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Linguistic flight

  Tags: Mandarin | German | Spanish
 Language Learning Forum : Language Learning Log Post Reply
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dragonfly
Triglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
Joined 6485 days ago

204 posts - 233 votes 
Speaks: Russian*, EnglishC2, Spanish
Studies: German, Italian, Mandarin

 
 Message 105 of 128
01 October 2010 at 2:53pm | IP Logged 
Time flies! My kids have been ill for three weeks. When they said on the radio that after heat and smog we were weak and susceptible to ilnesses, I didn't believe it, but it really turned out to be true. I try to sneak a moment for study, but the results are not so impressive:

Mandarin
- the grammar book
- studied a fable from reader (scriptorium and characters)
- read Heisig

Spanish:
- "El Caballo de Troya" 180 pages covered. Sometimes the book seems too heavy with detail and therefore boring, but some places are interesting and rather absorbing.

Italian
- listened to Italianpod Elementary podcasts

Edited by dragonfly on 01 October 2010 at 2:53pm

1 person has voted this message useful



dragonfly
Triglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
Joined 6485 days ago

204 posts - 233 votes 
Speaks: Russian*, EnglishC2, Spanish
Studies: German, Italian, Mandarin

 
 Message 106 of 128
18 October 2010 at 12:18pm | IP Logged 
Haven't written here for ages, so time to do it. I continue studying, though not so much as in summer, the main emphasis is on Chinese.

Spanish:
- read several more "Cuentos de Eva Luna". I really like Isabelle Allende's style. The plot of the stories is so unexpected, though you understand^ that's the real life!
"El Caballo de Troya" up to page 204. Not a great deal here.

Manarin:
- studied three more stories
- grammar book
- lots of flashcards

I started visiting a "TKT Essentials" course at the British Council (Teahing Knowledge Test is an exam for English teachers). I really like it, ang the trainers, too! Gradually I'm changing my view on the communiative approach for language teaching. It really makes one's lessons more interesting and students more motivated (if applied properly). Though I have some doubts, whether it can, with its emphasis on speaking, provide literacy.

1 person has voted this message useful



dragonfly
Triglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
Joined 6485 days ago

204 posts - 233 votes 
Speaks: Russian*, EnglishC2, Spanish
Studies: German, Italian, Mandarin

 
 Message 107 of 128
30 October 2010 at 7:57pm | IP Logged 
Only Mandarin flashcards these two weeks. I always have several sets of flashcards on me: in my bag, in the pockets, - and revise them in dead moments. Made about 50 more recently.
All my effort is on study of teaching methods and on the thesis. Honestly speaking, I devote myself to teaching even more than to the thesis nowadays. Fresh and enthusiastic after the break, you know.
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dragonfly
Triglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
Joined 6485 days ago

204 posts - 233 votes 
Speaks: Russian*, EnglishC2, Spanish
Studies: German, Italian, Mandarin

 
 Message 108 of 128
28 November 2010 at 8:01pm | IP Logged 
Oh, I didn't realize I haven't written for almost a month! As the TKT exam is drawing closer, I'm trying to concentrate on praparing for it, so the languages are a bit neglected.

Mandarin: scriptorium and characters of 3 new stories from the reader, flashcards on a regular basis
Spanish: watched the new HARRY POTTER in Spanish. It wasn't difficult as the movie almost completely coincides with the book. And I, having read it first in English and then in Spanish know it pretty well ;)as many other members of the forum, I guess.

Edited by dragonfly on 28 November 2010 at 8:02pm

1 person has voted this message useful



dragonfly
Triglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
Joined 6485 days ago

204 posts - 233 votes 
Speaks: Russian*, EnglishC2, Spanish
Studies: German, Italian, Mandarin

 
 Message 109 of 128
21 December 2010 at 12:21pm | IP Logged 
The progress is not very fast, just gradually moving forward:

Mandarin:
- tried to some shadowing with stories. Rather difficult!
- listened to ChinesePod podcasts, the old ones, for revision
- took up "Teach Yourself Mandarin Chinese", just to improve my listening comprehension. I listen to the dialogues and look up the words I don't understand in the book.
- flashcards.

I wanted to start working at ChPod Intermediate podcasts, but I don't like the topics! I am not interested in how to buy hand-made clothes!
1 person has voted this message useful



dragonfly
Triglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
Joined 6485 days ago

204 posts - 233 votes 
Speaks: Russian*, EnglishC2, Spanish
Studies: German, Italian, Mandarin

 
 Message 110 of 128
21 December 2010 at 12:58pm | IP Logged 
As the year is coming to its end, it's time to look back at what was done! I really was too optimistic about what I could do. Nevertheless, I am satisfied with what I managed to do. The year was very productive if we speak about language study, especially the first half. I even touched upon a new language! This log really drove me to study.

I won't participate in any challenge next year. My younger demands more attention now and I am not sure my language study will be regular. What I plan to do next year:


- Mandarin: continue studying the tales, with more emphasis on shadowing, also studying the new characters from the tales, writing them and flashcards. Maybe even to undertake a shadowing challenge, but closer to summer. I'll have to think if to continue with Chinesepod or to take smth new;
- Spanish: books and movies;
- Italian: finish Assimil and do some more study in summer.
1 person has voted this message useful



dragonfly
Triglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
Joined 6485 days ago

204 posts - 233 votes 
Speaks: Russian*, EnglishC2, Spanish
Studies: German, Italian, Mandarin

 
 Message 111 of 128
08 January 2011 at 7:46pm | IP Logged 
Happy New Year! And Merry Christmas! (we celebrated it yesterday)

The new year has begun, and I felt an intense desire to do some Italian. So, why not give in? I began Pimsleur III and did 6 lessons, also began listening to "100% Italian - in your car", I doubt it is possible to really learn anything from there as there is no revision of the structures, just you hear a sentence on a topic in Rusian and Italian once - and that's all! No explaining and drilling of the constituent parts, no grammar explanation, so I'll use it, but I don't expect much outcome from it.

I began to read Jose Saramago's "Ensayo sobre Seguera" in Spanish, covered a third, the book is interesting, but so depressing that I hardly trudge through it.

At last I chose my resourse for Mandarin, which is "A New Practical Course In Mandarin", which attracted me as it has not only audio, but even video! It also seems to be logically structured. This year I'll write less and put the emphasis on listening and recognition of the written text, and the book has good dialogues to work with. I started with Unit 1, read the text many times with pinyin and without, did some exercises, hopefully today I'll manage the shadowing!
1 person has voted this message useful





magister
Pro Member
United States
Joined 6609 days ago

346 posts - 421 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: Turkish, Irish
Personal Language Map

 
 Message 112 of 128
08 January 2011 at 10:40pm | IP Logged 
Hi dragonfly,

I hope you aren't feeling lonely -- I see you have had only a couple of comments in your log for the last several pages. I simply wanted to drop you a note to encourage you in your studies, and to acknowledge your long-term consistency, although it's clear from the nature of your posts that you do not require external motivation from others in order to persevere.

Keep it up!

PS: How did the TKT exam go?


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