Endangered languages. How can we save them? This one question keeps getting asked by linguists and language enthusiasts all over the world. And the answer is quite simple – we have to make sure that new generations learn them. But how exactly can we make this happen? Can technology come to the rescue? Can language learning apps be a solution? … More CAN APPS BE LANGUAGE SAVIOURS?
Some time ago – when it was raining heavily, and I had nothing to do (that doesn’t happen very often) – I decided to see if there were any (interesting) Marshallese YouTube channels. We all watch YouTube nowadays – if you’re saying you don’t, you are probably lying – so I thought that it would be fun and educating to start following people who might help me improve my Marshallese skills. … More MARSHALLESE 24.0: LEARNING FROM YOUTUBE
I have been “seriously” learning Hawaiian for almost three months now. Like a proper student I have my book (colour-coded for ease of use), a CD (much needed if you want to learn pronunciation), and a lot of zeal (which basically is the most important thing of all) – in other words, I am fully equipped to start making some progress. … More HAWAIIAN 4.0: THE HEAD AND THE CENTER
I am quite certain that many of you have wondered what the difference between a language and a dialect is. Well, I have. Many times in my life. And you know what? I still haven’t found anyone who would give me a straight answer. Because it seems that this particular question is the question that even linguists have trouble dealing with. … More A LANGUAGE OR A DIALECT?
There are times in our lives when we get lost; when we don’t have a map or a compass to guide us. Once this happens, our natural reaction is to ask someone else – someone who knows better, someone who is more experienced, someone who can help us – which direction we should go. If you lose your way in the forest, you’ll eventually find it. But sometimes you don’t know where you are while sitting in your favourite armchair. … More MARSHALLESE 23.0: WHEN YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR DIRECTIONS
Normally I am not a quitter. I usually finish what I have started. But this time, well, I have quit. No, I haven’t quit learning Hawaiian; I have quit learning Hawaiian with Duolingo. On 31st March I said goodbye to the app. So yes, I’m one of those people who have made Duo The Owl sad. … More HAWAIIAN 3.0: GOODBYE DUOLINGO
If you want to start learning one of the Pacific languages, finding a textbook – not to mention a good textbook – is the hardest thing to do. When there are virtually no resources available, you have to get by with what you have managed to find. Fortunately, if you are thinking of learning Hawaiian, there are a few books that may help you. “Learn Hawaiian At Home” is one of them. … More “LEARN HAWAIIAN AT HOME” BY KAHIKĀHEALANI WIGHT
It’s already April 2019. My oh my, how time flies! Time flies and my Marshallese adventure continues. I’m getting better and better – I know more, I understand more, I notice more. Every day I discover something new. And I must tell you that recently I have discovered quite a few interesting things. … More MARSHALLESE 22.0: MY OH MY, WHY OH WHY
When you decide to learn an unpopular foreign language, you often hear various “pearls of wisdom” from you relatives, friends, colleagues. Rarely do they smile at you, give you a thumbs-up, pat you on the shoulder, and say: “Wow, that’s so cool!”. Their words are more discouraging than encouraging, and suddenly you get the feeling that what you are doing is … pointless. … More EVEN IF YOU HEAR ONE OF THESE, DO YOUR THING ANYWAY
If you’ve been reading my blog you know that I am an old-school learner. I need a notebook, a pen, a few highlighters (the more colourful the notes, the better!), and of course a good textbook. So when I decided to start learning Hawaiian with Duolingo, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Now, after more than ten weeks, I know exactly what it means to learn a language with an app. … More HAWAIIAN 2.0: A WHOLE DIFFERENT LEARNING EXPERIENCE
