Comments on: Summary of month 1 in the mission to become Brazilian http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/ 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: Dmitry Makarov http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-3700 Dmitry Makarov Sun, 06 Dec 2009 04:52:40 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-3700 I have a similar experience in learning Spanish, but it was like learn or you will die as nobody around me knew anything about my native language or English or French... So, I had no choice... I have a similar experience in learning Spanish, but it was like learn or you will die as nobody around me knew anything about my native language or English or French… So, I had no choice…

]]> By: maria_teresa_araya http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-3697 maria_teresa_araya Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:55:09 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-3697 Hi Benny, I was born in Chile. When I was 5 years old my family and me had to go away because of coup d'état. We arrived in the Italian side of Switzerland. Until 8 years old I spoke Spanish, but after then I completely forgot it and never heard it. After 21 years I come back to Chile for a long holiday. I had to learn -or maybe remember- my own language and culture and way of thinking. I realised that this three things were deeply connected. I was really surprised when I realize that when walking in the street I was the only one who was asked to change dollars, even when I was not talking! How could they detect me? My aunt answered me: all about me was shouting "Gringa": the way of walking, the shape of my glasses's frame ecc. After some time (no idea how many, maybe three months!) I noticed that nobody was anymore asking me for dollars. One day I was with a friend in the street and I said "Look at that gringo", then I realized that I was perfectly able to detect them in the crowd! I was becoming Chilean again. I think you can do this, it's easier if you like the people, the culture and the society, you need to love them and accept them and they will change you enough for thinking you are native. Good luck with Brasilian and Brasilians! <br>Now I'm a couchsurfer and speak Italian, Spanish, French, English (CAE) and a bit of German. <br>Thanks for your blog! Hi Benny, I was born in Chile. When I was 5 years old my family and me had to go away because of coup d'état. We arrived in the Italian side of Switzerland. Until 8 years old I spoke Spanish, but after then I completely forgot it and never heard it. After 21 years I come back to Chile for a long holiday. I had to learn -or maybe remember- my own language and culture and way of thinking. I realised that this three things were deeply connected. I was really surprised when I realize that when walking in the street I was the only one who was asked to change dollars, even when I was not talking! How could they detect me? My aunt answered me: all about me was shouting “Gringa”: the way of walking, the shape of my glasses's frame ecc. After some time (no idea how many, maybe three months!) I noticed that nobody was anymore asking me for dollars. One day I was with a friend in the street and I said “Look at that gringo”, then I realized that I was perfectly able to detect them in the crowd! I was becoming Chilean again. I think you can do this, it's easier if you like the people, the culture and the society, you need to love them and accept them and they will change you enough for thinking you are native. Good luck with Brasilian and Brasilians!
Now I'm a couchsurfer and speak Italian, Spanish, French, English (CAE) and a bit of German.
Thanks for your blog!

]]> By: Patk http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-3192 Patk Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:37:03 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-3192 "What about you? Do you think it can be done? Has anyone else reached a similar objective? Am I crazy to even try?" On one hand, I think it is way too difficult. On the other hand, I did reach a similar objective without even trying. Despite not having spent any significant time in Italy, I see that people are constantly convinced that I am Italian. When I deny that, they conclude that I have Italian origins - which is not the case. The fact that I look like them is probably a decisive factor. Still I don't think that I have the body language at all, and I don't dress exactly like an Italian - but they might just think that I am kind of strange. After a few sentences I probably betray myself by making some mistake that shouts "foreigner" (or missing a well-known cultural reference) though. “What about you? Do you think it can be done? Has anyone else reached a similar objective? Am I crazy to even try?”

On one hand, I think it is way too difficult. On the other hand, I did reach a similar objective without even trying. Despite not having spent any significant time in Italy, I see that people are constantly convinced that I am Italian. When I deny that, they conclude that I have Italian origins – which is not the case.

The fact that I look like them is probably a decisive factor. Still I don’t think that I have the body language at all, and I don’t dress exactly like an Italian – but they might just think that I am kind of strange. After a few sentences I probably betray myself by making some mistake that shouts “foreigner” (or missing a well-known cultural reference) though.

]]> By: Patk http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8098 Patk Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:37:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-8098 "What about you? Do you think it can be done? Has anyone else reached a similar objective? Am I crazy to even try?" On one hand, I think it is way too difficult. On the other hand, I did reach a similar objective without even trying. Despite not having spent any significant time in Italy, I see that people are constantly convinced that I am Italian. When I deny that, they conclude that I have Italian origins - which is not the case. The fact that I look like them is probably a decisive factor. Still I don't think that I have the body language at all, and I don't dress exactly like an Italian - but they might just think that I am kind of strange. After a few sentences I probably betray myself by making some mistake that shouts "foreigner" (or missing a well-known cultural reference) though. “What about you? Do you think it can be done? Has anyone else reached a similar objective? Am I crazy to even try?”

On one hand, I think it is way too difficult. On the other hand, I did reach a similar objective without even trying. Despite not having spent any significant time in Italy, I see that people are constantly convinced that I am Italian. When I deny that, they conclude that I have Italian origins – which is not the case.

The fact that I look like them is probably a decisive factor. Still I don’t think that I have the body language at all, and I don’t dress exactly like an Italian – but they might just think that I am kind of strange. After a few sentences I probably betray myself by making some mistake that shouts “foreigner” (or missing a well-known cultural reference) though.

]]> By: benny http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-3126 benny Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:36:14 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-3126 mdr, merci pour tes "biographies" :P :P et merci pour l'encouragement !! Je comprends le problème de se conduire de façon asociale et introvertie. J'étais comme ça à Paris... ça dépende de la culture aussi que l'apprenant. Les brésiliens sont tellement sympa que c'est presque impossible être asociale ici :) Ça m'aide beaucoup !! mdr, merci pour tes “biographies” :P :P et merci pour l’encouragement !!
Je comprends le problème de se conduire de façon asociale et introvertie. J’étais comme ça à Paris… ça dépende de la culture aussi que l’apprenant. Les brésiliens sont tellement sympa que c’est presque impossible être asociale ici :) Ça m’aide beaucoup !!

]]> By: benny http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8097 benny Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:36:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-8097 mdr, merci pour tes "biographies" :P :P et merci pour l'encouragement !! Je comprends le problème de se conduire de façon asociale et introvertie. J'étais comme ça à Paris... ça dépende de la culture aussi que l'apprenant. Les brésiliens sont tellement sympa que c'est presque impossible être asociale ici :) Ça m'aide beaucoup !! mdr, merci pour tes “biographies” :P :P et merci pour l’encouragement !!
Je comprends le problème de se conduire de façon asociale et introvertie. J’étais comme ça à Paris… ça dépende de la culture aussi que l’apprenant. Les brésiliens sont tellement sympa que c’est presque impossible être asociale ici :) Ça m’aide beaucoup !!

]]> By: benny http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-3124 benny Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:24:55 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-3124 e ai gata? Valeu - vou te acompanhar à comunidade depois viu!? Bjs e ai gata? Valeu – vou te acompanhar à comunidade depois viu!?
Bjs

]]> By: benny http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8096 benny Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:24:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-8096 e ai gata? Valeu - vou te acompanhar à comunidade depois viu!? Bjs e ai gata? Valeu – vou te acompanhar à comunidade depois viu!?
Bjs

]]> By: benny http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-3123 benny Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:23:52 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-3123 Crepi!! I get asked that question a lot and will devote an entire post to it in November (you'll notice I've slowed down in post frequency; still catching up on work!!) I'm already fluent in Portuguese, but despite the name of this site fluency is NOT the end goal and people should not stop their progress when they reach it. I am learning a lot of amazing things about the steps to take after fluency and I'll share them in future posts! Crepi!! I get asked that question a lot and will devote an entire post to it in November (you’ll notice I’ve slowed down in post frequency; still catching up on work!!)
I’m already fluent in Portuguese, but despite the name of this site fluency is NOT the end goal and people should not stop their progress when they reach it. I am learning a lot of amazing things about the steps to take after fluency and I’ll share them in future posts!

]]> By: benny http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8095 benny Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:23:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-8095 Crepi!! I get asked that question a lot and will devote an entire post to it in November (you'll notice I've slowed down in post frequency; still catching up on work!!) I'm already fluent in Portuguese, but despite the name of this site fluency is NOT the end goal and people should not stop their progress when they reach it. I am learning a lot of amazing things about the steps to take after fluency and I'll share them in future posts! Crepi!! I get asked that question a lot and will devote an entire post to it in November (you’ll notice I’ve slowed down in post frequency; still catching up on work!!)
I’m already fluent in Portuguese, but despite the name of this site fluency is NOT the end goal and people should not stop their progress when they reach it. I am learning a lot of amazing things about the steps to take after fluency and I’ll share them in future posts!

]]> By: benny http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-3122 benny Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:22:04 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-3122 I'm so glad to see more people discovering my blog! I hope to read many comments from you in future Annette ;) Make sure to read through my recent posts for my best tips; I'll of course be giving plenty of others, as well as describing each of my language and travel adventures too! I’m so glad to see more people discovering my blog! I hope to read many comments from you in future Annette ;)
Make sure to read through my recent posts for my best tips; I’ll of course be giving plenty of others, as well as describing each of my language and travel adventures too!

]]> By: benny http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8094 benny Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:22:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-8094 I'm so glad to see more people discovering my blog! I hope to read many comments from you in future Annette ;) Make sure to read through my recent posts for my best tips; I'll of course be giving plenty of others, as well as describing each of my language and travel adventures too! I’m so glad to see more people discovering my blog! I hope to read many comments from you in future Annette ;)
Make sure to read through my recent posts for my best tips; I’ll of course be giving plenty of others, as well as describing each of my language and travel adventures too!

]]> By: benny http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-3121 benny Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:20:43 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-3121 I've discussed several of my learning methods on the site. If you are new here, please read the post <a href="http://www.fluentin3months.com/how-to-speak-a-language-pretty-well-starting-from-scratch-in-just-two-months/" rel="nofollow">summarising all the ideas</a> I talked about during the summer and click the links to specific posts that may help you (memory techniques, improving your outlook etc.) Otherwise, you are doing well if you are not speaking any English, but what is most important at your stage now is <b>getting feedback</b>. Corrections aren't so much fun in the early stages when we need confidence, but if you are already speaking, to be fluent and speak with much less mistakes you have to tell all your friends and the family you are staying with to help you speak better and tell you when you make mistakes. Luckily the French are generally very happy to do this and are proud of their language, and prefer for it to be spoken correctly. Good luck!!! I’ve discussed several of my learning methods on the site. If you are new here, please read the post summarising all the ideas I talked about during the summer and click the links to specific posts that may help you (memory techniques, improving your outlook etc.)
Otherwise, you are doing well if you are not speaking any English, but what is most important at your stage now is getting feedback. Corrections aren’t so much fun in the early stages when we need confidence, but if you are already speaking, to be fluent and speak with much less mistakes you have to tell all your friends and the family you are staying with to help you speak better and tell you when you make mistakes. Luckily the French are generally very happy to do this and are proud of their language, and prefer for it to be spoken correctly. Good luck!!!

]]> By: benny http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8093 benny Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-8093 I've discussed several of my learning methods on the site. If you are new here, please read the post <a href="http://www.fluentin3months.com/how-to-speak-a-language-pretty-well-starting-from-scratch-in-just-two-months/" rel="nofollow">summarising all the ideas</a> I talked about during the summer and click the links to specific posts that may help you (memory techniques, improving your outlook etc.) Otherwise, you are doing well if you are not speaking any English, but what is most important at your stage now is <b>getting feedback</b>. Corrections aren't so much fun in the early stages when we need confidence, but if you are already speaking, to be fluent and speak with much less mistakes you have to tell all your friends and the family you are staying with to help you speak better and tell you when you make mistakes. Luckily the French are generally very happy to do this and are proud of their language, and prefer for it to be spoken correctly. Good luck!!! I’ve discussed several of my learning methods on the site. If you are new here, please read the post summarising all the ideas I talked about during the summer and click the links to specific posts that may help you (memory techniques, improving your outlook etc.)
Otherwise, you are doing well if you are not speaking any English, but what is most important at your stage now is getting feedback. Corrections aren’t so much fun in the early stages when we need confidence, but if you are already speaking, to be fluent and speak with much less mistakes you have to tell all your friends and the family you are staying with to help you speak better and tell you when you make mistakes. Luckily the French are generally very happy to do this and are proud of their language, and prefer for it to be spoken correctly. Good luck!!!

]]> By: danielpoole http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-3114 danielpoole Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:10:18 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-3114 Hi Benny! Okay so I am in France on exchange (which means I'm living with a French family and going to lycée) and have 3 months left round abouts. I really want to achieve fluency in this time, I was wondering if you could please reply to this message and tell me how to go about this! I've already decided to speak no more English, and my French is about at conversational level and I am 16 if that means anything. Please help me out! Hi Benny!
Okay so I am in France on exchange (which means I’m living with a French family and going to lycée) and have 3 months left round abouts. I really want to achieve fluency in this time, I was wondering if you could please reply to this message and tell me how to go about this! I’ve already decided to speak no more English, and my French is about at conversational level and I am 16 if that means anything.

Please help me out!

]]> By: danielpoole http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8092 danielpoole Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:10:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-8092 Hi Benny! Okay so I am in France on exchange (which means I'm living with a French family and going to lycée) and have 3 months left round abouts. I really want to achieve fluency in this time, I was wondering if you could please reply to this message and tell me how to go about this! I've already decided to speak no more English, and my French is about at conversational level and I am 16 if that means anything. Please help me out! Hi Benny!
Okay so I am in France on exchange (which means I’m living with a French family and going to lycée) and have 3 months left round abouts. I really want to achieve fluency in this time, I was wondering if you could please reply to this message and tell me how to go about this! I’ve already decided to speak no more English, and my French is about at conversational level and I am 16 if that means anything.

Please help me out!

]]> By: Annette http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-3076 Annette Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:36:09 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-3076 Hi Benny! I just discovered your blog and Youtube channel about a week ago and I have to say that I find you very inspiring. I am also very interested in learning languages and am currently working on Italian. I am cheering you on in your current mission to become Brazilian in three months and I look forward to all your great tips for learning languages. All the best :) Hi Benny!

I just discovered your blog and Youtube channel about a week ago and I have to say that I find you very inspiring. I am also very interested in learning languages and am currently working on Italian. I am cheering you on in your current mission to become Brazilian in three months and I look forward to all your great tips for learning languages.

All the best :)

]]> By: Annette http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8091 Annette Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:36:00 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-8091 Hi Benny! I just discovered your blog and Youtube channel about a week ago and I have to say that I find you very inspiring. I am also very interested in learning languages and am currently working on Italian. I am cheering you on in your current mission to become Brazilian in three months and I look forward to all your great tips for learning languages. All the best :) Hi Benny!

I just discovered your blog and Youtube channel about a week ago and I have to say that I find you very inspiring. I am also very interested in learning languages and am currently working on Italian. I am cheering you on in your current mission to become Brazilian in three months and I look forward to all your great tips for learning languages.

All the best :)

]]> By: Tweets that mention Summary of month 1 in the mission to become Brazilian — Fluent in 3 months -- Topsy.com http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-3060 Tweets that mention Summary of month 1 in the mission to become Brazilian — Fluent in 3 months -- Topsy.com Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:11:52 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-3060 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by irishpolyglot and Georgo, Jessica Thomson. Jessica Thomson said: RT Yay! New post from @irishpolyglot on his blog, "Fluent in 3 Months". I love this blog! http://su.pr/5LnLXv [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by irishpolyglot and Georgo, Jessica Thomson. Jessica Thomson said: RT Yay! New post from @irishpolyglot on his blog, "Fluent in 3 Months". I love this blog! http://su.pr/5LnLXv [...]

]]> By: Elthyra http://www.fluentin3months.com/summary-of-brazilian-month-1/comment-page-1/#comment-3059 Elthyra Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:04:55 +0000 http://www.fluentin3months.com/?p=766#comment-3059 Bon je vais parler français cette fois :) Je pense que l'accent vient aussi beaucoup de la façon dont sont accentués les mots - par exemple mon accent français est très prononcé en anglais en partie parce que j'esaie de tout accentuer sur la dernière syllable, comme en français. Quant à ton objectif, personellement ça me semble possible~ Si tu es immergé dans la culture du pays, et que tu ne parles qu'avec des gens brésiliens, tu devrais assez vite adopter, au moins en partie, l'accent. Personnellement quand j'ai appris l'anglais je me conduisais de façon trèèèès asociale et introvertie, du coup en fin de compte j'ai assez peu parlé et je me retrouve toujours avec mon accent (oui, je raconte encore ma vie.) Bonne chance pour apprendre le portugais ! Bon je vais parler français cette fois :)
Je pense que l’accent vient aussi beaucoup de la façon dont sont accentués les mots – par exemple mon accent français est très prononcé en anglais en partie parce que j’esaie de tout accentuer sur la dernière syllable, comme en français. Quant à ton objectif, personellement ça me semble possible~ Si tu es immergé dans la culture du pays, et que tu ne parles qu’avec des gens brésiliens, tu devrais assez vite adopter, au moins en partie, l’accent. Personnellement quand j’ai appris l’anglais je me conduisais de façon trèèèès asociale et introvertie, du coup en fin de compte j’ai assez peu parlé et je me retrouve toujours avec mon accent (oui, je raconte encore ma vie.)
Bonne chance pour apprendre le portugais !

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