Hi, everyone! I have a question for you all?
Do you have a language learning planer/journal?
I'd like to know how you take notes for the language(s) you're learning. What do you focus on most? Is it phrases for speaking, idioms, grammar rules, vocabulary, a paragraph, etc? Would your notes be different for different languages? You can tell me about your planning style too. I don't want to ask many questions all at once. 😅
For example, I, myself, focus on different things in each language. Noun declination was my most important note for German. Writing down a story and breaking it down for Spanish, conversational sentences from movies for English, and so on. I can't say these are successful approaches. That's why I'm trying to hear different approaches.
I should make a real survey, but for now, please take this post as a survey for my research. So, I really appreciate it if you participate.
Good morning!
For me, speaking is the most enjoyable part of learning English, so I talk to my friends from overseas for about two hours almost every day. Since I've been doing this for over 18 years, I no longer feel like I'm studying conversational English at all.
I also enjoy writing in English and have been keeping a journal for a long time. Today, I'll be posting my 4,799th entry. I started keeping a diary on Lang-8 and have continued ever since.
I've also been learning a little Italian, but not too seriously—just playing around with Duolingo. I read books and watch dramas in English as well. I've read around 500 books in English, but I’ve lost count of how many dramas I've watched. Since I've focused on learning American English, I always watch American dramas.
When I come across new words, I write them down along with example sentences to help memorize them. I'm not sure if my approach will be helpful for you, but this is what I've been doing for over 18 years! However, my English still isn't great at all!!!!
Hi Zobayda,
What I focus on isn't necessarily something I need to improve. I spend more time writing than working on my speaking or listening simply because I love writing. Also, I don't have a chance to practice speaking English with natives in one-to-one conversations. These days, I do speak English with my Swiss family but their English is just as broken as mine. :DDD
Like Yume, I used to write down new expressions and idioms in a notebook and to use these new words in writing my journals. Since I've been moving around a lot, my notebooks are kept at home but I try to write down now and then new vocabulary to memorize them.
I'm trying to do the same with Spanish but the progress is very slow as I don't have any chance to practice speaking it. In addition, I'm not consistent in working on the other skills.
First off, I think your English is great. Both of you and thanks for your comments!
Thanks, yumi-san! Not only your comment is helpful, but also impressive and amazing. I'm going to copy you some day. 😅Appreciate you!
Thanks so much, @Double-Zee ! Yeah, they're not travel-friendly at all.
@Zobayda :I have been speaking English and Spanish for 9 years with an American friend. The goal was to learn to speak English/Spanish with a native speaker. Every Thursday we would connect by videoconference and exchange language teaching: I would teach her Spanish and she would teach me English. It became a curious and incredibly long-lasting routine.
It is true that you have to set yourself a goal every week and that conversations should not be boring. But that was all.
On the other hand, I study/learn/play with English for pleasure, no rules, no commitments, no professional needs. This makes everything easier.
This is really fun. Thanks for sharing! @druida