EB Language Learning Club

[txjennah PE]

For those of us trying to learn a new language...this is a place to discuss our progress, advice, resources, etc...

 

[LyceeFruit PE]

Bonjour! Comme ca va?

I need to find the accent thing

 

[RBHeadge PE]

I'm interested. I could use something better to do on the Metro everyday.

 

[LyceeFruit PE]

Here is one option on how to add accents & omlots (sorry for spelling):

https://lifehacker.com/how-to-type-accents-and-symbols-on-any-keyboard-1821266814

 

[squaretaper LIT AF PE]

Thanks @txjennah PE! I'll go second: my cube neighbors are Mexican and I've never taken a formal Spanish class. Buuut, they think I speak Spanish because I've memorized enough (normal, not bad words, ya pirates!) vocabulary and Googled some basic conjugation rules to fake some conversation. I'd be super curious if this works for other people. Someone else please try!

Also, assuming it works for your work/family schedule, I've had the best luck just taking evening classes at the local community college (where I picked up German 1, 2, and Cantonese 1, 2). Just keeping it real, I don't have the discipline to take an online class, buuuut there are a lot of good online options now also at the community college. I figure, you could always do your homework at lunch or something. I did my homework on my breaks.

 

[squaretaper LIT AF PE]

Bonjour! Comme ca va?

I need to find the accent thing

ALT-135 for the cedille!

 

[LyceeFruit PE]

And here's another!

https://www.wikihow.com/Put-Accents-on-Letters#Learning-Windows-Alt-Key-Codes-.28ASCII-Code.29_sub

 

[LyceeFruit PE]

And in general, a better ALT shortcut list: https://essentialit.co.za/blog/2013/08/alt-key-code-shortcuts-and-how-to-make-symbols-with-keyboard/

 

[LyceeFruit PE]

sooooo...

Comme ça va?

 

[squaretaper LIT AF PE]

Comment ça va?

 

[squaretaper LIT AF PE]

Ça va bien!

Also French protip: in informal writing, using "ça" is acceptable. Buuut, it's actually a contraction of "cela" so if you're writing something a little more formal or at a somewhat higher register, use "cela".

 

[squaretaper LIT AF PE]

I am also a YUUUUGE proponent of flashcards, as lame as that sounds.

On the back (English word and definition) side I write in blue. The front side has the Spanish word I want to learn in bold red and (because I still want to refresh my German) I write the equivalent German word in black in the lower right corner. That way I don't have to make 2 sets of cards and I can get some of the cross-wiring in my brain to internalize it better (basically skipping English so I'm not using English as a crutch, rather, focusing on the actual meaning of the word).

 

[squaretaper LIT AF PE]

No tricks here: also listen to the slow news of your target language and try to imitate the sounds they make, even if it sounds stupid. It super helped my German accent to basically try to be a parrot and let go of my American accent and just try to make those juicy Teutonic sounds.

 

[Master slacker]

I just listen to Rammstein.

 

[LyceeFruit PE]

Ça va bien!

Also French protip: in informal writing, using "ça" is acceptable. Buuut, it's actually a contraction of "cela" so if you're writing something a little more formal or at a somewhat higher register, use "cela".

it's been 12 years since I took French, I'm surprised I remember as much as I do lol

 

[LyceeFruit PE]

I am also a YUUUUGE proponent of flashcards, as lame as that sounds.

On the back (English word and definition) side I write in blue. The front side has the Spanish word I want to learn in bold red and (because I still want to refresh my German) I write the equivalent German word in black in the lower right corner. That way I don't have to make 2 sets of cards and I can get some of the cross-wiring in my brain to internalize it better (basically skipping English so I'm not using English as a crutch, rather, focusing on the actual meaning of the word).

OOOO i like this one 

 

[squaretaper LIT AF PE]

OOOO i like this one 

Not always, but I typically take the city bus to/from work. It adds about 20 minutes to my morning commute and 40 minutes to my afternoon commute but that's time I consider "my" time so I do all sorts of stuff like making/reviewing flashcards, Googling language grammar, reading, etc. So, I find ways to steal the time.

 

[JayKay PE]

Not always, but I typically take the city bus to/from work. It adds about 20 minutes to my morning commute and 40 minutes to my afternoon commute but that's time I consider "my" time so I do all sorts of stuff like making/reviewing flashcards, Googling language grammar, reading, etc. So, I find ways to steal the time.

Hmmm, I have a short commute (10-minutes), but then I need to take a shuttle from the parking area to the hospital, which is around 15-minutes, and I might do something like this for Spanish.  Like, grab some words just to start expanding the vocabulary.

Not sure if I'll be joining a class this semester, but I'm seriously considering it for next semester once I talk to some of these places.

 

[squaretaper LIT AF PE]

Even if you only learn one new word a day, that's something! 

 

[squaretaper LIT AF PE]

Also, I am v envious of your nano commute. Ughhh...