Improve Your Language Learning Using What You Already Have

Рет қаралды 20,205

4 жыл бұрын

In this video I break down how to find the balance between new material that's fun and exciting and the stuff you already have that you're getting bored of.
I stumbled upon that has greatly motivated me to do more language shadowing, which is the one activity that will most improve my target language.
Using any of these links for the services described really helps me out by making me feel like people care... and sometimes literally paying me money (but other times not).
The native speaker tutoring shown in my videos is through iTalki. You can get $10 credit applied to your account when you make your first purchase, or you can find a language partner for free using this link, which also helps me out by allowing me to take more language lessons:
www.italki.com/i/CHfEEb?hl=en-us
DO YOU LIKE THE MUSIC I USE? You have excellent taste, and should checkout Soundstripe, the excellent service which I get my music from. It also helps me out immensely and if you use the code "LAMONT" you get 10%:
soundstripe.com?fpr=days-of-language
The piece is "Triboro" by Falls, an artist I've used in many of my videos.
I buy my Swedish books, e-books and audio books through Bokus, which is simple, reliable and lots of fun to look for good deals:
adtr.co/UFCN4D
Do you like foreign language TV shows and movies? Check out the channel on which I review ONLY those shows:
/ @lamontmcleod2
Subscribe for more awesome language learning content: / @daysandwords
Language learning videos, tips and techniques!
• How To Learn Languages
Wow, you actually made it to the end of the description. That's kinda impressive.

Пікірлер: 188

@user-mw1zr4si2s 4 жыл бұрын

I'm russian, native russian speaker and l've understood 80% of this video. A started learning english a few years ago and at the beginning I just learned only grammar rules and tenses. And when I attempted to watch english video or any other content I just wasn't able to understand any information. And, a few months ago, I accidentally found this channel and begin watching it. I'm very happy, that I found it. There are many very interesting video witch help me practice my english aurally. Thank you very much for your videos! P.S. I originally made this comment under another video that came out a long time ago. I repeated this comment here so that author sees my gratitude.

@javisantana1 4 жыл бұрын

Good job man!

@fratira7271 4 жыл бұрын

Well done, keep it up :)

@twoblocksdown5464 4 жыл бұрын

Просто хотел написать что я пажылой рашан палучаица даб даб даб даб даб да да я. ШО?

@user-mw1zr4si2s 4 жыл бұрын

@@twoblocksdown5464 чего? Пацан, ты каналом ошибся. С такими комментариями тебе к Айтипедии

@yEgorov. 4 жыл бұрын

the comma in "I'm very happy, that I found it" is so cute :)

@emilycastellanos7926 4 жыл бұрын

When you said "you're always looking for the best resources" I felt that

@CreativelyPhoenix 2 жыл бұрын

Same as I downloaded two more apps yesterday.

@gwimmer98 4 жыл бұрын

A resource will never be more interesting than it is during the time between purchase and delivery

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

HAHA. YES!

@blankb.2277 4 жыл бұрын

Trueee. I have so much stuff already like Busuu, books, Netflix shows, tutoring sessions... and for some reason I still spend a good amount of time scouring the internet looking for something to quicken the process as if I don't already have everything I need and more.

@susanb.1567 4 жыл бұрын

Brooklyn Benik Same!! I have a shelf full of books and a kindle full of digital books, all designed to teach me my target language. I have Busuu, had Duolingo before, have language learning software. Etc. Etc. And I spend more time on KZfaq and the internet looking for *the best* way to learn languages.

@blankb.2277 4 жыл бұрын

Susan Bridgewater yeppp. And adding all these new methods I try to add is probably just inhibiting my learning. 😬😬

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

We all do it. Honestly I think it's human.

@wolfzmusic9706 3 жыл бұрын

Personally I think I’d be quite good at sticking to a few resources because using loads & trying to find the best way would overwhelm me. Also I don’t think there’s a best way because everybody is different, and so therefore likes to learn differently. Just do what you like best and what is beneficial to you.

@NimiMariam 3 жыл бұрын

Hahaha and I was thinking about what other languages could I learn when I already had 12 in mind!! Right now I'm deciding what I will learn after progressing in Italian but it can be hard, like I'm stuck with Arabic, German or Turkish because they're so cool :p

@JamalAhmadMalik 4 жыл бұрын

So...here's what I should be doing: 1) Find the actor who has the clearest accent. 2) Find his most famous TV SHOWS/MOVIES. 3) Edit him out. 4) Shadow him! Wow! I got his accent!

@rangerdenver3534 4 жыл бұрын

it's not easy )

@bovrar2nd861 4 жыл бұрын

Accent thief 👌😂 I will do too!

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

*edit out OTHER parts. If we say "edit out" that means "delete". But yes that would be good. I prefer to do it with KZfaqrs etc because they talk more like real people.

@JamalAhmadMalik 4 жыл бұрын

@@daysandwords, while you are right, I meant it like: edit him out of the movies and make a standalone movie/clip. I didn't mean to use the phrasal verb: to edit out (which means to cut or delete from an original track). I obviously do want to keep other parts too so as to be able to make comparisons. I guess I should have put more time in writing the right way!🙊 And yeah, that ought to be laborious. But I have been Learning English for years, but I still don't have a good English accent. And it demotivates me.

@JamalAhmadMalik 4 жыл бұрын

@@daysandwords, they do talk like real people on KZfaq, but most of what is in KZfaq isn't rich in vocabulary. While I do want to speak like real people, I also want to ace the IELTS... and they are no real people...haha😂 Thank you for the suggestion tho. I use KZfaq for Spanish.

@samal-scharkauy268 4 жыл бұрын

I'm interested in Nutrition, so recently I'm trying to switch from reading game of thrones in German to reading books about nutrition and veganism. I'm so excited about it even more that I started to consider getting a degree in it.

@JR-rf9sq 4 жыл бұрын

Jaa Sam, weiter so!

@tysonkicks8596 4 жыл бұрын

I am trying to learn German too.

@samcollins8330 4 жыл бұрын

Tyson Kicks That’s great! I don’t know many people who want to learn my native tongue!

@twoblocksdown5464 4 жыл бұрын

Sam Al-Scharkauy, kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hrCeg72Ysa6sh4U.html - just watch this, I promise u won't regret it.

@vix7146 2 жыл бұрын

@@twoblocksdown5464 just wanted to send her something like this🤣 I, too, started reading about nutrition and veganism about 4-5 years ago(thanks god i wasn't pregnant or planning to have kids that time, I was 100% sure plant-based is the only way to go) in my target language, now my vocabulary is fulll of words connected with not only dietary stuff, but endocrinology and who knows what else medical +recipes obviously and foods which names I don't even know in my native language lmao. So, when you're only exposed to vegan ideologist's books,studies and other content you can't really see the whole picture Sam, justsuggest you to read Weston Price(should be translated to German), Ray Peat(!!), Natasha mcCampbell, S.Fallon and Sally Norton about oxalates. And at the end Ray Peat! Everything leads to pro-metabolic eating 😂

@sayitsayuri8951 4 жыл бұрын

I was at a book store yesterday and for fun went to the language section. I poured over the mandarin textbooks and was having a blast briefly looking through them to see if they might work for me. By the third book I realized that I would have to tailor my routine to these books for it to be beneficial but that would weaken other areas of my study. I realized that I work best when I find resources that fit my routine rather than the other way around. I get much more out of one sentence that I used in my normal routine than 10 sentences I studied from a vocab or phrase book. My minimum needed resources： 1. an online dictionary 2. A grammar resource 3. Some way to practice.

@georgemonnatjr.172 4 жыл бұрын

You're touching on my biggest weakness, which is throwing money at more and more resources thinking that will somehow magically improve my language skills. So thanks for helping me to pull back from the brink (and save money). By the way, do you sell your photos? I think they'd make some great backgrounds or slideshows.

@MisterGames 4 жыл бұрын

Always remember: we acquire language via comprehensible input. If you buy a course all you are doing is buying comprehensible input. IMO, it is more beneficial to find existing such a KZfaq with dual language subtitles or make your own.

@animeandstuff5377 4 жыл бұрын

lol learn a language that has such a lack of resources you cant even do that

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

George - I should probably do that but I'm not the most efficient business man haha.

@internalmedicine9982 3 жыл бұрын

Collecting more resources for language learning without learning anything new ? Yes, this video describes my life.

@demetriobattaglia3977 4 жыл бұрын

"I know what food is good for me, and that I should exercise [...] but I don't do it, because I like Oreos more" I FELT THAT

@TheDsasadsad 4 жыл бұрын

Ha ha It's totally story of my life I bought in target language 100+ books on Kindle 30+ audio books 30+ in physical copy (it was hard to find them) and after this it took me years to read just handful of them. (But I glad that I at least started.)

@Ebra53 4 жыл бұрын

I love that you talk about realistic language learning methods and goals in your channel, sometimes watching a lot of language learners learn a language too fast makes me feel demotivated. My English skills are by no means perfect but i couldn't learn until i started watching things that i actually enjoy in English and i'm still doing it and now i don't even think about learning, i'm just having fun.

@andrewbrandt1441 3 жыл бұрын

Omg this is the video I’ve needed, I feel like I’ve spent more time this last year looking at how to learn a language rather than actually learning the language!

@nomoreillusions 4 жыл бұрын

Jag här studerat Svenska under en period av sju år nu, men hittade dina video här hjälpte mig mer an jag kan talar! Jag är battre nu och kanner mig mer bekvampt med Svenska an forra år. Tack så mycket!

@felicvik9456 4 жыл бұрын

I found this in the reccomended and thought that is was older

@Nomatterwhat69 4 жыл бұрын

Saaaaame wow

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

Genuine question: Can I ask why you thought it was older? Just trying to work out a good thumbnail system.

@jj1818 4 жыл бұрын

Bro, your stuff is so relatable. Like you, I love languages and have a list of them I want to study. laziness and searching for "the one" way to study has made this take forever. To top it off, my language choices, Samoan, Scottish Gaelic, and Mandarin, are either rare with few resources or hard for a native English speaker to learn. Your content is relatable, entertaining, and insightful and above all reminds me I'm not alone in my struggles to greatness. Currently trying the Fluent Forever method since it has you making most of your own resources. Thanks for the motivation to get back into it!

@pedroalves6560 4 жыл бұрын

I found your channel like a month ago and now I drop everything to watch your new videos 😂

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

While I'm flattered, you need to switch everything off to work on your TL! (Or is your TL English?)

@pedroalves6560 4 жыл бұрын

@@daysandwords That's true 😅😂 Although English isn't my native language (I'm Portuguese) it's not my target language since I already consider myself fluent in it, but I am trying to pick up Japanese or German, but I'm thinking of focusing on Japanese for now. PS. thanks for the response you just made me smile :)

@selfimpovingprophecy5970 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome just what i was looking for . I speak 4 Languages and want to learn more . I Learned most of my languages from Talking to native speakers and people always assume im from a certain country and that flatters me .

@chileanguyfleegman1908 4 жыл бұрын

When learning Swedish (1992) the internet wasn't "a thing", I learned the language very quickly exaggerating the pronunciation. That helped me speaking. I prefer speaking rather than reading grammar. But I always go through my conversations and ask where I did wrong to know how to correctly build a sentence later on. edit: Titivillus

@YogaBlissDance 2 жыл бұрын

OMG the Universe works in mysterious ways! Waht you said of "distilling" well two days ago, I REALIZED that the dialogues in my Mango Languages course, are perfect comprehensible input. Instead of breezing through them to pass the quiz at chapter end. HERE'S WHAT I DID AND SUGGEST- I pulled out the printed transcript and the audio and am really dissecting and almost memorizing it. PERFECT as it drills what I'm learning, so simple and I can already see the benefits, as I only was guessing my way through now I'm really "learning" the vocab. Why was I wasting time searching- yeah the trap...for simple input- ALL the while skipping over what I already had!

@MrCagnacio 4 жыл бұрын

You have just described myself. Well, my new technique is to simply starting doing what I'm suppose to do! If I don't do this right now I'll be struggling in the future for sure. So I'm just helping the future me -just help the future you, he/she will be extremely thankful for what you're doing now.

@twoblocksdown5464 4 жыл бұрын

"my new technique is to simply *start* doing what I'm suppose to do" do u think it's correct. Or u caan say it both ways? Is English ur native language. Cuz I got a little bit curious

@anna.rrrrrr 4 жыл бұрын

Wow, I never thought of it this way! So true, thanks!

@tabestorm5339 4 жыл бұрын

Some tips for fellow language learners: Write every note, every appointment and every shopping list in your target language. Write in a diary in your target language. Change a story, written in past tense, into present tense or vice versa.

@MisterGames 4 жыл бұрын

Woah dude. Your channel is going off! Congrats! Of course, your raw honesty and non pretentiousness is so refreshing!!!

@alant8140 4 жыл бұрын

Very insightful video, I totally agree

@felicvik9456 4 жыл бұрын

Could you do a video about finding resaurces about obscure languages.

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

I can't really do that because I've never studied an obscure language. Swedish is like maybe 16th or 17th most common for English speakers. French is like, 3rd haha.

@japaneselearnerap6163 2 жыл бұрын

Great observation. I often look for new stuff when I could learn what I have much more thoroughly

@fratira7271 4 жыл бұрын

Nice topic. I went through that fase of "that's the new book I need, I'm stuck let me try another one and another one over again" with many languages. Still doing sometimes, but rarely now that I know how to control this urge and focus on the material I already have, which is a lot if you consider all the free or almost free resources we can find online. Nice video and nice photos :)

@stevencarr4002 3 жыл бұрын

If something is beneficial, but you feel resistance towards starting it, set it up as a minihabit - something really small that you can and will do every day. I mean really small, like 'Translate one sentence a day' or 'Do 2 push ups a day'. Surely everybody can do 2 push-ups a day. Human nature being what it is, if you start something, you often find it easier just to keep going, and you do it for 20 minutes. Mini habits are useful, especially for people who promise to make a big commitment, and then don't follow through, because they find the size of the commitment daunting.

@SilentJaguar68 4 жыл бұрын

This is actually great for me since I wanted to get back into Romanian and I was iTalki lesson heavy back in those days so I have a crap ton of recordings that I could parse down for that !

@learodrigues3108 4 жыл бұрын

Lamont has cool uncle vibes. Thank you for your very sound advice.

@kathryngordon7364 4 жыл бұрын

This really demonstrates how dynamic the learning process can be! Explore ways to learn, reflect on what you've done and where you can improve. I appreciate how thoughtfully you do this. I really think this is the application of wisdom, as what you've done in the past has served you to a point and yet can still provide insights for moving forward. My methods can also become stale after time, and I have to figure ways to refresh my interest and my engagement. But I have to do this for myself, just as you did.

@fofy915 4 жыл бұрын

That's so true what you said about always looking for the best resources. I actually had that 'learning period' but then I realized I didn't get to learn anything and it was like plain procrastination. And also because I would like to achieve advanced level (in Italian; I'm Hungarian) I often feel like in a hurry that I have to learn everything at the same time, but then I quickly forget a certain kind of conjugation or some words. So I just repeat, repeat, repeat what I already 'know' and don't let myself to move one to next thing till I'm not satisfied. Your videos are really inspiring! (btw I also prefer oreos)

@sotmMrPants 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this video. The idea of the shiny, new, perfect material was something I've been thinking about but getting frustrated with all the time. -- I guess focusing on process rather than wishing for the perfect material to come up.

@Tomanita 4 жыл бұрын

I make that mistake all the time! Also, I know that I need to work on my speaking and writing skills but spend most of my time watching movies and reading books😅

@heyjianjing 4 жыл бұрын

very well said!

@adolin.kholin 4 жыл бұрын

It’s so hard for me to get continue right after I get started with a book, a website, etc. This is probably why, plus my ridiculous lack of motivation (thanks adhd). Thank you for talking about this exactly at the moment I needed it.

@samal-scharkauy268 4 жыл бұрын

I feel you, I have an attention span of a mosquito.

@Taradays 4 жыл бұрын

ADHD learner here. Self-learning is great for us. Want to learn 2 language? (hopefully not both too similar) switch back and forth studying it throughout the day. You need to have multiple ways of learning and you need to do what stimulates you and what you find the most rewarding. For me right now the most rewarding thing is watching a kdrama after my late night tutoring lessons (book multiple teachers so you don't get bored) and understanding more as well as picking up on words.

@adolin.kholin 4 жыл бұрын

Tara Doherty Thank you omg. Adhd is making me go nuts tbh. I do absolutely love self studying bc it’s freeing and I can do things the way I want it, but the lack of structure also hinders me sometimes. I am studying Greek, and I’m dabbling in Irish and Korean, trying to figure out which to go with. I’m not into the whole kpop kdrama thing personally so it’s hard to find resources that fit me, but the language itself is intriguing to me. I sometimes feel like I shouldn’t be doing 2 languages because most people say you shouldn’t. but then again, those most people don’t have adhd and don’t need that different level of engagement and differences. Anyway, rant over I guess, thank you for this little burst of encouragement and help🧡

@samal-scharkauy268 4 жыл бұрын

@@adolin.kholin so I understand from your comment that studying different languages at the same time is beneficial for adhds? If true how so ?

@adolin.kholin 4 жыл бұрын

Sam Al-Scharkauy Well, it depends of course, for everyone ADHD and also studying is different. For me, I find that there are days I cannot physically get myself to do anything for one language. Like, I cannot even care about it. However, that same day I am actually able to study another language instead. Sometimes the interest switches within the day. In the morning I’m really into the idea of doing some Greek, but by the end it’d be about the worst thing I could spend my time with. So in that way perhaps studying more than one language can help, though many people say you should never do it-I feel like things work just a bit differently than for “normal” people for me

@jackball8547 4 жыл бұрын

Great video, thank you for the tips! I subscribed only a few weeks ago when were at 10k subscribers and I can't believe how fast you're growing! Keep up the great vids :)

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah it's slowed down now actually. But in one week like 2 weeks ago it grew 5000 subs haha.

@jackball8547 4 жыл бұрын

Days of French 'n' Swedish That’s amazing! Can’t wait to see the videos to come.

@violinperson1835 4 жыл бұрын

your way of thinking is so intriguing and contagious! you're literally a genius to come up with this and analyze it so well. goodness!!

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

Haha thank you. I guess I just think about it like AAAAALLL the time.

@NataliaNNS 3 жыл бұрын

I feel so called out with this video, but in a good way!

@prabuddh_mathur 4 жыл бұрын

It's just great that you don't pass the vibes of being superior and have tried all the possible methods of language learning and guiding us. It is more like that you are with us and trying and telling, again, trying and telling what to avoid what not to. Updating your previous views, facing denied truths, and telling us in public so that we can avoid what difficulties you faced, most of all reply to comments even from very old videos. People generally don't do that and you have become my go-to language learning KZfaqr. You are like an elder brother who is experiencing new things along with us. Vielen Dank, Bruder.

@internalmedicine9982 3 жыл бұрын

Ok, am going to chime in with the others. This video has described me more than any other, on KZfaq. Kudos. Am going to stop hoarding on so called resources and use them, for a change

@JohnBrute 4 жыл бұрын

Something that I thought of doing recently that seemed like it would be fun and motivating is copying the transcript from target language KZfaq videos and pasting into Google docs. Then I can watch the video while reading the transcript and make an Anki card from things I don't understand.

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

Absolutely. People will tell you that LingQ is good for that but I find I need to accompany LingQ with a packet of paracetemol for the headache haha.

@zakariaradoine625 4 жыл бұрын

thank you

@Aura-bu9jb 4 жыл бұрын

"It feels like it will be boring before I start" I have that feeling a lot. Almost everything that I plan to do that takes even a little bit of hard work seems so boring and daunting, but when I actually start it's really not that bad. Do you have some advice on how to deal with that?

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

Try saying "I'll do 10 minutes and then I can have... *insert whatever you like doing here*", and then you'll probably find you go longer for extra "self-credit", but it doesn't matter if you don't.

@Aura-bu9jb 4 жыл бұрын

@@daysandwords I'll try it, thanks.

@TheGabennn 4 жыл бұрын

haha, the search for the best app or language learning method is so true. I probably spend hours doing it but to be honest I'm a lazy guy so I need apps to learn, apps give you a clear course about what to do. A teacher would be better but private lessons are expensive. I have a few language books but only 1 or 2 I really like because they are interesting and have a wide range of different exercises, like reading, grammar, listening, some fun fact about learning a language etc. Most of the books are boring, at least for me. Unfortunately I know we can't learn a language only from apps and yes the most hardest part is learning every day or almost every day.

@vinisuichi1243 4 жыл бұрын

Perfect!

@dycedargselderbrother5353 4 жыл бұрын

I'm used to the "perfect resource" trap, not just in language but in just about anything. I've learned to segment my "intellectual investments", if you can call it that, into guaranteed time advancing goals using what I have and using the remaining time, which is variable, into researching improvements. That way, I'm guaranteed to advance in some way, even if it's initially slow, and not fall into "systematizing the system" where the meta becomes more important than execution.

@languagecomeup 4 жыл бұрын

Looking forward to your reflections about shadowing. I haven’t done it, just let my accent improve through the years. Since the goal is near native Spanish, I believe I will end up doing it.

@chileanguyfleegman1908 4 жыл бұрын

I hope you chose a specific Spanish dialect. It makes the process of learning easier.

@Flauschbally 4 жыл бұрын

Great video and I couldn’t agree more. The feeling of looking and finding new material. And maybe that’s the one and only 😂 At the moment I am doing a listening challenge. Inspired by one of your videos to set up a plan. I haven’t been watching and listening my target language (Croatian) a lot . It wasn’t fun because I didn’t understand much. Well, surprise 😂 so here I am. Watching, listening, watching, listening. Sometimes it’s too difficult but at least I enjoy it. So for now better this way. I can’t watch or listen to stuff I have and understand better at the moment because it’s so so so boring. And I hope to get some beneficials out of it anyway. Somehow. It’s not a race. It’s a journey. And it’s ok to take longer than others.

@seeun_der74 3 жыл бұрын

Recording lessons is so genius, and so simple 😅

@cxstarfan 3 жыл бұрын

hey man thanks!

@daysandwords 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment!

@ThisIsNotInUseOkay 4 жыл бұрын

I just bought a bunch of books for learning French to a more advanced level... gotta stop collecting & gotta start getting through them before getting anything else! Also, will try to only be choosing the material that I enjoy or find interesting.

@FlowUrbanFlow 4 жыл бұрын

I've been complimented on my accent in Japanese a lot by learners and natives. I'm just always mindful of sounding Japanese. I will also read anything I read out loud, and I use speech to text to type in Japanese.

@noodletribunal9793 4 жыл бұрын

watch out though. they might just be jouzuing you XD

@FlowUrbanFlow 4 жыл бұрын

@@noodletribunal9793 Oh certainly. But that's why I threw in about being complimented by a foreigner. His Japanese is a much higher level mine, but his accent is entirely American

@hmt894 4 жыл бұрын

Recently, I've been using the "Fem Ord per Dag" videos on KZfaq to practice pronunciation. I already know most of the words so I focus on pronunciation and do as many videos as I feel like each day. 🙂

@bluecladchipmunk 4 жыл бұрын

As someone who used to work in a craft store I found that buying the craft supplies and doing the craft were 2 separate hobbies, language learning is much the same thing. This video called me out...but in a good way.

@paulmakiana 3 жыл бұрын

you are totally right: it is the hunt :-)

@FUBARGunpla 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah ironically not just with languages but most hobbies I've had to learn how to sit and utilize resources I've already got or can make within my means, so I dictate how much of my resources are utilized towards my goals. With a recent hobby I picked up (model making) the big thing ive used to keep my costs low is by utilizing multiple tools for multiple uses, or fabricated my own so I could spend more money towards the crucial things I needed as they came. So it's a bit long term and a bit short term. Same with languages, find that balance of teaching tools that are crucial to understand the main body of whatever it is your learning then create your own resources like flash cards for example, this way you find a way around the boredom of normal practical lessons because your utilizing what you DO know to make things. This is how I've done it for years and it helped with guitar, coding languages, Gundam models and Spanish/english. When you force yourself to use your knowledge practically you learn new contexts you didn't have before, i think your suggestion here about shadowing in your own way does the same, so much of learning is finding new contexts that aid not only in learning but your practical uses because they keep the material fresh. Those "ah hah!" Moments

@TalkingAmerican 4 жыл бұрын

I'm learning Spanish from English, and I've got a massive collection of resources to use. Aside from spending some time working on Lingvist every single day, I allow myself the luxury of picking and choosing. Today I listened to a playlist of Easy Spanish (KZfaq channel) street interviews and spent some time listening to The Martian audio book in Spanish. Tomorrow I may focus more on reading, or focusing on a verb or two that are giving me trouble. Maybe the next day I'll work on Pimsleur or Learning Spanish Like Crazy. But every single day I spend some time in Spanish. Not 15 minutes, but real time (even if it's in ten minute chunks some days). What I do during that time is almost irrelevant.

@8dpopintown307 4 жыл бұрын

Same Problem ! Since the Life Started

@Xiaoxiao738 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for that, I actually have an italki lesson today and I am gonna take ur idea and record the class. Cheers

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

You should probably ask the teacher, especially just in case you ever want to use the footage as a "before and after" in a video or whatever. I've never had a teacher who has had a problem with it.

@Xiaoxiao738 4 жыл бұрын

@@daysandwords Yea of course

@bobafruti 3 жыл бұрын

I sometimes think about different studying methods... then I just get back to reading in my target language.

@patcarone7652 3 жыл бұрын

Hands down the best language learning content available, thanks man! You should consider setting up a Patreon, I would sign up in a second.

@daysandwords 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I have one (I'll link it when I'm on a computer, bit harder on a phone).

@daysandwords 3 жыл бұрын

Here you go Pat - thanks for your comment. :-) www.patreon.com/user?u=38320669&fan_landing=true

@paulwalther5237 4 жыл бұрын

I am totally going to try this. I have an audio recording program that records well the 'speakers' on my computer and it stops when it's quiet. I wouldn't even have to edit anything to try this. Listening to my Korean is not really that enjoyable... regarding the bits about stuff getting boring so you look for a new app or study program etc. This probably can't be helped completely but if you can stop looking for the best app or study program or method and instead looking for different native content to consume I think it will be better and won't make you feel guilty for stopping if you get bored and just looking for something else.

@jamesdavis-ford6882 4 жыл бұрын

paul walther Hey there, Is there any chance that you'd be willing to share which audio recording program you use. I've been doing this form of shadowing for a while with Portuguese, but it is painful using the program that I have. Thanks.

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

Try Matt vs Japan's "Shadowing setup". It works if there are lots of pauses in the audio.

@paulwalther5237 4 жыл бұрын

@@jamesdavis-ford6882You might not want to get it. Per the website it's currently $30. www.abyssmedia.com/ It's called I-Sound Recorder. Actually the one I own is I-Sound recorder for Windows 7 but they updated it to support current versions of windows. I'm pretty sure you can do this with Audacity for free but it would involve some Googling and figuring stuff out. Audacity is very feature rich. I-Sound Recorder is stupid easy for just recording stuff with very few features but it has VOX which lets you tell it to only record when the sound goes above a certain threshold.

@victorstroganov8135 4 жыл бұрын

Do a review on 'Learning with Text'!

@bingolingo6555 4 жыл бұрын

When to start hiring tutors?

@petra1995 4 жыл бұрын

As someone who's been on the hunt for good Chinese resources I feel very called out

@alexprus7953 4 жыл бұрын

Watching youtube videos on how to study a language instead of actually practicing xD

@milosm9280 4 жыл бұрын

When will u make a video about learning Swedish(9-5)?

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

I've gotta do the week first, I am hoping for next week (to actually do the time) and then the video will be a few weeks after that.

@lucyleaper8568 4 жыл бұрын

I'm learning french and I've got a book for intermediates that's I'm working mostly from for grammar and things but not sure if I should be fully focusing on it, do you have any tips?

@arealnowhereman8255 4 жыл бұрын

grammar is important from the beginning to understand language structure, but then grammar books are not really best ressource, you need to listen as much as possible and try to find people to speak with... grammar book won't learn you speak

@kawtulu3052 3 жыл бұрын

Can you recommend a book to help me learn German?

@rutherforduslane2810 3 жыл бұрын

Okay, man, I've got a question. How do you manage to get Swedish books is Australia? I've tried a lot to get Dutch books (because that the language I'm learning), but I've managed to get some.

@daysandwords 3 жыл бұрын

Oh sorry Sankar, so I sort of answered this as best I could in the livestream. Basically my best tip is Google "buy books" / "online books" but IN DUTCH, don't just google those terms in English.

@rutherforduslane2810 3 жыл бұрын

@@daysandwords Oh! Prima. Dat zal ik doen.

@HaIsKuL 4 жыл бұрын

Yes yes of course... What exactly is shadowing?

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

It's listening to a native speaker and trying to repeat everything they say down to the smallest detail, so like "Oh... what? No sorry... um, yeah... I was just thinking that... well, you know..." It sounds simple but normally we're only ever trying to sound "fluent" rather than trying to sound like a native.

@BrentStrathdeePehi 4 жыл бұрын

I think if it’s engaging then it’s 99% chance that it’s beneficial anyway cos if it wasn’t we’d lose interest- so I’d say that our ongoing will to engage is a pretty good gage of the value

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

Well, yeah but there is some stuff that is like running intervals: it hurts like all hell but it DOES do good haha. (For me it's shadowing.)

@danielely2892 4 жыл бұрын

At what language level do you recommend using Italki? I'm at an A1 level in japanese and don't think it's necessary yet but I would like to use Italki someday

@daysandwords 3 жыл бұрын

Sorry, for some reason I never saw this. Probably B1 minimum, but preferably B2 comprehension if you can be that patient.

@TheRafaeldiasavelino 4 жыл бұрын

Hey! If you started your Swedish learning all over again, what would you say to yourself the best way (not the fastest) was?

@daysandwords 3 жыл бұрын

I have a new video on 10 mistakes I made in Swedish, that pretty much covers this.

@guhmuhtruh 4 жыл бұрын

Commenting for the alg

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

The moose? Thanks. (Jokes: älg = moose in Swedish haha.)

@SanderJanssenBSc 3 жыл бұрын

The novelty factor will one day wear off! I made an in depth video about how upgraded make you miserable so I resonate a lot with this message

@twoblocksdown5464 4 жыл бұрын

Hi man. A little bit off-topic question: what is your motivation to start learning Swedish? I mean, not a lot of people speak Swedish and here comes the second problem - the lack of material on the Internet to learn it. Do u like the language itself? Or maybe u/ur relatives have some swedish roots :D Actually I wanna start learning dutch when my English level would be satisfying to me, but man.... I don't know if I should do that. I really like dutch. The structure, the way it sounds. So I thought I would ask u why, why people start learning "not widely spoken" languages on the first place.

@pivea 4 жыл бұрын

Now I'm curious about what is your preferred accent in swedish, I hope it's not skånska. Danskjävlar :)

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

I quite like the way Skånska sounds actually, but no. Just Rikssvenska but I haven't really decided any closer than that. I find Göteborgska easier to do but I think I overdo it a bit and end up sounding Norwegian.

@RyanRumble 4 жыл бұрын

Days of French 'n' Swedish Göteborgska is consistently voted the coolest/sexiest accent so it’s a good choice :) I find it clearer than ‘potato-y’ skånska or nasal stockholmska

@tomatrix7525 4 жыл бұрын

@daryl-is 4 жыл бұрын

I first too

@WilliamOunj-ge8th 4 жыл бұрын

Why dont you make a review of Pimsleur? Especially for oral communication skills.

@nelsongael6 4 жыл бұрын

Hola puedes agregar subtitulos en español?

@arealnowhereman8255 4 жыл бұрын

aprende inglés !

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

I am going to do what NO youtuber ever does (disclaimer: it has probably happened before)... and link to a different channel's video because I think it's SO damn good. You would almost think that I copied this video from it except that I filmed my video like 10 days ago. Anyway, check this video out... it's incredible: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bLtgaayX186yZp8.html

@noodletribunal9793 4 жыл бұрын

I DEFINITELY have this problem. i really can't focus on anything really T.T

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

Just try 10 minutes on the most helpful thing you can think of.

@ace-2k8qa6 2 жыл бұрын

Not me getting a duolingo ad lol

@gc1599 4 жыл бұрын

Lamont, have you done a review on Pimsleur? If you haven’t, do you think you can do one soon?

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

I am working on it, a lot of people have asked for it actually.

@gc1599 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Take your time

@sertiverinacov4003 4 жыл бұрын

plz put the number to the reason . reason number1, reason number2 e t c

@enzosf 4 жыл бұрын

I thought describing his shower thought WHILE watching him shower was important and relevant. LOL

@christopheradrien6829 4 жыл бұрын

Hmm, I will have to start recording conversations that I have

@plurakok 4 жыл бұрын

What Swedish accent are you aiming for?

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

I kinda haven't decided yet but for example, NOT Smålandska or Skånska. I actually like the way they sound but it's too hard to get material in it. My favourite narrator obviously just speaks Rikssvenska, and the books are set in Stockholm.

@plurakok 4 жыл бұрын

@@daysandwords What do you think of the göteborgska? It's so funny when it's thick😂

@daysandwords 3 жыл бұрын

@@plurakok I like it but I tend to overdo it a bit and almost sound Norwegian.

@shiryu42 4 жыл бұрын

We like the hunt because we are hunters. At least the mind it is, never satisfied with what has already. It is like a black hole.

@LibraMakeup 4 жыл бұрын

How much time is spent editing these skype-class videos? How about booking another class instead? Are you sure you will get better in the target language or you will become a really advanced video-editor? But I guess it's a bit like the bullet journal... for me, it's just a distraction, but some people swear by it. I guess if there is enough actual studying going on, it doesn't matter how you spend your time ;)

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

It takes like 20 minutes per class and I listen to them while I do it. Obviously I can already edit videos, scrubbing the vid down to the teacher talking is super basic and fast.

@owenthompson5214 4 жыл бұрын

First

@highchamp1 4 жыл бұрын

Study? I want to get away from "study" and use the "power" of the internet. I get studying at the beginning. (for 3 to 6 months or a year) I wish language people would build the (simple) technology to read, speak, listen and watch. LingQ is close. I use various resources. (cobbled together) I always find myself struggling trying to get audio, video and text to sync up together.

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

When I say "study" I mean "time in the target language". People think I mean "hitting the books" but I just mean KZfaq, Netflix, reading or listening in Swedish. That's "study".

@highchamp1 4 жыл бұрын

@@daysandwords That's fine. I wasn't questioning you. I was just complaining about language learning. Great channel!

@aliceduanra7539 4 жыл бұрын

huh I didn't really know there were different swedish accents lol

@chileanguyfleegman1908 4 жыл бұрын

can confirm. Grew up and live in Sweden. My accent is a farmer accent but I can switch to Rikssvenska (Official swedish) quite easy.

@daysandwords 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah there are heaps. Småland (South West) Skåne (South East), Gothenburg (West, nearer to Norway) Stockholm (east and obviously the most common), the North (Uppsala or anything North of that) and then Finland-Swedish... now this is just me naming the ones that I can pick the difference between. In reality there are big differences even in those distinctions but I would have a lot more difficulty telling the difference. It's weird but typically the more densely a country is populated, the more accents and dialects they have. For example: Australia. Huge land, tiny population, and only now are we starting to develop different dialects and accents, but even then it depends very little on where you live. Russia, as far as I understand, sound mostly the same from Vladivlostok to St Petersburg. Whereas England: tiny county, big population, big variation in accents an dialects. Same with America (big country but big population density too).

@chileanguyfleegman1908 4 жыл бұрын

småland is southeast and skåne is south. also the official Swedish doesn't come from Stockholm it comes from Nyköping witch is called Rikssvenska "Swedish of the kingdom".

@irenemcnamara9699 4 жыл бұрын

Who is interested in this shadowing besides you?

@daysandwords 3 жыл бұрын

Sorry what do you mean by that?

@QuiltingCrow 4 жыл бұрын

Due to having a high IQ, boredom is a killer for my brain. I tend to jump between all the languages I speak/learn and between materials as well. Usually I don't spend more than 10-15 minutes on one subject (or material), before jumping to another. I also found out that a lot of things like reading books or watching movies in my target language doesn't help me at all. I need to write and talk to learn a language. And with all the apps and stuff available today, I still use the same method to learn languages I used 30 years ago. Over all, it helps to have some resources, but having more resources will not automatically help with learning a language. In the end, it's just going to happen if you...well, learn. Actively.