Tumgik
#learn latin online
virromanus · 6 months
Text
Where Can I Learn Latin Online?
Here are the various avenues you can go to learn Latin online.
Latin Derivatives. Find over 1750 Latin derivatives, along with definitions and usage in sentences.
Conjuguemos. Teachers and students can use this site to learn Latin (among other languages) through games and activities, which are automatically graded. They request a small payment, but will waive the fee if you cannot afford it.
Linney's Latin Class.com. William E. Linney literally wrote the book on teaching Latin and shares lessons for self-learners and homeschoolers here that include pages from his text, lectures, and homework.
Latin Language Builds Powerful English Vocabulary. Get an overview of Latin and tips for learning it easily along with links to helpful resources.
Latin: The Language of Rome Fun Worksheet #1. For $1 you can download this Latin worksheet to use personally or in the classroom. This teacher also has other versions of Latin worksheets available for the same price.
Learn Latin Quickly. This website is run by an individual as a hobby, but provides tons of information on Latin and learning Latin.
KET Distance Learning – Latin 1. Go through the lessons here in your own time, then move up to Latin 2 and Latin 3 after completing this class.
Beginners' Latin. This online tutorial doesn't require you know any Latin and steps you through the basics with twelve lessons, reference material, activities, and more.
Latin Grammar. A great resource for learning Latin, this site provides information on the five noun declensions and the four verb conjugations as well as several irregularities.
Latinitium. An online website to start learning Latin with a free e‑mail course from Latin teacher and speaker Daniel Pettersson, M.A.
Polymathy/ScorpioMartianus. A Youtube channel by Latin speaker Luke Ranieri, who teaches Latin for beginners hosted live on his YouTube Channel.
44 notes · View notes
transbutchblues · 1 month
Text
i should probably apply to some classics summer school/program/whatever. i have no money though. and it’d have to be online… but maybe it’d save me from this stupid french university whose classics degree is absolutely useless because we’re not learning anything at all. i need an intensive program or something
idk where to apply though :/ and i’m scared it’ll be even harder to understand latin/ancient greek if it’s taught in english. we don’t even learn declensions with cases in the same order… but i really need to do something that’ll make me feel like i’m actually learning classics and not just wasting my fucking time
20 notes · View notes
demetrio-student · 2 months
Text
Latin #1
Latin Language and Culture Mastery
Course Duration: 2 Months
Objective: To achieve proficiency in Latin language skills, including grammar, vocabulary, translating, and cultural understanding.
Course Structure
Week 1—2: Foundation Building
Week 1: Introduction to Latin Basics Day 1—3: → Introduction to Latin alphabet, pronunciation, and basic greetings → Study noun declensions (1st and 2nd decisions) and basic vocabulary → Practice conjugating verbs (present tense) and forming simple sentences
Week 2: Building Blocks of Grammar Day 4—6: → Dive deeper into noun declensions (3rd, 4th, and 5th declensions) and adjective agreement → Expand verb conjugations (present, imperfect, future tenses) and study irregular verbs → Translate short passages and practice identifying grammatical elements
Week 3—4: Intermediate Level Mastery
Week 3: Grammar Refinement Day 7—9: → Review noun and verb conjugations → Study case usage (nominative, accusative, genetive, dative, ablative) and their functions → Translate longer passages with emphasis on grammatical accuracy
Week 4: Vocabulary Expansion Day 10—12: → Introduce thematic vocabulary sets (e.g., family, occupations, nature). → Practice using new vocabulary in context through reading exercises and writing assignments. → Explore Latin idioms and expressions.
Week 5—6: Advanced Language Proficiency
Week 5: Advanced Grammar Concepts Day 13—15: → Study participles, gerunds, and gerundives → Explore complex sentence structures (subordinate clauses, indirect speech) → Analyze and translate excerpts from classical Latin literature
Week 6: Translation and Composition Day 16—18: → Focus on translation strategies and techniques -> Practice composing original sentences and short paragraphs → Write journal entries in Latin reflecting on personal experiences or topics of interest.
Week 7—8: Cultural Immersion and Enrichment
Week 7: Roman History and Culture Day 19—21: → Study key periods of Roman history and significant figures → Explore Roman mythology, religion, and daily life → Research and present on a chosen aspect of Roman culture
Week 8: Latin Influence and Legacy Day 22—24: → Investigate the influence of Latin on modern languages and disciplines. → Learn about Latin in contemporary contexts, such as legal, scientific, and academic usage. → Discuss the enduring legacy of Latin literature and its impact on Western civilization
Week 9—10: Mastery and Review
Week 9: Consolidation and Review Day 25—27: → Review all grammar concepts, vocabulary sets, and translation techniques covered. → Complete comprehensive exercises and quizzes to assess understanding and retention. → Seek feedback from peers or instructors on areas for improvement.
Week 10: Culmination and Reflection Day 28—30: → Apply acquired skils to translate and analyze a challenging Latin text. → Reflect on the learning journey, noting progress and areas of growth. → Set goals for continued Latin study and exploration of related topics.
Course Conclusion: Congratulations on completing the Latin Language and Culture Mastery course! You have acquired a solid foundation in Latin grammar, vocabulary, translation, and cultural understanding. Continue to engage with Latin texts, practice speaking and writing in Latin, and explore new avenues for deepening your knowledge and appreciation of this rich and influential language. Valete! (Farewell!)
1 note · View note
arthur-r · 4 months
Text
[longwinded rambling nothing to see here]
im actually really close to being an adult though and its kind of really exciting. i feel a little bit sick and awful, and my present moment isn’t going very well, but i feel like it’s going to be possible to feel satisfied? and idk that’s an exciting idea. like one day i’m gonna be forty and bearded, and i won’t think about oliver anymore, and i’ll be in a band, and i hope i’ll be less sick or i’ll know how to deal with it, and i’ll be publishing writing one way or another, and i’ll be a connected member of my family, chosen or otherwise, and i can watch over the garden wall every day if i want to, and i will bring my very own broom to everywhere i live, and i’ll have a good electric guitar and a full sized acoustic cello, and i’ll make jewelry all the time and if i’m healthy enough or i have a friend to help with walks, i can have a dog. and there are a lot of big and unrealistic things that i want in life, but one day i’ll be able to see clearly, and sleep as much as i need to, and people will recognize me and i’ll help as much as i can, and i will make art and love so many people, and maybe i can cook.
#i came out to my dad today as trans it went better than i could have ever imagined he’s skeptical but not angry#i told him i’m going to start hormones soon. he thinks i’m going to regret it cause i’m autistic but he accepts that he can’t stop me#(because i will be eighteen in a couple months and testosterone is SOMETHING I CAN DO. i need my dad’s insurance is why i finally came out#and i knew that he was getting ready to tell me he has a girlfriend so i kind of weaponized the moment shdhdf)#anyway i’m going to take folklore classes next semester and learn about cultural revitalization and public folklore#and i’m learning latin and programming and i’m doing a research project on the mexican american community of st paul in the 1940s!!#(which is around when my family settled in minnesota permanently after they had did the sugar beet cycle for a while)#i’m also doing research on ancient roman textiles and dress but that’s more stressful than anything even though i like both components of i#i finally made a breakup playlist and i think i needed to. and i’ve been writing a lot of music#can’t believe i spent four months dating somebody who doesn’t even obsess over cannibalism as a literary motif….#i ordered glasses online over a month ago and they haven’t even finished processing my prescription….#i really want a tarot deck and to get into astrology again and maybe even start making spell candles again#i’m interviewing for an entry-level library position tomorrow afternoon!! $12 an hour but also it’s a job that i’m competent for#anyway. all this to say hello i want to be present in the world and make something of myself#and it’s hard right now but there’s a lot of potential out there. anything could happen#anyway i hope everybody is doing okay and let me know if you need anything!!!!#me. my post. mine.#delete later
0 notes
salvadorbonaparte · 5 months
Text
Duolingo Alternatives by Language
Disclaimer: I haven't used or tested all of them. All resources have different strengths, e.g. Drops being designed for vocabulary. They often aren't full alternatives for Duolingo or formal classes. I just wanted to compile resources for all languages on Duolingo to make the switch easier, especially for the less popular languages.
Feel free to also check out my collection of free textbooks
If you want a more detailed resource list for any of these languages (or perhaps one not listed here) you can send me an ask and I can see what I can do.
Arabic
AlifBee
Arabic Unlocked
Beelinguapp
Bluebird
Busuu
Clozemaster
Drops
Infinite Arabic
Ling
LinGo Play
LingQ
Mango
Mondly
Qlango
Write It! Arabic
Catalan
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Drops
Ling
LinGo Play
LingQ
LyricsTraining
Mondly
Qlango
Chinese
Bluebird
Beelinguapp
Bunpo
Busuu
Chineasy
Clozemaster
Drops
Du Chinese
Hello Chinese
HeyChina
Immersive Chinese
Infinite Chinese
Ling
Lingodeer
LinGo Play
Lingopie
LingQ
Mango
Mondly
Pleco Chinese Dictionary
Qlango
Czech
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Ling
LinGo Play
Mango
Mondly
Qlango
Danish
Babbel
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Drops
Ling
LinGo Play
Lingvist
LingQ
Mango
Mondly
Qlango
Dutch
Babbel
Bluebird
Busuu
Clozemaster
Drops
Ling
LinGo Play
Lingvist
LingQ
LyricsTraining
Mango
Mondly
Say Something in Dutch
Qlango
Esperanto
Clozemaster
Drops
Esperanto12.net
Kurso de Esperanto
LingQ
Qlango
Finnish
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Drops
Ling
LinGo Play
LingQ
LyricsTraining
Mango
Mondly
Qlango
French
Babbel
Bluebird
Beelinguapp
Bunpo
Busuu
Clozemaster
Collins French Dictionary
Conjuu
Dr French
Drops
HeyFrance
Infinite French
Lilata
Ling
Linga
Lingodeer
LinGo Play
Lingopie
Lingvist
LingQ
Listen Up
LyricsTraining
Mango
Mondly
Nextlingua
Oxford French Dictionary
Qlango
TV5MONDE
Xeropan
German
Babbel
Bluebird
Beelinguapp
Bunpo
Busuu
Clozemaster
Collins German Dictionary
Conjuu
Drops
DW Learn German
Infinite German
Ling
Linga
Lingodeer
Lingopie
LinGo Play
Lingvist
LingQ
LyricsTraining
Mango
Mondly
Nextlingua
Oxford German Dictionary
Qlango
Xeropan
Greek
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Drops
Greek Alphabet Academy
Ling
LinGo Play
LingQ
Mango
Mondly
Qlango
Write It! Greek
Guaraní
Clozemaster
Guarani Ayvu
Haitian Creole
Bluebird
Mango
Hawaiian
Drops
Mango
ʻŌlelo Online
Hebrew
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Drops
Ling
LinGo Play
LingQ
Mango
Mondly
Shepha
Write It! Hebrew
High Valyrian
Valyrian Dictionary
Hindi
Bhasha
Bluebird
Beelinguapp
Clozemaster
Drops
Hindwi Dictionary
Ling
LinGo Play
LingQ
Mango
Mondly
Qlango
Hungarian
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Drops
Ling
LinGo Play
LingQ
Mango
Mondly
Qlango
Indonesian
Babbel
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Drops
Ling
LinGo Play
LingQ
Mango
Mondly
Irish
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Collins Irish Dictionary
Drops
Easy Irish
Ling
Mango
Teanglann
Italian
Babbel
Beelinguapp
Bluebird
Bunpo
Busuu
Clozemaster
Collins Italian Dictionary
Conjuu
Drops
Infinite Italian
Ling
Linga
Lingodeer
Lingopie
LinGo Play
Lingvist
LingQ
LyricsTraining
Mango
Mondly
Nextlingua
Oxford Italian Dictionary
Qlango
Japanese
Beelinguapp
Bluebird
Bunpo
Busuu
Clozemaster
Drops
HeyJapan
Hiragana Quest
Infinite Japanese
kawaiiDungeon
Ling
Lingodeer
Lingopie
Lingvist
LingQ
LyricsTraining
Mango
Mondly
Oyomi Japanese Reader
renshuu
Takoboto Japanese Dictionary
Todaii
Qlango
Write It! Japanese
Klingon
boQwl! Klingon Language
Klingon Translator
Write It! Klingon
Korean
Beelinguapp
Bluebird
Bunpo
Busuu
Clozemaster
Drops
Hangul Quest
HeyKorea
Infinite Korean
Ling
LinGo Play
Lingopie
Lingodeer
Lingvist
LingQ
Mango
Mondly
Qlango
Write It! Korean
Latin
Bluebird
Cattus
Clozemaster
Collins Latin Dictionary
Grammaticus Maximus
Latinia
Legentibus
LingQ
Mango
Mondly
Perdisco
Qlango
Vice Verba
Navajo
Navajo Language Renaissance
Navajo Language Program
Speak Navajo
Norwegian
Babbel
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Drops
Ling
LinGo Play
Lingvist
LingQ
Mango
Mondly
Mjolnir Norwegian
Norskappen
Qlango
Polish
Babbel
Bluebird
Busuu
Clozemaster
Drops
Ling
LinGo Play
Lingvist
LingQ
LyricsTraining
Mango
Mondly
Qlango
Portuguese
Babbel
Beelinguapp
Bluebird
Bunpo
Busuu
Clozemaster
Collins Portuguese Dictionary
Drops
Infinite Portuguese
Ling
Lingodeer
Lingopie
LinGo Play
Lingvist
LingQ
LyricsTraining
Mango
Mondly
Nextlingua
Qlango
Romanian
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Drops
Ling
LinGo Play
LingQ
Mango
Mondly
Qlango
Russian
Babbel
Bluebird
Beelinguapp
Busuu
Clozemaster
Collins Russian Dictionary
Drops
Infinite Russian
Ling
Linga
LinGo Play
Lingopie
Lingodeer
Lingvist
LingQ
Mango
Mondly
Nextlingua
Qlango
Write It! Russian
Scottish Gaelic
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Go!Gaelic
Mango
Spanish
Babbel
Beelinguapp
Bluebird
Bunpo
Busuu
Clozemaster
Collins Spanish Dictionary
ConjuGato
Conjuu
Drops
Infinite Spanish
Ling
Linga
Lingodeer
LinGo Play
Lingvist
LingQ
Listen Up
LyricsTraining
Mango
Mondly
Nextlingua
Say Something in Spanish
SpanishDict
Qlango
Xeropan
Swahili
Bluebird
Bui Bui Swahili App
Clozemaster
Drops
Ling
LinGo Play
LingQ
Mango
Nkenne
Swedish
Babbel
Beelinguapp
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Drops
Ling
LinGo Play
Lingvist
LingQ
LyricsTraining
Mango
Mondly
Qlango
Turkish
Babbel
Beelinguapp
Bluebird
Busuu
Clozemaster
Drops
Ling
LinGo Play
LingQ
LyricsTraining
Mango
Mondly
Qlango
Ukrainian
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Drops
Ling
LinGo Play
LingQ
Mango
Mondly
Mova Ukrainian
Qlango
Speak Ukrainian
Vietnamese
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Collins Vietnamese Dictionary
Drops
Learn Vietnamese with Annie
Ling
Lingodeer
LinGo Play
Mango
Mondly
Welsh
BBc Cymru Fyw
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Say Something in Welsh
Yiddish
Bluebird
Clozemaster
Mango
Proste Yiddish
Roni Gal Learn Yiddish
Vaybertaytsh
Yiddish Book Center
Zulu
Bluebird
Nkenne
Bonus: Polygloss which claims to be available for all languages as long as there is another user also learning the same language
6K notes · View notes
neurasthnia · 2 months
Text
spanish resource lists for learners
a list of lists!! levels are estimated.
refold has a crowdsourced resource list for spanish, curated & with notes | A1 to C2
dreamingspanish on reddit has a crowdsourced spreadsheet with over 90 channels geared towards learners | A1 to C2
learn natively has a huge deck of spanish books sorted by difficulty by learners | A1 to C2
prensa escrita has a list of news websites sorted by country & sometimes city | B1 to C1 probably
the CI wiki has an editable list of CI resources and a couple of native content links | A1 to like B2?
comprehensible hub has tons of spanish podcasts for learners | A1 to B2
letterboxd has a ton of very fun #español lists, e.g. movies mentioned in the wild project podcast, latin american female directors, made in puerto rico | ~B2 to C2
there are also a ton of moocs in spanish for intermediate to advanced learners (moocs are online courses, usually free) | B1 to C2
517 notes · View notes
Text
i'm using an open source online textbook (ancient greek for everyone) as part of my "get better at latin and greek" summer project and so far it's a pretty solid textbook but the thing it does that makes it really, really useful is it tells you what the stem is for each word and then explain why that stem transforms/changes.
like for example for "τιθημι" it says that the stem is "θη," but in the present tense it's reduplicated, but you can't reduplicate an aspirated consonant like θ so you use a τ instead. and when explaining third declension nouns it explains that the masculine/feminine nominative ending is -ς, and in words where the stem ends in a consonant it will often either remove the stem's final consonant (παιδ- -> παιδς -> παις) or the -ς will drop (δαιμων- -> δαιμωνς -> δαιμων). these are just a couple examples but so far these explanations are making it much much clearer how we get all the irregularities that i was originally told i just had to memorize with little rhyme or reason behind it. greek makes a lot more sense this way.
so anyway i recommend this to anyone who's looking to learn/improve at greek!
174 notes · View notes
a-dinosaur-a-day · 11 months
Text
Tumblr, We Need To Talk
So multiple times now, posts that I have written, completely free of any sense of anger at all, have been interpreted by folks here - not just as angry - but as malicious. It has now happened enough times that we need to address the biases at hand here.
I am three things that are relevant for this discussion: I am Jewish. I am Italian. And I am Scottish.
These are three cultures that feature "loudness" as a positive trait. What do I mean by that?
I mean arguing, debate, discussion at my home growing up was louder than a kindergarten field trip to the zoo. Louder than a metal concert's mosh pit. Louder than the conure room at a bird shelter.
I am a loud, boisterous person. That's just who I am. With those three cultural backgrounds, I can't even help it. On more than one occasion, someone has interpreted my tendency for the dramatic, my eagerness, and my enthusiasm as being "too much". In fact, it is quite a point of trauma for me, the number of times that specific rejection has occurred.
But to me, I wasn't doing anything wrong! I was acting as my family acted, as people from my culture acted, as those around me in other situations acted. In Judaism, arguing is even seen as emotion-free, because interpersonal debate is how we learn and grow. Even the most stringent and austere Jewish groups will feature a loudly arguing table of scholars in the Beit Midrash. Italian dinners are filled with singing and shouting for joy. Being Scottish means yelling at everything and then yelling at it again. This was, and is, my life. It was loud. It was emotional. It was excitement.
Online, tone indicators are even worse, with many people easily being misunderstood in a given situation. Hell, there are probably those of you reading this now who are reading a higher level of emotion and anger into my words than is actually there. That added complication has now lead to multiple occurrences of this misunderstanding.
This isn't limited to the cultures I come from, of course! The anger and excitement and enthusiasm found in Black culture has been weaponized against it for as long as racism has existed (y'all can ask @ladyraekingmaker more about that). In fact, lower class Black Women in the United States were often perceived negatively for being loud and having their private lives carried out in public (because they did not have access to private spaces). Same for different cultural norms in other places, from Persia/Iran to parts of Latin America and more.
Indeed, loudness, anger, and tone are heavily tied to how different cultures are perceived. Calmness, stoicism, and a lack of "emotionalness" is a highlight of WASPy cultures, famously - "white anglo-saxon protestant" if you're not familiar. Being more "low key" and less expressive was considered high class, being less so was low class. And that still continues today - from the snide comments of tumblr anon's and ex friends, to the literal policing of impoverished communites of color for their celebrations and community gatherings.
The perception of emotion and passion as a "bad" thing is 100% tied to white supremacy. Full stop. In fact, policing people for being "angry" at certain things was a great way to shut down discussion of many important issues, that deserved anger - things like racism, sexism, and homophobia. Anger is a good, important, and necessary emotion - and being emotional in general is a way many people use to emphasize their own points and indicate how much they care about a subject. It's necessary, and it's good. Anger, emotion, excitement, these are good things.
It is better for someone to be angry and up front with you, allowing you to learn and grow as a person, than to bullshit you and mollycoddle you into a state of complacency.
So, that means that for many people reading this, you probably never really thought of how your reaction to loud, or emotional, or dramatic, or excitable people was related to upholding social norms. That's okay! It's not a big deal! We are all born with blind spots and things we are ignorant of that we have to understand and tackle. Growing up is something we never stop doing.
But I'm not magically going to stop being excitable, loud, and emotional. And I'm not going to magically stop being myself. While in person, my tone and facial expressions would help others to at least see that I am not mad but excited; here, you're going to have to take me at my word.
If I am angry, you will know it. It will be extremely, painfully obvious. I might even explicitly say it. But the fact remains is that, every time I have gotten (frankly, condescending) anons in my inbox telling me to "calm down", I haven't been angry at all. And that is a cultural bias a lot of you have to examine in yourselves. By policing how people - not just me - on how they talk and express themselves, you are upholding white supremacy. And you need to stop.
I am too much for some people. That's okay! If I am, you are free to go. No one has to follow me. But I am not going to minimize myself just to make some people comfortable, especially when I am doing nothing wrong. And if you continue to insist that I am, you are missing the point of this post.
Stop worshiping the empty alter of stoicism, of emotionlessness, of quietude. It's not how most humans act. And it shouldn't be, because emotions exist for a reason. That reason? Is communication.
And if you're still not convinced, just get invited to a Pesach seder. Good luck with that being anything close to "calm".
~ Meig
423 notes · View notes
Text
I don’t think native english-speakers in non-european countries really grasp how everyday needing to speak a second or a third language is in Europe. Languages are a school subject as much as biology and math, nobody really just goes out of their way to independently decide “hmm, I must learn a second language” and just goes on to download duolingo and be self-taught in spanish (okay, some people do, but that’s not the usual and standard way that people learn). The town I live in is historically bilingual - used to be majority swedish-speakers but now it’s about 50-50 as far as I know, and a generation ago you couldn’t really get by without speaking both. The books at the local library are mixed into the shelves, finnish and swedish ones on the same shelves, and sometimes there’s no copy of some book in both languages because it’s assumed that everyone speaks both on a passable level, at least enough to understand a book they really want to read.
 I’ve had natively swedish-speaking schoolmates in nursing school who have struggled to write essays in finnish because despite of being fluently bilingual in speech, their whole education until this point has been in swedish, and they’ve never really needed to write proper written finnish - which is a distinct different type of finnish than spoken finnish.
 The only native finns under 30 that I know that personally say they don’t speak any other language than finnish usually mean that they understand swedish and english badly, and aren’t confident in speaking it. Usually someone only speaking finnish is a clue that they’ve got some language-related learning disability. “I don’t speak english” is a similar statement as “I can’t do math”. There’s a problem of young chronically online finns losing vocabulary in finnish because they use english so much online that they’re not as practised in their native language.
 I didn’t go out of my way to become a polyglot who Speaks Six Languages, I picked french, russian and spanish in school because languages were easier for me than STEM subjects, and I’ve already forgotten most of what I learned. If I were to go out of my way to decide to start learning a non-germanic, non-latin language now, without school, I’d have no idea where to start nor would I ever become fluent in them. As a matter of fact, all I know how to say in any other ones than finnish, swedish or english are “I don’t speak [language] very well, I only understand it poorly.” It’s a school subject I learned and have forgotten most about.
732 notes · View notes
petrolstationflowers · 4 months
Text
Are feathered friends better than human coworkers? Why not try out an Ornithology career for your sims! Once more requested by @catrillion, we wanted to work on something that incorporated a specific form of laws protecting animals, and came up with this.
This job is available for YA - Elder, and you can join via the Arboretum. Please note you will need to either play this in Moonlight Falls or save the Arboretum lot and place it in another neighbourhood for this to show up in game!
You will need to level Fishing, Science, and the hidden skill WildlifeFriend. This latter one maxes out at level 6. You can change and track this using MasterController, and the metrics in the job panel will update as you progress it.
No opportunities, uniforms, or books, and the lower levels will not have a carpool so make sure to send your sims to work manually!
Please note if you want to use this, you must have Nraas Careers installed for it to show up!
There are three custom tones:
Read Journals (increase Science) Socialise the Birds (WildlifeFriend) Survey the Park (Fishing)
Meet/Hang With Coworker have also been changed to "Meet Birds," and "Chill With the Birds."
If anyone can translate for me, I'd be very grateful!
Level descriptions under the cut:
Enthusiast - 10 simoleans p/h, 10:00 - 16:00, M-F
Description: You’ve loved birds for as long as you can remember; the family budgie that sat on your finger, the class cockatoo that someone taught to swear. You spend most of your days working the checkout at EverFresh Supermarket staring out the window at the trees in the car park, where a flock of parakeets have their nest. Maybe it’s time to spread your wings and look for a more interesting job?
Amateur Ornithologist - 15 sp/h, 10:00 - 16:00, M-F
Description: You’ve bid farewell to the checkout and instead set up camp in the local park, photographing birds for your local twitcher group on Sims Social. The pay is chickenfeed (unless you photograph Mothman himself) but your online friends might know where you might find something that pays more of the bills…
Park Volunteer - 20 sp/h, 09:00 - 17:00, W,T,F,S,U
Description: Now this is certainly better than the supermarket! The pay is still terrible but you get to spend your time outdoors at your local wildlife park – and most importantly, with your avian associates. Clean out their pens, guide lost tourists, and do a coffee run or three; you might make enough friends to get a little higher on the perch.
Conservation Education Guide - 40 sp/h, 09:00 - 18:00, W,T,F,S,U
Description: Despite their awkward reputation, ornithologists are a chatty lot when it comes to their favourite subject. The general public don’t tend to know a lot about birds, muddling up their crows and their ravens, and think that leaving out generic birdseed is just as good as black sunflower seeds, raisins, and tasty mealworms. Give them a lecture to remember – oh, and try to shill the organic bird food in the gift shop.
Intern - 45 sp/h, 09:00 - 18:00, W,T,F,S,U
Description: An actual job title and pay that doesn’t leave you eating ramen all week! Granted, it’s a lot of book learning along with the hands-on experience, with long hours studying and memorising complicated Latin names, but keep at it. Onwards and upwards!
Park Ranger - 55 sp/h, 05:00 - 14:00, W,T,F,S,U
Description: You’ve finally got your hat but it looks like you’ll be wearing a lot of them; being a park ranger means dealing with the public too. As well as showcasing the beauty of the natural world, you’ll be delivering activities to guests and raising awareness of just how important it is to keep their natural habitats safe. Hope visitors like trail walks and nest building competitions!
Bird Keeper - 60 sp/h, 05:00 - 14:00, W,T,F,S,U
Description: Finally, a flock of your own! You’re in charge of the bird habitat at the park, taking part in the captive breeding program and making sure the conservation effort is going according to plan. You’ll be hands on developing research projects and coming up with new enrichment ideas for your charges – a pity the higher ups said no to a birdie disco ball in the main office.
Conservation Delivery Manager - 75 sp/h, 09:00 - 17:00, M-F
Description: Another flock, but this time the underlings are a team of people rather than baby birds. You’re responsible for a team of wardens across the local area, sending them nationwide to ensure they deliver conservation projects funded by City Hall. There’s a lot of business plans and project management, but someone needs to make sure resources are allocated properly (and birds can’t hold a pen).
Protected Sites Advisor - 90 sp/h, 09:00 - 17:00, M,T,F
Description: You’re deep in the science side of ornithology now; working with local farmers to make sure their food production methods are environmentally friendly, reducing the impact of climate change, and ensuring that important ecosystems thrive and flourish. You’ll also get the chance to pitch sites for new developments and green spaces – so if you want a Birdie Bistro & Bar serving Band Slams & Baked Angel Food Cake, now’s your chance!
Ecologist - 150 sp/h, 09:00 - 17:00, M,W F
Description: You’re out of the suburbs and into the woods – time to be a consultant! You’ll be travelling all over SimNation to various sites and places that have the potential to become the latest havens for your bird friends, writing up surveys and reports to convince the mayor of Barnacle Bay perhaps they can build their luxury flats somewhere else and not disturb the local condor population. Ecological assessment work might not sound the most interesting on paper, but it’s hugely important to make sure you’re protecting birds for generations to come – children and eggs alike.
With thanks: To MissyHissy's career building tutorial!
62 notes · View notes
nateconnolly · 6 months
Text
Hozier Reading List of Free Texts You Can Finish in Less Than A Week
Another Hozier reading list is floating around the Internet, and it’s very thorough. Huge respect to @notmysophie for putting that together, they put in a lot of effort and research and it really shows. This is an alternative reading list for people who are too busy or tired to read all the entries on a complete list of Hozier’s literary influences. This list is incomplete—even after finishing it, there will be some very prominent literary references in Hozier’s music that might go over your head. But this will definitely help you appreciate the depth of thought in his songs, and if you read just five pages a night, you’ll be able to finish this reading list in less than one week. 
ONE: ICARUS
Hozier puts the myth of Icarus to song in I, Carrion. You could very easily argue that Sunlight is also a response to Icarus. Many classical writers have told or mentioned his story, but I’ll let my own personal tastes shape this list, and recommend Ovid’s Metamorphoses. He tells the story of Icarus in Chapter 8 Lines 183–235. If you can afford it, I love the Charles Martin translation. You could consult the free Brookes More translation, or the one by A. S. Kline. Remember, you don't have to read the whole chapter--just find the part named "Daedalus and Icarus"
TWO: DOOMSDAY CLOCK
The title track Wasteland, Baby! is such a gentle love ballad, I almost have trouble remembering it’s about the apocalypse. Wasteland, Baby! finds hope and love in the face of annihilation. Hozier wrote this song as a direct response to the Doomsday Clock moving two minutes in 2018, one year before the album was released. 
THREE: GENESIS 1-3
I also recommend reading Genesis Chapters 1-3. You’re probably familiar with the plot, but I think From Eden is such an ingenious twist on the familiar story that you’ll appreciate it even more after consulting the original. Hozier takes the symbols of Genesis 1-3 and uses them to make his own radically different point. The stories of Eden also come up in Be. 
My favorite translation is by Robert Alter, but it’s currently not free online, so you might want to check out the Sefaria translation or the New King James Version (NKJV), both of which manage to capture the beauty of Genesis without becoming difficult for the average English reader. The King James Version (KJV) is also roughly the same level of difficulty as a Shakespeare play. I definitely think the KJV is beautiful, but at the end of a long hard day, you might be better off with the Sefaria, the NKJV, the NIV, or the NRSV. You can Google “Genesis 1” followed by any of those names/abbreviations, and you’ll find it right away. 
FOUR: A MODEST PROPOSAL
Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal, written in 1729, might be the most gutting satire in history. UCLA students put together a very thorough explanation of the economic suffering and the proposed “solutions” that inspired Swift. References to A Modest Proposal form the skeleton of Hozier’s Eat Your Young. 
FIVE: SEAMUS HEANEY
Before learning about Seamus Heaney, you’ll need some background information on the Troubles. I recommend this National Geographic article. I also recommend looking through these Chris Steele Perkins photographs of life during the Troubles.
During the Troubles, Heaney wrote a series of poems about bog bodies. His poetry directly inspired the corpse imagery in Work Song, Like Real People Do, and In a Week. 
Disclaimer: I cannot read Hebrew or Latin. I am evaluating these translations solely by 1) how difficult they are to read and 2) how beautiful they sound. I cannot independently review them for accuracy. Just know that all the translations I’ve listed are widely respected among academics and/or religious leaders.
Anyways if you liked reading this go check out my Substack where I originally posted it. 
93 notes · View notes
Text
March Week 1 - Symbolism and Traditions
Okay, now that we've got all the generalized types of magic out of the way, let's take a look at some other topics that will help us fill in the gaps in things. We'll be looking at symbols, traditions both personal and ancestral, spell and ritual design and much more! Let's buckle up and get to it!
Monday - Alphabets and Runes
Research - Look up different alphabets that have been used in magical traditions. Anything from the Elder Futhark Rune language, to the Ogham Script, to any other form of writing that has been used in any tradition. Do you know another language? Have you ever made your own alphabet or cipher? There are some grimoires that are written in an entire code that only the person who wrote it understood! If you feel like doing so, you can do the same! Look up an alphabet of any kind and write out a translation of those into the alphabet you know. For fun, write out at least one page in that other alphabet!
Research/ New Page - Runes - Is there a rune set you already know? Elder Futhark? Ogham? Another rune set? Have you ever made your own runes? Define rune. What is a rune? What makes something a rune? In both the magical and mundane sense, what are they? If you find a type of runes that you wish to learn, do so! Make a list of the runes themselves, then write out the meaning and symbology of each one!
Practical - Make a set of the runes you research or are already familiar with! Use what you have on hand! It could be as simple as strips of cardstock with the runes on them, notecards with the rune on one side and description on the other, or feel free to find a set online or in a store! You can even go outside and just find some stones and use a sharpie to write the runes on them!
Divination/ Journal - if you perform divinations, use your new runes to do so! And journal about the experience!
Tuesday - Languages
Research/ New Page - Is there a language that you don't speak or that no one really speaks, like Latin, and look into the basis of that language. Where does it come from? What is the language's base? Are there different dialects? Find an accurate translator and look up the words for some of your magical terminology. Make a list of those words to use in spells, incantations and prayers later on. Now, take it a step further. What is your ancestry? What languages has your family spoken in the past? Ask your parents, grandparents and other relatives if they still speak it at all. Get a little family history lesson. Having this connection to your lineage and ancestry can help you better understand a lot about yourself, your family, and traditions you may not realize you are practicing or performing regularly!
New Page - along with the list of words and languages, keep a page with the basic info you discover about your ancestry and family history! It could come in handy for a multitude of things, both pertaining to this challenge and life in general! This page could include traditions, recipes, where you come from, splits in the family, and general family history.
New Page - Pick another herb from your list and research it! Magical, mundane, medicinal, associations, myths and legends, how to grow and propagate it, where it comes from and its history!
Wednesday - Other Symbols
Research - What are some other common symbols that are commonplace within witchcraft circles? What are they, what do they represent? What are they used for? Do you use any of them without meaning to? What is their history? Where do they come from? Think about things commonly associated with withcraft. Cauldrons, brooms, pointy hats, black cats... why are these things associated with witchcraft? Don't just go with the first thing you find when you look this up, dig deep, do research. Are there multiple sources that confirm these things?
Personal/ Introspection - What things do you associate with witchcraft and why? It can be anything from tools you're using, to symbols, to specific herbs and gems or grander things/ ideas like the moon or certain practices.
Research/ New Page - Pick another gemstone or other item you want to research the witchy/ magical uses of and get at it!
Thursday - Traditions
Research/ New Page - Think about the conversations and research you did into your family lineage and language. Carry on with that research and look into the traditions your family has. Everything from when they gather together for things and why, to the recipes they make, to the way they pray or worship, to how they do things in general. Are there any beliefs your family has that have been passed down to you about things like luck? Or love? What wisdom has been passed down to you by your family?
Journal/ Introspection - Do you have any traditions that you practice on your own? Think about the things you celebrate and why, as well as when you celebrate them. Are there certain ways you do things? Everything from cooking to cleaning, to more spiritual practices! Feel free to make a page dedicated to your personal traditions. Recording them can help you to change and grow them over time, or even just to pass them along to your own family!
Friday - Catch Up Day
Today is a catch up day. We've had a lot of information and research prompts thrown at us the last three months, so take today to look back at any of the prompts you have missed or one you want to continue working on!
Alright! There's March week 1 everyone! Good luck and happy crafting witches!
-Mod Hazel
63 notes · View notes
weeniebagel · 2 years
Text
Wanna get into fighting games? Can't really afford 'em? No problem.
I've seen a recent increase in the genre's popularity on Tumblr thanks to Guilty Gear: Strive (namely Bridget's reveal), but I've seen folks show concern for the genre's cost. While Strive may be outside of folks price range, that doesn't mean there aren't free or cheap entry points to the genre. (Every game listed below is easy to run on low end PC's, so don't worry if you're playing on a potato. Just remember to use an ethernet cable for the best possible connection!)
Melty Blood: Actress Again Current Code (MBAACC) has a unique reputation for its underground scene and playerbase, as well as its dynamic roster of 31 characters (each with 3 distinct versions, producing an effective roster of 93 characters). It's fast paced and has a simple control scheme and plays fairly similarly to the latest entry in the series, Melty Blood: Type Lumina. The best part is that it's absolutely free with rollback netcode thanks to efforts of the fanbase in the making of community edition. It's also where Neco Arc was first made playable, so if you find posts about her amusing, you can play her for 15 minutes and then move onto a real character.
Tumblr media
If you're not as interested in something less "anime" and want to try old arcade classics, then I can't recommend Fightcade more. Arcade emulator that lets you play online with anyone in the world with a solid connection thanks to rollback netcode. Classics such as Street Fighter III: Third Strike, King of Fighters '98, Vampire Savior: The Lord of Vampire (Darkstalkers 3, in the US), and many, many more are all available. Hell, you can even play non fighting games such as Metal Slug on it, too! Of course, it's just an emulator, so you'll have to acquire roms yourself somehow, but that's a legally gray area. Fightcade does not give you any roms, so it's legal. Sure would be convenient if there was some sort of extension that automatically grabbed game roms for you the instant you joined a fightcade lobby, though.
Tumblr media
If you're willing to drop a few bucks, then Steam isn't devoid of any good deals. Guilty Gear XX Accent Core +R (colloquially known as +R) is often on sale for just $3, and is a beloved entry in the Gear franchise. It's the game where Strive favorites Bridget, Testament, and Anji were last playable in, and maintain their original toolkits and playstyles. Not only that, but the game has some absolutely fantastic rollback netcode now! While it may be daunting at first, you'll find that most characters simplest bread and butter combos are easy and consistent. Low floor, high ceiling type of game.
Tumblr media
Another game often available for cheap on Steam with great netcode is The King of Fighters 2002 UM. KOF is a very popular series in Latin America and East Asia, but never really exploded in the US. Recent series entry KOFXV has made an impact, and it plays like many previous entries. '02 UM has a large roster of fantastic characters to build a team around. Pick 3 of your favorites and jump right in!
Tumblr media
A game you may already have (and not even know you do) Is Skullgirls. The game's often dirt cheap during sales, and has been included in more Humble Bundle's than any other game in the genre. Flexible, easy to learn systems, combined with a lovable roster of distinct characters gives you one of the best indie games ever made (and, personally, the best American made fighting game). Plus, after nearly a decade, the game is getting new characters again! There's never been a better time to start playing Skullgirls.
Tumblr media
Ultimately, the best game to play to get into the genre is the game you want to play in the first place. If you want to get into Strive, there's no better game to play than Strive. Same with any Street Fighter, Skullgirls, Melty Blood, etc. Don't let the high level players scare you, there's always going to be fellow new bloods to play against. Check your game's wiki to find relative socials such as a community Discord, many of which have focused beginner tournaments and play nights to meet new people around your skill level. Don't be afraid to ask questions! You'll get answers and feedback from more experienced and friendly players.
Also, small note, use whatever controller you're most comfortable with. Keyboard and gamepad are perfectly fine. You don't need to buy a $200+ fightstick. While they can be fun, they're an investment often not worth making. Many of high level players such as SonicFox use a gamepad exclusively for every game they play. Go do you.
1K notes · View notes
enby--emrys · 1 year
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Zitiron- a creature with the bottom half of a fish and the top half of a knight.
The zitiron only shows up in three sources that I can find- the Ortus Sanitatis (published in Germany 1491, author unknown), Van der Naturen Bloeme (early 14th c) by Flemish poet Jacob van Maerlant, and De natura rerum (1244 CE) by Flemish writer Thomas of Cantimpré. Van der Naturen Bloeme is actually just a Dutch translation of the Latin De natura rerum, so technically there's only two original sources. The only reason I mention both is that the original De natura rerum- which is sourced from a large number of works by philosophers and writers such as Aristotle, Pliny the Elder, St. Ambrose, Jacques de Vitry, and too many others to explore them all as original sources- doesn't have any illustrations and is in Latin, which I can't read, making it a personally useless source. But Van der Naturen Bloeme does have illustrations- the third image in this post is Jacob van Maerlant's interpretation of the zitiron I assume to be outlined in De natura rerum.
The only other original place that a zitiron can be found, according to the internet, is in the Ortus Sanitatis, a Latin natural history encyclopedia with no known author published in 1491 in Mainz, Germany. It has illustrations, the second image in this post is the author's interpretation. But again, I can't read Latin and it's hard to read the stylized text to put into google translate.
There is almost no information about the zitiron online, which is a shame because it's a really interesting figure. If you can read Latin or medieval Dutch I would LOVE to work together to place the origin of this mythological creature and learn more about it!
For the drawing, I wanted to honor Jacob van Maerlant and Thomas of Cantimpré's Flemish heritage. The helmet, chainmail, shield, and goedendag on the zitiron are representative of what the Flemish forces wore and used at the Battle of the Golden Spurs, a 1302 victory of the French that is a source of pride and celebrated every July 11th by the Flemish today.
TLDR: The zitiron is a little known creature from the Middle Ages or perhaps antiquity, with the bottom half of a fish and the top half of a knight. My drawing is inspired by the Flemish culture of two of the only writers to leave any information about the zitiron.
If you've got the time and can read Latin, could you take a look at the two Latin texts I mentioned? For the Ortus Sanitatis, I was able to flip through the whole thing and find the page that has the info on zitirons. It's on page 730 here- (x). But for De natura rerum, which you can access here (x), I have no idea where it could be. There's a translation project for it ongoing through Kalamazoo College, but I don't see anything relating to zitirons or relevant mythology on their page so far. And if you can miraculously read medieval Dutch, here's the link to the page on zitirons in Van der Naturen Bloeme (x).
227 notes · View notes
queenofthedepths · 11 months
Text
Asteroid Lucifer (1930) in the houses
Tumblr media
artwork by daylyte04
Lucifer, named after the Latin word for "light-bringer," is associated with themes of rebellion, enlightenment, and the duality of light and dark. It represents the search for personal truth and the courage to challenge societal norms and beliefs.
----
Lucifer in the 1st House: The way you express yourself likely goes against societal norms. You may dress in a way that is unconventional or purposefully rebellious. In fact, the act of rebellion can be closely tied to your personal identity. You may feel at though simply choosing to exist as your true self is an act of rebellion in some way. You come across to others as bold and assertive and your presence commands attention. Living authentically is very important to you and you can really benefit from exploring the different aspects of yourself (both light and dark) as much as possible. In your quest for personal authenticity, you may have a habit of placing less importance on your personal connections and may sometimes come across as selfish or self-centered.  
Lucifer in the 2nd House: With this placement you may struggle to make money in the conventional way (aka: the typical 9-5 job) and may turn to methods that others view to be more unusual or profitless. You may choose to make money by freelancing, remote work, turning your niche interests into a business, online content creation, etc. By embracing more non-traditional career paths, you are often more willing to take risks in order to align your work with your values. Many people’s self-worth is tied with how much money they make or how much they own--something that many with this placement often try very hard to break away from. Within you is a deep desire to detach yourself from mainstream capitalism and to find abundance through non-material things.  
Lucifer in the 3rd House: You may often challenge traditional beliefs and ideas or question established systems of thought. While many other people can accept something at face value--you feel the need to ask questions. You are the person to speak up and ask “Why?”. You have a way with words that comes across as assertive and often thought-provoking, sparking transformative conversations or challenging debates. You may have a strong interest in learning about unconventional or niche subjects. The standard approach to education and learning can often feel restricting and stifling for those with this placement, so it’s important that they embrace learning in a way that aligns with their individuality. It’s also important to be mindful of striking a balance between asserting their unique perspectives and actively listening to others.
Lucifer in the 4th House: This placement indicates a desire to rebel against traditional family structures and break generational curses or trauma. You may have grown up feeling constrained by the expectations imposed on you by your family and this leads to a non-traditional approach to your own personal nurturing and emotional security. The way you define family and home can be quite different then the norm--maybe for you home is wherever you are rather than a physical place and maybe family is built up of people you love and that love you, even if they aren’t blood-related. Your living space is also likely to reflect your unique individuality and you may reject the standard styles others consider to be more acceptable for homes. 
Lucifer in the 5th House: You have a non-conformist approach to creativity and self-expression. People with this placement are unafraid to shake up the status quo with their art--creating works that are often innovative, provocative, or even shocking to others. You greatly value your individuality and may be drawn to niche hobbies or interests. You may also question traditional views on love and romance--perhaps you are someone who is attracted to the idea of unconventional relationship dynamics or is not interested in romance at all. You could even just be completely uninterested in casual dating and would prefer to jump straight into something deeper and more serious. People with this placement can also challenge traditional parenting roles and may choose to have children in a way others view to be unusual or unconventional. 
Lucifer in the 6th House: With this placement, you are likely to have a strong aversion to traditional work structures and hierarchies. You prefer to find work that allows you to have more personal autonomy, where you are free to be yourself and don’t have to conform to someone else’s rules and ideas. You may also struggle with schedules or performing mundane tasks, unless you take the time to create a routine that is more flexible and innovative. Daily routines that lack excitement or fail to provide a sense of challenge may lead to boredom and restlessness. People with this placement are also more likely to stray away from traditional beliefs and practices related to health and wellness, and may seek out holistic approaches or other unconventional wellness practices. You are also more likely to reject the narrow beauty standards and societal pressures surrounding body image.
Lucifer in the 7th House: Those with this placement may reject traditional concepts of monogamy or conventional definitions of marriage and may prefer to have relationships that offer them more personal autonomy and freedom. You may choose to be polygamous, in an open relationship or choose not to get married at all. Or you could be someone whose marriage is viewed by others as unusual or different then the perceived norm; such as a same-sex marriage, an interracial marriage, or a marriage with a large age gap. You could also be very drawn to people who are non-conforming and eccentric; people who stand out from the crowd. The person you marry could be someone who is very unconventional or it could also be that you become involved in a business partnership that others to consider to be quite unusual.  
Lucifer in the 8th House: With this placement, you are more likely to embrace and delve into topics that others may find uncomfortable or taboo. You could have a deep interest in metaphysics, the occult, or branches of psychology that stray from the norm, such as Parapsychology and Erotic psychology. Your view on death and the afterlife could be rather profound, as many with this placement are driven to find personal meaning and purpose in the face of their own mortality. Your approach to sex and intimacy may also be considered unorthodox by others. You could have “unusual” kinks or maybe you’re just not interested in sex at all. When it comes to money and shared resources, you may choose  investment opportunities that align with environmental and social sustainability  or support grassroots initiatives that aim to bring positive change to society.
Lucifer in the 9th House: You tend to challenge and question the traditional beliefs on religion and philosophy. And because of this, you likely have a strong desire to shape your own spiritual or philosophical path, even if it’s one that makes others raise their eyebrows at you. People with this placement are more likely to explore alternative belief systems and unconventional spiritual practices. When it comes to higher education and learning, you may prefer to seek alternative paths such as self-study, online courses, or you might have an interest in learning about niche topics. Your travel experiences could also be quite unique; perhaps you travel by backpacking, sailing or couchsurfing or you stay in unusual places like eco-lodges, treehouses, yurts, or houseboats
Lucifer in the 10th House: This placement challenges traditional career paths. The field you work in could be considered unusual or your approach to your career could be outside the norm, for example a doctor that specializes in holistic therapies or alternative medicine. Or a teacher that teaches by content creation and online sessions. You are also more likely to resist traditional forms of leadership and management. You could be in a manager role but choose to put yourself on the same level playing field as your subordinates, perhaps even choosing to make everyone’s pay equal so that there are no hierarchical structures. The public likely views you as someone that is independent and non-conforming; and you could very well gain a reputation for being a rebel or anarchist. 
Lucifer in the 11th House: Those with this placement tend to befriend individuals that are rebels, anarchists, or simply unconventional. You are likely someone that embraces others differences and prefers social groups that encourage authenticity and individuality. It’s also possible that you choose to be more of a lone wolf--finding it more personally empowering to be in your own company rather than in the company of others. The way you choose to socially network with others could also be quite unique, for example: meeting people through LARP, attending speed friending events, or connecting with others at  expos dedicated to unusual interests or niche hobbies. Your goals and aspirations could involve disrupting traditional (and corrupt) systems, as well as championing causes that support collective upliftment.  
Lucifer in the 12th House: When it comes to spirituality, you likely prefer  alternative or esoteric practices. There is often a deep desire to explore the depths of your own psyche and to transcend the boundaries of ordinary reality. Those with this placement could be interested in practices such as lucid-dreaming, astral projection, hypnosis, or shifting realities. You may also be drawn to artistic forms that allow you to convey the indescribable, such as abstract art or ambient music. Privacy and solitude are likely important for you to be able to tap into your psychic gifts and navigate your unique internal landscape. Solitary activities like meditation, journaling, or creative expression serve as gateways to your subconscious realms, and you have the potential to bring about positive change simply by channeling your inner wisdom and insight.
171 notes · View notes
h0neytalk · 7 months
Text
Practicing the Arabic Alphabet
I honestly lucked out so much taking Arabic in college and learning basic MSA reading/writing/grammar from an excellent professor but I’m gonna compile the most useful things we did in class here to help people learning on their own (this isn’t focused on resources, just strategies, might do a separate post with worksheets and videos but they’re pretty easy to find):
Get the alphabet in front of you. We had a packet with a page for every letter with the letter written in the three positions, pronunciations, names, and lines to trace and write like 100 times. And then a page with all the diacritics. These sheets abound for free online. Make yourself an alphabet packet. Watch copious videos/listen to recordings going over the letters and how they sound. Repeat it back. Work in chunks and don’t move to the next set until you can recognize and write the current set.
Tracing! Learn to write the letters right to left and with the proper order from day one. This sounds obvious but people in my class were still drawing letters left to right as isolated shapes next to each other so idk maybe it’s not. Having nice handwriting in Arabic is both satisfying and absurdly helpful. Learn how the letters connect. Spend more time than you think is necessary on this.
Write English words and sentences phonetically using diacritics and Arabic letters. Do not worry about translation and spelling. Just make the connection between shape -> sound. Use anything you have. Lists of names, entire pages from books and magazines, texts from friends, menus. Literally anything. Work through how to make those words with the new alphabet. You will learn a surprising amount about the language and pronunciation by doing this. How do you translate sounds that don’t exist? What about multiple sounds where English only has one? Read it back with the accent.
Transcribe English phonetically. Same as above but do it without the English in front of you and just listening. Make that voice to visual connection.
Hand write word lists once you get to vocab. Then type them on your laptop and phone (if you want to be able to type in Arabic, also highly recommend a keyboard cover with the letters next to the Latin alphabet). Copy all the diacritics even though that’s not necessarily how native speakers do it. I have a notebook that looks like it belongs to lunatic toddler because it just has the same words and snippets written over and over again lmao.
Finally, transcribe Arabic. If you can use something with a transcript or captions to check your work even better! But don’t check for perfect spelling, check you used mostly the right letters and marks. You will definitely smash some words together and miss a silent or elided letter or something but try and hear the difference between ع and ا or ق and ك etc. The more sources you use the better.
We did this for one full semester of 50 minute classes 3 times a week while sprinkling in some basic vocab towards the second half. It felt like forever at the time but I never lost my ability to phonetically read and write in Arabic despite 4 years of complete non-use while living in America in an area without any significant Arabic-speaking population or language presence. It is absolutely CHISELED into my brain.
88 notes · View notes