How Many Languages Do I Speak

Here is a video answering the question "how many languages do I speak?"

YouTube Practice

One of my favorite ways to practice speaking is on YouTube. I realize that you don't get to practice conversational skills this way, which is where I struggle in all my languages.

But here are the steps for how I practice using YouTube.

1. Preparation.
My preparation for a YouTube video varies greatly. I either decide on a topic or simply take out my phone and start rambling. Sometimes I will write out a script and read it or use notes (I do both of these from time to time in English as well).

2. Recording.
This is simple. Sometimes I use the webcam on my computer and if I'm not at home, I use my phone.

3. Editing. 
I realize that I could just upload the videos but I have noticed that it is helpful for viewers to at least have subtitles and its no fun for them to sit through my ums and pauses. It can make the video more enjoyable for my viewers, who are primarily English speaking.

4. Posting.
Upload and share.

Goals 2017 - March Through June

I’m a little late getting my 2017 goals in here…surprise. surprise.

The first two and a half months of the new year were a whirlwind. But its mid march and I am ready and excited to rock and roll. There is even a new language on my list that I didn’t plan to study. But lets start with a quick review of the languages you already know I’m working on.

I will write 1-3 month goals and hopefully I will create an update of some kind within that time (here or on paper).

Travel Collage
10x10
$75

Old Studies

Hindi/Urdu

Update - I’m pretty rusty, as you may guess. I was able to practice with people who don’t speak any English at all while in Italy (which I will post on soon. If not here, on my art blog for sure over at feliciafollum.com).

Goal - practice conversation and talking about topics. Topics include, religion (what I believe), family, friends, and why I’m studying Hindi.

Urdu Goal - Learn alphabet. Though I’m not sure how serious I am about this one. I may focus on Hindi/Urdu/Hindustani speaking. Though I know reading will help improve my vocabulary and overall Hindustani skills. But I could also, simply continue to read in Hindi.

I suppose if I find a Pakistani friend to chat with in Urdu, maybe I will decide to learn the alphabet.

Portuguese

Update - RUSTY RUSTY RUSTY and I get really shy and freeze when trying to listen.

Goal - Listen to more Portuguese videos and music while working. Improve listening and reading skills, as I know speaking will come back as I regain confidence, as this was once my strongest language I suppose.

New to me Languages

French

Update - This is new!!! This is new!!! I am a complete beginner with this one, so I am excited to document the process and I think it should be realistic to advance, much slower than with Hindi or Portuguese but still at a steady pace.

Goal - Be able to hold a basic conversation by the next international dinner. Have some questions to ask and be ready to answer.

Tasks to Reach goal - Create flash cards and study them daily. Work on Duolingo to get some vocabulary and grammatical usage into my brain Keep chatting with my new French speaking friends using translator and trying phrases I am learning. Listen to the sounds using google translate

Listen to pronunciation videos and practice reading with online friends Find some folks who can correct me and some who will be more relaxed Maybe find someone looking to learn English and exchange with them.

Dabbling

Spanish

Update - no update.

Goal - One day to return to Spanish but for now focus on Portuguese and French (though I’ve recently heard it’s ok to work on 3 or 4 romance languages at once.

Latin

Update - none

Goal - One day finish the book of John (start over)

Somali

Update - I did get to practice my phrases in Italy

Goal - None

Arabic

Update - none

Goal - When visiting my Sudanese friends I will practice what I know with their parents who don’t speak much English.

Language Learning 2016 Goals Update

Well as you can probably guess, I had another year where I slacked pretty hardcore but I have had some good language experiences too.

Português - I don't want to get worse and hope to maintain my Portuguese skills by listening to "Você Sabia?" on YouTube and commenting weekly. 

FAIL! It is safe to say that I FAILED this goal. I did not listen to a Portuguese speaker on a regular basis or comment. My skills have gone downhill and I cannot simply switch to speaking in Portuguese with confidence. I know that these skills will come back and I will likely have this as a goal after February (you will see why in a future post)

Traveling in my city on Instagram

Hindi - Weekly listening. Practice writing sentences. More complex sentences and find someone to correct them.

FAIL! This was a fail as well. I have only just recently began writing again. I failed probably 11 out of 12 months, maybe only 9 or 10. I also have been able to have some organic conversations in Hindi with people and there are people who I naturally speak Hindi with. I also have been watching a Bollywood movie and practicing writing again.

Urdu - Relearn the alphabet.

FAIL! I did study that alphabet through the year, I did not learn it but I have given it some practice and was able to use Arabic in one of the English classes that I teach.

Spanish - It will be important to learn Spanish in the future. I want to finish the Portuguese tree in DuoLingo and then start on the Spanish tree in Portuguese.

PASS! Well, kinda. I am about 2/3 of the way through the Portuguese tree. I am sure I will finish it in 2017. I may begin the French tree and work on it a bit in preparation for Italy too. I do still plan to one day use Duolingo in Portuguese to relearn Spanish. But I am not in a hurry for this.
Latin - I would love to finish reading John but that may need to wait.

Yep, still waiting. 

Somali - Listen when given the opportunity. Practice the few phrases I know.

My Somali and Sudanese friends have all moved to Seatle but I do practice my Somali basic phrases from time to time.

Arabic - Listen to speakers when they are around. Pick up common words and Urdu words. I don't plan to put any effort into finding Arabic speakers. Learn the alphabet and the difference between Urdu and Arabic.

See Somali.

As you can see I did not put a lot of effort into language learning over the past year. 

I know that I need to make quarterly or even monthly goals and track them on paper. That will be on my 2017 goals list. 

Some things that I did well that were not goals listed above but were added later on include practicing languages with native or native-like speakers and I was able to do this with Hindi and Portuguese. At international dinners I have also been able to work on code switching which is another goal. I would like to be able to switch between languages. I tend to be able to do this with Portuguese and English better than with Hindi but there have been dinners where I will switch in an appropriate way.

What are your top language learning goals? What is holding you back?

Some Practice Hindi Sentences

I have been slacking on practicing my Hindi the past couple years but I am still moving forward, slowly and surely.

Here is my most recent practice sentences. Please correct any mistakes that you see

EveFelicia Follum, Watercolor Prints $25Copyright 2015

Aap mujhe kya laana chahate hain?
What do you want me to bring?

Aap mujhe dinner ke liye kya laana chahate hain?
What do you want me to bring to dinner?

Mujhe aapko dinner ke liye kya laana chahate hain?
What do you want me to bring to your dinner?

Kya tum desi khana chahoge?
Would you like to bring Indian food?

Kya tum meri sath desi khaana banana chahogi?
Would you like to cook Indian food with me?

Kya tum mera dinner ke liye jaana chahoge
Would you like to cone to my dinner?

Mera dinner ke baad main thaka hua hongi
After my dinner I will be tired

Abhi tum kya karogi?
What are you going to do right now?

Ab tum kya karogi?
What are you going to do?

Ab tum movie ke baad (mein?) Kya karogi?
What are you going to do after the movie?

Main artist baanna.
I become artist.

Main ek din artist baanna. (Baanoongi)
One day I eill become an artist.

Jab main bacchi thi main baat kya ke...
When I was a child I said...


Kaunsa sentences accha hain? Galation correck kijie.

Main thoda thoda padna sakti hoon...
Mere pati ko classical hindusthani gaane pasand nahi bhi hai lekin mujhe pasand hai
Mujhe pet ka dard hai.
Mujhe pata hai - naya phrase hai

Lekin can you use
"Main jaanti hoon ke john kaha hai"
[8/18, 6:48 AM] Felicia Follum : Mujhe pata hai main cricket kelti hoon
I know how to play cricket

Aur cricket khelna pasand hai
Mujhe bhi yaqeen hai.

Mujhe parmeshvar yehova/bhagvaan/etc mein yaqeen hai.
I have faith in God

Mujhko ab kitab pardna hai mera kaam ke liye.
I need to read now for work

Thank you guys!!! I hope this was helpful for learners newer than me (and for learners of Hindi speakers who know more or are fluent, PLEASE CORRECT!)

Em Portuguese - I love Brazil

Here is my newest language practice video. I was recently faced with a tough decision and had to say no to a travel opportunity. In this video I discuss my decisions and how much I love Brazil and am sad I'm not able to return due to bad timing.

Listening Practice

Here is my attempt to write out what I heard in this video...I will come back in some time and try again to see if I have improved. I will also write an English translation at some point but for now I am just focusing on my listening skills as I feel they are currently the weakest.

Feel free to type out what you hear in the comments. If you can make corrections to my attempt that would be great as well.

saari ja se accha
bharat desh humara
kyun? Kyunki …..>?????
kar kya tha

shyad

kyunki ghangi ji n

ho sakta

hum o ke log
ho sakti

asi kya aru naam hain
jitna textbook asi tha

phool

shyad logo ka kaam

meri kch


ke batrre mein social menda
ke barre mein status update…thats what peole deine as bieng invol

but asi jo log desh ….baht kuch karte hain aur patli main unko aur kuch nahi milta ya ? Humare attention nahi milta

wo….desh….dil rat ek karti tha

aur jivan jab main zindagi desh ?ki rakhsha ? karna thi?

vo saha si log jo kisi an jahn bhi jahn bachate hain

ya taki?

aur jo kisi disater ke bakti?

Main abhi asi kahini suniye
ek sachi kahini

????suna bhi me

sadam husein ne kuwait badam la kiya

aur usa badai desh mein

ek lakh satha hazar se zyada hindustani ???

kuch sabse bharti
judht ke badki jahn bhi jahn

duniya sabse aur arndigi sath