#but listening to this podcast as a not english native is... an experience

[geraiodli]

yayy mediocre litwtc fanart

Every time I hear them promote the come bag I draw it. There's a lot of little doodles of it in my sketchbook now...

Also Chris and Will look high because that's like the first time I draw them and im bad at this

[femmefatalevibe]

Hey, I love your account!❤️ I started my journey of being the highest version of myself. I wanted to ask some tips on how to be more intelligent and do you have some suggestions on podcasts, people you can follow that active on politics/history? English isn’t my native language.

Thanks! ❤️

Hi love! Thank you so much <333 I can't think of any specific podcasts/blogs at the moment, but sharing some other advice below. Bisous xx

Here are some of my tips:

Read books, articles, blogs, studies, and journals from credible & fact-checked sources

Watch & listen to evidence-based documentaries and podcasts

Take expert-backed courses and classes (from universities, industry leaders/certified organizations)

Attend forums/lectures from industry leaders museums, libraries, etc. (Virtually or in-person)

Talk to people in different fields and from different walks of life

Travel (globally, domestically, or locally), explore museums, parks, and stores in your area

Ask for feedback on your creative or skill-based projects and work; or insights from trusted people in your life on different situations in your life, from your past, or their greatest life lessons

Remain curious and diligent regarding your pursuit of knowledge. Live as a lifelong student

For emotional intelligence:

Embrace self-awareness & self-reflection: Observe how you feel, behave, and how people generally respond to your words/actions in different situations

Practice self-regulation: Learn to differentiate between your feelings and the actions that would be appropriate in a specific setting or interaction. Internalize that feelings are fleeting and non-factual. You're in control of how you respond/(don't) act on these emotions

Engage in active listening: Pay attention to what others are saying with the intent of understanding, not responding

Focus on emotional differentiation: Understand where your thoughts, feelings, intentions, and opinions end and another person's identity/perception begins

Display radical empathy and acceptance: Understand that almost all people's words and actions result from their own beliefs, past experiences, and current life circumstances/priorities. Put yourself in their shoes when attempting to understand their choices, behaviors, and times they come to you to discuss a problem, success, or major life decision. Accept that you can only control what you do. Very little of other people's actions/the world's workings are personal. Things are happening around you, not to you

Let go of your ego: View yourself as objectively as possible with the potential for improvement. Abolish any superior complex or overwhelming desire to prove your self-importance in others' lives and decisions

Remain open-minded: Question your own beliefs and opinions. Stay curious as to why you believe them to be true/authentic to you. Allow your opinions to change or have the capacity to modify your beliefs upon hearing new information. Understand your worldview and values are valid, but they're not definitively correct beliefs, just because they resonate/feel comfortable for you

Be receptive to feedback: Embrace constructive criticism as a self-improvement tool. Approach it with curiosity and optimism, not as a personal attack

Differentiate between your feelings and capabilities: Your thoughts are not facts. Remember you can do things you don't feel like doing most of the time (work, waking up in the morning, working out, etc.). Learn the difference between being a slave to your emotions and genuinely running out of energy

[tokidokitokyo]

Podcast Review: Tofugu

Podcast Title: Tofugu Podcast

Ease of Listening: ★★★★★

Length of Episodes: ★★★★☆

Level of Engagement: ★★★★★

Episode Frequency: ☆☆☆☆☆

Overall: ★★★★☆

Today I will be reviewing the Tofugu Podcast. I listened to the bulk of this podcast over the course of a few months. This podcast is created by the popular Tofugu website crew. It is in English mostly with a focus on Japanese language learning. (No, I am receiving no compensation for this review, I just wanted to share my opinion!)

Do I currently listen to this podcast?: Yes, I listen to this podcast when new episodes come out (but it's been a while).

General Overview

Good For Levels: Beginner | Intermediate | Advanced

In this podcast, native Japanese speakers pair with Japanese learners (all on the Tofugu staff) to discuss the Japanese language, Japan-specific experiences, and other topics relating to Japan. The earlier podcasts are a bit more "friends hanging out" vibe than the more recent ones, which have a more structured feeling. They both have their pros and cons, but I like the recent more structured podcast because I think they are well thought out and provide a lot of insight into the finer points of Japanese grammar, particles, and vocabulary whilst still being very interesting. The Japanese language podcasts are also often paired with a new Tofugu article, so there is an extra level of learning and review to be had with this series. The only things that lowered the overall score were the long lengths of episodes and the long wait time in between new podcast releases.

Ease of Listening ★★★★★

The podcasts flow well and the hosts communicate their points well. I wouldn't listen to this podcast whilst trying to do something that I'd have to think through, but it's good for a commute (which is when I mostly listen to it) or if you have some down time.

Length of Episodes ★★★★☆

The podcasts can be 30 minutes to an hour, and I usually listen to one during my commute, but if they are longer I'll have to break it up. I think it's a reasonable length, but if you are looking for something short and sweet this is not it. It never felt too long because I was engaged the entire time I was listening.

Level of Engagement ★★★★★

As an intermediate learner, I get a lot out of this podcast, but their in-depth explanations are good for beginners as well. Native speakers and Japanese learners have a loose script to base their discussion on a particular topic on, and the conversation style podcast with examples and quizzes makes it flow really well. I found myself continuously engaged for the full episode. The Japanese learners ask a lot of questions that I would have asked myself, and the chemistry amongst the hosts makes me keep listening even through the Wani-Kani ads.

Episode Frequency ☆☆☆☆☆

Podcasts aren't being released at the time I am writing this, so if you are looking for new material this isn't the place to look. The last podcast was released in April 2023, and before that they had one in December 2022, so it seems like they have slowed down on this. However, if you would like to listen to the episodes already released, you will learn from them and have a few months of material to go through.

Overall ★★★★☆

In general, I think this is a well-done podcast with a lot of useful information for both beginners and intermediate Japanese learners. It might be a bit mundane or simplified for advanced learners, but you might also pick up something you didn't know before! Unfortunately they don't seem to be releasing new podcasts, but I recommend listening to the old episodes to glean information on the Japanese language.

[musette22]

Minnie...so I finally got around to listening to Sebastian's episode of podcrushed.....I know I'm a couple of years behind but it's been on my list for a long time. I find Sebastian to be so intelligent. There are times when he stutters and I find that a lot of incredibly smart people do that because their thoughts are running faster than they can get the words out. I can imagine Sebastian's mind running a mile a minute and he's just racing to get the whole sentence out. He says so many poignant things in the episode and his view on life, especially the little bit of insight that we get into his teenage years is very interesting to listen to.

There's also a point where he talks about how it was for him coming to America and being very unsure of what to say because he didn't know English very well so he always wondered the kids were pulling his leg by trying to get him to say something embarrassing. I really do feel for him when he said that because I moved to England when I was around 13 and while I had studied English before that it was still my 2nd language and I was always afraid that the kids were making fun of me by saying things that I didn't understand. I really do feel a strange kinship with Sebastian when it comes to that. And ite very inspiring to hear him talk about how he became more comfortable with English but still spoke Romanian with his mother. I wonder if sometime he speaks slower because he's thinking in Romanian and is translating it in real time. I know that I still instinctually think in my native language and translate the words to English as I'm saying them.

Anyway...whatever Sebastian's journey might have been its very inspiring to a lot of us young people

Hello sweetheart! Thank you so much for your message ❤️ I'm so glad you finally got around to listening to Seb's podcrushed episode and that you enjoyed it so much! I think you're right, Seb is definitely very intelligent, and he's very insightful and astute too. It's always a pleasure to listen to him discussing his views on life and his profession, he always manages to say things that really make you think, doesn't he?

I'm glad you found the part where he talked about his teenage years so interesting! From the way he talks about that time of his life, it must've been a tough but also very educational time for him. I can absolutely see why you'd relate a lot to some of his experiences, growing up in a different country and culture than the one you were born in! I have a lot of respect for you both ❤️ I wonder if Seb still ever thinks in Romanian, I feel like I've heard him say that that's not the case, but maybe I've made that up 🤔 It definitely would make sense, though! Would be interesting to know. And yes, he is very inspiring, isn't he? 🙏🏻 I'm glad you loved this podcast, lovely! It's always so nice to hear from people with similar experiences to Sebastian.

[little-pup-prince]

Albert Wesker as a caregiver

♡ . . . . ♡ . . . . ♡

he thinks youre the only good thing that ever happened to him and will protect and cherish you a way that is unmatched

would really like you to live with him but if you cant or dont yet want to he is the most patient man alive

will answer your texts usually the moment you send them

and will listen to your voicemails and watch the pictures and videos you send him like a live feed/ podcast, no matter when or where

he has kids activity books in his car for you and you can watch movies there or listen and sing along so songs together while travelling

he definitely has a chaffeur but if youd like for only the two of you to be there, he can surely handle the driving

will buy you any toys you had but growing up lost somewhere or gave away if you would like

reminds you that while his favors of this nature are basically without limit you shouldnt compete with other kids on the size or worth of your toys because what really matters and will bring closure is how much you love them and take care of them

the comfiest, finest clothes for his baby only > he will love if you dress all colourful or if you choose monochrome clothes as well, as in one it just shows how you complete him and have all that purity he admires and will protect no matter what or you dress like him and he always appreciates a less-evil, mini him who is full of curiousity and wants to know everything about the world

would love to watch science shows made for kids and try out the experiments

if you are up to it he can show you one with similar mechanisms in bigger (only if you feel brave enough and you can hold his hand, as these ones can be scary)

also animal documentaries (that he totally checks beforehand to be totally safe for you), and later you can recreate the scenes either playing with plushies or with play-pretend as the animals yourselves

any cartoon or series you like he will watch

will have you cuddled up and probably you fall asleep on him very often. then he gently carries you to your bed

im sure he has t-shirts and hoodies from all the places he worked for. you can wear them of course as he really has no desire parading in something meant to show loyalty to the names on them. you can ask all about the different jobs he had and he will gladly tell you some funny stories from there

he definitely has a pool and a separate jacuzzi you can play in

probably made a bedroom and a playroom just for you in his home

downloaded games on his phone just for you, but you have your own as well

will read you any bedtime stories you want. the book was never published in english? no problem he will have it translated and printed so it will resemble to the one you had in days

will learn your native language if it isnt english and try his best to pronounce any terms of endearment you like to be called

goes easy on house rules occasionally, which is really a happy moment for you, and you can sleep on the couch and watch tv a little longer into the night

wont have rules on what you eat as he knows well relationship with food is different for everyone, but will offer you to make it into cute shapes and serve it to you on a kids plate or tray with patterns of your favourite cartoon on them

you can be as energetic around him as possible, him being infected with ouroboros protects him from everything

you are of course always safe from everything he works with, his lab at home too is secured, you cant accidentally wander in there

he understands if you dont like the outdoors or have special triggers and is very attentive of those

he decorates the fridge with your drawings and colored pages but he prefers them to be framed and put elsewhere as the kitchen can be a messy place

you can help him cook if you'd like. lets you eat a little of the raw cookie dough because he works with only the safest and best ingredients

which means he can get you anything you may miss in the country he is currently living in

helps you study if its what you do in little space

will help with little activities as well. carry boxes or toys for you that you find heavy or too far to move yourself, especially if youre very focused

will never question your choice of colours on a drawing or the way things you crafted are. if youd like to, you can tell him all about the idea behind them and he will listen intently and will tell you if its something he saw in fine art as well - he is always amazed when his little imitates something like that

will play with you if the game you like has co-op or multiplayer mode if you invite him

cheers on you and lets you progress in your own pace. (he probably played it before, if not read the guide so he can help immediately if you are lost and of course not to make the game accidentally progress)

[jojo-schmo]

Thought experiment

In Jambastian, they use the word Bonjam as a greeting. If we were to translate this to the FL language, would it be Bonjam written out with their characters, or would it just turn into hello or another similar greeting?

I’m super curious as to what other people’s takes are on this, because I am too sleep-deprived to analyze this well hahaha

The thing is Dreamland’s language is whatever country’s language the game is being played in. Which could be like dozens of possibilities, right? And the Forgotten Language is just English with different characters no matter where you play the game, I believe.

I guess you would just write Bonjam in the Latin Alphabet without using the FL’s special characters? Which if you spoke the FL language would be a lot like a native English speaker trying to read Sanskrit or Japanese characters for the first time….?

Idk man, Kirby lord just does whatever it wants and that what I like about it, hehe. There’s so many different possible interpretations of it but some little stuff like this I have to just hit the “I believe” button and walk away :P

Maybe I should start listening to some linguistics podcasts or something to broaden my horizons lol. Or just get more sleep :P

[wangxianficfinder]

Hii i have a question thats a bit off topic from the usual but since everyone here reads fics maybe i can ask. I would like to do fic podcasts on ao3 but english is not my native language... To anyone that listens to podcasts: how do you feel ab a slight accent in your listening experience? Should i go for it or not?

I personally don't mind accents and I know a lot of others don't either, and if they do, then they probably wouldn't listen anyway.

Honestly, I would say to just do it. If you wanna make Podfics, then make them. There will always be someone out there who says something rude/uncalled for, just ignore them as best you can.

Also, have you ever thought of also doing it in your native language, if its not English? I don't think I have seen many translated Podfics but that could be because I mostly read English. I guess that's a lot more work though huh I hope that doesn't sound rude in any way! 😅

I wish you luck with your Podfics ^^

If anyone wants to add anything, please do!

- Mod C

---

ananc1tes said: Everybody has an accent, anon, even native speakers :) there's not The One Accent that everyone in an English speaking country learns from birth. Some people will like your accent, and some people won't. It's just the nature of things. If you want to make a podfic, just give it a go :)

theladypeartree said: I was worried that doing podfics in my Australian accent would be off putting, but have had so many people reassure me that that is not the case. So I'll share what they said: It just puts a unique twist on the story! There are some bits you will be able to do better than other and vice versa, but that is down to the way the story is told, not accent or pronouciation. I think you should go for it, and good luck!!

flamingwell said: As a podficcer and podfic enjoyer, there are a TON of podficcers whose native language is not English, and many of my personal favorite podficcers are not native English speakers. If you're excited about podficcing, we'd love to have you! Also, if you do Discord and would be interested in a warm and welcoming podfic community on Discord, feel free to DM me for an invite.

[maddcactus-art]

Maybe if i go off anon? xD

I'm already going over The alphabet with Duolingo, listening to some podcasts For basics, but from My experience from learning English (my native language is spanish) its much easier to learn when You need to understand something intresting (like stuff You post in russian xD)

Heh, well, that's good and I do understand what you mean. Though, ironically, I'm not the best person to ask about content in russian (like books, series\cartoons, or comics), as I barely consume it myself. (Like, at the moment the latest thing I've watched was a chinese animation). I guess there's a bunch of Soviet animations (old cartoons of Soyuzmultfilm studio. Wikipedia has a list of their cartoons.) which you can look for. I bet they can be found on Youtube, maybe even translated. Some of those are worth watchnig. (I don't really like our recent animated films, so I don't suggest those. But maybe there are some good ones from Melnitsa Animation Studio. God, I hate their franchise with the Three Heroes %))) As for reading... I guess books are too much, unless you are down to read fairytales for kids (which are, to be fair, are pretty good) Maybe comicbooks }: ? We have a bunch of comics from Bubble Comics. (again, there's a list of comics that can be found on Wiki) I did like the Major Grom and Exlibrium series... I dunno if they can be found online though. But then again, I'm not sure if I can suggest anything specific, that will be helpful in learning the language.

[study-abroad-delhi]

Step-by-Step Guide to Taking the Michigan English Test

The Michigan English Test (MET) is a widely recognized standardized test that evaluates English language proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It is often used for academic, professional, or personal purposes, providing a comprehensive assessment of a candidate's English skills. If you're planning to take the MET, this step-by-step guide will help you understand the process and prepare effectively.

1. Understand the MET Format

The MET assesses English proficiency through a series of tasks in four sections:

Listening: Includes conversations, announcements, and lectures to evaluate comprehension.

Reading: Tests the ability to understand written English, including vocabulary and grammar.

Writing: Measures written communication skills through essay writing or structured tasks.

Speaking: Assesses oral communication skills via interactive speaking tasks.

2. Determine Your Purpose for Taking the MET

Before registering, clarify your goals. Are you taking the MET for academic admissions, employment opportunities, or personal growth? Knowing your objective helps tailor your preparation strategy and test focus.

3. Register for the MET

Visit the official Michigan Language Assessment website to find authorized test centers near you.

Choose a test date and location that suits your schedule.

Complete the registration process by filling out the necessary forms and paying the exam fee.

4. Gather Study Materials

The MET requires comprehensive preparation. Reliable resources include:

Official preparation materials from Michigan Language Assessment.

Practice tests to familiarize yourself with the question format.

Online tutorials and sample questions available on credible websites.

5. Enroll in a Coaching Program

If you want structured guidance, enrolling in a reputed coaching institute can make a significant difference. CPS Global in Delhi is one of the top choices for MET preparation. Known for its experienced trainers and customized study plans, CPS Global ensures you build the necessary skills to excel in all sections of the test.

6. Create a Study Plan

Organize your preparation to cover all sections systematically:

Dedicate time daily for listening and reading practice.

Work on writing tasks regularly to improve grammar and coherence.

Practice speaking with peers or mentors to gain confidence and fluency.

7. Take Practice Tests

Mock tests are crucial for success. They help you:

Familiarize yourself with the test structure.

Identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Manage time effectively during the actual exam.

8. Improve Your English Skills in Real-Life Scenarios

Beyond practice tests, immerse yourself in the language:

Watch English-language movies, podcasts, or news programs.

Read books, newspapers, and articles.

Engage in conversations with native or proficient English speakers.

9. Review Test Day Guidelines

Arrive at the test center well before the reporting time.

Bring required documents, such as an ID and confirmation slip.

Follow instructions provided by the test center staff.

10. Post-Test Steps

Receive your MET scores within a few weeks.

Interpret your scores based on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) levels provided.

Use your results for academic applications, professional certifications, or personal benchmarks.

Why Choose CPS Global for MET Preparation?

When it comes to excelling in the Michigan English Test, CPS Global in Delhi is the go-to institute. Here's why:

Expert Faculty: Highly skilled trainers with experience in MET coaching.

Comprehensive Study Material: Tailored resources for each section of the test.

Mock Tests and Feedback: Regular assessments to track progress and improve performance.

Flexible Classes: Options for online and in-person coaching to suit your schedule.

CPS Global ensures you approach the MET with confidence and a clear strategy.

Conclusion

The Michigan English Test is an excellent benchmark for English proficiency, opening doors to various opportunities. With a structured approach and expert guidance from CPS Global in Delhi, you can achieve your desired scores and take a step closer to your goals.

Start your MET preparation journey today and unlock global opportunities!

[nihonpathways]

5 Japanese Study Tips to Boost Your Learning Progress

Studying Japanese can be a rewarding journey, whether you're learning for travel, work, or personal interest. By adopting the right techniques, you can significantly enhance your learning efficiency and enjoyment. These five tips are perfect for self-studiers and those enrolled in formal classes, such as Japanese Courses in Singapore.

1. Use Flashcards to Master Vocabulary

Flashcards are a tried-and-true method for learning new words and phrases. Apps like Anki and Quizlet make it easy to create and review flashcards, helping you retain vocabulary through spaced repetition. Be sure to include words in hiragana, katakana, and kanji for a well-rounded approach.

Pro Tip: Add example sentences to your flashcards to understand how each word fits into context.

2. Immerse Yourself in Japanese Media

Consuming Japanese media is an enjoyable way to enhance your listening and comprehension skills. Watch anime, dramas, or movies with subtitles, or listen to Japanese music and podcasts. Not only will this expose you to everyday vocabulary and expressions, but it will also help you understand cultural nuances.

Pro Tip: Gradually switch from English subtitles to Japanese subtitles as your skills improve.

3. Practice Speaking with Native Speakers

Speaking regularly is key to improving fluency. Look for language exchange partners online or join local meetups. Platforms like HelloTalk and Tandem connect you with native speakers who can help you practice conversational Japanese.

For a more structured learning experience, consider enrolling in Classes in Japanese, where you’ll receive guided speaking practice and personalized feedback.

4. Break Down Kanji into Radicals

Kanji can seem overwhelming at first, but breaking each character into smaller components (radicals) makes them easier to learn and remember. Tools like WaniKani can help you build your kanji knowledge systematically, starting with the most common characters.

Pro Tip: Practice writing kanji by hand to reinforce memorization.

5. Set Clear and Achievable Goals

Setting specific goals keeps you motivated and focused. Whether it’s mastering 50 new words in a month or passing a particular level of the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test), having a clear target helps you track your progress.

Pro Tip: Pair your goals with a study schedule to stay consistent.

Conclusion

Learning Japanese efficiently requires a combination of smart study techniques and consistent practice. Whether you’re using flashcards, immersing yourself in Japanese media, or engaging with native speakers, these tips can help you make steady progress. For those seeking additional support, enrolling in Japanese Courses in Singapore provides the structure and expertise to accelerate your learning. Start today and watch your skills soar!

[maigamal]

A Practical Guide to Learning Fusha Arabic

Learning Fusha Arabic, or Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), can be a rewarding experience that opens up new doors for communication, cultural understanding, and academic exploration. Whether you're looking to engage with Arabic-speaking communities, read classical texts, or understand the Quran in its original form, Fusha Arabic provides a solid foundation. In this guide, we'll walk you through essential tips and resources to help you learn Fusha Arabic effectively.

Learning Fusha Arabic Comprehensive Guide: This is more than just a language learning guide. It’s about understanding the essence of Arabic, mastering its structure, and immersing yourself in its beauty.

Why Learn Fusha Arabic?

Fusha Arabic is the formal variety of Arabic that is used in the media, literature, and official contexts. Unlike regional dialects, which can vary significantly across different Arabic-speaking countries, Fusha is universally understood by Arabic speakers. This makes it especially useful for learners who want to connect with people from different parts of the Arab world.

Additionally, Fusha is the language of the Quran, and understanding it is essential for those interested in studying the Quranic text in its original form. If you're interested in delving into Arabic literature, history, or even religious studies, learning Fusha Arabic can be a powerful tool.

Steps to Learn Fusha Arabic

Start with the Basics Begin by familiarizing yourself with the Arabic alphabet and pronunciation. Arabic has a different script from English, so learning how to read and write the letters is crucial. Pay attention to the unique sounds of Arabic, which may not exist in English, such as the deep "ع" (Ain) and the harsh "ق" (Qaf).

Build a Strong Vocabulary Fusha Arabic has a rich and expansive vocabulary. Start with basic words and phrases used in daily communication, such as greetings, numbers, and simple expressions. Gradually, work your way to more complex vocabulary related to subjects that interest you, such as religion, history, or technology.

Learn Sentence Structure and Grammar Fusha Arabic sentence structure can be quite different from English. It is essential to learn the rules of subject-verb-object order, verb conjugations, noun cases, and other grammatical nuances. A strong grasp of grammar will help you construct sentences more naturally.

Practice Listening and Speaking Listening to native speakers is one of the best ways to get a feel for the language. You can find podcasts, news broadcasts, and YouTube channels that focus on Fusha Arabic. Repeating phrases and sentences will help you improve your pronunciation and fluency.

Read and Write Regularly Reading Arabic texts, whether news articles, books, or Quranic verses, is essential for improving your comprehension skills. Similarly, writing short essays or diary entries in Fusha Arabic will help reinforce your learning.

Use Language Learning Apps Several apps and websites offer Fusha Arabic courses. These can be great tools for beginners to intermediate learners, offering structured lessons that cover vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Popular apps include Duolingo, Memrise, and Babbel.

Join a Learning Community Engage with other learners by joining language exchange programs or online forums. Practicing with others can help you stay motivated and improve your conversational skills.

The Role of Quran and Arabic Learning Websites

If you're specifically interested in understanding the Quran in its original language, there are excellent resources available. Websites like Shaykhi are dedicated to teaching Arabic, especially Fusha, to help learners deepen their knowledge of the Quran. Shaykhi offers a structured approach to learning Arabic that caters to various levels of proficiency, from beginners to advanced students. It is a fantastic resource for those serious about mastering the language and connecting with the rich heritage of the Arab world.

Conclusion

Learning Fusha Arabic is an enriching journey that requires patience, practice, and dedication. Whether you're looking to engage with Arabic culture, communicate with native speakers, or study religious texts, the skills you gain will serve you well in many aspects of life. By following the steps outlined in this Learning Fusha Arabic Comprehensive Guide, you'll be on your way to mastering one of the most influential languages in the world.

For a more structured and immersive approach to learning, be sure to explore Arabic learning platforms like Shaykhi, which offers a comprehensive curriculum for those seeking to study Arabic in depth.

[lingthusiasm]

Transcript Episode 86: Revival, reggaeton, and rejecting unicorns - Basque interview with Itxaso Rodríguez-Ordóñez

This is a transcript for Lingthusiasm episode ‘Revival, reggaeton, and rejecting unicorns - Basque interview with Itxaso Rodríguez-Ordóñez'. It’s been lightly edited for readability. Listen to the episode here or wherever you get your podcasts. Links to studies mentioned and further reading can be found on the episode show notes page.

[Music]

Gretchen: Welcome to Lingthusiasm, a podcast that’s enthusiastic about linguistics! I’m Gretchen McCulloch. I’m here with Dr. Itxaso Rodríguez-Ordóñez who’s an Assistant Professor at California State University, Long Beach, USA, and a native speaker of Basque and Spanish. Today, we’re getting enthusiastic about new speakers and language revitalisation. But first, some announcements. Thank you to everyone who helped share Lingthusiasm with a friend or on social media for our seventh anniversary. We still have a few days left to fill out our Lingthusiasm listener’s survey for the year, so follow the link in the description to tell us more about what you’d like to see on the show and do some fun linguistics experiments. This month’s bonus episode was a special anniversary advice episode in which we answered some of your pressing linguistics questions including helping friends become less uptight about language, keeping up with interesting linguistics work from outside the structure of academia, and interacting with youth slang when you’re no longer as much of a youth. Go to patreon.com/lingthusiasm to get access to this bonus advice episode, many more bonus episodes, and to help keep the show running.

[Music]

Gretchen: Hello, Itxaso, welcome to the show!

Itxaso: Hi! It’s so good to be here. I feel so honoured because we use so many of your episodes in our linguistic courses. For me, being here is exciting.

Gretchen: Hello to Itxaso and also to Itxaso’s students who may be listening to this episode.

Itxaso: I dunno if I want them to find this episode, though. [Laughter]

Gretchen: They’re gonna find it. Let’s start with the question that we ask all of our guests, which is, “How did you get interested in linguistics?”

Itxaso: I feel like, for me, it was a little bit accidental – or at least, that’s how you felt at that time. I grew up in a household that we spoke Basque, but my grandparents didn’t speak Basque. My parents spoke it as non-native speakers. They were new speakers. They learnt it in adulthood, and they made me native. But I was told all my life, “You speak weird. You are different. You’re using this and that.” Later on, I was told that, “Oh, you’re so good at English. You should become an English teacher because you can make a lot of money.” And I thought, “Oh, yeah, well, that doesn’t sound bad.” When I went to undergrad, I started taking linguistic courses, and then I went on undergraduate study abroad thanks to a professor that we had at the university, Jon Franco. That’s where I realised, “Wait a minute. All of these things that I’ve been feeling about inadequate, they have an explanation.”

Gretchen: So, people were telling you that your Basque wasn’t good.

Itxaso: Yeah.

Gretchen: Even though you’re the hope and the fruition of all of this Basque language revitalisation. Your parents went to all this effort to learn Basque and teach you Basque, and yet someone’s telling you your Basque is bad.

Itxaso: Absolutely. You know, people wouldn’t tell you straight to your face, “Your Basque is really bad,” but there was all these very subtle ways of feeling about it, or they would correct you, and you were like, “Hmm, why do they correct it when the person next to me is using the same structure, but they don’t get corrected.” As a kid, I was sensitive to that, and then I realised, “Wow, there’re theories about this.”

Gretchen: That’s so exciting. It’s so nice to have “Other people have experienced this thing, and they’ve come up with a name and a label for what’s going on.”

Itxaso: It’s also interesting that as a kid I did also feel a little bit ashamed of my parents, who’re actually doing what language revitalisation wants to be done. You want to become active participants. But I remember when my parents would speak Basque to me, they had a different accent. They had a Spanish accent. I was like, “Ugh, whatever.” Sometimes it would cringe my ears; I have to admit that. As a kid, I was in these two worlds of, okay, I am proud and ashamed at the same time of what is happening.

Gretchen: And the other kids, when you were growing up, they were speaking Basque, too?

Itxaso: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I grew up in Gernika, right, and we have our own regional variety. I remember on the playground sometimes they would tell me, “Oh, you sound like the kids in the cartoons.”

Gretchen: So, you’re speaking this formal, standard Basque that your parents had learned as second language learners, and the other kids are still speaking the regional variety of Basque but hadn’t gone through the standardisation process and become the one that’s in the media.

Itxaso: Correct. My first variety was actually this standardised variety that nobody spoke when it was created in the ’60s. My parents learnt this in their 20s, and then that’s the variety that I was exposed to at home. But then you go in the street, and they’re like, “Oh, you sound like Doraemon,” because that’s what we watched.

Gretchen: The character in the cartoon, yeah.

Itxaso: Yeah, in the cartoon. It was like, “Oh, okay, do I? All right.” Then I started picking up the regional variety.

Gretchen: Right. You pick up the regional variety as well from the kids. Then what did your parents think of that if they think they’re speaking the fancy one?

Itxaso: Oh, my goodness. It was absolutely hilarious because my mom, she always thought that the Standard Basque is the correct way because that’s the one that you learnt in the school, so she did have this idea that literacy makes this language important. You know, for Basque revitalisation, that’s important. But I remember we were at home, and she would correct me because, for instance, as any spoken language, you would also shorten certain words. She would always say, “Oh, that’s not how you say it. You’re supposed to say this full word. You have to pronounce the entire word.” Then I said, “But Mom, everybody else uses this other variation,” especially with verbs, which are a little bit complicated, right. Then she would say, “Oh, Itxaso, you know what? I gave you this beautiful Basque, and then you went out to the school, and they ruined it all for you.” Then in order to come back, I would tell her, “Mom, but I am the native speaker here.” So, these tensions of who is right.

Gretchen: Who is the real Basque speaker, who is the best Basque speaker, and in this context where, in theory, your goals should be aligned because you’re all trying to revitalise Basque, and in theory, you all have the same goal, and yet, you’re getting criticism from different sides, and people are criticising different groups in this – but in theory, you have the same goals.

Itxaso: I think growing up in this paradox of I’m also criticising my mother, who actually, thanks to her, I get this language. In the revitalisation process, I think this negotiation is fascinating that you’re constantly being exposed to.

Gretchen: Constantly being exposed to all these different language ideologies around what is good, what is not good. You went to university, and you started encountering linguistic words for these experiences that you had. What were some of those words?

Itxaso: Some of these words I remember was this “standard language ideology,” that the idea or, in a way, that the standards are constructs that don’t exist. And I was thinking, “Wait a minute, in my language, we have a very clear standard.” We actually have a name for it. We call it “Unified Basque,” or “Euskara Batua.”

Gretchen: “Batua.”

Itxaso: “Batua” means “unified.” It’s associated with a kind of speaker. These are speakers that, like my parents, learned Basque through the schooling system, which today is actually the majority of the Basque-speaking population, at least on the Spanish side. “Standard language ideology” – I was thinking, “What is that? Oh, okay, it’s the thought that we have that these standards exist. How do I make sense of that?” I remember when I was in college, the term “heritage speaker” was thrown a lot.

Gretchen: “Heritage speaker” of Basque. Are you a “heritage speaker” of Basque?

Itxaso: I don’t consider myself a heritage speaker of Basque because – so I have Basque heritage, yes, and no. My dad’s side of the family is from Spain as well, but they also grew up in the Basque Country. This comes also with the last name. Do I have Basque heritage? Yes. But I think our connections with language are a little bit more complicated than the ethnicity per se. It’s like, we have this saying that says that it is Basque who speaks Basque. That was this poet, Joxean Artze, that we used to hear a lot during the revitalisation process. The question is, “What kind of Basque?”

Gretchen: Yeah, like, “Who is Basque enough to speak Basque?” And your parents speak Basque, but your grandparents didn’t speak Basque anymore, but if you go far enough back in your ancestry, somebody spoke Basque. But who counts –

Itxaso: But – yeah. My grandparents didn’t speak Basque. Their parents – maybe they had some knowledge. I dunno how far along. What we do know is that the region where my grandparents grew up in, Basque was already in the very advanced stages of language shift. Also, my grandparents were born in the civil war, so speaking Basque was probably not – it could get you killed.

Gretchen: Yeah. Which is a great reason to say, “Hey, you know what.”

Itxaso: Right. Then later on, this paradox is coming into play. As a 5-year-old kid, you’re not aware that your grandpa, you know, could have been killed if they spoke our language, but at the same time, my dad’s side of the family also was going through some kind of shame because he learnt the language as an adult, and he became in love with the language. This idea of heritage – do you need to be a heritage to be part of the language? It was a little more complicated than that. When I asked my mom, “Why do you learn the language?”, for her, she was always, “Because my identity now is complete.” But for my dad, it wasn’t the same reason.

Gretchen: Why did you dad learn Basque?

Itxaso: My dad learned Basque because after the dictator died, the revitalisation was very important, and there were a lot of jobs.

Gretchen: Ah, so just economic reasons.

Itxaso: For him, it was pure economics. Then, you know what, if I learn Basque, I’m gonna have more opportunities to have a government job, and a government job is a good job. Then after that, throughout the time, he actually became even more in love with the language, more invested in the revitalisation. He also did a lot of these – bertsolaritza is this oral poetry that we have. It has a very, very long oral tradition in the Basque Country. He read a lot of literature. He taught Basque in the school system. He was also invested in teaching Basque to immigrants as well because he felt like an immigrant himself as well.

Gretchen: And this question of who has Basque heritage, if you’re an immigrant to Basque Country, you are becoming part of that heritage as well.

Itxaso: Yes.

Gretchen: It’s an interesting example of how economic and social and cultural things can really work together for something, like, being able to get a job doing something can allow you to fall in love with it.

Itxaso: Yes, yes.

Gretchen: Or it can be hard to stay in love with something if there’s no way to support yourself while doing it.

Itxaso: Absolutely. I remember that he was always invested in these processes. I have to admit that – now I’m gonna be a little picky again because these ideologies sometimes don’t always fully go – you know, we still have these biases – my dad’s fluency and also competency became stronger and stronger, and then he started to also speak like locals, little by little.

Gretchen: Okay, you know, this standard, unified Basque – he’s like, “Well, maybe I’ll talk like the other local people.”

Itxaso: I remember that my mom was very clear, especially in the beginning – I dunno if she feels that way anymore – that the standard is the correct one. I don’t think my dad did have so many overt ideas about it. For him, in the beginning, it was instrumental, “It’s gonna give me a good job,” and then he fell in love. And then it’s like, “Now, I have to go to the richness” – sometimes he would say that – “of the dialects of the traditions.” But he didn’t have this heritage Basque. He was born in rural Spain, and his parents moved to the Basque Country for economic reasons.

Gretchen: And he sort of fell in love with it anyway. What’s it like for you – because you live in the US now – doing research with Basque and trying to stay in touch with your Basque identity despite not living in the Basque Country?

Itxaso: For me, I have to admit that, again, I came to the United States thinking that I’m going to be an English teacher when I come back. I said, “I’m gonna do my master’s, and then I’m gonna go back to the Basque Country, and I’m gonna teach English.” Uh-uh, no.

Gretchen: Okay.

Itxaso: I realised that the farther I am from home, the more I wanted to understand the processes or how I felt as a kid because I realised, “Wait a minute, I can find answers to the shame and pride that I had growing up.” I was also ashamed of my grandparents that they didn’t know Basque because when he would take me to the park, right, I knew that people would talk with him. I would just go, instead of him looking at me whether I am falling off from the swing, I was checking on him to see who was gonna talk with him because I was ready to do the translation work for him.

Gretchen: Oh, okay, if he can’t talk to the other parents or grandparents or whatever, then you’re like, “Oh, here, Grandad, let me translate for you.”

Itxaso: Yep. Then I remember that I’d think, “Hey, I’m teaching him Basque. He’s practicing, right?” Every Sunday he would come, you know, to our hometown and, before going to the park, I made him study Basque. He was so bad at it. Like, terrible at it. It was very hard for him, and he would tell me, “But Itxaso, why are you doing this to me? I didn’t even go to school.” I mean, he didn’t have much schooling even in Spanish. I said, “Don’t worry. If you’re Basque, you have to speak Basque.” Those were some of the – and I was 5 or 6. I was so happy, right. At the same time, I had this very strong attachment to him but also internalised shame that in my family intergenerational transmission was stopped. As a 5-year-old kid, you don’t understand civil war – yet. [Laughter]

Gretchen: I hope not.

Itxaso: When I went to graduate school, I realised, “Wait a minute, my teachers were correcting me all the time.” I had this internalised shame that exercised, right. I was told that sometimes I wasn’t Basque enough; sometimes I was being seen as a real Basque. So, what’s happening? This is when I realised that sociolinguistics, which is the field of study that I do, became very therapeutical to me.

Gretchen: You can work through your issues or your family issues and your language issues by giving them names and connecting them with other people who’ve had similar experiences like, “Oh, I’m not alone in having this shame and these feelings.”

Itxaso: Absolutely. And that there were many of us. There were a lot of Spanish speakers in my classroom who, maybe they didn’t have literacy in Spanish, or they had similar encounters of feelings, and I said, “Wait a minute, so we’re not that weird,” and understanding that, in fact, this is quite common. Or there were also speakers of other language revitalisation contexts that I thought, “Oh, wait a minute, I thought we were this isolate case,” and you’re thinking, “No, we have similar feelings of inadequacy, but at the same time, pride.” I used the world of linguistics in general to understand these patterns and also to heal in some way.

Gretchen: No, it’s important.

Itxaso: I almost had a little bit of a rebel attitude in some ways. For me, it was like, “Ha ha! I got you now!”

Gretchen: Like, “You don’t need to make me feel shame anymore because I have linguistics to fight you with!”

Itxaso: There we go! “And now, I’m gonna go back with my dissertation. I’m gonna make sure that you understand that YOU are the one wrong and not me, and that when you correct me, I am also judging you.”

Gretchen: Does it work very well to show people your dissertation and tell them that they’re wrong?

Itxaso: No. [Laughter] Absolutely not.

Gretchen: I was gonna say, if you said this was working, it’s like, “Wow! You’re the first person that I know who wrote a dissertation and everyone admitted that they were wrong.”

Itxaso: Yeah, but then you have this hope.

Gretchen: Yeah.

Itxaso: Then I realised, okay, well, this is my therapeutic portfolio, basically.

Gretchen: At least you know in your heart that you are valid. So, you don’t like the word “heritage speaker,” which I think “heritage speaker” does work for – we don’t wanna say, “No one is a heritage speaker” – but for you in your context, that doesn’t feel like it resonates with you. What is a term that resonates with you for your context?

Itxaso: For me, it resonates more – I consider myself a native speaker of Basque, or my first language is definitely Basque. We have a term for that in the Basque Country, “euskaldun zahar,” and it literally means – “euskal” means “Basque,” “dun” means that you have it, and “zahar” means “old.”

Gretchen: You have the “Old Basque.”

Itxaso: Yeah, you have the Old Basque, which is associated with the dialects or the regional varieties. It has nothing to do with age.

Gretchen: Okay. You’re not an old Basque speaker as in you’re a senior citizen with grey hair, you’re a speaker of Old Basque.”

Itxaso: Mm-hmm.

Gretchen: Compared to a “New Basque” speaker?

Itxaso: There we go. Mm-hmm. A New Basque speaker, right, which we also have a Basque term for that, right, it actually means that you started it in more new times, which for us is associated with the revitalisation.

Gretchen: That’s like your parents.

Itxaso: Exactly. My parents consider themselves “new” speakers of Basque, and the Basque word for that is “euskaldun berri.”

Gretchen: “euskaldun berri.” So, this is “speaker of New Basque” or – and the idea of someone being a new speaker of a revitalised language in general where you learned it in adulthood and maybe you’re trying to pass it onto your kids and give them the opportunities they didn’t have, but you have these challenges that are unique to new speakers.

Itxaso: Absolutely. And oftentimes has to do with the idea of how authentic you are. This is something that is being negotiated, right – these negotiations we’re having in our household. When my mom said, “I know the correct Basque,” and I would basically implicitly tell her, when I was telling her, “But I know the authentic one.” Because of that, those similarly wider ideologies, right, this is how my parents also, little by little, they were able to sprinkle their Standard Basque with some regional “flavour,” as we call it, right. They would change their verbs, and they would start sounding more like the regional dialects.

Gretchen: Are there different contexts in which people tend to use the Standard Basque versus the older Basque varieties, like either formal or informal contexts, writing, speaking, like, official contexts or intimate contexts? Are there some differences, sociolinguistically, in terms of how they get used?

Itxaso: Yeah. For somebody that, for instance, I consider myself also bi-dialectal in Basque in the sense that I speak the regional variety now even if my first variety was actually the standard. I use the Standard Basque to write. But that is only part of the mess or the beauty or the complexification because those people that started learning Standard Basque in the school, sometimes, they might feel that their standard is too rigid to be able to have these informal conversations. One of the things that a lot of new speakers of Basque are doing is, in fact, creating language.

Gretchen: To create an informal version of the standard. Because it’s one thing to speak it in a classroom or something, but if you’re going to go marry someone and raise children in this and you wanna be able to have arguments or tell someone you love them or this sort of stuff maybe this thing that’s very classroom associated is too fancy-feeling for that context.

Itxaso: The same way that they don’t wanna sound like the kids in the cartoons, like Doraemon, for instance. [Laughter]

Gretchen: That’s not how real people sound.

Itxaso: Knowing that a standard was necessary for our survival, for the language to survive, at least during those times, but at the same time, we need to get out of this rigidity that this standard might give us. The new speakers in many ways are the engineers of the language.

Gretchen: The original creation of Standard Basque in the 1980s was taking from all of these different regional varieties and coming up with a version that could be written, and you could have one Basque curriculum that all of the schools could use rather than each region trying to come up with its own curriculum, which is logistically challenging.

Itxaso: Absolutely. The Standard Basque was created, finally, in 1968, and little by little being introduced in the educational purposes. And the education in the ’80s, too, is when [exploding noise] bilingual schools skyrocketed, and the immersion programme became the most common one.

Gretchen: And this is immersion for kids, for adults, for everybody?

Itxaso: For kids. You start with kindergarten or, I dunno the terms here in the US, but 2- or 3-years-old, all throughout university. Of course, that went through different stages. Of course, there’s some degrees in university that might not be fully taught in Basque, but overall, little by little, I mean, in the past four years, a lot of that has been done.

Gretchen: What’s it like for you now going back to the Basque Country being like, “Wow, revitalisation is done. It’s complete. Everything is accomplished. We have nothing to worry about anymore.” Is this the case?

Itxaso: Absolutely not. There’s still debates going on. One of the big debates that have been talked – so we have sociolinguistic surveys that we wanna measure how successful is this standard, and what does that even mean. All the people who learned Basque in the schools, like my parents, are they actually using the language all the time? Or even if you grew up speaking Basque. The reality is that Basque revitalisation has been very successful in creating bilinguals. Most of the population, if you are 40 or younger – especially here I’m talking about the Basque Country in the Spanish side because the French side does not have the same governmental support that we do. The answer is that some surveys show that Basque is not as spoken as it is acquired.

Gretchen: People learn it in the schools in the immersion programmes, but then, the kids are playing on the playground, maybe they’re not using it as much, or you’re going into a store, and you’re buying some milk or something, and you’re not necessarily using Basque for these day-to-day interactions.

Itxaso: Correct. I remember when I was doing my own fieldwork and collecting data for my dissertation, I remember that I would ask people from the city because this is where the revitalisation was most impactful because this is where Basque was least spoken before the standard was implemented. That was a – oh, my goodness. There is this saying that we have that Basque is being used with children and dogs.

Gretchen: Okay. [Laughter]

Itxaso: And then I started to notice – and, you know, my sister, she uses Basque with her friends, but at home, she would use a lot of Basque with the dog that she got a few years ago. I was so surprised because then our interactions back home become more Spanish-dominant with time. I was like, “Oh, my goodness. Is this true?” I started to notice. In fact, some adults that would talk Basque to their children but also to the dogs, but later on, a lot of the adult interactions.

Gretchen: But then when you grow up, you use Spanish. You have this ideology of “Okay, well, it’s important for children to have Basque, but then you grow up and you put it away,” which doesn’t sound that great.

Itxaso: Meaning that the normalisation of Basque, it hasn’t started.

Gretchen: It has succeeded at some level, yeah.

Itxaso: Absolutely. But the work is not completely done yet. I don’t think it’s ever gonna be – I mean, when I say it’s never gonna done meaning that you always have new processes or new challenges. One thing that I did notice – so the last sociolinguistics survey showed two very interesting trends in the opposite direction. The first one was that new speakers, and especially young new speakers from the city, they’re starting to embrace Basque in their daily life interactions. They’re adopting the language and using it and engineering it and making it more informal. In fact, we have different standard Basques that are starting to emerge in one city, in Bilbao. Another one might be emerging in Vitoria-Gasteiz, which is the capital. And the other one – San Sebastián. There’s still a standard but with some flavours. People are documenting that. The other one is that in certain Basque-speaking regions or traditional speaking regions like my hometown, for instance, that the use of Basque among teenagers has actually dropped a little bit – slightly. I have noticed that, too, when I go back. I was thinking, “Why would that be? Why is it that teenagers might see” –

Gretchen: You have to think that Basque is cool as a teenager.

Itxaso: Exactly. I also noticed different kinds of trends. When I grew up in the ’90s, during my rebel times, we loved punk. We loved rock.

Gretchen: Was there Basque music in rock and punk and this sort of stuff?

Itxaso: Oh, my goodness, Berri Txarrak, which translates to “bad news.”

Gretchen: We should link to some Basque music in the shownotes so people can listen to it if they want.

Itxaso: We loved it. Little by little, more soft rock became more popular. This is still popular. But I noticed in the past five years or so that reggaetón is –

Gretchen: The young people are listening to reggaetón. Is there reggaetón in Basque?

Itxaso: That’s what we need, I think.

Gretchen: Okay. If there’re any reggaetón artists who are listening to this, and you speak Basque, this is your project.

Itxaso: I’m like – maybe there is. I’m not a big fan of reggaetón.

Gretchen: But it’s what the young people want. It’s not about you anymore.

Itxaso: Exactly. I do wanna hear some Basque – I know there is feminist reggaetón, but I haven’t heard Basque reggaetón as much.

Gretchen: Maybe someone will tell us about it.

Itxaso: Maybe it’s time to adjust to –

Gretchen: And to keep adapting because it’s not just like, “Oh, we have this one vision of what Basque culture looked like in the past, and you have to be connected to that thing specifically,” it’s that it evolves because it’s a living culture with what else is going on in the world.

Itxaso: Absolutely. This is where the making of what it means to be a speaker of a minority language also comes into play. I know that in many Indigenous language revitalisation processes hip hop music has been extremely important in the process of language revitalisation. Maybe we do need some Basque reggaetón.

Gretchen: All right. Sounds good. I’m sold. Basque is famous among linguists as being a language that’s spoken in Europe but that’s not ancestrally related to any of the other Indo-European languages. This makes it famous, but also, I dunno, how does this make you feel?

Itxaso: Aye yae yae yae yae. It makes me feel good and bad at the same time because it’s like, “Oh, you know about Basque? That’s awesome!”, but then, “Oh, we’re being told that this is what you know about Basque,” which is this “exotic” language, and I’m like, “No, no.” That’s the part that I’m like, “No, we’re normal, too.”

Gretchen: “We’re also just people who’re speaking a language trying to go about our lives.” It also has things that are in common with other language revitalisation contexts – I’m thinking of Gaelic and Irish in Scotland and Ireland and lots of Indigenous language contexts in the Americas, in Australia. There’s so many different places where there’s a language that’s been oppressed, and it’s hard to say what is Indigenous in the Spain-France context, but definitely big governments have said, “Oh, you should all be speaking Spanish,” “You should all be speaking French,” and you have to struggle to make this something that is recognised and funded and important and prestigious and all of this stuff.

Itxaso: Absolutely. And for the first time in the history of the Basque language, now we are considered a “modern” language – another stereotype that oftentimes – “Oh, you are such an old language!” And I’m thinking, “But we speak it today.”

Gretchen: It’s not only ancient speakers. There’s still modern people speaking Basque.

Itxaso: Yes, and we have a future. We can do Twitter. We can do Facebook. We can do social media.

Gretchen: You can do Reggaetón.

Itxaso: Reggaetón in Basque. We can do a lot of things in Basque. People associate us oftentimes with these ancient times from the lands of the Pyrenees and caves. I’m like, “Great.”

Gretchen: But you’re not living in caves now.

Itxaso: Exactly. And when they tell us, “Oh, you are this unique language and so weird,” and I’m like, “We’re not weird. We’re unique like any other language, but we also have similar processes.”

Gretchen: Ultimately, every language is descended from – like, languages are always created in contact with other people, so there’s this ancestral descendant from whatever people were speaking 100,000 years ago that we have no records of. Everything is ultimately connected to all of the other humans, even if we aren’t capable of currently tracing those relationships with what we have access to right now.

Itxaso: Even within among linguists, right, it has been debated – Basque has been compared to possibly every language family out there. Even Basque people, “Oh, we found a connection! Maybe we are connected to the languages of the Caucasus.” All Basque linguists just roll their eyes thinking, “Here we go again.”

Gretchen: “Here’s another one.”

Itxaso: This idea of also looking at the past has been very important to understand our existence, but also it’s important to understand that we have a future, and that one is going to form the other in many ways. When they say, “Oh, where is Basque coming from?”, I’m like, “I dunno if we’re ever gonna find that out.”

Gretchen: I dunno if that’s the most interesting question that we could be asking because it’s hard to have fossils of a language. Writing systems only go back so far, and the languages being spoken and signed much, much earlier than that, we just don’t know because they don’t leave physical traces in the air.

Itxaso: What is fascinating is that, so recently, there has been some evidence – they found some remains that, in fact, Basque was written before the standard or before when we thought. Initially, we know that the first Basque writings were names in tombs, in graveyards. Now, we actually have some evidence – or at least they found some evidence – that Basque might have been used for written purposes also and that the Iberian writing system was used for that. They’re still trying to decode.

Gretchen: Maybe we could link to a little bit of what that looks like if there’s some of that online, too.

Itxaso: It looks like a hand. The text looks like a hand, and there’re five words there. They have only been able to decode one word.

Gretchen: But they think that word is Basque?

Itxaso: Yes.

Gretchen: Cool.

Itxaso: We will see. I mean, stay tuned.

Gretchen: Further adventures in Basque archaeology, yeah.

Itxaso: Even for Basque people that is actually really exciting. That’s where the part of like, “Oh, maybe we know where we come from!” We’re like, “We actually come from maybe there,” or I dunno, does that make my dad less Basque for that?

Gretchen: And does that make the new speakers less valid? But it’s still kind of cool to find out about your history.

Itxaso: Yes, and that this history’s so complex. It’s also entrenched in our real life today. It’s still important to us in some ways.

Gretchen: You also co-wrote a paper that I think has a really great title, and I’d love you to tell me about the contents of the paper as well. It has a very interesting topic. It’s called, “Bilingualism with minority languages: Why searching for unicorn language users does not move us forward.” What do you mean by a “unicorn language user”?

Itxaso: Well, first of all, I have to admit that this title was by the first author, Evelina. I mean, amazing. What we mean by “unicorn language users” is that when we study languages, or when we think of people who speak languages, there is that stereotypical image that comes to our mind, and it oftentimes has to be, “Oh, maybe a fluent speaker or a native speaker.” But what does that even mean in a minority language context where language transmission has been stopped and then back regained in a completely different way? Then you also have these ways of thinking from the past intermingled with the modern reality. Who is a Basque speaker?

Gretchen: Right. Is it true that basically every Basque speaker at this point is bilingual?

Itxaso: Absolutely. When you do research with Basque, and with many minority languages, you have to do it in a multilingual way of thinking because if there is a minority, it’s for a reason.

Gretchen: You can’t find this unicorn Basque speaker who’s a monolingual you can compare to your unicorn Spanish monolingual – well, there are Spanish monolingual speakers – but trying to have this direct comparison is not something that’s gonna be realistic. Your co-authors of this paper are speakers of Galician and Catalan –

Itxaso: Also, Greek.

Gretchen: And also, Greek!

Itxaso: Cypriot Greek.

Gretchen: Cypriot Greek – who have had similar experiences with being – we’re not saying “heritage speakers” – but being speakers that have connected to multiple bilingual experiences.

Itxaso: Minorities, right. It all unites us because all of us had some experience that was within Spain. Either we grew up or we live in the nation state of Spain. What was interesting is that, as we were discussing this paper, all of us had slightly different experiences as users of minority languages. In Catalan or in Galician or Basque and also Cypriot Greek. I said, “How can we understand all of these complex or slightly different ways of experiencing” – and our experiences have also changed throughout our lives. How is it that we use the language – what associations we have, what the language means to us, or the languages mean to us, what kind of multi-lingual practices we actually engage in. At the same time, I remember that in the paper we also reflected a little bit on how we also engaged in our research in these unicorn searches in the beginning and how to unlearn that.

Gretchen: Because when you’re first trying to write a paper about Basque, and you’re saying, “Okay, I’m gonna interview these Basque speakers, and I’ve got to find people who are the closest to monolingual that I can,” or who embody these sort of, “They learned this language before a certain age,” because your professors or the reviewers for the paper or the journals – what you think people want or these studies that you’ve been exposed to already have this very specific idea of what a speaker is or a language user – because we wanna include signers and stuff as well – what exactly someone is to know a language compared to the reality of what’s going on on the ground which is much more complex than that.

Itxaso: Absolutely. I feel like we have to self-reflect onto how is it that we’re representing and doing research – or the issue of representation becomes really, really, really important. What is it that we’re describing, what is it that we’re explaining, how are we doing it. Sometimes, there’re power dynamics within this knowledge in the field. When you wanna publish a paper in a top journal, there’s certain practices.

Gretchen: And they wanna have a monolingual control group. “Oh, you’ve got to compare everything to English speakers or to Spanish speakers because they’re big languages we’ve heard of.” Like, “Can’t I just write about Basque because there’re lots of papers that are only about English or only about Spanish? Why can’t there be papers only about Basque?”

Itxaso: Exactly. And you are thinking, “Wait a minute, I can’t find a Basque monolingual.” Maybe they exist, but they’re not readily, either, available, or it’s not common –

Gretchen: In a cave somewhere.

Itxaso: Right. We’re like, “Okay, well” – exactly. Or maybe they do live monolingually.

Gretchen: Yeah, but they still have some exposure to Spanish even though most of their life they’re in Basque. And going and finding this 1% of speakers who managed to live this monolingual life – how well is that really representing a typical Basque experience or a breadth of experiences with the language, which, most of which have some level of multilingualism?

Itxaso: Correct. We as researchers sometimes have to pick. When we make those decisions, we sometimes do not make those decisions consciously because a lot of those questions might come from the field. But then this paper also allowed us to reflect on also thinking, “Why is it that I have to put up with this? This is not working properly and describing things that matter to us” – and matter to us as a community, not only as researchers. Why is it that my parents’ varieties do not get represented that well? Why is it that other participants do not make it to the experiment because they get excluded on the basis of just, oh, literacy, and things like that, which becomes a sticking point as well. Who is a unicorn? Well, clearly there are no unicorns. There are many unicorns.

Gretchen: Sometimes, I think that there’s an idea that being, say, a bilingual speaker is like being two monolingual speakers in a trench coat. The thing that you’re looking for, this unicorn-balanced bilingual of someone who uses their languages in all contexts and is completely “fluent” – whatever we mean by that – in all contexts when, in reality, many people who live bilingual or multilingual lives have some language they use with their family or some language they use at the workplace or in public or that they’re reading more or that they’re consuming media in more. They have different contexts in which they use different languages.

Itxaso: Compartmentalisation is very important but not full compartmentalisation either. There’s gonna be a lot of different overlaps – and so many different experiences. Another thing is that I think doing research with new speakers is important is because those experiences may change from year to year.

Gretchen: Your parents’ cohort of new speakers compared to new speakers who are teenagers now – they’re gonna have very different experiences.

Itxaso: Or maybe a new speaker when they are teenagers versus when they’re in the labour market versus when –

Gretchen: They’re having kids or they’re grandparents or something are gonna have very different experiences even throughout the course of their lives.

Itxaso: Even myself, me as a Basque speaker, my way of speaking has also changed or the way I adapt. One of the challenges in the Basque Country has been “What are the processes – or how is it that they decide, ‘I’m gonna speak the language’?” It’s a continuation. This adoption of the language, you don’t fully, suddenly adopt it.

Gretchen: You don’t adopt it and then that’s all, you’re only speaking Basque from now on. It’s a decision that you’re making every day, “Am I gonna speak Basque in this context? Am I gonna keep using it?”

Itxaso: You negotiate that because, obviously, when you speak a minority language, you’re gonna be reminded that certain challenges might come on the way. Some new speakers might like to be corrected, but some might not.

Gretchen: So, how do you negotiate “Are you gonna correct this person?” “Are you not gonna correct this person?” “Can you ask for correction?” What do you want out of that situation?

Itxaso: Some new speakers, they might want to also sound like regional dialects or older dialects, but some others might not. They create other ways to authenticate themselves and to invest in the language and to invest in the practices that come with it. Each person is unique at the individual level, but then at the collective level, things happen, too. Understanding those is very, very, very, very important.

Gretchen: The balance between the language in an individual and also a language in the community or in a collective group of people who know a language – both of those things existing. We’ve talked a lot about new speakers of Basque. Are there also heritage speakers in the Basque context?

Itxaso: There are. In fact, they do exist. The question is, “Who would these people be?” These people could actually be people that grew up speaking Basque at home but maybe, during the dictatorship, they didn’t have access to the schooling in Basque, so they might not have literacy skills in Basque – so older generations.

Gretchen: They might have things that are in common with heritage speakers. The way that I’ve heard “heritage speakers” get talked about in the Canadian or North American context is often through immigrants. Your parents immigrate from somewhere, and then the kids grow up speaking the parents’ language but also the broader community language and that parents’ language as a heritage language. That still happens in Basque; it’s just that wasn’t your experience in Basque, so you wanna have a distinction between heritage and new speakers.

Itxaso: It’s also true that sometimes if we focus too much on the new speakers, we actually also forget describing the experiences of these individuals that we might consider from the literature as heritage speakers because they don’t use this term for themselves.

Gretchen: The heritage speakers don’t use it for themselves?

Itxaso: Yeah. Or the Basque people that say, “I am just a Basque speaker” or a “traditional Basque speaker” but in a different way. They usually say, “But I don’t do the standard.”

Gretchen: “I’m not very good.”

Itxaso: Sometimes, they think that their Basque is not good enough because they don’t have that literacy.

Gretchen: Or they might be able to understand more than they can talk, sometimes happens to people.

Itxaso: Yeah, sometimes it can happen. Or they talk very fluently, but then they say, “I don’t understand the news,” because they’re in the Standard.

Gretchen: Finally, if you could leave people knowing one thing about linguistics, whether Basque-specific or not, what would that be?

Itxaso: I think that – oof, that’s a loaded question, I love it. For me, I would say linguistics is rebellion. Linguistics is therapy. Linguistics is healing. A linguist is the future. [Laughs] And minority languages have a lot to show about that. In this case, it’s Basque – or for me it’s Basque because I’m intimately related to Basque – but those are the key aspects that I would say that you can do therapy through linguistics.

Gretchen: Linguistics is therapy. Linguistics is rebellion. I love it. That’s so great.

[Music]

Gretchen: For more Lingthusiasm and links to all the things mentioned in this episode, go to lingthusiasm.com. You can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube, or wherever else you get your podcasts. You can follow @lingthusiasm on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr. You can get bouba and kiki scarves, posters with our aesthetic redesign of the International Phonetic Alphabet on them, t-shirts that say, “Etymology isn’t Destiny,” and other Lingthusiasm merch at lingthusiasm.com/merch. I can be found as @GretchenAMcC on Twitter, my blog is AllThingsLinguistic.com, and my book about internet language is called Because Internet. Lauren tweets and blogs as Superlinguo. Our guest, Itxaso Rodríguez-Ordóñez, can be found at BasqueUIUC.wordpress.com. Lingthusiasm is able to keep existing thanks to the support of our patrons. If you wanna get an extra Lingthusiasm episode to listen to every month, our entire archive of bonus episodes to listen to right now, or if you just wanna help keep the show running ad-free, go to patreon.com/lingthusiasm or follow the links from our website. Patrons can also get access to our Discord chatroom to talk with other linguistics fans and be the first to find out about new merch and other announcements. Recent bonus topics include a behind-the-scenes interview with Lingthusiasm team member, Martha Tsutsui-Billins, a recap about linguistics institutes, a.k.a., linguist summer camps, and a linguistics advice episode. Also, if you like Lingthusiasm but wish it would help put you to sleep better, we also have a very special Lingthusiasmr bonus episode [ASMR voice] where we read some linguistics stimulus sentences to you in a calm, soothing voice. [Regular voice] Can’t afford to pledge? That’s okay, too. We also really appreciate it if you can recommend Lingthusiasm to anyone in your life who’s curious about language. Lingthusiasm is created and produced by Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne. Our Senior Producer is Claire Gawne, our Editorial Producer is Sarah Dopierala, our Production Assistant is Martha Tsutsui-Billins, and our Editorial Assistant is Jon Kruk. Our music is “Ancient City” by The Triangles.

Itxaso: Stay lingthusiastic!

[Music]

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

[havnblog]

I'm Getting a New Car, and I Don't Care About CarPlay

Am I insane?

Time and time again, I’m hearing people say that they wouldn’t buy a new care without Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. (The after-show on the latest episode of Mac Power Users was the last example.) I also hear how stupid some companies are for not including these systems in their cars. And I just don’t get it. Or, to be honest: I think I know some reasons why my opinion seems to differ from most people’s.

I'd love to get feedback on my takes here, though! Because I feel like I must be missing something…

I live in the land of EVs

Norway has been subsidising EVs heavily for many years. And I think this statistic shows the effect well:

Year EV market share 2020: 54.3% 2021: 64.5% 2022: 79.3% 2023: 82.4% 2024: 88.2%

The proportion of new cars that are pure EVs.

To put things into perspective: The EV market share in the US is currently at 8.9%, which is well below the 13% we had all the way back in 2014 – ten years ago.

A welcome effect of this, is that we also have a healthy used-market for EVs – so I literally can’t remember the last time I talked to someone who weren’t buying an EV.1 I’ll come back to why this is important!

My experience

The car I’ve had for the last 3 years, is a 2019 Tesla Model 3, which I bought used. My wife and I are expecting our first kid in May, and we have a large dog – so we need something larger in the next 6 months. That’s why I’ve been looking at new cars again.

I’m pleased with my Model 3! But even though the Model Y probably would be the best purchase for us, I simply don’t want to buy one, due to *gestures in the general direction of Elon Musk*. Luckily, we have tons of options over here. But when I started doing my research, I found myself not caring about whether the cars had CarPlay – even though I’m heavily entrenched in the Apple ecosystem.2

The reasons I haven’t missed CarPlay

A big caveat is that I haven’t owned a car with CarPlay – so maybe I’m missing something obvious! However, I’ve never really missed it either.

Another important factor is that the software in the Tesla is pretty great. I entirely understand that CarPlay can be a hotfix for crappy infotainment, though.

But anyway, I just don’t miss CarPlay when:

I already get my phone calls etc. in the car,

the map and navigation is great, and picks up events from my calendar automatically,

I have radio right there,

and I’m logged into my Tidal account (which changes to my wife’s if she’s driving).

The only things I don’t have access to, is things like podcasts and audiobooks. But when I’m alone, I just listen with my AirPods (on transparency of course!) as I go in and out of the car. And if I’m with someone else – that’s the only time we use the bluetooth connection to the phone. So, yeah – having access to those things would absolutely be a little bonus of having CarPlay. But it’s really minor!

What am I missing? What’s so essential about CarPlay?

Could a factor be that, since we’re not English natives (and these tools are much worse in Norwegian), there’s some voice stuff I’m missing? Genuinely confused!

Overlooked negatives about CarPlay

Again, I get that CarPlay can be better than a crappy built-in infotainment – or if you’re borrowing or renting a car. But there are some things that make me dislike the idea of carmakers resting on CarPlay bailing them out:

Disconnected look

One is that CarPlay is just a little, disconnected, window of your car’s software. No one is even close to supporting CarPlay 2.0 – and if a car has two screens, they usually only have CarPlay on one of them.

For instance, an integrated system, can show your navigation information in a head-up display. And every part of the software (also the non-infotainment ones) can be cohesive. I mean, Apple fans should be able to see the appeal in that!

Battery woes

Last year, my wife and I really put the EV lifestyle to the test, when we drove from Norway to Toulouse in southern France. That was a three-day drive – but navigation and charging was effortless:

We put in where we wanted to end up,

the car calculated when (and thus where) we needed to charge – which it also changed on the fly if things changed,

and, importantly, when charging was near, it started pre-heating the battery.

That last point is important for the charging speed – especially in colder climates. And it’s something I think many people are missing, if you’re not used to EVs.

Now, please correct me if I’m wrong here – and I know all of this could be fixed in the future, but:

The thing is, for the longest time, CarPlay didn’t know about your battery’s state of charge. And hopefully the example above shows why that’s a big nerf to the navigation! They did start to roll out support for this a year or two ago – but I don’t think many cars support it yet. And I don’t think there’s a way for the CarPlay navigation to tell the battery to start pre-heating.

Maybe I’ll eat my words!

As most cars I’m looking at does support CarPlay, and also might have worse built-in systems than Tesla, I’ll might become a convert in a year. But as of now, if you’re buying an EV,3 I absolutely don’t understand why CarPlay is essential when buying a car.

Like, I wouldn’t mind it, of course! But I also totally get car company CEOs chooses not to integrate it:

The ceiling is higher on integrated systems,

and if they don’t have CarPlay to lean on, they have to work harder on making their own software great.

Perhaps you could say that, people who are really serious about making hardware should make their own software?

You know, if they’re buying a car. 🤷🏻‍♂️ ↩︎

Most of them have it, though! ↩︎

I get it more if you’re buying an ICE car – as my biggest gripe with CarPlay is the lack of connection with the battery system. ↩︎

[germanlanguage-1]

Mastering German: Top Tips for Beginners

Learning a new language can be both exciting and challenging, and German is no exception. Whether you're starting from scratch or brushing up on your skills, mastering German takes practice, patience, and the right approach. If you're a beginner, these tips will help you lay a solid foundation and progress faster in your language learning journey.

1. Start with the Basics: Learn Common Phrases

As a beginner, the best way to ease into the German language is by learning basic, everyday phrases. Start by learning greetings, introductions, and essential phrases for daily communication, such as:

Hallo! (Hello!)

Wie geht's? (How are you?)

Danke! (Thank you!)

Sprechen Sie Englisch? (Do you speak English?)

These phrases will give you the confidence to engage in simple conversations and understand the basics of the language.

2. Understand German Grammar

German grammar can be tricky, especially with its cases (nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive) and gendered nouns (der, die, das). However, understanding the fundamental rules of German grammar is crucial for building a strong foundation.

Start by familiarizing yourself with:

The structure of simple sentences.

Verb conjugations.

The cases and their corresponding prepositions.

You don’t need to master every rule at once, but gradually getting comfortable with these concepts will help you form sentences correctly.

3. Expand Your Vocabulary

The more words you know, the easier it will be to understand and communicate in German. Use flashcards or apps like Anki or Duolingo to memorize new words, and try to use them in sentences as soon as you learn them.

One great strategy is to learn vocabulary based on themes or topics such as food, travel, or family. This will help you build a practical vocabulary set that you can use in real-life situations.

4. Practice Listening and Speaking

Listening and speaking are essential skills that require consistent practice. Listening to German content, such as podcasts, YouTube channels, and music, will help you get used to the language’s sounds, rhythm, and pronunciation. Try to mimic what you hear to improve your speaking skills.

Additionally, don't be afraid to make mistakes while speaking. Practicing speaking as much as possible will help you improve faster. You can also join German language classes in Pune, where you can practice speaking with fellow learners and experienced instructors.

5. Engage with Native Speakers

Nothing beats learning from native speakers. If you're not in Germany, there are plenty of online platforms like Tandem or HelloTalk where you can find language exchange partners. Speaking with native German speakers will help you improve your pronunciation, learn informal language, and gain insights into German culture.

6. Immerse Yourself in the Language

The more you immerse yourself in German, the quicker you'll learn. Change the language settings on your phone, watch German movies with subtitles, and follow German social media accounts. Try to expose yourself to the language as much as possible throughout your day.

7. Stay Consistent and Set Goals

Consistency is key when learning any language. Set realistic goals for yourself, such as learning 10 new words every day or completing one lesson per week. Tracking your progress will keep you motivated, and seeing your improvement will inspire you to keep going.

8. Join German Language Classes in Pune

While self-study and language apps are valuable tools, joining German language classes in Pune can significantly enhance your learning experience. Attending classes will provide you with structured lessons, guidance from experienced teachers, and the opportunity to practice with other learners. Whether you're looking for beginner or advanced courses, enrolling in a language school can help you master the fundamentals and advance your skills more efficiently.

In Pune, many language centers and institutions offer German language courses, such as the Goethe-Institut and other local language schools. These classes often provide comprehensive learning, from grammar and vocabulary to speaking and listening practice.

Conclusion

Mastering German as a beginner might seem like a daunting task, but with the right mindset and strategies, you can achieve fluency. By focusing on the basics, practicing regularly, immersing yourself in the language, and attending German language classes in Pune, you'll be well on your way to becoming proficient in German. Stay motivated, be patient with yourself, and remember that consistency is key to success.

Happy learning!

[ashwinienglishclasses]

Top 10 Tips to Speak English Confidently for Beginners

Learning to speak English confidently can be a challenge, especially for beginners. However, with the right approach and mindset, anyone can improve their English-speaking skills and become a more confident speaker. Here are the top 10 tips to help beginners speak English confidently.

1. Practice Regularly

Regular practice is the most important part of learning any new language, including English. Set aside time each day to practice speaking, even if it's just for a few minutes. Speaking out loud helps train your mouth to form sounds and words, making it easier to speak English fluently over time.

2. Think in English

One major reason many people struggle with speaking English is that they translate sentences from their native language. This can be time-consuming and confusing. Start thinking in English instead of translating. At first, this may feel unnatural, but over time, it will help you speak more smoothly and confidently.

3. Listen and Imitate

Listening to native speakers can improve your understanding of pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. Watch English movies, listen to English podcasts, or follow English YouTubers. Try to mimic their pronunciation, tone, and expression. Practicing this will make your English sound more natural and build your confidence.

4. Expand Your Vocabulary

A limited vocabulary can make you feel nervous and hesitant while speaking. Learn new words daily, focusing on commonly used phrases and expressions. Start by mastering basic vocabulary, then gradually move on to more complex words. Using a wider vocabulary will make it easier to express your thoughts clearly.

5. Don’t Fear Mistakes

Many beginners hesitate to speak English out of fear of making mistakes. However, making mistakes is part of the learning process. Every mistake teaches you something new and brings you closer to fluency. Remember, native speakers also make mistakes! So, don’t be afraid; speak freely and learn from each experience.

6. Use Simple Sentences

Don’t worry about constructing complicated sentences at the beginning. Start with simple, clear sentences. Expressing your thoughts with simpler language will help you build confidence and prevent the fear of getting stuck or making mistakes. Over time, as you become more comfortable, you can gradually start using more complex sentence structures.

7. Practice with a Partner

Practicing with a partner, especially someone who is fluent in English, is a great way to build your confidence. A partner can give you feedback, correct mistakes, and help you get used to conversational English. If you don’t know someone personally, consider joining online language exchange programs or finding English-speaking groups in your area.

8. Use Technology to Your Advantage

Many apps and tools can help improve your English-speaking skills. Apps like Duolingo, HelloTalk, and Tandem offer interactive lessons and language exchange opportunities. These resources provide a great way to practice and improve your pronunciation, vocabulary, and conversational skills in a structured, supportive environment.

9. Set Realistic Goals

Setting small, achievable goals will help you make steady progress. For example, aim to learn five new words every day, or practice speaking for ten minutes daily. Each time you achieve a goal, it boosts your confidence. Breaking down your learning journey into smaller steps makes it feel more manageable and keeps you motivated.

10. Stay Positive and Persistent

Confidence in speaking English doesn’t come overnight. Some days will be more challenging than others, but maintaining a positive attitude and staying persistent is key. Celebrate small successes and remember that every effort you make is moving you closer to fluency.

In summary, becoming confident in speaking English is about regular practice, not fearing mistakes, expanding your vocabulary, and using simple sentences. By setting realistic goals, staying positive, and engaging in daily practice, you’ll gradually build the confidence needed to speak English fluently.

[talkingbeesonlinetutor]

How to Learn Bengali Language and speak fluently

Technological systems are very developed in the whole world and because of this, learning any language like Bengali is now very simple. Bengali language courses for all skill levels, from novices to experts, are available on a variety of internet platforms. 

Websites such as Babbel, iTalki, and Duolingo offer structured interactive courses in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. For people who want to learn Bengali informally by repetition and hearing, YouTube channels and Bengali language podcasts are also excellent tools.

The Best Way to Learn Bengali Online

When people mix multiple methods for a deep and knowledgeable experience, then this is the best way to learn Bengali online. Although language apps offer structure, they will greatly enhance conversational skills when used in conjunction with live engagement. 

While applications help students practice vocabulary and sentence structure, many students find that booking sessions with native Bengali speakers on sites like iTalki or Preply allow them to practice speaking spontaneously. 

Learning a language becomes more pleasurable when students practice with native speakers because they feel more at ease with common phrases and cultural quirks.

How to speak the Bengali language: Basic Tips

Learning a few keywords and training your ear for the distinctive sounds of Bengali are requirements for learning the language. Beginners may find it difficult to pronounce Bengali words correctly, but you can become more accustomed to the sounds by practicing and concentrating on popular phrases. 

Practice every day by saying them out loud and attempting to use them in casual discussions. You can educate your ear to the rhythm and tone of the Bengali language by watching Bengali films, listening to Bengali music, or watching Bengali news programs.

Learning Bengali Language Online: Benefits and Options

You may learn from an Online Bengali Class at your speed and from any location with the great flexibility of online learning alternatives. Students can modify lessons to fit their schedules and lifestyles with the use of apps, websites, and online tutors. 

To make studying enjoyable and interesting, a lot of apps provide interactive activities, tests, and flashcards. Additionally, Bengali language websites frequently include cultural insights, allowing you to learn the language while also comprehending Bengali customs, festivals, and daily life.

Finding Bengali Language Classes

Both online and offline Bengali language programs are available and given to individuals who are interested in taking structured instruction. Bengali classes are available to non-native speakers in a number of community centers, cultural institutions, and language schools. 

From simple vocabulary to intricate sentence patterns, classes are available online on platforms such as Udemy and Coursera. If you would rather learn in a classroom, search for nearby colleges or language schools that provide Bengali instruction.

Bengali Learning for Beginners

Beginning with basic grammar principles, vocabulary, and greetings is usually helpful for novices. Although Bengali's writing and pronunciation may make it challenging for English speakers to grasp, it gets simpler with consistent practice. 

Learn commonplace expressions such as "hello," "how to ask questions," and "how to introduce yourself." Daily practice will increase your self-assurance and knowledge of the language's structure, which will facilitate the transition to increasingly difficult discussions.

Learn to speak Bengali language: Practical Steps

Try mixing or combining Bengali into your everyday life to help you learn the language. Practice by thinking in Bengali whenever you can, utilizing brief sentences about your day, and utilizing Bengali terminology for around things. 

Bengali Language Classes Near Me

Look for nearby cultural centers, colleges, or language schools that might provide Bengali language programs if you're interested in receiving instruction in person. These courses frequently offer more individualized engagement and a more immersive learning environment, which can be especially beneficial for better pronunciation and grammar comprehension. 

Some community centers and libraries may even provide free or inexpensive beginning programs, providing students with additional options in their neighborhoods.

Engaging in Bengali Conversation

One of the best methods to get better in any language, including Bengali, is to practice having conversations. Locate an instructor or language partner who can assist you with speaking practice. 

You can practice in a casual, laid-back environment by enrolling in Bengali conversation sessions offered by numerous online resources. Learning Bengali idioms and slang with a companion also helps you have more fluid and natural-sounding discussions.. 

Bengali Learning Resources Online

There are many online resources available to assist you in learning Bengali, whether you're searching for interactive language tools, classes, or free materials. Well-known language-learning applications such as Tandem, HelloTalk, and Duolingo offer interesting lessons and practice chances. 

There are several YouTube channels devoted to teaching Bengali at all skill levels. Learning Bengali literature, music, or cinema can also improve your comprehension and appreciation of the Bengali language by acting as a linguistic and cultural bridge. 

Learning Bengali can be made accessible and pleasurable by incorporating these resources into a regular practice regimen. Every step you take towards becoming fluent in Bengali, whether it is through formal instruction, informal practice, or cultural immersion, advances your proficiency.