2000 Index Cards, and Learning Languages

When I acquired 2000 index cards, my friends asked what they were for. Lots of things, but here I am using them for watercolored mnemonics for French phrases. Having conceded that Finnish is unmasterable, not only because of its grammatical complexity but because an English speaker in Helsinki never has a chance to speak it, I reconceived of myself not as a failed Finn, but as a potential European and decided I would master at least one European language. I was closer in French than Spanish so I’ve been working at it. Easy language, and solid literature too! To study languages I recommend two books, The Practice of Practice, which is about learning music, but is applicable to any learned skill, and Fluent Forever, which. It was from the latter book I derived this flash card method.

Another homeschooling parent told me her son learned his excellent, fluent Chinese by watching Chinese soap operas, and I was gratified to discover that you can watch most things on Netflix in French with French subtitles. I switched my movie viewing to French, my reading to French,  my podcasts to French, my dreams to French…

Author: Caterina Fake

Literature, Art, Poetry, Homeschooling Mother. Founder & CEO, Findery. Co-founder, Flickr & Hunch.

3 thoughts on “2000 Index Cards, and Learning Languages”

  1. Heureux de voir qu’il existe encore des amoureux de la langue française à travers le monde même si je ne suis pas persuadé qu’il s’agisse de la langue la plus facile (vous auriez dû choisir l’ Espagnol !!!)

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    1. C’est vrai que Français ne soit pas la PLUS facile, mais c’est facile particulièrement si vous aviez juste essayé apprendre Finois, la langue la plus
      difficile du monde

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