From Weeklong Learner to Lifelong Learner (2020-2021)

[Migla]

While the main resource is audio-only, my memory is rather bad, and the additional practice is much needed.

I am a very visual learner, but I have found out one thing: even though learning through my ears is slow, like you just said - memory feels like a sieve, but still what ever manages to stick in the memory that way, stays. As opposed to looking at things, deciding it looks easy and intuitive, and.... forgetting.

[Raconteur]

Thank you Migla, that's a very encouraging insight.

[Raconteur]

TUESDAY, 11 AUGUST 2020
Not much time today, but I did manage a few PN reviews, then I took care of SRS (which still isn’t much). Finally I started on Unit 2 of C, which is proving much better than the first → more content, more dense. To finish up I did a scriptorium exercise, using the dialogue. (Total for the day ≈ 1h)

Los Angeles è una città americana.
Roma è una città italiana.
Cracovia è una città polacca.
Los Angeles is an American city.
Rome is an Italian city.
Krakow is a Polish city.

Mio fratello abita in America.
My brother lives in America.

– Lei è in Italia in vacanza o per lavoro?
– Sono qui per lavoro. E Lei?
– Are you in Italy on vacation or for work?
– I’m here for work. And you?

Ora mi scusi ma devo andare.
Now excuse me, but I have to go.

[Raconteur]

WEDNESDAY, 12 AUGUST 2020
Didn’t get much done until later afternoon, continued with PN CD6 1-4. (Total for the day ≈30 min)

–È questo il treno per Napoli?
–No, il treno per Napoli è lì.
–Is this the train for Naples?
–No, the train for Naples is over there.

–Un biglietto per Milano, per favore.
–Prima o seconda classe?
–Prima classe, per favore.
–Dodici euro, per favore.
–A ticket for Milan, please.
–First or second class?
–First class, please.
–Twelve euros, please.

–Scusi, a che ora arriva il treno a Milano?
–Adesso!
–Excuse me, at what time does the train arrive in Milan?
–Now!

Dove posso comprare una bicicletta?
Where can I buy a bicycle?

THURSDAY, 13 AUGUST 2020
Today I only had time in the evening. I started with PN, reviewing the material from yesterday. I then moved on to SRS. Last thing at night, I reviewed C and pushed on with some new stuff: -ARE verbs and PN 6.5-6.7. (Total for the day ≈100 min)

-ARE Verbs
ABITARE • abito • abiti • abita
STUDIARE • studio • studi_ • studia
PARLARE • parlo • parli • parla

Noteworthy, when the stem itself ends in “i” you don’t add anything in the YOU form (ex: STUDIARE → studi)

IRREGULAR Verbs
ESSERE • sono • sei • è
VENIRE • vengo • vieni • viene
DOVERE • devo • devi • deve

[Raconteur]

FRIDAY, 14 AUGUST 2020
Preparing for weekend guests: shopping, cleaning, and planning means less time for language learning, but I managed to do a little bit. In the morning I reviewed PN lessons from yesterday. Then, last thing before going to bed, I did one new PN track (better than nothing) and reviewed yesterday's Colloquial notes and audio. (≈40 min)

[Raconteur]

SATURDAY, 15 AUGUST 2020
Given that I’m hosting guests this weekend, time for LL will be limited. However, this morning I did finish PN CD6, which was one of my goals for this week, I also did SRS and went on with Colloquial U2. It’s not looking like I will be done with U2 by tomorrow, not with guests in the house. Oh well.

I’m still struggling to find a place to look over my Italian sentences. Lang-8, unfortunately, seems to be just about dead (or at least far less active than it used to be years ago). That’s too bad. At its peak it was a very useful language learning website with a great community. I wonder if there’s some new, active alternative to Lang-8. I hope so, but I have not found it yet.

No, non può pagare con la carta di credito qui.
No, you can't pay with a (lit. the) credit card here.

[eido]

At its peak it was a very useful language learning website with a great community. I wonder if there’s some new, active alternative to Lang-8. I hope so, but I have not found it yet.

The three sites I know of where you can submit "notebooks" or "texts" for correction are eLingora, italki, and langcorrect. italki is the most active, langcorrect is the most aesthetically pleasing... and lmao Lingora's sort of just there. But there's some options for you.

[Raconteur]

SUNDAY, 16 AUGUST 2020
Today, another day hosting weekend guests, but I did manage to squeeze in some time in the afternoon for Italiano. I reviewed CD6 of PN, did SRS, and finished up with some new material from C Unit 2 incl. scriptorium.

My progress so far is very slow (tortoise-like, one could argue). Nevertheless, I am immensely happy I am making time to study, consistently. My “lifelong learner” goal: even on days when urgent matters get in the way, I will look for a few minutes here and there. From now on, no excuses – or at the very least, fewer excuses.

Sono medico e lavoro in un ospedale a Milano.
I am a doctor and I work in a hospital in Milan.

Sono sposato e ho due figli.
I am married and have two children.

[Raconteur]

At its peak it was a very useful language learning website with a great community. I wonder if there’s some new, active alternative to Lang-8. I hope so, but I have not found it yet.

The three sites I know of where you can submit "notebooks" or "texts" for correction are eLingora, italki, and langcorrect. italki is the most active, langcorrect is the most aesthetically pleasing... and lmao Lingora's sort of just there. But there's some options for you.

Thank you eido, I had no idea italki had such functionality. I always thought it was strictly a place to find language tutors. I will definitely check it out now.

[Raconteur]

MONDAY, 17 AUGUST 2020
Only got to Italiano in the very late evening, but as they say: better late than never. I did SRS and a few new tracks of PN. An interesting (or odd) addition for today was Muzzy – an old cartoon I remember watching on public TV in the early 1990s. Perhaps my English proficiency can be attributed to Muzzy’s help. I can’t believe how much of the plot I still remember…

La regina è grassa!
The queen is fat!

La principessa ama il giardiniere.
The princess loves the gardener.