My first log
Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 7:39 am
I registered here a while ago, on week 7 or 8 of my self-isolation - honestly, I've lost track of time a bit.
Confined inside their homes, some people have developed habits that, though not against their true nature, had never been a usual part of their daily routine before. For me, it happens to be watching opera. Online, naturally.
I'd never dived into it so intensely. IRL, I would go to the opera twice a month on average, sometimes oftener. Now, on my watching spree, I can hardly spend a day without a performance. Or two.
That's why I've suddenly found myself exposed to a much larger amount of German and Italian than ever; first of all, written - because I never had the ambition to grasp what all those singers sing, even in my mother tongue. By written language, I mean not only subs and synopses but also general navigation through theatres' sites, because their English versions are often not so full.
It all has given me the idea to take advantage of having more free time on hand, and try and study a bit of German. While many regions are starting to ease their COVID-related restrictions, it seems that the city I live in still has to face a lot more weeks of social distancing and self-isolation ahead.
Why German, then? It seems to be far more challenging than Italian.
Perhaps, because I already learnt it 17 years ago. Then, I took two month-long courses (not one two-month course but two with a break in between, which was crucial for the methodology implied) and so I can consider myself a "false beginner" with a vague memory of how the language works.
Besides, I've got quite a few books and two sets of coursebooks (Themen neu 1 and 2) left after my daughter's studies. Now, when all the libraries and bookshops are closed and I am too overwhelmed with computers/Zooms/Skypes it might be really helpful. Although I could hopefully survive studying up to 60% of the time on-screen, to study, say, 90% of time glued to my laptop or smartphone seems unbearable.
I don't really feel I belong here; still, I'm toying with the idea of taking part in the Super Challenge I've just read about. It seems to be good timing to join in, as it has just started...
Confined inside their homes, some people have developed habits that, though not against their true nature, had never been a usual part of their daily routine before. For me, it happens to be watching opera. Online, naturally.
I'd never dived into it so intensely. IRL, I would go to the opera twice a month on average, sometimes oftener. Now, on my watching spree, I can hardly spend a day without a performance. Or two.
That's why I've suddenly found myself exposed to a much larger amount of German and Italian than ever; first of all, written - because I never had the ambition to grasp what all those singers sing, even in my mother tongue. By written language, I mean not only subs and synopses but also general navigation through theatres' sites, because their English versions are often not so full.
It all has given me the idea to take advantage of having more free time on hand, and try and study a bit of German. While many regions are starting to ease their COVID-related restrictions, it seems that the city I live in still has to face a lot more weeks of social distancing and self-isolation ahead.
Why German, then? It seems to be far more challenging than Italian.
Perhaps, because I already learnt it 17 years ago. Then, I took two month-long courses (not one two-month course but two with a break in between, which was crucial for the methodology implied) and so I can consider myself a "false beginner" with a vague memory of how the language works.
Besides, I've got quite a few books and two sets of coursebooks (Themen neu 1 and 2) left after my daughter's studies. Now, when all the libraries and bookshops are closed and I am too overwhelmed with computers/Zooms/Skypes it might be really helpful. Although I could hopefully survive studying up to 60% of the time on-screen, to study, say, 90% of time glued to my laptop or smartphone seems unbearable.
I don't really feel I belong here; still, I'm toying with the idea of taking part in the Super Challenge I've just read about. It seems to be good timing to join in, as it has just started...