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Disclaimer: None of my posts have been written using any kind of AI. AI is only used to check on grammar mistakes and word synonyms.&nbsp;Hola!&nbsp;Today, I want to give you 4 ideas to practice your writing skills in any language you are learning.<h3>1. Write your future self a letter</h3>I've started implementing this idea with my A2+ students, and they've been loving it. Using the FutureMe webpage, you can write yourself an email and set the date and time in which you'd like to receive it.&nbsp;I can assure you: it's always a big surprise and a lovely experience to read what you've written. I've done it myself consistently for a couple of years, from whatever state I was writing in (happiness, nostalgia, hopefulness, fear) and writing whatever came to mind at the moment.Whatever I write, it makes me feel like my past "me" is sending an invisible hug to my present "me".If you do it in a foreign language, you'll also be able to judge how much (or not) you have improved in the language. If you have kept just a bit of consistency, you'll see a delightful difference in how you used to write to how you currently write.&nbsp;<h3>2. Leave reviews in Google Maps </h3>&nbsp;Sharing is loving:✨ Write a nice review about that good restaurant you've been to.✨That new coffee shop that has just opened around the corner? Do the owner a favour and share what you liked the most about their brand-new menu. &nbsp;✨Share the timetable details about that bus station only you know about.&nbsp;Needless to say that reading the existing reviews in the language you're learning will also help you to gain more vocabulary around nouns, adjectives and adverbs related to giving and expressing opinions.&nbsp;<h3>3. Take notes about what's happening around you</h3>If you like chilling in a coffee shop, if you're feeling a bit alone in a bar, or if you want to make more of your commute; keep a small notebook or a dedicated note in your phone about what's happening around you.It can be about simple things: what other people are doing, what are they wearing, what they are talking about, what emotions are they expressing, how are they sitting.You can write it in any tense you'd like, according to what you want to express.🕰️ You can keep it simple by writing in the present tense (una mujer camina...)🕰️ Maybe spice the present up with the prerífrasis verbal estar + gerundio (una mujer está caminando...),&nbsp;🕰️ You can put the pasts to use by writing what happened 10 minutes ago (una mujer caminó / una mujer caminaba)🕰️ Or emphasizing what has just happened using the Pretérito Perfecto (una mujer ha caminado con prisa...)🕰️Finally, you can take it one step further and write predictions about what's about to happen, using the future tense (una mujer caminará... &nbsp;/ va a caminar)<h3>4. Leave comments on social media&nbsp;</h3>😊 That positive reinforcement you were just about to leave in the cool video?&nbsp;😡 That criticism you wanted to throw to that enraging post?😏 The cool comment you wanted to leave your friend?Write it in your second language!<h3>Final thoughts</h3>Yes: AI makes it so, so easy to write for us.But being able to write properly allows us to ground ourselves, connect with our own thoughts, and to produce in our own unique ways.Writing is a practice and a statement; it's a political act and an intimate one.Losing the practice of writing is also losing a part of our humanities.&nbsp;Keep writing ✍️💖

4 great ways to write in another language

If you do not live in a country that speaks the language you are learning as the main language, you may want to try this tips: Disclaimer: none of my posts have been written using any kind of AI. I only use AI to check on grammar and synonyms.&nbsp;<h3>1. Create a community that speaks that language (and you only have that language in common)</h3> It doesn't feel right to talk in a language if both parties can communicate better in another. Imagine practising Spanish with your american friend.&nbsp; Find, connect and build relationships with people who only speaks your target language.&nbsp; Ideas: • Bumble &amp; Tinder friends / date mode with language filters • Language Meetings and exchanges • Communities of countries that speak the language you are speaking in your own country<h3>2. Keep in touch with the language without feeling you have to "learn" it </h3>Educational videos and podcasts are great but they do feel staged/ performative.Find channels you actually enjoy in the language you are speaking.&nbsp;You will feel naturally compelled to visit those channels if you actually enjoy them.<h3>3. Turn a hobby into the new language</h3>If you enjoy watching a movie or a series at night: watch them only if they are available in the language you are learning.If you enjoy cooking new dishes from different parts of the world, watch youtube cooking videos or read cooking books in that language only.If you enjoy doing crafts and need tutorials to create them, turn that hobby into your language door.Sports analysis? Find a native that creates that content.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hope this was useful!

The art of keeping in touch with a language if you don't live in a country that speaks it

As all of my posts, this post has not been written by any kind of IA.&nbsp;I have only used AI to check some translations and / or to check grammar mistakes, as English is not my first language. If you are living outside of your native country and you are trying to learn the local language, increasing your political awareness can be a key.Increasing your political awareness can also help you developing your language skills.&nbsp;<h2>Ideas&nbsp;</h2>1. Ask locals how they feel about certain current topicsYou will get a wide range of opinions, but each individual will give you their unique perspective over certain topic.To know what to ask, you can:2. Use "<a data-mce-href="https://www.newsinslowspanish.com/" href="https://www.newsinslowspanish.com/">news in Slow Spanish</a>" to hear about the newsIt's a payed-based platform, but you will be able to listen to interesting audios about the latest news, narrated in a slow and second-language-friendly way.3. Find cool youtubers that share the news in a friendlier wayYou can also ask local friends what are their to-go Youtube sites when it comes to news.&nbsp;Alternatively, you can try getting into Youtube's rabbit holes until you find channels that make you feel welcomed.&nbsp;Remember you can slow down or speed down any video using the tool bar.&nbsp;4. Listen to podcasts about local and worldwide newsSame alternative as Youtube, but better if you are on the go, commuting or using mobile data.Don't forget that listening without visual imputs is considerably harder.Give yourself a big pat on the back if you can understand loose words,&nbsp; complete phrases or ideas: any of those are big accomplishments!&nbsp;<h2>Benefits of following what's happening in the country</h2>1. You will be more aware of the country's struggles, hot topics and current situation.&nbsp;That knowledge is useful in itself, in my opinion, but it can also fuel decisions about&nbsp;investments, job market status, places to live, and legal modifications in the country.&nbsp;2. You will be able to understand the target language better"Traditional" reporters and journalists usually speak separating words, pronunciating clearly, and you can see different other imputs on the screen (texts, images). I find them easier to follow rather than "normal" people reporting news.&nbsp;3. But, if you follow "normal" people who are reporting news...You will be able to pick up the "real" way in which locals speak. Finally, it's also respectful to be politically aware of the country you are visiting or living in, and an opportunity to connect more deeply with locals, who are the ones who struggle the most with their countries's policies. You will get the chance to be able to dive more deeply into their situations and understand better how the country came to be why it is like it is now.&nbsp;

Improve your language skills by being politically aware (specially if you are an expat)

Writing journals can be a great way to improve your written skills in a foreign language, whatever your initial level.&nbsp;<h2>For A1-A2 learners, you can use this prompts:</h2>1)&nbsp; ¿Cómo me siento hoy? (how do I feel today?)Me siento...Emociones positivas: contento / emocionado /&nbsp; alegre /&nbsp; feliz / extasiado (+)Emociones negativas: cansado / sobreestimulado / agobiado &nbsp;(+)Sentimientos muy negativos: triste / pesimista / deprimido (+)2) ¿Cuál fue el mejor momento del día?Fue cuando... (tomé un café con una amiga/ volví a casa)3) ¿Qué hábitos implementé hoy?Tomar / tomé 2 litros de agua...Ir / fui al gimnasio...Pasear / paseé al perro...<h2>For B1-B2 learners, you can use this prompts:</h2>1) ¿Qué hábitos saludables podría incorporar a mi rutina?Podría beber más agua / Podría ir al gimnasio / Debería utilizar menos el móvil2) ¿Tuve alguna emoción fuerte? ¿Qué sucedía a mi alrededor / qué la desencadenó?Me enojé cuando estaba en el trabajo y mi compañero me hizo un comentario inapropiado. 3) ¿Qué me gustaría que pase mañana para tener un buen día?Que coma mi comida favorita / Que mire una película muy buena por la noche / Que me reúna con mis amigas a cenar<h2>For B2-C2 learners, you can use this prompts:</h2>1) Si hubiese podido cambiar algo de este día, ¿qué sería?2) ¿De qué me habré arrepentido pasado mañana si no lo hago mañana?3) ¿Si podría hacer cualquier cosa mañana sin que importase el dinero o las consecuencias, qué sería?

How to improve your language proficiency by journaling

I love to incorporate Latin American music, especially with songs from Shakira 💃 and Bad Bunny 🕺.Not only because we (all) love them, but also because music has the potential to help us learn better and feel connected to a language.I started by paying more attention to the music I heard and trying to notice the grammar intrinsic to the lyrics. Then I brought the songs into my Spanish lessons.Here's a list of some songs I love using from these two artists and the grammar topics I cover with them, in increasing levels of difficulty:🕺 Bad Bunny: ⏯️"Yo no soy celoso" Grammar: verb "ser" in the present. "Yo no soy celoso, pero ¿quién es ese cabrón?"⏯️"Estamos bien" Grammar: verb "estar" in the present. "No te preocupes, estamos bien. Sobran los billetes de 100"⏯️"Yonaguni" Grammar and vocabulary: ▪ Verbs in the present tense. ▪ Possessives. ▪ Vocabulary related to physical descriptions. "Pero cuando bebo me viene tu nombre, tu cara, tu risa y tu pelo…"⏯️"La canción" Grammar: ▪ Contrast between pretérito indefinido e imperfecto. ▪ Pretérito pluscuamperfecto. "Pensaba que te había olvidado, pero pusieron la canción"⏯️"Si estuviéramos juntos" Grammar: pretérito imperfecto and pretérito pluscuamperfecto (both of the subjuntivo). "Y me pregunto qué hubiera pasado, si estuviésemos juntos, aún enamorados"💃 Shakira: ⏯️"Te aviso, te anuncio" Grammar: regular verbs in the 1st form of the present. "Te aviso, te anuncio, que hoy renuncio..."⏯️"Inevitable" Grammar: irregular verbs in the present. "Nadie piensa en ti como lo hago yo, aunque te de lo mismo”⏯️"¿Dónde estás corazón?" Grammar: ▪ Verb "estar" in the present. ▪ Pretérito indefinido. ▪ Prepositions of placement. ▪ Vocabulary: random objects📘📻🚘 "¿Dónde estás corazón? Te busqué en el armario, en el abecedario, debajo del carro, en el negro, en el blanco, en los libros de historia, en las revistas, en la radio." Learn&nbsp;

Learn Spanish with Bad Bunny and Shakira

Self-teaching through songs is a great way to study a language using real-world materials. It takes attentive listening, some repetition and a great deal of analysis, but with the possibility to learn better the flow of a language.When analizyng a song, try to identify these:<h3>Do the lyrics and the video match?</h3>The video can give us a great deal of information about what the song is about, but some times it will not have anything to do with it. Try to see if there's any correlation.&nbsp;<h3>Verbs and Tenses</h3>Pay close attention to verbs in the texts you're studying. Try to identify the ones you already know and determine their tense. This will help you grasp the context and meaning of sentences more effectively.<h3>Filler words and popular words</h3>While studying, make an effort to separate filler or colloquial words from the sentences. However, don't ignore them entirely; learning these words will help you sound more natural in everyday conversations. Words like "bebé", "mi amor", etc., are very commonly used should be learned as well.<h3> Vocabulary seeking</h3>Actively seek out new words and phrases. Explore how these words are used in different contexts, including popular settings such as social media or informal conversations. This will broaden your understanding and fluency in the language. <h3>Set Phrases</h3>Look out for set phrases or expressions that are frequently used in the language. These phrases often remain consistent in their structure and usage. Learning them will not only improve your comprehension but also make you sound more proficient.If you incorporate these strategies into your self-study routine, you'll be able to make good amount of progress in your language learning journey. Keep exploring, practicing, and listening to good music along the way.

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4 great ways to write in another language

The art of keeping in touch with a language if you don't ...

Improve your language skills by being politically aware (...

How to improve your language proficiency by journaling

Learn Spanish with Bad Bunny and Shakira

How to teach yourself a language using only songs