I love this article!! I use readlang for the Portuguese I am learning, but not as structured as this. So I will try this method out. It seems like the sweet spot might be ~200 words? I know very little French, but I love trying to read Charles Baudelaire, perhaps try some of his prose poems or art criticisms.
Glad it resonates! I’d love to hear how it works out for you. A poem would be a wonderful way to get into it. (I think I have a copy of Fleurs du mal kicking around the bookshelf…) Boa sorte!
Obrigado! plus since his work is all public domain you can find him electronically if you want to import to readlang! I have found that pure poetry can be difficult because it uses very specific words that are great and evocative, but not day to day usage, so that 90% understanding drops a bit. That’s why I suggested his prose poems as they aren’t as flowery, and the sentences are complete and almost journal like.
I am trying to learn French on Duolingo (after buying several Assimil books, etc, to self-study), and it has come to a level that I need to start practicing with someone. I think I am closer now to a B1 level. Do you have any advice?
Also, I liked your technique. I probably need a shorter version of that for myself.
Salut Nuray! Thanks to your comment, I looked up the Assimil method. I had never heard of it before! 🤯 I'd love to hear your opinion on the books you've bought.
On the website, it claims you can reach B2 or C1 level in 4/5 months with 30-40 min study a day. 🤨 I personally find that a bit dubious...I love hearing what's out there though!
In terms of speaking, finding someone to practice is an ideal way to activate the language you're learning, but there are other ways to practice speaking if you can't find a partner. I encourage you to take a look at this post I wrote in January for some ideas:
Assimil books follow a more traditional teaching method. I like this because I like structure, and the Assimil method is structured and straightforward. A lot of people swear by the method, but I don’t think a B2/C1 level is attainable in such a short time.
My challenge was more about making a schedule and sticking to it.
Thanks for posting the link to your earlier post; I will try the ChatGPT.
I know what you mean 😅. My book stack keeps growing...I went for an article rather than a chapter of a book because I wanted something shorter, but the subject matter was too dense. I might try with the novel I've been reading on and off since November, too...
Let me know how it goes and how you've adapted it if you go for it!
So first, I'm SO happy I'm here so I can read your posts like a normal person. I have yet to watch Adolescence but it's on the list! Also you already know how I feel about this topic but I really don't understand why this industry insists on faster=better. It takes X times as long to undo the nonsense created from trying to cram in info that one, won't stick around because memorization and acquisition are two separate things and two, won't allow for the all-too-important part of making gap-filling connections. Synapses don't work linearly, so I'm not sure why we're trying to pretend learning does, but I rest my case. Yay for slow learning. And living. I'm in a new era and not looking back ;)
So happy to see you on Substack! 🤍 Yes...all about slowing down and doing things with intention and learning to be ok with discomfort, frustration, and effort. 💪💪 (As I know you will absolutely agree with!)
I love this article!! I use readlang for the Portuguese I am learning, but not as structured as this. So I will try this method out. It seems like the sweet spot might be ~200 words? I know very little French, but I love trying to read Charles Baudelaire, perhaps try some of his prose poems or art criticisms.
Glad it resonates! I’d love to hear how it works out for you. A poem would be a wonderful way to get into it. (I think I have a copy of Fleurs du mal kicking around the bookshelf…) Boa sorte!
Obrigado! plus since his work is all public domain you can find him electronically if you want to import to readlang! I have found that pure poetry can be difficult because it uses very specific words that are great and evocative, but not day to day usage, so that 90% understanding drops a bit. That’s why I suggested his prose poems as they aren’t as flowery, and the sentences are complete and almost journal like.
I am trying to learn French on Duolingo (after buying several Assimil books, etc, to self-study), and it has come to a level that I need to start practicing with someone. I think I am closer now to a B1 level. Do you have any advice?
Also, I liked your technique. I probably need a shorter version of that for myself.
Salut Nuray! Thanks to your comment, I looked up the Assimil method. I had never heard of it before! 🤯 I'd love to hear your opinion on the books you've bought.
On the website, it claims you can reach B2 or C1 level in 4/5 months with 30-40 min study a day. 🤨 I personally find that a bit dubious...I love hearing what's out there though!
In terms of speaking, finding someone to practice is an ideal way to activate the language you're learning, but there are other ways to practice speaking if you can't find a partner. I encourage you to take a look at this post I wrote in January for some ideas:
https://lovetolingo1.substack.com/p/practicing-speaking?r=4siexb
Hi Christina!
Assimil books follow a more traditional teaching method. I like this because I like structure, and the Assimil method is structured and straightforward. A lot of people swear by the method, but I don’t think a B2/C1 level is attainable in such a short time.
My challenge was more about making a schedule and sticking to it.
Thanks for posting the link to your earlier post; I will try the ChatGPT.
Thanks so much for sharing what you like about the method. I like having structure, too. 💪
This is great, I might give it a shot with some french books I purchased with optimism but haven't tried reading yet.
I know what you mean 😅. My book stack keeps growing...I went for an article rather than a chapter of a book because I wanted something shorter, but the subject matter was too dense. I might try with the novel I've been reading on and off since November, too...
Let me know how it goes and how you've adapted it if you go for it!
So first, I'm SO happy I'm here so I can read your posts like a normal person. I have yet to watch Adolescence but it's on the list! Also you already know how I feel about this topic but I really don't understand why this industry insists on faster=better. It takes X times as long to undo the nonsense created from trying to cram in info that one, won't stick around because memorization and acquisition are two separate things and two, won't allow for the all-too-important part of making gap-filling connections. Synapses don't work linearly, so I'm not sure why we're trying to pretend learning does, but I rest my case. Yay for slow learning. And living. I'm in a new era and not looking back ;)
So happy to see you on Substack! 🤍 Yes...all about slowing down and doing things with intention and learning to be ok with discomfort, frustration, and effort. 💪💪 (As I know you will absolutely agree with!)
I love asking ChatGPT to create exercises for me based on my level. I truly enjoyed this :)
Great! I'd love to hear about the types of prompts you use! Do you ask for specific grammar points or something more general?
My weakness is curating sentences in Turkish atm, so I ask it to give me exercises based on that, like give me words and I structure them
Great! Thanks so much for sharing your approach. ☺