Register  Login  Active Topics  Maps  

Language Learning & Introversion

 Language Learning Forum : General discussion Post Reply
61 messages over 8 pages: 13 4 5 6 7 8 Next >>
schoenewaelder
Diglot
Senior Member
Germany
Joined 5560 days ago

759 posts - 1197 votes 
Speaks: English*, French
Studies: German, Spanish, Dutch

 
 Message 9 of 61
28 April 2014 at 8:30pm | IP Logged 
There have been some excellent discussions about introversion in the past, and an
excellent video by splog is linked in the first post

http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?T ID=23742&PN=9

http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?T ID=29411&PN=21&TPN=1

sorry, trouble posting links. delete any gap in "T ID" that appear when you copy to
browser address field



For me, these were revelatory, in particuar the difference between introversion and
shyness.

I find audio can be tiring, but I think that's mainly my attention deficit disorder,
and I don't like speakers who put too much emotional content into their speaking,
which I tend to find totally distracts me from listening to the words. I guess that
could be introversionTID=23742&PN=1">splog

Edited by schoenewaelder on 28 April 2014 at 8:54pm

1 person has voted this message useful



Serpent
Octoglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
serpent-849.livejour
Joined 6597 days ago

9753 posts - 15779 votes 
4 sounds
Speaks: Russian*, English, FinnishC1, Latin, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Studies: Danish, Romanian, Polish, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Slovenian, Catalan, Czech, Galician, Dutch, Swedish

 
 Message 10 of 61
28 April 2014 at 11:31pm | IP Logged 
beano wrote:
But I love speaking sessions in my target language and I feel totally
energised and pumped up after a long conversation which is held for the purposes of language learning.

Me too but I don't want to have them too often. In fact the thought of reading or watching football at home tends to win.
1 person has voted this message useful



hjordis
Senior Member
United States
snapshotsoftheworld.
Joined 5186 days ago

209 posts - 264 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: French, German, Spanish, Japanese

 
 Message 11 of 61
29 April 2014 at 5:07am | IP Logged 
day1 wrote:

The other reason I prefer audio is simple - pronunciation. I have learned most of
my English (especially the less common words) through reading, so I am never sure is my
idea of how these words are supposed to sound correct. It often isn't - couple of times
a month someone on BBC radio says a words and I go like: Oh, so that's how you
say it!

My point: I don't think it's an introvert/extrovert thing.

This happens to me sometimes too, even in English. Don't worry about it too much. What
I do is if I want to use a word and I'm not sure how it's pronounced I'll interrupt my
sentence and say I'm not sure how it's said- (how I think it's pronounced)? Then wait
for the other person to confirm or correct before continuing. Just accept it as a flaw
you need to work on and don't be too embarrassed by it. :)

As for the original topic, I agree it's not an introvert/extrovert thing. I think it's
just level of comfort. I'm an introvert and (used to) read a lot in English, but I used
to get tired almost immediately reading anything in French. Now it takes a lot longer
unless it's something too far outside my ability level.
1 person has voted this message useful



Serpent
Octoglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
serpent-849.livejour
Joined 6597 days ago

9753 posts - 15779 votes 
4 sounds
Speaks: Russian*, English, FinnishC1, Latin, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Studies: Danish, Romanian, Polish, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Slovenian, Catalan, Czech, Galician, Dutch, Swedish

 
 Message 12 of 61
29 April 2014 at 6:04pm | IP Logged 
Well it does vary, but still, introverts like silence and are not afraid of it, whereas extroverts prefer almost any background noise to silence.
1 person has voted this message useful



kujichagulia
Senior Member
Japan
Joined 4847 days ago

1031 posts - 1571 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: Japanese, Portuguese

 
 Message 13 of 61
09 May 2014 at 5:10am | IP Logged 
I'm an introvert, and I find that sometimes sound/audio can be taxing. But I don't think that is because I'm introverted. I think it's because the sound/audio is friggin' boring.

I try to use a lot of audio in my learning: podcasts, audio from my texts, random recordings from the radio, etc. But the problem I run into is that nothing I've found is interesting to me. Those kind of things are made for the public at large; they concentrate on subjects that the majority of people like.   Ideally, I want stuff that is tailor-made for my specific interests, at a comprehensible level. I'm really picky and not very open-minded.

Come to think of it, that is probably why I'm introverted, because I have a unique set of interests that nobody else can identify with, and I'm too stubborn to change.

Edited by kujichagulia on 09 May 2014 at 5:11am

1 person has voted this message useful



Serpent
Octoglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
serpent-849.livejour
Joined 6597 days ago

9753 posts - 15779 votes 
4 sounds
Speaks: Russian*, English, FinnishC1, Latin, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Studies: Danish, Romanian, Polish, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Slovenian, Catalan, Czech, Galician, Dutch, Swedish

 
 Message 14 of 61
09 May 2014 at 6:45am | IP Logged 
Hehe me too, but I've found some consolation at this forum.
(isn't it interesting to hear about football in Portuguese? like DW or whatever)
2 persons have voted this message useful



Retinend
Triglot
Senior Member
SpainRegistered users can see my Skype Name
Joined 4308 days ago

283 posts - 557 votes 
Speaks: English*, German, Spanish
Studies: Arabic (Written), French

 
 Message 15 of 61
09 May 2014 at 1:53pm | IP Logged 
Introversion is a nicer phrase than "has weak social skills."

We language learners are very skeptical of people who say they "naturally" struggle. We
know that the truth is that some people do have an easier time than others, but that
language learning is an attainable skill for anyone, and that everyone needs a lot of
practice to get good. I think the same standard should be brought to skills in social
situations, and how well we can carry a converstaion with a stranger. If you lack the
skills, if you're a mediocrity, be honest with yourself, and say that you're lacking an
important skill. If you're unhappy with that, do something to change it.
1 person has voted this message useful



Retinend
Triglot
Senior Member
SpainRegistered users can see my Skype Name
Joined 4308 days ago

283 posts - 557 votes 
Speaks: English*, German, Spanish
Studies: Arabic (Written), French

 
 Message 16 of 61
09 May 2014 at 2:09pm | IP Logged 
Gemuse wrote:
And here is an article on introversion that I liked
shell/">http://themattwalshblog.com/2013/09/11/im-an-i ntrovert-and-i-dont-need-to-
come-out-of-my-shell/



I'm afraid that this sentiment is exactly what I dislike. Exactly the sort of apologizing for mediocrity
which uses feel-good language to make you think the issue is with human rights, rather than self-
improvement:

Quote: I’d like to examine the idea that being “outgoing and extroverted” is some sort of universal
ideal. It isn’t. If a kid is introverted he doesn’t need to be broken like a dog. He doesn’t need to
change his personality. He doesn’t even need to “come out of his shell.” He’s not hiding in a shell. He
just doesn’t feel the need to chatter incessantly with everyone in the room.


The problem is with the false dichotomy between thoughtfulness and sociability. It's been treated in book
length in the bestseller "Quiet" by Susan Cain. It's an understandable and point of view, worthy of
sympathy. The most convincing argument for it is that you can't realistically know a lot of worthwhile
stuff (let's say, know a second language well) without spending a lot of your waking hours in quiet
reflection, reading and thinking. But while this is true, it does not necessarily mean you must retreat
from the world. There is time in the day and your life to do anything you really want. You can
be socialable and thoughtful. The more sociable and more thoughtful you are, the closer you are to your
humanity.

Lastly ,More friends, more laughs, more romance and spark with other human beings: these things are a
"universal ideal." Without them, and overcompensating with booksmarts, you're like Causabon in Middlemarch:
a dusty prisoner of volumes of lifeless facts, finding soul in abstract ideas rather than living people,
and finding truth in true propositions moreso than in the connection with your fellow man. To dismiss
these things by calling it "incesant chatter" is a sad reflection of the narcissistic self-delusion
that this writer has trapped himself with.

Edited by Retinend on 09 May 2014 at 2:15pm



1 person has voted this message useful



This discussion contains 61 messages over 8 pages: << Prev 13 4 5 6 7 8  Next >>


Post ReplyPost New Topic Printable version Printable version

You cannot post new topics in this forum - You cannot reply to topics in this forum - You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum - You cannot create polls in this forum - You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page was generated in 0.5000 seconds.


DHTML Menu By Milonic JavaScript
Copyright 2024 FX Micheloud - All rights reserved
No part of this website may be copied by any means without my written authorization.