I wasn’t happy with the online Catalan practice I found. I wanted to work on a particular problem without having to find a different tool each time. That is the main reason I started building Mica.
Sometimes you need to drill a verb. Sometimes you know the words but struggle with a conversation. Mica puts different kinds of practice in one place, so you can choose what is useful to you.
These are the options I wanted, and how I’d approach each one. You can use the same approach with materials you already have.
Work on the conjugation you keep getting wrong
A conjugation table is useful for checking an answer. I also wanted somewhere to practise producing the forms myself. Mica’s conjugation gym lets you choose a verb or tense, practise weak spots, or do a mixed round.
Start with a verb and tense you have already studied. Cover the table and write the forms from memory, then check them. Keep track of the ones you miss. If you keep making the same mistake, look up the explanation before doing another round.
A correct round tells you how that exercise went. You still need to try using the verb in a sentence of your own.
Practise what happens after your opening line
Preparing what to say at a bakery is fairly straightforward. You also need to deal with the reply. They might ask a question, offer something else, or tell you what you want is sold out.
I wanted practice that included that part of the exchange. Mica’s scenes, in the neighbourhood, rehearse everyday interactions and follow-up questions.
You can do this with a teacher or someone willing to practise with you. Pick a situation you expect to encounter. Ask them to vary their reply instead of reading through the same script every time. Note where you lose track, and work on that part next.
Check whether you can recall the word
Seeing a word and knowing what it means is useful. It doesn’t tell you whether you can find it when you want to say something. I wanted vocabulary practice that asked me to use words in sentences. Mica groups that practice by topic.
Choose words for something you actually want to talk about. Use your course notes or a dictionary to check them, then put the notes away and try to write a few sentences. Look up the words you couldn’t recall. Ask for feedback on wording you’re unsure of; a sentence can be understandable and still sound odd.
Choose the practice that fits today
Having these options together is the point of Mica. You can spend time in the gym, work through a scene, or focus on vocabulary. There is also a course when you want a sequence of lessons to follow, and reading practice when you want to work with a text.
Before your next session, think of something that was difficult recently. Be specific: a verb form you couldn’t remember, a reply you didn’t understand, a word you had to look up again. Choose one exercise that gives you another attempt at it.
You may need an explanation before more practice. Bring the problem to a teacher, or go back to the relevant lesson. Repeating an exercise you don’t understand can get frustrating quickly.
Leave room for a class and actual conversation
An app gives you somewhere to practise on your own. A teacher can help explain a mistake, and talking to another person brings replies you haven’t prepared for.
If you want a class, CPNL lists Catalan courses and a course finder. For conversation, Voluntariat per la llengua’s virtual programme pairs fluent speakers with adult learners who already have basic Catalan. It asks for an hour a week over ten weeks.
Use whatever helps you work on the problem you have. If your current materials do that well, keep using them.