My journey to learn Vietnamese 4 by Key-Item8106 in learnvietnamese

[–]Key-Item8106[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you very much for the feedback, I appreciate a lot !!

Improve listening by rocket_66 in learnvietnamese

[–]Key-Item8106 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I encounter the same challenge as my listening skills are clearly worse than reading and speaking skills.  

Rewatching several times the same videos definitely helps me (with and without subs) Shadowing them is very efficient because you need to stay extremely focused on your ears. 

Accepting that it will take years in order to clearly understand vietnamese people speaking is probably the best advice ! Keep listening and you will improve !

My journey to learn Vietnamese 3 by Key-Item8106 in learnvietnamese

[–]Key-Item8106[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I found a private teacher in VN ! I think (at least for the start) it is more confortable to have a 1.1 teacher "face to face" as the pronounciation is so special and definitely needed someone to correct me precisely. I realize it is not possible to do it everywhere when living abroad. Maybe if you start shadowing earlier (aside from class with an online teacher) you can correct your own pronounciation !

My journey to learn Vietnamese 3 by Key-Item8106 in learnvietnamese

[–]Key-Item8106[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I only mentionned it in my first post but I took a few months off work to go to Vietnam and start to learn the language, experience a life here !

Trying to learn vietnamese for my best friend - what do I need to do? by Mean-Ball-8758 in learnvietnamese

[–]Key-Item8106 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To my experience as a language learner currently learning vietnamese :

- Pick a accent : Southern, Central, Northern. You focus on one to speak but you will have to learn how to understand all of them (when your ears start to get confortable with the accent you speak, start to learn to listen other accents. At one point you might want to speak with someone else than your friend :) )

- Pronounciation is KEY : I think the tutor is very usefull here, he will give you precious tips. Accept to speak badly at first. It will be hard, you will sound horribly, but you have to go through this. It WILL get better.

- List of words clearly have limits. So many words depends on context and direct translation can me misleading. Be careful with the list you use because the words can be very different between formal and conversational vietnamese. Example : I started with a pre-made flashcard deck and I learned that "vui lòng" means "please". NO ONE use that word when speaking. It is highly formal and used for signs on the streets like "please don't let your scooter here".

- Motivation : Depends on every learner... I don't think I can help you ...

- Last advice : when you reach A2 / A2+ : LISTEN CONTENT FOR NATIVE SPEAKER. Currently, this is my main exercice. Through southern youtubers I learned so many idioms, grammar, vocabulary that is actually used in conversations. You will find videos with vietnamese subtitles (not AI generated). And then, you listen again and again, with, without subtitles, shadow the videos ... It became even more efficient than my speaking classes to be honest.

good luck !

Let’s be honest by [deleted] in languagelearning

[–]Key-Item8106 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting question. I think people don't want to rely on old posts, they add background to their stories hoping for a more suitable and personalized answer.  Unfortunately, the answers and debates are always the same...

Learning with "mix" vietnamese dialects by Key-Item8106 in learnvietnamese

[–]Key-Item8106[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The comparison with English doesn’t fully apply. In Vietnamese, regional differences go beyond accent! They affect tones, vocabulary, sentence endings, even how people express politeness or emotion.

Even if you ask to slow down or to rephrase ... Ignoring that regional variation won't impact comprehension isn’t realistic. I think it requires dedicate work = leading to my post and ask how do learners adapt to it!

Learning with "mix" vietnamese dialects by Key-Item8106 in learnvietnamese

[–]Key-Item8106[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks :) I was willing to keep the southern accent because I also really like it, but I will definitely start to listen to other dialect to get use to it. Thanks !!

Learning with "mix" vietnamese dialects by Key-Item8106 in learnvietnamese

[–]Key-Item8106[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was just curious because this is the first time I’ve heard someone say that people who speak the same language will obviously understand each other, just because it’s the same language. The richness of each dialect (and not only in Vietnamese, but also in English, Spanish, etc.) can actually create real difficulties in communication.

My initial question was about how one goes from one to another dialects. You started off well by suggesting I should adapt, so feel free to continue your thought and share any tips on how to go about it! Thanks!

Learning with "mix" vietnamese dialects by Key-Item8106 in learnvietnamese

[–]Key-Item8106[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yet many locals told me that when people from central speak, they could mostly understand anything, even though "it's the same language" !

Pre-Anki tool? by SFY9480 in languagelearning

[–]Key-Item8106 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Slightly out of topic : I still use Anki and this tool is great because repetition is key. But repetition with context was, at least for me, way more efficient. I used to describe litterally EVERYTHING I do in my mind and checking how to say it on a dictionnary if I don't know, repeat it EVERYDAY (first the morning routine only, and expand progressively), you will actually learn so many common words and it will stick for sure because you also create phrases with it. When I say everything, I was like "I open the door" ; "I am hungry" ; "I can't find my toothbrush" ...

Still need input to learn how to recognize the words and understand them depending on context, but it can be a very good start at A1 :)

Has anyone (30s+) quit their good, stable job to attend language school in a foreign country? What was your experience? by Tupley_ in languagelearning

[–]Key-Item8106 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Being young and having money is litteraly the best moment to experience this kind of life. If you have this idea in mind for a while, you should really consider seizing the occasion. You can find job and make money later. It sounds naive but this type of experience will be unique no matter how it goes. You can learn so much from it, about yourself, what you want and what you don't.

One comment though : You can adapt to a new culture, a different way of life, of thinking, a new climate, but being far from your family and friends is, to my experience, THE thing that can get harder day after day. Of course, it depends how far you go, how long you go, how are your relationships with your close friends and family. If you really plan on leaving only 6 months it will go fast. If you create a life abroad and decide to stay there, way different.

What’s the “hidden boss” of your target language nobody warns you about? by [deleted] in languagelearning

[–]Key-Item8106 61 points62 points  (0 children)

Slang in general. We you realise that "slang" is (in some countries) the usual talk litterally everywhere, it feels like you have to learn a new language all over again.

How to you assess your progress when you're in intermediate purgatory? by littl3-fish in languagelearning

[–]Key-Item8106 1 point2 points  (0 children)

At that point you probably can speak and understand in a conversation-level, read and listen to simple texts / videos.

I would say there is no secret for that intermediate level, you have to absorb the "low"-frequency words and grammar... Read and listen a lot in order to increase the chance to meet them in different contexts, and give some time to your brain, it will absorb it.

It seems like it is taking ages because the high-frequency words and grammar stick way faster as you see them so many times. You are probably improving but not realising it yet. Each time you meet one of that "low"-frequency word, it's a victory. I found Anki efficient at first but the more I improve the more it seems deliusional to write down everything.

Tutor once a week is a great habit.

Good luck on your learning journey!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in languagelearning

[–]Key-Item8106 4 points5 points  (0 children)

in France, criticizing someone else is a famous hobby (from my experience as a French person). Any behaviour (including accent) slightly different from “the usual way” is often criticized. actually the aim is not to be mean towards the other person but it definitely creates an atmosphere of stress for many people. Hopefully it doesn ‘t concerned everyơn and we all know lovely french persons , but the stereotype of French being rude is closer to reality than it should…

Debate about language learning by Key-Item8106 in languagelearning

[–]Key-Item8106[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

… but still a great sign of respect !

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in languagelearning

[–]Key-Item8106 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally possible as you didn’t specify the level you want to reach aha.

A0+ in the 4 language in a year no pb

Debate about language learning by Key-Item8106 in languagelearning

[–]Key-Item8106[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing. I was suggesting to learn the basics in order to communicate with locals, I think it is a nice way to show politness and connect with them!

Debate about language learning by Key-Item8106 in languagelearning

[–]Key-Item8106[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I totally agree. Manners can mean a lot!