|
 |
Focus on the goal or the process? | ||
Tags: Reasons for study | ||
Share with:
| ||
 Language Learning Forum : General discussion |  | |
| luke Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 7208 days ago 3133 posts - 4351 votes  Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Esperanto, French | Message 1 of 7 26 January 2015 at 8:01pm | IP Logged |
|
I have an opportunity in about six months to put my French In Action. That is, to use my Target Language with other people who may or may speak English. This opportunity may last two or three days.
This situation has me asking myself whether it's best to focus on pleasantries, expressing shared experience and shared values for this opportunity. OR Just keep doing what I've been doing, and perhaps focus a bit more on the shared literature. This opportunity doesn't have much to do with my original reasons for learning the TL, but it may be fun and amazing. Who knows? What would you do? 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| RogerK Triglot Groupie Austria Joined 5078 days ago 92 posts - 181 votes Speaks: English*, German, Italian Studies: Portuguese | Message 2 of 7 26 January 2015 at 8:29pm | IP Logged |
|
Keep your eye on the goal but focus on the process.
5 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Mohave Senior Member United States justpaste.it/Mohave1 Joined 4010 days ago 291 posts - 444 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French | Message 3 of 7 26 January 2015 at 9:26pm | IP Logged |
|
Luke,
I suspect someone with more knowledge than me will answer shortly, but here's my two cents from having travelled earlier this year to Francophone countries. I would maintain focus on your long-term goals, particularly for just a two or three day opportunity. However, I would devote some time to developing my speaking and listening skills, pleasantries, etc. It's awesome to be able to read French Literature, but I kicked myself for getting tripped up on simple things. What I had planned to do was to develop the "island speeches" - where I write out, and then have corrected by natives, some basic topics that I want to discuss, and then essentially "memorize" them to fall back on. I wish I had found time to do this. Also, I found Pimsleur to be helpful with the automaticity/fluidity of my speech. (I think you're already doing FSI so you have this covered.) I also tried to listen to radio stations via Tune In App - in my case I listened to Belgian and Guadolupean stations to train my ear better for the dialect of French I would hear. I wouldn't veer to far from my original goals, but I would add a little of the other to ensure you get max enjoyment out of your trip! I can't wait to hear about how it goes! 2 persons have voted this message useful | |
| rdearman Senior Member United Kingdom rdearman.orgRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5239 days ago 881 posts - 1812 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Italian, French, Mandarin | Message 4 of 7 26 January 2015 at 9:37pm | IP Logged |
|
Islands. Definitely learn some islands you can land on. You know the sort of thing, replies to questions like:
Why are you learning French? How long are you here? Where do you live? How many people in your family? etc, etc. Otherwise just keep learning and enjoying the process. 5 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Serpent Octoglot Senior Member Russian Federation serpent-849.livejour Joined 6600 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 5 of 7 27 January 2015 at 1:11pm | IP Logged |
|
I would focus on the goal. You can always fall back into your comfortable routine. For me short-term opportunities are always a great excuse to explore what I wouldn't otherwise. Try GLOSS, for example. Think of the kind of conversations you want to have and use native and semi-native materials to prepare for them. (that site s_allard mentioned should actually be good! the one with real French conversations)
Also prepare briefly for the conversations you don't want to have, the emergency ones. Try some medical or police shows maybe :) or just comedy if you're not doing it already. 3 persons have voted this message useful | |
| luke Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 7208 days ago 3133 posts - 4351 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Esperanto, French | Message 6 of 7 28 January 2015 at 12:49am | IP Logged |
|
I appreciate all of the feedback.
What I've done so far is started intensively reading a couple of the significant books. I have recordings for these too, which I've started to listen to more. I've also gathered other books and recordings I have that I think will be relevant. I could run into some French and Spanish speakers, so I'm re-igniting Spanish. I'm not sure yet if I should replace my Anki Frequency Dictionary source with words and bits of expression that are new in the shared literature. I'm also planning to keep my FSI studies in high gear, since that covers a core vocabulary and all the little words and grammar that make speaking effortless, once it's automatic. Six months isn't enough time for me to finish the course unless I ignore almost every other leisure activity and go at it like someone who doesn't have anything else to do. I have made a few notes... Important! Listening Speaking Shared vocabulary Islands like "directions" and "personal history". Means (how to get there) Reading shared literature FSI Listening to shared stories where available Not important Writing Explicit grammar study So, that takes a couple of things off my to do list and adds a new focus. I hope to have fun! Edited by luke on 29 January 2015 at 12:36am 3 persons have voted this message useful | |
| luke Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 7208 days ago 3133 posts - 4351 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Esperanto, French | Message 7 of 7 29 January 2015 at 12:35am | IP Logged |
|
Judith Meyer (sprachprofi) has a great video on using goals in language learning from the Polyglot Gathering.
2 persons have voted this message useful |
If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login. If you are not already registered you must first register
|  | 
Printable version
|
| Copyright 2024 FX Micheloud - All rights reserved No part of this website may be copied by any means without my written authorization. |
