Learning Finnish using the English dictionary

Hi, my native language is Portuguese, and I am yet not a “fluent” English speaker. Since I have been " studying" it, or better to say: I have been reading and listening to English content intensively for the last 6 months. I live in Finland and I want to learn Finnish. I decided to give 80% of my studying time to Finnish language( then 20% to English) during the process I decided to use the English dictionary when saving words in LingQ instead of the Portuguese Dictionary. I would like yo know your opinion about that. Do you think it makes the process harder? Do you think if I will be using the Portuguese dictionary will be better,more efficient? I am using the English dictionary for 2 reasons I find it more meaningful while translating the Finnish words than the Portuguese one. The other reason is that I keep learning English, apart from that I still edit some words, writing the Spanish translation which is available for me from google dictionary, as Spanish was my second language I want keep it updated) do you think it is a bad idea? Better always to use your native language dictionary or not? Thanks in advance!

If you don’t feel super confident in English, then I would suggest using your first language. You shouldn’t really have to think when you see the translation or “hint” for a LingQ, it should mean something to you straight away.

However, if you are confident in English, and if you are mostly using English in your day to day life, it’s probably fine to use it. It’s really up to you…

Thank you Peter. I know haste is the first enemy when learning a language. I feel somehow I’ve “lost” so much time of my life without studying foreign languages that now I want to study them all at the “same time” I know that it is not possible. What I want is to keep using both languages. I’m struggling quite a bit. I don’t get very many opportunities to interact with natives. The only thing I can do is read and read, listen to audiobooks…it’s not easy. Anyhow I will get there. Many thanks

It could work all right, or it could be too difficult to do, depending on the level of your English and the materials that you have to work with. I’d just try it and see. If at this point beginning Finnish (heh-heh) with English is too difficult, then just wait until your English is better.

Thank you Ernie, I don’t know what is my level in English. What I can say is that my reading compreehension is ok. Finnish is still far, I can comunicate a bit…and after my daily studies my comprehension is increasing a lot. I will keep using the English dictionary because English language is so important for me at that point. Althought I have decided study Finnish intensively for the next 6 months I can’t abandon the English now. I feel it is really important for me. You might know that being a Portuguese and Spanish speaker(as well with other languages)maybe makes the understanding of written English a bit easier especially for those who like to read like me, I suppose. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong.

if you dont want to leave english behind…
then try to learn “triangles”…
(sorry dont know Portugues, but with a german example: talo -house, das Haus)

but surely it is in the beginning very difficult to switch between 3 languages…

I remember, how I struggled, when I spoken with foreigners English in Finland and then “gone back” to Finnish, then quite often some German words came up, what normally havent happen anymore at that stage.

Oh yes! it’s hard for me. Just because somehow I “can’t” leave English behind…neither Spanish and then with the desire to learn more Italian and French as well.

I remember, how I struggled, when I spoken with foreigners English in Finland and then “gone back” to Finnish, then quite often some German words came up, what normally haven’t happen anymore at that stage. How do you mean?
You mean that one “should not” use the other languages you know(during the “critical” time when acquiring a new language)?

I mean that when you start using a language and in between you have to use another better known foreign language, your own standard in the weaker foreign language is dropping a bit, because you cant find words or grammar structures, you have already learnt…they are “overshadowed” by the stronger foreign language :frowning: because in your language center(in your brain) hasnt built up a big enough area for the newest language…
but it will be ok in future, i dont struggle anymore when i have to switch between English,German and Finnish

Norwegian is still to weak, I start searching words, when a third language is used(eg German and English)… hopefully I will reach sometimes in the future a level, that I am able to switch easily between the languages, while speaking Norwegian.

“should not” I wouldnt say, just that it is hard or even harder that it need to be… later when you feel better settled in the new language you have less problems…

mainly it is your decision what to learn, or the living conditions to go on with all theses languages parallel… or leave some of then for a while behind you , to start later again, when eg Finnish is strong enough.

if i must choose , i would learn one language up to advanced level and just then start the next one… but that is just me…