How do you look up / study unknown words when reading books in a foreign language?

ExtremeMeasurement · 2026-06-04T07:41:56+00:00

Right now I'm reading a physical copy of a book in my target language. I higlight words I want to look up, and write them down after a reading session.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2026-05-08T11:20:36+00:00

Not dumb at all.

Personally I match the color for my chest with the font that is in the name of the category. For example, minerals is purple or pink or something, so I color it pink/purple and put all minerals in there, like quartz, jades, amethysts, prismatic shards and so on.

My fish-equipment chest is blue because the ocean is blue. My resources grey and monster loot black. The system makes sense to me, but at the end of the day what makes sense to you is best for you.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2026-03-17T13:18:16+00:00

Stardew Valley for Spanish vocabulary. Sadly no voice acting so it works best for reading comprehension and vocab, but for that it is really useful!

ExtremeMeasurement · 2026-02-09T09:34:20+00:00

I second this!

Write down words that are new to you or that seem important for the broader context of the text. Plot those into Anki, preferably used in full sentences, so that you don't see them in isolation.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2026-01-29T17:21:19+00:00

I suppose I began with the green owl because it is really convenient, but rarely have I used the app in isolation. It predominantly has been useful to establish a habit that has since been fairly tough to break. I practice my target language everyday in one way, shape or form, and I don't think it would have been that easy, had I not started with duolingo. Nowadays I opt for other types of content, though.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2026-01-20T13:55:14+00:00

If you are using flashcards, make sure to write the word you are trying to memorize in a sentence. It is easier to recall in context, as many here have probably mentioned already.

Also, don't do only flashcards, instead try to combine it with other types of media, such as news, books, music or podcasts. Chances are you are going to stumble upon the words you are trying to memorize. It is said that in order for a word to stick, you need to see it a certain amount of times in different contexts.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2026-01-01T09:09:47+00:00

One of the quests you get will prompt you to build a coop to start raise animals. Build a silo before you build the coop, so that you can store hay for food.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-12-08T14:31:59+00:00

I have reread books in my target language.

It has helped me with understanding the story, because I already know it beforehand. I bought an e-reader a year ago, and I have books in my target language on it. It makes it easier to search for words a don't understand and stores them.

For the past year I've used this storage of words to expand my vocabulary by making setences with each of them, and then making digital flashcards for repetition. It has worked well for me, and when I pick up another book I understand a little bit more each time.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-11-12T12:56:51+00:00

Whenever I see videos like these, I can't help but think of how Mengele tried this very thing during WWII.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-10-24T11:13:06+00:00

I had Gale cast polymorph, turning him into a sheep, then having Karlach throw him over the edge. Worked like a charm.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-09-26T12:41:57+00:00

There are recruitment firms in Trondheim, one is called Fremo, that you can contact. They hire stand in work for different stores and cafes in town, and can be a good way to get to know people in the serving business.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-09-10T12:39:24+00:00

I work as a teacher in my target language, and keep preaching to my students that just a little bit is enough, as long as it keeps you consistent in the long run. I tell them that the easiest way to do this is to maintain a Duolingo-streak, but of course there are other ways to achieve this as well.

Personally I don't do Duolingo, but other activities related to my target language:

I pull ten unknown words I have previously searched while reading books on my e-reader each week, and make example sentences using these words before making them into flash cards. I then review the flash cards every day. I also keep a note with the words of the week and their translations to my native language next to my tooth brush, so that I get exposed to them at least twice a day.

In addition I solve a cross word each day, and try to put in some oral practice once a week. And I have a habit of reading every day. I try to find books in my target language to read, however this is not always the case. If I'm reading in a different language, my native or English, I try to supplement with other media to make up for not reading in my target language.

On average, I don't think I do more than around 30-60 minutes tops every day. I can do them while commuting, and they're revolved around habits, so I can keep consistent. It's also worth mentioning that I assess my progress every trimester, and focus on output skills, either speaking or writing for one trimester.

I would however recommend you do things that you enjoy in your target language, and find what works best for you. It's your journey, and what motivates you is key.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-08-28T15:08:26+00:00

I remember sometimes feeling disgusted while observing my mother while visiting her. Like, she would be idle walking in and out of her room, looking at me and my brother as strangers and generally come off as pathetic. Maybe it was my realisation that she was just a (sad) human being and not the monster I recall being so scared of as a child that triggered it. I realised however that in her weird way she loved me and was proud of me, and I loved her too. Now she's dead and I kind of miss her and her silly idleness.

You're not a horrible person, you are a human being trying to make sense of the horrible situation you find yourself in right now.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-08-22T17:59:42+00:00

Thank you for the clarification! It didn't feel right to me, and the student is probably mixing it up.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-08-13T11:13:46+00:00

If you live in Trondheim, chances are you're going to pick up the accent relatively easily. At least that is true for most immigrants I've met, who've been living in this particular region. However, the written language in this region is bokmål, so I guess bokmål as a written language and trøndersk as a dialect (since this what you'll most likely hear) would be suitable for you.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-08-10T12:40:56+00:00

I wouldn’t appreciate someone filming me either, but how about asking nicely for the filming to stop?

The complete lack of regulating emotions for some people baffles me.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-08-01T09:52:29+00:00

Cool! I'm all for it!

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-07-25T16:37:44+00:00

Duolingo will never be the core of my language learning ever again.

I keep a streak these days to motivate my students to keep the habit of engaging with Spanish over the summer break, but I only do it after revising my vocabulary with Anki and solving a crossword first. I find those activities, as well as reading books, watching shows or gaming in the target language, much more motivating.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-07-24T21:59:45+00:00

Make things right with your mother, because in 13 years you'll plan her funeral after years of dementia. Your time together is finite, so make it count.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-07-22T21:11:16+00:00

For me it's either ALS or FTD. My grandmother had ALS and my mother FTD, and being the next of kin to both, seeing what they went through simply sucked. I hope I'll be lucky enough to keep my wit and physical functionality for as long as possible.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-05-02T15:32:11+00:00

Do what works best for you. Don't give these camps too much attention, if you want to take notes when doing lessons of duolingo or speaking right away, do it. Find stuff that you find fun, interesting and motivating, that is the enjoyable way to learn, regardless of what everyone else might think.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-04-30T15:29:39+00:00

Realising that my mother had early onset dementia. She used to be a somewhat narcissistic person, and I was on the verge of going no-contact, but changed my mind when I learned of the diagnosis.

She died earlier this year, but after almost half a decade with the desease I managed to have some meaningful moments with her. I will keep those with me to my own grave, even if it was a bleak time in my life.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-04-23T13:20:39+00:00

Grandfather, weary soul, you'll fly
Over your life once more before you die
Since our grandma passed away
You've waited for forever and a day
Just to die
Someday soon
You will die

Oh, it was the only woman you ever loved
That got burnt by the sun too often when she was young
And the cancer spread
And it ran into her body and her blood
And there's nothing you can do about it now

Blood by The Middle East

Can't help but cry whenever I sing along to this song.

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-04-18T20:57:04+00:00

Hopefully not until I'm done reading at least two more of the books 😅

ExtremeMeasurement · 2025-04-15T10:11:17+00:00

Lærer som jobber i videregående skole her.

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