Welcome to this languages learning blog! Here you will find a collection of posts holding a veritable myriad of ideas, tips, tricks and activities to help you learn any language you desire. My co-bloggers and I have tried to make all our posts as universal as possible, that is to say applicable to independent, high school, primary school, university or adult language learners in every context and situation. Although we have strived to reference wherever possible, the vast majority of the information and advice on this blog has been inspired by individual experience of language learners. As to myself, I am a language learner studying Spanish and Portuguese, having grown up bilingual with English and French (trilingual if you include Creole!), so I take a personal interest in practicing what I preach, as well as preaching what I practice, so to speak...
This blog has both general language learning advice, University specific advice and is currently developing more advice specific to individual languages. Posts are arranged by date, so please explore the various entries on the panel to the right. To begin with, I would suggest reading the post on why learn a foreign language: http://1ofmanyvoices.blogspot.com/2010/02/why-learn-new-langauge.html...And I hope that this resource proves useful to you in your language learning...
Name: CatalinaStudying: Spanish and PortugueseMother Tongue: EnglishStrongest Language: PortugueseFuture Plans: Travel, Charity/Missionary work and possibly Teaching1. Why do you want to learn languages? I began learning Portuguese because I started attending a Portuguese speaking church and I wanted to communicate with my boyfriend’s family who are Brazilian. The benefits of learning Portuguese for job opportunities did not have anything to do with my decision to pick up the language.
2. How long have you been learning Portuguese? For just over three years although I didn't really have any guidance or support from teachers in the first two years. At the moment I can understand most Portuguese literature and have a conversation with a native Portuguese speaker about anything (within reason- nothing about science and stuff!) My pronunciation is one of my strengths. I have quite a good knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. But I need to improve on more formal Portuguese.
3. What kinds of resources helped you in your Learning? Going to church and listening to Portuguese throughout the services was a great help when I started learning. Speaking to Brazilians helped to improve my pronunciation and pick up vocabulary and grammar. It also helped with my confidence. The main thing that helped was that I was completely surrounded by Brazilians most of the time so learning was more real and practical. It was and still is a lot more fun that way. On the other hand I wish I had used more resources like grammar books to make sure I was speaking correctly. Now I spend more time reading and looking through books and guides rather than practicing my speaking.
4. How do you improve your Reading? Writing? Speaking? Listening? I improve my listening by watching the news in Portuguese and taking notes, and watching films.. I improve my reading by just practicing and making sure I understand what the text is about instead of focusing just on words that I don't know. I improve my writing by using synonyms and using new words.
5. What is the hardest part of learning Portuguese? The hardest thing in Portuguese is the difference between Portuguese from Portugal and from Brazil and the fact that the books are not always reliable on which word is used where. My advice would be to focus on your weakness because I was very happy (and still am) to chat to someone in Portuguese but I always put off writing something which meant my speaking is much better than my writing. Spend more time on the things you are least comfortable at doing. And hopefully you will get better at the weaknesses and you will be a more well rounded Portuguese speaker! Yeah but don't stress just have fun with it! =)
