Hi!
To track my work on languages, I publish posts like this from time to time. I decided to include more details this time. Each language will contain some details about the history plus (when possible) my learning results like points from an app etc.
Total languages number: 17
?? Native Polish: This is my mother tongue and I use it everyday. I also teach Polish, make podcasts and I hope it keeps it alive.
?? C2 English: It’s my second language, but I feel native-like in it, there are some things I can express only in English. Most of my daily life is in it as I read, watch, teach, learn, talk in English every day. I find the British accent very sexy and I constantly try to improve it. I’m very happy I met some guys from Britain in Katowice so we can hang out and talk.
?? C1 German: It’s the third foreign language I really learnt. I started it at school and with some ups and downs I’m on the C1 level. I had a very bad start with a rather traditional approach to it during the lessons with more of a grammar approach and without any proper immersion. I try to have regular contact with the language. In order to improve it and have a better level at nouns (genders, declension) I decided on using apps. I’m on Duolingo (3267 XP) and Memrise German 6 course (36/495 items learnt).
?️ B1 Latin: It was my first ancient language and it is my love. I remember we learnt some Latin sayings at school during our History class and in an inexplicable way it planted the Latin seed in my heart. I had Latin course during my university studies where it was almost killed with the grammar-translation approach. Only later, I discovered the beauty of the restored pronunciation and learning it with the Natural Approach. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to find more time to read or practise it, so I do it on Duolingo (4044 XP) to have any regular contact.
?? B1 Ukrainian: I went to Ukraine many years ago and so it started. Wow, this language is so awesome! The people are so, so nice that I just had to start learning it. I also started Duolingo on Ukrainian (1136 XP).
?? B1 Spanish: I started learning it at university, got to A2/B1 level, stopped, forgotten most of it and now getting back to it. Me encanta el castellano. I’m doing a Memrise Spanish 7 course (136/422 items learnt). I’ve recently finished listening to all Spanish with Vincente podcast episodes and now I listen to podcast Fallo de sistema and I can used while speaking with native speakers, mostly from Latin America. I went through the first 30 lessons of Assimil for beginners and had an A2 course in July and August. I want to go back to Assimil now and hopefully, I’ll find time for some lessons.
?? B1 Uzbek: Menga katta kabob bering, iltimos – I love this phrase. It was my first sentence in the language and it means ‘A big kebab, please’. I’m now at B1 level and struggling to move forward. There are now materials for intermediate students and I honestly hadn’t been doing much for some time until an Uzbek guy started coming to Multilanguage Meeting in Katowice. As we started talking regularly, I also decided to refresh it. I’m currently doing a Memrise course based on ‘Uzbek. An Elementary Textbook’ (85/1854 items learnt). I hope to start Uzbek lessons soon too.
?️ A1 Ancient Greek / Koine: At university, I took many more semesters of it than it was planned. I’ve forgotten a lot of it. I did it during a summer school in 2019 (if I remember correctly). I can only wish there was time to study it again.
?? A1 Italian: I remember I even took some lessons in Italian. I still listen to Neri Per Caso from time to time. In order to refresh it a little I started doing Duolingo (598 XP). Let’s hope that will refresh some memories. The good thing about Italian and other Romance languages is the fact that they are relatively easy to understand and there are many source for learners.
?? A1 Russian: I used to learn it. Now, it’s more a passive understanding, being able to read it slowly. It’s the only language I don’t miss learning nowadays.
?? A0 Swedish: I could take free language classes at work, so I obviously used the opportunity. I even went to Stockholm for a few days. Unfortunately, I think I forgot most of it. As it’s available on Duolingo it got on my list to refresh it. My Duolingo (485 XP) is still very basic but so is my Swedish.
?? A0 French: I learnt it from a teach-yourself course book. Two lessons. Maybe three. Now, because of French meetings in the town, I feel I need more. That’s why I’m both on Duolingo (5383 XP) and Memrise French 1 course (37/472 items learnt).
?? A0 Portuguese: I tried that one too. That one was because of Capoeira. As I’m writing this I’m thinking of starting it on Duolingo or Memrise. Just to be on the safe side and not forget it totally. Am I crazy?
?️ A0 Mingrelian: I learnt this language for a short time. I remember the struggle with the alphabet.
?? A0 Indonesian: I started learning it in August 2022. Why? Because it’s for free on apps, it’s easy (according to John H. McWhorter) and I know three people from Indonesia. I’m doing Duolingo (3102 XP) and a Memrise +2000 Indonesian Words course (20/2087 items learnt).
?️ A0 Coptic: I did this one during my studies, about 5 semesters. It is still on the list to go back to but I think, I’d need to win in a lottery to stop working and have time only for language learning to do this one.
?️ A0 Biblical Hebrew: I did it for only one semester. I didn’t have enough time then and it hasn’t changed.
