OP
I think you will really benefit from the two sites together as I have and look forward to your critique.
Language learning website
- Thread starter Shady Grady
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Did I mention that my wife is now hooked on learning Spanish? She took some in HS and will probably quickly exceed me.
OP
That will be a huge benefit no doubt!
I think Memrise was offering a 2 memberships for the cost of 1 monthly deal recently.
So far the jury is out on the Memrise and I have somewhat mixed feelings about it. I think they throw too much at you at once without enough repetition to really remember it while simultaneously seeming to focus on phrase memorization without real context. I found I could do part of a "new words" lesson in the afternoon and then five hours later sit down not recall almost all of it. Instead of throwing 10 new verbs at you and trying to use them in conversational means they should work on understanding the one. Pretty much everything that is NOT something I have learned in Duolingo winds up on my difficult words list. It also doesn't help that they seem to be using a lot of irregular verbs and ones that have reflexive conjugation, e.g. Me Vos, I am leaving. The phrasing also seems to be largely informal which could be good but adds a layer of complexity.
On the other hand, one of the things it does well is use real speakers and video recording of them, along with the short videos, etc. It also has the talk at it functionality, etc.
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OP
The only new words lessons I do are ones the website (I'm on PC) are imposed on me at login. Otherwise, I review classic/speed.
For me the colloquial phrase offerings from Memrise have been a nice addition to Duo.
But I definitely understand what you mean as what is presented is hard to absorb until several reviews.
I think i am also a bit tired at the moment. I switched over to DL and had more than normal errors there and got frustrated quickly.
I like your idea of the classic review and will try focusing on that for some real repetition. Without the "slow the speech down" feature of DL it can be really hard to hear the words you're not as familiar with. However, I think this is a time function too, because i can listen to my wife's practice and the recall / understanding is instant like listening to English would be.
I like your idea of the classic review and will try focusing on that for some real repetition. Without the "slow the speech down" feature of DL it can be really hard to hear the words you're not as familiar with. However, I think this is a time function too, because i can listen to my wife's practice and the recall / understanding is instant like listening to English would be.
OP
Yes, the speed! I keep telling myself it's like with shooting and focus on presentation and the speed will come.
I noticed when the native speakers in the videos spoke some phrases they "shorthanded'' some words like English speakers do. I appreciate hearing and noticing that with the written word readily available.
For example, one of the phrases I've learned there is "¿Qué hay de nuevo?" which translates literally to "'what there is of new" but is a way to say what's up. I noticed that the video speakers when saying it would basically merge the qué hay into a "kai" sound.
While my intention is to focus on enunciation at this point I appreciate being presented with what I think is how someone with a firmer grasp likely speaks.
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Ah hacer another (irregular ?) verb like the expression "hay wifi" (pronounced hey whiffie) meaning is there WiFi?
OP
Yes, irregular verbs are brutal.
Do you use https://www.spanishdict.com/ ? It displays verb conjugation in a spreadsheet type format and highlights irregularities. It's very helpful.
Yes, and no. I have an account on aom devices, but need to coordinate them. Good suggestion, by he way,
OP
Memrise also offers Russian.
On both I have noticed differences on PC vs tablet. I prefer PC but ymmv of course.
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Is there an occupational version? I really need to know some things like "don't park your van there" and "don't run your compactor here" and "your grade is too high"
OP
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@Shady Grady Are you still with the language learning? I have my streak going for about 82 days straight now. Ok, sometimes it's just enough to maintain it, but times like yesterday I spent quite a bit of time with it. I am near the end of module 2, where it focuses on Ser versus Estar, which supposedly gives a lot of people trouble because there is no real equivalence in English.
Of course, sometimes Duolingo comes up with phrases that make you chuckle, like one I just saw: Él está en el baño. Él no está feliz.
Of course, sometimes Duolingo comes up with phrases that make you chuckle, like one I just saw: Él está en el baño. Él no está feliz.
OP
That's great man! Genuinely very stoked to read that!
Yes, I still am still on it and up to 118 straight days straight. Look forward to it every day. There were a couple of weeks where I was having a hard time with things sticking but have powered through it. I just got promoted to Ruby league.
I paid for a year subscription for both Memrise and Duolingo when they were on sale at the beginning of the year and have liked the additional features obtained for both. Seems like a good investment in myself.
Also, something to check out is The Language Tutor on YouTube. He has a really laid back feel to his instruction but very thorough. Episode 1 starts with the alphabet. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_GFwrcNlXh92xA8iKFT2WA
And that is a funny phrase! There have been a couple of stories that made me laugh a bit as well.
Are you using anything in conjunction with Duolingo?
Yes, I still am still on it and up to 118 straight days straight. Look forward to it every day. There were a couple of weeks where I was having a hard time with things sticking but have powered through it. I just got promoted to Ruby league.
I paid for a year subscription for both Memrise and Duolingo when they were on sale at the beginning of the year and have liked the additional features obtained for both. Seems like a good investment in myself.
Also, something to check out is The Language Tutor on YouTube. He has a really laid back feel to his instruction but very thorough. Episode 1 starts with the alphabet. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_GFwrcNlXh92xA8iKFT2WA
And that is a funny phrase! There have been a couple of stories that made me laugh a bit as well.
Are you using anything in conjunction with Duolingo?
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Yes, there were a few things that caused me some real frustration. For example, the reflexive I / you / they / we like / I love, e.g.: A mi padre le ecanta mucho mirar un partido de beisbal. Now, that also is a far cry from "Juan come manzanas".
I agree some of the phrases are funny. I also liked nosotras no abrimos esta puerta. Sounds ominous.
I did buy a year of the Memrise too. I got a little frustrated with it, especially at first, but Duolingo has now gotten to some of the stuff that they were throwing at you quickly. I have subscribed to a few lists like Spring Spanish and a few others. I sometimes read some explanations on the grammar, etc. and a few of the YT things. I have also found some "beginner" Spanish reading and I am finding that I can now read about 90% of the content.
The league competitions are fun. Congrats on making Ruby. I did make a mutual friend / follower who goes by Zara. They've been on there a few years and have studied sever languages, most recently Turkish I think. We tend to "congratulate" each other.
OP
Reflexive is very challenging for me as well. Sentir and gustar I'm still trying to grasp.
What is the beginner reading have you found?
I am blown away by folks that take up more than one language. They have to have more wrinkles in their brain than I do.
edit: Also, while sentence structure is mostly pretty open there definitely appears to be some established norms and without a native speaker available or formal instruction is difficult at times to understand.
What is the beginner reading have you found?
I am blown away by folks that take up more than one language. They have to have more wrinkles in their brain than I do.
edit: Also, while sentence structure is mostly pretty open there definitely appears to be some established norms and without a native speaker available or formal instruction is difficult at times to understand.
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Ping @Shady Grady check put this guys YT channel:
That is a video on using the “a“ article / preposition, example “A mis abuelos les encanta caminar en el parque” and how when you are referring to a specific person you put the a article in there.
That is a video on using the “a“ article / preposition, example “A mis abuelos les encanta caminar en el parque” and how when you are referring to a specific person you put the a article in there.
Try this one https://lingua.com/spanish/reading/
OP
@Shady Grady here is another phrase that I got a chuckle from: ¿por qué tú estás de bajo la cama?
Why are you under the bed?
Why are you under the bed?
OP
Yes, lady, I know your cat is very big but I'm biting my lip over here...
I’ve read that odd ball phrases were a real issue early on but they’ve made quite a bit of progress on it. I don’t think I posted it, but I saw a video explaining how they do the voices. They start with people reading A LOT of script and recording it. They use both genders, young and old, from different regions. This gets fed into a computer that is then able to use this as a seed to be able to speak any word in the language, and apparently this is existing technology and it works. They then apply some kind of filtering to give each of the 10 characters, except Dúo a unique voice and accent, all computer generated, but realistic. Have you noticed how some words, like Yo are pronounced both as yo and jo, or ella is both ay-ya and age-ja, which reflects regional dialects?
OP
I have definitely noticed the dialect difference and it was very confusing early on.
Also, sometimes it's difficult to discern what is being said due to over-processed computerized sounding audio. It because even more noticeable through headphones. Makes sense that the words we are hearing has been recorded at different times and synthesized into sentences.
Headphones are a mixed blessing. It makes it easier to hear what they’re saying, but it also amplifies the processing. That is where other resources can be helpful. Memrise, for example has native speakers and they can be difficult to discern too, at least until you hear enough of it. You probably had the same issue as a kid learning to speak. The trouble I had with memrise, at least at first is how it focused on operational phrases, memorizing and recognizing them without context. Now that I’m farther along in Duolingo, and understand the verbs behind them, they make more sense and I am starting to appreciate it more.
I am considering enrolling in a Spanish class in the fall. I saw, though, that you take a placement test, which they'll only grade the first time, to determine what class path is available to you. I would be concerned that my comprehension of reading and listening would outpace my conversational abilities and would “test” me higher than I really should be. On the other hand, basic counting and ”Juan eats apples” would be too simple, but I may get other benefits from the interaction.
Somehow I missed when you posted that. My coworker that is fluent says that the verbal (hearing and speaking) comes last and this is normal. She says you’ll hear words “pop” but won’t understand the whole spoken piece. She also said singing is much harder to understand. I’ve noticed more and more words “popping” when I’ve been listening.
I‘m in the beginning of module three and on the weather lesson. Weather is el tiempo, which is also the word for time. Quite confusing. In looking this up online, I came across this, which might be some interesting reading: https://spanishroute.com/the-podcast/
Also, on YT, if you haven’t seen it, check out Spring Spanish.
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OP
I'm familiar with vez as translated for time but not tiempo. Will have to familiarize myself with what the differences are.
I also got my brother to at least try it out. I tried to stress to him how important I believe this skill will be moving forward in this country.
And you are crushing it obviously. Congratulations! ¡Felicidades!
Really very happy you are enjoying it and look forward to your feedback/insight.
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I wonder if that’s a Spain versus Hispanic difference?
Yes, I am very glad you started this thread. Both i snd my wife have been enjoying learning it. It’s very satisfying to hear words “pop” and being able to read most (beginner) material. I am still amazed when I talk to my coworker, Nikki, about it and she can understand me when I say something. I tell her some of the funny phrases DL comes up with like, “Ella no puede vivir en esta casa” I can just see the wife saying that.
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OP
https://www.tellmeinspanish.com/vocab/tiempo-vs-vez/
This is what I found.
I've seen ''otra vez'' as a way of saying again which literally translates to ''another time''.
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Spanishdict does a better job of going into details of the language.... rules, usage, etc.
Duolingo is better for interaction, but doesn't explain the details as good as Spanishdict.
The Language doctor on youtube has a good playlist for spanish speakers also.
Vez is expressed as more of an occurrence, such as this time, next time, sometimes, once upon a time, etc
Tiempo is expressed as a more specific time, or time span, such as not at this moment (time) or give me more time to complete a task.
Interesting. And as I think about it, the single word “time” has several different, but similar or related, meanings.
OP
Agreed 100% on everything you said.
I've read Duo as being ''guerilla style learning''. Just keep throwing stuff at you until it sticks.
Language Dr is awesome. He has a very easy way of teaching Spanish. Great stuff.
You studied Spanish previously, are currently, or are a native speaker?
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What I find myself doing is when I start making mistakes and not understanding why, go to a site like Spanishdict, which you’re right has good explanations.
Yeah!!!! We speak them every day in english, but we don't think about it anymore..... we know how to speak the language. Learning a new language touches base with all the little details we haven't thought about since grade school.
OP
When I first read this, I thought, “that sounds ridiculous“, but if you think about it, it’s how you learned as a child.
I met a guy through work who was from Belgium. He said they grow up learning Dutch and French simultaneously as a child. One parent only speaks French, while the other parent only speaks Dutch.
I thought that was pretty cool.