My journey learning Arabic

I started to use Internet when I was 15 years old. My main goal was to practice some English, Russian and Spanish. During my teenagerhood, I used to receive a lot of help from Latin American people (for Spanish), Americans (for English), Italians and Russian speaking people (mostly Russians and Ukrainians). My interest in Arabic started in my teenagerhood when I fell in love with the Belly dance (I saw it for the first time (it was in a school excursion 2005, we went to Greece and there was a talented lady who was dancing during our dinner time, and I was impressed with all of her movements with her belly.) I wanted to become like her, so I started to learn everything by myself. At first, I started to watch some videos in Spanish, but the good resources were so limited. Then, I started to watch some videos in English (it was OK, but still not enough.). Then, I started to do small research and to read about the history of the belly dance. I discovered a lot of interesting things. That was already good enough because I could see my progress. However, when I started to look for some music, I can use… I discovered that all songs were in Arabic. So, I used to listen singers such as: Moustafa Amar, Nancy Ayram and many others more. However, when I was listening to Moustafa Amar, Amr Diab, … many other singers from Egypt, it was love at the first hearing. I believed them every single word they sang (even though I understood nothing…. I guess, my heart was capable enough to recognize their emotions). My brother has seen how much my love towards the Arabic language and its music was growing, so because of this, he decided to find something so I could learn Arabic. He found: “Arabic for dummies” book, which was fine, but it was obviously oriented to the MSA. I accepted it just because I only saw it was “Arabic language” and I wanted to learn it no matter how. So, I started to use this and also “Teach yourself Arabic” but nothing worked for me since I would start and stop with my Arabic learning. I also tried with some applications such as: memrise, mondly (but of course, I could find only MSA….) and later with the app “utalk” (that was the only app that has the top 4 most common dialects: guff, MSA, Egyptian and Levantines Arabic. In a meanwhile, I used to meet a lot of people from the Arabic world (Morocco, Saudi Arabia and especially Egypt). It was not only online… I also met some of them in person here in Serbia or at the international polyglot gathering in Bratislava. They all became good friends of mine. From time to time, they would teach me some Arabic but still, nothing went as I hoped. Finally, last year (in August) I decided to go to Egypt because I was so curious to learn many interesting things about Egypt. My brother let me know we needed to go to Egypt like 4 months in advance. I decided to use this opportunity to learn some Arabic (because I wanted to impress Arabs, especially during my talk in the Egyptian dialect). I used to study with a couple of teachers on ITALKI Hamada - https://www.italki.com/teacher/4880223 Mohamed - https://www.italki.com/teacher/7671709 Amr (my favorite teacher) - https://www.italki.com/teacher/4301533 with all of them, I used to study with the textbook “colloquial Egyptian Arabic” https://www.pdfdrive.com/colloquial-arabic-of-egypt-colloquial-series-e160015815.html They taught me also the Arabic letters (and I love their ways how they taught me, especially the Amr’s one. Amr is so funny and positive. Plus, he knows some Turkish which is essential for me because at that moment, my Turkish was already about B2/C1 level). In this picture you can see my notes, how I understood the Egyptian Arabic letters Of course, we worked so hard, and we completed this book. Plus, we worked on some PDF with the touristic phrases (in Egyptian Arabic). When I came to Egypt, I felt like overwhelmed with the information I got, but at the same time I was so happy and excited. I just tried to listen and to speak in Arabic. Even I greeted the police officer who was controlling our passport with “Salamo aleykum” and he was so shocked. I liked his facial expression; I’ll never forget it. However, he kept being professional, so he used only English with me. It worked fine at the beginning. Egyptians are really friendly and warm people. That means that they will do everything just to help you and to teach your Arabic. I’m so grateful to them. I even got praised by two people… one lifeguard at the swimming pool (that was near my hotel) praised my Arabic (even though it was so limited, and I know I used to mispronounce some words…. And he would tell in front of everybody “She speaks Arabic perfectly; she pronounces the words so well. Just listen to her! “ My cheeks started to blush because it was too good to be true. When other people walked away, I told him with a smile on my face “I love the way you’re lying” but he said “No, I’m not, it is truth.” At our hotel, in a restaurant (and also, the barmen from the beach near our hotel) all the waiters did their best to help me, especially if I would struggle with some words. I really loved it. Also, one salesman (who sales the perfumes) gave me the nickname “Egyptian lady” just because I did my best to speak in Arabic. I was speechless but I loved his words. During my conversation with Egyptians in Hurgarda and in Cairo, I found out some interesting fact. They like to talk a lot; they will do anything just to attract your attention. It’s interesting how easily they can talk about any stranger about anything you want. They can even try to joke straight away with you (but also, from that “joking” there could be some other intentions in behind – like flirting or something like this) so you have to be very careful. Once, I needed to speak to our car driver (because our guide hired one driver who would drive us through Cairo) and my guide insisted on me speaking in Arabic with this driver. It was fine only during the first two minutes. After that, I ran out of the ideas what could I ask him and I tried to use google translate (but of course, there was only in MSA and my pronunciation in Arabic was not perfect. I made a lot of mistakes, so the poor driver did not understand me. I showed him my phone twice. At that moment, my brother told me “stop showing him your phone, he is driving.” ) I knew my brother was right but at that moment I felt ashamed and sad. Therefore, I practically begged for English. The rest of the vacation was OK for my body and but deep in my brain I felt sad and unhappy because I felt like everything, I was learning was “useless”. That is why, when I came back to Belgrade, I decided to learn Egyptian Arabic seriously (and once I master it, to help Arabs learn Turkish much easier – because they want it so badly). So, I kept learning with my teachers, with some language partners (especially Hussam, my friend from Cairo and Samara, my friend from Alexandria). This is the true reason why I decided to buy the books for the Egyptian dialect. Trust me, from the moment I started to learn it seriously I felt like I was born for the second time. It is so smoothy, so beautiful and so soft. I am falling in love with this dialect over and over. Thank you for your understanding.

How to learn any language by using social media

How to learn any language by using social media -for A level? This article is going to help you see how can we all learn any foreign language with the help of social media. I'll give you the advice according to the language level and I'm going to talk about Facebook, Instagram, Google and Twitter. Google - here you can look for many good resources such as: - textbooks (one of my favorite ones are: "teach yourself" textbooks because they contain dialogues, good explanations... and of course, on google you can find the audio that goes with that book....jus type: "teach yourself .... audio") - videos (you can type something like for example: "greetings in Arabic" and choose "videos" and then you'll get the list of interesting video clips that might help you with your language studies. Usually, they're going to be published on YouTube, but sometimes it can also be published on some other platforms such as: Youtube, dailymotion, VIMEO, ... - books for reading (for example, if you study Turkish, you can write something like: 'Türkçe okuyorum pdf' ). You can also type something like 'simple texts in .... ' and then it will take you to a website where you can have very simple texts wıth the translation in other foreign languages etc. Facebook - Just type something like 'I am learning X language' and once you join them you can get some 'small lessons' and some language learnıng resources for free, so you can study. Also, you can get ın touch wıth the members so they could help you wıth the thıngs you do not understand. Instagram: Just type something like "X learning" or something like that. Once you follow some Instagram channel, you're going to have the access to all videos and photos with so many useful language lessons. On Twitter feel free to write every day about you and your feelings or what did you do on the particular day etc. If you dislike writing about yourself, feel free to comment some character from the TV series you like (e.g: "Ezel"). How to learn any language by using social media - for B level? Google: - Here you can find a lot of interesting resources such as: - Textbooks (you can find some textbooks written only in your target language, that is how you can boost your vocabulary) - Videos (just write for example: "Passato prossimo VS Passato remoto" and learn Italian by listening the explanations from the Italian speakers in Italian exactly. You can also listen a lot of mini lessons in your target language, you can watch some program created for foreigners - For example: "Italiano in famiglia", etc). Books: try with some wonderful love stories/ with some books for children such as: "Harry Potter" in your target language or "Tom Sawyer" etc There is also a highly recommended book: "Short stories in........ (Italian, Spanish, Russian, ....) for the intermediate learners. There are so many interesting and nice stories with some questions that will help you check your understanding. Twitter: Feel free to write deeper about your thoughts and feelings... the more complexed vocabulary and grammar aspects the better and more effective learning you're going to get. Facebook: Just type something like: Men and women, love, friendship .... in your target language in order to meet new people and also to get yourself into bigger exposure to that target language. You can even try and challenge yourself by getting an "administrator" or "moderator" role and by ruling a fb group, you'll get a lot of new words. If you are brave enough, feel free to make even a fb messenger chat room among you and other administrators and moderators so you can have some voice calls. Instagram: Feel free to follow some actors/actresses, politicians, ... or any famous people that looks interesting to you. They make live videos very often so only by watching them and by listening to their interviews, you can maybe hear some new word. How to learn a foreign language by using the social media? - C level Google - Feel free to look for some documentaries, some interesting articles about: IT, science, history, cooking, .... anything you are curious about. Also you can download some books where you'd be provided with some extra information...they might be useful for your professional/personal development. You can also write your own blogs where you can write about anything you want (cooking, science, love and relationship, geography, culture, ....) Facebook: Feel free to create your own fb group/fb page where you can teach your native language and/or share the culture of your country - by ruling your group, you can look for many interesting words and phrases about: teaching, science, tourism, history, ... Instagram: Follow the instagram channels of some national TV channels ... and of course, feel free to comment every news you hear/read with some native speakers. Twitter: Feel free to comment some serious topics such as: economy, politics, ... in X country... Also you can try and "quote" the thoughts of some philosopher you like very much (for example: "Konfuchie") and then share your opinion about it...why do you agree/disagree with it. Please, write down in your comments which one did you use today and how? Also, if you have any other idea on how to use social media for learning foreign languages, don't hesitate to share it with me.

Easter in Serbia: 6 Things You Should Know

All around the world, Christians celebrate Easter, so believers of the Serbian Orthodox Church are no exception. But have you ever wondered how do we celebrate Easter in Serbia?

While the main parts of Easter are the same among all Christians (remembering the resurrection of Jesus Christ after the crucifixion), customs and traditions vary. Here is your step-by-step guide to acting as a native during Easter in Serbia.  

The first and most important egg for Easter in Serbia is always red!

Easter or Easter?

Yes, you read the subtitle correctly. It makes more sense when translated into Serbian: Uskrs ili Vaskrs? It still makes no sense, does it? 

It’s not nice to start a story about the greatest Christian holiday with a fight but it’s necessary to understand this silly argument because you’ll hear it at least once during Easter in Serbia. So, the thing is – some people like to argue about the correct way to write and pronounce the word Easter (in Serbian, of course). Some say it’s correct to say Vaskrs because the verb we use for the resurrection of Christ is vaskrsnuti, not uskrsnuti. Others disagree, saying that most people say Uskrs, so it has to be the correct way.

Well, who’s right? No one! Both versions are correct. The only difference is that Uskrs is in Serbian, and Vaskrs is in Church Slavonic,a language used during the liturgies. So, it’s fine to say both Uskrs and Vaskrs, whatever is easier for you to pronounce. 

Now that we settled this disagreement in which both sides are equally right and wrong, let’s start with some real customs for Easter in Serbia!

Eggs Dyeing

Easter in Serbia can’t go without eggs dyeing!

Good Friday is the day we remember the crucifixion of Christ. Like most other Christians, Serbs also boil and dye Easter eggs on this day. Our grandmothers used onion skins to dye eggs red. Today, we usually buy colors in bags and use cute stickers. Individuals with a creative side use techniques such as decoupage or painting. What can we say? Just like everything else, Easter in Serbia is now more modern than ever!

Whatever method you choose, the crucial thing for Easter in Serbia is to color your first egg red. That egg is called čuvarkuća, which means guardian of the house. It’s the most significant Easter egg, and it stays in the house until the next-year Easter. It’s believed it protects the home and the family from sickness and other harm. A guardian egg from the previous year is sometimes put into a dish with water and some herbs.

Every family member is supposed to wash their face using that water to be healthy and happy. Sometimes, parents gently rub their children’s faces with čuvarkuća, so the little ones are healthy and sweet all year. In some villages, čuvarkuća is buried in the ground, so that the fields are fruitful. In modern times, sometimes it’s just carefully taken out of the house to make a place for the new home protector. The rest of the colorful eggs are put in baskets or bowls at the center of the table. A basket full of eggs is a crucial part of Easter in Serbia!

“Tucanje jajima” (Eggs hitting) 

Tucanje jajima is an inevitable tradition during Easter in Serbia! It starts after the morning liturgy on Easter morning. Everyone brings a colored egg, and the competition begins! Competitors use their eggs to hit others, so the person whose egg cracks first loses. The one whose egg remains whole until the end is a winner. It’s always a loud event full of laughter, and children particularly enjoy it.

Believe it or not, there are even cheaters! Some people secretly bring an egg from another bird, whose eggs have a harder shell than the hens. Guineafowl eggs are usually used for this purpose. Because of this, when someone constantly wins, others become suspicious and investigate their egg! Even when a cheater is discovered, no one gets mad, everyone usually bursts into even louder laughter.

The competitors then eat the loser eggs, which fits the rule that the first food eaten after fasting should be an Easter egg. Everyone then goes to their homes to have a festive Easter lunch.

Tucanje jajima is an inevitable part of Easter in Serbia!

Traditional Easter Meals

While preparing for celebrating the rising of Jesus, Christians have Lent – a 40-day fasting period. Today, many people in Serbia don’t abide by these strict rules, but almost every Serb fasts on Good Friday. For most families in Serbia, the traditional Good Friday meal usually consists of fish soup, fried fish, beans, and potato salad. For Orthodox Christians, it’s important not to eat meat, milk, and eggs on fasting days. Those who strictly follow Lent, eat very little on Good Friday and don’t consume fish or oil. They eat raw or cooked food. 

There are no strict lunch rules for Easter Sunday – we eat soup, some meat with garnish, a dessert, and a special round bread with a whole boiled egg in the middle. And, of course, Easter eggs! 

Greetings

Special greetings are an unavoidable part of celebrating this Easter in Serbia. We don’t greet each other with a regular Good day nor do we say Happy Easter. It’s all combined in a greeting Hristos vaskrse or Hristos voskrese. It means Christ has risen. The answer is also specific: Vaistinu vaskrse or Voistinu voskrese. This means He has indeed risen. If you don’t feel comfortable saying these sentences, it’s all right to say, Srećan Uskrs or Srećan Vaskrs. It means Happy Easter and you’ll get a regular answer – Hvala (Thank you)! Two versions of both sentences exist for the same reason we have both Uskrs and Vaskrs. 

Easter for the Dead

The first Monday after Easter is dedicated to the dead. During this time we think about our late beloved ones and go to the cemetery. We bring fresh grass and Easter eggs to their graves. Sometimes eggs are left there and sometimes given to the less fortunate, so they can enjoy the spirit of Easter, too.

What custom did you find most surprising? Which one is the most interesting?
If you’d like to learn more about Serbian customs and traditions, choose one of our great teachers and  book your lesson on:

VERBLING or  ITALKI

Resource

Health and medicine in Serbian

 

SERBIAN CYRILIC	SERBIAN LATIN	ENGLISH
здравље	Zdravlje	health
здрав(а)	zdrav(a)	healthy, in good health
болест	bolest	sickness, illness, disease
болестан(болесна)	bolestan(bolesna)	sick, ill
бити лошег здравља	biti lošeg zdravlja	to be in poor health
бити хендикепиран(на)	biti hendikepiran(na)	to be handicapped
колица (за одрасле)	kolica(za odrasle)	wheelchair
доктор	doktor	doctor
Не осећам се добро. Треба да посетим лекара.	Ne osećam se dobro. Treba da posetim lekara.	I don’t feel well. I think I need to go see a doctor.
специјалиста	specijalista	specialist
кардиолог	kardiolog	cardiologist
офтамолог	oftamolog	eye doctor, ophthalmologist
заказати састанак с....	zakazati sastanak s....	to make an appointment with
болница	bolnica	hospital
клиника	klinika	clinic
медицинска сестра	medicinska sestra	nurse
пацијент(киња)	pacijent(kinja)	patient
систематски преглед	sistematski pregled	to get a (medical) check-up
дијагноза	dijagnoza	to diagnose
дијагнозирати	dijagnozirati	diagnosis
прегледати	pregledati	to examine
преглед	pregled	examination
Доктор ме је прегледао и дијагнозирао је назално зачепљење.	Doktor me je pregledao i dijagnozirao je nazalno začepljenje	The doctor examined him and diagnosed him with nasal congestion.
Проблем	problem	problem
Шта није у реду	šta nije u redu	What’s wrong?
Ја сам болестан(болесна)	Ja sam bolestan(bolesna)	I’m sick.
бол	bol	pain
боли ме.....	boli me....	My __ hurts.
Боли ме раме читаву вечност.	Boli me rame čitavu večnost	My shoulder has been hurting for ages.
боли ме овде.	boli me ovde	It hurts here.
Боле ме леђа.	Bole me leđa.	to have a backache
Боли ме глава.	Boli me glava.	to have a headache
Заиста имам страшну главобољу.	Zaista imam strašnu glavobolju.	I have a really bad headache.
мигрена	Migrena	migraine
несвестица	nesvestica	dizziness
онесвестити се	onesvestiti se	to faint
прехладити се	prehladiti se	to have a cold
бити заражен(а)	biti zaražen(a)	to be congested, have nasal congestion
имати грип	imati grip	to have the flu
имати температуру	imati temperaturu	to have a fever
имати бол у стомаку	imati bol u stomaku	to have a stomachache
Имати бол у грлу	imati bol u grlu	to have a sore throat
кашљати	kašljati	to cough
имати кашаљ	imati kašalj	to have a cough
повраћати	povraćati	to vomit, throw up
имати мучнину	imati mučninu	to experience nausea, be nauseous
имати осип	imati osip	to have a rash
имати дијареју (Пролив)	imati dijareju(proliv)	to have diarrhea
имати затвор	imati zatvor	to be constipated
Имати проблеме са варењем	imati probleme sa varenjem	to have indigestion
дијабетес	dijabetes	diabetes
каријес	karijes	cavity
упала десни	upala desni	inflation of the gums
крварење десни	krvarenje desni	gums bleeding
десни	desni	gums
зуб(и)	zub(i)	tooth/teeth
зубобоља	zubobolja	toothache
пломба	plomba	dental filling
поправљати(поправити)зуб	popravljati(popraviti) zub	to fix the tooth
зубна круна	zubna kruna	dental crown
протеза	proteza	braces
Вађење зуба	vađenje zuba	tooth extraction
(из)вадити зуб	(iz)vaditi zub	to extract the tooth
коренски канал	korenski kanal	root canal
конац за зубе	konac za zube	floss
чистити зубе концем за зубе	čistiti zube koncem z azube.	to floss the tooth
течност за испирање уста	Tečnost za ispiranje usta	mouthwash
испирати зубе течношћу за испирање	Ispirati zube tečnošću za ispiranje	to mouthwash
испирати(испрати)	ispirati(isprati)	to rinse
(ис)пљунути	(is)pljunuti	to spit
бити дијабетичар	biti dijabetičar	to be diabetic
имати астму	imati astmu	to have asthma
имати висок крвни притисак	imati visok krvni pritisak	to have high blood pressure
сида	sida	AIDS, HIV
рак	rak	cancer
бити повређен(а)	biti povređen(a)	to get injured
имати модрицу	imati modricu	to have a bruise
рана, озледа	rana, ozleda	wound
зашити рану	zašiti ranu	to get stitches
шав	šav	stitch
опекотина	opekotina	burn
опећи се	opeći se	to get burned
бандаж	bandaž	bandage, Band-Aid
имати угануће скочног зглоба	imati uganuće skočnog zgloba	to have a sprained ankle
сломити кост	slomiti kost	to break a bone
сломљена кост	Sloljena kost	a broken bone
Сломио је руку. Сад мора да носи гипс.	Slomio je ruku. Sad mora da nosi gips.	He broke his arm and has to wear a cast now.
рендгенски снимак	rendgenski snimak	x-ray
Урадити рендгенски снимак	Uraditi rendgeski snimak	to x-ray
медицина	medicina	medicine
лекарски рецепт	lekarski recept	prescription
прописати лек	propisati lek	to prescribe
аспирин	aspirin	aspirin
пилула	pilula	pill
антибиотици	antibiotici	antibiotics
вакцина, инјекција	vakcina, injekcija	injection, shot
пелцовати се, вакцинисати се	pelcovati se, vakcinisati se	to get a shot
вадити крв	vaditi krv	to draw blood
извршити анализу крви	izvršiti analizu krvi	to run a blood test
(из)лечити	(iz)lečiti	to cure, heal
опоравак, лечење	oporavak, lečenje	recovery, healing
дати терапију	dati terapiju	to treat
терапија	terapija	treatment
инфекција	infekcija	infection
заражен(а)	zaražen(a)	contagious
Да ли сте заражени?	Da li ste zaraženi?	Are you contagious?
хирург	hirurg	surgeon
хирургија	hirurgija	surgery
оперисати	operisati	to perform surgery on, operate on
имати операцију	imati operaciju	to undergo surgery, have an operation
имати абортус	imati abortus	to have an abortion
пластични хирург	plastični hirurg	plastic surgeon
пластична хирургија	plastična hirurgija	plastic surgery
трудноћа	trudnoća	pregnancy
затруднети с...	zatrudneti s....	to get pregnant by
трудна	trudna	pregnant
породити се	poroditi se	to give birth
Кад ти је термин порођаја?	Kad ti je termin porođaja?	When are you due?
Термин порођаја ми је у Децембру.	Termin porođaja mi je u Decembru.	I’m due in early December.
Колико дуго је трудна?	Koliko dugo je trudna?	How far along is she?
Она је трудна шест месеци	Ona je trudna šest meseci.	She’s six months pregnant.
кондом, презерватив	kondom, prezervativ	condom
имати окрњен зуб	imati okrnjen zub	to have a chipped tooth
ставити пломбу	staviti plombu	to get a filling
очистити зубе	očistiti zube	to get a cleaning
Идем код зубара да преконтролишем и очистим своје зубе	Idem kod zubara da prekontrolišem i očistim svoje zube	I’m going to the dentist’s to get a check-up and a cleaning.
исполирати зубе	ispolirati zube	to get one’s teeth whitened
депресија	depresija	depression
зависност	zavisnost	addiction
бити завистан/зависна	biti zavistan/zavisna	to be addicted
алкохолизам	alkoholizam	alcholism
артритис	artritis	arthritis
нервни слом	nervni slom	nervous breakdown
пилула	pilula	pill
балзам	balzam	ointment /cream
капи за очи	kapi za oči	eye drops
педијатар	pedijatar	pediatrician
брзо оздрави	brzo ozdravi	Get better soon
апетит/(из)губити апетит	apetit/(Iz)gubiti apetit	appetite /to lose the appetite
амбуланта	ambulanta	ambulence
ванредно стање(хитан случај)	vanredno stanje (hitan slučaj)	emergency
уганути чланак	uganuti članak	swollen ankle
ишчашити	iščašiti	to sprain
(С)ломити	(S)lomiti	to break
огреботина	ogrebotina	scratch
огребати се	ogrebati se	to scrach
бандаж	bandaž	band-aid
инфекција	infekcija	infection
упала	upala	inflammation
симптом	simptom	symptom
бити повређен(а)/озлеђен(а)	biti povređen(a)/ozleđen(a)	to be injured /to injure
рана	rana, ozleda	wound
имати бебу	imati bebu	To have a baby
засновати породицу	zasnovati porodicu	To start a family
контракција	kontrakcija	Contraction
пупчана врпца	pupčana vrpca	Umbilical cord
донети бебу	doneti bebu	To deliver a baby
ићи у породилиште	ići u porodilište	Going into labour
пукао ми је водењак	pukao mi je vodenjak	My water broke!!!”
породиљско	porodiljsko	Maternity leave
побачај	pobačaj	Miscarriage
јутарња мучнина	jutarnja mučnina	Morning sickness
постељица	posteljica	Placenta
постпорођајна депресија	postporođajna depresija	Postnatal depression
тест на трудноћу	test na trudnoću	Pregnancy test
абортус	abortus	Abortion
кондоми,презервати	kontdomi, prezervati	Condoms
стрије	strije	Stretch mark
ултра звук	ultra zvuk	ultra sound
нерођење дете	nerođeno dete	Unborn child
дојење	dojenje	Breastfeeding
пузање	puzanje	Crowning
неплодност	neplodnost	Infertility
менструални циклус	menstrualni ciklus	Menstrual Cycle
менопауза	menopauza	Menopause
јајник(ци)	jajnik(ci)	Ovary; Ovaries
утроба	utroba	Womb
хормони	hormoni	Hormones/Hormonal
простата	prostata	prostate