This blog has morphed into the story of me learning and teaching languages. I teach refugees and online for VIPKid. I LOVE to study languages! I post in the middle of the night while sleep deprived in a foreign country, and though I can’t always promise that entries will be error and sarcasm free. Thanks for looking past the mess and enjoy. I also believe and hope that through my journal you will find some beauty in cross-cultural dialog, education, and friendship. Felicia Follum on IG, YT, FB.
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Updated Goals - Final Stretch of 2015
Only a few months left of the year.
Let's get to it, here are my language learning goals.
General - When people ask if I speak a language, say "Yes, I speak it." And then speak it.
Português - I don't want to get worse and hope to maintain my skills by listening to "Você Sabia?" on YouTube anf commenting weekly.
Hindi - Create speaking videos monthly and practice writing monthly.
Arabic - Listen to speakers. Pick up common words and Urdu words.
Somali - Listen when given the opportunity. Practice the few phrases I know.
Latin - I would love to finish reading John but that may need to wait.
Spanish - I don't want to mix Português and Spanish intentionally. If a Spanish speaker speaks English I will speak English. If they understand Português, I will speak Português.
Picture credit
See Www.feliciafollum.com
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Saturday, June 27, 2015
Slacker and Update!
It's official, I have been slacking in my study and in my posting. On the bright side I have been using lanuage in real life...
Here is an update of what I have done in the last few months.
Hindi - I meet with an Indian woman aproximately once per month and we practice speaking. She also corrects my writing practice. In addition there is an Indian man who works at a gas station that I only speak in Hindi with.
I have began watching a TV series on YouTube named Shaka Laka Boom Boom.
I recently met a Punjabi man (maybe I will share this story one day as well). We speak, him in Punjabi and I in Hindi, and sometimes we understand.
Urdu - I have recently met a couple new Pakistani friends.
Português - I have one Brazilian friend in the Tri-Cities. We speak Português when it is just the two of us. I also practice a bit with a friend in Brazil and I have some Brazilian friends that only speak Português, so we all chat as well.
I'm still working through Duolingo. Slowly but surely.
Spanish - I am around it quite often in my city, and try to listen but don't do much of anything. It's very difficult for me to speak as I mix it with Português a lot.
After I finish Português on Duolingo, I do plan to work through Spanish in Portuguese or Portuguese in Spanish...so I will put them against eachother in hopes of keeping them separate...
until I'm at a decent point in one, I don't think the other will be useful and they say learning Portuguese makes Spanish very easy.
Sign Language - I use sign with a man at Cricket. I also use sign language instead of singing in church. Sadly my sign has deteriorated when it comes to conversing.
Arabic - I'm amazed by how many Islamic friends (mostly Somalian, new to America) use Arabic and I know the words from Urdu.
Somali - Similarly, I'm often surprised to see that many Hindi and Somali words are similar.
Jabati - chapati
Sambusa - samosa
Lakota - not practicing.
Latin - This is a new one for me. I've considered reading the book of Mark in the Vulgate Bible...I'm researching the best way to learn to read Latin for this purpose.
Cultural paintings from FeliciaFollum.com
Also at Facebook.com/feliciafollumdesign
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Hindi Vocabulary Lists
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| Assorted art from the #TheLilyPadProject |
These lists can be used in several ways. You can memorize them or take each word and write a sentence (which I find quite helpful).
1. My First Phrases from Hindi for Christmas
2. Anything Anil Mohato is great! This is one of his vocabulary videos (video below).
6. Adjectives from linguanaut.com
7. Vocabulary from linguanaut.com
8. Survival Terms from linguanaut.com
9. Grammar Tense Practice from Hindi for Christmas
10. Urdu lists from linguanaut.com
11. Hindi Words that come from Arabic from Namaste-America
12. Yet another list of Arabic words in Hindi from Baheyeldin
