Hi everyone!

In order to have really successful workshop on Serbian as a foreign language I need your help. I have asked some of my students to make videos and they have done an excellent work! Now, some people are shy and don't prefer videos. That is why I would like you to write an answer to one simple question and provide a very short description about your first lesson:

Why are you learning Serbian?

My first impressions from the first lesson (please include things that might put you off).

If you want to make a video, write me a private msg.

Hvala svima!

This one is for teachers of Serbian as foreign language

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1M-ULB130WPop9hrTVv1fg54tLevCWBTaGzJlizJl6tE/viewform

and this one is for students

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UzogtYKizhn7y0en26vSisDUaZeOISWmMrTuJCrIg-w/viewform

Thank you for your time and let's try to provide better conditions, textbooks and sources for learning and teaching Serbian.

Students may write their aswers in English and teachers in Serbian. :)

Thank you!

Here is a new article, but fully written in Serbian! It is about Christmas Eve in Serbia and the our customs. Do remember that the customs may differ from town to town. This is written from my perspective. I hope that you will practise Serbian language and learn something new. Don't hesitate to share your opinion - here or on blog.

Enjoy! http://learn-serbian-online.blogspot.rs/2016/01/blog-post.html

Discuss the Article : 10 Serbian Phrases Using Everyday Verbs

<a href='/article/635/10-serbian-phrases-using-everyday-verbs' target='_blank'>10 Serbian Phrases Using Everyday Verbs</a>

Many languages use the words 'to do' or 'to make' to describe everyday actions. However, if we were to literally translate some Serbian phrases describing these actions, we might be scratching our heads in confusion. Let's take a look at how Serbians would express various actions...

I want to you to share with me any of your creative works written in Serbian - poems, short stories... anything related to literature. The deadline is 14th, January, the date when Orthodox Christians celebrate New Year.

Read more at:

http://learn-serbian-online.blogspot.rs/2015/12/creative-writing-contest-pisemo-na.html

Have you made any New Year's resolutions? Share with us an practise Serbian!

Da li ste doneli neke novogodišnje odluke? Podelite sa nama i vežbajte srpski!

Useful vocabulary for the upcoming holidays:

Srećna Nova godina! (Happy New Year!)

Srećan Božić! (Merry Christmas!)

Sve najbolje! (All the best!)

Živeli. (Cheers!)

poklon - present

Discuss the Article : 10 Must-Watch Serbian Films

<a href='/article/528/10-must-watch-serbian-films' target='_blank'>10 Must-Watch Serbian Films</a>

Serbian learners, are you film lovers? Do you feel that it’s about time to watch some movies and boost your vocabulary? Have a look at this comprehensive and informative Top Ten list of the best Serbian films that will both fascinate you and help you to better understand the Serbian language and culture.

You can find this article on my blog as well.

Serbs are pretty religious people and that is why it is no wonder to find phrases related to God in colloquial language. I will list ten very common ones and remember that there are also variations of them in accordance to different part of Serbia. Every phrase is followed by an explanation and examples.

1. koštati Boga i oca - exactly the same meaning as in English „to cost an arm and a leg“; something that is very expensive, maybe more than one could imagine.

<em>Komšija je kupio nov auto. Kaže da košta Boga i oca.</em>

2. pričati, ostati, šetati... Bogu i svetu - to talk, stay somewhere, walk for a very long time;

<em>Ne volim da ga sretnem. Priča o politici Bogu i svetu.</em>

3. uhvatiti Boga za bradu - to consider yourself invincible, privileged, better than others; maybe something like „to think someone is God's own cousin“

<em>Viđam ga često po kafanama. Ponaša se bahato prema svima - kao da je uhvatio Boga za bradu.</em>

4. dar od Boga - gift from above; something very hard or impossible to get or obtain unless hire forces help you out a bit;

<em>Nakon nekoliko godina su dobili ćerku, kao da je dar od Boga.</em>

5. Bogu iza nogu - to be very distant;

<em>Hoćemo li da odemo peške do tamo? - Ma, ne! Oni su Bogu iza nogu, na drugom kraju grada.</em>

6. Bog zaboravi na nekoga - something very distant in time, so distant that even God has forgotten about it;

<em>Mama, odoh do drugara. - Dobro, samo nemoj da Bog zaboravi na tebe!</em>

7. biti Bogom dan - similar meaning as phrase number 3, but the slight difference is that in this case you are very special right from the beginning whereas in phrase number three you had to make an effort to achieve something great, but you have too idealistic perception of yourself; a God-given right

<em>Leži i ništa ne radi po ceo dan, kao da je Bogom dan.</em>

8. ~ do Boga - same as „do neba“, which means in great quantity, for example to love or to be dumb; it might be compared with „to the moon and back“;

<em>Volim svoju decu do Boga!</em>

<em>Objašnjavam mu nekoliko puta i ne vredi. Glup je do Boga.</em>

9. Bog zna - God only knows! what, when, how something will happen or how long might something last;

<em>Moj muž je otišao na poslovni sastanak. Bog zna koliko će ostati tamo.</em>

10. pokazati nekom Boga - to reprimand, to beat someone up as a substitute for explanation or discussion in a dispute, row, misunderstanding etc; usually used with possessive pronoun (his/her/their God);

<em>Deca su slomila prozor. Pokazaću im njihovog Boga.</em>

Mostly, they represent something of higher level, great amount, quantity, quality using God as suprime being and bearing in mind that there is no better/higher/nicer/more beautiful than him. These phrases are commonly found in everyday speech and literature.

I hope this helps a bit! :)