Advent calendar for language learners. Week three

Advent calendar. Week three

So, how is it going? I am excited about this year's challenge! Just imagine: going though one adventure every day guarantees a magic box of advice for the whole year! We are about to see what Week Three has brought us.

Day 15. Tip 15.

It's the last week before Christmas. High time to prepare Christmas gifts and cards. What if your cards are different this year? What if you write them in a foreign language? Your friends might be surprised... and you will certainly have writing practice!

Day 16. Tip 16.

When people ask you "What do you do?", how do you respond? Have you got a self-presentation in a foreign language? Let's create one! Describe yourself, telling about your family, job, hobby, passion. Practice saying it in a minute or two, and be ready to impress your new friends and colleagues abroad!

Day 17. Tip 17.

Subscribe to interesting personalities on social networks, follow them, read their posts and - possibly - comment. You might find an encouraging community happy to discuss a person you are following in your target language, so this would bring you both satisfying communication and language practice.

Day 18. Tip 18.

Memories are important, aren't they? Add meaning to your memories by giving titles to some photos that you'll choose to collect in your photo album 2017. Create a photo album, add photos, give them titles in a foreign language, tag people and share. Invite your friends to propose their titles, too. Have fun and remember this year!

Day 19. Tip 19.

Christmas is coming! Watch a Christmas cartoon in a foreign language! Enjoy watching! 

An extra tip: read comic series books based on cartoons that you like. Short and expressive dialogues are a perfect example of live language, they are easy to read and fun to look through.

Day 20. Tip 20.

Make a wish to learn a foreign language next year. Start NOW! Make a decision, choose a language course, work out your daily routine for efficient language learning. Good luck!

Day 21. Silent Night!
Merry Christmas!

I do hope you enjoyed the advent calendar for language learners. I'd really like to know what your favourite challenge has been so far and whether you would like to continue. Please, let me know in a comment and have a great holiday!

Advent calendar for language learners. Week two

Advent calendar. Week two

Did you try the challenges of the previous week? Which is your favourite? I personally tried and continue using a to-do-list in a foreign language I am learning. It doesn't take much time, yet lets me always practice the most frequent words.

Well, new week, new challenges.

Day 8. Tip 8.

Follow youtube channels of your interest, turn on the notifications and be sure not to miss the chance to keep in touch with your target language. Watching short videos related to your personal or professional interest is usually more pleasant and less stressful for language learners. Watch something every day, and be sure you will understand your new language better and better.

Day 9. Tip 9.

Shoot and upload your own videos. They might be topic-related (House, Airport, Travel) or free, whatever you choose. You are welcome to share the videos with other language students, create a community, share and discuss what others have made. If you are shy (like me) you might choose to save them for further use and see what your personal progress is.

Day 10. Tip 10.

Do you like playing computer games? Language games? Download or play online, be sure that the language options are right (your target language). Language games are the best option to learn new vocabulary, while strategy games based on your favourite movie or cartoon series put you in language context and stimulate to guess what is going on and act spontaneously. Enjoy the game and see how it works!

Day 11. Tip 11.

Go out. Go out and watch... Then enter a cosy café, relax and start writing. Write about everything you see, what people around you are doing, what you are thinking and feeling. If you are a beginner you might just wish to practice using present tenses (which are great for a description). If you are an intermediate student, the idea of writing a story based on what you see could inspire you. For advanced learners an atmosphere of a café might be suitable for creative writing. Write in the language you are learning, don't care about possible mistakes, just let it happen...

Day 12. Tip 12.

It's Friday evening!

Choose a film to watch in the foreign language you are learning! Turn on the subtitles to help you or just enjoy the movie... Relax, learn and have fun!

Day 13. Tip 13.

Plan a trip to a country where people speak your target language. First, go online and book your tickets, your hotel, etc. Be sure you set the language options wisely (use the language you are learning). This will help you take first steps in using a foreign language and enjoying the process! Have a nice trip!

Day 14. Tip 14.

It's Sunday! A perfect day to cook something special!

Why don't you cook some country's typical dish using a recipe written in a foreign language? Google a recipe, follow the instructions, learn more cooking vocabulary. Have fun and enjoy your meal!

Try these tips, feel which of them you are comfortable with, be ready to take the best of them in your new year. May this be your magic box full of tips and tricks always there for you!

Advent calendar for language learners

Advent calendar. Week one

Have you ever tried a different advent calendar? The one for language learners? I created it to motivate myself... and you... to start learning a foreign language efficiently and turn it into a habit. Every day you get a new tip that you might wish to try. See which tips work for you, repeat daily, enjoy and learn a new language!

Week one. Let's start.

Day 1. Tip 1.

Change language options of your mobile phone, as well as of your social networks. By doing so, you will always get connected with the language that you are currently learning.

Day 2. Tip 2.

Start your day with a song or two in the language that you are learning. This will assure that you have positive motivation and good mood as to language learning.

Day 3. Tip 3.

Post something in the language you are learning. Share your post in a couple of language exchange groups, ask people to comment. This will give you a chance to use the language in communication without being too shy.

Day 4. Tip 4.

Download some podcasts for language learners. Listen to them anytime you have "dead" periods, such as walking, jogging, driving. This will give you an opportunity to get used to the pronunciation and intonation, be sure this will help you speak better, too! 

Day 5. Tip 5.
Write a to-do-list in a foreign language you are learning.
Go shopping and tick what you have bought, do your daily tasks and tick what you have fulfilled.
Repeat daily! Practice makes perfect.

Day 6. Tip 6.
Read a book in the language you are learning. A paper book, an e-book, an article, a social post, whatever... A habit of reading helps enlarge your vocabulary and makes your language better.
Repeat daily! 

Day 7. Tip 7.
Put everything aside and talk! Invite your friends over and chat only in your new language, don't think of possible mistakes, just relax and talk! 
Play language games. Create a collection of games: remind what you played in your mother tongue as a kid, and play in your target language. 

Remember to open one "advent" window a day to go through a new challenge every day. Some tasks might seem tough, others will be fun. At the end of this three-week journey you will have your favourites that will - hopefully - accompany you in the upcoming year and will help you (and me) learn a new language with pleasure!
Go ahead and see you next week!