#language-learning

[notaplaceofhonour]

okay DuoLingo, when are you adding furblish to the app?

Available on RedBubble

[anielskaaniela]

3 Japanese Writing Systems: Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana

In this post , you will learn on 3 Japanese writing systems. Check out my japanese products [here]. The Japanese writing system is a fascinating and complex blend of different scripts that evolved over centuries. For anyone looking to learn Japanese, understanding these scripts is essential. This post delves into the intricacies of the Japanese writing system, exploring its history, structure,…

[ianmcewan42]

From Motivation to Mastery: Real Steps in Language Learning

I recently stumbled upon a Medium article titled “Want to Learn a New Language? Ask Yourself These Questions First” by Fedeminozzi. It promised insight, direction, maybe even a spark of clarity for my language-learning journey. What I got instead was a mirror and a motivational pat on the back. The article urges readers to look inward—“Why do you want to learn?”, “How do you learn best?”, “What…

[ailifehacks]

AI-Powered Language Learning: Tools and Tips for USA Learners

Explore top AI-powered language learning tools and tips tailored for USA learners. Enhance your skills with personalized, innovative technologies. In today’s digital age, AI-powered language learning tools are transforming how Americans acquire new languages, offering personalized and efficient experiences. These innovative technologies adapt to individual learning styles, making language…

[ruhua-langblr]

Duolingo Sucks, Now What?: A Guide

Now that the quality of Duolingo has fallen (even more) due to AI and people are more willing to make the jump here are just some alternative apps and what languages they have:

"I just want an identical experience to DL"

Busuu (Languages: Spanish, Japanese, French, English, German, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Polish, Turkish, Russian, Arabic, Korean)

"I want a good audio-based app"

Language Transfer (Languages: French, Swahili, Italian, Greek, German, Turkish, Arabic, Spanish, English for Spanish Speakers)

"I want a good audio-based app and money's no object"

Pimsleur (Literally so many languages)

Glossika (Also a lot of languages, but minority languages are free)

*anecdote: I borrowed my brother's Japanese Pimsleur CD as a kid and I still remember how to say the weather is nice over a decade later. You can find the CDs at libraries and "other" places I'm sure.

"I have a pretty neat library card"

Mango (Languages: So many and the endangered/Indigenous courses are free even if you don't have a library that has a partnership with Mango)

Transparent Language: (Languages: THE MOST! Also the one that has the widest variety of African languages! Perhaps the most diverse in ESL and learning a foreign language not in English)

"I want SRS flashcards and have an android"

AnkiDroid: (Theoretically all languages, pre-made decks can be found easily)

"I want SRS flashcards and I have an iphone"

AnkiApp: It's almost as good as AnkiDroid and free compared to the official Anki app for iphone

"I don't mind ads and just want to learn Korean"

lingory

"I want an app made for Mandarin that's BETTER than DL and has multiple languages to learn Mandarin in"

ChineseSkill (You can use their older version of the course for free)

"I don't like any of these apps you mentioned already, give me one more"

Bunpo: (Languages: Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Korean, and Mandarin)

[ramialhames]

Which Arabic Dialect Should I Learn?

The Arabic language is a Semitic language spoken by people in North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Middle East.  Even today, it remains one of the most spoken languages across the globe, with countless learners striving to master it. There are three main versions of the Arabic language: Quranic or Classical, Modern Standard, and Colloquial or Daily. Roughly 25 dialects fall under these…

[holesomecuntent]

Learning a new language really does make you aware of how many fucking words there are. Waaaaaay too many things in this world that need their own special little word. Grow up.

[mamawritesspells7]

Spellbound Syllables: Witchy Wisdom for Language Learners

July 24, 2024 7 minutes Blog Posts Like Loading… Hey there, magical linguists and wordsmith witches! Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s close to my heart – using witchcraft to supercharge your language learning journey. As someone who’s currently wrestling with the beautiful complexities of Hindi (नमस्ते, मेरे दोस्तों!), I’m always on the lookout for mystical methods to boost my…

[stars-obsession-pit]

“Mom, why do you think ghosts are intrinsically evil?”

“It’s what the science says, of course!”

“No, I mean like, what were the studies? What did they actually observe”

“Ohh, I get what you mean, Danny! Well across all reputable reports of encounters with the ghosts strong enough to matter, they’ve always attacked first and never responded to attempts at communication! There’s no reason for them to do that if they’re not evil!”

“Huh…”

…

Danny, learning about Ghost Speak and how humans can’t understand it: hmm.

Danny, learning that ghosts greet each other and bond by fighting: hmmm.

[mostlyfrommemory]

Children That Talk to Adults

When was the last time you had a good conversation with a preschooler?

I love all children. Round up a choir of them to sing before the offering at church and you are guaranteed all of the cash in my wallet. I love to hear children play. Even when I have to step in and act like I don’t like it when they get rambunctious- because that’s what parents are supposed to do, and so they won’t tear the house or the church down- I love that too. Children have unbridled…

[thebreadmantm]

Georgie my beloved ✨

(Plus the admiral)

[anielskaaniela]

What Does Tori Mean in Japanese? Kanji, Name & More

In this post you will learn the meaning of “Tori” in Japanese, Let’s talk about a small but powerful Japanese word today: “tori.” At first glance, it might seem simple — just a bird, right? But once you dig into it, tori opens the door to a world of meaning, culture, and even spiritual symbolism. Whether you’re practicing the Japanese language, looking into Japanese names, or just stumbled…

[ianmcewan42]

“5,000 Words and the Existential Vocabulary Crisis”

A Big Shout-Out First Before we start kicking over sandcastles, let’s give some credit where it’s due. A warm and respectful nod to Viktoria Verde, PhD, for her Medium piece “How to Learn 5,000 Words (and More) Without Flashcards”. Viktoria clearly knows her stuff—applied linguistics, multiple languages, and the kind of mental endurance usually reserved for chess grandmasters and IKEA manual…

[curiositysavesthecat]

*This poll was submitted to us and we simply posted it so people could vote and discuss their opinions on the matter. If you’d like for us to ask the internet a question for you, feel free to drop the poll of your choice in our inbox and we’ll post them anonymously (for more info, please check our pinned post).

[orion-my-rion]

i cannot keep quiet about this anymore.

if you're seeing this, check the reblogs or my "languages" tag for an addition!!

if you're in the US or Canada and interested in learning a language using a free app please get a library card and download MANGO. it's very good and extremely free with a library card (there are many public libraries and universities using the service, so make an account and use the search feature here to find out if there's one near you).

mango currently has 72 available languages and dialects (that's right! different courses for french or canadian french! spanish or latam spanish!). it's set up basically like an audiobook with text. the idea is that the narrator explains the words while you read, and you repeat after them or say the translation out loud when prompted. there's a daily review where you go through flashcards. you can also use the flashcards at your leisure and create your own. at the end of each chapter there's a listening comprehension quiz and a reading comprehension quiz. i cannot emphasize how effective this all is. and it's free with a card.

if you're not in the US or Canada and/or looking for something more like duolingo (don't use duolingo btw tldr they fired translators and replaced them with "ai"), then try BUSUU! it only has 14 languages atm but the lessons are really descriptive and effective. it also has a feature where you can correct other people's open-ended speaking/typing exercises. you set your fluent languages, and exercises by people learning those languages will appear in your feed for you to correct. you can even add others as friends! and, much like duolingo, it has a streak and leaderboard system for you to strive for, minus the guilt-tripping owl.

busuu is free (you watch ads to unlock lessons and they're all skippable after like five seconds), although it also has paid premium/plus versions (i don't use the paid version—the language courses are available for free, and the ad system is Really unobtrusive).

so that's my wisdom for the day. mango and busuu. please check them out :)