Cavesa wrote:I hope I won't seem too critical
Not at all. I need criticism at this point. I haven’t listened enough in the past. I keep reading and re-reading this thread (just when through a lot of it again) and I think i’m getting another idea altogether about what I should be doing. I talk about that later in the post.
Cavesa wrote:Based on what I know about your learning path so far, I'd say you are safely beyond B2. Resources for learners up to B2 should therefore be a minority and mostly for review or catching up on some things missed the first time.
Yep, cool. Makes sense. Btw, thank you so much, Cavesa for all the time you have spent over the years answering my posts and providing your experience, it really is truly invaluable. Yourself and iguanamon in particular, despite my silly ways at times have never ceased to want to help me, so thank you both.
Cavesa wrote:When it comes to input, normal media should be the majority, whether you use them intensively or extensively.
Okidoki, got it
Cavesa wrote:If you are now striving for C1 or C2, it is important to leave your comfort zone in some areas. Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of things you are doing, I admire your systematic approach and find your attitude very inspiring! I'd just say that there is a huge inconsistency in the level of the various parts of your list.
Yep, okay, i’m hearing you....
Cavesa wrote:I love your writing plan!
Thank you. I do come up with some good ideas, but then do I actually follow through? Really the best thing I’ve been consistent with is doing courses, and if I want to reach C1/C2 that’s not gonna hold, I’ve got to change!
Cavesa wrote:What caught my attention as it doesn't seem to fit:
-intensive reading and listening can be great. But there should be some extensive too, you seem to put it in the "Regarder / Écouter énormément" category.
Actually, just to quickly interject here... I was aiming to watch/listen intensively with Buffy,
then move on to exclusive extensive... emphasis on ‘was’. Please continue...
Cavesa wrote:But why are you including subtitles there?
Actually, that’s almost a typo. Parts of this plan have been copied and pasted from old plans (or evolved to be more precise) but I neglected to remove that part. I’m actually totally fine now without the subtitles, and prefer not to use them. I have watched a couple of series a little while back and the English subtitles which I couldn’t turn off were annoying me. More recently I’ve found series on Netflix without the subtitles and it’s now safe to say I’m much happier without them switched on.
Cavesa wrote:You will not improve, unless you put some time into watching something without the subtitles and giving your brain no other option than to adapt. That's the magic of extensive listening.
Yes, I agree, and again sorry for including that information that was no longer relevant. At least by you mentioning this again it reinforces to me not to back-step and turn them back on if I’m ever tempted!
Cavesa wrote:-courses: not every course with the word "Advanced" on it is actually advanced. Colloquial French 2 is likely to be a bit more A2+, based on this thread
https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... php?t=4884 and I don't think the book format adds another value to your mix (which for example FSI might, despite being basic)
Okay, point taken (‘advanced’ not being advanced, necessarily). However, Colloquial French 2 at least focuses on some very different aspects of French I’ve not dealt with before that I thought could serve me well - writing a CV for example. I definitely did not think this course was A2. I’m B2 (and beyond as you say, and I tend to agree) yet Colloqual French 2 seems to be still a decent enough course for my level.
Cavesa wrote:-Un livre bilingue ou en FR facile :First French Reader, French Stories/ Contes Français, that looks like a huge waste of time on your level, truth be told. Why not add more normal books instead?
Well, I actually started
French Parallel Texts 1 reading just before posting this and reading the first (most simple story) I thought,
redacted, I
must devote more time to reading and listening (native content), since even this story does not come
that easy/natural to me.
So I think I’m reaching yet another conclusion after all of my ranting about plans and needs and plans and rotations and bla bla bla bla. Everything every person has said so far about native content has suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks. I MUST go native. I do not believe I can pass C1/C2 level unless I get my shit together and flip my whole approach on its head. I won’t have time to sit the exam in November, as I need tutoring, I need to write and I need to use the Dalf prep books, but I can go all native (reading and listening shit loads).
Luca, yourself, many others all say to reach C1/C2, one must challenge themselves, get out of their comfort zone. whatiftheblog said go native completely. Well, the writing, tutoring, Dalf books and learning mags can wait. I’m now changing my tact YET AGAIN (yes iguanamon, you said it, you were right!), i’m going to read and watch like no tomorrow EXTENSIVELY only and attempt to win the Super Challenge. No intensive studies anymore (up to the end of the year), no courses, no vocab, no mags, no transcripts, no SRS. The only training wheels I’ll use is a few Easy readers to knock them off my reading list. Otherwise SC, here I come.
Please shoot me! No really, how fucking insanely ridiculous am I?
Edit: sorry what I mean by ‘native content’ is listening and reading extensively, thus translations and dubbed series are included.