An Impromptu Part-Time Job
This weekend, I noticed a nickel in the parking lot, so I took the 5 seconds to pick it up and pocket it. I figure even if it was a short-term gig, it was $36.00/hour!
It's good to keep this little story in mind when learning a language, for there are countless five and ten second opportunities to really make a language yours. Now, like my nickel, these moments aren't enough to survive on - you will have to seriously work at your language in at least 15-30 minute intervals on a regular basis. But these moments will be your highest gain moments. Studying the phrases to go to a bank for half an hour on Tuesday is nice, but academic. Taking ten seconds to remember one or two key phrases before you enter the bank on Wednesday, on the other hand, is as close as you're going to get to real life in a lot of cases.
You can't make a living picking up small change. Even pennies are rare to discover; nickels and dimes are usually picked up when dropped. But with language games, the odds are far more in your favor. All around are things you've learned to identify or will learn to identify. So keep your eyes peeled, and use those five and ten second intervals when you've nothing else to worry about to identify your car, and the road, and the color of the car in front of you. In line at the bank, you may not feel you've got time to pull out and go through your flash cards. But you've certainly got time to remember how to say, "I'd like 25 dollars, please."
Below are a handful of "nickels" - five-second phrases to practice as you go through your day. I've given the French and my best guesses for Mandarin.
I would like $25 please. J'aimerais vingt-cinq dollars, s'il vous plaît. Qing gei wo er-shi-wu kuai mei-yuan.
I would like a hamburger please. J'aimerais un hamburger, s'il vous plaît. Qing gei wo yi ge han-bao-bao.
I want to drink a Coke. J'aimerais boire un Coca. Wo xiang he yi bei ke-kou-ke-le.
I'm very busy. Je suis très occupé(e). Wo hen mang.
What time is it? Quelle heure est-il? Xian-zai ji dian le?
It's four o'clock. Il est quatre heures. Xian-zai si dian zhong.
I'm late! Je suis en retard! Wo lai wan le!
Once you've got these down, drag out the phrasebook and pick up a few more. But remember, this activity isn't about methodical study, it's about getting a little something extra by way of your language learning. So use your five-seconds on the first thing that springs to mind, not trying to remember the perfect phrase that you learned a week ago. In this way, you can reinforce your solidest knowledge and get used to thinking thoughts, however inane, in the language you're learning, rather than just thinking about learning. Study is for study time.
It's good to keep this little story in mind when learning a language, for there are countless five and ten second opportunities to really make a language yours. Now, like my nickel, these moments aren't enough to survive on - you will have to seriously work at your language in at least 15-30 minute intervals on a regular basis. But these moments will be your highest gain moments. Studying the phrases to go to a bank for half an hour on Tuesday is nice, but academic. Taking ten seconds to remember one or two key phrases before you enter the bank on Wednesday, on the other hand, is as close as you're going to get to real life in a lot of cases.
You can't make a living picking up small change. Even pennies are rare to discover; nickels and dimes are usually picked up when dropped. But with language games, the odds are far more in your favor. All around are things you've learned to identify or will learn to identify. So keep your eyes peeled, and use those five and ten second intervals when you've nothing else to worry about to identify your car, and the road, and the color of the car in front of you. In line at the bank, you may not feel you've got time to pull out and go through your flash cards. But you've certainly got time to remember how to say, "I'd like 25 dollars, please."
Below are a handful of "nickels" - five-second phrases to practice as you go through your day. I've given the French and my best guesses for Mandarin.
I would like $25 please. J'aimerais vingt-cinq dollars, s'il vous plaît. Qing gei wo er-shi-wu kuai mei-yuan.
I would like a hamburger please. J'aimerais un hamburger, s'il vous plaît. Qing gei wo yi ge han-bao-bao.
I want to drink a Coke. J'aimerais boire un Coca. Wo xiang he yi bei ke-kou-ke-le.
I'm very busy. Je suis très occupé(e). Wo hen mang.
What time is it? Quelle heure est-il? Xian-zai ji dian le?
It's four o'clock. Il est quatre heures. Xian-zai si dian zhong.
I'm late! Je suis en retard! Wo lai wan le!
Once you've got these down, drag out the phrasebook and pick up a few more. But remember, this activity isn't about methodical study, it's about getting a little something extra by way of your language learning. So use your five-seconds on the first thing that springs to mind, not trying to remember the perfect phrase that you learned a week ago. In this way, you can reinforce your solidest knowledge and get used to thinking thoughts, however inane, in the language you're learning, rather than just thinking about learning. Study is for study time.
1 Comments:
I do something similar. As I go throughout my day, I'll try to mentally (or verbally) "remark" about whatever I'm doing, or something that's around me, in my target language. In this way, I reinforce stuff that I'd need for everyday conversation, as opposed to stuff that my book deems is "necessary." :)
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home