Those of you who took the oral expression and interaction exam last Thursday are probably now intensively preparing for the comprehension test scheduled for the 6th of February. Therefore, in today’s article, I would like to share with you 6 tips on how to practice and be more prepared for your oral comprehension test and also improve your Luxembourgish at the same time.
1. Watch movies in Luxembourgish
Watching movies in Luxembourgish is a great way to improve your oral comprehension. Not only you improve your oral comprehension, but you also learn about the culture, about idioms and other expressions. Some of these movies are also available with transcription in Luxembourgish subtitles or with subtitles in French or English.
There are different ways you can find and watch movies in Luxembourgish:
· you can watch them on TV and RTL regularly airs new television series which allow you to start recognizing daily useful vocabulary. The last very successful TV series, called “Zëmmer ze verlounen” (Room to rent) airs on Tuesdays at 7 pm and is so much more engaging than listening to the news. You should be able to see the previous episodes on Replay by clicking on the link below (as long as RTL decided to offer it): http://tele.rtl.lu/emissiounen/zemmer-ze-verlounen/lu/
· you can rent them for free from the National Library;
· you can rent them or buy them on the platform www.vod.lu – the prices vary between 0,99 eur to 3,99 eur for rent and 6,99 eur to buy them;
· you can go to the cinema every time there is a movie in Luxembourgish, such as the recent Superjhemp Retörns, which can still be seen in some regional cinemas.
2. Watch interviews with transcription in Luxembourgish as subtitles
The series of interviews “Wann ech Premier wier” that you can find on the 100,7 radio is absolutely great because you have the Luxembourgish transcription as subtitles while the interviewed persons speak. Very useful to make progress.
Below you will find a list of 4 interviews, for more just search on the 100,7 website and search using the name of the radio show.
"Wann ech Premier wier": Jacques Welter
"Wann ech Premier wier": Marie Harter
"Wann ech Premier wier": Ascanio Martinotti
"Wann ech Premier wier": Patrick Hurst
Depending on your personal interests, you might also like to watch certain regular TV shows with a topic close to your heart. For example, because I am serial entrepreneur, I highly appreciate and watch the TV series “Success story” which selects on different rounds start-ups with a high potential. Stay tuned, a new edition will be aired again in spring 2019.
I also enjoy watching shows about Luxembourgers living abroad. They present different personal stories and different professions so the vocabulary is very useful.
You will find below a list of interviews of Luxembourgers living abroad: http://tele.rtl.lu/emissiounen/letzebuerger-am-ausland/
3. News in Luxembourgish
Watching or reading the news in Luxembourgish is an extremely efficient way to prepare for the oral comprehension part of the Sproochtest.
The daily news brought to you by rtl.lu (both radio and TV), eldo.lu, 100koma7.lu are very useful in practicing and helping you improve your oral comprehension on a regular basis.
The great thing about them is that most of the time you can read what you hear, which helps you understand more.
100,7 is the only site proposing the audio and the transcription in Luxembourgish simultaneously. RTL.lu’s TV News shows the translations as subtitle, which is not the best method to make progress but it’s great practice anyway if you try not to focus on the subtitles.
4. Podcasts in Luxembourgish
Recently one of my clients asked me for podcast recommendations so you will find below the only 3 sets that exist for the moment:
Easy Luxembourgish with Anne: This is the best, most structured and complete postcast series and in addition it’s free. There are two levels, level 1, with 40 lessons, and level 2, with 20 lessons.
One minute Luxembourgish : These free podcasts follow a good concept: a short lesson of 1 minute. 10 podcasts were offered in 2008 but unfortunately nothing else after that.
Lux Lingo Podcast : These podcasts were a good idea and offered the first episode for free and then a monthly subscription of 10 eur. However, the link to subscribe is no longer valid and there has been no activity since March 2018. You can find below 2 episodes:
First free episode can be listened to here.
Free episode Valentine Special can be listened to here.
5. Practice evenings in different cafés
Participate in the practice events organized by different communes and organizations. For example, Languages.lu organizes free monthly practice events called “365 Days Luxembourgish”, the same name as the free mobile app to learn Luxembourgish every day. In recent years, the concept of social gatherings for practicing Luxembourgish (and other languages) has become very fashionable. A lot of communes including Walferdange, Hesperange, Differdange offer this kind of events, some even offer cookies and refreshments. To find if, when and where such a practice event is offered in your local commune, check the web site of your commune or stop by and ask on your way to work. In addition, you will find a non-exhaustive list of the Sproochcafés offered in different cities in the country in the article below:
https://luxtimes.lu/the-hub/36099-language-exchange-talk-like-a-local
6. Total immersion in the Luxembourgish language
Learning is done quicker if you immerse yourself in the language and culture of the country. This means that you should dedicate some time to attending events at which the main language used is Luxembourgish. Some examples include parties organized in the neighbourhoods or villages by the scouts, the sport and music associations, the different political parties or the local church. The City of Luxembourg and more specifically the Integration Commission - of which I am a member of - organizes regular events to allow residents from the different communities to get to know each other, such as the Noppesch Fest (The Neighbours’ celebration). Check the web site of your commune for a list of regular events; here is the link to the Luxembourg City Agenda.
About the Author:
Daniela (Clara) Moraru is a serial entrepreneur who set up companies in Romania, UK and Luxembourg, and an INSEAD certified independent director with expertise in Marketing & Communication. She holds an MBA from John Welsh College of Business, Sacred Heart University, with a double concentration in Marketing and International Business, a certificate in Global Management from INSEAD and a Master in Management from Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu.
Ms Moraru is CEO of Languages.lu, a boutique language school specialized in tailor made courses for companies and individuals, as well as in language camps for children and teenagers during all school holidays. She is known as the «Ambassador of the Luxembourgish language» because she promotes heavily the language among non Luxembourgers. She has conceived and published 6 different learning materials to learn Luxembourgish.