I’ve probably mentioned it before, but I will do it again – keeping the motivation up is one of the hardest and most important things you have to do when learning a foreign language. Not losing that initial zeal is an ongoing battle; and one you have to win if you want to succeed. I can proudly say that so far I have been victorious in my efforts. … More MARSHALLESE 21.0: MOTIVATED MORE THAN EVER
When we talk about language, we often use different words to describe it. We say “indigenous language”, “vernacular language”, “official language”, “national language”, “first language”, “mother language”… That’s a lot of languages, don’t you agree? We are all familiar with these names, but do we know what they really mean? Are they one and the same thing? … More INDIGENOUS, VERNACULAR, OFFICIAL, NATIONAL
Yes, that’s true. On the 31st of December I began my new linguistic journey, which I am extremely excited about. For three weeks now, I have been learning Hawaiian. And I have to say that I’m doing really great. Thanks to my teacher. … More HAWAIIAN 1.0: SETTING OUT ON A NEW LINGUISTIC ADVENTURE
So, it’s this time of the year again – the time to present my Marshallese skills (or lack thereof). I am quite certain you won’t be enormously impressed with my achievements so far, nevertheless I thought it would be nice to share my progress with you. So, here we go. … More MARSHALLESE 20.0: SECOND ATTEMPT AT KAJIN M̧AJEĻ
Two years. I’ve been officially learning Marshallese for two years. Wow. Warrar! Ekōļōk! That’s a pretty long time, all things considered. I really can’t believe how fast those months flew by and how much and little I have learnt so far. … More MARSHALLESE 19.0: YEAR TWO SUMMARY
I don’t know about you, but I find place names immensely fascinating. I am always curious what the words we see on a map or signposts mean. And that curiosity has led me to some very interesting findings, which I am about to share with you today. Because I am learning Marshallese, I just have to start with the Marshall Islands. … More WHAT’S IN A NAME? THE MARSHALL ISLANDS EDITION
Learning a foreign language is fun. Especially if you’re learning it because you really want to (not because your parents told you to, or you think you have to because it may come in handy one day). When you have plenty of time and a burning interest, you can discover a whole new, fascinating world, you wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to know. … More MARSHALLESE 18.0: WARRAR, ŌRRŌR, ŪKŪK
I once read that learning about investing from books is like learning about sex from romance novels. I know nothing about investing, but I can paraphrase this quote and tell you that learning about body language from a textbook is like learning about sex from romance novels – you think you’re prepared, but really you’re not. … More MARSHALLESE 17.0: GESTURES … ON PAPER
When you’re learning a language, sometimes you are going to encounter difficulties. Ok, maybe not sometimes, but often. Or very often. Don’t even try to fight it, because that’s just the way it is. You have to accept it, work harder than you have, and hope that you will – sooner or later – get this damn thing into your head. … More MARSHALLESE 16.0: A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH A FEW WORDS
When you learn a new language, you need both vocabulary and grammar to convey a message. As they go hand in hand, you can’t concentrate your attention on one and neglect the other. I have already reviewed Stephen Trussel’s “Communication and Culture Handbook”, which focuses on words, phrases, and expressions. Now it’s time to review the second volume in the course, “Kiribati: Grammar Handbook”. … More “KIRIBATI: GRAMMAR HANDBOOK” BY STEPHEN TRUSSEL
