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Slow Learning: FR, HI, ancGR TAC 2015 | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Learning Log |  | |
| Jeffers Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 4911 days ago 2151 posts - 3960 votes  Speaks: English* Studies: Hindi, Ancient Greek, French, Sanskrit, German | Message 113 of 164 02 January 2015 at 3:16pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Here begins my log for 2015.
I'll start with a few simple goals, then after a few days of reflection, I'll try to post more details about my plans and hopes for the year. French Complete the Super Challenge with 150 books and 200 films. Learn up to word 3000 in the Routledge Frequency Dictionary (that is, learn 800 words). Finish review with Hugo French in 3 Months. Work on intermediate textbooks: Using French and Hugo Advanced French. Finish Pimsleur French III and do French IV. Dabble in FSI, Lingvist, Duolingo. Take the edX mooc On-Ramp to AP* French Language and Culture when it comes out in August. Hindi Finish the Routledge Intermediate Hindi Reader. Get a good way into the Usha Jain Intermediate Hindi Reader. Complete the film portion of my half Super Challenge (= 50 films). Make a good stab at the reading portion of my half Super Challenge (I've read 3.3 out of 50 books). Possibly get a vocabulary stack going on Anki. Ancient Greek Read the rest of the New Testament. Probably listen to the whole audio Greek New Testament. Attend the Cambridge Greek Play if they offer one this year. Read the script of the play ahead of attending. German Yes, I plan to re-awaken my dormant German, probably starting in the summer. I want to get it up to speed by May 2016 so I can do a half Super Challenge in German. Here are my initial plans: Work on some of the German courses on Deutsche Welle. Michel Thomas. I have the full set for German. Berlitz Basic German. I got this from my mother as she just wasn't getting around to ever using it. If I have time, Teach Yourself Beginner's German and Teach Yourself German are sitting on my shelves. Edited by Jeffers on 14 January 2015 at 5:11pm 2 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| Jeffers Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 4911 days ago 2151 posts - 3960 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Hindi, Ancient Greek, French, Sanskrit, German | Message 114 of 164 02 January 2015 at 3:28pm | IP Logged | |||||
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I also plan to develop my French output in two phases. First I will start writing on Lang-8, and build up lots of basic conversational paragraphs. I will write about things like: where I come from, what I do, my family, my hobbies, favourite films, why I'm learning French, etc. If anyone has any suggestions for starter topics, I would welcome them.
My purpose in writing first is that when I speak, I spend too much time thinking of what I want to say and how I would go about saying it. I am a bit of a perfectionist like that. Some people say, just go for it and speak, but I am just not that kind of person, and I can get tongue-tied even in my own language. Writing will enable me to take the time to think about what I want to say, and how to say it correctly. Once I've gained a bit of confidence in writing French, I will look for conversation exchanges on Skype. Initially I plan to use my written paragraphs as the basis for my half of the exchanges, but I hope to gradually free myself as I get more comfortable with verbal expression. 2 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| rdearman Senior Member United Kingdom rdearman.orgRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5238 days ago 881 posts - 1812 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Italian, French, Mandarin | Message 115 of 164 02 January 2015 at 4:11pm | IP Logged | |||||
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OK, I've got a few starter topics for you.
- What was your favorite food when you were a child? Is it different now? Why did it change/not change? - What’s the #1 most played song on your MusicPlayer? When did you discover it? Why do you like it? Who introduced you to it? - What is one of your favorite quotes? Why? What is the background of the person who said it? Do you admire them? Why? - What’s your favorite indoor/outdoor activity? Who do you do it with? For how long? How did you start? - If you could throw any kind of party, what would it be like and what would it be for? - If you could paint a picture of any scenery what would you paint? Have you neen there? With who? Why? When? - If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor? For what? Why? For how long? - If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Why? - When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time? - Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad but it turned out to be for the best? - What was one of the best parties you’ve ever been to? What made it great? Who else was there? Where? - What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done? - What was the last experience that made you a stronger person? Why did it make you strong? - Tell us about the best/worst gift you’ve ever given/received? - What story does your family always tell about you? What do they get right? What parts have they got wrong? - Who would you want with you if you were stranded on a deserted island? Why? - If money was no object, what would you do all day? - What is your favorite memory? - Describe your perfect day. - If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to, why, and who would you meet with? - If you had to evacuate your house immediately, what is the one thing you would grab on the way out? - What does it mean to have courage? - Can you keep secrets? Describe a time you didn't. - When did you kiss for the first time and what was it like? - Describe an activity that you think is truly romantic. - If you had to pick one place in your town to bring a tourist, where would you go? What would you do? Why? - Describe your favorite vacation. - When someone fails at something, what should he or she do? - Do you know how you got your name? Why did you parents give you that name? Do you like it? - If there is any place in the world that you could go to live for 1 year, where would it be and why? - What would your previous co-workers say about you? - A madman has tied five innocent people to a train track. An out of control train car is careening toward them, and is moments away from running them over. Luckily, you can pull a lever and divert the train to another track. The only problem is the madman has also tied a single person to that track. Considering the circumstances, should you pull the lever? Describe your thoughts. - Write a description of your hometown for someone who has never been there. Include history, important landmarks, etc. - Write a short biography of your favorite celebrity. - Write about the rules of your favorite sport or game. - Write instructions on how to prepare a meal you enjoy. - Write about the traditions surrounding your favorite holiday and where they came from. - Write an objective summary of a television show or movie you dislike. - Compare and contrast one job or class with another job or class. - Describe the view from your window as factually as possible. - Write out instructions for how to ride a bicycle. - Compare and contrast your house with a friend's house. - Make something simple out of building toys or craft supplies, then write instructions on how to make it. - Write a detailed description of the first object on your left. - Write a short biography of a family member. - Write instructions on how to use a phone, camera, or another device you use frequently. - Write about your family history. - Write detailed instructions on how to use an everyday object like scissors or a spoon as though you were explaining it to someone who had never seen the object before. - Compare and contrast your city with another city you have visited. - Write about the type of tree you see most in your area. - Pick a month. Write about the type of weather your hometown generally has in that month. - Compare and contrast two different places you would like to visit. - Write about your birthstone. - Write instructions on how to get dressed. - Write about a historical figure that shares your birthday. - Compare and contrast two different breeds of the same animal, like cats, dogs, or horses. - Compare and contrast your clothes with someone else's. - Write a summary of your favorite book. - Write a detailed description of your work area. - Compare and contrast two different types of hats. - Compare and contrast the book version of a work with the movie version. - Write about an older version of a current type of technology. For example: old telephones, letters or telegrams rather than e-mail, a slide rule or abacus rather than a calculator. - Compare and contrast two types of fruit. - Compare and contrast two objects that are the same color. - Write instructions on how to clean your room. - Compare and contrast the first book in a series with the last. - Compare and contrast a remade movie with its original version. - Write instructions on the best way to pack a backpack or suitcase. - Write about a custom that your region has that other areas of the world do not. - Compare and contrast the way people in your area say a certain phrase to the way it is said in other areas for example, people in different areas in the U.S. call soda different names; what the U.S. calls fries the U.K. calls chips. - Write instructions for a basic safety procedure. - Compare and contrast the governments of two countries that are on the same continent. - Explain how to write an expository essay. - Compare and contrast an expository and a persuasive essay. - Compare and contrast two sources of information on the same subject; for example, a print encyclopedia entry and a Wikipedia entry, or a newspaper article and journal article. - Write instructions on how to respond to a bully. - Interview someone and write about their job. - Compare and contrast two ancient mythologies (Greek/Roman, Egyptian, Norse, etc.) - Write instructions on how to take care of a plant. - Compare and contrast your typical breakfast with a friend's. - Write about your favorite style of music- history, influential musicians, etc. - Compare and contrast one style of music with another. - Pick a fictional work that has at least one male and at least one female character. Compare and contrast their actions/role in the story. - Write about how your school works or worked. - Explain how to do a very simple cooking task, like boiling an egg or tossing a salad. - Write directions on how to do laundry. - Write instructions on how to replace batteries. - Write about how to keep a car or bike in good condition. - Write about the types of animals that live in your climate. - Write about the types of animals that live in a climate very different from yours. - Write instructions on how to take care of glasses. - Write instructions on how to take care of someone who is sick. - Write about the symptoms of a specific illness. - Compare and contrast a man's shoe and a woman's shoe. - Write about ways to cheer someone up. - Explain how to play a video game. - Write about the history of a food item, like peanut butter or soda. - Compare and contrast tea and coffee. - Write about an allergy or dietary restriction someone you know has. - Write about how to tell when someone is upset. - Write about ways to keep from getting scared. - Write about how to dress for a certain type of weather. - Write instructions on how to take care of a scrape or cut. - Write about ways to tell someone you care about them. - If you know two languages, compare and contrast them. - Look in the mirror and describe yourself as though you were describing a stranger. - Write about a 'behind the scenes' job- stagehand, cameraman, animator, etc. - Write about how to plan an outfit. - Compare and contrast a food with a substitute for someone who is allergic- for example, milk and soy milk. - Write instructions on how to find and identify a constellation. - Write instructions on how to play a musical instrument. - Compare and contrast two types of cars. - Write about how to introduce yourself to someone. - Write about ways to stay warm when it's cold or cold when it's warm. - Write instructions on how to find information for a report. - Write about ways to remember something. - Compare and contrast two different parks or playgrounds. - Compare and contrast two different types of rock. - Write instructions on how to solve a math problem. - Compare and contrast a baby and an adult of the same species. - Write instructions on how to break a bad habit. - Write a guide to good manners. - Write instructions on what to do if you get lost. - Write directions from one place in your town to another. - Compare and contrast two different types of fish or bird. - Write about what you should put in a first aid kit. - Write about what you should bring with you when you go camping. - Write instructions on how to fish. 9 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| Jeffers Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 4911 days ago 2151 posts - 3960 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Hindi, Ancient Greek, French, Sanskrit, German | Message 116 of 164 02 January 2015 at 5:05pm | IP Logged | |||||
Holy crap, you sure do! Cheers! 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| rdearman Senior Member United Kingdom rdearman.orgRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5238 days ago 881 posts - 1812 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Italian, French, Mandarin | Message 117 of 164 02 January 2015 at 5:16pm | IP Logged | |||||
LOL. I should be doing a similar exercise myself with French & Italian. So I'd complied a list for use on Lang-8 but I've not actually got off my backside and done the work. Spend too much time reading this forum for a start. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| tristano Tetraglot Senior Member Netherlands Joined 4049 days ago 905 posts - 1262 votes Speaks: Italian*, Spanish, French, English Studies: Dutch | Message 118 of 164 02 January 2015 at 9:27pm | IP Logged | |||||
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hey @Jeffers, bon courage!
I stole @rdearman topics and copied on my log (I put your names in the credits ;) ). À bien tôt :) 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Suzie Diglot Senior Member Belgium Joined 4231 days ago 155 posts - 226 votes Speaks: German*, English Studies: French, Dutch | Message 119 of 164 02 January 2015 at 11:01pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Jeffers, I am really impressed by what you have achieved this year. Of course, I have followed your progress in French with great interest, but I believe reading 60 pages in Ancient Greek is a huge achievement, too! Having had both Latin and Ancient Greek at school, I remember those texts require far more attention than literature in today's languages. I am looking forward to reading about your experiences at the Cambridge Greek Play, and cross fingers for you that it will take place in 2015.
rdearman, this is an awesome list of topic proposals. I might pick some of them myself....like you, I have compiled such a list (much shorter though), but never made it to actual writing. My list mostly contained topics I want to dig in deeper, such as facts about Belgium (history, major cities, politics, economy, culture), and popular science-related topics (to build up some professional vocabulary). All the best and great success for 2015! 2 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| Jeffers Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 4911 days ago 2151 posts - 3960 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Hindi, Ancient Greek, French, Sanskrit, German | Message 120 of 164 02 January 2015 at 11:56pm | IP Logged | |||||
Actually, I found out today that the next play will take place in 2016, since it takes place every 3 years. So this year I will attempt to read the script in preparation for seeing it the next year. I am told that the play for 2016 will be chosen this summer or autumn, so I won't be looking at that text for a long time. Anyway, thank you for the encouraging words, Suzie. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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