alaart's log (Chinese, Korean)
Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2019 10:21 am
I study rather unstructured and just dig into material spontaneously. I tend to learn a lot of new things, but I often don't review said material. So by making this language log I hope to get a clearer understanding of myself and improve my learning process.
Japanese: (upper Intermediate)
I'm studying Japanese in university for my 3rd year now, and I will be studying in Japan for a year starting next month.
Goals:
My main goal is to expand my vocabulary dramatically, grammar I will hopefully continue to learn in class. I should do more reading, and learn to speak Keigo. I'm aiming for fluency eventually, which I would define as casually reading books, and watch movies without any problems. - since written Japanese is still frustrating me, I assume still have a very long way to go.
Recent study:
I watched a bit of Japanese Netflix drama, translated some songs, and I'm working with a Japanese language partner. I started learning the basics of Kansai-Dialect, going through the website kansaiben.com, and through some youtube material, as well as trying to speak the dialect with a teacher on iTalki. That said, the results weren't good, and I can't quite get away from standard Japanese, tend to forget the Kansai grammar, pitch accent etc. again rapidly.
Chinese: (lower intermediate)
I was attending a language course for 1,5 years but quit in February, and since then have stopped learning grammar, and writing Hanzi. I use the traditional characters.
Goals:
Here too I mainly focus on extending my vocabulary for now. I should start writing the characters again, that are not used in Japanese. I should start reading material. A good solid aim would be to get some sort of language certificate, preferably a Taiwanese one. My classmates all did the mainland HSK3, and some did HSK4, but I didn't since I cannot read simplified characters. Also I want to check the possibilities of doing an exchange year in Taiwan.
Recent study:
I mainly focused on speaking and vocabulary, using yabla.com - for working out pronunciation and listening, and also learn new words. I had around 4 language exchanges per week (each 2-3 hours) for the last half year. So I can have conversations now, but they still have breaks, many errors and misunderstandings.
I created a huge vocabulary anki deck of new words I picked up everywhere, of around 1500-2000 words, only to delete it all when I was stressed in the exam period . So there is some danger of forgetting those vocabularies again, and I fear I have to keep myself immersed. I haven't studied much lately though, I'm stopping in Taiwan for a couple days on my way to Japan next month, hope to get some motivation there.
Portuguese / Dutch: (dormant)
I studied both for about a year, and they are slowly declining, but also somewhat stable. I have rarely used them for the last 1-2years. I use them randomly sometimes when I meet a native speaker or stumble upon interesting material. If that's the case I will also put it into the language log.
So, that's about it. Let's go
Spanish (Edit: 29.10.2019)
3 Mexican roommates, and taking language classes at my Japanese University is what kind of motivates me to join the 6WC now. It is refreshing to learn a European language again . Also have language exchange once a week. Edit: 12.12.2019 Challenge is over. Not too much Spanish from now on probably.
Japanese: (upper Intermediate)
I'm studying Japanese in university for my 3rd year now, and I will be studying in Japan for a year starting next month.
Goals:
My main goal is to expand my vocabulary dramatically, grammar I will hopefully continue to learn in class. I should do more reading, and learn to speak Keigo. I'm aiming for fluency eventually, which I would define as casually reading books, and watch movies without any problems. - since written Japanese is still frustrating me, I assume still have a very long way to go.
Recent study:
I watched a bit of Japanese Netflix drama, translated some songs, and I'm working with a Japanese language partner. I started learning the basics of Kansai-Dialect, going through the website kansaiben.com, and through some youtube material, as well as trying to speak the dialect with a teacher on iTalki. That said, the results weren't good, and I can't quite get away from standard Japanese, tend to forget the Kansai grammar, pitch accent etc. again rapidly.
Chinese: (lower intermediate)
I was attending a language course for 1,5 years but quit in February, and since then have stopped learning grammar, and writing Hanzi. I use the traditional characters.
Goals:
Here too I mainly focus on extending my vocabulary for now. I should start writing the characters again, that are not used in Japanese. I should start reading material. A good solid aim would be to get some sort of language certificate, preferably a Taiwanese one. My classmates all did the mainland HSK3, and some did HSK4, but I didn't since I cannot read simplified characters. Also I want to check the possibilities of doing an exchange year in Taiwan.
Recent study:
I mainly focused on speaking and vocabulary, using yabla.com - for working out pronunciation and listening, and also learn new words. I had around 4 language exchanges per week (each 2-3 hours) for the last half year. So I can have conversations now, but they still have breaks, many errors and misunderstandings.
I created a huge vocabulary anki deck of new words I picked up everywhere, of around 1500-2000 words, only to delete it all when I was stressed in the exam period . So there is some danger of forgetting those vocabularies again, and I fear I have to keep myself immersed. I haven't studied much lately though, I'm stopping in Taiwan for a couple days on my way to Japan next month, hope to get some motivation there.
Portuguese / Dutch: (dormant)
I studied both for about a year, and they are slowly declining, but also somewhat stable. I have rarely used them for the last 1-2years. I use them randomly sometimes when I meet a native speaker or stumble upon interesting material. If that's the case I will also put it into the language log.
So, that's about it. Let's go
Spanish (Edit: 29.10.2019)
3 Mexican roommates, and taking language classes at my Japanese University is what kind of motivates me to join the 6WC now. It is refreshing to learn a European language again . Also have language exchange once a week. Edit: 12.12.2019 Challenge is over. Not too much Spanish from now on probably.