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As I study Polish and work with my teachers, I have all sorts of little victories. Usually followed quickly be several seeming defeats. But such is the nature of battle, n’est-ce pas? I am at a precarious point in my learning process. It’s been three months now and I’ve learned enough that I can express many [...] It turns out I’m a pretty evasive character when I speak Polish. Most thoughts I share are qualified with perhaps or I think, or sometimes both. And I’m all about living in the moment in Polish, since I don’t know enough verb tenses to successfully discuss things that have happened in the past or will happen [...] How is it that we learn new things? Sitting in a classroom is one way. Actually doing the thing it is you want to learn is another way. Like surfing. Not much good spending time in a classroom or hanging out on the sand for this one. You’ve just got to get out there and do it, [...] My newest verbal tic is courtesy of my language learning. I have not yet learned how to say “Wait, wait, don’t tell me” in Polish. And I am always speaking Polish with the nicest people around. Add that to the basic human tendency to fill in empty conversational spaces. And what you get is people trying [...] Why bother learning a new language? After all, people all over the world are clamoring to learn English, which I already speak. Polish is the native language in only one place in the whole world. And my first experience speaking with native Polish speakers in an everyday environment was indeed frustrating. Coming home from the experience [...] My quest to learn Polish is based on the approach of Benny the Irish Polyglot of Fluent in 3 Months. One of the keys to his approach is that you speak the language from day one. For the last few weeks, in addition to learning vocabulary words, listening to a Polish radio station, and watching Polish [...] If your are in the mood to learn, even just a little bit, travel is a fabulous classroom and teacher. I am always touting the value of reading guidebooks–cover to cover if you can. It’s so much fun to see what other opportunities there are in the city or country you are visiting, even if you [...] Over a decade ago, I planned to take a trip to Bali. That trip never happened, but I’ve not forgotten the desire.
Now I dream of a trip to Bali…learning how to batik or weave fabrics, or perhaps learning to play the gamelan or squeeze in a few more surfing lessons. Have you ever been [...] Learning a new language opens many doors, for many reasons.
Not only does it give insight into the culture that speaks that language, but it gives me insight into my own culture and language. I’ll ask the instructor question along the lines of…why do you say it that way, or use that specific terminology. The [...] Well, it’s official. I have become so overwhelmed with choice that I am actually standing still. It is in a state of shock that I announce I do not know what my next class will be. Harumph.
Given my recent injuries (back while surfing, ankles while working on cardio to get in shape for [...] |
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