Irritated because making too many mistakes? Welcome to the world of language perfectionists.

Have it ever happened to you? I mean, that you felt irritated by the fact of making too many simple mistakes. Some foolish ones, in fact. Or finding yourself in the situation when you were trying so hard to understand a matter... and thought, yeah I finally got it. But then while speaking to a native or maybe writing to one, you heard (or received an answer) we actually do not say it like that. And you say to yourself with a pinch of irritation “ No, not again. This time I thought it would be absolutely flawless”. If your answer is yes, you are probably a language perfectionist. Some may call it also an exaggeration. Because why on earth bothering yourself with such a rediculous thing as that. Such a trifle.

I do not know.... Unfortunately,  I am one of those people that care too much for their foreign languages to be “perfect”. And telling the truth, are never satisfied with their achievements. I feel like I am working hard for my progress  and then see “a red card”. A message: “Wrong. Try once more”. Of course, it cannot prevent me from trying again (I just do not say: “Oh, forget it. It is not worth it”). However, I feel so angry for myself and that I cannot learn such a simple thing. What is worst, my mistakes are usually kind of nuances. Not really big or important issues. Am I weird? Do I want to much from myself?

How do you react? Fight for it or leave it? Does it irritate you? 

Do you think it is woth considering?

What's new in my language learning...

Hi everyone,

I guess, I neglected this blog. I will try to change it. Promise..... I would like this post to be different from those I have written previously. As you know, they were dealing with general linguistic problems. Today it is time for telling a little bit about my “fight” to develop knowledge in the area. So I am reading some books in English and French at the moment. It is not a kind of ambitious one, but at least it gives me a chance to work on my vocabulary. Or maybe I keep on exaggerating... in fact, there are books widely known....but are for kids rather than adults. That is why I treat it as a lack of ambition ;) However, for a non-native, I believe them to be just fine. Curious to know what it is? Let’s reveal the secret then. First is, “Anne of Green Gables” and the other one is “Le petit prince”. I didn’t found loads of unknown words there, but still some left. Besides, I think it will make it easier to enrich my “personal dictionary”.

Apart from that I am struggling with my Portuguese and I have to admit it is improving constantly. Especially, when we take voc into account. And I stongly believe it will become a lot better with a time passing.

As to other languages the situation is not so rosy-looking.... It is mostly beacause, I have decided to focus on three most important to me and being also those I want to master. I know, some may claim I speak them good enough, but I still want to develop them....”to be prefect” ;) . And the second factor....I just have no time for learning some additional languages.

Finally, I would like to ask you, what books are you reading at the moment. Of course, those in foreign languages. What is the most difficult in it, for you personally?

Do I really need to know all that?

Every and each language learner come to the moment when start to think whether I really need that? Is that rubbish vocabulary crucial to know? It is so difficult and I cannot memorise it...I will leave it for a moment.

That kind of discussion about usefulness of words and phrases can have no end. Maybe it is not an extremely complex issue, but it pops up quite often. Even if we think there is not such a thing as useless voc, we must be aware that there may be some, not necesserily essential for a beginner or even intermediate learner. Although, it seems that some people forget about this simple truth, as we can stumble upon many coursebooks that overestimate learnr’s abilities. In short, give words too complicated for a level (of course, it also works the other way – sometimes it is plain simple).

Apart from all that, I sometimes think to myself, whether I have to know every word and idiom existing in a language...should I be another dictionary or what? Even in my mother tongue I have huge lacks in some domaines, so why should I learn those things in a foreign language? Will I ever use it? And here again, the case is ambigious... or maybe not ;) I believe  do not need complex medical, legal or technical jagon. I believe it is sufficient to know some part of the vocabulary connected with those areas.

On the other hand, however, we never know what will be of need in the future. So maybe it is worth learning some voc we have difficulties with. Especially when we perceive it as a good-know one (‘cause in our opinion it is a basic one, although tough to remeber). No matter how ridiculous it seems. What do you think?

 

Learning a language abroad

It is evident to me that learning a language abroad (in its country of origin) is one of the most efficient methods. First and foremost, it is a "faster" one. By this I mean that one acquires a language better - is able to write, listen and most of all speak in a shorter period of time. A person is absolutely immersed in a language and culture, can use it on a daily basis.

What is even more advantegous, he or she meets many interesting people. Quite often from entire world - as classes take place in a multilingual, multicultural environment (because of students that come from different countries).

At present, we can find the variety of courses. They can be general or more specific (eg. law, medical etc). Also for different groups and ,from time to time, nationalities.

Which language or country would you choose, personally? If you had such a chance?

Reading books in original version

Reading books in original - it is undoubtedly one of the main reasons for learning foreign languages....as good as the other ones, in fact. Eagerness for doing that can become a stimulant. Passion for someone else's piece of writing can release the flame of love toward a particular language....something that will never end...

But enough with that. Let's look at the problem from a different perspective. While reading in original we can practice the natural language - what can be a huge advantage. Besides, translation is not perfect and may not convey the spirit of a book... However, we must bear in mind that it is not as easy task as it may seem. A learner that only starts his journey with "that particular" language may come across many obstacles. The most common one is choosing a book with high level of difficulty. Some of us think: "I would like to read a masterpiece of literature. Those by Dickens or Shakespeare would be great". In my opinion, it is a kind of mistake. First of all, its difficulty lies in vocabulary - not only because it is literary and old-fashioned, but also in its style of expression. I believe, for the beginning, a contemporary novel will do.


We also have tendency of choosing books inappropriate in other way. We have no notion about the area we want to read about (even in our mother tongue), but we want to give it a try anyway...or a book is not for our level of proficiency (and there is no pleasure in reading something with dictionary in your hands, looking up every two words).


I am curious what do you think of this problem (reading in original) that language learners need to face. More pros or cons? Some difficulties?

Occitan - new vocabulary learned

With this particular post I would like to present some new words I acquired. This time, it will be those in Occitan. So here's the list:

bon - good

aisit - easy

solelh - sun

jorn - day

cada jorn - everyday

Bon aniversari - Happy b-day

aquì - here

nen - baby

Bon Nadal - Merry Christmas

dìser - to say, to tell

Croatian

I wanted to find another language that could be of interest to me....and not too similar with Portuguese, Spanish or so. In short, with romance languages. I admit, it is good to learn languages that have a lot in common (for example, by its latin root). But I started to get confused. That is why I decided to halt with this group, for some period of time (maybe not totally, as I want to focus on mastering my Portuguese).

As to that, I thought to myself, why not trying slavic languages. It is not something totally different from Polish...what, of course, may be a huge advantage. So finally, I decided on Croatian. I cannot explain why, actually...But why not...

Here, I would like to share with you some vocabulary I have learned so far. It is not many, but for the beginning few will do.

Bok - Hello

Dobro jutro - Good morning

Dobar dan - Good afternoon

Dobra dan - Good day

Dobra večer - Good evening

Hvala - Thank you

Kako ste? - How are you? (formal)

Kako si?- How are you?/How are you doing? (informal)