I'm working to rearrange a few tings related to my youtube, and this means i'm putting a temporary halt on the voice, and video blogs. I'll still write blogs, but the other side of it is on hold until I finish organizing things.
Thanks for stopping by! Happy Learning!
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Reviewing and Progress of Unit 6.2
It's 8:50 am and I've gotten up to do my lessons. Since it has been a few days sinc e I've practised, I thought why not review. Also I want to talk about learning resting. Giving yourself a few days structured practise and then coming back it fresh. But there is more. This will be a voiced blog today, since I'm in the middle of practise. So check it out!
Monday, April 18, 2016
Providing Blog Entries AND Voice Recorded Versions
I've made a decision to start voice recording my blogs. They will be written first (when necessary), and then I will orate them and sometimes discuss them further if I need to. This way you can choose any medium you want, Written or orated.
I'll be starting by recording some of the older blogs here, and then up to the newest.
Happy Learning Everybody!
I'll be starting by recording some of the older blogs here, and then up to the newest.
Happy Learning Everybody!
Friday, April 15, 2016
Phasing Unit 6 : A Minor, But Overcomeable Challenge
So far so good, and interesting at the same time. After having started sharing the first few of my recent units on youtube, I have found that I am assimilating these lessons much faster than before. It's not that I'm talking directly to anyone. I don't really have anyone here I can practice or share things like that with, it's just that, somehow by having shared, I have improved much faster. A combination of determination, hardwork and the willingness to be vulnerable could be it. But it's not really vulnerability if you doing something in your element, even if you stumble and may seem to look silly. It's in this case, I'm doing something I have complete confidence in, in which those things, those judgements don't really bother me that much. I'm sharing of my own free will and giving many the opportunity to see the progress as each video will be made.
Enough of that!
Unit 6... because of all I had pratised and as a result of me sharing, I have made aLOT of progress. So much so, that, today's practise of 6.2 has left me confident to move on to personal studying and mastering of unit 7. But there is a small snag, and it's extremely minor. It's this simple phrase "Wir ko**nnen die Rechnung nicht bezahlen." No it's not hard to say slow, or to even remember what it means. No, my tripping point is saying it normal speed. As mentioned many times, there is always an undercurrent anxiety, excitement, and this ,if not controlled, can cause me to tense up and trip up as a result. So when I say the phrase, I find there is a 1 second hesitation, before I can catch myself and then I usually say the phrase completely through. It's that need to say it propely to make sure I am understood, and those thoughts rush in in that one second, I must quickly return my focus to just saying the phrase and starting over if I mess up, versus messing myself up before I can even say the phrase. Get it?
Verbal self-sabotage. I'm coining that to mean those times when we must say something important, or we are on stage and must sing, dance, etc and that one moment that can make or break. Although having said that, how you handle after that is also important.
I remember very recently, out of my wonderful curiousity, searching about what is a opera singer's nutrition. And in some of the other questions below, I saw "Has an opera singer ever burped on stage?". Being me, i quickly looked to see what the answer was. Most mentioned it's possible, but they try to avoid fizzy drinks and foods, especially before going on stage. However, there was one person who mentioned seeing a stage performance where a singer actually belched, and caught everyone off guard for the few moments, but instantly and without making much of a fuss, continue singing their part and all was well.
Quite interesting!
So having said that, in the case of practicing a foreign phrase, there is that moment of hesitation that could arise, the thoughts, the tension try to choke you. However, in that split second you have to pause that and move on with the sentence. If you mess up after then you try again, if you mess up before and you are able to, the laugh it off. Now I say if you are able to, because if you are doing this as your passion, your mistakes will mean nothing to you, but a little stumbling block. However if you are doing this, because you need a better job, or because it's required, and you find it a bit of a chore, you may not be able to stop the frustration from rising. That doesn't mean you can't learn the performer technique, it just means it'll be a bit more difficult.
Thus, in my case, I have to use this technique to temper it so that, just like the previous phrases, I can file it in my head and say it with ease and accomplishment.
Having said that, I deem Unit 6 completed!
Write you all again soon, Happy Learning!
Enough of that!
Unit 6... because of all I had pratised and as a result of me sharing, I have made aLOT of progress. So much so, that, today's practise of 6.2 has left me confident to move on to personal studying and mastering of unit 7. But there is a small snag, and it's extremely minor. It's this simple phrase "Wir ko**nnen die Rechnung nicht bezahlen." No it's not hard to say slow, or to even remember what it means. No, my tripping point is saying it normal speed. As mentioned many times, there is always an undercurrent anxiety, excitement, and this ,if not controlled, can cause me to tense up and trip up as a result. So when I say the phrase, I find there is a 1 second hesitation, before I can catch myself and then I usually say the phrase completely through. It's that need to say it propely to make sure I am understood, and those thoughts rush in in that one second, I must quickly return my focus to just saying the phrase and starting over if I mess up, versus messing myself up before I can even say the phrase. Get it?
Verbal self-sabotage. I'm coining that to mean those times when we must say something important, or we are on stage and must sing, dance, etc and that one moment that can make or break. Although having said that, how you handle after that is also important.
I remember very recently, out of my wonderful curiousity, searching about what is a opera singer's nutrition. And in some of the other questions below, I saw "Has an opera singer ever burped on stage?". Being me, i quickly looked to see what the answer was. Most mentioned it's possible, but they try to avoid fizzy drinks and foods, especially before going on stage. However, there was one person who mentioned seeing a stage performance where a singer actually belched, and caught everyone off guard for the few moments, but instantly and without making much of a fuss, continue singing their part and all was well.
Quite interesting!
So having said that, in the case of practicing a foreign phrase, there is that moment of hesitation that could arise, the thoughts, the tension try to choke you. However, in that split second you have to pause that and move on with the sentence. If you mess up after then you try again, if you mess up before and you are able to, the laugh it off. Now I say if you are able to, because if you are doing this as your passion, your mistakes will mean nothing to you, but a little stumbling block. However if you are doing this, because you need a better job, or because it's required, and you find it a bit of a chore, you may not be able to stop the frustration from rising. That doesn't mean you can't learn the performer technique, it just means it'll be a bit more difficult.
Thus, in my case, I have to use this technique to temper it so that, just like the previous phrases, I can file it in my head and say it with ease and accomplishment.
Having said that, I deem Unit 6 completed!
Write you all again soon, Happy Learning!
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Continuing the Vlog Experiment : Making a little change
So as I mentioned in the last vlog, I did unit 5.2 - 6.2 and it turned out better than I had expected. So today I was getting ready to privately practice 6.2 and then realized, by having shared my experience live on the fly, I had actually really make some progress in pronouncing the sentence Wir ko**nnen die Rechnung nicht bezahlen.
This has me now wanting to attempt something different. Having you hear me start the Unit without practice, and then doing a follow up with progress. So this means, doing the last section of the unit (5.2, 6.2, etc), then moving on to do the whole unit. In this case, I will be reviewing Unit 6.2, then I will start also recording Unit 7.1 - 7.2. Then when I've practised enough on my own, I will return and record the 7.2 Unit, and then start on 8.1-8.2.
This does not mean I won't have a look at the unit. I have to so that I can get an idea of how long it may be, and what I will be walking into. But speaking will be raw, and I will also read the sections.
Soon I will also contact the website owner who has been gracious enough to host these files.
Let's see how this goes!
Happy Learning Everybody!
This has me now wanting to attempt something different. Having you hear me start the Unit without practice, and then doing a follow up with progress. So this means, doing the last section of the unit (5.2, 6.2, etc), then moving on to do the whole unit. In this case, I will be reviewing Unit 6.2, then I will start also recording Unit 7.1 - 7.2. Then when I've practised enough on my own, I will return and record the 7.2 Unit, and then start on 8.1-8.2.
This does not mean I won't have a look at the unit. I have to so that I can get an idea of how long it may be, and what I will be walking into. But speaking will be raw, and I will also read the sections.
Soon I will also contact the website owner who has been gracious enough to host these files.
Let's see how this goes!
Happy Learning Everybody!
Unit 5.2 - 6.2 Recorded and Show of Progress
A few days ago, I was finally able to record Unit 5.2 - 6.2 and the progress through them. I took a break yesterday, to give myself some much needed rest and will continue practising today.
So the link to this is here :
It's 2hours long, but it's an on the spot review of Unit 5.2 and the Beginning of Unit 6 all the way through. I started unit 6 before, but this time around there is a lot of progress.
One of the words I mentioned in this clip was featured in a past blog, was ko**nnen = kuhn'n. That's the closest I can get to the sound in a transliterated way. Here's the link to that blog. Its talks about the beginning progress for learning unit 6.
This is all for this blog. I'm going to be practising today, and if anything new comes up, you'll know I'll return!
That's all for now, Happy Learning!
So the link to this is here :
It's 2hours long, but it's an on the spot review of Unit 5.2 and the Beginning of Unit 6 all the way through. I started unit 6 before, but this time around there is a lot of progress.
One of the words I mentioned in this clip was featured in a past blog, was ko**nnen = kuhn'n. That's the closest I can get to the sound in a transliterated way. Here's the link to that blog. Its talks about the beginning progress for learning unit 6.
This is all for this blog. I'm going to be practising today, and if anything new comes up, you'll know I'll return!
That's all for now, Happy Learning!
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
NEW~ Codename: Ralph's Languages Vlogs
Codename: Ralph's Languages Vlogs:
It's finally come about that I have the courage to take my practise journey to youtube. This blog will still be used for the intricasies, but the youtube Vlog will be the portend of the more structured non structured sharing of each unit as I practise them.
This blog will still feature the shorter practises, but now you can travel along with me on the longer and necessary portion of the journey. I have the first introduction video up now on youtube. So check it out!
Here's to a New Journey!
Happy Learning Everyone!
Monday, April 11, 2016
Unit 6 Delving and Progress
The time had finally come yesterday. The final edging away from Unit 4.1-4.2 and Unit 5.1. Today, I've actually gotten extremely close to phasing out Unit 5. I have a few speaking hiccups, that I will share in another blog later today. But I felt that, I was ready to move on to Unit 6 fully. So thus, I did so.
Unit 6 as always, they start with a review and a writing exercise. I have not done the writing exercise for this yet, I will do that before I start my grammar reading later on. I focused on reading, listening and speaking.
6 is richer. In fact, sechs ist richer. I've got some new words, and some are definitely familiar.
Bratwurst = Br-aht - vourst
Mark = Mahk
Acht = Ahct
Wieviel = Vee - Fi-ehl
ko**nnen = kuhn'en (en is a taper, like ... Lighten up)
One of the things I liked about Unit 6 is it helped me clarify some speaking issues (I believe this is done purposefully for the whole book to be honest)
I clarified my pronunciation of verstehen (fer-stee-en), which makes saying the sentence "Verstehen Sie Frau Kunze?" "Ja. Ich verstehe Frau Kunze."
Also the ending sound of "en", even though I knew it inherently, I didn't know for sure if that it's how it's pronounced in Germen. That softness of "en", versus "eh-n". The "en" is said with a closed mouth towards the end to stop the outward sound.
The phrases in this chapter will take some serious practice to say at normal speed, but I'm getting there. The hardest phrase is "Wir ko**nnen die Rechnung nicht bezahlen!" Now, of course, saying the phrase slowly isn't an issue, it's just like I mentioned in the last blog, that there is a lot of "bite" in this phrase. Meaning, there rhythm is rapid and easy to trip over. The mind knows what to say, it's getting the tongue to cooperate that's the problem. You'll get to hear that soon.
I have lots to do. Practise is done for the moment, and the day needs me.
Happy Learning Everyone!
Unit 6 as always, they start with a review and a writing exercise. I have not done the writing exercise for this yet, I will do that before I start my grammar reading later on. I focused on reading, listening and speaking.
6 is richer. In fact, sechs ist richer. I've got some new words, and some are definitely familiar.
Bratwurst = Br-aht - vourst
Mark = Mahk
Acht = Ahct
Wieviel = Vee - Fi-ehl
ko**nnen = kuhn'en (en is a taper, like ... Lighten up)
One of the things I liked about Unit 6 is it helped me clarify some speaking issues (I believe this is done purposefully for the whole book to be honest)
I clarified my pronunciation of verstehen (fer-stee-en), which makes saying the sentence "Verstehen Sie Frau Kunze?" "Ja. Ich verstehe Frau Kunze."
Also the ending sound of "en", even though I knew it inherently, I didn't know for sure if that it's how it's pronounced in Germen. That softness of "en", versus "eh-n". The "en" is said with a closed mouth towards the end to stop the outward sound.
The phrases in this chapter will take some serious practice to say at normal speed, but I'm getting there. The hardest phrase is "Wir ko**nnen die Rechnung nicht bezahlen!" Now, of course, saying the phrase slowly isn't an issue, it's just like I mentioned in the last blog, that there is a lot of "bite" in this phrase. Meaning, there rhythm is rapid and easy to trip over. The mind knows what to say, it's getting the tongue to cooperate that's the problem. You'll get to hear that soon.
I have lots to do. Practise is done for the moment, and the day needs me.
Happy Learning Everyone!
Practice, Progress, Vocal fry and Mild Dehydration Effects
This post is actually going to be into some parts. I started this topic yesterday (4-10-2016) and now I am working on filling in more information.
First, with perseverance I am finally almost ready to leave Unit 5.2 behind. I'm starting to memorise the phrases and news words in this unit. I'm also starting to handling the speaking shift when saying phrases like: "Ich fahre zum Bahnhof" or "Ich fahre zum Flughafen" . Phrases like these, I say have a lot of "bite" There is a constant sharp rhythm. As my tongue slowly works it's way through this language, those types of combinations are slowly starting to settle in my muscle memory. I'll include a clip of that in another blog post.
And speaking of clip, I actually want to post a on the spot learning practise. Meaning, a clip of me navigating the language and recording it. Now, when I do that, you will hear some "colourful" english words..... I'm human, and more, I'm having a blast. Learning languages is something I can laugh at sometimes, so you'll get an opportunity to hopefully witness that. Whatever you hear, it's not going to be forced or manipulated. It will be in real-time and pretty raw.
And lastly, that's where you will hear my voice wake up, (i'm practicing in the early morning for speaking, even or so for grammar reading), you'll hear my voice crack, my tongue get stuck, and my voice possibly dying away. Of course you'll also hear a chug of water. Talking dries the throat, but constant practice can sometimes tire the voice. Perseverance is my goal at that point, though. If I ever have the opportunity to travel overseas and visit the places, I'm learning my languages in, then talking everyday is a high possibility and necessity. I'm working to build that endurance as much as I can by practising through to voice breaks. We'll see what happens.
So look forward to the first bit of progress video clip in a blog coming today. It will be showing the "zum" trip ups of Unit 5 and I'll also add in a few minutes of practice in Unit 6.
And saying that. Unit 6 blog is up next!
Happy learning!
First, with perseverance I am finally almost ready to leave Unit 5.2 behind. I'm starting to memorise the phrases and news words in this unit. I'm also starting to handling the speaking shift when saying phrases like: "Ich fahre zum Bahnhof" or "Ich fahre zum Flughafen" . Phrases like these, I say have a lot of "bite" There is a constant sharp rhythm. As my tongue slowly works it's way through this language, those types of combinations are slowly starting to settle in my muscle memory. I'll include a clip of that in another blog post.
And speaking of clip, I actually want to post a on the spot learning practise. Meaning, a clip of me navigating the language and recording it. Now, when I do that, you will hear some "colourful" english words..... I'm human, and more, I'm having a blast. Learning languages is something I can laugh at sometimes, so you'll get an opportunity to hopefully witness that. Whatever you hear, it's not going to be forced or manipulated. It will be in real-time and pretty raw.
And lastly, that's where you will hear my voice wake up, (i'm practicing in the early morning for speaking, even or so for grammar reading), you'll hear my voice crack, my tongue get stuck, and my voice possibly dying away. Of course you'll also hear a chug of water. Talking dries the throat, but constant practice can sometimes tire the voice. Perseverance is my goal at that point, though. If I ever have the opportunity to travel overseas and visit the places, I'm learning my languages in, then talking everyday is a high possibility and necessity. I'm working to build that endurance as much as I can by practising through to voice breaks. We'll see what happens.
So look forward to the first bit of progress video clip in a blog coming today. It will be showing the "zum" trip ups of Unit 5 and I'll also add in a few minutes of practice in Unit 6.
And saying that. Unit 6 blog is up next!
Happy learning!
Friday, April 8, 2016
Tonight's the Night! Phasing out Unit 1- 4
I feel I have finally reached a mastery over these units, and again with the help of Unit 6, I was able to correct a few mispronunciations and clean up some mistakes. Now that I've reached that level of confidence, I'm finally phasing those units out. Tonight is my last night to finish Unit 4 and bon voyage to it I say! It's amazing to see the progress, but I have a very long way to go and intend to meet my goal of mastering the introductory course in 3 months or so. As long as I actually complete it, I've achieved the goal I set out for, and will make some room for other languages to learn, and to bring this to maintaining level.
Now recently I found a pdf for grammar for German, both basic and intermediate. With a little glance at basic, I realise just how beneficial it will be and how it immediately helped me understand another mistake I've been making. German has a lot of capitals in their sentence. Sense the FSI pdf I'm using is a scan, I assumed the random capitals were a faulty typewriter. However my quick glance in the grammar book, has alerted me that, those were in fact intentional. It was correct grammar and writing, and thus you will notice the uniformity in older posts. So be prepared for that to change going forward. I've got a lot to study, and yoga to do before it!
Happy Learning!
Now recently I found a pdf for grammar for German, both basic and intermediate. With a little glance at basic, I realise just how beneficial it will be and how it immediately helped me understand another mistake I've been making. German has a lot of capitals in their sentence. Sense the FSI pdf I'm using is a scan, I assumed the random capitals were a faulty typewriter. However my quick glance in the grammar book, has alerted me that, those were in fact intentional. It was correct grammar and writing, and thus you will notice the uniformity in older posts. So be prepared for that to change going forward. I've got a lot to study, and yoga to do before it!
Happy Learning!
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Current List of Languages Learning and Wanting to Learn
List of Languages Wanting to Learn
German
Russian
Italian
Czechoslovakian
Vietnamese
Currently Learning
German
Possibly Next
Italian
Russian
Getting Closer to the Discussion about Dialects
I've added a few other languages to the list of possibilities. Of SERIOUS possibilities, and one of them happens to be Italian. The introductory course this time around for this language, speaks immediately about What italian is. Its talks about Phonology, Vocabulary, and Grammar, and interestingly, they are talking about dialects, a subject I want to breach in relation to German, Vietnamese, etc. This man, the narrator is explaining a basic, but in depth way about dialects, and a few things clicked about how I wanted to talk about them.
But even more, listening to this, I really eventually, also, want to breach the subject of how really all our languages are intrisincally the same, even if we don't understand each other, and how we have adapted to communicate beyond words. This makes me wonder about an experiement that could or should take place about being dropped off in a foreign land, but not just trying to learn the language by muddling, but I wonder, how would one survive if they decided not to speak, but instead tried to learn how to indicate with actions what they want or are trying to say? How about an experiment where we dig beyond words. There are people who have done this completely silently, but I'm more talking about, still maintaining your own language but light vocalizing (false words), and point, motioning.
People all over the world understands the motions of "I love you", "I'm hungry". Basically, I guess I'm hinting to miming. Using actions and mood to convey what you want or how you are feeling.
I'm getting ahead of myself, but I hope it's clear what I mean. Soon I will talk more about each of these topics in their own blog.
Happy Learning!
But even more, listening to this, I really eventually, also, want to breach the subject of how really all our languages are intrisincally the same, even if we don't understand each other, and how we have adapted to communicate beyond words. This makes me wonder about an experiement that could or should take place about being dropped off in a foreign land, but not just trying to learn the language by muddling, but I wonder, how would one survive if they decided not to speak, but instead tried to learn how to indicate with actions what they want or are trying to say? How about an experiment where we dig beyond words. There are people who have done this completely silently, but I'm more talking about, still maintaining your own language but light vocalizing (false words), and point, motioning.
People all over the world understands the motions of "I love you", "I'm hungry". Basically, I guess I'm hinting to miming. Using actions and mood to convey what you want or how you are feeling.
I'm getting ahead of myself, but I hope it's clear what I mean. Soon I will talk more about each of these topics in their own blog.
Happy Learning!
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