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crispfencerGood evening! Let's talk language learning:
I've been going hard on the Welsh recently, since language learning is the only hobby I can do without thinking "shouldn't I be doing something better with my time?" I've always been the bottom of my class in languages at school no matter how many hours I put into studying, but this has never deterred me from trying! Maybe I'm just boneheaded.
I'm following SaySomethinginWelsh, a course which prides itself on being hard as nails. Their ethos is basically 'learning 2 hours a week at an adult education class won't make you fluent quick enough, so let's bash you over the head with verbs until you get concussion'. This would be hellish for my self-esteem, only the man doing the voiceover is kind, reassuring presence who praises you for trying and is well aware that "you've been pausing during these lessons to swear at me". He's a cruel master, but I'd take him over the glassy-eyed Duolingo owl any day.
It's tricky, and I know I'm a lot slower than most, but I'll get there. My reason for learning a language is extremely important to my motivation; if I find no reason why I should carry on learning, it's harder for me to practise. For example, German used to be my main language for about 3 years until I realised I'd drifted away from all my German friends, and didn't care much for German-language TV etc. Similarly with Japanese, I've always wanted to learn because WEABOO but I care a lot less than I used to? Welsh is perfect for me at the moment because there's so much Welsh Language culture that I want to enjoy, I'd like to move there in the future and, uhhhh, Elis. ^^; Which are all reasons that give me the motivation to keep trying!
What I'd like to know from you is this-
I've been going hard on the Welsh recently, since language learning is the only hobby I can do without thinking "shouldn't I be doing something better with my time?" I've always been the bottom of my class in languages at school no matter how many hours I put into studying, but this has never deterred me from trying! Maybe I'm just boneheaded.
I'm following SaySomethinginWelsh, a course which prides itself on being hard as nails. Their ethos is basically 'learning 2 hours a week at an adult education class won't make you fluent quick enough, so let's bash you over the head with verbs until you get concussion'. This would be hellish for my self-esteem, only the man doing the voiceover is kind, reassuring presence who praises you for trying and is well aware that "you've been pausing during these lessons to swear at me". He's a cruel master, but I'd take him over the glassy-eyed Duolingo owl any day.
It's tricky, and I know I'm a lot slower than most, but I'll get there. My reason for learning a language is extremely important to my motivation; if I find no reason why I should carry on learning, it's harder for me to practise. For example, German used to be my main language for about 3 years until I realised I'd drifted away from all my German friends, and didn't care much for German-language TV etc. Similarly with Japanese, I've always wanted to learn because WEABOO but I care a lot less than I used to? Welsh is perfect for me at the moment because there's so much Welsh Language culture that I want to enjoy, I'd like to move there in the future and, uhhhh, Elis. ^^; Which are all reasons that give me the motivation to keep trying!
What I'd like to know from you is this-
- What languages do you know?
- What languages are you currently learning?
- What languages do you wish you knew?
- Your general experience of language learning at school, personally, etc.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-28 07:16 am (UTC)So that's quite a few languages but I'm really only fluent in German and English - maybe French, but my speaking is crap. :D I would love to learn proper Italian because I love the sound of the language, and maybe some Scandinavian language as well? Welsh sounds so hard, but it's also lovely to listen to.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-03 08:24 pm (UTC)So were you a languages student at uni? You know so many!
I'd imagine a Scandinavian language is far removed from the latin-based ones we've familiar with, what a challenge that'd be get to grips with!
Wha- Welsh is hard?! I was drawn in by promises of a no-nonsense phonetic alphabet and straightforward grammar rules, but got blindsided by noun mutations (what even- why???) and unfamiliar mouth noises, so I guess you're right.