Fandom and me -- Part 2

[sennetari]

Lately, I'm feeling kind of left out, again. This time, it's not so much of me wondering if I'm a fan (I've decided that I am, even though I'm mostly silent), but more of my different takes on things.

Comments

[shenai]

I dunno how visualization would help with learning a language, but I love taking my time with books so I can play it all out in my mind^^

The most recent things I've read were Heroes and Supernatural, but mostly because I was going through withdrawl after I finished watching both the latest seasons and because Heroes 3rd season finale broke my heart into tiny pieces and then walked over them... (yes I do watch English stuff too XD)

Epic fanfic is so great *_* I've read some that were better than books I've read.

German grammar is basically a giant mess so... Look for a nicer language to learn XD

I don't know why they don't teach that way either =.= But I have to say I mostly got lucky with language teachers all my life.
The only Japanese class I ever tried the teacher was a native but kept talking in German with the students even on an advanced level... Needless to say I never came back.

I liked Latin, but there is a ton of grammar, at least most of it is regular. English has some Latin words, but not that many. If you want to learn a roman language knowing Latin is a big help. I think it helps a bit with any language though, it's very structured and you learn a lot about how to categorize and untangle grammar. And logic in general too. It's useful even if you'll never need the language itself.

Hm, that sometimes happens I guess, but generally I think it's ok.

I don't think I've really ever read much Mebius fic. I was looking once but apparently not in the right places because I found pretty much nothing, then I didn't care anymore.

That's fine XD I love long comments, usually people lose interest or get annoyed after the second one or so.

[sennetari]

It's for remembering vocabulary. You visualize (and then play) an outlandish story in your mind. I'm not explaining this well. Um...something like 'a duck as a hero' for ahiru would have me, if I'm working this method right, visualize a duck wearing a cape and brandishing a sword or something that makes it look like a hero. Or 'a cow buys things at a supermarket' for kau would have me imagine a cow pushing a shopping cart while buying things at a local supermarket. (I didn't make these up, but I might not get the exact wordings right.)

Um...I know about those shows, but have never seen a single episode of either. I kind of want to fix that, though, but I'm not sure if they are on TV here. (Besides, I have many things I want to watch, but not enough time in the day for me. ^^;)

Yeah, I think I might just stay with Japanese for now and not bother with another language yet. XD

I don't actually have any experience taking formal Japanese class, but I suppose I had something similar with ESL class. No matter the student's level, ESL teacher never spoke any other language other than English, and we (the students) could all understand English fine. So yeah, I suppose it would be pretty insulting that the Japanese class teacher refuse to speak Japanese to the students of any level (let alone one at advanced level). (I realize it's difficult for ESL teacher to speak any other language anyway, since students come from different countries, but my point is, I agree that it's not at all necessary for the Japanese teacher to continue talking to students in the students' native tongue.)

I like logic, so I might enjoy Latin. Well, something to keep in mind in the not so near future, I suppose.

Well, I've read some very good Mebius fics. If you ever become interested again let me know; I can give some links.

I love long comments too and would have made mine much longer but when I got one line comment back, I was glad I did not invest too much time. It's somewhat unfortunate, but yeah, if they are not interested, they are not interested. My long comments are better reserved for my own entries (that way my f-list (and even some people not on my f-list) can see them, not just one person who may or may not like long comments). And I tend to be really long-winded sometimes. I can say in paragraphs what other people could have said in one or two sentences. ^^;;

Anyway, I'm turning in for the night and leaving you to make sense of my comment. XD (Hopefully, there aren't too many mistakes in it this time. I saw at least one in my last comment. ^^;)

[shenai]

Yeah, I know what you mean, for me this has never worked, I learn a word so I learn a word, making stories out of them wouldn't make me remember them any better or worse and just take up uneccessary space in my brain. I make formulas into a word though sometimes if I can't remember them for the life of me but have to.
What sometimes works for me is linking vocabulary of different languages, like now in Italian course (which is mostly a refresher and for credits) when I note down vocabulary, that most of the time I already know, I make sure to note down the Japanese word with it, not German (or English). That's fun^^

*lol* I don't watch that much English stuff but now and then it's nice and I really love Supernatural. I dl them though, the German dubs bother me, I don't have a TV and don't watch any anyway (I could go to the dorm's TV room).

I just think it makes no sense not talking the language taught in class. How is that supposed to lead to progress and getting a feel for the actual language?

You might, or you might not XD As a language in and of itself Latin is pretty useless unless you work in old texts or some other job were you actually need it.

If I get bored and feel like it I will get back to you about that :D

Yeah, I know what you mean. And I'm long winded too ^^;

I usually don't notice any mistakes, don't worry.

[sennetari]

I learned a story for a math formula once, and could remember it for months afterward; I would probably still remember if I have to use it. (From my hazy and incomplete memory, that story has something to do with running into car turning on an A/C (Air conditioner) going into a circus rolling in a big box and cutting it.) I think I once remembered a shopping list this way too (so the items were all in sequence, which is not actually necessary for a shopping list). For me, sometimes this technique works, sometimes it doesn't. It all depends much on how detailed the instruction is. If I have to fill in most of the blank myself, I can't really visualize well.

Linking vocab of different languages, however, sounds like something I might want to try. Or just put the words in Japanese on all items I see around the house (can't though, probably can do that only in my own room).

Oh, download. I didn't think of that for some reason. ^^; Probably because I used to watch American TV shows on TV. (I was in the US until last year.) Thanks though. I'll go look for communities for them when I have some time.

Um...I think it's possible that the teacher is simply trying to be accommodating. Students might have different levels of understanding, and if teacher speaks in their native language, it would help those who might have fallen far behind. But yeah, I don't think it makes sense either. If you (the student) know you can't keep up with the rest of the class, it should be your responsibility to seek additional help outside of class and not make the whole class wait for you.

Wow, after I just said I'm long-winded, this comment is remarkably short. ^^;

And thanks. It's a mistake like putting an 's' where it shouldn't exist (or not putting one in where it is needed) or wrong tense. (I don't have tense or plural in my language, and still don't quite get how they work in English.)