Feeling like your language book is a little dated? Maybe even a little sexist, racist or just plain old not-acceptable-anymore? Don’t throw it out just yet! Here’s how to personalise any language resource.

I don’t know about you but I’m a sucker for second hand language resources. I love finding notes in the margins, and seeing the things in vocab lists once important to teach (VHS tapes and cheques, anyone?)

But, of course, sometimes these older resources have me raising an eyebrow at their dialogues. In one case, a fluent speaker even pointed out that a Japanese book I shared on Instagram was actually incorrect on the cover!

It’s easy to dismiss these resources as total trash, as something we’re better off without, and as a relic we couldn’t possibly learn from now.

However, in this post, I’m going to show you how to personalise any resource to learn a language in 4 simple steps.

Step 1: Take Only What You Need.

When I was learning Guarani, I started with very few resources available. The only thing close to a “course” that I had was an old PDF designed for Peace Corps volunteers and made…a good few years ago.

On page one, it talks about indigenous languages as “Indian languages” and even creates outdated ways to remember how to greet someone in Guarani.

As much as it gets me rolling my eyes, I ignore this and use the useful bit of the page that does teach me how to greet someone.

Acknowledge your own beliefs and facts about the modern world.

Sure, you think your way of doing things is right. Don’t we all.

So we can acknowledge this. But then…

Recognise that you’re encountering different and/or previous world-views.

Ahh! Here’s the connected bit where growth begins to happen!

Shock horror: sometimes different people think different things are ok. Sometimes different people thought different things were ok once upon a time.

It’s a smart move to recognise this without getting stuck in anger or dismissal.

This is also our first step towards being ready to personalise any language resource. Because we can’t proceed if we’re constantly blocking ourselves from what’s in front of us.

Consider this an insight into how things have changed.

Once we’ve recognised potentially differing beliefs and expressions in our resources, we can use this a chance to explore how views on these things have changed throughout history.

It’s especially interesting to do this in the context of the language you’re learning. How do current views in this language’s cultures differ from your own culture’s modern views? Are the historic views similar to each other?

Related: All The Indigenous and Endangered Language Learning Apps You Need
https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/indigenous-endangered-language-learning-apps/

Step 2: Get Creative.

Another resource I (surprisingly!) had to work with for Guarani was Duolingo.

I’m not anti-Duolingo, but I’ve never really used it to learn a language beyond the Esperanto course.

It would have been easy to ignore Duolingo and dismiss it as too easy or too simple for what I wanted.

Instead, I chose to get creative with what I had.

Speak the sentences aloud.

Whether it’s Duolingo, a book or a bootleg PDF, bring what you read to life and speak aloud!

This is such a great way to begin to get comfortable with speaking without having to wait for your next lesson or exchange to arrive.

Write them down as you work through a session.

Another idea to bring things off the page or screen is to write down what you learn.

Pick core dialogues, sentences, expressions…whatever you think might be useful and write away.

Alter one or two words to make multiple alternatives.

Taking just copying and writing further, switch up some key words to make new sentences and phrases using the structures you’ve just learnt.

This is one of the easiest ways to begin to produce your own language because you’re not having to think about the whole structure, just one word or two at a time.

Put the vocabulary into other structures you know already.

Kinda the same but the other way round. Use new individual words with structures you already know and see what works.

Even if these sentences don’t make logical sense (for example – my cat brushes her teeth!), if they’re still grammatically correct, you’re practising.

Related: How to Learn a Language with Duolingo (+ Actually Remember It)
https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/how-to-learn-a-language-with-duolingo-actually-remember-it/

Step 3: Decentre Yourself.

Moving on now to Indonesian.

I love Teach Yourself books, and so when I got Teach Yourself Complete Indonesian, I was ready to learn! But then…I discovered the dialogues are told from the perspectives of businessman Ken and student Mike.

It would be too easy to tell myself that because I don’t relate to these characters, this resource isn’t for me. Or, even worse, this language isn’t for me.

Instead, use this as a chance to decentre yourself and recognise the scope of all language learners.

Acknowledge this as an opportunity.

Now’s our chance to take what we did in step 1 a step further.

Using a resource that doesn’t totally align with where we’re at is much more enjoyable when we view it as an opportunity.

Consider what this might tell you about social dynamics.

Opportunity for what? This!

If that character in the dialogue says his wife is “just a housewife”, is this a flat-out sexist thing or is it potentially a reflection of the social dynamic and cultural norms associated with that language?

Research into the culture.

…aaaaannnd…this then gives you the opportunity to dig a little deeper and learn more about the culture.

Perhaps it feels a little bleak compared to what you’re used to? Well, when there’s rules, there’s often rebellion. Can you find out more about counter-cultural movements that exist in the same place and feel more aligned with your beliefs?

Related: Now What? What to Do After Duolingo: Intermediate Language Learning Strategies
https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/now-what-what-to-do-after-duolingo-intermediate-language-learning-strategies/

Recentre Yourself.

This is pretty closely connected to the previous step, and this whole process is something that comes up in Language Life too.

Once you’ve decentred yourself, rather than leaving things there and dismissing it as “not for you” or yourself as “not for it”, recentre yourself.

Consider how your own personal narrative fits with this resource.

Reshape the dialogues and activities using you and your situation.

Ok, now we’ve done the heavy work it’s time to enjoy ourselves!

What needs to change about that dialogue or activity to make it more relevant to you?

Change the words, the topics, the focus to fit your situation.

Dialogue asking “do you have children?” and you’re quite happy being child-free with your pups? Here’s what happens next…

Learn your personal vocab & apply it.

Learn how to say “No I don’t have children. I’m happy being child-free with my pups.”

Or, you know, learn what’s relevant for you rather than that specific example.

Maintain a comfortable distance from the resource – you’re not tethered!

Here’s the ultimate joy of using any resource that doesn’t feel 100% “you” – you’re not tethered!

It’s much easier to use other things, take what you need, and get creative when you feel a little detached from a resource. Sometimes, this can be even better than when something fits like a glove.

Related: How to Use Audio Lessons for Language Learning