediate level (B1).

Uncovered includes dozens of video lessons and exercises to help learners improve every aspect of a language, including:

vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciationlistening, speaking, reading, and writingWhat level is Uncovered for?

Uncovered is for complete beginners (A0) and false beginners (A1 or A2) who have already learned some language but haven’t yet reached conversational fluency. The course covers levels A0 to A2 in the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

What languages and levels are taught in the Uncovered courses?Spanish:Beginner (Level 1)Intermediate (Level 3)Advanced (Level 5)French:Beginner (Level 1)Intermediate (Level 3)Advanced (Level 5)German:Beginner (Level 1)Intermediate (Level 3)Advanced (Level 5)Italian:Beginner (Level 1)Intermediate (Level 3)Advanced (Level 5)Japanese:Beginner (Level 1)Intermediate (Level 3)Mandarin Chinese:Beginner (Level 1)Intermediate (Level 3)Russian:Beginner (Level 1)Intermediate (Level 3)Korean:Beginner (Level 1)Intermediate (Level 3)Turkish:Beginner (Level 1)Latin:Beginner (Level 1)Brazilian Portuguese:Beginner (Level 1)Arabic:Beginner (Level 1)Swedish:Beginner (Level 1)Danish:Beginner (Level 1)Norwegian:Beginner (Level 1)

The post Olly Richards’ Uncovered Courses: A Complete Review appeared first on Eurolinguiste.

100+ Conversational Croatian Words & Phrases

Want to learn Croatian? Maybe you’re struggling to find resources to help you start speaking.

When I started out, I certainly did. In fact, that’s why I created my own course!

Many of the resources I found when I started learning Croatian were outdated and they didn’t offer me a lot in terms of day-to-day conversation. Rather than learning how to say “what did you do last weekend?” I had memorized a bunch of rules involving cases and I was nowhere near conversing with my fellow Croatian speakers.

So I decided to put something together on my own so that I could feel more confident engaging in language exchanges.

And today, I’d like to share it with you.

In this post, you’ll find a short selection of the 100+ conversational phrases and words in Croatian I have available as part of a downloadable PDF I’ve put together for you as a part of my free language learning library.

Happy Croatian language learning!

Get your free PDF with 100+ Conversational Croatian Words and Phrases Greetings English Croatian HeyBokHelloZdravoHow are you?Kako si? (fam.) / Kako ste? (form.)I’m good, thanks.Dobro, hvala.Long time no see.Dugo se nismo vidjeli.Basic & Polite Phrases English Croatian PleaseMolim (vas)Thank you so muchHvala lijepaExcuse meOprostiteI’m sorryŽao mi jeThank you for your time.Zahvaljujem na vašem vremenu.Get the Conversation Rolling English Croatian What’s new?Šta ima novo?What are you plans this weekend?Kakvi su vam planovi za vikend?How is your family?Kako je vaša obitelj?What do you do in your free time?Što radite u slobodno vrijeme?Tell me what you think.Kaži mi što mislite.Getting a Bit of Clarification English Croatian How do you say that in Croatian?Kako se to kaže na hrvatskom?I don’t understand.Ne razumijem.What are you talking about?O čemu govorite?I don’t know.Ne znam.Can you please write that down?Molim vas, možete li mi to zapisati?Words About TimeEnglishCroatianEvery daySvaki danSometimesPonekadNowSadaLaterKasnijePlentyDosta/dovoljnoExclamations & Transition Words to Take Your Speaking to the Next Level English Croatian Don’t worry!Ne brini!ExcellentOdličnaImpossibleNije mogućeLookGledajteHow horrible!Kojeg li užasa!No problem!Nema problema!That’s good!To je dobro!Wow!Joj!ExactlyTočnoThat’s a good question.To je dobro pitanje.Conversation Closers English Croatian I enjoyed speaking with you.Uživao sam govoriti s vama.I must go.Moram krenuti.Keep in touch!Ostanimo u vezi!GoodbyeDoviđenjaI’ll be right back.Brzo se vraćam.

*Please note that most of the above examples use formal language, assuming that you’re getting to know the person that you’re speaking with. I have included both the formal and familiar forms of the above phrases in the download PDF as a part of my free language learning library for your reference.

Get your free PDF with 100+ Conversational Croatian Words and Phrases

Are you learning Croatian? What are some phrases that you’ve found useful in your target language? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

The post 100+ Conversational Croatian Words & Phrases appeared first on Eurolinguiste.

How to Learn Scottish Gaelic Online

Each time I pick up a new language, I’m convinced it’s my last. And yet, despite my certainty, I find myself drawn to explore new languages.

So, when I felt the call to pick up Scottish Gaelic this last year, I wasn’t surprised.

Scottish Gaelic, a member of the Celtic languages family, isn’t widely learned, so it’s a little more challenging when compared to many other languages.

With the help of some friends as well as some independent research, I’ve managed to find quality resources that have helped me learn Scottish Gaelic online.

Here’s how I’m doing it.

Before we get too far, this post contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through one of these links, I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you enjoy Eurolinguiste, please consider purchasing from my affiliate links to help support what I do.

A Little Bit About Scottish Gaelic

Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. It is part of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic language family, closely related to Irish and Manx. Other languages in the Celtic language family are of the Brythonic branch: Cornish, Breton, and Welsh.

Historically spoken throughout Scotland, Scottish Gaelic’s usage has declined over the centuries, but it remains vibrant in the Outer Hebrides and some parts of the Highlands. Gaelic has a rich oral tradition, with poetry, songs, and storytelling playing crucial roles in its cultural heritage. If you learn the language as part of a course or with a teacher, you can almost certainly expect to learn songs and even sing!

The language features a unique spelling system and grammar, including the absence of words for “yes” and “no” and the conjugation of prepositions. I’ll talk more about some of it’s unique grammar features below.

Scottish Gaelic is considered an endangered language with around 57,000 speakers (as of a 2011 census). Efforts to revive and promote Gaelic include:

Educational Programs: Gaelic-medium education (GME) schools and classes are available, where subjects are taught in Gaelic.Media and Broadcasting: There are Gaelic television channels, such as BBC Alba, and radio stations, as well as online content to promote and preserve the language.Community Initiatives: Local organizations and community groups often work to encourage the use of Gaelic in daily life through events, workshops, and cultural activities.Government Support: The Scottish government supports various initiatives to promote the learning and use of Gaelic, including funding for language development and preservation projects.The Basics of Learning Scottish Gaelic: The Alphabet and Pronunciation

At first glance, the Gaelic spelling system might seem intimidating, especially with its consonant combinations that aren’t immediately intuitive to English speakers. However, unlike English, Gaelic’s spelling is quite consistent and the system is phonetic so words are generally spelled as they are pronounced. Once you learn the rules, you’ll find it much more manageable.

The Scottish Gaelic Alphabet

The Scottish Gaelic alphabet, derived from the Latin script, consists of 18 letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T, and U. Unlike English, it excludes the letters J, K, Q, V, W, X, Y, and Z.

The alphabet features unique diacritical marks, primarily the grave accent (`) over vowels (à, è, ì, ò, ù) to indicate length and stress.

Scottish Gaelic Pronunciation

Consonant combinations and mutations play a significant role in the language. These combinations often differ significantly from those in English, leading to unique sounds.

For example, the combination “bh” is typically pronounced as a “v” sound, while “mh” can sound like a “v” or “w,” depending on its position in a word. The “ch” combination is pronounced as a guttural sound, similar to the “ch” in the German word “Bach.” Additionally, “dh” and “gh” often represent a soft, throaty sound.

In Gaelic, consonants can sound different depending on the vowels next to them. If a consonant is next to “e” or “i”, it has a lighter sound (slender). If it is next to “a”, “o”, or “u”, it has a heavier sound (broad). Understanding this helps you pronounce words correctly in Scottish Gaelic.

Here’s a guide to Scottish Pronunciation.

Understanding Scottish Gaelic Grammar

Scottish Gaelic grammar presents some intriguing differences from English.

There’s No “Yes” or “No” in Scottish Gaelic

To start, there is no direct way to say “yes” or “no” in Scottish Gaelic. This isn’t unique to the language. Surprisingly, it’s the same for Mandarin Chinese, Irish, Welsh, Cantonese, Latin, and even Finnish.

For example:

Are you Scottish?

Am (yes). Am not (no).

Were you in Scotland?

Was (yes). Was not (no).

Are you reading?

Reading (yes). Am not reading (no).

Word Order

Word order in Scottish Gaelic is verb-subject-object (in comparison, English is subject-verb-object). Prepositions usually precede their objects and adjectives come after the words they describe.

There is some flexibility with word order, and you can often move things around in a sentence to emphasize certain parts of what you have to say.

Prepositions in Scottish Gaelic

Scottish Gaelic conjugates prepositions. It also forms contractions between prepositions and pronouns. For instance, air (meaning “on”) has forms like “orm” (on me), “ort” (on you), and so forth. You’ll encounter these often because Gaelic frequently uses prepositional phrases to express ideas that English conveys differently. For example, to say “I have a cat” in Gaelic, you’d say “tha cat agam,” which translates literally to “a cat is at me.”

Grammatical Gender

Scottish Gaelic has grammatical gender for nouns. Nouns are either masculine or feminine. The gender of a noun is not always predictable based on its meaning, so it is important to learn the gender along with the noun itself. Fro example, boireannach (“woman”) is grammatically masculine, not feminine as you might assume.

Gender affects articles, adjectives, and pronouns, which must agree with the gender of the noun they modify.

Scottish Gaelic Conjugation

In Scottish Gaelic, verbs are conjugated to reflect the subject, tense, and mood of the sentence. Verbs can be regular or irregular, with irregular verbs often having unique conjugation patterns. Scottish Gaelic verbs also undergo lenition (softening) or other changes depending on their position in a sentence or the words around them.

What is lenition?

Lenition is indicated by adding an h after the initial consonant or by causing other changes to the word. This change often occurs in certain grammatical contexts, such as after certain prepositions or in certain verb forms. Lenition can alter the meaning or grammatical function of a word and is an important aspect of Scottish Gaelic grammar.

Why Scottish Gaelic is Easier to Learn Than You Might Think

Don’t let Scottish Gaelic’s unique grammatical features and pronunciation scare you away. The language can be considered easy and fun to learn for many reasons.

Phonetic Spelling: Scottish Gaelic words are generally spelled phonetically, meaning they are pronounced as they are written once you learn the pronunciation rules.Regular Grammar: While the grammar can be complex, it is also regular and systematic, which can make it easier to learn once you grasp the basic rules.Familiar Vocabulary: English speakers may find some Gaelic words familiar, as there are shared roots between Gaelic and English vocabulary.Small Community, Strong Resources: While not as widely spoken as some languages, Scottish Gaelic has a strong community of speakers and learners, which means there are many resources available for learning and practice.Cultural Resources: Learning Scottish Gaelic often involves engaging with rich cultural resources such as music, literature, and folklore, which can make the learning experience more enjoyable and immersive.Online Resources for Scottish Gaelic

Before diving into the language, I searched far and wide for resources that would support my efforts. Here are the resources that I’m currently using or have earmarked for use in the near future:

Gaelic with Jason

I first dove into Jason’s free videos on his Youtube channel and shortly followed up with his courses available through his website.

I was drawn to his lessons in particular because he has a clear way of explaining the language and teaches through entertaining lessons. He even has materials to learn Scottish Gaelic via Outlander and the Witcher. And I know the former has had a big influence on recent interest in the language.

Glossika

Normally you need to pay for a subscription to tap into Glossika’s full potential, but due to Scottish Gaelic’s status as an endangered language, Glossika offers its course for free.

You can read my review of Glossika here.

Duolingo

The Duolingo Scottish Gaelic course is designed to introduce learners to the basics of the language in a fun and interactive way. The course covers essential vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation through a series of lessons and exercises.

Speak Gaelic

Speak Gaelic is a free online resource produced by MG ALBA, the BBC and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.

Learn Gaelic

Another free online resource, Learn Gaelic has a flashcard-style course, a more involved, dialog-based course called Beag air Beag and a course based on a tv program from the 90’s. The materials are a little dated feeling, but useless nonethelss.

Colloquial Gaelic

This is the coursebook that I’m currently using. I’ve enjoyed this series for many other languages, so it was a natural step for me to pick it up for Scottish Gaelic as well. You can access audio content for this course online for free.

Teach Yourself Gaelic

I’m a big fan of the content put out by Teach Yourself, and this coursebook (Amazon affiliate link) is no exception. Each chapter is based on a dialogue and you can access the audio online for free.

Gràmar Na Gàidhlig by Michael Bryne

This is a highly recommended book and reference for Scottish Gaelic grammar (Amazon affiliate link).

A Gaelic Alphabet: a guide to the pronunciation of Gaelic letters and words by George McLennan

If you want to dive deeper with the alphabet and Scottish Gaelic pronunciation (Amazon affiliate link), this book gives you what you need to do it.

More Advanced Scottish Gaelic Resources

If you’re already past the basics in Scottish Gaelic, here are some native resources to improve your skills in the language:

BBC AlbaReidio na Gàidheal

And if you want to deep dive into even more Scottish Gaelic resources beyond those mentioned here this Reddit thread is the place to do it.

Learning Scottish Gaelic is a rewarding experience. While it may present some challenges, the language’s phonetic spelling and regular grammar can make it approachable.

The rich culture associated with Scottish Gaelic, combined with the availability of resources like the Duolingo course, provides an immersive and enjoyable learning journey. Whether for its cultural value, linguistic uniqueness, or personal interest, learning Scottish Gaelic can be a fulfilling endeavor. For me, because of my Scottish heritage, it’s allowed me to further connect with my family history and explore the Celtic language family.

The post How to Learn Scottish Gaelic Online appeared first on Eurolinguiste.

100+ Ways to Fit Language Learning in Your Day

With new apps and online communities emerging daily, countless resources are available for learning almost any language. You can now easily connect with native speakers worldwide. However, the abundance of resources can feel overwhelming.

If you’re seeking additional ways to incorporate language learning into your daily routine, here’s a list of 100+ methods to do just that. These methods are organized by the skills they help develop, making it easier to choose the right tools for your needs.

Before we get too far, this post contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through one of these links, I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you enjoy Eurolinguiste, please consider purchasing from my affiliate links to help support what I do.

100+ Ways to Learn a New Language

There are four core language learning skills: reading, comprehension, speaking, and writing. I believe there is a fifth: vocabulary. While many resources cover vocabulary, it is essential to focus on it separately because a strong vocabulary is crucial for making significant progress in the other skills. Some resources address all five skills, while others focus on one or two.

Getting StartedUse a to-do app to keep your language tasks organized and keep track of your “path goals”. // Path goals are the steps you take to ultimately achieve your “vision goals” (your big, long-term goals). You can read more about goal setting in this post. My preferred app for keeping track of my to-do list is Todoist (affiliate link).Join #CleartheList to keep accountable with a fun group of learners. // We share our goals each month and encourage one another. Set specific times for various study tasks. // For example, use your commutes to listen to audio. Do a round of flashcards while you’re brushing your teeth or waiting for your lunch to heat up in the microwave. Use your lunch break for an online lesson or some coursebook study.Commit to just five minutes per day. // It adds up quicker than you might think!Download an app to your mobile device so that you always have something with you. // You can check out the recommendations below, but I personally love LingQ. It’s my number one choice. Attend a language webinar or live Q&A. // These are fantastic, free online classes that are offered by language bloggers. One of my favorite live Q&A vloggers is Benny Lewis of Fluent in 3 Months.Take an online language course. // There are tons of great courses online both free and paid. Some of my favorites are Language Routine Mastery, Language Habit Toolkit, and of course, the Courage to Speak, as well as my new 7-day course The Busy Language Learner.A Few Quick & Easy Tasks 

Sometimes it’s just about getting your systems into place, preparing for your study and building some momentum. When this is the case, here are a few quick tasks you can complete when you only have a moment but need or want to do something.

Create a “things to check out list” // That way you can focus on whatever you’re using now, but don’t forget about the other resources that look interesting to you when you decide you’re ready for them.Open your coursebook to the next lesson // And if you’re feeling ambitious, read the first page. There’s a good chance you won’t stop there. Look up a word you’ve been wanting to know // This can be a word in your native language that you want to translate into your target language or a word you heard/read in your target language that you want to look up in your native language. Make a list of words to look up later // Same rules apply as above.Create an account on a language learning platform you’ve been meaning to use. // It can be iTalki, HelloTalk, LingQ, Journaly, the Innovative Languages courses, Lingoda, Baselang, Rhinospike, you name it… No need to take any further action yet, just get started and make a commitment by signing up.Send a message to a potential language exchange partnerDistill a page of an old language notebook // This is where you go through an old notebook and copy the words you still don’t know (but find useful) into your new notebook.Find an article that explains something you’re currently struggling with in your target language. // For me, this was this post on the subjunctive in Spanish.Read an article from a language blogger on how to learn languages. // Some suggestions are: Fluent in 3 Months, I Will Teach You a Language, Lindsay Does Languages, Fluent Language, etc. And of course, the blog you’re already reading, Eurolinguiste.Join a Facebook group // There are tons of lovely Facebook groups that are either language-specific or just general groups of fellow language learners. I personally recommend the Language Learning Reading Challenge (obviously since I host it) but I’m also a member of groups for language learners for my priority languages like Scottish and Croatian. Do some math // Numbers can be tricky in a foreign language. They’re not easy to pull up or understand right away and we sometimes end up doing more translating and mental counting than needed. It can really slow you down. Practice some basic maths in your target language to get more comfortable with numbers.Sign up for a language mailing list to get tips sent right to your inbox // This can be language-specific or not. Again, I recommend my newsletter (shameless self plug).Grab one of my 100+ Conversational Words & Phrases Worksheets // So far I have them for Korean, Chinese, French, Italian, and Croatian.Learn super helpful phrases in your target language // Like: “How do you say ___ in ___ language?” or “Can you repeat that?” or “Can you say that differently?” or “What is ___ in English?” or “Please say it again slowly”.Set a goal // Set a new target to learn your language. Make it something immediate so you can feel accomplished. Some quick easy wins are: read 10 minutes every day this week, learn 5 new words today, write three sentences in the language, or even send a message on my favorite language exchange app.Join Busy Language Learner // And find engaging ways to fit language learning in even on the busiest of schedules.Take part in a Language Quest // As a part of Language Conqueror, there are 12 different quests you can choose from so you can learn through your passions whether you love exercise, reading, watching tv, listening to music, cooking or something else.A Little Bit of Everything Duolingo  // This is a fun and popular language learning app that is available for a variety of languages. You can complete a lesson in just a few minutes, whether at home or on the go. Assimil  // Assimil is my favorite coursebook series. They have a much wider selection of material available for French speakers, but what they have for English speakers is pretty great as well (if more limited).Attend a Gathering or Conference // Even if you are not a polyglot (or don’t consider yourself one), I’ve heard good things about each of the language events around the globe. I spoke at Montréal LangFest and it was an incredible experience.Start a Challenge // Like Lindsay Does Languages’ Instagram Language Challenge. Or Benny Lewis’s Speak in a Week or my free 30-Day Language Challenge.Visit a Museum or Monument // Whenever I travel, I try to pick up the brochures in my target languages and opt for the tours offered in other languages (if available). On a trip to the Getty Museum I had fun reading about the history of the museum in every language but English.Watch Language Lessons on Youtube // There are a ton of great educational channels available on Youtube. Some of my favorites for Mandarin include Yoyo Chinese and MandarinHQ. Just do a bit of searching to find videos in your language!Use a Language Program // There are both free and paid programs to help you with your language learning including Busuu, Rosetta Stone, Babbel, Mango, Rocket Languages et al.Teach Someone Else // One of the best ways to ingrain a skill (or just better understand it) is through teaching someone else. I began to understand German grammar better when I had to explain it to my father and my tones improved as I started to teach my little ones words in Mandarin.Start Using FluentU // I was contacted by FluentU a while back to test out their platform and I was impressed. It is a tool I wish I used more. They also have an incredible blog for each of the languages they feature, too.Play Games // If you’re at a beginning level, card games are a great place to start as are word games. Board games can be fun (if you have friends to play with), as can video games (whether online community based or just foreign language versions of games). I play my favorite Nintendo games in Mandarin, Japanese, French, and Russian and I know other language learners who play online games like WOW in their target languages.Take an In-Person Class // But don’t allow yourself to become one of those students who does the bare minimum to succeed. Take an active interest in learning the language and use the class as a launching point. Bust Out Your Phrasebook // And learn phrases rather than individual vocab words. My personal favorite phrasebooks are this one from Tuttle, this one from Assimil and the Lonely Planet Series.For Advanced Learners: Take a Free Online Language-Specific Class in Your Target Language // Instead of taking a class on your language, take a class in your language. MIT and Coursera offer several courses in other languages for free online.Try out Glossika // This is another course that offers elements of reading and listening.Use Forvo to hear how things sound // This is a great online dictionary for tons of languages with audio.Submit something to Rhinospike // And get it recorded by a native speaker so you can hear how it sounds. Be sure to reciprocate for someone else!Travel to the Country // Not for everyone – it can be pretty expensive. But it is an option if you have the means.Review your notes // You know all those notes you’ve been taking? When is the last time you went through them and reviewed them? Take the opportunity to do so now.Reading & WritingGraded Readers // McGraw-Hill puts out a great series of easy readers. I also really like the books published by Olly Richards. For those of you unfamiliar with the term “graded reader”, read this.Native Language Books // What better way to improve your French reading comprehension than by reading classic French texts like Le Petit Prince or L’Etranger? The same can be said for any great literature in any language.Use LingQ // LingQ is honestly my favorite app for language learning right now because it combines one of my favorite things (reading) with vocabulary study. You can use the content they already have available or you can import your own reading material.If your language has a different writing system, learn it.Translations of Your Favorite Books // Like Game of Thrones or Harry Potter? Why don’t you read it in your target language rather than in your native language? If that’s too hard, there are tons of children’s books available to choose from! Dr. Seuss and even some Disney stories are available in a wide selection of languages.Memrise // Memrise is an incredible online resource and an engaging way to learn new vocabulary. You can also try Drops.Flashcards // You can either make your own or you can go with digital Flashcards like Antosch & Lin or Anki.Label Objects in Your House // Make up sticky notes to label objects in your house to help you build up your day-to-day vocabulary. If you don’t want to overwhelm your loved ones, do it one room at a time.Textbooks // I particularly like the material that Tuttle puts out. Assimil is another of my favorites.Keep a Language Journal // It’s a great way to hang on to all the awesome things you’ve learned, review them, and look back at where you were at a few months back.Free write in your target language // Just because or to submit for corrections on a tool like Journaly.Translation from Your Target Language // Bust out a target language document and your dictionary and get to work with this old-school way to learn a language. In addition to translating the document, I like to keep a second notebook on hand to make notes on the information that is new to me and that I’d like to retain.Translation into Your Target Language // This is a bit harder than translating from your target language into your native language. So if you want to up your translation skills, this is definitely a good activity.Change the Language Settings on Your Devices // You can set the language of your phone or computer in your target language, and there are tons of other ways to get inventive with this option. Heck, even my car is set in one of the languages I’m learning (I changed the radio/control panel language in the settings) as is my gaming system.Change the Language Settings on Your Social Media Accounts // This sometimes needs to be done separately from the device itself.Check Out the Ethnic Foods Section of Your Local Grocery Store // Learn the ingredients of the foods you eat! The Instructions and Ingredients on the Backs of Products You Buy // I’ve done this forever with my shampoo bottles. Now that I’m learning Mandarin, I’ve even started doing it with the tags on my clothes and the instructions for everything I buy. Since I do most of my shopping at the local Chinese market, I end up with tons of material to learn from.Go to the Library // No need to spend money you might be able to save by checking out the language section at your local library.Write a script // Scripts are great exercises because they really offer you the chance to focus in on a specific subject and learn the vocabulary and grammar you need just for that topic.Newspapers and/or Magazines // Whenever I travel, I try to pickup newspapers in my target language. Even if I don’t use them in that moment, I can save them for when I have time.Make Friends with Your Dictionary // Open up to a random page and learn a new word. Make a list of words you’d like to know, look them up, and create a new flashcard set or vocab list like this. I also like Language Surfer‘s advice on this technique.Use Readlang // I only just discovered this tool and I’m going to have to add it to my arsenal of study tools.Use Journaly or iTalki’s Journal Tool to Write // These sites offer you the opportunity to write in your target language and have it corrected by a native speaker. It doesn’t cost anything, but be kind and reciprocate. Correct another language learner in your native language too.Find a Website Available in Multiple Languages // Open your target language and your native language in two different windows and do a comparison. Take notes. Wikipedia is a great starting point.Install your Language’s Keyboard on your Phone or Computer // I use my Chinese keyboard to type emojis – it forces me to remember the words for different moods and objects.Read a Comic // Who says you need to read text-only books anyway?Focus on Grammar // If your grammar needs some brushing up, spend some time reviewing or learning. Most older language learning texts are great for this as are the Teach Yourself series.Participate in the Language Reading Challenge!Grab a guide // My favorites are the Why X is Easy series for French, German, Italian, Spanish, English, and Chinese. Or the Master Japanese and Master Chinese books.Browse Wikipedia // You can switch which language you browse Wikipedia in and read on almost any topic in your target language.Speaking & Comprehension Pimsleur // Try a free lesson.Skype Lessons // If you’re not sure where to find a tutor, iTalki is my favorite platform for connecting with excellent teachers. I’ve also enjoyed Baselang (for Spanish) and Lingoda (for Spanish, German, and French).Language Exchanges with Native SpeakersLanguage Exchanges with Others Learning the Same Language // Don’t just rely on native speakers to help you practice your target language. Partner up with others who are learning the same language as you! Lindsay and I did this for Korean and it was a great way to keep accountable.Converse with Friends // If you have friends who speak the language you’re learning and are willing to practice with you, this is always a great option.Read Aloud // You know those books I mentioned above? Use those to work on both your reading comprehension and speaking abilities by reading aloud.Podcasts // There are so many incredible and FREE podcasts available in a wide range of languages. The Innovative language series like RussianPod101, SpanishPod101, JapanesePod101, ChineseClass101, etc. Listen to the radio // If you’re ready for it, you can dive into native language radio programs, or you can try out something like News in Slow French/Spanish or Slow Chinese.Conversations with Yourself // It can be intimidating trying to converse with a native speaker for the first time, so why not get some practice in on your own first?Audiobooks // This is great for those of you that spend a good amount of time in the car. Why listen to “The Three Musketeers” when you can enjoy “Les Trois Mousquetaires”? The great thing about most players too is that you can slow them down!Find a Restaurant in Your Area // Get some practice in ordering and conversing in your target language.Record Yourself Speaking // This is a learning technique that I’ve used often in music and that can certainly carry over into a language. One of the best ways to improve your pronunciation and speaking abilities is to record yourself and listen back. You’ll definitely hear mistakes you didn’t even know you were making!Go to a Cultural Event in Your Area // About a year ago I went to an Italian heritage festival hosted by a neighboring city with my parents. It was a great opportunity for me to brush up on my Italian, enjoy delicious food, make new friends, and hear a variety of Italian music (everything from opera to pop).Start a Vlog // Record yourself speaking in your target language and share it on Instagram (like I do) or on Youtube.Watch Commercials on Youtube // They are short and some even have captions. They’re a great way to get bite-sized language exposure.Watch Movies or TV Show with Subtitles // If you’re looking for something a little more involved try graduating up to television shows or movies.Watch a Movie or TV Show without Subtitles // Even if you don’t understand everything, this can be a great way to push your comprehension or get a better feel for what level you’re at.Watch an Overdubbed Version of Your Favorite Movie // Try watching it with and without subtitles. You already know the plot and can probably remember a good chunk of the dialog.Watch a movie or tv show that is more than one language // This is a little less intense than watching an entire series or movie in a foreign language. One of my favorites for Russian is The Americans. You can really have fun with this and even use it to learn a conlang like Dothraki by watching Game of Thrones. Hey, it’s all in the name of learning a language!Listen to Music in Your Target Language // Spotify has a great collection of music to choose from although some artists have blocked certain countries. I also use Kougu which is the Chinese equivalent of Pandora (and oddly enough, they have a French language channel). I have also started playlists for the languages I’m learning that you can check out on my YouTube channel.Work on Pronunciation // Focus on properly pronouncing your language’s alphabet or combinations of sounds (for example tones in Mandarin). Really break it down so that you can work on just creating the right sounds. This is especially crucial if the language you are learning has sounds that don’t exist in your native language.Learn different interjections and onomatopoetic expressions. // These are fun ways to sound more “native”.Focus on learning conversation connectors. // These are great tools to give yourself the chance to think and segue into new topics. Anthony Lauder has a fantastic list for Czech. You can use it as a basis to translate into your target language.Work on shadowing. // This is where you listen to audio or watch a video/movie/clip and try to repeat what you hear as closely as you can.Bonus

I like to think that learning about the cultures associated with the languages you’re learning as a bonus to developing your ability and attachment to what you’re studying. Consider the following:

Read a Book About the History of Your Language // Or about the group of languages to which yours belongs (i.e. Slavic languages rather than Croatian). Again, joining us in the Language Learning Reading Challenge is a great way to do this.Read a Book About the History of One of the Countries Where Your Language is Spoken // It can be a general history, one on a specific time period or specific movement. Whatever interests you.Read a Book About the Experience Someone Had Moving to or Traveling Through a Country Where Your Target Language is Spoken // This is a great way to get an outside perspective.Learn to Cook a Local Dish // Double bonus if you can cook it using the recipe in your target language rather than a translated recipe!Take a Look at a Map and Learn About the Major Cities // Use a map to pinpoint the larger cities and look them up. Don’t cheat and Google “large cities in XYZ country.” Get familiar with your country’s geography and where the major cities are located.Learn About Some of the Holidays Unique to the Country Where Your Language is Spoken // Double bonus if you can find a celebration in your area and attend!Don’t go looking for something if you don’t have a problem. // I don’t know what it is about language learning that leads to us hoarding resources, but there is definitely something. Perhaps it’s in thinking that we’ll be more thorough or that a new resource will solve a problem for us, or who knows. I’ve recently adopted a more minimalist approach to language learning, so I only bring a new resource in when I have a problem my current resources don’t solve.Learn some of the common hand gestures or body language used by those who speak your target language. // There are some infographics like this, but watching movies or tv shows is another great way to do this.Take a course that teaches you how to be a better learner overall // Like the Learning How to Learn course on Coursera or Scott Young’s Rapid Learner course.

I hope to continue building out this list, so if you think there are any techniques I’ve missed, please feel free to share in the comments. I look forward to hearing from you!

The post 100+ Ways to Fit Language Learning in Your Day appeared first on Eurolinguiste.

The Top 8 Language Resources I Actually Use on a Regular Basis

I review a lot of different language learning materials for Eurolinguiste. I love getting the chance to try out new resources, and I even go on to continue using some of the materials I review, but not all of them. There are just too many options and I believe it’s important not to spread yourself too thin.

Before we get too far, this post contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through one of these links, I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you enjoy Eurolinguiste, please consider purchasing from my affiliate links to help support what I do.

In all honesty, I’d love to be able to use more of the resources I’ve discovered consistently, but there really isn’t enough time for me to get to all of them. Not regularly, at least.

And this isn’t anything to do with the quality of the resources I’ve decided not to use. Some of them are incredible, but they just aren’t what I, personally, need to use at whichever stage I’m at with my language study.

So, rather than spend a little bit of low-quality time with a large amount of resources, I’ve had to narrow the field. Instead, I’ve selected a few with which I like to spend a lot of high-quality time studying. This, of course, changes on occasion, but I’ve been pretty consistent with my choices over the past few years.

Only then, once I’ve exhausted these resources, do I begin to tap into alternatives and additional resources.

In this post, I’m sharing the eight language learning resources I use the most on a consistent basis. I’ve included how often I use them, what I use them for, and how much they cost.

Not all of these resources will work for everyone, but they are what works for me. With these resources, I feel as though my study is equally balanced between the five skills I find necessary to being competent in a language – listening, speaking, reading, writing, and building vocabulary.

Top 8 Language Learning Resources I Use As Someone Who’s Learned 16+ Languages1. LingQ

I use LingQ EVERY DAY. It is probably the only resource I use every single day (although I have good intentions for other resources). The lessons are whatever length of time I choose and I can always find the time to fit in a bit of study on LingQ.

The import feature on the app is incredibly robust and I can add a wealth of personalized content to the app.

Why I use this resource // I use this resource to memorize vocabulary, read books I love, study subtitles for my favorite shows, and get a bit of extra support with language learning content on YouTube. It uses spaced repetition to help you retain the words and phrases when you use the flashcard feature. There are a ton of great courses already set up on LingQ, but if they don’t have what you’re looking for, you can create your own. I use several pre-made courses when I’m starting out, but I also create my own sets from vocabulary I keep in my notebook as well as the content I import.

How often I use this resource // Almost every day.

The cost of this resource // $14.99/month. There are, however, discounts if you subscribe annually or biannually.

Try this resource for yourself. (affiliate link)

Or, read my review of LingQ.

2. italki

Between all of the languages I am studying, I take several italki lessons per week. Way back when, I was hesitant to start using it, in all honesty, but the name kept coming up amongst language bloggers so I finally gave in. I haven’t looked back since.

Why I use this resource // I like to work with the teachers on italki because I get instant feedback on my progress and because teachers are perfect for helping you get pointed in the right direction.

How often I use this resource // I use it at least once a week.

The cost of this resource // $5+ per hour (or Free if you only visit for language exchanges).

Try this resource for yourself. (affiliate link)

Or read my review of italki.

3. Assimil

I use Assimil several times per week. There are currently only 100 lessons per language so I am going to be pretty sad when I run out of lessons. They’ve started publishing materials beyond their With Ease series (I also love their phrasebooks), so I’m eager to see what they’ll come up with for the languages I’m learning. Assimil is one of the first resources I buy when I start learning a new language and I highly recommend it.

Assimil is a French publication so it’s worth noting here that their widest selection of languages are taught from French. While they do have course books for English speakers, the selection is a little more limited. That said, it makes for a great way to ladder your languages.

Why I use this resource // I use Assimil because they are one of the few resources that helps you to develop all four aspects of your language learning – reading, writing, listening, and even speaking. They also offer various exercises and notes to help you fully delve into the language that you’re learning.

How often I use this resource // I use it several times a week.

The cost of this resource // $50-80.

Try this resource for yourself. (affiliate link)

Or read my review.

4. Pimsleur

I listen to Pimsleur several times a week while driving to and from work. I sometimes mix it up with foreign language music and/or podcasts. I’ve used Pimsleur for more than six languages now and it’s a really good way to make use of the time I spend in the car. It’s expensive, but I have found it to be a good use of my language learning money.

That said, they now have an app that makes their courses much more affordable as well as makes more of its languages accessible.

Why I use this resource // I use Pimsleur to work on my listening and speaking skills and because it’s a great use of all the time I spend commuting.

How often I use this resource // I use it at least once a week.

The cost of this resource // $120-$550 if you buy the courses in their traditional format. It’s $14.95/month if you use the app.

Try this resource for yourself. (affiliate link)

Or read my review.

5. Journaly

This is a fairly new-to-me resource and my goal is to use Journaly at least once per week. I’ve found its comparable predecessor, Journaly, really useful for learning to write and/or improving my writing.

Why I use this resource // I use this to write short posts relevant to things that I might actually write or talk about in a real-life conversation or article. The community on the platform offers feedback and corrections which is quite helpful.

How often I use this resource // I try to use it at least once a month.

The cost of this resource // Free.

Try this resource for yourself. (affiliate link)

6. FluentU

I love that FluentU uses native language content to help you improve your ability in and understanding of a language. They have a wide variety of videos available in several languages and I can always find something that interests me to work through. I really enjoy the music video and mini-movie series they have available.

Why I use this resource // I use FluentU to work on comprehension and to learn phrases that are used in everyday conversations in my target languages.

How often I use this resource // I use it at least once a week.

The cost of this resource // Free-$18/month.

Try this resource for yourself. (affiliate link)

Or read my review.

7. Practice Tests

I used the HSK practice tests to study Mandarin when I was preparing for the exam. I found using practice tests to gauge where I’m at with my learning extremely practical. Practice tests – whether you plan on sitting the CEFL or the HSK exams – are a wonderful way to find out what level you’re at with the language you’re learning and give you a good idea of what you need to work on.

Why I use this resource // I use this resource to both practice for tests I plan on taking and to gauge what level I’m at with my learning.

How often I use this resource // I use it at least once a week.

The cost of this resource // $10-25.

Try this resource for yourself.

8. Native Language Films, Books, and Music

I don’t advocate using films, books, and music as standalone learning tools until you’re at a more intermediate or advanced level, but they can serve as a quick way to create the impression of language immersion when a real-life immersion environment isn’t available to you. They’re also a great way to grow attached to the culture tied to the language you’re learning which in turn deepens your relationship and interest in the language itself. I listen to music in my target language almost every day and I watch films or television shows every week or so. But the one thing I do quite a bit, as mentioned above, is read daily.

Why I use this resource // I use native-language films and music to create a temporary immersion environment. They are also great for picking up useful words and phrases.

How often I use this resource // I use it at least once a week.

The cost of this resource // Free-$3.99 (if you rent films on Amazon).

Try this resource for yourself.

I do, on occasion, use a few other resources to supplement my language study, but these are the eight that I use consistently.

If you enjoyed this list, I’m happy to announce that I’ve launched my Language Learning Gear page so that you can check out the various language learning resources I use and try them out for yourself!

I’d also love to hear about the language learning resources you use on a regular basis so please let me know what they are in the comments!

The post The Top 8 Language Resources I Actually Use on a Regular Basis appeared first on Eurolinguiste.

All Documented Language Learning Projects on Eurolinguiste

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to complete a variety of language learning projects. I aimed to sit the HSK 4 exam after a year of studying Chinese. I’ve sought to see how much Icelandic I could learn en route to the country without learning a word of the language prior. I’ve also completed several Fluent in 3 Month Bootcamps (formerly the Challenge) and have studied languages as a part of 90 Days with Drops.

I’ve documented many of these, but before now, they weren’t easy to locate or follow. With this collection, I hope to change that.

Now, you can find all of my documented language learning projects in one place.

This will be a living document and I plan to add links and additional projects as I take on new projects and recover materials/videos from previous projects. You’ll see at the moment that there are a few project items listed below without links. Those are coming soon!

My Language Maintenance ProjectProject Introduction Video 1 and Video 2Learning Persian with DropsMy Persian Language ProjectLearn Persian with Our Resident Polyglot (on Drops)My Persian Language UpdateMy Day 90 Persian UpdateMy video progress over 90 days: Day 0 | Day 30 | Day 60 | Day 90Raising My Kids In My Second LanguageHow I’m Teaching My Kids Mandarin ChineseBilingual Baby: How to Teach Your Baby Two Languages (on Fluent in 3 Months)My Hebrew ProjectA Language Project Like No Other (on Drops)My Video Progress Over 90 Days: Day 0 | Day 30 | Day 60 | Day 90 (15-minute conversation in Hebrew)My Hindi Language ProjectMy Video Progress Over 90 Days: Day 0 | Day 30 | Day 60 | Day 90 (15-minute conversation in Hindi)Video update 1 (self-introduction), video update 2.My Icelandic ProjectIs It Too Late to Start Learning a Language on the Plane? (on Drops)Learning Hungarian with DropsMy Hungarian Language ProjectAn Introduction to My Hungarian Project (on Drops)Learning Hungarian with Drops: Milestone 1 (on Drops)Learning Hungarian with Drops: Milestone 2 (on Drops)Learning Hungarian with Drops: Milestone 3 (on Drops)Learning Hungarian with Drops: Milestone 4 (on Drops)Learning Hungarian with Drops: Milestone 5 (on Drops)Learning Hungarian with Drops: Milestone 6 (on Drops)Learning Hungarian with Drops: Milestone 7 (on Drops)Learning Hungarian with Drops: The Final Mission (on Drops)How I Shocked My Boss in Budapest (on Fluent in 3 Months)Korean for the Fi3M ChallengeLearning Korean All Over AgainSo We Meet Again… My Second Attempt to Learn KoreanMy Video Progress Over 90 Days: Application | Day 0 | Day 30 | Day 60 | Day 90How I Learned Korean in 90 Days (on Fluent in 3 Months)Japanese for the Fi3M ChallengeNew Language Learning Project: JapaneseMy Video Progress Over 90 Days: Application | Day 0 | Day 30 | Day 60 | Day 90The Beginner’s Guide to Learning Japanese1.5 Months of Study Video4 Months of Study VideoThe Ultimate Guide to Japanese Writing SystemsJapanese Verb Forms | How to Conjugate Verbs in JapaneseLearning Kanji as a Chinese Speaker

Bonus:  100+ Conversational Words & Phrases in Japanese

Korean Language Project with Lindsay Does LanguagesLearning the Korean AlphabetKorean Language Challenge Biweekly Update #1Korean Video UpdateKorean Dining Etiquette & VocabularyKorean Video UpdateKorean SnacksKorean Video UpdateMy Favorite Korean Learning Resources (so far)

Bonus: 100+ Conversational Words & Phrases in Korean

Learning RussianThe Russian AlphabetCases: What This Word Means for Language LearnersHow to Learn a Writing System Different From Your OwnLanguage Laddering

Bonus: 100+ Conversation Words & Phrases in Russian

Learning Mandarin Chinese to Pass the HSK 4 ExamSpeak from Day 1Speak from Day 2 My First Experiences Using Mandarin ChineseInstagram Language Challenge CompilationThings I’ve Learned Watching Mandarin Language TelevisionA Collection of Tips & Resources for the HSK ExamA Simplified Guide to Chinese Measure WordsHow I Memorized 600 Chinese Words in 2 Weeks

Bonus: 100+ Conversational Words & Phrases in Chinese

Italian Language RefreshMy 3 Day Italian RefreshDay 1 VideoDay 2 VideoDay 3 VideoLearning SpanishHow to Learn a Language from Scratch: My Experience Learning SpanishLanguage Hacking Day 1Language Hacking Day 2Language Hacking Day 3Language Hacking Day 4Language Hacking Day 5Language Hacking Day 6Language Hacking Day 7Language Hacking Day 8A Review of BaselangBaselang Result VideoCroatian for the Fi3M ChallengeApplication VideoDay 0 VideoDay 30 VideoCases in Croatian: A Free WorksheetHow the Serbian Alphabet Differs from the Russian Alphabet, and Croatian from EnglishDay 90 Take 1 VideoDay 90 Take 2 Video

Bonus: 100+ Conversational Words & Phrases in Croatian

What about you?

I’d love to hear about your language projects in the comments below. 

The post All Documented Language Learning Projects on Eurolinguiste appeared first on Eurolinguiste.

Memrise is Doing Away with User-Generated Content… Now What?

I have been a religious Memrise user for more than a decade The company, however, is making big changes. Here’s why I’m leaving the platform and what I’m using instead.

I Was a Memrise Power User

I started using Memrise on Dec 27, 2013 and joined Pro in 2018. It’s been the one tool I’ve used most consistently throughout my language learning journey for quite literally every language I’ve learned.

I started out using the app to work on French, Chinese, and even geography. Memrise became more than just a tool; it became my trusted companion, accompanying me through the twists and turns of mastering languages, one word at a time.

Fast forward to today, as I write these words, my journey on Memrise has accumulated a staggering 61.6 million points, a testament to the countless hours poured into mastering 34,441 words across multiple languages. I’ve created numerous courses on the platform and up until only a couple of weeks ago, had a 1500+ day streak in the app.

But now that Memrise is doing away with user-generated content, it’s time the tool and I go our separate ways.

don’t forget to add social media embeds, quotes, images and other elements to break up the text

Memrise Says Goodbye User-Generated Content

Memrise recently made waves in its decision to discontinue support for custom courses, a move that has elicited mixed reactions among its user base.

As a learner and coach, I’ve celebrated Memrise for offering learners the ability to create custom, curated language learning content. It’s SRS system was well-designed and I favored it over the countless other comparable tools available. It was my #1 recommendation, and not for it’s courses and built-in content.

Custom courses have long been a cornerstone of Memrise’s appeal, allowing users to personalize their language learning experience in ways that traditional courses may not accommodate. Whether it’s mastering vocabulary related to a niche hobby or delving into specialized terminology for professional purposes, custom courses have empowered learners to take ownership of their learning journey. This flexibility has fostered a vibrant ecosystem of user-generated content, with passionate contributors sharing their expertise and insights with fellow learners around the globe.

The decision to phase out custom courses signals a significant shift in the company’s strategy, and yes, I understand the reasons behind the company making this decision. Yet, the decision to sunset custom courses as they pivot towards standardization and quality control eliminates what made them my favored tool.

It just becomes another pre-formed learning tool, eliminating the learner’s power to develop their own personalized learning content.

Custom courses offered a level of personalization and authenticity that official courses might struggle to replicate, catering to individual learning styles and interests in a way that standardized content cannot always match. Losing access to these user-generated resources may feel like a loss of autonomy and community-driven learning opportunities for some members of the Memrise community.

As of right now, the community courses have been moved away from the main Memrise site and will only continue to be supported through the end of this year (2024).

In the meantime, I’ve been on the hunt for an alternative so I’ll share a few of the options available to you and detail what resource I’ve landed on and why.

4 Alternatives to Memrise if You Want to Create Custom Content1 Anki

Anki is an open-source flashcard app that utilizes spaced repetition to help users memorize vocabulary and concepts efficiently. It allows users to create their own decks or download pre-made decks from the Anki community. It’s free to use on your desktop or laptop and there is an app you can download as well.

Try Anki.

2 Quizlet

Quizlet offers a user-friendly interface for creating and studying flashcards. It includes various study modes, such as games and quizzes, and allows users to collaborate on decks with classmates or friends.

Try Quizlet.

3 Brainscape

Brainscape employs a scientifically optimized algorithm to maximize learning efficiency through spaced repetition. It offers pre-made decks for various subjects and allows users to create their own decks as well.

Try Brainscape.

4 Flashcards Deluxe

Flashcards Deluxe offers a robust set of features for creating and studying flashcards, including support for text, images, and audio. It includes customizable options for card appearance and study settings.

Try Flashcards Deluxe.

Why I’m Moving My Personal Content to LingQ

For a time, I considered moving to one of the above recommendations for my own learning but ended up going another route. I’m already heavily invested in LingQ and pay for an annual membership, so it made more sense for me to more fully convert my learning over to the app.

Plus, working through the content in LingQ will boost my learning stats and be a good opportunity for review.

LingQ has highly robust import features — for both vocabulary and courses. And while they didn’t support several languages I was learning a few years back (like Hungarian and Croatian), they’ve since added them which gives me hope they’ll one day add the one language I’m learning that they still don’t support — Scottish Gaelic. Until then, I’ve found a workaround but can still dive deep with my other languages.

Would I Still Recommend Memrise?

After all is said and done and the community courses are done away with, you might be wondering if I would still recommend Memrise.

My answer is yes, but not for the same reasons as I recommended it in the past and it no longer falls in my top resource recommendations.

I would now recommend Memrise as a supplemental tool much in the same way I might recommend Drops or Duolingo. I do enjoy Memrise’s courses, but I’ve just always found more power and progress in learning the vocabulary, phrases, and notes I’ve pulled together myself over learning content put together for me in an app.

Conclusion

Thankfully my learning content didn’t exist solely within Memrise. I’ve kept a spreadsheet with all of my vocabulary and update it on a weekly basis. Because I took this step first before importing my content into Memrise, I had a useful backup for just such an occasion.

Having this spreadsheet made it easy for me to take my content and bring it over to any other new platform and I’m glad it’s a step I’ve been taking over the last many years.

Memrise doing away with its user-generated courses is the end of an era. I’m sad to see it go. Even disappointed. But refreshing your learning tools and tactics can have a big impact and it’ll be interesting to see what switching my daily tool over from Memrise to LingQ does for my learning.

It may be possible that LingQ doesn’t quite do what I’m looking for a Memrise replacement to do, but since I was already using LingQ and building a vocabulary reference on the app, I imagine it’ll actually do more to consolidate my learning and offer a lot of positive outcomes.

FAQ

When did Memrise stop supporting custom courses in the app?
Memrise stopped supporting Community Courses in the Memrise App on March 31st 2024.

Where can I access my custom Memrise Courses?
Your custom Memrise courses are available here until the end of 2024.

When will Memrise get rid of custom courses entirely?
It is expected that the custom courses will be shut down at the end of 2024.

Can I still study my custom Memrise content on my mobile device?
Yes, you can access the Memrise community site through the browser on your mobile device. Just note that if the page refreshes or your leave the page before exiting the course, your progress will not be saved.

Can I still create or modify courses in Memrise?
Yes, the community site still supports course creation and changes.

Where can I learn more about these changes?
Memrise has shared more about this transition on their website.

The post Memrise is Doing Away with User-Generated Content… Now What? appeared first on Eurolinguiste.

Language Learning Reading Challenge 2024

It’s once again that time and the votes are in! The Language Learning Reading Challenge community submitted their requests for this year’s challenge and here are the themes for the 2024 Language Reading Challenge.

What is the Language Learning Reading Challenge?

The Language Learning Reading Challenge is essentially a book club for language learners. It’s been around since 2017 and it’s open to learners of all languages.

Here’s how it works:

Every month will have a theme and you can select any book you like that fits the theme to read as a part of the Language Learning Reading Challenge.We’ll have a collection of recommended reading material and discussions going (you can view part of the recommended list below).You’ll get to hang out and chat with a cool community on either Facebook or Goodreads (or both!).And more to come!

Each month in the LLRC, we’ll tackle one book covering a topic related to language and share our experiences as a group. Please feel free to join us. You can participate by commenting on the posts here at Eurolinguiste or by joining the group on Facebook (we have a Goodreads community, too).

As part of the challenge, we will be reading books that cover everything from culture, language learning, general learning techniques, history, and more. Plus, we’ll be reading both in our native languages and target languages.

If you’re at a more advanced level in your target language, feel free to read any or all of the books (not just the ones indicated as target language only) in the language that you’re learning.

If you’re still just getting started, that’s okay, too! You can read along in your native language, discovering more about the cultures and histories tied to the language(s) that you’re learning, opting for lower-level or graded readers for books in your target language.

Please note that you don’t have to pick just one language for this challenge. If you’re learning multiple languages, feel free to mix and match. The challenge is pretty flexible. I’ve planned it this way so you can get the most learning possible out of it over this next year.

The 2024 Language Learning Reading Challenge Prompts

Jan: Read a book related to the history of the language you’re learning or of a country where your language is spoken

Feb: Read a book inspired by a true story (in your target language)

Mar: A book written by a language blogger (like Benny’s books, Olly’s books, Kerstin’s book, Lindsay’s book, or even shameless plug: my book)

Apr: Read a book in a genre you wouldn’t normally read (for example, I love fantasy but don’t read romance generally, so I could read a romance novel in my target language)

May: Read a book about learning (it can be a book about language learning or about learning in general)

Jun: Read a book by an author from a country that you haven’t read any of their authors before

Jul: Read something written by a female author from a country that speaks your language (it can be written in the language or a translation)

Aug: Read a self-development book in your target language

Sep: Read a book written by a language blogger (like Benny’s books, Olly’s books, Kerstin’s book, Lindsay’s book, or even shameless plug: my book)

Oct: Read a graded reader in your target language

Nov: Read a fiction book in your target language (it can be a book at any level — a short children’s book, a book written for teens, or a book written for adults)

Dec: Read a book that was published this calendar year

A Few Notes Regarding the Language Reading Challenge:

The challenge doesn’t have to focus on one language, if you are studying multiple languages (or have an interest in languages you’re not studying), feel free to go for books in or about those languages.

You are absolutely welcome to read books of any level. Graded readers, children’s books, academic books, or any other genre are acceptable for the challenges that require you to read in your target language(s). And for topics that indicate you read a children’s book, you can also explore YA (young adult).

You do not need to participate every month to be a part of this challenge. You can choose the months that align with your interests.

If you do not complete the book you take up in any one month of the challenge, that’s okay! You can still join in the conversation and share some of what you’ve learned from the sections of the book you were able to get through.

Recommendations from Past Participants

Here is the current list of book recommendations to come out of Women in Language 2020. These will also be shared on Goodreads.

“White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo“Invisible Countries: Journeys to the Edge of Nationhood” by Joshua Keating“America Learns Russian: A History of the Teaching of the Russian Language in the United States” by Albert Parry“Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism” by Benedict Anderson“Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men” by Caroline Criado Perez“Beyond the Mother Tongue” by Yasemin Yildiz“Borrowed Tongues” by Eva C. Karpinski“This is London: Life and Death in the World City” by Ben Judah“Babel No More: The Search for the World’s Most Extraordinary Language Learners” by Michael Erard“On Va Le Dire Comme Ca” French Dictionary“Je n’ai plus osé ouvrir la bouche – témoignages de glottophobie vécue et moyens de se défendre” by Philippe Blanchet“The Namesake: A Novel” by Jhumpa Lahiri“In Other Words” by Jhumpa Lahiri“The Lowland” by Jhumpa Lahiri“Interpreter of Maladies” by Jhumpa Lahiri“Through the Language Glass: Why the a World Looks Different in Other Languages” by Guy Deutscher“Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion” by Gregory Boyle“Salsa Nocturna” by Daniel José Older“En defensa de la lengua andaluza” by Tomas Gutier“The Phonology of Hungarian (The Phonology of the World’s Languages)” by Péter Siptár“Catalogue des idées reçues sur la langue” by Marina Yaguella“Talking Back, Talking Black: Truths About America’s Lingua Franca” by James McWhorter“From Sabotage to Support: A New Vision for Feminist Solidarity in the Workplace” by Joy L Williams“Playing Big” – Tarah Morh“Polyglot: How I Learn Languages” by Kato Lomb“Racialized Identities in Second Language Learning: Speaking Blackness in Brazil (Routledge Advances in Second Language Studies)” by Uju Anya“Language, Identity, and Choice: Raising Bilingual Children in a Global Society” by Dr. Kami J. Anderson“Raising Bilingual Brown Babies: Everyday strategies to become a confident bilingual family” by Dr. Kami J. Anderson“The Afrocentric Idea” by Molefi Kete Asante“Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain“What Do I Do When I Want to Do Everything?: A Revolutionary Programme for Doing Everything That You Love” by Barbara Sher“Discriminations Combattre La Glottophobie” by Philippe BlanchetLanguage Reading Challenge Rules:Share your post discussing the book that you’ve read this month. Submissions unrelated to the theme or links to your homepage will be deleted. You can share in the comments or use the link below to join us on Facebook or Goodreads.OPTIONAL: Join us on Facebook or Goodreads.

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100+ Useful Conversational Phrases & Words in Korean

Want to learn conversational Korean?

Learn key Korean words and phrases in important conversational topics with this post! Plus, there’s a free PDF you can download with even more useful words and phrases in Korean.

As a part of the Korean language challenge I did with Lindsay of Lindsay Does Languages, I thought it would be fun to share the phrase and word sheet I use as a guide to give me an extra boost when speaking Korean.

These phrases or expressions are those that I’ve found quite useful, especially as a part of those first few conversations and now, I’d like to share them with you.

As a part of the challenge, most of the focus for Lindsay and I had been to learn a bit of Korean grammar (honorifics, basic conjugation, and so on), but I also wanted to spend time learning helpful phrases for day-to-day conversations.

So rather than continuing to focus on rules involving particles, I got to learn fun expressions like “what kind of music do you like?” and get that much closer to actually conversing with Korean speakers.

In this post you’ll find a short selection of the 100+ conversational phrases and words in Korean (actually, it’s closer to 140 words and phrases) I have available as part of a downloadable PDF that you can get below.

Happy Korean language learning!

Get your free PDF with 100+ Conversational Korean Words and Phrases

Sign up for my free language learning library and get access to my Korean phrases PDF as well as tons of other language learning resources!

Korean GreetingsEnglishKoreanTransliterationHow are you/Hello안녕하세요annyeonghaseyoWhat’s new?별일 없지요 ?byeol-il eobsjiyoLong time no see오랜만이다orenmanidaNice to meet you만나서 반갑습니다mannasuh bangapseumnidaI am very happy to meet you만나서 참 반가워요mannaseo cham bangawoyoBasic & Polite Phrases in KoreanEnglishKoreanTransliterationYes네neNo아니요aniyoExcuse me (to request something)실례지만…shillejiman…Thank you감사합니다kamsahamnidaYou’re welcome / don’t mention it천만 에 요cheonman e yoGet the Conversation Rolling in Korean EnglishKoreanTransliterationPlease don’t speak English영어 로 말하지 마세요yeong-eo lo malhaji maseyoWhat?뭐 ?mwoWhat music do you like?어떤 음악 을 좋아해요 ?eotteon eum-ag eul joh-ahaeyoI like …저는 … 좋아해요jeoneun … joh-ahaeyoWhat do you do when you have free time시간 있을 때 뭐 하세요 ?sigan iss-eul ttae mwo haseyoGetting a Bit of Clarification in KoreanEnglishKoreanTransliterationWhat does this mean?무슨 뜻이에요?museun tteusieyoPlease say that one more time.다시 한 번 말해 주세요.dasi han beon malhae juseyoPlease speak slowly.천천히 말해 주세요.cheoncheonhi malhae juseyoPlease write it down.적어 주세요jeog-eo juseyoI don’t understand모르겠 습니 다moreugesseumnidaWords About Time in KoreanEnglishKoreanTransliterationSometimes가끔gakkeumAlways항상hangsangToday오늘oneulTomorrow내일naeilYesterday어제eojeExclamations & Transition Words to Take Your Korean Speaking to the Next LevelEnglishKoreanTransliterationWell…글쎄요…geulsseyoUm음eumOh my gosh헐heolFor real?진짜요?jinjjayoI think so저도 그렇게 생각 합니다jeodo geuleohge saeng-gag habnidaConversation Closers & Goodbye in KoreanEnglishKoreanTransliterationSee you later나중에 봬요najunge bwaeyoGood bye안녕히 계세요annyonghi geseyoHave a nice day좋은 하루 되세요joeun haru dweseyoSee you later.이따 봐요.itta bwayoI have to go now나 지금 가야 돼na jigeum gaya dwaeBonus

As a bonus, here is a fun video I found using some of the phrases above so you can hear how they sound!

*Please note that most of the above examples use formal language, assuming that you’re getting to know the person that you’re speaking with. 

And here’s my progress in Korean after studying the language for just 90 days with the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp (formerly the Challenge):

Get your free PDF with 100+ Conversational Korean Words and Phrases

Sign up for my free language learning library and get access to my Korean phrases PDF as well as tons of other language learning resources!

Are you learning Korean? What are some phrases that you’ve found useful in your target language? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

You can also check out my recommended resources for Korean. Or you can dive into taekwondo vocabulary in Korean or learn a bit about Korean culture.

The post 100+ Useful Conversational Phrases & Words in Korean appeared first on Eurolinguiste.

Black Friday Deals for Language Learners 2023

It’s Black Friday, so you know there are going to be some incredible deals for language learners around the web! But with so many fantastic offers, how do you know which products are the right fit?

What’s best for everyone is a little different, but I wanted to share my favorite language learning products currently on sale. These are the language learning tools and resources I use and recommend — and now, you can get them at irresistible prices!

50% Off Language Learning Accelerator

With four jobs, three kids, a blog, and seventeen languages under my belt, I’ve had a lot of experience developing time management and energy management skills. I created this course to share them with you. If you ever feel too busy to learn a language, or too tired, Language Learning Accelerator has all the tools you need to work through it and finally find the time to learn your language.

Price: $73.50 (normally $147)

Get this deal.

Available: from now until Nov 30

93% Off Language Hacking with Fluent in 3 Months

Fluent in 3 Months is offering a package at an incredible 93% off. It includes the live seminar Language Reboot, the courses the Language Gym, Conversation Countdown, and Speak from Day 1, their webinar pack and the entire Easy Languages package.

My thoughts: Fluent in 3 Months has some really great products, some of which I myself have used.

Price: $97 (normally $1,333)

Get this deal.

Available: until Black Friday

20% Off Pimsleur Annual All Access Subscription

Pimsleur is an audio-based resource available for more than 30 languages. They are available for digital download, but also have an app that features additional study features.

Suitable to learn many languages.

My thoughts: Pimsleur is one of my favorite resources. It’s in my Top 8. It has helped my accent, my speaking, and listening comprehension for almost every language I’ve learned.

Price: $131.96/yr (normally $164.95/yr)

Get this deal.

Available: Nov 17-Nov 27

97% Off Mosalingua

Mosalingua is a step-by-step coaching and immersion program to guide you through all the aspects needed to learn any language. It covers language immersion, listening, vocab acquisition, pronunciation, planning, organization, speaking, and important psychological aspects like improving self-esteem and overcoming the most common fears and obstacles that you need to overcome to get fluent in a language.

Suitable to learn any language.

My thoughts: They offer a wide range of languages and it’s a fantastically structured online course for those just starting out.

Price: Depends on which deal you go for!

Get this deal.

Available: Nov 17-Nov 27

50% Off Glossika Basic and Pro Plans

Glossika is an online, audio-based tool that uses Mass Sentences. In other words, it’s all about learning a language by practicing a lot of sentences. The focus isn’t on individual words or grammar, but on learning at the sentence level.

Suitable to learn many languages.

My thoughts: I recently jumped back into learning Scottish Gaelic with Glossika and have been having good success with it, especially getting used to how the language sounds.

Price: Depends on which plan you choose.

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Discount code: 2023BF50

60% Off FluentU

FluentU is an app and online tool that uses video clips to help you learn a new language. Their Black Friday offer gives you full access to 10+ languages and more than 20,000 videos.

My thoughts: I used FluentU when Chinese was my focus language and it was an engaging way to learn the language. It is definitely a useful tool.

Price: $8/mo (usually $20/mo)

Get this deal.

Available: until Nov 28

50% Off Ling App

Ling App is a fun alternative to Duolingo that offers a broad selection of languages including Croatian, Danish, Estonian, French, Spanish, Chinese and more.

My thoughts: It’s a great way to fit in a quick study session on the go.

Price: $59.99/yr (usually $119.99/yr)

Get this deal.

Available: until Nov 28

45% Off Your Solid Vocab Memory from Fluent Language (Nov 20-27)

Your Solid Vocab Memory is perfect for you if you are losing confidence because you can’t recall a lot of words and want a holistic view of vocabulary learning and memory, not a hack or a hollow quick fix. The course is packed with examples and tutorials, guiding you through fun and creative techniques for building rich links that mean you will not forget tricky vocab terms anymore.

My thoughts: I love Kerstin’s teaching style and this course is an interesting alternative approach to learning new vocabulary.

Price: $49 (usually $89)

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Discount code: YSVMBF23

Available: Nov 20 – Nov 27

$100 Off The Language Habit System from Fluent Language (Nov 24 & 25 ONLY)

The Language Habit System is an online course and toolkit designed to help language learners build a productive routine.

 Get organized, long term

 Simple consistency and real progress

 Structured guide for learning a language with exciting and achievable goals

My thoughts: I recently had the opportunity to beta test this program and I LOVED it. It’s incredibly helpful for getting on track, setting your goals, and building a consistent learning routine.

Price: $100 Off

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Discount code: LHSBF23

Available: Nov 24 & 25 only

Don’t wait! All these great deals end soon.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means that if you choose to purchase one of the language programs using one of the links above, Eurolinguiste will earn a small commission that goes towards helping keep this site running (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!

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