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1396 questions
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What is the term for language lessons in which the native and foreign language are spoken simultaneously?
I recall a style of language learning where you listen to CDs in which your language and the foreign language are spoken simeltaneously. For example "Hello" is said in one earbud while "Bonjour" is said in the other earbud. What is this style of…
Peter-Piper
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How to get the most out of story-reading as a learning technique
I am going to look for a native speaker on Italki to practice my English in this way:
First I get a story, which is new to me. This story is a little bit hard for me like I can understand 80-90 percent of it. And then I read the story to him, if I…
ming
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How can I differentiate similar characters in languages with large character sets?
Some character sets have very similar characters that are hard to tell apart while studying, near impossible at a later date.
For example, there's a lot of Japanese kanji, and they consist of Radicals (like common character fragments), meaning…
Quill
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What advantages, if any, are there for learning the IPA when studying a language with phonetic spelling?
The IPA provides a standard, unambiguous way of writing the pronunciation of words, which can be quite helpful when learning a language like English, which has very irregular spelling (with respect to pronunciation).
But when learning a language…
Flimzy
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Pros and cons of using IPA over other phonetic alphabets
I've taught myself to use the IPA as an aide for pronunciation training, but I'm well aware that other phonetic alphabets are in widespread use in language courses.
Where does the IPA fall short where other alphabets presumably excel? Why do some…
Flimzy
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14
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How can I teach someone to pronounce phonemes non-existent in their native language?
As I learned other languages I realized that some phonemes which are common in one language are not so familiar in others. There are even cases where some phonemes do not exist in other specific languages.
Keeping that in mind, how can I teach…
gmauch
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14
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5 answers
How important are tones in tonal languages?
As a native speaker of a Slavic language, I know about foreigners trying (and sometimes failing) to use proper case for a situation, or using wrong gender declension, or an adjective non gender-matching the noun. Such sentence is technically wrong,…
Peter M. - stands for Monica
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How can I strengthen vocabulary knowledge of words learned with flash cards?
I've used flash cards a lot to learn Korean words, and it doesn't take long to memorize words well enough that I can recall them very quickly. It's especially easy to go from English to Korean - I can recall the Korean word very quickly.
However,…
gaeguri
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Learning a language, for someone who can't stand flash cards
I can't stand memorizing words. I've found that the best way to memorize vocabulary is using (digital) flash cards, however I find studying flash cards to be one of the most mind-numbing and frustrating things I can do.
What are some ways of…
Kahr Kunne
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Is it more efficient to make flashcards for L3 in L2 and L1?
I'm currently learning Japanese as my L3, using flashcards (Anki) for kanji vocabulary.
My L1 is Portuguese and L2 is English (fluent). Is it more efficient to make flashcards for L3 in L2 and L1? Would it make me associate information faster…
Luctins
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Can you 'plateau' while learning a language?
I feel like no matter how much I'm studying my language, no matter how hard I'm doing it (Georgian and Chinese), I'm still at just, a level. I can have conversations in them, read articles in them, and just, use them, but I don't feel like I'm…
Featherball
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What detrimental effects can learning a second language have on the first?
There was a similar question regarding bilingual education here: Have there been any studies into detrimental effects of language learning?
My question alludes to a different setting, specifically to an immersion method known as Content and language…
Sir Cornflakes
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What can I do before I start learning a language to help reduce my eventual accent?
As I understand it, it is really easy when learning a new language to develop a horrific accent that's hard to get rid of. Of course, being cognizant of this fact and constantly working on reducing your accent while learning a language should help…
Gwen
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5 answers
How useful is it to study Chinese using Duolingo's English for Chinese speakers course?
Unfortunately, Duolingo does not have a Chinese for English speakers course.
However, there is a English for Chinese speakers course. In other words, there is a course where people who speak Chinese well can learn the English language.
How useful…
wythagoras
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Grading vocabulary: How correct is necessary?
When grading vocabulary (either in a traditional classroom/test environment, or spaced repetition), is there any research into how to most effectively grade responses?
Examples of possible answers (not to be taken as an exhaustive list!), using the…
Flimzy
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