READING BLOGS AS A LANGUAGE LEARNING TOOL /ČITANJE BLOGOVA KAO ALAT ZA UČENJE JEZIKA

Hello, Earthlings! In this post, we shall talk about  the connection between blogging and language learning.
Considering I'm both a language teacher and a blogger, I might know a thing or two about this topic.
I'll also share a cute vintage outfit shot at my favourite spot in Mostar city with you but more about that later. 
Isn't it lovely that Spring is finally here? Better late, then never!

DON’T LET LANGUAGE LEARNING MYTHS STAND IN YOUR WAY

When it comes to language learning, there are so many myths surrounding it. Regardless whether we're talking about acquiring a foreign language or improving our own mother tongue, language learning is an activity few understand well. Many myths surrounding language learning often discourage potential language learners. Among the most common language learning myths are those that claim that it requires great talent, effort,  financial resources and so on.  As if language learning isn't something we've been doing since the day we were born. We all started as babies who couldn't speak and acquired our language skills gradually. Every time you learn a new word, phrase or manage to express yourself better in the written or spoken form- you’re (consciously or unconsciously) improving on your language skills. Language learning is something we never stop doing. 

Zdravo, stanovnici planete Zemlje! Tema ove objave je o povezanosti čitanja bloga i učenja jezika. S obzirom da sam i profesorica jezika i vlasnica bloga, znam ponešto o ovoj temi. Također ću s vama podijeliti slatki vintage outfit snimljen na mom omiljenom mjestu u Mostaru, ali više o tome kasnije. Zar nije lijepo što nam je proljeće konačno stiglo? Bolje kasno, nego nikad!

NEMOJTE DOPUSTITI DA VAM MITOVI O UČENJU JEZIKA STANU NA PUT Što se tiče učenja jezika, postoji toliko puno mitova oko cijelog procesa. Bez obzira govorimo li o usvajanju stranog jezika ili usavršavanju vlastitog materinskog jezika, učenje jezika je aktivnost koju malo tko doista dobro razumije. Mnogi mitovi oko učenja jezika često obeshrabruju potencijalne učenike. Među najčešćim mitovima o učenju jezika su oni koji tvrde da to zahtijeva veliki talent, trud, financijska sredstva i tako dalje. Kao da učenje jezika nije nešto čime se bavimo od dana kada smo se rodili. Svi smo počeli kao bebe koje nisu znale govoriti i postupno smo stjecale svoje jezične vještine. Svaki put kada naučite novu riječ, frazu ili se uspijete bolje izraziti u pisanom ili govornom obliku - (svjesno ili nesvjesno) poboljšavate svoje jezične vještine. Učenje jezika je nešto što nikada ne prestajemo raditi.

DOES LANGUAGE LEARNING TAKE TIME? HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT USUALLY TAKE?

While it is true that language learning takes time, it doesn’t have to be an extreme time investment. Research suggests that it takes around 500 hours to reach basic fluency in language from the same language family. Now, try to add all the time you spend on your smartphone or watching Netflix and you’ll see it is not that big of an investment. Now, when it comes to your own language, becoming better at it is possibly even more important than learning a foreign language. No matter what you do for a living, you need communicative skills. In fact, having highly developed language skills can only help you, both in your personal and private life. 

ZAHTJEVA LI UČENJE JEZIKA VRIJEME? KOLIKO OBIČNO TREBA VREMENA?

Iako je istina da učenje jezika zahtijeva vrijeme, to ne mora biti ekstremno ulaganje vremena. Istraživanja sugeriraju da je potrebno oko 500 sati za postizanje osnovne tečnosti pri usvajanju jezika iz iste jezične obitelji. Sada pokušajte izračunati vrijeme koje provodite na svom pametnom telefonu ili gledajući Netflix i vidjet ćete da to nije tako veliko ulaganje. Sada, kada je u pitanju vaš vlastiti jezik, postati bolji u njemu je možda čak i važnije od učenja stranog jezika. Bez obzira čime se bavite, potrebne su vam komunikacijske vještine. Zapravo, visoko razvijene jezične vještine mogu vam samo pomoći, kako u osobnom tako i u privatnom životu.

READING BLOGS AS A WAY OF IMPROVING OUR LANGUAGE SKILLS

 Can blogs be used in language learning? The answer is - absolutely. There's a number of ways blogs can be used for language learning.  In the post, I will focus more on the benefits of reading blogs.

WHAT ARE SOME CLEAR BENEFITS OF BLOG READING FOR THE PURPOSE OF LANGUAGE LEARNING?

Now is the time to talk about the benefits of reading blogs! Right from the top of my head, I can think of five distinct advantages of reading blogs in the context of language learning. 

1. AN EXPOSURE TO ‘NATURAL’ AND ‘RELEVANT’ LANGUAGE

When you read blogs, the odds are that you’re exposed to 'natural' language. While handbooks are useful, blogs offer you a wide range of writing styles. Through blogs you can expose yourself to a less formal and more conversational language. Not saying that professional handbooks and language learning materials are not useful. In fact, SLA handbooks are extremely useful because they have been edited and written by professionals with years of language teaching experience. However, it can take years for a language learning handbook to get approved and published. Blogs offer you exposure to ‘fresh’ language and give you an insight into the way different people speak and write.  Reading blogs can help you improve your conversational vocabulary. This applies to both expanding your vocabulary in foreign languages and in your own mother tongue. Language learning is a lifelong process. 

ČITANJE BLOGOVA KAO NAČIN UNAPREĐIVANJA JEZIČNIH VJEŠTINA Mogu li se blogovi koristiti u učenju jezika? Odgovor je – apsolutno. Postoji nekoliko načina na koje se blogovi mogu koristiti za učenje jezika. U ovoj objavi ću se više usredotočiti na prednosti čitanja blogova. KOJE SU NEKE JASNE PREDNOSTI ČITANJA BLOGA U SVRHU UČENJA JEZIKA? Sada je vrijeme za razgovor o prednostima čitanja blogova! Bez puno razmipšljanja mogu navesti pet različitih prednosti čitanja blogova u kontekstu učenja jezika. IZLOŽENOST 'PRIRODNOM' I 'RELEVANTNOM' JEZIKU Kada čitate blogove, velika je vjerojatnost da ste izloženi 'prirodnom' jeziku. Iako su jezični priručnici korisni, blogovi vam nude širok raspon stilova pisanja. Putem blogova možete se izložiti manje formalnom i više razgovornom jeziku. Ne kažem da stručni priručnici i materijali za učenje jezika nisu korisni. Zapravo, takvi priručnici su iznimno korisni jer su ih uredili i napisali profesionalci s godinama iskustva u nastavi jezika. Međutim, mogu proći godine da se priručnik za učenje jezika odobri i objavi. Blogovi vam nude izlaganje 'svježem' jeziku i daju vam uvid u način na koji različiti ljudi govore i pišu. Čitanje blogova može vam pomoći da poboljšate svoj konverzacijski vokabular. To se odnosi i na razvijanje vokabulara i na stranim jezicima i na vlastitom materinjem jeziku. Učenje jezika je cjeloživotni proces.

2. A POSSIBILITY OF PARTICIPATING IN (OR OBSERVING) LANGUAGE INTERACTION AND DIALOGUE

Most blogs have the option of commenting. This obviously gives you an opportunity to interact with the blogger. Moreover, even if you don’t feel like commenting, you can learn through reading comments from other readers and responses from the blogger. Discussions in the comment section can be as interesting, if not more, than the original blog post.

3. A FREE ACCESS TO TOPICS IN TARGET LANGUAGE YOU’RE ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN

Wonderful thing about expanding our vocabulary through blog reading is that you can choose to read about topics you’re actually interested in. Blogs are an endless source of reading material. You can easily find articles on whatever interests you or simply subscribe to those blogs that you enjoy for a constant source of interesting reading material. 

2. MOGUĆNOST SUDJELOVANJA (ILI PROMATRANJA) JEZIČNE INTERAKCIJE I DIJALOGA

Većina blogova ima mogućnost komentiranja. To vam očito daje priliku za interakciju s autorom bloga. Štoviše, čak i ako ne želite komentirati, možete naučiti čitajući komentare drugih čitatelja i odgovore blogera. Rasprave u odjeljku za komentare mogu biti jednako zanimljive, ako ne i više, od izvornog posta na blogu.

3. BESPLATAN PRISTUP TEMAMAZA KOJE STE ZAINTERESIRANI NA CILJANOM JEZIKU 

Divna stvar u širenju našeg vokabulara čitanjem bloga je to što možete odabrati čitanje o temama koje vas zapravo zanimaju. Blogovi su beskrajan izvor materijala za čitanje. Lako možete pronaći članke o onome što vas zanima ili se jednostavno pretplatiti na one blogove u kojima uživate radi stalnog izvora zanimljivog materijala za čitanje.

4. BLOG POSTS ARE OFTEN READER FRIENDLY AND VISUALLY ATTRACTIVE

Not all blogs are created alike, but blogs are always a labour of love. No matter what blog you visit, chances are that you’ll be able to find articles that are both reader friendly and visually attractive. Some blogs are more visual than others, but in most cases the written word reigns supreme. Content is king as they say and that’s something you can count on. If you are a visual learner, then this combination of visual and written input can help you learn faster. When it comes to professional blogs, the competition is fierce. Their articles are often extremely reader friendly. Professional bloggers know how to keep your attention and engage their reader. Alternatively, hobby bloggers offer a more personal perspective. Many blogs are written in diary form and  this will appeal to a reader who appreciates a more authentic writing. Both hobby and professional blogs have a great potential as language learning tools. 

5. READING BLOGS IS A FUN AND INCLUSIVE ACTIVITY!

You know what, reading blogs is fun! If you are looking to improve your language skills through reading, then blogs are a fantastic (but often neglected) resource. Moreover, blogs are available in pretty much every language. New blogs are created every minute. Reading blogs can put you in contact with people from around the world and provide you with amazing language learning resources. Blogs are inclusive, they are written by people of all language, social and age groups. To conclude, blogs are a fun and easily accessible source of reading material!

4. OBJAVE NA BLOGU ČESTO SU PRILAGOĐENE ČITATELJIMA (TO JEST LAKE ZA ČITANJE) I VIZUALNO ATRAKTIVNE

Nisu svi blogovi stvoreni jednaki, ali blogovi su uvijek plod ljubavi. Bez obzira na to koji blog posjećujete, velike su šanse da ćete moći pronaći članke koji su i razumljivi čitateljima i vizualno atraktivni. Neki su blogovi vizualniji od drugih, ali u većini slučajeva pisana riječ je bitna. Sadržaj je kralj kako se kaže i to je nešto na što možete računati. Ako ste vizualni tip učenika, onda vam ova kombinacija vizualnog i pisanog unosa može pomoći u bržem učenju. Što se tiče profesionalnih blogova, konkurencija je velika. Njihovi su članci često vrlo pristupačni čitateljima. Profesionalni blogeri znaju kako zadržati vašu pozornost i angažirati vas kao svog čitatelja. Alternativno, hobi blogeri nude osobniju perspektivu. Mnogi blogovi su napisani u obliku dnevnika i to će se svidjeti čitatelju koji cijeni autentičnije pisanje. I hobi i profesionalni blogovi imaju veliki potencijal kao alati za učenje jezika.

5. ČITANJE BLOGOVA JE ZABAVNA I INKLUZIVNA AKTIVNOST!

Znate što, čitanje blogova je zabavno! Ako želite poboljšati svoje jezične vještine čitanjem, onda su blogovi fantastičan (ali često zanemaren) resurs. Štoviše, blogovi su dostupni na gotovo svim jezicima. Novi blogovi se stvaraju svake minute. Čitanje blogova može vas dovesti u kontakt s ljudima iz cijelog svijeta i pružiti vam nevjerojatne resurse za učenje jezika. Blogovi su inkluzivni, pišu ih ljudi svih jezika, društvenih i dobnih skupina. Da zaključimo, blogovi su zabavan i lako dostupan izvor materijala za čitanje!

......NOW A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE LOCATION- THE SPANISH SQUARE

The Spanish square is one of most beautiful squares in Mostar. Why is it called Spanish Square? It's because here there is a monument devoted to Spanish soldiers that were killed here in the nineties war. White was the main colour used when this square was redecorated and  I'd say it's an excellent choice for any Mediterranean city. The plants that were planted are Mediterranean too. Nothing better than to sit on a nice bench and breathe in the smell of rosemary. However, my favourite thing about this square is not the new part of it, but one historical building.  Indeed, you could say that the Spanish square is dominated by this historical school constructed during the rule of Austro-Hungarian Empire. This is probably my favourite building in Mostar. It was build in 1890ties. It is know as Old Gymnasium (because it really is old) but it is actually called Gymnasium Mostar. Within this gorgeous  building United World Collage is also situated. 

Španjolski trg jedan je od najljepših trgova u Mostaru. Zašto se zove Španjolski trg? To je zato što se tu nalazi spomenik posvećen španjolskim vojnicima koji su ovdje poginuli u ratu devedesetih. Bijela je bila glavna boja korištena kada je ovaj trg preuređen i rekla  bih da je izvrstan izbor za svaki mediteranski grad. Biljke koje su posađene su također mediteranske. Ništa bolje nego sjediti na lijepoj klupi i udisati miris ružmarina. Međutim, meni najdraže na ovom trgu nije njegov novi dio, već jedna povijesna građevina. Doista, moglo bi se reći da španjolskim trgom dominira ova povijesna škola izgrađena za vrijeme vladavine Austro-Ugarske. Ovo je vjerojatno moja najdraža zgrada u Mostaru. Izgrađena je 1890-ih godina. Poznata je kao Stara gimnazija (jer je stvarno stara), ali se zapravo zove Gimnazija Mostar. Unutar ove prekrasne zgrade nalazi se i United World Collage. 

MORE POSTS FROM MOSTAR CITY:

https://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/2022/04/leather-and-striped-outfits-in-mostar.html

https://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/2022/04/what-have-i-been-wearing-in-mostar-5.html

https://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/2022/04/happy-easter-weekend-everyone-wiwt.html- EASTER POST FROM MY HOME

https://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/2022/04/a-vintage-white-blazer-blue-jeans-diy.html- RESTAURANT ROMANCA

https://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/2022/04/ozz-students-fashion-show-under.html- MOSTAR INTERNATIONAL FAIR 

https://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/2022/03/uno-nessuno-e-centomila-one-no-one-and.html-  ŠANTIĆ STREET IN MOSTAR

THE JAPANESE CHERRY TREES IN MOSTAR  / PARK ZRINJEVAC  FASHION ILLUSTRATION

TWO MORE POSTS ABOUT MOSTAR: HERE & HERE

 SPANISH SQUARE MOSTAR HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM MOSTAR ! FAREWELL TO SUMMER FROM MOSTAR CITY  2018 STREET ART MOSTAR , 2016 STREET ART , 2021 STREET ART and also here , here and here.   STROLLING MOSTAR CITY 2021  

OLDER  1. You can see Mostar from the bird perspective in my previous posts (here, here and here). 2. One of my favourite streets in Mostar here and here. 3. Musala bridge (also known under its old name Tito's bridge here and here) 4. You can see photographs of Mostar's Catholic cathedral here.5. You can see images of Mostar and its famous Nertva river here, here and here. 6. You can see the surrounds of one of its most iconic catholic churches here.7. You can see both photographs of old bridge and my drawing of it here. 8. Another one of my favourites when it comes to streets here. 9. You can see photographs of Croatian cultural centre/theater here , here , here , here and here. 10. You can see photographs of the main city park here here, here, here and here.

11. You can see images of Spanish square here, here , here , here and here. 12. You can see photographs of Custom's bridge here and here. 13. You can see photographs of the new bridge here and here. 14. A few photographs from old city centre (2018) here. 15. What to wear for sightseeing Mostar in summer here.

16. This post is focused on 7 outfits I wore but you can see many of Mostar's attractions there as well. I suppose the same can be said for most of my outfit posts. 17. Mostar as an Easter destination (2019) here.

18. Mostar dinning and cafe recommendations here. 19. Hiking options in Mostar here. 20. My drawing of Mostar old bridge here. 21. University campus in Mostar here. 22. How I have fallen in love with Mostar here.

THE STORY OF MY OUTFIT- THE SUSTAINABLE FASHION FILES

HOW I WORE IT BEFORE? 

PRIČA MOJE ODJEVNE KOMBINACIJE- ODRŽIVA MODA

KAKO SAM VEĆ NOSILA OVE ODJEVNE KOMADE? (poveznice u tekstu na engleskom)

My outfit is all vintage (apart from the boots and the bag). 

THE WHITE BLAZER (vintage, Savremena žena Zagreb)- I checked the label on this vintage blazer I got from my sister in law and confirmed that it was indeed vintage (not that I had any doubts, they don't make clothes like this anymore). The blazer was manufactured  in Zagreb sometime between 1952- 1962. I even found this article about the label here (but it is in Croatian). WORN HERE

THE PINK KNIT- This one doesn't have a label but I know it's vintage because it's a family item. WORN HERE

THE PINK SUBTLE FLORAL PRINT PLEATED DRESS- The gem of my closet, this dress is a family treasure. My mother received it from cousins and it arrived all the way from New Zealand. She wore it once for a wedding when she was eighteen and never again... Needless to say, once I found it in the closet, the number of wears radically increased.  LAST WORN HERE

THE MINI BLACK BAG WITH G PRINT- HERE

THE BLACK BOOTS- LAST WORN HERE

Thank you for your visit. Have a nice day. Hvala vam na posjeti! Ugodan dan želim!