I don't know if I'll keep a new language log going. I stopped the last one because I felt like it had run its course - I tracked my progress, solicited feedback on ways to improve and ended up in a position where I was not wanting to do any more than my routine entailed. I had resigned myself to accepting that Korean *is* hard. Within the bounds of how much attention I was prepared to give language learning each day, I felt I had already made the biggest efficiency gains.
Whether this is true or not is always up for debate, but somewhat beside the point.
In the past 8 months or so my Korean has fallen by the wayside. It was a gradual descent. But to put it plainly: I became tired. Tired of *learning*. Tired of the repetition.
So I find myself now looking back over the past 3 months and noticing I've pretty much only done my daily Anki drills and that is all. One of the nice things about SRS is that it has tremendous staying power. I do it every day because once a backlog of cards accumulates, it all comes crashing down like a flimsy house of cards
This language log then has a different purpose: Whereas Slow-cooked Korean was a lot about trying to find out HOW to learn the language - always doubting that I could learn it - this log has a different aim. This language log is a means to add some more fuel to the smoldering embers in the hopes of reigniting the enthusiasm for learning.
It seems prudent to do a quick not-very-measured stock take of where I am at now:
VOCABULARY
Thanks to Anki/SRS, I continue to build my vocab at a steady pace. However, this ship is destined to sink eventually.
My 'mature' card accuracy continues to decline ever-so-slowly. Over the last month, it sits at about 86%. It fluctuates much more than it used to with a good day seeing 90+ and a very bad day dipping to under 70%. Of course I've been doing this for a while now so the number of mature cards I am reviewing each day is up from what it used to be.
I'm not really that worried about it though. Probably a year from now that percentage will be low enough that it becomes a concern - I'll likely start to accumulate suspended&buried cards at a much higher rate.
Some reasonable steps I can take to stem this include: reading a lot (basically increasing exposure to words outside of SRS), and building more mental connections for the words (I hate to say it, but studying roots and origins where appropriate). Using the words (speaking or writing) may well help them stick too.
GRAMMAR
This has completely fallen by the wayside. Having done the HTSK series, I completely stopped learning. In fact, outside of grammar decks, I have stopped revising Korean grammar too.
I must make a concerted effort in this department!
READING
As mentioned in the first part of this post, my reading has dropped to zero.
However it remains the strongest area for me and its actually not as mentally taxing as it used to be. I'm quite comfortable with Hangeul. My vocab is greatly improved from a couple years ago. I understand enough grammar to work through lower-intermediate level articles without much problem.
So while there are many texts which would be a significant mental strain, its not every text. I can actually read some things and, *gasp*, enjoy the experience of reading them!
WRITING
This stopped... oh... more than 8 months ago. It wouldnt surprise me if its been a year.
I'm excluding the occasional text message to my wife in Korean here. I mean writing something thats paragraph length on any topic.
SPEAKING
I use bits of Korean fairly frequently at home with my son. However I wouldn't say my speaking skills have changed at all. Largely I'm telling him simple and direct things. eg: "Eat your food first, then you can have some peach"
This is always the hardest area because it generally requires another party. Someone who is fluent and very patient. I know quite a number of Koreans. You'd think it'd be simple (and free!) for me. But alas *all* the ones I know only have one of those qualities...
LISTENING
Even though I have stopped listening to Korean on a daily basis (I used to listen to Iyagi's on the way to work, but now I do my Anki while walking), my listening is improving!
I understand more of what my wife says on the phone to her sister/friends/parents. However there is still a very steep drop-off as rate of speech increases. Even for every-day casual talk, it can be simply too fast for me to follow.
I watched some Korean stuff on Netflix. Without subtitles, I understand very little of it still. But actually with English subtitles it helps a lot. I find that there is a lot more where I actually DO understand the sentence in Korean... but after I've had a little hint from the English translation. It also amuses me how often the translations are off from the Korean.
...
And so... going forward. Hmmm. Well this log is to get that enthusiasm back. Part of it is to bring back my old study routine. It's going to be tough. But I'm not letting this lie after coming this far!
"Oh I poured 1000 hours into learning Korean but then I just stopped and have forgotten it" <-- me in the future? No thanks!
