Comments on: Learning enough of the language to get by on the flight over http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-on-the-flight-over/ 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: Christopher http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-on-the-flight-over/comment-page-1/#comment-4853 Christopher Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:45:04 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=1437#comment-4853 I did this with Mallorquin when I visited Mallorca years ago. Not only did I impress my hosts with my enthusiasm for their language (increasing their hospitality in the bargain!), but it made my visit a dozen times more interesting and more fun. I just learned a few words and phrases on the way over, and every day I picked up about a dozen more things to say. I did this with Mallorquin when I visited Mallorca years ago. Not only did I impress my hosts with my enthusiasm for their language (increasing their hospitality in the bargain!), but it made my visit a dozen times more interesting and more fun. I just learned a few words and phrases on the way over, and every day I picked up about a dozen more things to say.

]]> By: Neil http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-on-the-flight-over/comment-page-1/#comment-4783 Neil Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:14:46 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=1437#comment-4783 I agree in the value of learning some of the language even if its just a little bit on the way over. I've been in a country where I picked up maybe 10-15 words/phrases and it was amazing how much further I could get with them compared to fellow tourists who had nothing but 'thank you'. I agree in the value of learning some of the language even if its just a little bit on the way over. I've been in a country where I picked up maybe 10-15 words/phrases and it was amazing how much further I could get with them compared to fellow tourists who had nothing but 'thank you'.

]]> By: Benny the Irish polyglot http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-on-the-flight-over/comment-page-1/#comment-4516 Benny the Irish polyglot Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:18:29 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=1437#comment-4516 Thanks for sharing! Thai is indeed a tonal language and has more tones than Chinese. Good luck with Spain and with next winter in Asia!! A belated happy new year to you too :) :) Thanks for sharing! Thai is indeed a tonal language and has more tones than Chinese. Good luck with Spain and with next winter in Asia!! A belated happy new year to you too :) :)

]]> By: Benny the Irish polyglot http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-on-the-flight-over/comment-page-1/#comment-4515 Benny the Irish polyglot Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:16:24 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=1437#comment-4515 From those I've talked to, I'd agree with Janna! Poles seem to find Czech "too different" and at the end of my two-months in last summer's mission, I could understand more spoken Czech than a Pole I was having lunch with!! (I imagine if he saw it written down it would be extremely different).<br>But Czechs have no problem understanding the Poles. It's curious, but I see the same easier-one-way-than-the-other phenomenon in other languages. Once I have a better understanding of Polish (one day), I may be able to explain why :P<br>BTW, at first glance, I'd say it's more like Portuguese and Italian rather than Portuguese and Spanish in terms of level of similarity. From those I've talked to, I'd agree with Janna! Poles seem to find Czech “too different” and at the end of my two-months in last summer's mission, I could understand more spoken Czech than a Pole I was having lunch with!! (I imagine if he saw it written down it would be extremely different).
But Czechs have no problem understanding the Poles. It's curious, but I see the same easier-one-way-than-the-other phenomenon in other languages. Once I have a better understanding of Polish (one day), I may be able to explain why :P
BTW, at first glance, I'd say it's more like Portuguese and Italian rather than Portuguese and Spanish in terms of level of similarity.

]]> By: Janna http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-on-the-flight-over/comment-page-1/#comment-4514 Janna Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:10:20 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=1437#comment-4514 I would say that Czech (my native language) is very closely related to Polish. The funny thing is that Czech people usually do understand what Poles say (even if they are speaking very fast), whereas Polish people usually cannot follow us :) I would say that Czech (my native language) is very closely related to Polish. The funny thing is that Czech people usually do understand what Poles say (even if they are speaking very fast), whereas Polish people usually cannot follow us :)

]]> By: Pak http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-on-the-flight-over/comment-page-1/#comment-4285 Pak Mon, 11 Jan 2010 03:50:36 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=1437#comment-4285 To me Czech is a kind of strangely-spelt, mispronounced Polish (the reverse is probably true for Czech speakers).<br>I think that if Benny pursued he would find roughly the same level of similarity as between Spanish and Portuguese, or maybe Portuguese and Italian. To me Czech is a kind of strangely-spelt, mispronounced Polish (the reverse is probably true for Czech speakers).
I think that if Benny pursued he would find roughly the same level of similarity as between Spanish and Portuguese, or maybe Portuguese and Italian.

]]> By: soultravelers3 http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-on-the-flight-over/comment-page-1/#comment-4269 soultravelers3 Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:39:06 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=1437#comment-4269 Excellent post & great ideas! <br><br>We found very few people in Poland spoke any English, so I was grateful that I knew some from childhood Polish-American friends ( Michigan has a huge Polish community). Our Spanish was a great help in Italy and Portugal, (less so in France) but of course totally useless in Poland & many other countries (especially off the tourist track).<br><br>Is Thai a tonal language like Chinese?<br><br>As we continue to master & immerse deeply in Spanish language & literature during our 4th winter in southern Spain, we're studying Mandarin Chinese to prepare for next winter's stay in Asia where our child will go to a Chinese school to immerse. (Yep, the kid wins the language race in our family due to a more pliable brain due to age and more exposure).<br><br>Enjoy your time in Asia & happy New Year! Excellent post & great ideas!

We found very few people in Poland spoke any English, so I was grateful that I knew some from childhood Polish-American friends ( Michigan has a huge Polish community). Our Spanish was a great help in Italy and Portugal, (less so in France) but of course totally useless in Poland & many other countries (especially off the tourist track).

Is Thai a tonal language like Chinese?

As we continue to master & immerse deeply in Spanish language & literature during our 4th winter in southern Spain, we're studying Mandarin Chinese to prepare for next winter's stay in Asia where our child will go to a Chinese school to immerse. (Yep, the kid wins the language race in our family due to a more pliable brain due to age and more exposure).

Enjoy your time in Asia & happy New Year!

]]> By: Benny the Irish polyglot http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-on-the-flight-over/comment-page-1/#comment-4235 Benny the Irish polyglot Sat, 09 Jan 2010 09:42:26 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=1437#comment-4235 Thanks for sharing Randy! Thanks for sharing Randy!

]]> By: Benny the Irish polyglot http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-on-the-flight-over/comment-page-1/#comment-4234 Benny the Irish polyglot Sat, 09 Jan 2010 09:41:56 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=1437#comment-4234 No techniques - I'm developing a technique with Thai symbols now that you could theoretically apply to IPA, but I just got used to it over time way back when I was learning Spanish. No techniques – I'm developing a technique with Thai symbols now that you could theoretically apply to IPA, but I just got used to it over time way back when I was learning Spanish.

]]> By: Benny the Irish polyglot http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-on-the-flight-over/comment-page-1/#comment-4233 Benny the Irish polyglot Sat, 09 Jan 2010 09:40:40 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=1437#comment-4233 I find the one at the back of guidebooks may not have phonetics associated with it. Otherwise it's definitely small enough to study!<br>Thanks for the world nomads link - I have my travel insurance through them, great company! Good to know they cover free MP3 courses too! I find the one at the back of guidebooks may not have phonetics associated with it. Otherwise it's definitely small enough to study!
Thanks for the world nomads link – I have my travel insurance through them, great company! Good to know they cover free MP3 courses too!

]]> By: Benny the Irish polyglot http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-on-the-flight-over/comment-page-1/#comment-4232 Benny the Irish polyglot Sat, 09 Jan 2010 09:39:09 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=1437#comment-4232 Yes! The way I get over jetlag extremely quickly is through siestas :) I tend to have them wherever I go. Sleeping twice a day lets you control your sleeping pattern much easier and gives you more free time since you need to sleep less time in total. So when I arrive in a country, after a few hours I can either have a quick nap or a long one, depending on the time of day it is in that country. My body will accept either one.<br>I plan on writing an entire post on how siestas have helped me, but quickly getting over jetlag is one advantage that comes to mind! I only ever sleep for 15-20 minutes when I do have one, and then about 5 hours at night time.<br>Thanks for the comment! Glad you are enjoying the blog ;) Yes! The way I get over jetlag extremely quickly is through siestas :) I tend to have them wherever I go. Sleeping twice a day lets you control your sleeping pattern much easier and gives you more free time since you need to sleep less time in total. So when I arrive in a country, after a few hours I can either have a quick nap or a long one, depending on the time of day it is in that country. My body will accept either one.
I plan on writing an entire post on how siestas have helped me, but quickly getting over jetlag is one advantage that comes to mind! I only ever sleep for 15-20 minutes when I do have one, and then about 5 hours at night time.
Thanks for the comment! Glad you are enjoying the blog ;)

]]> By: Randy http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-on-the-flight-over/comment-page-1/#comment-4217 Randy Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:34:13 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=1437#comment-4217 I, too, am a fan of the Lonely Planet phrasebooks as an excellent starting point. <br><br>Eventually, for any language I'm serious about learning, I try to find a Living Language course. I like the teaching style of their books and audio. Best language-learning value for the money.<br><br>Also, I like to find lots of music in the new language and fill my iPod, so that I'm always hearing the words even if I don't understand them. It helps me to reach that point where I can make out what's being said -- when a language stops being a big blur of sounds, and starts being a series of words, even if they're words I don't understand! :-) I, too, am a fan of the Lonely Planet phrasebooks as an excellent starting point.

Eventually, for any language I'm serious about learning, I try to find a Living Language course. I like the teaching style of their books and audio. Best language-learning value for the money.

Also, I like to find lots of music in the new language and fill my iPod, so that I'm always hearing the words even if I don't understand them. It helps me to reach that point where I can make out what's being said — when a language stops being a big blur of sounds, and starts being a series of words, even if they're words I don't understand! :-)

]]> By: Jonathan Mahoney http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-on-the-flight-over/comment-page-1/#comment-4215 Jonathan Mahoney Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:02:04 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=1437#comment-4215 What techniques have you used to learn the IPA? What techniques have you used to learn the IPA?

]]> By: Erin http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-on-the-flight-over/comment-page-1/#comment-4210 Erin Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:30:11 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=1437#comment-4210 Another very helpful post, thanks. I'll definitely try those tips in the future. Most guidebooks have a short language section at the back, to save having to buy a phrasebook as well if you aren't in a country for very long. <br><br>World Nomads also do free language podcasts in 23 languages that you can download to your mp3 player. They cover some phrases to get you started and it's always helpful to hear the language. Or you can pay a few dollars for the more detailed iphone app. See <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides/" rel="nofollow">http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides/</a> Another very helpful post, thanks. I'll definitely try those tips in the future. Most guidebooks have a short language section at the back, to save having to buy a phrasebook as well if you aren't in a country for very long.

World Nomads also do free language podcasts in 23 languages that you can download to your mp3 player. They cover some phrases to get you started and it's always helpful to hear the language. Or you can pay a few dollars for the more detailed iphone app. See http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides/

]]> By: Lauren http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-on-the-flight-over/comment-page-1/#comment-4209 Lauren Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:27:12 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=1437#comment-4209 Another great post, good luck on the Thai mission! I have a quick question/suggestion for a future post. It's not about language learning, but rather travel in general. I just got back to the U.S. after a two week stay in France and am having a hell of a time with the jet lag. Maybe you could write an entry about your experience/suggestions on how to quickly recover from international travel?? Thanks a lot, it's always a pleasure to read your blog. :) Another great post, good luck on the Thai mission! I have a quick question/suggestion for a future post. It's not about language learning, but rather travel in general. I just got back to the U.S. after a two week stay in France and am having a hell of a time with the jet lag. Maybe you could write an entry about your experience/suggestions on how to quickly recover from international travel?? Thanks a lot, it's always a pleasure to read your blog. :)

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