Celebration of Progress: The Conquering of Unit 9's Plateau

It's finally done, it's finally happened. The language stalemate, the plateau, the struggle to climb over, has been achieved!

Unit 9 has been great, but at certain points a mental challenge overcoming the speech and instant translation of what I was reading. After taking a day last week to practise that one section over and over again, then going into Unit 10, I found I had finally broken that and was able to instantly say and translate the sentences. I was keeping up toe to toe with my audio instructor and was feeling quite proud.

However, more than that, I'm greatful for the progress I have really seen. My quickness and recognition has improved, I don't take as long as I used to to work through new material (the understanding of it). Plus, I am on page 219 out of 661. That's a lot of hardwork over a period of 6 months.

Could i have gotten more done in less time? Yes I really could! However, life was happening often and I had to constantly divide my time amongst other responsibilities. So what could have taken 3 months, is going to take more. I have no issue with that. I can go between FSI and the book grammar work and feel I will come out ok.

Once I finish Unit 10, I will be going back to grammar. I had to use discipline to stop myself from working on grammar. Not because it was bad, but because I was not doing my speaking practise, which is extremely important. I could eat that grammar book up while watching movies, listening to music, etc. But speaking practise requires me to focus only on it, since i need to look at the book.

I overcame that, by making my self-study work live. That way I could practise
more, share my understanding, opinions and nuances as I do, and realise just how much that process makes the work stick better than being spoonfed in an oversized classroom of people going their own pace.

What fun!

It's time I go, food awaits!

Happy learning!

FSI Livestream Practise Work... A New Way to Study

Lately I've been doing livestreaming of me working through and sharing/teaching the FSI German coursework. It's really alot of fun, but more importantly teaching helps me learn faster than if I were just going through the motions the regular way. It also gives me an opportunity to clear up any mistakes or share any concerns, nuances or opinions as I go through the work.

And work it is not!  I have found I have made some serious progress since I first started in April. Being able to follow this course and practise speaking with the german tutor lady was great. Because otherwise, that would be my only missing element in this self-study path. Speech.

See writing and being able to read is extremely important, but what people seem to take for granted is that the ability to speak and be understand is more important than writing, reading, etc. Animals in the wild communicate often, because communication at the right time is vital to survival. And what many take for granted is that, usually the once who cannot read, is the hardest work regardless, because work take action and motivation, and that really can't be put into words at all.

Saying all that, if you can read, write and speak you are going places! No matter where you are starting off at, take it slow and work you way up and do it more if you are passionate about it, you'll go places either way.

I'm out of here! The playlist to the Codename: Ralph's series is below, and the videos up to the livestreaming are available to watch. However, if none of that interests you, then just use it as ASMR material to chill too. I don't mind a bit!

Happy Learning!
Codename : Ralph's Language Corner (German)