Xmmm's Log ...

[Axon]

That Universe of Memory link is something I've read a number of times. It's interesting because I strongly disagree with it, but it obviously worked for that student very well.

I have a strong knee-jerk reaction to "I forbade him from reading or listening to anything for the first three months." I love experiments (update that log, Xmmm!) but that's going way too far for me. After starting Indonesian I used Easy Indonesian videos from the start alongside a textbook, Pimsleur, and Glossika. Maybe a month or so into the study I looked for native videos. I didn't understand anything from them but they were a big eye-opener: All the learning material I was using was significantly slower and more well-enunciated than native speech, and the textbook was so far removed as to be laughable. So I integrated more Indonesian native materials into my study in order to get a better sense of what I should even be listening for.

On the other hand, of course, that German student didn't have much other experience learning languages and I'm sure he benefited from someone telling him what to do and when to do it. He did benefit from it, actually - he has more certificates than I do.

[smallwhite]

Mathew had three hours a day to learn German!?! How decadent and delicious.

He spent 450 hours on German, which is nothing compared to the 100s if not 1000s of hours most of us here have spent.

[Lawyer&Mom]

I agree he used his time very efficiently! I’m just jealous he has so much time!

[Xmmm]

I've told everyone my learning strategy and I quote it all the time - https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 572#p67642

If you think something you can't and won't do is a plan... maybe I was wrong about you previously.

I have no intention of following that plan. I brought it up as an alternate universe sort of thing for what I'm actually doing.

I truly am sorry to have disappointed you. And I'm not being snarky.

My current Russian learning plan is to L-R my way through August 1914 as indicated on my experiment thread. I will measure success or failure by trying to L-R the next book in the series and see if it feels easier.

I'll start speaking Russian on Italki again as soon as I feel I'm a B2 listener in Russian. I'm close. Maybe with luck this summer. I don't feel like I can get anywhere or do anything until I'm a B2 listener ... and right now I'm not. That's it.


I know you'll regard that as hopelessly unsatisfactory, but you did ask what my learning plan was and that's what it is.

[smallwhite]

I’m just jealous he has so much time!

You have an impressive profile. I think you have had more than 450 hours for languages? Xmmm, too.

I have no intention of following that plan. I brought it up as an alternate universe sort of thing for what I'm actually doing.

I truly am sorry to have disappointed you. And I'm not being snarky.

My current Russian learning plan is... I know you'll regard that as hopelessly unsatisfactory, but you did ask what my learning plan was and that's what it is.

* I see.
* If that was not what you were really thinking then I'm not disappointed.
* I asked about your goal, not your plan, as I couldn't find it. Your logs I have been following. But thanks for sharing your overall plan, too. I don't know if I like it or not but who cares; I will like it if it takes you to your goals, within your budgeted time and effort, in a way you enjoy.

[Lawyer&Mom]

Lifetime language hours? Way more than 450. Free time I can borrow or steal for language study? Less than three hours a day. I work full time, I have small kids, I’m just jealous of young people who can throw themselves at intellectual pursuits. Hey, I was young once too, and I’m sure I didn’t make the most of it! You never appreciate what you have when you have it!

[reineke]

Those are more like dreams than goals...

Here's to dreams.

[Xmmm]

I was watching the "Payday Loans" episode of Dirty Money on Netflix last night. In Italian, no subtitles, no rewinds. My comprehension was in the 90% area, despite my lack of a specific and credible study plan for Italian.

It was an interesting show. The guy that owned the payday loans operation was clearly a white collar criminal of the worst, most despicable kind. He made mafia guys look good. Yet he participated enthusiastically in the documentary, apparently to tell "his side" of the story. But he doesn't really have a side -- he's convicted by his own testimony.

And yet somehow, in his mind, he's a tragic hero businessman fighting for freedom and his family against an oppressive government. It got me wondering if there are any evil people in this world who know they're evil? Or is part of being evil wrapping yourself in a reality-distortion field, so that you can do deeds that good people would never do in a million years?

[Xmmm]

Okay, so I'm now an expert in Turkish:

duo_turkish.png

[smallwhite]

Xmmm's Chaos and Failure Log

But I was talking about progress bars. You don't even use them.