(And their pronunciations…)
How do you learn new words in your target language?
Do you read books? Do you watch movies?
Or do you ask your friends?
Depending on how far along your language journey you are, you might already be doing a combination of all of these. If you’re quite new to a language, chances are you may be making the mistake of reading new words and hoping they’ll sink in.
Wrong.
Flashcard apps might be fun, but they teach you how to memorize words out of context.
They also won’t help you make the leap between those words and the real-life conversation, which is the whole point.
With The Mimic Method, you develop the ability to acquire new words just by listening to and mimicking people in real conversation.
It happened to me today.
I was chatting with my friend whilst cooking and realized I didn’t know the French word for ‘cupboard’. So I said “Les pâtes sont dans le… cupboard.” (The pasta is in the… cupboard).
Then we paused, took a step out of our cooking conversation while she taught me the word for cupboard (“le placard”), and I repeated it back to her.
Once I had it nailed, we stepped out of our meta-conversation about the words and back to the actual conversation we were having (about her inability to cook.)
When you come across something you don’t know how to say, you step out of your conversation and into the meta-conversation.
The meta-conversation is about your sentence structure, the words you’re using or the words you want to use. The meta-conversation is necessary and it also keeps the conversation flowing, which is the key.
Being able to sense check our word usage or ask for new vocabulary is crucial for fast-tracking our language learning.
This, in essence, is The Mimic Method: picking up new words and vocabulary in organic conversation. You learn the word by mimicking it back to the person. This way, you learn the correct pronunciation and how to use it in context – without seeing it written down.
And in order to get to this stage of spontaneous conversation, you need to first develop the capacity to hear all of the elemental sounds of a language.
That’s why as well as a handy list of questions, we’ve included the phonetic transcriptions and the recordings, so you can hear them spoken and learn them by mimicking them back.
English: What is the word for “X”?
French: Comment dit-on «X» en Français? [kɔ / mã / d̪i / t̪ɔ̃ / «X» / ã / fχã / s̪ɛ]
English: Am I pronouncing “X” correctly?
French: Est-ce que je prononce «X» correctement ? [ɛs̪ / kə / ʒə / pχo / n̪ɔ̃s̪ / «X» / kɔ / ʁɛk / tə / mã]
English: What is this called?
French: (Informal) Ça s’appelle comment ? [s̪a / s̪a / pɛl / kɔ / mã]
French: (Formal) Comment s’appelle ceci ? [kɔ / mã / s̪a / pɛl / s̪ə / s̪i]
English: I want to say: “X”
French: Je veux dire «X» [ʒə / vø / d̪iʁ* / «X»]
English: How do I say “X”?
French: “Comment dit-on «X» en français ? [ko / mã / d̪i / t̪ɔ̃ / «X» / ã / fχã / s̪ɛ]?
English: What is another word for “sad”?
French: Y a-t-il un autre mot pour triste? [i / ja / t̪i / la n̪o / t̪χə / mo / puʁ* / t̪χis̪t̪]
English: I don’t understand
French: Je ne comprends pas [ʒə / nə / kɔ̃ / pχã / pa], [ʒən / kɔ̃ / pχã / pa]
English: Am I using the correct verb tense?
French: Est-ce que j’utilise le bon temps de conjugaison? [ɛs̪ / kə / ʒy / t̪i / li / z̪lə / bõ / t̪ã / d̪ə / kõn / ʒə / ge / zõ]
English: Could you speak more slowly please
French: (Informal) Tu peux parle plus lentement s’il te plait [t̪y / pø / paʁ* / le / ply / lã / t̪mã / s̪il / t̪ə / plɛ]
French: (Formal) Pouvez vous parler plus lentement s’il vous plaît ? [pu / ve / vu / paʁ* / le / ply / lã t̪mã / s̪il / vu / plɛ]
English: I forgot the word
French: J’ai oublié le mot [ʒɛ / u / bli / e / le / mo]
English: What does that mean?
French: (Informal) Ça veut dire quoi ? [s̪a / vø / d̪iʁ / kwɑ]
French: (Formal) Qu’est-ce que ça veut dire? [kɛs̪ / kə / s̪a / vø / d̪iʁ]
English: What is a better way to say “X”?
French: Quel est le meilleur moyen de dire «X» ? [kɛ / le / lə / mɛ / jœʁ* / mwa / jɛ̃ / d̪ə / d̪iʁ / «X»]
English: Could you please repeat that?
French: (Informal) Est-ce que tu peux répéter ça? [ɛs̪ / kə / t̪y / pø / ʁe / pe / t̪e / s̪a]
French: (Formal) Pouvez-vous répéter cela? [pu / ve / vu / ʁe / pe / t̪e / s̪ə / la]
English: How is that written?
French: Comment ça s’écrit? [ko / mã / s̪a / s̪e / kχi]
English: What is the word for “X”?
German: Was ist das Wort für “X” auf Deutsch? [va / sɪs / das / vɔɐt / fyɐ / “X” / aʊf / dɔʏ#]
English: Am I pronouncing “X” correctly?
German: Spreche ich das richtig aus? [ʃpχɛ / çə / ɪç / das / ʁɪç / tɪk / aʊs]
English: What is this called?
German: Wie heißt das? [vi / haɪs / das]
English: I want to say: “X”
German: Ich möchte “X” sagen [ɪç / mœç / tə / “X” / za / ʔgŋ]
English: How do I say “X”?
German: “Wie sagt man “X” auf Deutsch?” [vi / zakt / man / “X” / aʊf / dɔʏ#]
English: What is another word for “sad”?
German: Was ist ein anderes Wort für “traurig”? [va / sɪs / taɪn / an / də / ʁəs / vɔɐt / fyɐ / tχaʊ / ʁɪk]
English: I don’t understand
German: Ich verstehe nicht [ɪç / fɐ / ʃte / ə / nɪçt]
English: Am I using the correct verb tense?
German: Benutze ich die korrekte Zeitform? [bə / nʊ / t͡sə/ ɪç / di / kɔ / ʁɛk / tə / t͡saɪt / fɔɐm]
English: Could you speak more slowly please
German: (Informal) Kannst du bitte langsamer sprechen? [kan / sdu / bɪ / tə / laŋ / za / mɐ / ʃpχɛ / çn]
German: (Formal) Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen? [kœn: / zi / bɪ / tə / laŋ / za / mɐ / ʃpχɛ / çn]
English: I forgot the word
German: Ich habe das Wort vergessen [ɪç / ha / bə / das / vɔɐt / fɐ / gɛ / sən]
English: What does that mean?
German: Was bedeutet das? [vas / bə / dɔʏ / tət / das]
English: What is a better way to say “X”?
German: (Informal) Wie sagt man “X” am besten? [vi / zakt / man / “X” / am / bɛs / ʔtn]
German: (Formal) Gibt es eine bessere Möglichkeit, “X” zu sagen? [gɪp / tɪs / aɪ / nə / bɛ / sɐ / ʁə / mø / klɪç / kaɪt / “X” / t͡su / za / ʔgŋ]
English: Could you please repeat that?
German: (Informal) Kannst du das bitte wiederholen? [kan / sdu / das / bɪ / tə / vi / dɐ / ho / lən]
German: (Formal) Bitte wiederholen Sie! / Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? [bɪ / tə / vi / dɐ / holn / zi] / [kœn: / zi / das / bɪ / tə / vi / dɐ / holn]
English: How is that written?
German: Wie schreibt man das? [vi / ʃχaɪp / man / das]
English: What is the word for “X”?
Spanish: ¿Cuál es la palabra para “X” en Español? [kwä / le̞s / lä / pä / lä / β&ä / pä / &ä / “X” / e̞n̪ / e̞ / spä / ɲo̞l]
English: Am I pronouncing “X” correctly?
Spanish: ¿Estoy pronunciando ‘X’ correctamente? [e̞s / t̪o̞i / p&o̞ / n̪un̪ / si / än̪ / d̪o̞ / ‘X’ / ko̞ / +e̞k / t̪ä / me̞n̪ / t̪e̞]
English: What is this called?
Spanish: ¿Cómo se llama esto? [ko̞ / mo̞ / se̞ / ʝä / mä / e̞s / t̪o̞]
English:I want to say: “X”
Spanish: Quiero decir ‘X’ [kje̞ / &o̞ / d̪e̞ / si& / ‘X’]
English: How do I say “X”?
Spanish: ¿Cómo se dice “X” en Español? [ko̞ / mo̞ / se̞ / d̪i / s
English: I don’t understand
Spanish: Yo no comprendo [ʝo̞ / n̪o̞ / ko̞m / p&e̞n̪ / d̪o̞]
English: Am I using the correct verb tense?
Spanish: ¿Estoy usando el tiempo verbal correcto? [e̞s / t̪o̞i / u / sän̪ / d̪o̞ / e̞l / t̪ie̞m / po̞ / ve̞& / bäl / ko̞ / +e̞k / t̪o̞]
English: Could you speak more slowly please
Spanish: ¿Podrías hablar más despacio por favor? [po̞ / ð&i / ä / sä / blä& / mäz / d̪e̞ spä / si / o̞ / po̞& / fä / vo̞&]
English: I have forgotten the word
Spanish: Olvidé la palabra [o̞l / vi / d̪e̞/ lä / pä / lä / β&ä]
English: What does that mean?
Spanish: Qué significa eso? [ke̞ / sig / n̪i / fi / kä / e̞so̞]
English: What is a better way to say “X”
Spanish: ¿Cuál es una mejor manera de decir “X” [kwäl / e̞ / su / n̪ä / me̞ / xo̞& / mä / n̪e̞ / &ä / d̪e̞ / d̪e̞ / si& / “X”]
English: Could you please repeat that?
Spanish: (Informal) ¿Podrías repetir eso por favor? [po̞ / d̪&i / äs / +e̞ / pe̞ / t̪i / &e̞ / so̞ / po̞& / fä / vo̞&]
Spanish: (Formal) ¿Podría repetir eso por favor? [po̞ / d̪&i / ä / +e̞ / pe̞ / t̪i / &e̞ / so̞ / po̞& / fä / vo̞&]
English: How is that written?
Spanish: ¿Cómo está escrito eso? [ko̞ / mo̞ / e̞s / t̪ä / e̞s / k&i / t̪o̞ / e̞ / so̞]
English: What is the word for “X”?
Portuguese: Como se diz “X” em Português? [ko / mu / si / %is / “X” / ẽ / po& / t̪u / geis]
English: Am I pronouncing “X” correctly?
Portuguese: Estou pronunciando “X” corretamente? [st̪ou / p&o / n̪ũ / si / ɐ̃ / d̪ʊ / “X” / kɔ / hɛ / t̪ɐ / mẽ / #i]
English: What is this called?
Portuguese: Como se chama isso? [ko / mu / si / ʃɐ / mɐ / i / su]
English: I want to say: “X”
Portuguese: Quero dizer “X” [kɛ / &u / d͡zex / “X”] / [kɛ / &u / %ɪ / zex / “X”]
English: How do I say “X”?
Portuguese: Como se diz em português X? [kɔ / mu / si / %i / zẽ / pɔx / t̪u / ges / “X”]
English: What is another word for “sad”? (insert your own word)
Portuguese: Que outra palavra significa “triste”? [ki / ou / t̪&ɐ / pa / la / v&ɐ / si / gni / fi / kɐ / t̪&is / #i]
English: I don’t understand
Portuguese (Brazil):“Não entendo” [n̪ɐ̃ũ / ẽ / t̪ẽ / d̪u]
English: Am I using the correct verb tense?
Portuguese: Estou usando o tempo verbal correto? [st̪ou / zɐ̃ / d̪u / t̪ẽ / pʊ / veh / bau / kɔ / hɛ / t̪u]
English: Could you speak more slowly please
Portuguese: Você poderia falar mais devagar, por favor? [vo / se / pɔ / d̪ɛ / &i / ɐ / fa / lah / mais / %i / va / gah / poh / fa / voh]
English: I have forgotten the word
Portuguese: Esqueci a palavra [is / kɛ / si / a / pa / la / v&ɐ]
English: What does that mean?
Portuguese: O que isso significa? [ʊ / ki: / su / si / gn̪i / fi / kɐ]
English: What is a better way to say
Portuguese: Qual é a melhor maneira de dizer [kwau / ɛɐ / mɛ / ʎɔh / mɐ / n̪e / &ɐ / %i / %ɪ / zex]
English: Could you please repeat that?
Portuguese: Você poderia por favor repetir isso? [vo / se / pɔ / d̪ɛ / &i / ɐ / pox / fa / vo / he / pe / #i / &i / sʊ]
English: How is that written?
Portuguese: Como se escreve isso? [kɔ / mʊ / si / sk&ɛ / vi: / sʊ]
The meta-conversation serves the purpose of improving your language skills. The more your practice, the less you’ll dip into the meta-conversation, but even experienced speakers forget words.
So next time you get stuck for a word, phrase or tense – use the cues above and keep the conversation flowing.
If you hear a new word from a native speaker and mimic it, will that be enough to memorize the word? Does that really make revision unnecessary?
You need to hear it, mimic it and then put it into practice as soon as possible. Start using it in sentences, say it back to the person in the same conversation. The more you use it, the more your brain will queue it up for you when you’re speaking in your target language.
Not easy to mimic Ukrainian speakers, I repeat 100times some words after them, but I make mistake wenn I speak later… Only by listening to audios /easy dialogs I can learn it. Not by direct conversations.
If you find yourself making mistakes in normal conversation, don’t panic too much – because we all do that. What you could do is preface the conversation by saying, “if I mispronounce something, will you help me correct it?” that way you can learn as you go. Conversations are always a lot more fast paced, which is why it’s tougher than when you’re speaking at home.
What a super useful article! I’ve definitely bookmarked this one for the future
Thanks Nick! Glad you found it useful 🙂
Sophie, thanks for the post! I read in your short bio that you are based in Stockholm and are currently learning Swedish. I just recently moved to Sweden and I am learning Swedish too! I wonder if it will be available on the Mimic Method anytime soon?
Hey Victor! How are you finding Swedish so far? I’m not sure whether there’ll be a Swedish course, but I’ve been using all of Idahosa’s tips to help me with the pronunciation as some of the sounds are so completely different to native English sounds. Did you see the guide on how to learn a sound that doesn’t exist in your native language? (http://bit.ly/2golMLV) – I’ve been applying this to my learning 🙂 Let me know how you’re getting on!
Swedish is not that hard, but I haven’t been practicing speaking to anyone yet. How’s your level?
I’ve been using some of the mimic method principles too 🙂 the one sound that I am still struggling a little bit with is the “i” and “y”, but with a little practice I’m getting closer to what I hear from the natives 🙂
I’m still very much a beginner! I’m lucky though as I have a practice partner, so she’s helping me out. Yes, “i” and “y” is nearly impossible to differentiate – from what I can hear, it’s a difference in the pitch, but I’m still working on that !
Having a practice partner certainly helps! I’ve been using the SwedishPod101 website as they have a big catalog of dialogues and vocab with audio and you have the option to listen to them at 0.5x speed. It is paid, but I think it’s worth it.
Great tip, thank you! I’ve been listening to as much Swedish music as I can and giving myself a baptism of fire with Swedish movies. There’s a lock in my brain that just needs to click.. I can feel it!
That’s a great idea. I think I should start doing that too! Any recommendations (music/movies)?
If you feel like connecting on social media add me on Facebook! (look for Victor Mehmeri)
Great article! I printed out two copies to keep handy during language exchanges in my offices, and also put it on my Google Drive for handy reference. I knew some of these but not all of them. I sure could have used this during a language exchange I had yesterday with a new person I was speaking with from Peru!!
Glad you found it helpful! We’ve got a few more posts like this in the pipeline, so keep your eyes peeled on our blog (or just subscribe and get notified when we post new stuff!)
I liked your post, really great examples!
If you accept on suggestion:
I’m native Portuguese(from Brazil) studying English, sadly there is no English example. I know that is easy to find out but sometimes I look for full sentences spoken by natives to pay close attention in pronunciation and accent.
I realized that there are a lot of good language learners(like you) who speak native English, they have a lot of good tip and advice but always forget English examples.
Best regards!
Good point Rodrigo! We’ll be sure to add in some native English examples in our next post – thanks for your feedback! 🙂