Lawyer&Mom, Less is More (French & German)

[MattNeilsen]

That can be both a blessing and a curse - I don’t know whether to say sorry or congrats

Are you doing both French and German in Clozemaster?

[Lawyer&Mom]

Finally finished Roi du Fer. I enjoyed the challenge, but my next French book needs to be fluffy. I don’t want French to always feel like a slog!

[Lawyer&Mom]

I’m stuck at home recovering from a medical procedure. It went well, I’m fine, but drugged up enough that languages are on hold. I have been enjoying an Icelandic series, Trapped. It’s on Amazon Prime in the US. Icelandic with English subtitles is perfect for lazy language exposure. I’m impressed when I understand the occasional phrase, but I don’t feel compelled to *try*.

[DaveAgain]

I’m stuck at home recovering from a medical procedure. It went well, I’m fine, but drugged up enough that languages are on hold. I have been enjoying an Icelandic series, Trapped. It’s on Amazon Prime in the US. Icelandic with English subtitles is perfect for lazy language exposure. I’m impressed when I understand the occasional phrase, but I don’t feel compelled to *try*.

Take it easy and heal up.

[Lawyer&Mom]

Recovering nicely, but barely doing anything with languages. I’ve started a delightfully fluffy new French book, which has me thinking about how different my ideal French book is from my ideal German book.

Ideal German book: The dark family secrets of the remote windswept Murder Farm. (Tannöd by Andrea Maria Schenkel.)

Ideal French book: The lives and loves of five obscenely wealthy Parisian women are linked by a mysterious antique emerald ring. (Les grandes bourgeoise by Emmanuelle de Boysson.)

German should be gritty realistic rural family drama, French escapist urban fantasy. Why study different languages if you get the same things from each?

[Skynet]

I’m stuck at home recovering from a medical procedure. It went well, I’m fine, but drugged up enough that languages are on hold.

Recovering nicely, but barely doing anything with languages.

L&M, I am sorry that I have only gotten wind of this now. I am delighted to see that the procedure was successful and that you're recovering. Take as much time as needed to rest and recuperate. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

[cjareck]

I am happy to hear that you are recovering nicely!

Why study different languages if you get the same things from each?

In military history, even if you read about the same event in the languages of both sides of the conflict, you will never get the same story

[Lawyer&Mom]

We had a long weekend and I ended up reading a lot of French to the kids. I’m getting quite good with toddler French books. Even with different authors, the vocabulary is remarkably consistent. (Toddlers need to know how to discuss pebbles and frogs and magic wands. And swingsets, stuffed animals and sleeping bags...) I can read aloud with real feeling and confidence. It sort of surprises me when I remember I’m not actually fluent in French. I feel fluent when I read to my kids. (Until they ask for something upper elementary and I quickly loose my groove.)

Still plugging away at my grownup reading. It’s slow going, but I’ve put in some valuable time watching films in English with my husband, which is also important!

[SGP]

German should be gritty realistic rural family drama, French escapist urban fantasy. Why study different languages if you get the same things from each?

In military history, even if you read about the same event in the languages of both sides of the conflict, you will never get the same story

Would you two feel like elaborating a bit on your point of view?

[cjareck]

In military history, even if you read about the same event in the languages of both sides of the conflict, you will never get the same story

Would you two feel like elaborating a bit on your point of view?[/quote]
When I was writing a book on The Battle of the Somme

I remember reading in German official history of the Great War that Germans managed to fight off a major British attack. So I wanted to check it in British official history of the war, and it was not even mentioned there. In many other cases, I had to analyse both texts carefully and look at the maps to figure out how it REALLY looked like. Because both descriptions were sometimes far from the truth. That was my point. Hope you are satisfied with the answer I do not want to expand this topic in Lawyer&Mom's log since we are both guests here. If you wish to continue the discussion, please let me know, and I will gladly continue it in your or mine log.