Mostly Arabic with Maiwenn
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 7:09 pm
Hi!
I was a brief contributor and longtime lurker at the old HTLAL forum. (People from the TAC Celtic team many a year ago might recognize my username? Sorry I abandoned you all….) I love reading this new forum and often want to comment, but only thought it would be fair if I shared some things about myself. I’ve titled this « as-sinjaba katnsaa » the squirrel forgets, because sinjaba is my Moroccan Arabic nickname and I often feel like a squirrel who keeps planting words and forgetting about them. I am an American who has been living in Francophone Europe the past six years. I apologize in advance for my excessive use of parentheses.
Current Language Studies
Moroccan Arabic/Darija, my main focus.
Why? My partner is from Morocco and I’d like to be able to communicate better with my mother-in-law. Even though we manage to understand each other surprisingly well with my limited vocabulary, I’d like to be able to understand her better and express myself more. She is one of my favorite people, full of humor and wit. Through translations, I’ve heard some of her analysis and commentary on the world, but I’d love to be able to talk to her about things without an intermediary. Beyond my personal connections, frankly, it’s fun being able to understand Moroccan Arabic. People don’t often expect someone who looks like me to understand Darija.
Where am I now? I can get through 60+ minute lessons almost entirely in Darija (this actually shocks me — to be fair, I’m not understanding every word and my teacher is incredibly gifted). I have had 40 minute conversations with my partner in Darija (on simple topics and my partner is extreeeemely patient with me). I canNOT understand random videos without subtitles. I can sometimes eavesdrop if the context is clear (which it often is as people tend to pepper in French keywords).
How? A surprisingly large number of Moroccan Arabic books (you honestly would not think there were that many…), some trips, and skype lessons with an excellent teacher (message me if you’d like her contact info) the past month. I’ve felt the most progress since beginning skype lessons. On my own, I had a tendency to go over and over and over the same material presented in different formats without ever advancing. My teacher has forced me to actually expand and use the pockets of knowledge I’d been building.
Modern Standard Arabic/MSA/Fusha.
Why? Prior to studying Darija, I began with MSA. I like the idea of enlarging the number of people with whom I might be able to communicate. Also, I’d like to be able to read and understand the news.
Where am I now? Hmmmm…. Since beginning Darija in earnest, my MSA has taken quite the hit. Whereas before I used MSA to guess at Darija, now it’s the opposite. I have veryyy short conversations with my partner in MSA. I can read MSA far better (mostly thanks to a knowledge of some MSA grammar + guessing from Darija vocabulary), which is not to say very well.
How? I began with Assimil Arabic. I should actually finish it. I also did a CNED (French distance learning) course in Arabic which succeeded in teaching me how to conjugate and seemingly not much else. Currently, I’m using Clozemaster (which is actually quite thrilling — I had tried it with Arabic last year and failed miserably, but now I have enough base knowledge that it’s actual worthwhile) and watching the news.
German
Why? I like German and I’ve let it get away from me. When I try to speak it now, it gets bizarrely mixed with Darija. Ich suche Wörter auf Deutsch لكن كنلقي غير الدارجة (but I only find Darija). So now, I’d like to make a concerted effort at reinstating German in my head as its own entity. Additionally, it’s a good idea job-wise to speak German.
Where am I now? As I wrote, my German has taken a bit of a hit. I was in Berlin in July (July!) for a week and was able to speak in German without people switching to English. Then, I went to Morocco for two weeks and didn’t touch German at all until a week ago…. I live near the German border and have to actively remind myself that the language for cursory greetings, etc, is GERMAN not Arabic. On a positive note, after a week of adding in more German exposure, I am starting to feel more at home again in German. While swimming laps today, I spoke to myself in German and words/expressions started to come back a little easier. Perhaps not all hope is lost.
How? Well, I just finished watching Netflix’s Dark (SO. GOOD. Watch it!) and I think I’ll pick another German series. I plan on working my way through Teach Yourself’s Improve Your German and then Assimil’s Perfectionnement. I’ve got my German Harry Potter audiobooks cued up and ready for commutes. I should probably find a German speaker with whom to do a language exchange. Oh! And Clozemaster!
French
French is my everyday language now. It influences my English more than my English influences my French now…. It’s an odd sensation. Though it is my primary language, I am aiming to read and write more in French.
Past Language Studies
Chinese
One year in high school, one year in uni. It might make a comeback at some point should I progress enough in Arabic (so… maybe not).
Breton
Breton still calls to me. I lived in Brittany for a year and took Breton classes. I absolutely love the language, but I don’t see myself returning to it unless I moved back to Brittany.
Welsh/Czech/Hungarian/Italian/Spanish/Hindi
Adolescent flirtations who hold special places in my heart.
Anyway, that's me. I look forward to talking with you all on the forum and writing about my language learning experiences here!
I was a brief contributor and longtime lurker at the old HTLAL forum. (People from the TAC Celtic team many a year ago might recognize my username? Sorry I abandoned you all….) I love reading this new forum and often want to comment, but only thought it would be fair if I shared some things about myself. I’ve titled this « as-sinjaba katnsaa » the squirrel forgets, because sinjaba is my Moroccan Arabic nickname and I often feel like a squirrel who keeps planting words and forgetting about them. I am an American who has been living in Francophone Europe the past six years. I apologize in advance for my excessive use of parentheses.
Current Language Studies
Moroccan Arabic/Darija, my main focus.
Why? My partner is from Morocco and I’d like to be able to communicate better with my mother-in-law. Even though we manage to understand each other surprisingly well with my limited vocabulary, I’d like to be able to understand her better and express myself more. She is one of my favorite people, full of humor and wit. Through translations, I’ve heard some of her analysis and commentary on the world, but I’d love to be able to talk to her about things without an intermediary. Beyond my personal connections, frankly, it’s fun being able to understand Moroccan Arabic. People don’t often expect someone who looks like me to understand Darija.
Where am I now? I can get through 60+ minute lessons almost entirely in Darija (this actually shocks me — to be fair, I’m not understanding every word and my teacher is incredibly gifted). I have had 40 minute conversations with my partner in Darija (on simple topics and my partner is extreeeemely patient with me). I canNOT understand random videos without subtitles. I can sometimes eavesdrop if the context is clear (which it often is as people tend to pepper in French keywords).
How? A surprisingly large number of Moroccan Arabic books (you honestly would not think there were that many…), some trips, and skype lessons with an excellent teacher (message me if you’d like her contact info) the past month. I’ve felt the most progress since beginning skype lessons. On my own, I had a tendency to go over and over and over the same material presented in different formats without ever advancing. My teacher has forced me to actually expand and use the pockets of knowledge I’d been building.
Modern Standard Arabic/MSA/Fusha.
Why? Prior to studying Darija, I began with MSA. I like the idea of enlarging the number of people with whom I might be able to communicate. Also, I’d like to be able to read and understand the news.
Where am I now? Hmmmm…. Since beginning Darija in earnest, my MSA has taken quite the hit. Whereas before I used MSA to guess at Darija, now it’s the opposite. I have veryyy short conversations with my partner in MSA. I can read MSA far better (mostly thanks to a knowledge of some MSA grammar + guessing from Darija vocabulary), which is not to say very well.
How? I began with Assimil Arabic. I should actually finish it. I also did a CNED (French distance learning) course in Arabic which succeeded in teaching me how to conjugate and seemingly not much else. Currently, I’m using Clozemaster (which is actually quite thrilling — I had tried it with Arabic last year and failed miserably, but now I have enough base knowledge that it’s actual worthwhile) and watching the news.
German
Why? I like German and I’ve let it get away from me. When I try to speak it now, it gets bizarrely mixed with Darija. Ich suche Wörter auf Deutsch لكن كنلقي غير الدارجة (but I only find Darija). So now, I’d like to make a concerted effort at reinstating German in my head as its own entity. Additionally, it’s a good idea job-wise to speak German.
Where am I now? As I wrote, my German has taken a bit of a hit. I was in Berlin in July (July!) for a week and was able to speak in German without people switching to English. Then, I went to Morocco for two weeks and didn’t touch German at all until a week ago…. I live near the German border and have to actively remind myself that the language for cursory greetings, etc, is GERMAN not Arabic. On a positive note, after a week of adding in more German exposure, I am starting to feel more at home again in German. While swimming laps today, I spoke to myself in German and words/expressions started to come back a little easier. Perhaps not all hope is lost.
How? Well, I just finished watching Netflix’s Dark (SO. GOOD. Watch it!) and I think I’ll pick another German series. I plan on working my way through Teach Yourself’s Improve Your German and then Assimil’s Perfectionnement. I’ve got my German Harry Potter audiobooks cued up and ready for commutes. I should probably find a German speaker with whom to do a language exchange. Oh! And Clozemaster!
French
French is my everyday language now. It influences my English more than my English influences my French now…. It’s an odd sensation. Though it is my primary language, I am aiming to read and write more in French.
Past Language Studies
Chinese
One year in high school, one year in uni. It might make a comeback at some point should I progress enough in Arabic (so… maybe not).
Breton
Breton still calls to me. I lived in Brittany for a year and took Breton classes. I absolutely love the language, but I don’t see myself returning to it unless I moved back to Brittany.
Welsh/Czech/Hungarian/Italian/Spanish/Hindi
Adolescent flirtations who hold special places in my heart.
Anyway, that's me. I look forward to talking with you all on the forum and writing about my language learning experiences here!