I've been learning Spanish recently and I can't stress enough how frustrated I get everytime an irregular verb is irregular
❁ Online resources for learning Bengali ❁
I received two private messages asking if I had any resources, and unfortunately there are very few resources that teach Bengali/Bangla online ): but I have gathered some that I found and used, and that are helpful to me! Please comment if you know any others 🤍
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❁YouTube channel for learners
Reading and writing, conversational lessons, book reviews etc. I love this channel so much, it’s how I began learning as a beginner and I wish there were more like it.
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❁Textbooks online
1. https://theswissbay.ch/pdf/Books/Linguistics/Mega%20linguistics%20pack/Indo-European/Indo-Aryan/Bengali%2C%20Teach%20Yourself%20%28Hudson%29.pdf
2. https://archive.org/details/bengalicompletec0000radi
You can borrow this one for free, I own a physical copy of a slightly newer version and it’s good!
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❁Websites to watch Bengali movies and serials
1. https://www.hoichoi.tv
There are a few free movies and episodes here, I have the monthly subscription for €9 which gives access to hundreds of shows and films. There is an option to turn off English subtitles and some shows also have Bangla CC which is helpful!
2. https://einthusan.tv/movie/browse/?lang=bengali
Totally free and they have loads of movies with English sub (still waiting for them to upload something after palasher biye though) 
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❁Website for simplified stories
(Thank you very much to my fiancé and his mom for finding this for me <3)
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❁Tumblr blog for learning Bangla @banglanotebook
I love the vocabulary lists and word of the day, really helpful for beginner and intermediate!
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❁Apps that have Bengali courses
(I usually do not recommend studying with apps for languages, but it can be useful as a supplementary method for vocabulary)
1. Mondly (I have finished this course and it’s pretty decent for vocabulary - just as always with apps, don’t expect to learn any grammar properly)
2. Ling
3. Transparent Language (no grammar, only vocabulary but it’s free with library access)
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❁YouTube channel for handwriting
(Aimed at native speakers, but I used this to learn to write after learning to read)
At the moment I’m only posting words I’ve learned myself each day on this blog (see my bangla vocabulary tag) but I may post more lessons in the future! Again please comment if you know any other resources, I would greatly appreciate it 🤍
I just wanted to give my answer in the comments, but I thought that replying in another post would be more practical, and it might also help other people :) So, I'll try my best to explain, don't hesitate to tell me if it's not clear! First of all, in your list, only "Qui est-ce ?" can be used as a question in this form. For the others, you need to add other words. Also : - que = what and que + est = qu' - qui = who and qui + il = qu' • Qu'est-ce que... ? This is used to ask "What is..." with a direct object - Qu'est-ce que c'est ? — What is it?/What is this? - Qu'est-ce que tu fais ? — What are you doing? - Qu'est-ce que tu veux faire ce soir ? — What do you want to do tonight? → You can replace "qu'est-ce que" with "quoi" as a direct object (more informal form) - Qu'est-ce que c'est ?/C'est quoi ? - Qu'est-ce que tu fais ?/Tu fais quoi ? - Qu'est-ce que tu veux faire ce soir ?/Tu veux faire quoi ce soir ? • Qu'est-ce qui... ? This is used to ask "What..." where "what" is the subject - Qu'est-ce qu'il se passe ? — What is happening? - Qu'est-ce qui est rouge ? — What is red? - Qu'est-ce qui t'intéresse ? — What interests you?
→ You can replace "qu'est-ce que" with "quoi" as the subject (more informal form)
- Qu'est-ce qu'il se passe ?/ Il se passe quoi ? - Qu'est-ce qui est rouge ?/C'est quoi qui est rouge ? - Qu'est-ce qui t'intéresse ?/C'est quoi qui t'intéresse ? • Qui est-ce ? This is correct as it is, it's used when asking about someone's identity - (Knock on the door) Qui est-ce ? — Who is it? - (Showing someone in a photo) Qui est-ce ? — Who is he/sher? • Qui est-ce qui... ? This is used to ask "Who..." where "who" is the subject - Qui est-ce qui a fait ça ? — Who did this? - Qui est-ce qui chante ? — Who is singing? - Qui est-ce qui cuisine ? — Who is cooking? → You can replace "qui est-ce qui" with "qui" as the subject (more informal form) - Qui est-ce qui a fait ça ?/Qui a fait ça ? - Qui est-ce qui chante ?/Qui chante ? - Qui est-ce qui cuisine ?/Qui cuisine ? • Qui est-ce que... ? This is used to ask "Who..." with a direct object - Qui est-ce que tu as vu ? — Who did you see? - Qui est-ce que tu cherches ? — Who are you looking for? - Qui est-ce que tu écoutes ? — Who are you listening to? → You can replace "qui est-ce que" with "qui" as a direct object (more informal form) - Qui est-ce que tu as vu ?/T'as vu qui ? - Qui est-ce que tu cherches ?/Tu cherches qui ? - Qui est-ce que tu écoutes ?/Tu écoutes qui ?
• To sum up: - Qu'est-ce que... → What... (direct object) - Qu'est-ce qui... → What... (subject) - Qui est-ce ? → Who is it? - Qui est-ce qui... → Who... (subject) - Qui est-ce que... → Who... (direct object)
Hope this helps! Feel free to tell me if you still have questions!
French teachers, please help with these chaos of questions!!!!
Qu'est-ce que?
Qu'est-ce qui?
Qui est-ce?
Qui est-ce qui?
Qui est-ce que?
My poor head! Its crazy!
PLEASE explain me the meaning of all of these.
(Hi! I am Chahtawordoftheday!)
Each new generation is responsible for proliferating their stories. I created this blog because, as a Native, this is hard to do alone. Want to brush up on Chahta anumpa (The Choctaw language) with me? Then this is the blog for you! Look forward to daily vocab, reposted lessons of the day from The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma's website, and a spotlight on Native art/resources.
Speaking of which, here are my favorite Chahta language learning resources:
Here is an online dictionary-makes it easy to check for words/definitions every day! (I know I do)
The Choctaw Dictionary - Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Here is another site I find myself on often-if you are a IPA nerd like I am then you will love this phonic! (and even if you are not, it can still help your understanding of Choctaw words when written vs spoken)
Choctaw Pronunciation Guide, Alphabet and Phonology
Here is the home language page on the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma's site-Look here for common phrases, the lesson of the day, and for who to contact in order to request translations!
Language - Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
This page on the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma's website offers multiple options for language-including virtual, in person, and self-directed! I personally recommend self-directed, especially if you are family with Canvas, registration for this course is the easiest and quickest!
Choctaw Language Classes - Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Here is The University of Oklahoma's Choctaw Language Course Catalogue
CHOC-Choctaw < University of Oklahoma
Here is the r/Choctaw Reddit page-an eclectic and lovely place to reach out to your community as well as look for information
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
If there are any resources you like me to highlight, please let me know! Feel free to tag me in simple posts you'd like translations too, like a picture of a cat (katos) or a snake (sinti), request subjects for the word of the day, and to otherwise dm me! I can't wait to go on this journey with you!
Chi pisa la chike, yakoke! (goodbye and thank you!)
Hi!
I'm a French ghost who has fallen in love with languages and who loves discovering new things :)
I want to use this blog to share my love for languages but also some vocab and other things related to the languages I'm learning. I think it can help me staying motivated and maybe it can help people too!
I'm also a conlanger, so I might post about some of my conlangs (I like to write songs for my Fantasy worldbuilding and translate them in my conlangs)
That's why this blog can be a bit messy, but I just want to have a nice place where I can share a bit of anything and everything :)
(I'll edit this post as I go along)
❈ French: N — it's my mother tongue, so feel free to ask me if you have questions or if you want to chat in french!
❈ English: B2/C1 — well, I don't now what's really my level, I'm not fluent but I understand most things (I just don't speak as well as I write xD)
→ Goal for 2025: practice!
❈ Spanish (Castellano): A2/B1 — I was B2 but I stopped having classes and I didn't practice so I lost my level x)
→ Goal for 2025: practice to get my level back, read and listen to more Spanish!
❈ Hungarian: A1? — my father's Hungarian but I did'nt learn the language as a child, so now I'm learning it :)
→ Goal for 2025: be able to speak with my father and my grandma in Hungarian! Even if it's only tiny sentences
❈ Russian: A1? — not much explanation here, it's just a language that interests me a lot x)
→ Goal for 2025: be able to have a simple conversation, to write simple sentences about my day etc.
❈ Others: as I said before, I love languages! So I really like discovering new things, including the culture! Listening to music, reading new authors, watching films/series, discovering history, traditions... Feel free to send me a message if you want to talk about those topics! I'm also open to learn with another person, even if it's a new language, especially if it's an Eastern-Europe one (czech, romanian, polish...) or a Native american one (I started learning Navajo/Diné Bizaad once but I struggled finding good resources :/)
Learning languages is a journey, it doesn't matter how long it takes you or how's your level after x time learning. Take your time, enjoy the process and celebrate your progress, even the tiniest!
And it's ok to sometimes take a break :)
Take care! ❈
You're doing great 🩵
Internet vernacular has completely altered what some words and expressions mean to me. Forevermore, I will hear the words "hear me out" will only and exclusively as "before you cast your judgements prematurely, please pause and allow me to explain how and why I should be allowed to fuck this thing".
SEMANTIC CHANGES IN ENGLISH
Awful – Literally "full of awe", originally meant "inspiring wonder (or fear)", hence "impressive". In contemporary usage, the word means "extremely bad".
Awesome – Literally "awe-inducing", originally meant "inspiring wonder (or fear)", hence "impressive". In contemporary usage, the word means "extremely good".
Terrible – Originally meant "inspiring terror", shifted to indicate anything spectacular, then to something spectacularly bad.
Terrific – Originally meant "inspiring terror", shifted to indicate anything spectacular, then to something spectacularly good.[1]
Nice – Originally meant "foolish, ignorant, frivolous, senseless". from Old French nice (12c.) meaning "careless, clumsy; weak; poor, needy; simple, stupid, silly, foolish", from Latin nescius ("ignorant or unaware"). Literally "not-knowing", from ne- "not" (from PIE root *ne- "not") + stem of scire "to know" (compare with science). "The sense development has been extraordinary, even for an adj". [Weekley] -- from "timid, faint-hearted" (pre-1300); to "fussy, fastidious" (late 14c.); to "dainty, delicate" (c. 1400); to "precise, careful" (1500s, preserved in such terms as a nice distinction and nice and early); to "agreeable, delightful" (1769); to "kind, thoughtful" (1830).
Naïf or Naïve – Initially meant "natural, primitive, or native" . From French naïf, literally "native", the masculine form of the French word, but used in English without reference to gender. As a noun, "natural, artless, naive person", first attested 1893, from French, where Old French naif also meant "native inhabitant; simpleton, natural fool".
Demagogue – Originally meant "a popular leader". It is from the Greek dēmagōgós "leader of the people", from dēmos "people" + agōgós "leading, guiding". Now the word has strong connotations of a politician who panders to emotions and prejudice.
Egregious – Originally described something that was remarkably good (as in Theorema Egregium). The word is from the Latin egregius "illustrious, select", literally, "standing out from the flock", which is from ex—"out of" + greg—(grex) "flock". Now it means something that is remarkably bad or flagrant.
Gay – Originally meant (13th century) "lighthearted", "joyous" or (14th century) "bright and showy", it also came to mean "happy"; it acquired connotations of immorality as early as 1637, either sexual e.g., gay woman "prostitute", gay man "womaniser", gay house "brothel", or otherwise, e.g., gay dog "over-indulgent man" and gay deceiver "deceitful and lecherous". In the United States by 1897 the expression gay cat referred to a hobo, especially a younger hobo in the company of an older one; by 1935, it was used in prison slang for a homosexual boy; and by 1951, and clipped to gay, referred to homosexuals. George Chauncey, in his book Gay New York, would put this shift as early as the late 19th century among a certain "in crowd", knowledgeable of gay night-life. In the modern day, it is most often used to refer to homosexuals, at first among themselves and then in society at large, with a neutral connotation; or as a derogatory synonym for "silly", "dumb", or "boring".[2]
Guy – Guy Fawkes was the alleged leader of a plot to blow up the English Houses of Parliament on 5 November 1605. The day was made a holiday, Guy Fawkes Day, commemorated by parading and burning a ragged manikin of Fawkes, known as a Guy. This led to the use of the word guy as a term for any "person of grotesque appearance" and then by the late 1800s—especially in the United States—for "any man", as in, e.g., "Some guy called for you". Over the 20th century, guy has replaced fellow in the U.S., and, under the influence of American popular culture, has been gradually replacing fellow, bloke, chap and other such words throughout the rest of the English-speaking world. In the plural, it can refer to a mixture of genders (e.g., "Come on, you guys!" could be directed to a group of mixed gender instead of only men).
Silvio Pasqualini Bolzano inglese ripetizioni English insegnante teacher
You need to be looking for sewing and drawing tutorials in Spanish, to watch baking tutorials in Russian or read the wikipedia article about the insect you've just discovered on your balcony in German ! You cannot watch Peppa pig in your target language forever.
Will knowing how to say "aiguille à tricoter" in French be useful for your exam ? Probably not, but who cares ? You're listening to spoken French AND you're learning a manual skill !
Youtube is full of wonderful tutorials in many languages, everything is there just waiting for you ...
And why stop at manual skills ? Philosophy ? History ? Astrology ? Hop hop hop, in your target language ! Want to learn something about Egypt ? The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona has a coursera course on it.
"But I won't understand anything" I personally prefer to understand 20% of a lecture about a sacred temple in the middle of the desert than understand 60% of the most boring standard "what do you like to eat for breakfast" textbook learning material.
the ladies call me the subjunctive mood the way I express desire, wishes, uncertainty, doubt and fear
Polyglots will do anything to sell you something, so here’s the fastest and most basic technique based on my research.
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Step 1 – Getting the Absolute Basics In
This is where most people already get lost. If you search social media for how to start, the advice isn’t necessarily bad, but it often makes you dependent on a single resource, usually an app that will eventually try to charge you. Duolingo, for example, has turned into a mega-corporation that perfected gamification to keep you on the app.
Remember: free apps make money by keeping you on their platform, not by helping you become fluent.
At this stage, the goal is not to gain conversational skills but to avoid overwhelming yourself and get a feel for what you’re actually getting into. All my recommended resources are free because I believe learning a language should be a basic right. I wouldn’t advise spending any money until you’re sure you’ll stick with it. Otherwise, it can turn into a toxic “but I paid for this, so I have to keep going” mindset that drains all the fun out of learning.
• Language Transfer – Highly recommended for Spanish, Arabic, Turkish, German, Greek, Italian, Swahili, and French.
• Textbooks – Simply search for [language] textbook PDF, or check LibGen and the Internet Archive. Don’t overthink which book to choose—it doesn’t matter much.
• Podcasts – Coffee Break is a solid choice for many languages.
• YouTube Channels – Join r/Learn[language] on Reddit and find recommendations.
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Step 2 – The 20/80 Principle
The idea is that 20% of words make up 80% of everyday speech.
What you’re going to do:
Search “Most common words [language] PDF”.
This list is now your best friend
For flashcards, I highly recommend AnkiPro. It lets you import pre-made lists for Anki/Quizlet and has an archive where you’ll definitely find the most common words. But it lacks audio. The real Anki program has it, but only on PC (unless you’re willing to pay $30 for the mobile app). Use AnkiPro for now—we’ll come back to repeating phrases later. In the meantime, find a YouTube video with the most common words pronounced, or use Google Translate for audio.
(Knowt is a free alternative for Quizlet if you prefer that)
These lists will spare you from learning unnecessary vocabulary at this stage. Spaced repetition (which Anki uses) can take longer, but it’s worth it because you want these words to stick. Anki will only introduce a small number of new words per day. Once you start new words, write phrases using them. Doesn’t matter if they’re random just try to use them.
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Step 3 – The First Breakup With the Language
This isn’t really a step, but I have to mention it. For me (and for other language learners I’ve talked to) this is where motivation crashes.
The dopamine rush is over. Your ego boost is gone. You’re stuck understanding just enough to notice how much you don’t understand, and topics are getting more complex. Everything feels overwhelming, and motivation drops.
This is normal. You have to push through it.
I’ll write a separate post on how I manage this phase, but for now:
• Take a step back and make sure you understand the basics.
• Find something that keeps you motivated.
• Consistency is key. Even if it’s just five minutes a day, do it. (Edit: You can search online for inspiration on scheduled plans. I found one that organizes language exercises into different categories based on how much time you have each day, which seems helpful. https://www.reddit.com/r/languagelearning/s/sSGUtORurM
Personally, I used AI to create a weekly plan kind of as a last resort before giving up on the language, but try looking for pre-made ones first.)
I personally enjoyed story learning during this phase. And don’t forget the frequency lists are still your best friend. For story learning check out Olly Richards books!
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Step 4 – Immersion
Your brain needs active and passive immersion. The earlier steps were mostly active, and now you’ll start the fun part.
How to Immerse Yourself:
1. Join some kind of community.
• I enjoy Reddit/ r/lean[Language]. Do this in your target language, but also in the language you already speak. Post that you’re looking for a chat partner in your target language. The most people are nice, and the mean ones will just ghost you anyway.
2. Watch shows.
• Subtitles only in your target language or drop English subtitles ASAP.
3. Listen to podcasts.
4. Read
I personally dislike media made for kids (except on low-energy days). For real immersion, pick something for adults.
5. Translate, write, and speak.
Before this, you wrote simple sentences using vocabulary. Now, put them to work:
• Translate texts.
• Keep a diary.
• Write short stories.
• Complain about the language in the language.
It doesn’t matter, just use it.
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Step 5 – Speaking
Start speaking earlier than you think you’re ready. Trust me. This is probably where most people disagree with me. I do think you should start by focusing on input, but the importance of output isn’t talked about enough.
Now, the real Anki (or any program with phrases + audio) comes into play. At lower levels, it doesn’t make sense to just start talking, since you wouldn’t even be able to recognize your mistakes. Here’s what you’ll do:
1. Repeat phrases out loud.
2. Record yourself speaking.
3. Compare your recording to the original audio and adjust your pronunciation.
If it’s a tonal language (or if you struggle with accents), start this even earlier.
Other Speaking Strategies:
• Shadowing – Repeat after native speakers.
• Reading aloud – Your own texts, books, anything.
• Talking to yourself.
• Talking to natives (if you’re brave).
I’m not here to fix social anxiety, but I am here to help with language learning, so just speak.
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Final Thoughts
• These steps overlap, and that’s fine.
• This is supposed to be fun. Learning just because you’re “too deep in” or because of school won’t cut it.
• If you’re lost, take a step back.
• I’m not a professional. I just think a straight answer is way too hard to find.
—
If you have anything to add, feel free to share.
A shy little ghost who has fallen in love with languages and wants to become a polyglot. A jumble of discovery and random information. Oh, and also a conlanger :)
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