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Rem [TAC’15] Rätsel/東亞/French/Czech | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Learning Log |  | |
| Rem Groupie United Kingdom Joined 3755 days ago 66 posts - 96 votes  Speaks: English* Studies: German, Mandarin, Czech, French | Message 57 of 73 07 April 2015 at 7:53pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Time for another update I guess.
I ‘only’ (?) have half a dozen Uni assignments/exams left to get through before I finish the academic year. It all seemed so far away when I started, but now I can’t believe how fast time has flown by. It feels strange not having classes to go to. My progress in all of my languages feels painfully slow at the moment. I'm sure that at least part of that is due to the strain of studying 4 at once. Add in Uni work and there's just not much time left to split between them. :( I’m still (slowly) working my way through “Der kleine Hobbit”. It’s a struggle and, thinking about it, I probably should have waited until I was further on in my German studies before attempting something like this (it’s way out of my comfort zone) but I’m going to try and keep pushing on with it. For Mandarin, French and Czech I’m mostly focusing on trying to improve my speaking and listening skills. Reading and writing are fast becoming my strongest skills and, although I suspect that there will continue to be a gap between my reading/writing and speaking/listening skills, I’d like to at least try and keep them within sight of each other. Edited by Rem on 23 April 2015 at 5:55pm 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Rem Groupie United Kingdom Joined 3755 days ago 66 posts - 96 votes Speaks: English* Studies: German, Mandarin, Czech, French | Message 58 of 73 13 May 2015 at 4:22pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Update
My Uni year is almost complete (I still have a couple of exams left) and I’m looking forward to being able to spend some more time on the language learning things that I find interesting again but, for now at least, revision is still the name of the game. German I’m focusing on reading and listening to articles that fit in with the subject areas that we’ve covered in Uni over the last year and trying to pick up on as much of the relevant vocabulary as I can. I’m also looking at grammar, grammar and more grammar...ok, I admit it...this part I actually don’t mind so much. :) Mandarin My focus here at the moment is on character writing. Writing is one of my strongest skills in Mandarin but I know that I’m lacking knowledge of some of the characters that we’ve covered in class. I’m able to recognise/read them quite well, but I’m still unable to write all of them consistently. French I’ve completed the course that I was on for interest and I’m now looking forward to studying it again next year (I can take French for credit in my second year). My plan here is to go back over everything that I’ve learned in my classes and try to solidify it before September. Hopefully I can look ahead a bit and give myself a head start on next year as well. Czech This is definitely where I’m making the least amount of progress. I’m not making much headway with Colloquial and I’m finding the idea of using the German-based Assimil a bit intimidating. :( I'm sticking with it though and, hopefully, things will start coming together at some point. :) Other I have been trying to find out more about Navajo as I really want to make an attempt to start learning it once my exams are over. Unfortunately resources seem to be few and far between (at least in the UK). The Diné Bizaad textbook that was recommended to me in another post looks as though it’s probably the best option for me at the moment if I can find the audios that go with it. Everywhere I’ve found so far only seems to have the book and doesn’t even offer the audios separately (or, if they do, they don’t post to the UK). I’m going to keep looking though. 2 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| Rem Groupie United Kingdom Joined 3755 days ago 66 posts - 96 votes Speaks: English* Studies: German, Mandarin, Czech, French | Message 59 of 73 01 June 2015 at 6:00pm | IP Logged | |||||
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The Uni year is over! I’ve taken all of my exams and now I just have to wait for the
results of my last couple (one I’m fairly confident about, the other...not so much). The plus side is that I can go finally go back to working on the things that I want to do (and try to take my mind off of worrying about whether or not I’ve passed) instead of focusing on the exam requirements. One of the main feedback points I’ve had this year is that, apparently, my speaking/listening skills aren’t actually as bad as I seem to think they are. I keep being told that I just need to be more confident, so I intend to work on improving this over the summer break...I’m just not sure yet how I’m going to do so. Other It looks as though Navajo is going to have to wait for a while as I can’t find anywhere that sells the audios for Diné Bizaad (in the UK). :( 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Jeffers Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 4907 days ago 2151 posts - 3960 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Hindi, Ancient Greek, French, Sanskrit, German | Message 60 of 73 02 June 2015 at 2:46pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Congratulations on finishing up your uni year, Rem. I hope your exams went well! Enjoy your freedom to study as you see fit!
1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Rem Groupie United Kingdom Joined 3755 days ago 66 posts - 96 votes Speaks: English* Studies: German, Mandarin, Czech, French | Message 61 of 73 06 June 2015 at 8:48pm | IP Logged | |||||
Thanks Jeffers. I’m hoping that they went well too. ;) Speaking/Listening As part of my decision to work on my speaking/listening skills over the summer I’m trying to work up the courage to have some lessons on italki. I’ve tried in the past and managed to get through a few lessons, but I felt really uncomfortable at the time so I stopped. I should point out that my discomfort was in no way the fault of the teachers, it was just my own awkwardness getting in the way. As much as I hate it I think I’ve finally come to the (inevitable?) conclusion that the only way I’m going to improve my confidence in my speaking skills is to...well...SPEAK! As much as it pains me at the moment, hopefully it will get easier with time? 2 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| PeterMollenburg Senior Member AustraliaRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5474 days ago 821 posts - 1273 votes Speaks: English* Studies: FrenchB1 | Message 62 of 73 07 June 2015 at 1:24am | IP Logged | |||||
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and a well done from me as well on getting through your exams :)
With regards to speaking I've had the same niggling yet completely rational feeling in the back of my mind with regards to speaking. I need to do much more of it. I also felt uncomfortable with the few italki sessions I'd done as well, so I know exactly what you mean. I decided to return to my grammar books and other methods. However lately I'm having that niggling feeling again... I wish you luck Rem and I aim to follow in your footsteps in the nearish future (hopefully). PM 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Rem Groupie United Kingdom Joined 3755 days ago 66 posts - 96 votes Speaks: English* Studies: German, Mandarin, Czech, French | Message 63 of 73 07 June 2015 at 2:36am | IP Logged | |||||
Thank you. :)
Reluctance to speak seems to be a common problem for language learners. I’m taking some solace here in the fact that I’m not alone in this and also in the fact that others have conquered the fear before me. It’s a daunting task but (hopefully) not an insurmountable one. Commitment Time! “You have officially entered the italki 2015 June Language Challenge!” I’m currently alternating between; “This is a great idea, I’m gonna love it!” enthusiasm and “Oh my goodness, whatever was I thinking?” dread/fear. I’ve failed one of these challenges in the past because I signed up for it and then chickened out and didn’t book the lessons. I plan to do better this time. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Rem Groupie United Kingdom Joined 3755 days ago 66 posts - 96 votes Speaks: English* Studies: German, Mandarin, Czech, French | Message 64 of 73 10 June 2015 at 4:00pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Uni
I have the provisional marks for my exams. It still has to be confirmed by the unseen powers that be, but it looks like I’ve passed the year! :) I even managed to get good marks in the exam that I was worried about. I’m really happy about that because I’d half convinced myself in my head that I’d failed it (even now I can’t quite believe that I’ve done as well as I have). Just goes to show I guess; people are their own worst critics (I certainly am mine). Now with that worry over I can finally relax and enjoy the summer. ;) The italki challenge I’ve booked the first of my lessons. I’m determined to see the challenge through to the end this time but I know it won’t be easy for me. Best case scenario = I get into the habit of having online lessons and continue after the challenge. Worst case scenario = I stop having lessons after the challenge but I will at least have had 12 hours of extra work on my speaking/listening skills. Note: I’m not putting ‘failing the challenge’ as a worst case scenario because I refuse to entertain that notion. Backing out this time is not an option! :P 1 person has voted this message useful |
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