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Tarvos - TAC 2015 Pushkin/Scan

 Language Learning Forum : Language Learning Log Post Reply
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tarvos
Super Polyglot
Winner TAC 2012
Senior Member
China
likeapolyglot.wordpr
Joined 4457 days ago

5310 posts - 9399 votes 
Speaks: Dutch*, English, Swedish, French, Russian, German, Italian, Norwegian, Mandarin, Romanian, Afrikaans
Studies: Greek, Modern Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Korean, Esperanto, Finnish

 
 Message 905 of 1511
16 October 2013 at 12:25am | IP Logged 
It was more vocabulary, less grammar (then I would have probably imploded too) and more
my teaching methodology (which is basically get other person to talk), but yes, it was a
little surreal. She said she'd be happy to get the same level in English as my level of
spoken Russian after two years. So clearly it may be bad but acceptable after all.


1 person has voted this message useful



Hekje
Diglot
Senior Member
United States
Joined 4453 days ago

842 posts - 1330 votes 
Speaks: English*, Dutch
Studies: French, Indonesian

 
 Message 906 of 1511
16 October 2013 at 3:48am | IP Logged 
tarvos wrote:
She booked another lesson.

I did well.

Good job Tarvos :-)
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tarvos
Super Polyglot
Winner TAC 2012
Senior Member
China
likeapolyglot.wordpr
Joined 4457 days ago

5310 posts - 9399 votes 
Speaks: Dutch*, English, Swedish, French, Russian, German, Italian, Norwegian, Mandarin, Romanian, Afrikaans
Studies: Greek, Modern Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Korean, Esperanto, Finnish

 
 Message 907 of 1511
18 October 2013 at 3:41pm | IP Logged 
Russian

Moar travelogue!

Day 19: Lake Baikal

I woke up a little late, but not much can dampen the spirits of one who is going to see
a wonder of the world, namely Lake Baikal. However today turned out to first have rain.
That is in itself not a problem, but it came with fog, meaning the normally glittering
lake was covered in a cloud of "I can't see anything".

And to get there, you have to take a marshrutka (maxi-taxi/minibus/sept-place). This in
itself is also not something problematic....

Except when there is a Russian guy driving at I've-lost-count-how-many km/h on a
winding, sloping mountainous road. And the minibus does not have seatbelts. And you're
sitting backwards packt like sardines in a tin can. I made it out alive (how this guy
keeps control I will never know). The return trip was similar, but the driver speeded
with caution, and this vehicle did not have a crack in the windshield. Still not
pleasant, but manageable at least."

In any case, while the day passed, the fog over Baikal lifted and I spent a glorious
hour sunboating on the lake. Baikal is pretty.

But it's still a lake and not God's Gift to Russia. It's pretty, it's stunning, but
it's not amazingly cartwheel-stunning-exhilirating. Maybe I have seen too many lakes.
Maybe I have lake fatigue. It's just a Hueg lake with a cool ecosystem and very clean
water. What else did you need to know?

Day 20: March of Time Irkutsk - Vladivostok

The night I spent wondering what I had done to my body as my stomach begrudingly
acknowledged that it was in pain and decided to send acid swirling through my digestive
system. That explains the crappy appetite then I guess.

Everyone had decided to suddenly leave the hostel. So I woke up to the tune of two
English guys who had driven all the way from England to Irkutsk. I still felt sick, so
I spent a measly three hours obtaining some supplies and seeing some sights, Urkutsk
conforms to the Russian tradition of a memorial statue every 100 metres celebrating the
glory of some dead war hero other. My opinion is that the more medallions you need to
show off your victory, the shittier the state of your army is now. Hollow boasting.
It's been almost 70 years, maybe Russia should try and be relevant again and not pass
absurd laws on homosexuality? Russia you can do better. Or at least your politicians
can.

After having completed my purchase of two Discworld novels in Russian (no bs), I ate
cheaply in the cafe station and then got onto the train. Another 67 hours before I get
to the terminus of Russia (well sort of), namely Vladivostok. Let's hope I get more to
eat this time, and that my bunkmate (or matesse...) are less annoying this time round.
I'll need it.

Day 21: An Endless Journey

It was a good move to buy some books for the Road. The Road (which we can capitalise by
virtue of it being Very Long and Winding and the fact I have spent Days on it) is long,
and if we are talking the railway it's scenic too. Sometimes it feels like the road
will never end but fortunately it eventually does, although it takes a while.

Today also showed why you don't always need to come prepared with sacks of (non-
perishable) food either. Russians on trains, or in my case Azeris, seemed intent on
stuffing me with as much food as you can possibly imagine and then some more. But it
would be cheap of me to rely on this, although it certainly does not hurt the insides
of a growling stomach. Since today was entirely spent on the train, I only maneged to
get a few window snap shots. We passed Baikal in the dark, sadly, so none of that, but
the scenery here is spectacular anyway (when it is not dark so you can look outside).

I still think in some ways I do not understand the Russian mentality. Why does a
country that seems to have so little give away so much for free? It boggles the mind
how people can be so generous. But maybe the communist spirit of "sharing is caring"
(or is that American cheese?) still lingers in this country. I will not be amazed at
anything anymore. Next thing you know they'll give me a live goat for free or
something. In some ways I am getting closer to understand that immortal saying about
Russia: Россию умом не понять.
2 persons have voted this message useful



Via Diva
Diglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
last.fm/user/viadivaRegistered users can see my Skype Name
Joined 3984 days ago

1109 posts - 1427 votes 
Speaks: Russian*, English
Studies: German, Italian, French, Swedish, Esperanto, Czech, Greek

 
 Message 908 of 1511
18 October 2013 at 3:53pm | IP Logged 
Thanks for an interesting travelogue!
Speaking of mega-drive: В России две беды: дураки и дороги. А уж если они встретились... :)
Our mentality is really a hard thing to crack. I would've recommend you to listen to Задорнов - not the new stuff like "Russian language is the nature language" and whatever, but just begin with eldest ones.
Hehe, but his language theory is something extremely funny, I wonder if someone have translated it to English and showed it to the rest of the world :)
Anyway, I gave you an advice. You can find him on YouTube, read his livejournal or twitter, or just listen to his concerts. I can also give a link to audio versions of them - for me it's very convenient, he doesn't use sings or grimaces, he just talks :)
1 person has voted this message useful



tarvos
Super Polyglot
Winner TAC 2012
Senior Member
China
likeapolyglot.wordpr
Joined 4457 days ago

5310 posts - 9399 votes 
Speaks: Dutch*, English, Swedish, French, Russian, German, Italian, Norwegian, Mandarin, Romanian, Afrikaans
Studies: Greek, Modern Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Korean, Esperanto, Finnish

 
 Message 909 of 1511
18 October 2013 at 3:56pm | IP Logged 
А уж часто они встречаются....дураки и дороги, я имею ввиду.
1 person has voted this message useful



Via Diva
Diglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
last.fm/user/viadivaRegistered users can see my Skype Name
Joined 3984 days ago

1109 posts - 1427 votes 
Speaks: Russian*, English
Studies: German, Italian, French, Swedish, Esperanto, Czech, Greek

 
 Message 910 of 1511
18 October 2013 at 4:01pm | IP Logged 
Ага, причем чаще, чем следует. В последнее время вообще оборзели - каждый день попадается автобус с экстремальным водителем (автобус, не маршрутка!). Осеннее обострение, видимо :)
1 person has voted this message useful



tarvos
Super Polyglot
Winner TAC 2012
Senior Member
China
likeapolyglot.wordpr
Joined 4457 days ago

5310 posts - 9399 votes 
Speaks: Dutch*, English, Swedish, French, Russian, German, Italian, Norwegian, Mandarin, Romanian, Afrikaans
Studies: Greek, Modern Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Korean, Esperanto, Finnish

 
 Message 911 of 1511
20 October 2013 at 11:08pm | IP Logged 
спасибо!

I've not done much actual studying, but I've done a lot of talking over the weekend
(had some free time). I've taught more English (using Russian as the base language for
my student), and I've deigned to produce some phrases in Spanish, even though I don't
know the grammar at all. It is apparently even understandable.

Mostly, I practice a lot of Russian socially. I'm very happy with my Russian nowadays,
it is quite useful. I need to fix some minor issues but in speech it's all intelligible
now. I finally have the feeling I can speak it without too much issue. That being said
I'll f**k up my next ten phrases something awful obviously.

I am also receiving feedback that my Romanian is worth something and that my French is
still improving. Now for my Korean to get good.
1 person has voted this message useful



tarvos
Super Polyglot
Winner TAC 2012
Senior Member
China
likeapolyglot.wordpr
Joined 4457 days ago

5310 posts - 9399 votes 
Speaks: Dutch*, English, Swedish, French, Russian, German, Italian, Norwegian, Mandarin, Romanian, Afrikaans
Studies: Greek, Modern Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Korean, Esperanto, Finnish

 
 Message 912 of 1511
24 October 2013 at 5:35pm | IP Logged 
I've kept busy with writing and some guitar playing, meaning I have a limited focus on
languages only at the moment - but I found a pocket of time last night and worked through
three more Korean podcasts, so that I have now completed the grammar of TTMIK level 2. I
still have the dialogue to go but it will be done some other time this week (when I find
another pocket).


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