Register  Login  Active Topics  Maps  

Italian Learning Log

  Tags: Italian
 Language Learning Forum : Language Learning Log Post Reply
16 messages over 2 pages: 1
Emerald
Triglot
Senior Member
United Kingdom
languagedabbler.blog
Joined 6237 days ago

316 posts - 340 votes 
Speaks: Hindi, Gujarati*, English
Studies: Spanish

 
 Message 9 of 16
10 July 2008 at 4:15pm | IP Logged 
First trial complete.

This evening, I tried L-R method for three hours, and completed first five chapters of Harry Potter.

What I learned from it:

1. Most certainly good, and entertaining method

2. Despite the fact that I know the book, it was definitely good move to do the
   English reading. (Thank you, Volte. I took up your advice) I was quite worried
   about paying attention to two languages at once because of so many concerns raised
   by people. However, for me, it works easily.

   The benefit is that I actually learn words. Granted, I haven't learned many words
   in three hours, but I have learned some. More importantly, I recognize more even
   though I am not yet ready to pronounce them myself.

   COMPLAIN: The only complain - or rather a slight inconvenience is that my normal
   reading speed is really fast. So I found myself getting ahead with the reading,
   compared to the audio. So I have to make conscious effort to remain in one place
   until the narrator gets there. But as I said, it is just an inconvenience.

3. I think taking up alternate language reading method will be useful. Reading in
   English helps me to pick up vocabulary, and understand more words and/or phrases
   better. Especially the ones that are repeated.

   But I wouldn't just want to keep reading in English, because I want to be able to
   spell the Italian words I hear on the audio. So alternate, or perhaps even Twice
   Italian and then Once English should work.

Tomorrow I should probably finish either the entire remaining book, or at least most of it, as Fridays are good times for staying up all night and learning Italian :) Already looking forward to it.
1 person has voted this message useful



Emerald
Triglot
Senior Member
United Kingdom
languagedabbler.blog
Joined 6237 days ago

316 posts - 340 votes 
Speaks: Hindi, Gujarati*, English
Studies: Spanish

 
 Message 10 of 16
12 July 2008 at 9:35am | IP Logged 
Step 1 of the L-R method is over. I have finished reading the entire book in English while following audio in Italian.

As mentioned before, it wasn't difficult. Though eventually, waiting for the narrator to catch up, did get slightly irritating.

Now time for the next bit - reading and listening in Italian. I am hoping that this will help me with writing. I have come to recognize many phrases and words through audio, but I don't know how they are spelled. Now is the time to figure that out.

Another thing will be to see if I actually remember many words in Italian, which I learned because of having English words in front of me. If I can recognize them now in Italian, without any help from English source, then it's a good bet that they will stay in my brain.
1 person has voted this message useful



Emerald
Triglot
Senior Member
United Kingdom
languagedabbler.blog
Joined 6237 days ago

316 posts - 340 votes 
Speaks: Hindi, Gujarati*, English
Studies: Spanish

 
 Message 11 of 16
12 July 2008 at 6:40pm | IP Logged 
Today I started Italian-Italian phase of L-R method. I can't actually say how much it will benefit until I have had more exposure to it.

One thing I have found is that I take more breaks doing this. Normally after a chapter, or couple of chapters at the most. Either because I am simply feeling lazy this weekend (also looking online for holidays might have something to do with it), or perhaps as I understand a lot less in Italian-Italian than in English-Italian.

I know that a lot of people who have followed this method recommended intensive focus. I wonder whether the only downside to not doing the whole intensive thing is that you gain the exposure slowly, or whether it is less effective for other reasons?

I am still putting good many hours in it, just not without short breaks in between. Perhaps it may improve with the second reading.
1 person has voted this message useful



Volte
Tetraglot
Senior Member
Switzerland
Joined 6431 days ago

4474 posts - 6726 votes 
Speaks: English*, Esperanto, German, Italian
Studies: French, Finnish, Mandarin, Japanese

 
 Message 12 of 16
12 July 2008 at 8:34pm | IP Logged 
Emerald wrote:

I know that a lot of people who have followed this method recommended intensive focus. I wonder whether the only downside to not doing the whole intensive thing is that you gain the exposure slowly, or whether it is less effective for other reasons?


It's less effective for other reasons: you forget more. The dreaded memory curve kicks in. I don't think short breaks during the day should be a problem though.

1 person has voted this message useful



Emerald
Triglot
Senior Member
United Kingdom
languagedabbler.blog
Joined 6237 days ago

316 posts - 340 votes 
Speaks: Hindi, Gujarati*, English
Studies: Spanish

 
 Message 14 of 16
13 July 2008 at 4:35am | IP Logged 
Volte,

I only take about 5 to 10 minutes of break in between, and don't really forget what I have read. I see your point about memory curve, though I do find that if I take little breaks then my attention is sharper, as oppose to sitting there continuously, when I find my attention wandering off for few minutes here and there.

But as this is an experiment, I shall try both ways and see what works for me.
1 person has voted this message useful



Emerald
Triglot
Senior Member
United Kingdom
languagedabbler.blog
Joined 6237 days ago

316 posts - 340 votes 
Speaks: Hindi, Gujarati*, English
Studies: Spanish

 
 Message 15 of 16
13 July 2008 at 4:37am | IP Logged 
anteportas,

thanks for your comments. It never occured to me about grammer, however, I did start paying more phonetic attention to the audio while I was waiting for the narrator to catch up.

Though currently, with Italian-Italian study that's not a problem, because I am following every word carefully to see how they are pronounced in their written form.
1 person has voted this message useful



Emerald
Triglot
Senior Member
United Kingdom
languagedabbler.blog
Joined 6237 days ago

316 posts - 340 votes 
Speaks: Hindi, Gujarati*, English
Studies: Spanish

 
 Message 16 of 16
21 July 2008 at 10:02am | IP Logged 
Ok so it wasn't such a bright idea of buy 20 new books (yes all in one week) and a Season 3 of Stargate Atlantis. I got distracted. Though I have only read one of the new books so far.

But I did manage to do something with Italian everyday. That's my consolation. L-R method is working. I haven't done the intense work out with Italian-Italian as I did with English-Italian, but I still feel that it does work in terms of understanding the pronounciation, picking up words, and simply getting used to the flow of language.

I have been listening to Pimsleur lessons in Bus.

Also got a Easy Reading Italian book, which is unilingual, so I will start with unit 1. I had a quick read through of unit 1, and though I definitely didn't get all the words, I did understand what the unit was saying.

My current favourite Italian word: Babbino (funnily enough, it is a translation for a word that is not a real word. It's translation for Muggle from Harry Potter. But when I say it with Italian attitude, sounds lovely)


1 person has voted this message useful



This discussion contains 16 messages over 2 pages: << Prev 1

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login. If you are not already registered you must first register


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 0.3125 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.