June 24, 2008

I am now working through Unit 11 of FSI Spanish Programmatic 1.  I have already noticed an improvement in my abilities.

I received my free one-hour Michel Thomas Foundation Spanish sample in the mail yesterday, and immediately listened to it.  I liked the Spanish content.  I also liked how the sentences were built up.  However, his thick accent and  how the students kept making the same stoopid errors over and over again really irritated me.  Good for a beginner, but I don’t think I’ll be purchasing this.

I have to go to another state for a wedding this weekend.  This is the wedding of my friend who has the poker parties.  I am going to take my laptop and Spanish materials in case I decide to do a little studying in my hotel room.

I have been sick all week, but that hasn’t stopped me.  I have now finished Unit 9 of FSI Programmatic Spanish 1.  I am cycling through each unit five times.  During each cycle I repeat individual sections as indicated by the instructions.  This seems like overkill (or “overlearning”), as the lessons are very easy for me so far.  However, I want to be able to respond with machine-gun-like rapidity.  Not that that will ever happen, but the goal looks good on paper.  Also, it appears that things are going to heat up a bit in subsequent lessons.

Often, while weight training (3 days per week), I listen to the Democracy Now headline news summaries in English, and then again in Spanish.  The English still makes much more sense.  I also tune into a little Spanish TV while on the cardio machines (after lifting).  When I swim laps I don’t study.

In the car it’s usually Spanish news as well.  However, I’m thinking about adding something else to my drive.  Resources I am considering for the car include a Berlitz Spanish phrase book that comes with audio, SpanishPod.com, ImmersionPlus Spanish and Conversational Spanish.  I can review the transcripts (before and/or after listening to the audio) on the cardio machines or at home.

After researching and discussing with people, it seems that getting Pimsleur and Michel Thomas for the car might not be the best use of my time.  However, I might review LSLC 1 and 2.

I just finished the third and final level of Rosetta Stone.  I found it to be a pretty good supplement, but I’m glad I’m through with it.  Now it’s on to FSI Programmatic 1.

April 15, 2008

Since my last post I have completed the remaining lessons in LSLC 2, shown below, including the bonus lessons.

54. Subjunctive mood continued

55. Subjunctive using phrases such as “es mejor que” and “es necesario que”

56. Substituting the infinitive with the subjunctive mood

57. Substituting the infinitive with the subjunctive mood continued

58. Subjunctive mood using time conjunctions

59. Subjunctive mood used with time conjunctions continued

60. Subjunctive mood with phrases expressing possibility

LSLC Audio bonuses A-J (see below), two colloquial Spanish lessons (Slang A and Slang B Lessons), Dichos Lesson, Non-Vulgar Lesson, Vulgar Lesson; video bonus lessons 1-13

A. Imperfect tense (including progressive mood)

B. Present perfect tense

C. Present perfect tense and vocabulary about wild animals

D. Present perfect tense continued

E. Present perfect tense continued

F. Pluperfect tense

G. Pluperfect tense continued

H. Pluperfect tense continued

I. Passive Voice

J. “Estilo Indirecto”

I’ll now attempt to complete Rosetta Stone before moving to FSI Programmatic.

March 25, 2008

“I wish life was not so short, he thought.  Languages take such a time, and so do all the things one wants to know about.”  (J. R. R. Tolkien)

Since my last post I have completed the following lessons in LSLC 2.

48. Demonstrative Pronouns continued and the verb “gustar” and similarly conjugated verbs

49. More verbs that are conjugated like the verb “gustar”

50. Continuation of verbs that are conjugated like the verb “gustar”

51. Subjunctive mood when expressing desire or preference

52. Subjunctive mood when expressing desire or preference continued

53. Subjunctive mood continued

I have been told and have read that the subjunctive mood is difficult.  What they are talking about escapes me at this point.

LSLC 2 goes up to and including Lesson 60.  After that, I’ll hit the numerous audio and video bonus lessons that came with the product.

Then it’s on to FSI Programmatic 1 . . . Good times . . .

If anyone knows an easy (and free) way to get traffic to your blog, please let me know.

“Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater.”  (Albert Einstein)

Talk about cocky.  I wonder if anyone said that about languages . . . Mezzofanti perhaps?

I’m still chuggin’ along like the Chattanooga Choo Choo.  Since my last post I have completed Lessons 44 (Future Tense with Regular Verbs), 45 (Future Tense with Irregular Verbs), 46 (Para que and hay que + infinitive structure) and 47 (Demonstrative Pronouns) of LSLC 2.  At this prodigious rate, I should be able to finish LSLC 2 fairly soon.

I haven’t been spending that much time with Rosetta Stone, intentionally.  When I complete LSLC 2 (and the bonus lessons) I think I will focus on her and get that finished before I embark on FSI Programmatic Spanish 1.  I don’t want to be utilizing too many resources at once.  I think I would like to focus on one primary home learning resource at a time, and optionally a tertiary resource for the MP3 player in the car.  These 1-2 resources will be in addition to time spent with Spanish radio or TV, or speaking with Spanish speakers, reading Spanish learning emails etc.

My passive listening skills have really been ramping up since I started listening to Spanish speakers on the radio and TV.  After studying Spanish for a very short time I was able to speak it in my dreams . . . but it was gibberish!  Still waiting for that epiphany.

I recently got a little lesson in Spanish slang from one of the waitresses at my favorite Mexican restaurant.  She is obviously American, but took a few years of Spanish.  The things she told me were so raunchy that I cannot repeat them here . . . or anywhere for that matter.  It was that bad.  This girl is crazy.  I have known that awhile.  Also, she refuses to serve me coffee.  She says, “I’m not going to make you coffee, the coffee is terrible here.  Have a White Russian.”  Must be workin’ the tips.

I am impatient to follow the kewl crowd in the language forums and try the listening-reading (LR) method, but if I do the FSI courses first it will be quite some time before that happens.  Maybe if I go to French, German or some other language after Spanish I will embark on the LR method in the first instance.  I’m kind of waiting to see how LR works for everyone else . . . who knows, maybe the person who has been promoting it (you know who you are!) is a psycho.

Eventually, I plan to buy both levels of Assimil.  However, I believe I will complete the FSI courses since I am focusing on Latin American Spanish for the time being.  I don’t want to confuse my three grey cells.  If Assimil focused on Latin American Spanish I would conceivably do it first.

If anyone knows of some good language or Spanish forums please let me know.  Also, what are the best language exchange sites?  Please advise.

I am getting a lot of walking done these days, which is nice.  I sometimes do a little meditation too.

Anyway, do not worry about your problemas (problemos?) in Spanish.  I can assure you mine are still greater.  I hope to speak Mexican with dispatch.

I have completed Lesson 41 (review of direct pronouns, and commands with direct pronouns) and Lesson 42 (commands with direct pronouns continued) of LSLC 2.  I am finding that when I walk around outside with my iPod it is much more enjoyable for me.  I prefer doing this during a sunny day, but I sometimes do it at night too.  I can go for a much longer period of time without getting bored if I am walking around looking at things.

There is an area where I used to live in San Franciso (miss that city) that would be ideal for this . . . between the Marina and the Golden Gate Bridge right at the water.

Next, however, I will be doing the various FSI courses.  I will be tied to my computer for these.  Sometimes I might take the computer outside and plop it on the grass somewhere.  I want to get some bluetooth earphones so that I can pace around like a crazy vagabond while mumbling.  I am considering picking up Platiquemos for reviewing prior FSI lessons in the car.

I recently noticed that Loquella sells their version of FSI Basic for the iPod . . . it shows the text on the little iPod screen while playing the audio.  Not bad.

March 9, 2008

I am working on Level 2, Unit 3, Lesson 2 of Rosetta Stone.  I try to do a tiny bit each day.  I have been pretty good about trying to listen to at least 30 minutes of Spanish radio or T.V. per day.

I have now completed Lesson 40 (Commands) of LSLC 2.  I tried something new this weekend.  For the first time in history I put Spanish audio on an iPod.  Novel idea, I know.  I might patent that.

I put the Spanish right smack dab between Mozart and Metallica.  I walked around outside.  It was a great change of pace.  I walked in a residential neighborhood, and the distractions were minimal.  The time flew by, and I didn’t feel like I was missing out on life since I was outside and not hibernating at home.  Of course, I probably looked like a lunatic mumbling to myself in what probably sounded like gibberish.  Anyway, I highly recommend walking outside with the language audio going if you can avoid getting distracted and run over.

Regardless, I got some exercise while studying, thus killing two birds (and probably some ants) with one stone.  That reminds me of that Nirvana song where he sings, “. . . and it’s okay to eat fish cuz they don’t have any feelings . . .”  Why does stepping on ants not bother me, yet I feed the chipmunks (they like cashews and almonds, the most expensive nuts) and chase the predatory cats and hawks/eagles (which scare me – six-foot wing spans) away?

I am now trying to decide if I should add in some vocabulary studying to my regimen.  Spanish5000.com looks interesting.  I’m not sure if it’s an SRS or not, but I know there is some kind of review built in.  Also, it uses words in context.

Or . . . I could buy iFlash for my Mac instead.  That is an SRS system, and Spanish libraries are available if I don’t want to make my own.  I posted a message in the forums to get advice but no one has replied yet.  Some experts say wait until you are somewhat proficient before directly studying vocabulary.  Others disagree.

Perhaps I am in danger of spreading myself too thin.  I should probably finish LSLC, and then take care of the rest of Rosetta Stone.  Then the FSI courses.  One major resource at a time might be best.  As you can tell, I don’t know what I am doing.  Trial and error, baby.  I’m in no rush.  I’m just enjoying the journey.  It’s fun to plan what language I will master after Spanish, but in reality . . . well, we’ll see how it goes.

One more thing.  I have now come up with some great (I think) ideas for inventions related to language learning.  However, my intellectual property attorney has advised me not to disclose said subject matter to the public at the present time.

The good news is that it appears that I might no longer invited to the monthly poker game I frequent.  When I’m sober, I take everyone’s money.  These people are easy to read.  Very easy.  However, the host (a friend of mine since birth) finds it wise to keep two kegs on tap in a keg-o-lator, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (since he and his wife split).  Not to mention the fully stocked bar next to the 62-inch T.V.  This house has been converted into a bachelor pad.  Anyway, long story longer, I drank a whole keg and said and did all kinds of crazy things unlike me – which I am going to leave out of this post.  This should leave me additional time to study.  For me the cup is always half full (but it wasn’t that night).

March 6, 2008

I have almost completed my four passes of Lesson 39 of LSLC 2.  I am also starting to do a modicum of pronunciation work.  Gotta roll those Rs to be kewl.

Someone told me that the novels Angels and Demons and The DaVinci Code are narrated by a Latin American narrator.  This is good news indeed, as I plan to get a handle on Latin American Spanish first.  Both of these novels are widely disseminated and have Spanish books and audiobooks available.  I wonder about the J.R.R. Tolkien prequel and trilogy . . .

A different someone told me that she reads a Dan Brown novel in about two hours without sacrificing comprehension.  I think I need to take a speed reading course or something.  I can’t stay awake for two hours without taking a nap – nevermind read a novel.  Heavens to Mergatroid.  Can Hillary do that?

So after I finish Lesson 60 of LSLC 2, I will go through all the bonus audios they gave me (which include everything from the imperative pluperfect subjunctive gonneygoogoo tense to vulgar slang).  Could come in handy if I want to disappear (i.e. get killed) in Mexico.  Actually, that almost happened to me on one of my many trips to Mexico.  Maybe I’ll tell that story another time.

I am really looking forward to devouring my next courses in this probable order (not counting what I might do in the car (e.g. Pimsleur): FSI Programmatic 1 and 2, FSI Basic 1-4, FSI FAST, followed by the Assimil courses (possibly both the old Assimil courses as well as the new ones).

One thing I notice about language learning forums is that, generally speaking, the people are much more helpful and friendly than in poker forums.  However, there are exceptions everywhere.  Advice: Don’t let the turkeys get you down.