Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Monday, September 18, 2006
Birthday Jam
So I had a big party on Saturday for my birthday. Around 50 or 60 people came. It was lots of fun. Tons of great vegetarian food and plenty of alcohol. I'll put a couple pics up now and some more later after I've sorted through/gotten a hold of them all.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Life + Last Night
I have a lot mess of crazy stories lately, I just haven't had any urge to write them down. I was nearly killed in a rafting accident, I was shot at, I was contacted by my 1st Thai gf with whom I lost contact with when I went to Australia last year and I crashed my new/old motorbike the first night I drove it and broke the clutch off. Actually, theres lots more silly stuff since then. I encounter the most ridiculous situations on almost a daily basis. Last night was no different, but for some reason I have no writing energy. Oh well. Maybe later.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Sober Post to Japanese Forum
I see no need to apologize for this post. The last was drunken in a guilty state of mind. This one is sober (so far anyways!).
Anyways, in about 6 months with a private teacher (3 times a week for 1-2 hours) my level of Korean, in regards to conversational ability, is about the same as my Japanese after 1.5+ years. As for reading/writing and vocabulary, Japanese certainly wins out due to the sheer number of hours spent.
I could probably argue either way whether Japanese or Korean has harder grammar, but whats the point of that? You shouldn't study a language because other people tell you its easier or more useful. Study a language because you want to be able to speak it. Because you want to communicate in the native language of your friends, g/bfriends or it will help you progress in your particular career, lifestyle, hobbies, etc.
The first thing I tell any of my students or anybody else who whines that learning a language is difficult is that if a Chinese/Japanese/Korean/Thai/Burmese/ Etc baby can learn the language, then so can you!
While learning a new language, you will inevitably fine your previously confident self reduced to the babbling incoherence of an infant learning to speak. There isn't anything wrong with that. The baby/child goes through the same process. Of course, it has no anxieties or past experiences to compare it to, nor does it have any other language to fall back on other than nonsensical sounds (unless baby-talk is a valid language anyways).
The second thing I point out is that no language is truly difficult. No matter which one you learn, it will take a while. It will take forever. You will probably die before coming anywhere close to a native speaker in terms of fluency. But is that really enough to stop you? You don't need to be the best. In fact, you can't! With all the time I spend on these other languages in a country where the level of English tends to be a bit below par to say the least (Thailand), I know that I can never equal to a native speaker. But the rewards for even covering a fraction of that distance are immense.
Which of the following is most important in learning a language?
-perfect pronunciation
-perfect grammar
-mastery of vocabulary
???
None of those of course. Communication is the key. If I understand what you are trying to say, then you are already on your way. You can fix up your inabilty to sound native over time.
If you can't find your own way, then try everybody elses until you find something that works. Once you've learned a 2nd language, the rest come much easier. All your previous mistakes become clear.
Anyways, in about 6 months with a private teacher (3 times a week for 1-2 hours) my level of Korean, in regards to conversational ability, is about the same as my Japanese after 1.5+ years. As for reading/writing and vocabulary, Japanese certainly wins out due to the sheer number of hours spent.
I could probably argue either way whether Japanese or Korean has harder grammar, but whats the point of that? You shouldn't study a language because other people tell you its easier or more useful. Study a language because you want to be able to speak it. Because you want to communicate in the native language of your friends, g/bfriends or it will help you progress in your particular career, lifestyle, hobbies, etc.
The first thing I tell any of my students or anybody else who whines that learning a language is difficult is that if a Chinese/Japanese/Korean/Thai/Burmese/ Etc baby can learn the language, then so can you!
While learning a new language, you will inevitably fine your previously confident self reduced to the babbling incoherence of an infant learning to speak. There isn't anything wrong with that. The baby/child goes through the same process. Of course, it has no anxieties or past experiences to compare it to, nor does it have any other language to fall back on other than nonsensical sounds (unless baby-talk is a valid language anyways).
The second thing I point out is that no language is truly difficult. No matter which one you learn, it will take a while. It will take forever. You will probably die before coming anywhere close to a native speaker in terms of fluency. But is that really enough to stop you? You don't need to be the best. In fact, you can't! With all the time I spend on these other languages in a country where the level of English tends to be a bit below par to say the least (Thailand), I know that I can never equal to a native speaker. But the rewards for even covering a fraction of that distance are immense.
Which of the following is most important in learning a language?
-perfect pronunciation
-perfect grammar
-mastery of vocabulary
???
None of those of course. Communication is the key. If I understand what you are trying to say, then you are already on your way. You can fix up your inabilty to sound native over time.
If you can't find your own way, then try everybody elses until you find something that works. Once you've learned a 2nd language, the rest come much easier. All your previous mistakes become clear.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Gaping Wounds
About two weeks ago, I had this little pimple-like bump on my forearm near my elbow. I think I popped it semi-subconsciously and about a day later it opened up into a mighty unpleasant looking wound that is a bit larger than a dime. I've cleaned it multiple times a day, but it doesn't seem to want to heal. Oh well.
I just finished reading The End of Oil by Paul Roberts. It gives a very good explanation of the global energy situation and the importance it plays both today and tomorrow. Check it out.
I just finished reading The End of Oil by Paul Roberts. It gives a very good explanation of the global energy situation and the importance it plays both today and tomorrow. Check it out.
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