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Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

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Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#11

Post by viraptor »

klmr wrote: post #9
hwj wrote: post #3

At least for Christians a good way to learn a foreign language is to read the Bible in that language, because (1) they are probably used to read a chapter or two on a daily basis (thus, the routine is already there), (2) and they probably remember some passages in their native tongue (thus, already having a translation of the text). This helped me. YMMV.

This is good advice, but > they are probably used to read a chapter or two on a daily basis This sounds mental. Reading the Bible on a daily basis? I’m pretty sure that this is not the norm for the vast majority of (devout) Christians (at least in Western/Central Europe).

It is not a norm. Even in very devout households attending multiple masses every week. (I'm not saying there aren't people doing actual mindful reading every day, but the generalisation to "Christians" in this case is bad)

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#12

Post by jlg23 »

hwj wrote: post #3

At least for Christians a good way to learn a foreign language is to read the Bible in that language, because (1) they are probably used to read a chapter or two on a daily basis (thus, the routine is already there), (2) and they probably remember some passages in their native tongue (thus, already having a translation of the text). This helped me. YMMV.

Bible, Thora and Koran are all good for that purpose because even if you don't know them in your own language, you can compare the foreign language version with your native version verse by numbered verse.

So are publications by international bodies like the UN (though those tend to deal less with sex, drugs and rock-and-roll than the religious books).

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#13

Post by woodrowbarlow »

klmr wrote: post #9
hwj wrote: post #3

At least for Christians a good way to learn a foreign language is to read the Bible in that language, because (1) they are probably used to read a chapter or two on a daily basis (thus, the routine is already there), (2) and they probably remember some passages in their native tongue (thus, already having a translation of the text). This helped me. YMMV.

This is good advice, but > they are probably used to read a chapter or two on a daily basis This sounds mental. Reading the Bible on a daily basis? I’m pretty sure that this is not the norm for the vast majority of (devout) Christians (at least in Western/Central Europe).

just because it doesn't align with what you've observed doesn't mean it's "mental". that's rude. please be constructive.

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#14

Post by raverbashing »

hwj wrote: post #3

At least for Christians a good way to learn a foreign language is to read the Bible in that language, because (1) they are probably used to read a chapter or two on a daily basis (thus, the routine is already there), (2) and they probably remember some passages in their native tongue (thus, already having a translation of the text). This helped me. YMMV.

Replace the Bible with any simple book you know by heart

I would actually advise against religious texts as their language is usually more archaic and less common on the day to day

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#15

Post by jlg23 »

klmr wrote: post #9
hwj wrote: post #3

At least for Christians a good way to learn a foreign language is to read the Bible in that language, because (1) they are probably used to read a chapter or two on a daily basis (thus, the routine is already there), (2) and they probably remember some passages in their native tongue (thus, already having a translation of the text). This helped me. YMMV.

This is good advice, but > they are probably used to read a chapter or two on a daily basis This sounds mental. Reading the Bible on a daily basis? I’m pretty sure that this is not the norm for the vast majority of (devout) Christians (at least in Western/Central Europe).

"mental"?

In rural areas of central Europe you'll quite often find the Bible in hotel rooms for your nightly bible lecture.

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#16

Post by Cthulhu_ »

hwj wrote: post #3

At least for Christians a good way to learn a foreign language is to read the Bible in that language, because (1) they are probably used to read a chapter or two on a daily basis (thus, the routine is already there), (2) and they probably remember some passages in their native tongue (thus, already having a translation of the text). This helped me. YMMV.

Using the bible is... contentious I'd say because there's a lot of differences between even English translations. I mean I guess the gist of it and the stories are roughly the same but it's definitely not a 1:1 translation between languages.

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#17

Post by timerol »

raverbashing wrote: post #14
hwj wrote: post #3

At least for Christians a good way to learn a foreign language is to read the Bible in that language, because (1) they are probably used to read a chapter or two on a daily basis (thus, the routine is already there), (2) and they probably remember some passages in their native tongue (thus, already having a translation of the text). This helped me. YMMV.

Replace the Bible with any simple book you know by heart I would actually advise against religious texts as their language is usually more archaic and less common on the day to day

I did this with the first Harry Potter to help me learn German, back when I was re-reading all of the Harry Potter books as each new one came out.

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#18

Post by viraptor »

jlg23 wrote: post #15
klmr wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is good advice, but > they are probably used to read a chapter or two on a daily basis This sounds mental. Reading the Bible on a daily basis? I’m pretty sure that this is not the norm for the vast majority of (devout) Christians (at least in Western/Central Europe).

"mental"? In rural areas of central Europe you'll quite often find the Bible in hotel rooms for your nightly bible lecture.

Because they're supplied by specific organisations (mostly Gideons International) in large quantities to hotels. You'll also find them in hotel rooms in central Sydney. It's neither a rural nor European thing.

(Literally their main goal listed on the site: https://www.gideons.org/about)

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#19

Post by commandlinefan »

mannykannot wrote: post #4

"Don't pay too much attention to grammar." Breaking that rule is one of the ways my high school failed to teach much German to most of its students.

Back in the ‘50s or ‘60s, the U.S. government Foreign Service Institute put together a series of language learning courses that covered most of the popular languages at the time. They’re public domain and if you look hard enough, you can find them on the internet - they’re dated, but they’re still accurate (there are some here http://www.fsi-language-courses.net/ but the hosting sucks). I’ve learned Spanish and French well enough to carry on conversations in both from them. One thing about their approach is that they focus on memorizing spoken dialogues. It’s the standard goofy “what time will Mr. Gonzales arrive at the restaurant” type of dialogue, but the idea is that you’re supposed to remember what they say, even if you don’t understand the parts of speech, well enough to recite it from memory. I’ve found that, more than anything else, these memorized dialogues help the most with language recollection - if I want to say something, I scan through my memorized dialogues for something close, substitute a few words, and say it like they said it in the course.

Re: Unusual, evidence-based ways to get better at a new language

#20

Post by commandlinefan »

woodrowbarlow wrote: post #13
klmr wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is good advice, but > they are probably used to read a chapter or two on a daily basis This sounds mental. Reading the Bible on a daily basis? I’m pretty sure that this is not the norm for the vast majority of (devout) Christians (at least in Western/Central Europe).

just because it doesn't align with what you've observed doesn't mean it's "mental". that's rude. please be constructive.

I think he means that it's "in your mind", not that it's crazy.
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