Learning a new Language with Fluent Forever
In August, I purchased Gabriel Wyner's Fluent Forever. I wanted something to read on the airplane, and since I have always wanted to learn German, I thought why not see what Mr. Wyner had to say, after all he had an excellent review in the Wall Street Journal. With Mr. Wyner's method, you learn your target language, the one you want to learn, and you try to think only in your target language not your given language. For me, it will be German.
I am now about study his method in earnest, and will post my progress here. His approach seems logical. How did any of us learn our language? We heard the words spoken and we learned what the words meant, and little by little we learned word structure, word order, and grammar. This seems to be his approach and it relies on vocabulary cards. He tells you how to make your own, or you can use a wonderful tool called Anki. It's a free flashcard program. So, I have Anki downloaded, and I have the IPA, International Phonetic Alphabet, and am learning all the symbols. My next step was to add vocabulary based on the 625 words he has in his book. These words are in English, and you find them in your target language using dictionaries. You can go to Forvo.com and find out how to pronounce your word in your target language and then add this to the sound file on Anki. I also use google images and type my word in my target language, German for me, and choose an image to go with my word, and this too goes into Anki. I have about 100 words that I have put in so far.
I have had a challenge in trying to find a word in German for the English word. For example to clean has been difficult for me to find. I have found, putzen and reinigan. Which do I use? I haven't chosen yet, so if any of my German readers know, please tell me. So, I decided it was a good idea to purchase Wyner's pronunciation trainer and word list in my target language.
I think this will work. I awoke this morning thinking die Kirche, for church, since today we headed for die Kirche, I thought, cool, I am beginning to think in my target language.
I don't know that I will post daily, but I will post at least once a week on my progress.
If you want to learn how to learn a language and never forget it, I do recommend, Fluent Forever by Gabriel Wyner Harmony Books, New York.
Happy Learning!
I am now about study his method in earnest, and will post my progress here. His approach seems logical. How did any of us learn our language? We heard the words spoken and we learned what the words meant, and little by little we learned word structure, word order, and grammar. This seems to be his approach and it relies on vocabulary cards. He tells you how to make your own, or you can use a wonderful tool called Anki. It's a free flashcard program. So, I have Anki downloaded, and I have the IPA, International Phonetic Alphabet, and am learning all the symbols. My next step was to add vocabulary based on the 625 words he has in his book. These words are in English, and you find them in your target language using dictionaries. You can go to Forvo.com and find out how to pronounce your word in your target language and then add this to the sound file on Anki. I also use google images and type my word in my target language, German for me, and choose an image to go with my word, and this too goes into Anki. I have about 100 words that I have put in so far.
I have had a challenge in trying to find a word in German for the English word. For example to clean has been difficult for me to find. I have found, putzen and reinigan. Which do I use? I haven't chosen yet, so if any of my German readers know, please tell me. So, I decided it was a good idea to purchase Wyner's pronunciation trainer and word list in my target language.
I think this will work. I awoke this morning thinking die Kirche, for church, since today we headed for die Kirche, I thought, cool, I am beginning to think in my target language.
I don't know that I will post daily, but I will post at least once a week on my progress.
If you want to learn how to learn a language and never forget it, I do recommend, Fluent Forever by Gabriel Wyner Harmony Books, New York.
Happy Learning!
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