What are the steps anyone can take to learn Serbian? Check out our 3-step guide and start learning Serbian right now.
<p>The post Why You Don’t Need a Serbian Teacher After Learning the Basics first appeared on TalkIn Serbian Podcast.</p>
]]>Why You Don’t Need a Serbian Teacher After Learning the Basics
By Danica Gómez Marković
Do you know what you need to know to start communicating in Serbian? Each language has its own musts, but no worries. I will tell you what you have to learn in Serbian to start speaking with people in the streets.
Start hard, finish easy
People mostly judge the difficulty of a language by what you need to learn to make a full sentence. In Serbian that means learning a bunch of things. Therefore, the reputation preceding it is not great.
It is true you will need to get a grasp of more things to start speaking Serbian rather than Spanish, for example. However, in Spanish life gets complicated once you reach the intermediate level. What I’m trying to say is that there will always be things that are hard when you’re learning a new language.
Let’s check everything you need to learn grammar-wise in order to start speaking Serbian.
The best way to study
When you’re searching for the best way to study, think about what would be the most sustainable option for you. Organize your activities to have a constant learning pace, but also don’t push it too hard. You don’t want to put yourself in hyperspeed and give up after two weeks. The ‘go hard or go home’ plan is not sustainable.
Of course, you need to consider your goals. If you have a deadline, sustainability would not be the first thing on your mind. Luckily, the deadline will motivate you to study hard and not surrender. Your goals can also be speaking with your partner, or in-laws, being more independent, etc. Whichever it is, always have it in mind.
Another thing you need to reflect on is your learning style. This is important, especially for the work you have to do at home. For example, if you prefer visual aids, make mind maps or organize content in tables. For other learning styles, you might need to take notes or repeat explanations out loud. Do whatever is necessary to make learning and connecting the dots more easily.
Considering what you need to learn in Serbian to start communicating, my advice for beginners is to find:
- a teacher for private lessons
- a group course
- a self-paced course.
Choose whichever suits you best, but you need to get the basics from somewhere. The best thing would be to get them in a structured way, which a teacher or a course can provide. Most Serbian courses go over all of the topics we mentioned and more in a 9-month period of about three-hour lessons per week.
As you can see for yourself, it’s a lot of grammar* for 9 months, so there’s a lot of work you need to do at home by yourself – study, practice, repeat.
*Of course, Serbian courses are not all about grammar, but this is usually the part that scares students the most. You don’t need a teacher after learning the basics
Let’s say you did 9, 12, or 18 months of course. You acquired the basics and are wondering what now? Should you take another course to learn more or further practice what you learned?
If you did your job well enough during the course, it is time to leave the nest. You acquired everything you need at least to the point of understanding and now it’s time to start engaging with the real world.
You don’t feel ready? You probably never will, so let’s not make it an obstacle.
Action plan
Use the time during or after the course to immerse yourself in the Serbian-speaking world. It should become part of your daily routine. Remember, learning a language is more about consistency in small doses than two-week marathons.
How can you integrate the Serbian language into your life?
You might think, if you’re living in Serbia, that’s easy. Trust me, it’s also easy to get used to not understanding and living in a bubble. That’s why if you live in Serbia you should:
- Meet Serbian people and try doing some activities with them. Enjoy the role of the dark horse in group conversations, but in the meantime observe and absorb the way people are speaking, their body language, and intonation.
- Meet other foreigners who are learning Serbian. Share your experience of learning Serbian with them. Maybe they will give you a different perspective on things that are bothering you in Serbian.
- Try doing as many activities as you can. Go to museums or art galleries and pick up the vocabulary. In bigger cities like Belgrade and Novi Sad, you can visit many other events locals go to.
If you’re living abroad:
- Listen to as much content in Serbian as you can: podcasts, movies, series, and YouTube videos (it is recommended if you live in Serbia too). Find whatever interests you and make it a daily activity.
To engage further with what you are listening to, you can write about it in Serbian or practice speaking by speaking to yourself. I prepared my speaking part for a Cambridge exam by watching Oprah’s motivational videos and talking to myself about the topics she mentioned.
Of course, reading is a good option too, but always combine it with listening so your ear would get used to the sounds.
Troubles understanding when natives speak Serbian?
Check out our TalkIn’ Serbian Beginner Podcast where the language in our Serbian conversation is adapted to beginner level. There is also a transcript, vocabulary list, and worksheet for each episode to help you follow, understand, and practice the real Serbian language.
Let’s sum up
The Serbian language is much more than grammar and vocabulary. However, to be able to enter the Serbian language world and the culture you will need to acquire structured knowledge through lessons with a teacher or a course.
Nonetheless, sticking with a teacher more than necessary is counterproductive. Once you acquire the basics and understand how the system works, you are ready to get out there and speak.
This doesn’t mean you’ll be good at it from the beginning, but it is the only way to become a Serbian speaker.
In order to learn a skill you want to have as much exposure as you can to repeat the action.
Be patient with yourself and do your best in every situation.
It always helps if you hear a story from a person who’s been through the same as you.
Chris shared his experience and tips for learning Serbian in the TalkIn’ Serbian Podcast.
Want to know more about the Serbian language?
Check out our blog and start learning for free.
Easter in Serbian is a special time of year. If you're planning to visit during this period, check out what you can expect during your stay. Be prepared and enjoy Easter in Serbia.
Do you feel there are some Serbian word that you always mess up? It's because they are plural! Let me help you figure them out in this post.
<p>The post Why You Don’t Need a Serbian Teacher After Learning the Basics first appeared on TalkIn Serbian Podcast.</p>
]]><p>The post 3 Steps You Need to Take To Learn Serbian first appeared on TalkIn Serbian Podcast.</p>
]]> Is learning Serbian only for the young ones? Or just for the ones with the genes for languages?
It’s easy to think this way if we don’t know the right steps to take to learn Serbian. People might be more or less prone to understand how a language works. Simply said, for some learning Serbian may be going smoothly, and for others, it might feel like dealing with the country’s bureaucracy – stressful and painful.
Whether you are in the first or the second group, the steps you need to take to learn Serbian are the same. Let’s check them out.
Step 1 - Get the basics right
First, you need to find a structured path to help you set the base of Serbian. This will help you understand how the language works, how different it is from your mother tongue, and what you need to pay special attention to.
When it comes to how to do it, there are some questions you need to think about:
- What is more important, a course or a teacher?
- Should you take private or group lessons?
The answer to both is – and try not to hate me here – it depends. Before finding the right answer for you, take into consideration some personal factors.
- How independent are you when it comes to studying a language?
- Are you able to understand and apply explanations after reading them?
- How much time can you invest in studying on your own?
Try to be truthful to yourself when answering. Think about the long-term routine. What could you include in your day-to-day and make it sustainable?
Private lessons are a good option if –
- you need more time to understand concepts and learn new content
- you don’t want to follow the generic curriculum.
If you opt for private lessons, a great thing would be to find a teacher who speaks your mother tongue. The mere fact that this person will know which are the major differences between Serbian and your mother tongue is paramount. You will be able to make progress faster and won’t depend on your or the teacher’s knowledge of English.
For those of you who don’t need the extra help, but like to set your own pace when studying, another option is self-study courses.
I’d recommend group lessons for everyone who feels better when sharing their learning journey with others and wants to meet people that are in a similar situation. In group lessons, the knowledge is shared. The whole group learns from the failures and successes of each other.
On the other hand, what many students don’t realize about group lessons is that they need to put in the extra hours at home. Not just to do your homework, but to go above and beyond the content your see during the course. Of course, working extra goes for everyone, but we’ll talk about it more in step 2.
Step 2 - Find a way to “mingle” with the Serbian culture
When you’re a beginner, immersing yourself in Serbian language and culture can be frustrating. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. You need to understand that your two or three hours of weekly lessons with the teacher won’t cut it. It’s great to set the base, but not nearly enough for you to learn to communicate.
Courses are a controlled environment and it is important for you to be in touch with the real language.
Why do you need daily exposure to the language you’re learning?
Brains are malleable. This means they are able to change and adapt. It is why you should take the language you’re learning in little daily doses.
Your brain needs time to accept the different reality of Serbian and the system around it. It needs to get used to the rhythm, the sounds, and everything related to it.
If you’re a beginner in Serbian, start with something small: a song or a short video. Try to find out what they are about.
Once you are more advanced, think about having 15 to 30 minutes of Serbian content each day. And the important thing is to try to make it effortless. Making yourself listen, read or watch Serbian content you are not interested in is not a good long-term strategy.
TalkIn’ Serbian Podcast is just one of the many online choices you have to be in touch with the Serbian language.
Step 3 - Practice, practice, practice
Shocking, I know. When you watch, listen, and read stuff on a daily basis that’s awesome. But it’s not enough. It’s just step 2, remember?
You need to take that content and knowledge and use it for your communication purposes. Whether you are going to speak with ChatGPT or have a pen pal (the latter is the better option), that’s on you. Just don’t fool yourself. One thing is to understand and a totally different one is to communicate exactly what you wanted to say.
Let’s see what will probably happen to you when you start to speak Serbian:
You will feel stupid.
Natives will look at you in a weird way and try to speak English.
You probably won’t sound very smart, but that’s ok. The other person probably just wants to understand your message.
You will try to translate directly from your mother tongue and won’t be understood.
You will blush and want to give up.
Natives will look at you in a weird way and try to speak English.
You probably won’t sound very smart, but that’s ok. The other person probably just wants to understand your message.
You will try to translate directly from your mother tongue and won’t be understood.
You will blush and want to give up.
If you feel any of these at any given moment, congratulations! You’re on the right path to becoming a Serbian speaker. It is necessary for you to go through these steps so you could become better each time.
When you accept you’ll make a fool of yourself at some point and probably won’t speak perfectly for some time (or ever), it becomes better. Who knows, you might even enjoy the whole process.
Final Step
There is no final step. These three above are the only things you need to do. So, let’s go over it again. You need to:
- Get a solid basic knowledge of the language
- Be in touch with the language passively
- Practice like there’s no tomorrow
Try applying these for a longer period, then let me know how it’s going. Sing up for the TalkIn’ Serbian Newsletter where I give you specific recommendations for learning Serbian, exercises, and special offers.
Tell me, which of the steps is your favorite?
Want to know more about the Serbian language?
Check out our blog and start learning for free.
Easter in Serbian is a special time of year. If you're planning to visit during this period, check out what you can expect during your stay. Be prepared and enjoy Easter in Serbia.
Is Serbian language really hard to learn? Read the post and find out what to expect and how to approach learning Serbian.
It's Christmas time! Let's learn all the words you need to know in Serbian for your Christmas tree.
<p>The post 3 Steps You Need to Take To Learn Serbian first appeared on TalkIn Serbian Podcast.</p>
]]><p>The post Don’t be afraid to ask for more – Using više and još in the Serbian language first appeared on TalkIn Serbian Podcast.</p>
]]>Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For More in Serbian
Using 'više' and 'još' in the Serbian language
By Danica Gómez Marković
What do these words – više and još – mean in Serbian? Surprisingly enough, they both mean “more”. But there’s a catch.
These words aren’t always interchangeable. My husband Chris was always mixing them up. I helped him learn to use them well. In this article, I will explain how you too can use them correctly and never make a mistake again.
With verbs
Još + verbs
Positive verbs
You want to express that something is still happening.
Position: before the verb
Meaning: još + positive verb = still
Example: Još radim u istoj firmi. I still work at the same firm.
Negative verbs
You want to express that something hasn’t happened yet.
Position: before the verb
Meaning: još + negative verb = yet
Example: Još nisam išla kod frizera. I haven’t gone to the hairstylist’s yet.
The meaning we want to transmit in Serbian is: I still haven’t gone to the hairstylist’s.
Više + verbs
Positive verbs
Form: VIŠE + positive verb + NEGO
Meaning: more than*
If you use više with a positive verb and nego (than) in the second clause, then you are comparing and saying you like doing something more than something else.
Više volim da skijam nego da plivam. I prefer to ski than to swim. (You can actually translate VIŠE VOLETI as to prefer.)
Više idem na more nego na planinu. I go to the seaside more than to the mountains.
*If you want to express the opposite and say to do or love something less, then use the word manje instead of više.
Manje volim da skijam nego da plivam. I like skiing less than swimming.
Manje idem na more nego na planinu. I go to the seaside less than I go to the mountains.
With negative verbs
If you use više with negative verbs, you are not comparing, but actually saying that something is not happening anymore.
Više ne radim u istoj firmi. I don’t work in the same company anymore.
Compare these:
Još ne radim u toj firmi. – I’m not working in that firm yet.
Više ne radim u toj firmi. – I’m not working in that firm anymore.
With the verb IMATI (between a verb and a noun)
As we do not have the equivalent expression of there is/are, we primarily use the verb imati (to have) instead. If you combine this expression with više or još, you will get two different things. Check out these examples:
Ima još slatkiša u kuhinji. – There are more sweets in the kitchen. (besides the ones you see)
With više we want to say there is more of something or not more of something.
Ima više slatkiša u kuhinji. – There are more sweets in the kitchen. (more than here)
Nema više slatkiša u kuhinji. There are no more sweets in the kitchen.
With HTETI or ŽELETI (after the verb)
- Želim/hoću više. – I want more than what I have or something better.
- Želim/hoću još. – I want more of what I have, just a bigger quantity.
- ! Šta više hoćeš? – What more do you want?
Watch out for this one because it sounds like the person saying it is running out of his or her patience.
- Šta još hoćeš? – This one means ‘what else do you want’ but watch for the context. It can also have a figurative meaning like ‘you should be thankful for what you have’.
But, remember, if you are having a drink or something to eat, and you want more of it, you ask for još, not više. You can say:
Hoću još. OR Želim još.
Quantity
Pay attention to the meaning in the following examples:
- Imam više prijatelja nego pre dve godine. I have more friends than two years ago.
It’s not possible to use još instead of više here. The reason is that we always use više for comparison (the word nego signals the comparison).
- Imam još prijatelja, nisu me svi napustili. I have more friends, not everyone has abandoned me.
We can’t use više here because it would sound like some kind of comparison. What we are saying here is: I still have some friends left, apart from the ones who abandoned me.
- – Upsi, pojeo sam ti svu čokoladu.
– Nema veze, kupio sam još.
– Ups, I have eaten all of your chocolate.
– No worries, I bought more (than the one you ate).
This example is actually similar to the one before. We can’t use više here because we are not comparing. We are just stating that there’s more quantity of something.
With nouns
In the same way as in the last example, to ask for more of something, use još:
Još piva, molim vas. More beer, please.
Or with numbers:
Još jedno pivo, molim vas. One more beer, please.
Više jedno pivo, molim vas. We don’t use numbers after više.
Ja želim više avantura u svom životu. I want more adventures in my life than I already had. Remember, with više almost always there is some kind of comparison involved.
Ja želim još avantura u svom životu. I had adventures and I want more of them.
With other words
There are some words that još and više can be combined with in order to form expressions of a specific meaning.
Još + uvek
Meaning: still, yet (same as with još + verbs)
Još uvek radim u istoj firmi. I still work at the same firm.
Još uvek nisam išla kod frizera. I haven’t gone to the hairstylist yet (but we actually say ‘I still haven’t gone to the hairstylist).
Još + comparative adjective
Meaning: even more
Ako sam ja štreber, onda si ti još veći. If I’m a nerd, you’re an even bigger one.
Još + više
Meaning: even more
Ako sam ja štreber, onda si ti još više. If I’m a nerd, you are even more (of a nerd).
Više + nikad (nikad + više)
Meaning: never again
Nikad više neću ići u taj hotel. Usluga je bila očajna. I’ll never go to that hotel again. The service was awful.
Više nikad neću gledati horor filmove. I’ll never watch horror movies again.
Hajde + više
Meaning: come on already
Čekam na semaforu 100 godina da se uključi zeleno. Hajde više! I’ve been waiting for 100 years for a green light. Come on already!
What is the best way to learn to use JOŠ and VIŠE correctly?
You first need to read this article carefully. Focus on the general and then on the specific. Još and više are rarely interchangeable, even though they have the same meaning.
Remember that više almost always involves a comparison while još is to express more of the same. Make many examples of your own. Think about day-to-day situations when you would use these words.
Once you get the general knowledge, pay attention to the special meanings these words can form. Learning in context is much easier so think of a specific situation where you would use još više, više nikad or hajde više.
Most important thing: get out and practice. Or connect with others and practice.
Want to know more about the Serbian language?
Check out our blog and start learning for free.
Easter in Serbian is a special time of year. If you're planning to visit during this period, check out what you can expect during your stay. Be prepared and enjoy Easter in Serbia.
Before you embark on the journey and start learning Serbian, check out everything you need to know about this language.
Is Serbian language really hard to learn? Read the post and find out what to expect and how to approach learning Serbian.
<p>The post Don’t be afraid to ask for more – Using više and još in the Serbian language first appeared on TalkIn Serbian Podcast.</p>
]]><p>The post How to pronounce Serbian vowels so everyone can understand you first appeared on TalkIn Serbian Podcast.</p>
]]>How to pronounce Serbian vowels so everyone can understand you
By Danica Gómez Marković
When it comes to Serbian pronunciation everyone focuses on consonants, but vowels are equally as important. You should first learn to pronounce the Serbian vowels correctly and then focus on the consonants.
You think Serbian vowels are easy to pronounce? Let’s give it a go.
An underlying problem
Most people learn Serbian through English. This means most beginner lessons are in English. Overall this is not an ideal situation. The best thing would be to learn with someone who knows your mother tongue, can compare it to Serbian, and understand the difficulties you have.
As per pronunciation of vowels, if your first language is Italian or Spanish, Serbian vowels are a piece of cake for you. But if you strongly rely on English to learn Serbian, it could be a problem.
I’ve seen it, I’ve heard it. You also have this problem if you’re reading Serbian words that are similar to English as you would read them in English. Check this out:
Four types of accents in Serbian
Before we dive deeper into the vowels, we need to talk about the accent. As carriers of stress in a word, it is essential to pronounce vowels correctly. In the Serbian language, accent usually isn’t marked, so the only way to know how to pronounce the word is to first hear it.
Syllables are an important player here. A word can be divided into smaller units called syllables. Like this: fan-tas-tic. The word ‘fantastic’ has 3 syllables (fan-tas-tic). Let’s see an example with a Serbian word:
raz-mi-sli-ti
or
the word we will use further below lekar, which only has two syllables –
le-kar.
Pronunciation hack
Pronouncing words, even difficult ones, can be easier if you divide them into syllables and pronounce them syllable per syllable until it gets easier.
What accents are there in the Serbian language? A word can be stressed in 4 ways:
- longrising ′
- shortrising ‵
- longfalling ⁀
- shortfalling ‶
While many speakers hear the difference between long and short accents, they don’t hear it between falling and rising accents.
General Guidelines about Word Stress in Serbian
- Officially the last syllable can never be stressed unless it’s a one-syllable word. Meaning that, for example, you can’t pronounce the word ‘lekar’ as
leKAR but LEkar. In reality in many dialects across Serbia speakers stress the last syllable.
However, in regions where this is not the case, stressing the last syllable can be seen as a sign of a rural accent. Stressing the last syllable usually doesn’t provoke misunderstandings between speakers.
- Even the non-stressed syllables can be long or short. If they are long, you’ll probably think the word has two accents, like in DEvojka. The underlined syllable is not stressed but it’s long.
- Even though a vowel is always the one to carry the accent in a stressed syllable, you know some Serbian words have no vowels. These are usually one-syllable words and carry an /r/ sound, which is stressed. ‘R’ is considered a semivowel in this case: crn, vrh, prst.
Serbian vowels
Quick rules to remember about Serbian vowels:
- There are only 5 of them.
- Vowels are pronounced without obstacles. The air you exhale while pronouncing vowels is not hit by your teeth, tongue, or lips.
- They are always pronounced.
- You always use your vocal cords to pronounce them.
- They are always pronounced the same way.
- They can be long and short. In phonetics, a long vowel is marked by: as in the word ‘ideja’ /iděːja/.
- Two successive vowels in the same word always belong to different syllables. You never combine them. What do I mean?
avion -> a-vi-on
vakuum -> va-ku-um
aerodrom -> a-e-ro-drom
Let’s check each vowel and get you ready to practice.
/a/
For this sound, we use the letter A or a. The same goes for Cyrillic.
How to pronounce it?
Mouth – wide open
Lips – neutral (don’t do anything)
Tongue – low in the mouth, relaxed
Practice with me
/e/
For this sound, we use the letter E or e in both Latin and Cyrillic.
How to pronounce it?
Mouth – just a little bit open
Lips – a bit tense toward the back
Tongue – middle height
Practice with me
/i/
In the Latin alphabet, we use the letters I and i, and in the Cyrillic one И and и.
How to pronounce it?
Mouth – you’re almost smiling, BUT show your lower teeth a bit
Lips – stretched and tensed
Tongue – high in the mouth, shifted towards the front
While looking at my face trying to pronounce /i/ I have to notice it’s a great smile face for the photos. Remember it!
Practice with me
/o/
We use the letters O and o, both in Latin and Cyrillic alphabet.
How to pronounce it?
Mouth – open
Lips – rounded, ”o” shape
Tongue – middle height
Practice with me
/u/
In the Latin alphabet, we use the letters U and u, and in the Cyrillic one У and у.
How to pronounce it?
Mouth – just a little bit open
Lips – rounded, tilted forward (“o” shape)
Tongue – middle height, shifted toward the back
Make the same face as if you were to blow a candle. The position for pronouncing /o/ and /u/ is almost the same but with /o/ lips and mouth are more open.
Practice with me
Tips for the best way to practice pronunciation
To be sure you are pronouncing the best way possible, practice whenever you can and record yourself. This is the only way to hear those little differences between you and native speakers.
Pay attention to the difference between long and short vowels. Exaggerate while you practice. If you should pronounce it long, you make it extra long.
Play with pronunciation like these guys here.
This is a joke, of course, but you really should loosen up when it comes to practicing pronunciation. And having fun while doing it is never a bad thing.
The more you listen to the real Serbian language, the more you will be able to understand and talk with people on the street. Following a transcript while listening to the TalkIn’ Serbian Podcast will help you improve your pronunciation skills. When you’re reading and listening at the same time, this happens:
- Your brain connects sounds and letters.
- It also creates a new way to interpret written text. You won’t be reading Serbian through your mother tongue anymore!
- Your ear is adapting to new sounds, tones, and rhythms of speaking. Next time you pronounce the word wrong, your brain will send you an alert. You will be aware of your mistake, which is the only way to correct it and improve your pronunciation skills.
Remember, you can’t pronounce words you haven’t heard and you can’t pronounce them well until you hear and read them at the same time. Find all transcripts below.
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Quick View -
Quick View -
Quick View
Want to know more about the Serbian language?
Check out our blog and start learning for free.
You do need a teacher to learn Serbian. But only the basics. Find out what to do after you complete your beginner course in Serbian.
It's Christmas time! Let's learn all the words you need to know in Serbian for your Christmas tree.
Easter in Serbian is a special time of year. If you're planning to visit during this period, check out what you can expect during your stay. Be prepared and enjoy Easter in Serbia.
<p>The post How to pronounce Serbian vowels so everyone can understand you first appeared on TalkIn Serbian Podcast.</p>
]]><p>The post Why you can’t learn Serbian like you learned your mother tongue first appeared on TalkIn Serbian Podcast.</p>
]]>Why you can't learn Serbian like you learned your mother tongue
By Danica Gómez Marković
Language learning has progressed a lot in the last decade. Still, many people are reluctant to speak the target language when they finish their language course. This happens with Serbian lessons too. Why is that?
Is it because people are busier than ever before, swamped with endless tasks at work and home? Or maybe language learning methodologies are not fully adapted for giving practical knowledge?
On one side, people are busy and dedicate little time to practice and learning outside of the classroom. But also learning methods are too far away from the real-life rhythm. Is it possible that the way we learned our mother tongue is the only proper (and least painful) way to learn a language?
DISCLAIMER
In this blog post I will tell you how people feel when learning, speaking, and making mistakes in their second language. While some of these are conclusions from observing and speaking to my students and friends, many are personal impressions because I too am a foreign language learner.
Is learning a mother tongue a painless experience?
Learning a mother tongue is indeed a natural process. However, just because it’s natural, it doesn’t mean it was painless (and let’s be fair, you probably don’t remember a lot of it). Looking at my two-year-old trying to make a sentence, I can confirm it’s everything but painless.
He hates it when people don’t understand what he wants to say. Even though he’s in a stage when he can almost perfectly repeat the word you tell him, after five minutes he is not able to perfectly pronounce it until he hears it again! Which means they are not as fast of learners as everyone thinks. They also need to be exposed many times before perfecting their knowledge.
Advantages of toddlers learning their mother tongue compared to adult learners of a second language
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s see the environment a toddler has when learning a mother tongue, compared to you learning a second language.
- Starting from scratch
Toddlers are a linguistic tabula rasa – a clean slate. They don’t have any knowledge of any language and are just observing how people around them communicate.
Adult learners are not as good observers as toddlers. Your mother tongue already formed the way you think and expose your thoughts, which is a great obstacle in your learning process. To overcome it you need to get in touch with a lot of content you can understand in the target language.
- Need for communication
Babies and toddlers are so eager to communicate with you because their survival depends on it. They learn the most when you communicate with them within a context. That way they can connect with others.
What is your motivation for learning a language? Do you do it because you like it, or do you have time-specific goals with deadlines?
If you don’t, try creating some objectives and stick to them. For example:
Make one piece of writing on a weekly or monthly basis. It can be like a diary, you can write about your life, work, or whichever you like. Set a minimum number of words.
Connect with other people who want to teach their language. You can exchange your writings with them, practice speaking, and similar.
- Immersion
The language toddlers need to learn is around them and they are completely immersed in it. As I mentioned, their survival depends on understanding and being understood.
People trying to learn a foreign language without leaving their country have a huge problem with immersion because it’s practically impossible to simulate these conditions even for a limited time. How to overcome this?
The best thing would be to go to a country where the target language is spoken and not to bring anyone who speaks your mother tongue.
Of course, for many people, this is not a possibility. Another option would be to absorb all kinds of content in the target language – movies, music, books, and podcasts.
While I was giving Serbian lessons, my beginner students had a huge problem because there wasn’t much content for their level. Something they could enjoy and learn from outside the classroom. That is why the TalkIn’ Serbian Podcast exists!
Apart from podcasts, you can learn from other types of content, like texts, books, movies, and music. If you’re at the beginner level, you will need to make sure the content is adapted for you.
- No rules, no shame
Kids don’t care about rules. They don’t even know what the word “rule” means. They are learning from situations and consequences. I ask my dear toddler: Hoćeš vodu? (Eng: Would you like some water?). He nods his head and answers: Hoćeš (Eng:Like). In two hours he will come to me to ask for water by shouting: Vodu!
What happens when, after some time, he realizes he made a mistake? He will hear the correct version and immediately adopt it.
The adult version of this would be to feel embarrassed about the mistake and then probably insecure when you have to use the same sentence again. Not until you realize mistakes are the only path to success, they will represent an obstacle in your learning journey.
- Pronunciation
Their vocal apparatus is still not formed and developed. On one side it means that they are still learning how to pronounce sounds and are more clumsy about it. On the other, it means their apparatus will probably form to pronounce all the sounds they hear and practice. This process finishes more or less when they are 6 years old. For this reason, there is a saying that the earlier you start learning languages, the better.
An adult student has a disadvantage to start with because their vocal apparatus is long formed, so successful pronunciation is a questionable matter. To make it even worse, coursebooks and teachers usually don’t pay enough attention to this topic. Apart from that, how well is your pronunciation in another language will depend on several factors like:
- the number of sounds your mother tongue and your target language have in common
- the range of sounds you can hear and pronounce.
Luckily, this is not set in stone and you can work on it. This is why it’s important to immerse yourself and listen to the language, let your ear get used to it. If you don’t hear the sound well, you won’t be able to pronounce it correctly. Also, as you see the words without the sound, your brain will most likely read them as you would read them in your mother tongue.
When my friend Sergio told me I wasn’t pronouncing his name correctly I needed a couple of years to actually hear the difference between the Serbian sound /h/ and the Spanish (peninsular) one. Work on it, but be aware it needs time.
You can’t learn a language yesterday
I remember one student telling me: “My boss told me I had to learn Serbian yesterday”. As bewildered as I felt at that moment, I realized it was not a joke. Even though this was a student from a culture much different than Serbian, a culture where things happen fast, you cannot rush learning a language. It’s an ongoing process.
Despite toddlers having all of these advantages compared to adults, people seem not to be aware of the fact that toddlers still need years to perfect their language skills. Then they go to school where they work on their writing, reading, listening, speaking, and pronunciation skills.
You are in a more difficult position. But that is why it’s so amazing and inspiring when adults learn a second language!
Let’s wrap it up
Now you know the circumstances toddlers have when learning their mother tongue. It can help you realize the disadvantages you have and how to overcome them. But it also makes you aware of why you can’t learn a second language like you learned your mother tongue.
What you can do is adapt the process of learning to yourself and make it more fun. The secret is not to get more spare time but to integrate the language into your life. You need to find a way, not time. And remember, my way might not be your way.
I learned Spanish and English with series and podcasts. I would pause each time I hear an interesting expression or something I don’t understand. Then I would write it down, search for the meaning and connect it with the story.
Learning this way is one of the reasons Chris and I started the TalkIn’ Serbian Podcast. We wanted to give people a chance to learn the real Serbian language. To hear a foreigner making mistakes, but still having an amazing conversation. Something adapted to your level and that you can integrate into your life.
So, what will be your way to learning Serbian?
Want to know more about the Serbian language?
Check out our blog and start learning for free.
Even though Serbian vowels are easier to pronounce than consonants, they shouldn't be neglected. Let's practice together!
Is Serbian language really hard to learn? Read the post and find out what to expect and how to approach learning Serbian.
You do need a teacher to learn Serbian. But only the basics. Find out what to do after you complete your beginner course in Serbian.
<p>The post Why you can’t learn Serbian like you learned your mother tongue first appeared on TalkIn Serbian Podcast.</p>
]]><p>The post 5 Serbian Words You Didn’t Know Are Always Plural (+Examples) first appeared on TalkIn Serbian Podcast.</p>
]]> You are proud of how much progress you’ve made with your Serbian language learning. You are an intermediate or advanced speaker and it feels great to talk to people on the streets. The Serbian language cases are like your big brother.
You always fight them, but deep down adore them. However, there are some words that appear every now and then, and it seems you never get them right. It is frustrating. Are they feminine? Or plural? What’s their deal? Let’s find out which are these 5 Serbian words you didn’t know were plural.
Pluralia tantum - Words that are always plural
A plurale tantum is a noun that only has a plural form. These nouns don’t have the singular form and usually represent some kind of a pair. In most Indo-European languages there are similar pluralia tantum nouns such as:
- makaze – scissors
- pantalone – trousers(pants)
- naočare – glasses.
We are not going to talk about these because they are well-known. Let’s focus on the nouns you don’t expect to be plural or are not plural in English. These words were problematic for most of my intermediate or advanced students. Usually, they either had insufficient contact with the language or awareness of them. We are going to talk about them now and make sure you memorize them.
Before We Start
The nouns we are going to focus on are neutral gender and plural form. You should know this to make correct sentences. Out of the 5 nouns I’m going to mention, there are:
- two body parts
- one exists in every building
- two are vehicles, so to speak.
I am going to give you as many real-life examples as possible. Some of them are going to be taken from the internet or newspapers. Let’s get on in.
1. Leđa - Back
If you’re an expat, you need to know your body vocabulary. A doctor’s check-up is just around the corner. This knowledge would also come in handy in the gym, working with a personal trainer, or when you’re getting a massage.
Your back usually starts hurting with age, improper posture, and inactivity. Let’s see the sentences you would most commonly use or hear:
Bole me leđa. My back hurts.
Imam bol u leđima. I have a backache.
Imaš jaka leđa. You have a strong back.
Leđa su mi katastrofa. (slang) My back is in horrible shape.
Leđa me ubijaju. (slang) My back is killing me.
There are also some metaphorical expressions you should know:
- Miloš mi je zabio nož u leđa – prešao je da igra u drugi tim. Miloš stabbed me in the back – he transferred to another team.
- Ne možeš ti da uživaš preko mojih leđa. I cannot suffer for you to enjoy.
- One su se sve dogovarale i pričale iza mojih leđa. They made a deal and talked behind my back.
- Pre utakmice, trener je popričao sa Majom i dao joj je vetar u leđa. Before the match, the coach spoke to Maja and motivated her.
- Kijanu Rivs okrenuo leđa Holivudu. Keany Reeves turned his back on Hollywood.
2. Usta - Mouth
The mouth is another body part that is always in the plural.
- Suva su mi usta. My mouth is dry.
- Otkud mi ukus peperminta u ustima? Where did I get the peppermint taste in my mouth come from?
- Čudne stvari koje stomatolog odmah sazna o vama čim otvorite usta. Weird things your dentist discovers about you as soon as you open your mouth.
Besides talking about the mouth as a body part, we often use it in topics related to how talkative is someone. There are other metaphoric uses of the word. Let’s check it out:
- Čim je otvorio usta, znala sam da laže. As soon as he opened his mouth, I knew he was lying.
- Od ove reklame ide mi voda na usta. This ad makes my mouth water.
- Političarima usta puna evrointegracija, ali nema rezultata. All the politicians talk about is eurointegration, but there are no results.
- Novak Đoković začepio usta hejterima. Novak Đoković shut the mouths of haters.
- To znači da imamo puno više ustiju koje moramo nahraniti. That means we have a lot of mouths to feed.
3. Vrata - Door
This a very important word to know especially for the sentences like:
- Vrata su otvorena. The door is open.
- Vrata su zatvorena. The door is closed.
- Vrata su zaključana. The door is locked.
- Vrata su otključana. The door is unlocked.
Be careful not to mix the word vrata with vrat (masculine, singular; meaning: neck). Vrat in some case forms looks like vrata. They will never have the same form with prepositions:
- Imam zlatnu medalju oko vrata. I have a gold medal around my neck.
- Imam zlatnu medalju na vratima. I have a gold medal on the door.
And to all my Spanish-speaking folk, make sure to practice the difference between b and v sounds. Brat, vrat and vrata are totally different things. If you pronounce them the same, it can lead to misunderstandings. Luckily, in most cases, the context will save the day.
4. Kola - Car
Kola is one of the two words you can use for a car. The most common examples of this word would be:
- Gde su ti kola? Where is your car?
- Kola su parkirana na ulici. The car is parked on the street.
- Kola su žute boje. The car is yellow.
Words you can mix it with:
- kolo – neutral singual, meaning: traditional Serbian dance
- kolo – neutral singular, meaning: round (like in a football championship)
Another word you can use for a car is automobil (masculine singular). We usually use just the shorter version which is auto (it stays masculine singular because it is just a short version of the original word automobil).
Moj automobil je u garaži. My car is in the garage.
Moj auto je u garaži. My car is in the garage.
5. Kolica - multiple meanings
It is similar to kola, but like a diminutive. The meaning is threefold. It can be a shopping cart, a wheelchair, or a stroller.
Examples:
Kolica su u gepeku. The stroller is in the trunk.
Kolica su sklopljena. The stroller is folded.
U ovoj zgradi nema rampe za moja kolica. In this building, there is no ramp for my wheelchair.
Now it’s your turn
I’ve talked with some great people who had a good level of Serbian, but who would get totally lost with these nouns. When they used these nouns with the singular form verb, it betrayed them in a second. Nobody ever warned them, so they thought these nouns were feminine singular. Luckily, you discovered this article.
I genuinely hope the examples will help you remember these nouns and use them properly. It’s all about the practice, so put a couple of your examples in the comments. I will be glad to read them and give you feedback.
Want to learn more?
You do need a teacher to learn Serbian. But only the basics. Find out what to do after you complete your beginner course in Serbian.
What are the steps anyone can take to learn Serbian? Check out our 3-step guide and start learning Serbian right now.
Were you ever confused in Serbian when you need to ask for "more"? Read more and get a clear image on when to use 'još' and 'više'.
<p>The post 5 Serbian Words You Didn’t Know Are Always Plural (+Examples) first appeared on TalkIn Serbian Podcast.</p>
]]><p>The post Does Serbia still use Cyrillic and should you learn it? first appeared on TalkIn Serbian Podcast.</p>
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You’ve probably heard that Serbian uses two alphabets – Cyrillic and Latin. And although this fact can seem fascinating, it can also feel like a bummer if you’re starting to learn Serbian.
I know how you might feel. In my teaching experience, I had two types of students in my Serbian language courses. A small percentage of them wanted to learn Cyrillic and use it exclusively from day 1. Usually, they were language enthusiasts or linguistics. But the majority wanted to find a way or excuse to avoid this “torture”.
If you are totally unfamiliar with the Cyrillic alphabet of any language, you might feel Cyrillic is not a really big deal. You might wonder if it is really worth learning, or if Latin is enough to get by in Serbia. Let me explain how this two-alphabet situation actually works in Serbian and give you some advice about whether you should learn Cyrillic or not.
The Official State of Things
In Serbia, both Cyrillic and Latin alphabets are still in use. Cyrillic is defined as the alphabet in official use, while the use of the Latin alphabet is prescribed by law. All the official state documents are produced in Cyrillic by default. For some, you can choose to have them in Latin, or at least parts of the documents.
What about the schooling system?
When you start elementary school, you first learn Cyrillic. Then during the second course, you learn Latin. This means that from 8 or 9 years of age, children can already use both alphabets. Amazing, right?
Ongoing Changes
In the course of recent history, the education system functioned quite differently. For instance, my grandma never got to learn the Latin alphabet in school. And just to think that nowadays life would be impossible without it.
Why? The truth is that with all of the technology and uniformity within Europe, Latin is used more and more every day in Serbia. With the Internet and tech gadgets being omnipresent in our lives, everyone had to adapt and start using and reading in Latin far more than before.
In the beginning, people had to use the English keyboard most of the time. Just in the last 5 to 7 years, Serbian Latin keyboards became a thing. By saying this I refer to a keyboard with characters like ć,č, ž, etc. Some manufacturers, like Apple for example, still haven’t reached this point.
Technology didn’t just change what we use, but also what we do. Many people have embarked on career paths related to technology, marketing, or finance where most of the terms in use are English.
The race for the faster and the prettier
With all the emerging technology, it also became obvious that the Latin alphabet or, as we call it, latinica was easier to handwrite. Cyrillic is a pretty alphabet with a lot of decorative elements, especially in the cursive version.
In the Latin alphabet most people just write it as it is although the cursive version also exists. However, knowing the cursive version of Cyrillic makes writing much faster. But it is pretty different from the letters you first learn. This is why when people learn Serbian as a second language and have to read someone’s handwriting in ćirilica is like having to learn an entirely new alphabet. Bummer!
The Republic Strikes Back
On the other hand, there are a lot of initiatives from the government and some organizations that fight to preserve Cyrillic. For example, as a retailer with a street shop in Belgrade, you can have certain benefits if you opt to outline your shop’s name in Cyrillic. A great example of this is the Starbucks coffee shops in Belgrade. You can always spot their name in both alphabets.
Day to day
Regarding your day to day in Serbia, you will mostly get around with your knowledge of the Serbian Latin alphabet. However, in some situations you will still need the Cyrillic:
- You can’t count on all street signs being in both alphabets. Somewhere you‘ll find them in Cyrillic, on another building, they will be in Latin or both. It is true, you do have a GPS on your phone, but better don’t risk getting lost.
- Another point for getting around – public transport. All the lines have their respective numbers, but the direction matters too. And the direction sign is usually in Cyrillic. As a non-native Belgradian, I can tell you that even when you know Cyrillic it’s easy to get into the wrong bus.
- Receipts are in Cyrillic. You want to know what you’re paying for, right?
- If you plan to open your business in Serbia, being able to at least read Cyrillic is a must.
Other reasons to learn the Serbian Language Cyrillic alphabet:
- Having your name written in Cyrillic is super fun.
- If you learn how to write in Cyrillic you can use it like a secret code.
- Contrary to popular belief, Cyrillic is actually easier to learn than Latin. In Cyrillic, there is one sound per letter, while in Latin you have letters like “dž”, “lj” and “nj” which in theory represent one sound. When you start learning Serbian, it’s so much easier if you begin with Cyrillic first. I proved this theory so many times with my students.
- Using Cyrillic or how we call it, ćirilica, in your brand name is becoming quite popular nowadays. Besides the popular coffeehouse Starbucks, there are a lot of modern alternative brands that exclusively use Cyrillic. It plays an interesting part in the hipster culture in Serbia. Take a walk through the streets of Dorćol and you’ll see what I mean.
- At the end of the day, your brain wouldn’t mind building some new neuro pathways. In that sense, reading and writing in Cyrillic is a great exercise. You can do it at home, walking on the street, or commuting.
Final Thoughts
Cyrillic is the alphabet in official use in the Republic of Serbia. It will always have priority over Latin, especially in the government-y areas of life. Some think Cyrillic is on life support, but it is definitely still hanging in there.
In my personal opinion, ćirilica is starting to overcome the technological boom and find its way back into the culture, especially among the young. People are realizing that using Cyrillic is not a thing of the past or tradition, but a part of their identity and evolves together with them.
So, should you learn it? Whether you want to learn Cyrillic or not is entirely up to you. But would your life in Serbia be easier if you spoke Serbian and were able to use Cyrillic? Absolutely.
Want to learn more?
You do need a teacher to learn Serbian. But only the basics. Find out what to do after you complete your beginner course in Serbian.
What are the steps anyone can take to learn Serbian? Check out our 3-step guide and start learning Serbian right now.
Were you ever confused in Serbian when you need to ask for "more"? Read more and get a clear image on when to use 'još' and 'više'.
<p>The post Does Serbia still use Cyrillic and should you learn it? first appeared on TalkIn Serbian Podcast.</p>
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