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rainwatersparkLast edited: 12/6
Note: I wasn't actually interested in learning languages by myself (because I thought I'd have to take classes, which were too expensive) until summer 2009, during which I found out about some polyglots on the internet and realized that I, too, could teach myself a language. Hence, the obsession was born.
Chinese
When: since I was born
How: parents, formal lessons
Level: High intermediate aural comprehension, beginner in literacy
Why: I didn't really have a choice, as I learned the basics from home exposure and was often forced to take (ineffective) lessons, though I did enjoy the 1.5 years of Chinese that I took in high school, thanks to a very nice teacher and a great textbook.
Current status: Studying occasionally w/ SRS flashcards
Goals: I do hope to improve in the future, i.e. be able to understand news broadcasts, speak more fluently, and read.
French
When: starting from 6th grade through 12th grade
Why: compulsory (either French or Spanish)
How: Classroom
Level: Intermediate/High intermediate
Current status: Studying occasionally via reading news articles on the internet and/or listening to radio broadcasts
Goals: To not forget French and to be able to read smoothly and understand French spoken at native speed
Japanese
When: first year of college
How: Classroom
Why: I'd wanted to learn Japanese thanks to the anime/video game pop culture. I debated with myself for a while about whether to start Japanese or continue French, but I decided that I'd be better at learning French by myself than Japanese, especially since I already had a solid foundation, and apart from self-learning I wouldn't know when I'd have another opportunity to learn Japanese.
Level: Beginner
Current status: Studying full-time in college
Goals: To gain aural comprehension and be able to read; anything else is secondary
German
When: 2009
How: Assimil, SRS (German-Flashcards.com)
Why: I love the sound of German, though I'd been scared away from it due to the grammar. But I found a copy of Assimil for German, and as I'd heard many things about Assimil and was curious about the method, I decided to give it a try.
Level: Beginner
Current status: Studying daily with Assimil and some SRS
Goals: To finish Assimil, and then decide what to do
Other future plans?
I'd love to learn Norwegian, Russian, and Finnish as well, although those are projects for the future and I won't attempt to try them now. After that, it would be fun if I could understand Italian and Dutch, but unless something major in the future happens that will disrupt or radically change all of my plans, I will keep it to these languages.
Note: I wasn't actually interested in learning languages by myself (because I thought I'd have to take classes, which were too expensive) until summer 2009, during which I found out about some polyglots on the internet and realized that I, too, could teach myself a language. Hence, the obsession was born.
Chinese
When: since I was born
How: parents, formal lessons
Level: High intermediate aural comprehension, beginner in literacy
Why: I didn't really have a choice, as I learned the basics from home exposure and was often forced to take (ineffective) lessons, though I did enjoy the 1.5 years of Chinese that I took in high school, thanks to a very nice teacher and a great textbook.
Current status: Studying occasionally w/ SRS flashcards
Goals: I do hope to improve in the future, i.e. be able to understand news broadcasts, speak more fluently, and read.
French
When: starting from 6th grade through 12th grade
Why: compulsory (either French or Spanish)
How: Classroom
Level: Intermediate/High intermediate
Current status: Studying occasionally via reading news articles on the internet and/or listening to radio broadcasts
Goals: To not forget French and to be able to read smoothly and understand French spoken at native speed
Japanese
When: first year of college
How: Classroom
Why: I'd wanted to learn Japanese thanks to the anime/video game pop culture. I debated with myself for a while about whether to start Japanese or continue French, but I decided that I'd be better at learning French by myself than Japanese, especially since I already had a solid foundation, and apart from self-learning I wouldn't know when I'd have another opportunity to learn Japanese.
Level: Beginner
Current status: Studying full-time in college
Goals: To gain aural comprehension and be able to read; anything else is secondary
German
When: 2009
How: Assimil, SRS (German-Flashcards.com)
Why: I love the sound of German, though I'd been scared away from it due to the grammar. But I found a copy of Assimil for German, and as I'd heard many things about Assimil and was curious about the method, I decided to give it a try.
Level: Beginner
Current status: Studying daily with Assimil and some SRS
Goals: To finish Assimil, and then decide what to do
Other future plans?
I'd love to learn Norwegian, Russian, and Finnish as well, although those are projects for the future and I won't attempt to try them now. After that, it would be fun if I could understand Italian and Dutch, but unless something major in the future happens that will disrupt or radically change all of my plans, I will keep it to these languages.
