"There are over 200 Afrikaans words in Russian, because Peter the Great went to Holland to study shipbuilding." My South African friend was telling me this fact because she's spent 16 years in Russia. The common link between Afrikaans and Russian? Dutch!
"A smelly toilet is called 'toi toi' in Russian. When the black people go out and riot in the streets, that's also called 'toi toi'," she explained with a laugh.
Well, the words may be the same, but the meaning is entirely different! A smelly toilet and rioting have nothing to do with each other!
But, if you're learning a new language, these little "non-related" associations can help you move from "I'll never get this language!" to "Hey, I recognise that word! It means ..." There is no fixed formula to learning a language. Every person is different in the way we learn and remember. Find what works for you!
You can keep a small notebook and write down new words as you come across them. Or, put a note to yourself in your smartphone. Draw a picture. Associate the new word with something familiar. If it works for you, use it! Don't bother with what others say. The goal is always the same: to learn a new language so I can communicate.
Happy learning!
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