How to motivate yourself to continue with learning Serbian language

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If you have been started with learning Serbian, that already means that you have basic motivation and a reason for learning this Slavic language. But Serbian language is not easy and you will experience ups and downs in your motivation for learning.
Let's see what can we do about it.

1) What is your goal with learning Serbian ?

To be able to communicate with friends and family in Serbia ? To start your business in Serbia ? To study in Serbia ? Keep that is mind when you have motivation crises. Never forget your goal. And remember that big and important goals are never reached over the night.

2) Appreciate small improvements.

If you had problems before with mixing up pronouns (on ona ono oni one ona, ah, it really sounds so similar) and now you don't - appreciate that. If you don't make mistakes in 3rd person plural of present tense - appreciate that. If you are confident about your accusative, but still not totally comfortable with your locative, appreciate your accusative. Every small step is bringing you closer to the success.

3) Be realistic - new language is a new world. Give yourself time.

There is so many new stuff to learn. Vocabulary, grammar rules, words order... It takes time. For someone a year, for someone three years. It's individual and don't pressure yourself about it. You need as much time as you need.

4) Visualize yourself at the end of the road.

Imagine the moment when you are communicating with a family, working in Serbia, or study on one of Serbian faculties and you don't have any problems in understanding people around you. You feel good and accepted.

5) Have fun with it.

Watch movies, play games, read comic books. Put stickers on your clothes and on house objects with words for them. Talk with children. Fun will increase your level of motivation.

6) Approach to the language from the different angles.

Similar to the number 5). Input as much variations as you can - when you are bored of grammar, take a walk and guess the names of things on your way. Do exercises and when you are bored with that, join some Serbian chat and contribute (say something :) ). Write a letter to a friend in your (limited, doesn't matter) Serbian, surprise him.

7) Do a little bit every day.

Then you will constantly renew your motivation.

Make it to be a part of your daily routine. Give yourself small daily homework. Be free to use my blog for that purpose.

Serbian Teacher Online

Lidija Novakovic Lagrini

Contact: kratkeprice@gmail.com

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Are you an advanced learner of Serbian language and you need some challenging exercises to practice your skill ? Then this is the right post for you.

Use the right form of comparative or superlative:

1) Moja devojka je (lep) od tvoje.
2) Nikad mi nije bilo (dobar) nego sada.
3) Ana je moja (dobar) drugarica.
4) Žuta paprika je _ (ljut) od zelene.
5) Ovo ćebe je _ (mekan) koje imam.
6) Ana je visoka, ali njena sestra je još (visok).
7) Taj film mi je (interesantan) od istoimene knjige.
8) Dijamant je (tvrd) od bisera.
9) Ona je (popularan) devojka u našoj školi.
10) Tvoji roditelji su (tolerantan) od mojih.
11) Kada se ošišam, kosa će mi biti (kratak) nego tvoja.
12) Na maturskoj večeri, _ (veseo) je bio naš razredni.
13) Biće mnogo _ (loše) nego što je sada.
14) Obuci se (toplo), napolju je hladno.
15) Ti si _ (lud) nego što sam mislila.

Reminder: suffixes for making comparison in Serbian language are - ji, -iji, -ši.
Although, this rule is note very useful, because there are many letter alternations and several exceptions.

To check your answers, write to

Serbian Teacher Online

kratkeprice@gmail.com

Lidija Novakovic Lagrini

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The tiny differences in pronunciation of Serbian words with difficult letters, and finding the right verb - always useful exercises, even for the advanced learners.

Write the missing verbs:

1. _____ hleb i _____ mleko za doručak.

2. Ana _____ dobru knjigu.

3. Marko _____ email njegovoj devojci.

4. Mi _____ na more.

5. Markovići _____ avionom.

6. Deca _____ sa loptom i sa lutkama.

7. On _____ o filmu.

8. Ana i Stevan _____ na ulici.

9. Sunce _____ ali _____ sneg.

10. Ja ne _____ vino, ali _____ rakiju.

11. U junu _____ Exit festival.

12. Naši prijatelji _____ autobus.

Underline the correct word:

13. PRICATI PRIČATI

14. DŽEP ĐEP

15. ĐONI DEP DŽONI DEP

16. DECA DEĆA

17. COKOLADA ČOKOLADA

18. LJUBAV LUBAV

19. NEGOVA NJEGOVA

20. RUČAK RUĆAK

21. ROĐAK RODŽAK

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During language learning process, the crucial is expanding and developing your vocabulary. These exercises are suitable for beginners and intermediate learners of Serbian language. Write to Serbian Teacher Online and check your answers.

1. Choose the right word:

Ptice ________ na drveću. (ručaju, kuvaju, pevaju)

Mala deca _________ u pesku. (igraju se, kupaju se, zovu se)

Njegova ________ zove se Ana. (igračka, devojka, stolica)

Deda ______ auto. (peva, vozi, spava)

Na ______ ima puno prirode, trave i drveća. (selu, krevetu, kauču)

Od ________ pravimo ajvar. (mesa, jagoda, džema)

Ada je rečno ________. (more, vreme, ostrvo)

U ________ je veoma hladno. (januaru, junu, avgustu)

Moj __________ je 19. septembra. (slava, rođendan, muškarac)

Tamo su sportski _______ za golf i tenis. (pljeskavice, tereni, pesme)

2. Translate:

U januaru slavimo Božić.

Mama i baka kuvaju divna jela.

Grad je najlepši kada pada sneg.

Deca se igraju na snegu.

Moja devojka je najlepša.

Ptice dolaze sa juga.

Deca pevaju pesme.

I drink wine and eat roast.

My birthday is in July.

Birds are green and yellow.

Elephant is in the Yoo.

We walk in the park.

I am not called Ana.

3. Choose the right word:

Moja baba ______ zeleni mercedes. (kuva/vozi/pravi)

Na ______ žive krave, konji i koze. (selu/gradu/snegu)

U proleće ________ jabuke. (moraju/žele/cvetaju)

Deca ______ (spavaju/trče/kuvaju) u dvorištu.

Domaćice ______ (žele/prave/vole) ajvar i džem.

Oktobar je ______ (hladan/topao/crven) mesec.

Raspust _______ (radi/čita/počinje) u julu.

Exit je srpski ________ (telefonirati/muzički/zeleni) festival.

4. Translate:

Kada je slava, dolaze gosti.

Moram da spavam u 9 sati.

Deca vole da idu u školu.

Septembar i oktobar su jesenji meseci.

Zimi ljudi oblače tople kapute.

Strowberries blossom in May.

Children play in the backyard.

Today is fantastic day.

for more exercises write to

Serbian Teacher Online

Lidija Novakovic Lagrini

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Letter R is the only letter in Serbian alphabet which might be both - a vowel and a consonant. Normally it's a consonant. But when there is no other vowel in a group of consonants, R takes over that role.

There are some facts and tricks which might be helpful for improving our pronunciation of Serbian letter R.

1) R in Serbian is a vibrant sound (Spanish Oscar, Serbian Oscarrrr). When you pronounce it properly, you should feel the vibration on the surface of your tongue.

2) The position of speech organs should be this: the top of the tongue is above the upper teeth, slightly touching it or not touching it at all.

3) Words for practicing R in clusters PR and TR: PRVI, PRAVI, PROMET, PRIČA, PREDMET, TRAVA, VATRA, TRAJATI, TRAŽITI.

4) Words for practicing R when R has a role of a vowel: SRBIJA, PRTLJAŽNIK, PRŽITI, CRKVA, KRST, TRG, CRVENO.

5) This is a good trick to check if you are doing it properly: put your hand in front of the mouth; say R several times; if you feel your breath on your palm, the pronunciation is good. Try this as many times as needed, until you clearly feel your breath.

How to motivate yourself to continue with learning Serbian language

If you have been started with learning Serbian, that already means that you have basic motivation and a reason for learning this Slavic language. But Serbian language is not easy and you will experience ups and downs in your motivation for learning.
Let's see what can we do about it.