Language Journal: August 28th 2018
I am naturally unfit to learn a second language.
Don't get me wrong. I made great strides. And I've tackled a lot. I even feel my progress isn't THAT bad; all things considered.
But, I am, I think, completely unfit to learn a second language. I have an (apparently) large vocabulary. This isn't a bragging point. I don't hoard stockpiles of new words to throw in people's faces. I just, tend to think in otherwise un-naturally specific terms. I also very deliberately structure my sentences. And, then, on top of all of that, I have a horrendous memory.
Reading manga has turned into the ultimate way to make me feel stupid on a regular basis. There is nothing quite as embarrassing as looking up the definition of the same word twice, on the same page, when it is the ONLY new word on that page. And yet... that happens often it seems.
Also, while I can understand a LOT of spoken and written Japanese. I can only construct what feel like basic sentences to me. In truth, some of them can actually be rather advanced. But, they don't convey what I want to say, in the way I want to say it. I'm left unable to speak the way that I want to speak.
But, I'm not giving up.
I think today is officially the one week mark of my first Box of Manga. I'm more or less 1.5 books in. As per my prior posts, if this keeps up, I'll review time and time to re-read before the second box arrives.
Hmm, thought I had more. I could rant for a while, but most of it is repeats. OUT!
Don't get me wrong. I made great strides. And I've tackled a lot. I even feel my progress isn't THAT bad; all things considered.
But, I am, I think, completely unfit to learn a second language. I have an (apparently) large vocabulary. This isn't a bragging point. I don't hoard stockpiles of new words to throw in people's faces. I just, tend to think in otherwise un-naturally specific terms. I also very deliberately structure my sentences. And, then, on top of all of that, I have a horrendous memory.
Reading manga has turned into the ultimate way to make me feel stupid on a regular basis. There is nothing quite as embarrassing as looking up the definition of the same word twice, on the same page, when it is the ONLY new word on that page. And yet... that happens often it seems.
Also, while I can understand a LOT of spoken and written Japanese. I can only construct what feel like basic sentences to me. In truth, some of them can actually be rather advanced. But, they don't convey what I want to say, in the way I want to say it. I'm left unable to speak the way that I want to speak.
But, I'm not giving up.
I think today is officially the one week mark of my first Box of Manga. I'm more or less 1.5 books in. As per my prior posts, if this keeps up, I'll review time and time to re-read before the second box arrives.
Hmm, thought I had more. I could rant for a while, but most of it is repeats. OUT!
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