Comments on: Hitting a brick wall in your language progress http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/ Unconventional language hacking tips from Benny the Irish polyglot; travelling the world to learn languages to fluency and beyond! Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Benny the Irish polyglot http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-10870 Benny the Irish polyglot Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:57:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-10870 Haha, I'm sorry but I don't understand it at all when you say that you feel "discouraged" by me saying that Czech is easy :P It's had pretty much the opposite effect on most other people... I have answered those questions in other blog posts. Please read through the archives of October-December 2010 as I demonstrated a few ways I practised my non-Spanish languages while living in Colombia. Haha, I’m sorry but I don’t understand it at all when you say that you feel “discouraged” by me saying that Czech is easy :P It’s had pretty much the opposite effect on most other people…

I have answered those questions in other blog posts. Please read through the archives of October-December 2010 as I demonstrated a few ways I practised my non-Spanish languages while living in Colombia.

]]> By: Jayashri http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-10868 Jayashri Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:11:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-10868 I LOVE your drive. I am a Singaporean high sch student, and I got interested in Czech because of someone I met online. I have been studying it on my own for just over a year now, and I must say I am pretty happy with whatever progress I have made so far. I just regret that I have no one to physically speak to in Czech; I think that would help a lot with pronunciation and fluency and whatnot. I have online acquaintances whom I help with English (and get help with Czech in return), but it definitely isn't the same as being able to immerse oneself in the culture and language. Since I am still a high school student, I won't be able to do that anytime soon. But I guess for now, the DLI course materials, university course materials, translated short stories and Internet radio (just for the sound) will have to suffice. Unlike you, from afar, I have fallen in love with the Czech language (though the culture is an entirely different issue). I must say, though, that I feel a bit discouraged when you say Czech is really easy. Perhaps because it is my fourth language after English (first language), Tamil (mother tongue, but not most frequently used), French (in school). I was just getting used to the whole system of learning a language from scratch. It wasn't difficult, just not easy. And Czech certainly has helped me with my German and Latin studies. I really am looking forward to reaching my 16-language goal. Thanks for ALL the tips, and I wish you the best of luck! I have a question: How do you continue to practice all your languages, for eg Czech, without going to those places or meeting the people? How often do you practice each of the languages you have attemped to learn? I LOVE your drive. I am a Singaporean high sch student, and I got interested in Czech because of someone I met online. I have been studying it on my own for just over a year now, and I must say I am pretty happy with whatever progress I have made so far. I just regret that I have no one to physically speak to in Czech; I think that would help a lot with pronunciation and fluency and whatnot. I have online acquaintances whom I help with English (and get help with Czech in return), but it definitely isn’t the same as being able to immerse oneself in the culture and language.
Since I am still a high school student, I won’t be able to do that anytime soon. But I guess for now, the DLI course materials, university course materials, translated short stories and Internet radio (just for the sound) will have to suffice.
Unlike you, from afar, I have fallen in love with the Czech language (though the culture is an entirely different issue).

I must say, though, that I feel a bit discouraged when you say Czech is really easy. Perhaps because it is my fourth language after English (first language), Tamil (mother tongue, but not most frequently used), French (in school). I was just getting used to the whole system of learning a language from scratch. It wasn’t difficult, just not easy. And Czech certainly has helped me with my German and Latin studies.
I really am looking forward to reaching my 16-language goal. Thanks for ALL the tips, and I wish you the best of luck!

I have a question: How do you continue to practice all your languages, for eg Czech, without going to those places or meeting the people? How often do you practice each of the languages you have attemped to learn?

]]> By: MarieAnne http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-2762 MarieAnne Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:12:08 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-2762 Dear Benny, I think you've made a great job! I admire your persistence and will to win. I think your experience will be a good example and a source of inspiration 4 everyone. Keep trying! And if you decide to take up Russian, I'll be happy to help you :) Dear Benny,
I think you’ve made a great job! I admire your persistence and will to win. I think your experience will be a good example and a source of inspiration 4 everyone. Keep trying!
And if you decide to take up Russian, I’ll be happy to help you :)

]]> By: MarieAnne http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-7936 MarieAnne Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:12:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-7936 Dear Benny, I think you've made a great job! I admire your persistence and will to win. I think your experience will be a good example and a source of inspiration 4 everyone. Keep trying! And if you decide to take up Russian, I'll be happy to help you :) Dear Benny,
I think you’ve made a great job! I admire your persistence and will to win. I think your experience will be a good example and a source of inspiration 4 everyone. Keep trying!
And if you decide to take up Russian, I’ll be happy to help you :)

]]> By: benny http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-1220 benny Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:04:22 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-1220 The niceness of those on the net will never cease to amaze me :) I was a little disappointed in not reaching the end target, but all of these comments completely cheered me up! I'm feeling very motivated now as I embark on my next mission :D The niceness of those on the net will never cease to amaze me :) I was a little disappointed in not reaching the end target, but all of these comments completely cheered me up! I’m feeling very motivated now as I embark on my next mission :D

]]> By: benny http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-7935 benny Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:04:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-7935 The niceness of those on the net will never cease to amaze me :) I was a little disappointed in not reaching the end target, but all of these comments completely cheered me up! I'm feeling very motivated now as I embark on my next mission :D The niceness of those on the net will never cease to amaze me :) I was a little disappointed in not reaching the end target, but all of these comments completely cheered me up! I’m feeling very motivated now as I embark on my next mission :D

]]> By: PriscillaOchoa http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-1131 PriscillaOchoa Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:28:39 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-1131 Dzień Dobry, Benny! Dziękuję za wszystko... cya w Rio! pa pa! Dzień Dobry, Benny!
Dziękuję za wszystko…
cya w Rio!

pa pa!

]]> By: PriscillaOchoa http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-7934 PriscillaOchoa Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:28:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-7934 Dzień Dobry, Benny! Dziękuję za wszystko... cya w Rio! pa pa! Dzień Dobry, Benny!
Dziękuję za wszystko…
cya w Rio!

pa pa!

]]> By: Matt http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-1114 Matt Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:50:04 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-1114 Wow, your blog has totally inspired me to jump back into learning my two favorite languages, Portuguese and Afrikaans. I would also like to tell you that I greatly admire your dedication and your drive to be successful and that you are a great language learner and a true role model for the rest of us. I think that you should try to study a Celtic language or perhaps a Baltic or North Germanic language sometime on one of your future endeavors. Thanks! Wow, your blog has totally inspired me to jump back into learning my two favorite languages, Portuguese and Afrikaans. I would also like to tell you that I greatly admire your dedication and your drive to be successful and that you are a great language learner and a true role model for the rest of us. I think that you should try to study a Celtic language or perhaps a Baltic or North Germanic language sometime on one of your future endeavors. Thanks!

]]> By: Matt http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-7933 Matt Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:50:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-7933 Wow, your blog has totally inspired me to jump back into learning my two favorite languages, Portuguese and Afrikaans. I would also like to tell you that I greatly admire your dedication and your drive to be successful and that you are a great language learner and a true role model for the rest of us. I think that you should try to study a Celtic language or perhaps a Baltic or North Germanic language sometime on one of your future endeavors. Thanks! Wow, your blog has totally inspired me to jump back into learning my two favorite languages, Portuguese and Afrikaans. I would also like to tell you that I greatly admire your dedication and your drive to be successful and that you are a great language learner and a true role model for the rest of us. I think that you should try to study a Celtic language or perhaps a Baltic or North Germanic language sometime on one of your future endeavors. Thanks!

]]> By: Linda http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-1101 Linda Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:35:32 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-1101 Thanks for the honesty. I totally see your point. When I told my sister and friends I badly wanted to learn Italian they all all thought I was crazy. They suggested that I try Spanish instead because I'd have a better chance to use it. First of all I live in India so its rare that I will use either language but It was my dream to learn another the language so I figured, I should explore their advice. I love South America amd have serveral frens who speak spanish, so I began buying books and cd's etc. It was a few days into listening to the disks that I relized, I dont want to learn spanish, its a beautiful language and it sounds wonderful and I want to travel to SA again soon but nope, not interested in actually learning it. For me I loved Italy, the people the sounds the smells and the language I love the language. So even though its more practical to learn spanish, I know Italian has 10x better chace of becoming my second language then spanish ever will. And who knows maybe after Italian, Spanish maybe has a chance. P.S Good luck in Brazil (just my guess!!!) Thanks for the honesty. I totally see your point. When I told my sister and friends I badly wanted to learn Italian they all all thought I was crazy. They suggested that I try Spanish instead because I’d have a better chance to use it. First of all I live in India so its rare that I will use either language but It was my dream to learn another the language so I figured, I should explore their advice. I love South America amd have serveral frens who speak spanish, so I began buying books and cd’s etc. It was a few days into listening to the disks that I relized, I dont want to learn spanish, its a beautiful language and it sounds wonderful and I want to travel to SA again soon but nope, not interested in actually learning it. For me I loved Italy, the people the sounds the smells and the language I love the language. So even though its more practical to learn spanish, I know Italian has 10x better chace of becoming my second language then spanish ever will. And who knows maybe after Italian, Spanish maybe has a chance. P.S Good luck in Brazil (just my guess!!!)

]]> By: Linda http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-7932 Linda Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:35:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-7932 Thanks for the honesty. I totally see your point. When I told my sister and friends I badly wanted to learn Italian they all all thought I was crazy. They suggested that I try Spanish instead because I'd have a better chance to use it. First of all I live in India so its rare that I will use either language but It was my dream to learn another the language so I figured, I should explore their advice. I love South America amd have serveral frens who speak spanish, so I began buying books and cd's etc. It was a few days into listening to the disks that I relized, I dont want to learn spanish, its a beautiful language and it sounds wonderful and I want to travel to SA again soon but nope, not interested in actually learning it. For me I loved Italy, the people the sounds the smells and the language I love the language. So even though its more practical to learn spanish, I know Italian has 10x better chace of becoming my second language then spanish ever will. And who knows maybe after Italian, Spanish maybe has a chance. P.S Good luck in Brazil (just my guess!!!) Thanks for the honesty. I totally see your point. When I told my sister and friends I badly wanted to learn Italian they all all thought I was crazy. They suggested that I try Spanish instead because I’d have a better chance to use it. First of all I live in India so its rare that I will use either language but It was my dream to learn another the language so I figured, I should explore their advice. I love South America amd have serveral frens who speak spanish, so I began buying books and cd’s etc. It was a few days into listening to the disks that I relized, I dont want to learn spanish, its a beautiful language and it sounds wonderful and I want to travel to SA again soon but nope, not interested in actually learning it. For me I loved Italy, the people the sounds the smells and the language I love the language. So even though its more practical to learn spanish, I know Italian has 10x better chace of becoming my second language then spanish ever will. And who knows maybe after Italian, Spanish maybe has a chance. P.S Good luck in Brazil (just my guess!!!)

]]> By: Bergino http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-1046 Bergino Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:19:15 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-1046 Via trimonata eksperimento konvinkis min ke MI povus lerni iun lingvon en unu jaro. Mi antaŭe neniam pensis tiel. Ĉu mia unujara eksperimento komenciĝas ĉi tiun jaron aŭ la venontan, mi ankoraŭ ne decidis. Via trimonata eksperimento konvinkis min ke MI povus lerni iun lingvon en unu jaro. Mi antaŭe neniam pensis tiel. Ĉu mia unujara eksperimento komenciĝas ĉi tiun jaron aŭ la venontan, mi ankoraŭ ne decidis.

]]> By: Bergino http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-7931 Bergino Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:19:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-7931 Via trimonata eksperimento konvinkis min ke MI povus lerni iun lingvon en unu jaro. Mi antaŭe neniam pensis tiel. Ĉu mia unujara eksperimento komenciĝas ĉi tiun jaron aŭ la venontan, mi ankoraŭ ne decidis. Via trimonata eksperimento konvinkis min ke MI povus lerni iun lingvon en unu jaro. Mi antaŭe neniam pensis tiel. Ĉu mia unujara eksperimento komenciĝas ĉi tiun jaron aŭ la venontan, mi ankoraŭ ne decidis.

]]> By: dzurisova http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-1044 dzurisova Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:20:57 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-1044 Well, I thought I would be bummed if you didn't make it. But you are just so darn likable, logical, and honest that I can't help but feel proud of you. In just 2 ½ short months, you’ve learned “pretty good Czech”, gathered a following of people, inspired us to throw away excuses, and taught us all some very useful tips in learning a language. Your humility allowed you to share your experiences – good and bad – with the world and your confidence keeps you going onto the next project. As far as I’m concerned you didn’t prove it could be done nor did you prove it couldn’t; but you sure accomplished a lot. Perhaps some other shmuck will come along and try the same objective and prove it for us – doubt it, but ya never know. Anyway, thanks for your willingness to put yourself out on the line before the internet world. After all, you could have tried it without saying a word to anyone. But you shared it with us and for that we are all grateful. :) Well, I thought I would be bummed if you didn’t make it. But you are just so darn likable, logical, and honest that I can’t help but feel proud of you. In just 2 ½ short months, you’ve learned “pretty good Czech”, gathered a following of people, inspired us to throw away excuses, and taught us all some very useful tips in learning a language. Your humility allowed you to share your experiences – good and bad – with the world and your confidence keeps you going onto the next project. As far as I’m concerned you didn’t prove it could be done nor did you prove it couldn’t; but you sure accomplished a lot. Perhaps some other shmuck will come along and try the same objective and prove it for us – doubt it, but ya never know. Anyway, thanks for your willingness to put yourself out on the line before the internet world. After all, you could have tried it without saying a word to anyone. But you shared it with us and for that we are all grateful. :)

]]> By: dzurisova http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-7930 dzurisova Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:20:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-7930 Well, I thought I would be bummed if you didn't make it. But you are just so darn likable, logical, and honest that I can't help but feel proud of you. In just 2 ½ short months, you’ve learned “pretty good Czech”, gathered a following of people, inspired us to throw away excuses, and taught us all some very useful tips in learning a language. Your humility allowed you to share your experiences – good and bad – with the world and your confidence keeps you going onto the next project. As far as I’m concerned you didn’t prove it could be done nor did you prove it couldn’t; but you sure accomplished a lot. Perhaps some other shmuck will come along and try the same objective and prove it for us – doubt it, but ya never know. Anyway, thanks for your willingness to put yourself out on the line before the internet world. After all, you could have tried it without saying a word to anyone. But you shared it with us and for that we are all grateful. :) Well, I thought I would be bummed if you didn’t make it. But you are just so darn likable, logical, and honest that I can’t help but feel proud of you. In just 2 ½ short months, you’ve learned “pretty good Czech”, gathered a following of people, inspired us to throw away excuses, and taught us all some very useful tips in learning a language. Your humility allowed you to share your experiences – good and bad – with the world and your confidence keeps you going onto the next project. As far as I’m concerned you didn’t prove it could be done nor did you prove it couldn’t; but you sure accomplished a lot. Perhaps some other shmuck will come along and try the same objective and prove it for us – doubt it, but ya never know. Anyway, thanks for your willingness to put yourself out on the line before the internet world. After all, you could have tried it without saying a word to anyone. But you shared it with us and for that we are all grateful. :)

]]> By: Matt http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-1040 Matt Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:09:19 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-1040 That's reassuring, thanks. Enjoy your well-earned 47 hour break! That’s reassuring, thanks.

Enjoy your well-earned 47 hour break!

]]> By: Matt http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-7929 Matt Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:09:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-7929 That's reassuring, thanks. Enjoy your well-earned 47 hour break! That’s reassuring, thanks.

Enjoy your well-earned 47 hour break!

]]> By: benny http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-1039 benny Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:00:59 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-1039 Sorry Keith, but those languages don't scare me! A language is only "difficult" if you keep telling yourself it is ;) I'll dive into a language whenever I feel like it and not wait until I'm "ready". Please don't hold yourself back with such unhelpful thoughts!! My next project won't be about a difficult language, but a difficult objective... Sorry Keith, but those languages don’t scare me! A language is only “difficult” if you keep telling yourself it is ;) I’ll dive into a language whenever I feel like it and not wait until I’m “ready”. Please don’t hold yourself back with such unhelpful thoughts!!
My next project won’t be about a difficult language, but a difficult objective…

]]> By: benny http://www.fluentin3months.com/hitting-a-brick-wall-in-your-language-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-7928 benny Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=495#comment-7928 Sorry Keith, but those languages don't scare me! A language is only "difficult" if you keep telling yourself it is ;) I'll dive into a language whenever I feel like it and not wait until I'm "ready". Please don't hold yourself back with such unhelpful thoughts!! My next project won't be about a difficult language, but a difficult objective... Sorry Keith, but those languages don’t scare me! A language is only “difficult” if you keep telling yourself it is ;) I’ll dive into a language whenever I feel like it and not wait until I’m “ready”. Please don’t hold yourself back with such unhelpful thoughts!!
My next project won’t be about a difficult language, but a difficult objective…

]]>