Tag Archives: English language

First week of Samoan

It was the first week of Samoan.  I liked it.  I’m obviously still in my honeymoon phase, but I am so happy to learn this.  There are so many things about Samoan that are so different from any other language I have tried yet and if you combine that with the fact that my resources are SO much more limited this time, one might think that I would have gotten frustrated rather quickly.

In fact I have learned a lot about Samoan and language learning in general that I though I would like to share with you here:

Old and limited resources are not a problem

The older resources, that are not designed around a language learner Continue reading

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What a week it has been!!!

Ups and downs of Language learning

Crazy, crazy, busy week.  I’ve been doing projects at work and almost all my time has been devoted to them.  I love the projects, but it has meant a lot of things have been put to lower levels, including this blog.  I’ve missed it a lot.  There is so much good that comes out of this blog. I truly do hope that I can help others learn languages.  I don’t try to give false expectations on what it does and doesn’t take as a language learner, but I hope to give small advice and encouragement.

All that said, this blog helps me more than I think I help others.  It helps me organize my thoughts, set a game plan and be accountable for what I say I am going to do.  I’m not always successful, but I hope this blog helps keep me going even when things get the hardest.

Since it has been almost a week since I have been able to be on to write, I thought I would give a little summary of the ups and downs of my week.  Despite not being able to write, I have had many an opportunity to feel good and bad.  So here they are.

The Ups

Despite my business, I have kept a solid learning routine. Continue reading

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Filed under How to learn, Progress

Tis the Season to be Sick

I've been sick for a couple of weeks now. I we...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s that time of year again.  Time for the spreading of Peace, Joy, and Sickness.  When you have a family of 6 people, then you have 6 different ways for disease to come in and spread among the family.  It’s almost inevitable.  The question isn’t if I will get sick, it’s when.

That is exactly what happened this weekend and is still going on now.  Almost everyone in my family was sick for at least one day this weekend.  Most of us are still a little sick, though the end is near.  Sickness has an interesting way to mess up both your routine and your plans.  I did learn a few things this weekend that helped me stay motivated and learn some more Spanish.

Learn “sick” vocab

Look up and use the words that describe your symptoms. Continue reading

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How to use Rossetta Stone

Rosetta Stone (company)

Anyone who wants to learn a language will probably have heard of Rosetta Stone.  Rosetta stone is one of the most well-known language learning programs, mostly due to all its radio/TV advertising.  It’s funny, when you Google Rosetta Stone, you will probably find more negative reviews than positive.  I think almost every blog about language learning has a ‘Rosetta Stone Sucks’ post in its archive.  I’ve always found that strange.

While I do understand the desire to guide people in the right direction, the almost pure hatred for this product is amazing.  Some will give the impression that the program is absolutely useless and is a complete waste of time.  First of all, no matter who much a program is marketed, if the program is completely useless then people will stop buying it and it will stop being made.  Secondly, there is no such thing as a silver bullet and to expect any language course/software program to get you from nothing to everything is false expectations.

Do I think Rosetta Stone is the perfect software program?  No I don’t.  But if you bought it or some how got a copy of it from somewhere (I’m not going to ask how) then what good does it do to write a post about why it’s useless.  I would rather tell you how to maximize the good parts so that it is useful to you.

How to use Rosetta Stone

*I have only used version 3, but from what I can tell the differences between the Version 3 and the latest are not that drastic that you can’t apply what I recommend here.

Even though it is sold as a program Continue reading

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Filed under How to learn, Learn Spanish, Thai

What to do when you can’t do anything

Jazz musician Miles Davis.

Miles Davis knows a lot about language learning. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I often talk about the various things I like to do that fit my current situation in life.  I usually practice speaking during my 45 minute commute to and from work.  During work, I listen to Spanish radio and podcasts.  When I am home, I will the use some program that is computer based to supplement what I am learning through those two methods.  It’s a great routine and it has worked great for me.

Some of you may be thinking, “Sounds great for you, but I don’t have all that available.  I don’t have an audio course to use or a podcast to listen to.  I don’t have a software program to help me out.  Even if I did, I don’t have the freedom to do all that at work or on my commute like you do.”  I feel for ya.  We can’t control what life throws at us, but we can make the best of what we have and run with it.   Specifically, I have learned a couple little tricks that require no outside material except your brain.

SYL

In case you don’t know I am a big fan of SYL or Speak Your Language.   Continue reading

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Where else to read

Aquellos libros

I am going to let you all in on a little secret.  I am not a professional linguist!  I know you are all surprised to hear that, but it’s true.  In fact, I don’t use ANY of my languages (besides English, of course) professionally nor have I EVER taken a class  in any language.  Everything I know and recommend comes from what I have learned as I have stumbled through the various ways to learn.

I don’t think I am always right, or at least that what I like and do is right for everyone.  There are a lot of view points on how to learn a language as an adult, and you know what?  They are all probably right.  I have heard an interesting quote once that intelligence is the ability to hold two conflicting thoughts in your mind at the same time with out going crazy.  I probably miss quoted it, but you get the point.  It’s important to learn and understand different view points so that you can be a more rounded individual.

Which Blogs I Read

That’s why I like to read the blog post from other successful language learners who may “seem” to be different. Continue reading

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Filed under How to learn, Opinions

Not everything develops at the same rate….and that’s ok

Words have a power all their own

Words have a power all their own (Photo credit: Lynne Hand)

This week, I’ve had a little bit of an accomplishment.  It’s nothing large, but I did finish the Destinos Telecourse.  Not a real easy thing in that there are over 50 episodes, most of which are all in Spanish.  I do feel happy to know how it ends and to say I finished it.

By finishing it, I am now left me without a regular thing to listen to.   So I’ve been searching and I found my self back at lingq.com.  For those who don’t know Lingq.com, It is a website with an extensive library of audio and transcripts to go along with them.  All the words can then be either marked as words your know, or one can create a “lingq” with the definition for review later.    As I was using the website, I was reminded of some important things that we need to know when we are learning a new language.

The words we “know” are not the same in everything

Lingq.com likes to make a big deal out of the words you “know.” Continue reading

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Filed under How to learn, Opinions

Fluent Like a Kid

I Am Fluent In Three Languages ...item 1.. For...

Here it is, the leaked post title that came out way to early.  I finally have written what I was thinking about the subject.  I was half tempted not to write anything, I actually got a lot of views to my site and even a comment with that little title.  It seems it may some think, which is what I would hope it would do.

Ultimately I decided to put my thoughts down.  I’m a bit to arrogant not to let my own thoughts come out on the subject.  I do, however, encourage discussion and would like to hear how I am wrong.  My feelings don’t get hurt I promise.  Anyway, enough stalling:

So what do you mean, “Fluent like a kid?”

This may be a different meaning than some would think, but this comes from the perspective of a parent who has been a part of raising 4 wonderful children. Continue reading

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Filed under Motivation, Parenting

3 months and counting

Language

Language (Photo credit: Jan Marlyn Reesman)

Last post I talked about which languages I’m not learning next year.  This means that there only 3 left that I could be possible learning.  Once again, for full disclosure, I’ve already chosen the language.  I know which one I learning, I just trying to build a little drama around the pick I guess.  On that note, don’t forget to take the poll on which language you think I will learn next.

Also on the right you will notice a big old count down calendar.  Thanks to a comment that was left of my fake post, I realized I had the year in wrong and now it’s counting down properly.  Not only are there 3 languages left, but there are 3 months left.  3 months to get as fluent as I can.  So I have reprioritized myself and set some goals to get me through the next 3 months.

More Speaking off the cuff

I have spent a good deal of my time, inadvertently  practicing my speaking in a very structured manner. Continue reading

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Learning a language like a Kung Fu Master

English: Publicity photo of Phillip Ahn as Mas...

Yesterday, many of you found out how I write.  Normally, I come up with ideas for what to write about and I make drafts with the titles.  Then when I have time to sit down to actually write, I have a whole shelf of ideas to write from.  Oddly enough, yesterday I accidentally hit publish and didn’t know until the next day.  Now you know, the secret is out.  What will I ever do?

This post is one of those posts.  I have had this post on my shelf for a bit now, but didn’t exactly know how to use it until recently.  The idea came about due to a child hood memory.  I found a way to get cable TV into my bedroom.  I used to watch all kinds of odd shows at night.  One night I watched a movie based on a true story about an American who went to China to teach English.  While there, he was taught Kung Fu from a master in China, despite the Chinese government doing all it could to hinder his access to the master.

Recently, I remembered that show, but I couldn’t remember who was in it or what it was even called.  I google searched and google searched until I found the Title: Iron and Silk.  Shortly after that, I found a version of it to watch and enjoyed it again.  That’s when I found a forgotten scene.

The Master becomes the student….kinda

During his studies, the master asks his American student to teach him English. Continue reading

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Filed under How to learn, spanish, Thai