2 hours French/day so far objective achieved.
However - I have not stuck to my routine as planned, and I have not kept my word of not changing my routine. I've constantly been tweaking my routine, and you know what, I'm ok with that. I think it's necessary and all part of the process. It's important not to spread oneself too thin, I agree (ummm, with myself?
), but chopping and changing one's routine to fit with one's tastes within the chosen methods or materials isn't so bad. In other words I'm not out redesigning my routine completely, I'm just altering it a little here, a little there, no big deal I think. I haven't kept strictly to my rotating cycle of study hours within my desk study régime. Thing is, had I tried to do so, I would've arguably become insane or not studied, as I simply was out of whack on many a day and didn't have the energy late in the evenings to hit the books. Rather, I hit a good run of Game of Thrones dubbed into French. I've not binge watched much at all in French, at least not with headphones for independent study purposes (as opposed to watching successive episodes of A French Village with my wife a couple years back). It's not been wasted time, so i'm also okay with this.Dutch
I can't wait any longer. I've decided to introduce an hour of Dutch a day starting today. French is on the long road to C1/C2 now. I get a sense I will take longer than many to reach that objective and we are planning to go to Belgium in a couple of years so I think it's time to introduce Dutch - not just for potential employment purposes, but I've put it off for a looong time, so now the time is right to introduce it for more than one reason.
The rest of my studies/language exposure will remain on French. Thus, one hour of Dutch desk study a day (using course material), the rest of the time will remain devoted to French. Can't do any harm imo, as I feel progress is now almost imperceptible in French, thus one hour allotted to Dutch I think is a wise move and time better spent.
tot de volgende keer!
Minutes in, I'm somewhat concerned I'm not keeping my eyes on the French C1 prize. However, I will justify it in these ways- Provided we do end up in Europe in a couple of years as planned, my French, even if (worst case scenario) it remains in a holding pattern from now until then, it will theoretically improve once i'm in that francophone environment, and I'll have a good deal of Dutch under my belt too. Whereas, were I to continue along the French only path, i'd be likely to be marginally better with French by the time we arrive in Belgium, with Dutch almost a distant memory. I think this is a wise move, but I ought to try very hard with my daily routine to keep my French study hours close to what they are currently. Then, little damage will occur, if any.
Edit: Low and behold, i'm actually now considering whether I divide my time more equally between the two languages... that also wouldn't be damaging to my French, it would slow me down, but would it really be that bad? Questions, questions... Surely I could still gradually advanced towards C1 in French while introducing Dutch, right?
Didn't I recently just talk rdearman out of doing 2 languages at once? No! I tried to convince him to do both... and then agreed with his plan to only do one being a sound one... dammit, i'm now bloody confused again!!! (Dutch books poised sitting on the desk, ready to pounce on me... or me on them? ) A little too much confusion here PM, not good... I'm sooooo predictable!
