I'm kind of learning another language at the mo. (Won't say which on this board - but it is Slavic
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I use a digital recorder, a phrase book, and my own notes*, and when I meet people I know and we have time, I sit them down, and do a few words or short sentances with them. I say the target word(s) and they repeat it in the target language.
(Repeating means it's much easier for you to pick it up. I learned this method donkeys years ago from some 'floppy discs' - 7" ones on a turntable - and learned a few dozen or hundred words/phrases in German, Spanish, Turkish and Arabic this way. Of course, I bought these discs, and even still have some sets.)
What I do now - my 'home-made lessons' - typically last 30 seconds to 1 min 30 seconds each.
This may sound (and indeed is) rather amateurish, but it has some wonderful side effects that I never imagined when I started this exactly one year ago. (My first 'lesson' was a native saying "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" after a Christmas drinkie-do.)
First of all, people really like helping you - at least so long as you keep the 'lessons' short.
I've used all sorts of people - from country folks to professors and even the local ambassador.
Second - my orignal plan was to wipe the lessons after 'learning' them. For example, a recent lesson consisted of "north, south, east and west" (all as single words - so very simple - you can learn that by listening three-four times over each of three days.)
But, since it's been done personally, rather than in a professional sound studio, it's rather like an audio photograph, and you remember the person and their character when you hear them. In another case (a very early 'lesson') a friend makes a mistake and laughs. I know that lesson now, but I won't wipe it as it is personal, and reminds me of the friend.
Third - and this was the case with the "north, south, east, west" lesson - it helps friendships, even if of only a temporary kind. I was in a pension and could not really communicate well with the old couple owners, who only spoke German - so it was either sit trying to say a few sentences here and there (about their wine, or football - their son was a semi-pro), or go to my room.
But the language 'lesson' meant we had something else to do - they were happy - and it helped create a friendly atmosphere.
On my last trip, I even started to play the people older recordings, to see if the natives could guess the local accent of my 'teacher' for that lesson.
One of the problems I have is that the phrase book I use is sloppy in places. So, for example, there is a section with phrases like; Are you English? - while the question in the target language is actually; Are you from England?
Might sound a small mistake - but if you are trying to understand and build up a knowledge of the grammar, this is a bummer.
So now, i try to use 'educated' natives when doing phrases - natives that understand and will tell you when the book is inaccurate.
Another problem is that it gives one phrase, but then moves on - so you have trouble knowing which word is what. eg in the "at the doctor" section it says;
"I have a pain in my back."
* So what I do now is write up my own sentences, with just one word different eg "I have a pain in my chest" and then "My wife has a pain in her chest" - something like that, so you can deduce which word means what from what is said.
For Croatian, if you fancy trying this method, try to get hold of the Lonely Planet Croatian phrase book (the one Anna used to send out, maybe still does) - in my opinion it is excellent if used this way, and I wish my phrase book was as good as this.
I don't think I'll ever speak my target language fluently with my method (certainly not alone) - but I dont live there, so it's not critical for me. But it's fun, creates friends and I find it intellectually stimulating.
You could, of course, use a cassette recorder - but the digital things - I mean, they only cost €50 at the cheap end - are ideal for learning languages as you can immediately go back to the beginning of the lesson in an instant.
Kesterj
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