Language highlights & struggles 2018

[Bluepaint]

We are nearly three quarters of the way through the year - what have been your highs and lows so far?

I have been hugely slacking in 2018. I guess stuttering out a couple of Russian sentences that were understood has been my best moment Lowest? Uhm, the slacking.

[NoManches]

My lows:

My struggle has been finding the time to be consistent and productive every day. Work has been taking a toll on me so I find myself having some days where I am too tired to be efficient, while I have some days with a lot of productivity (making up for my bad days). I would say that I have been consistent with less efficient methods though (such as lots of passive listening while I work). It's September and I look back and wonder where I could be if I had put a little more effort in.

My highs:

I've seen a big improvement in my listening skills because of all the podcasts and TV shows I have been watching. My reading is a lot better because I've been making a habit to read each day for at least an hour (although this doesn't happen every day for reasons I pointed out above).

Overall I'd say 2018 has been a good year. I've been able to use the language to do enjoyable things so even if I'm not at the level I want to be at, I'm having fun while I slowly get there.

Also, 2018 is the year I came back to Spanish after taking a break from active learning...for me that is a really big deal. I can't even imagine where I'd be if I just decided to leave Spanish dormant and was content with the level I was at.

[Jaleel10]

Lows:

* Some periods where I couldn't juggle everything in my life and it affected my studies
* Impatience. Really misjudged just how big of an effort language learning is.

Highs:
* Started Spanish on 1 January
* Meeting and learning from many of you guys
* 180ish hours of active study
* Developed a serviceable Spanish accent
* Got to a level where I can enjoy the language in some capacity.
* Gained perspective. This will take years.

[Skynet]

Highs:

1. I joined this forum on 18 July and met amazing, encouraging and inspiring people. (*cough* PM, Cavesa, Lawyer&Mom, Renaissancemedici and Xenops *cough*)
2. I went through 28 French courses in 6 weeks and approx 450 hrs. (I completed my challenge in two-thirds of the time originally planned!)
3. I have finally found a place where I can share my secret desires to read the Epic of Gilgamesh (Sumerian), The Avesta (Avestan), Epics of Adad-Narari and Atra-Hasis (Assyrian Akkadian), The Babylonian Chronicles (Babylonian Akkadian), Instructions of Amenemhat (Middle Egyptian), and Ancient Greek and Latin boustrophedon, without being looked at strangely.
4. I was driven to healthy jealousy by certain members' language lists and will never rest on my laurels. (*cough* Ogrim, Tarvos, Jeff_Lindqvist and Denzagathist *cough*)

Lows:

NONE!

[brilliantyears]

Highs:

1. Attending the Polyglot Gathering
2. A newfound love for a nearly extinct language, Ainu
3. Using Japanese to study aforementioned language
4. And #3 resulted in finally really realising that, after studying it on and off for 11(!) years, my Japanese is fine (super emphasis).
5. In progress, but: little by little getting over my shyness of speaking Russian.

Lows:

1. Not enough time in the day to study every language I want to None, I think

[Xenops]

Highs:
1. Realizing I'm not obligated to learn any particular language.
2. Finding my language-learning purpose
3. Making significant progress with kanji radicals
4. Improved French pronunciation
5. 6 week challenge
6. animelon.com

Lows:
1. Not as consistent with studying as I would like
2. Wanderlust
3. Realizing that Japanese is a steep, up-hill climb
4. Stressful and tough life in general this year.

[CarlyD]

Highs:

1. Finally achieving some degree of consistency and accountability with my 175-day challenge notebook. (Basically a gridded notebook with a handwritten Excel spreadsheet with days across the top and activities down the left side.)
2. Seeing actual progress--cartoons on Facebook I can read, finally seeing something that I thought was "too easy."
3. Coming to realize that any progress is a success, instead of thinking that not achieving the highest level of progress was a failure.

Lows:

1. Still unwilling to use Skype, or do the Add1 Challenge.
2. Inability to make language fit with all my other hobbies, so I struggle with fitting everything in.

But next year........next year will be magical.

[rdearman]

I think the highs this year probably out number the lows. But let us list them and see!

Highs:

1. Completed presentation in French for Poylglot Gathering.
2. Started doing actual Mandarin lessons with an actual Mandarin speaker.
3. Learned a bucket load of Setswana using only free resources for the Free and Legal Challenge.
4. Managed to blackmail a lot of other people into learning Setswana.
5. Have completed a lot of Language Exchanges and iTalki lessons in French and Italian, (152 Language Exchanges or iTalki Lessons since June)
6. With help from Expungator I managed to divide up my commute times to accomplish a reasonable amount of study.
7. I learned a little bit of Czech during a FLC but gave it up.

Lows:

1. Completed presentation in French for Poylglot Gathering.
2. Haven't read near enough to complete my goal of 100 Actual books read in Italian for the Super Challenge.
3. My written French is a disgrace and shouldn't be allowed. If you don't believe me, ask Roger the Dragon.
4. My spoken French is a disgrace and shouldn't be allowed. If you don't believe me, watch the Polyglot presentation video.

I guess the highs win so far! I'm actually pretty amazed how many language exchanges I've done. I went back and counted all the entries in my calendar it was 178 minus the cancelled ones make 152 language exchanges or lessons! No wonder I was getting burned out on them!

[lichtrausch]

Going great. Korean is tough but hugely rewarding.

[zjones]

Highs

• I actually learned a language this year. After lusting after French for my entire adolescence and adulthood, but never having the discipline to learn it, I did it in 2018.
• Understanding an entire episode of the Inner French podcast.
• Realizing I really, really, really love reading in French.
• Making goals for myself and creating my own routine from scratch.
• Being complimented by natives on my accent, especially when a French girl said that I sound like a French-Canadian and have a beautiful and "très mignonne" accent.

Lows

• Realizing how much time and effort it takes to learn a language. (This isn't really a low point, but the time before this realization was kind of difficult.)
• Meeting French-Canadians and being too shy to speak French with them.
• Realizing how hard it is to switch between tu and vous.