Getting Started
Before diving into the daily plan, it’s essential to set some ground rules and gather resources. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of this learning journey:
1. **Consistency is Key**: Dedicate at least 30 minutes to one hour each day to your studies.
2. **Use a Variety of Resources**: Combine textbooks, language apps, online courses, and conversation practice.
3. **Practice Speaking**: Find a language partner or tutor to practice speaking.
4. **Immerse Yourself**: Listen to Serbian music, watch Serbian movies, and follow Serbian social media accounts to immerse yourself in the language.
Week 1: Building the Foundation
Day 1: Learn the Cyrillic Alphabet
Serbian uses both the Cyrillic and Latin alphabets. Start by learning the Cyrillic alphabet, as it’s essential for reading and writing in Serbian. Spend time writing out each letter and familiarizing yourself with its sound.
Day 2: Basic Greetings and Introductions
Learn basic greetings and how to introduce yourself. Practice phrases like:
– Zdravo (Hello)
– Dobar dan (Good day)
– Ja se zovem [Your Name] (My name is [Your Name])
– Drago mi je (Nice to meet you)
Day 3: Numbers and Days of the Week
Learn numbers from 1 to 20 and the days of the week. Practice counting and saying the days:
– Jedan (One)
– Dva (Two)
– Ponedeljak (Monday)
– Utorak (Tuesday)
Day 4: Basic Pronouns and Simple Sentences
Learn basic pronouns and construct simple sentences:
– Ja (I)
– Ti (You)
– On/ona (He/she)
– Ovo je knjiga. (This is a book.)
– Ja sam student. (I am a student.)
Day 5: Common Verbs and Conjugation
Learn common verbs and their conjugations in the present tense:
– Biti (to be)
– Imati (to have)
– Raditi (to work)
– Ja sam (I am)
– Ti si (You are)
Day 6: Vocabulary for Everyday Objects
Learn vocabulary for everyday objects around the house:
– Sto (Table)
– Stolica (Chair)
– Prozor (Window)
– Vrata (Door)
Day 7: Review and Practice
Review everything you’ve learned during the week. Practice writing sentences, speaking out loud, and using flashcards to reinforce vocabulary and grammar.
Week 2: Expanding Vocabulary and Grammar
Day 8: Family and Relationships
Learn vocabulary related to family and relationships:
– Majka (Mother)
– Otac (Father)
– Brat (Brother)
– Sestra (Sister)
Day 9: Food and Drink
Learn the names of common foods and drinks:
– Hleb (Bread)
– Mleko (Milk)
– Voda (Water)
– Jabuka (Apple)
Day 10: Present Tense Verbs
Dive deeper into present tense verb conjugations and practice using them in sentences:
– Ja jedem (I eat)
– Ti piješ (You drink)
– On radi (He works)
Day 11: Adjectives and Descriptions
Learn common adjectives and practice describing objects and people:
– Lep (Beautiful)
– Visok (Tall)
– Mali (Small)
– Veliki (Big)
Day 12: Directions and Locations
Learn how to ask for and give directions:
– Gde je [place]? (Where is [place]?)
– Levo (Left)
– Desno (Right)
– Pravo (Straight)
Day 13: Time and Weather
Learn how to tell the time and talk about the weather:
– Koliko je sati? (What time is it?)
– Sada je dva sata. (It is two o’clock.)
– Vreme je sunčano. (The weather is sunny.)
Day 14: Review and Practice
Review the vocabulary and grammar from this week. Practice forming sentences, speaking, and using flashcards to reinforce what you’ve learned.
Week 3: Conversational Skills and Practical Phrases
Day 15: Shopping and Transactions
Learn vocabulary and phrases for shopping and making transactions:
– Koliko košta? (How much does it cost?)
– Želim kupiti ovo. (I want to buy this.)
– Račun, molim. (The bill, please.)
Day 16: Travel and Transportation
Learn vocabulary and phrases related to travel and transportation:
– Aerodrom (Airport)
– Voz (Train)
– Autobus (Bus)
– Gde je stanica? (Where is the station?)
Day 17: Health and Emergencies
Learn important vocabulary and phrases for health and emergencies:
– Lekar (Doctor)
– Bolnica (Hospital)
– Pomoć! (Help!)
– Boli me [body part]. (My [body part] hurts.)
Day 18: Dining Out
Learn vocabulary and phrases for dining out:
– Restoran (Restaurant)
– Meni (Menu)
– Ja bih [food/drink]. (I would like [food/drink].)
– Konobar (Waiter)
Day 19: Socializing and Making Friends
Learn phrases for socializing and making friends:
– Da li želiš da se družimo? (Do you want to hang out?)
– Hajde da idemo na piće. (Let’s go for a drink.)
– Gde živiš? (Where do you live?)
Day 20: Common Idioms and Expressions
Learn some common Serbian idioms and expressions:
– Ko rano rani, dve sreće grabi. (The early bird catches two worms.)
– Nema problema. (No problem.)
– Sve je u redu. (Everything is fine.)
Day 21: Review and Practice
Review the vocabulary and phrases from this week. Practice forming conversations, speaking aloud, and using flashcards to reinforce what you’ve learned.
Week 4: Advanced Skills and Immersion
Day 22: Past Tense Verbs
Learn how to conjugate verbs in the past tense and practice using them in sentences:
– Ja sam bio/bila (I was)
– Ti si bio/bila (You were)
– On/ona je bio/bila (He/she was)
Day 23: Future Tense Verbs
Learn how to conjugate verbs in the future tense and practice using them in sentences:
– Ja ću biti (I will be)
– Ti ćeš biti (You will be)
– On/ona će biti (He/she will be)
Day 24: Reading and Comprehension
Practice reading short texts in Serbian to improve your comprehension skills. Start with simple stories or news articles and gradually move to more complex texts.
Day 25: Listening and Pronunciation
Improve your listening skills and pronunciation by listening to Serbian podcasts, watching Serbian movies, or listening to Serbian music. Try to mimic the pronunciation and intonation.
Day 26: Writing Practice
Practice writing in Serbian by keeping a daily journal or writing short essays. Focus on using the vocabulary and grammar you’ve learned.
Day 27: Culture and Traditions
Learn about Serbian culture and traditions to gain a deeper understanding of the language. Explore Serbian holidays, customs, and folklore.
Day 28: Conversation Practice
Engage in conversations with native Serbian speakers or language partners. Focus on improving your fluency and confidence in speaking.
Day 29: Review and Practice
Review everything you’ve learned over the past month. Focus on areas where you feel less confident and practice them thoroughly.
Day 30: Final Assessment and Plan for Continued Learning
Assess your progress by taking a language proficiency test or having a conversation with a native speaker. Reflect on what you’ve learned and create a plan for continued learning to maintain and improve your Serbian skills.
Conclusion
Learning Serbian in 30 days is an ambitious goal, but with dedication and consistent practice, you can build a strong foundation in the language. Remember that language learning is a continuous journey, and the more you immerse yourself in the language, the more proficient you will become. Keep practicing, stay curious, and enjoy the process of learning Serbian. Srećno! (Good luck!)

