Systematiker wrote:
I calculated it through, once, based on what I know, so here goes:
The students, as far as I know, were expected to do 3-5 hours outside the classroom daily across a 5-day week, for the full period. So a Cat I language gets an additional 360-600 hours added to the 600 of classroom work. Georgian, being a Cat IV (and assuming the distance for you is identical), gets an additional 660-1100 hours. So in comparing yourself, if you're "more than halfway" to a ILR 3, you're doing better than FSI anticipates (what's halfway? I don't know. But probably if you're B1 or better, you're doing better than the average bear for the time as calculated), since you're at 1000 of either 1760 or 2200.
Great, thanks. I knew the information on hours expected was there somehow. If it's safe to just double the classroom estimates for reaching the total, then I'm not that bad even in Mandarin (5 years and a half) or Norwegian (4 years and a half).
I don't learn vocabulary linearly, like, first all the A1 words, then all A2, B1, B2 and so on. I don't cram vocabulary. After going through textbooks for basic vocabulary and grammar, I start slowly adding more and more native materials, but I don't force processing this linear reading word by word, line by line. Most of the times I just read the L2 text intensively while reading L1 translation for better comprehension of the story. This strategy alone has been my failure during SC times, but when combined with intensive reading, which I'm doing for all my languages but German now, it's a boost and synergy does happen. So, while I consider myself a shaky B2 in Norwegian, that doesn't mean I have very low exposure to C1-level vocabulary. On the contrary: I have seen this vocabulary ever since my A2ish level, and I keep actually retaining the more important and more frequent words. As I consolidate this B1-B2 level, my brain has space/working memory for paying attention to not so essential words, and I start to go for details. This happens rather organically. With transparent languages it happens very quickly actually. I don't know for real, but I believe people who do SRS or vocabulary cramming or wordlists learn in a more linear way. I leave some gaps behind, especially useful tourist vocabulary, but I work on these if a real opportunity to use the language is on sight.
====================================
It's becoming easier and easier to understand spoken Norwegian, even from the comedy series, even on the background. I should probably start listening to audiobooks in German, too, but I have a long waiting line of audiobooks in other languages.
Finished the film L'Arnacoeur. Not a bad one. Now there's more Astérix to come.
Best day of watching Kuxnya ever. Subtitles are becoming obsolete.
Accomplished Language Book: Spoken World GreekI haven't been posting reviews on completed language books lately. I haven't been using them that much after all, mostly for Greek only (which reminds me I forgot to post about Assimil le nouveau grec and the other Greek textbooks in a review format). This Spoken World Greek is part of those books that had been lying on my list, making me wondering if I'd ever come down to studying them. I'm happy the time finally comes. Spoken World Greek by Living Language is a really comprehensive and informative language book. The format of the lessons is fairly complete. I still find it a bit too much for a start into the language - it's better to use it from an A1-level on.
I didn't even have something else planned for Greek. I've had a good deal of textbooks. It's been almost one year now that I've been studying Greek and I'm looking forward to doing native materials more often. I have two other fixed 'slots's for Greek - Greekpod101 and Language Tranfer, and they both are still guided instruction. I feel like ditching all textbooks altogether and just adding native materials while keeping what I'm already doing, but I acknowledge that grammar is still a weak spot. I like A texbook of Modern Greek, by Tofallis, it's an old-school textbook which seems more comprehensive than Routledge's Greek Essential Grammar. Then I had a look at Méthode de Grec Moderne, from INALCO. It's cool that there is a volume 2, it's encouraging, but then that one is a reader, and I have enough of bilingual or interlinear readers and I'm not even sure I'd need them since I have good audiobooks. I need grammar and a method that would force me to produce. Truth be told, part of the trouble I'm having is caused by the fact Greek came out much easier than I had expected. Vocabulary doesn't feel that hard, and the synergy I got from working on 3 or more beginner resources simultaneously is a lesson I'm taking forever into my language-learning journey.
The monolingual textbooks all seem great, but I'm better off leaving them for when I can read Greek and get the gist from, the way I did with Norwegian. They're much more 'communicative' and with much less text than their Norwegian counterparts, though. I found a great series called "Texts for young people in simple Greek" but audio isn't there and I'd have to look up words manually too, instead of just pasting them on GT.
Well, it's decided. Let's add some French approach into it again. I'll go for Méthode de Grec Moderne volume I, by L'Asiathèque. It's only my second book from the maison and I'd like to become used with their format, given they produce so many jewels for languages from South and Southeastern Asia. As for leaving a new slot opened for a new language, I shouldn't worry about that: I won't replace the old Language Transfer with the new course right away.
I'm sticking to my Clozemaster-streak. I should have in mind that once the activities get back to their normal rhythm I probably won't have time for Clozemaster during the normal schedule. I'll have to I find some hidden moments for it while back home or just leave it for when I'm totally free. I think my desktop time is better spent on a few more intensive reading or listening activities, anyway. Clozemaster 4 rounds for 6 languages takes me over 20 minutes, while 5 minutes are enough for each intensive activity such as 1 podcast episode.
With the remaining time today, I couldn't help but try listening-reading an audiobook again in Modern Greek. Still Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol: I'm not properly reading it as I still can't follow Greek properly, in a productive way. This time it was considerably better, though. If I had more time, I'd probably endulge myself some series in another language.