My new daily reminder
The self-study method for second language acquisition… this is how you test your devotion to a concept. It goes far beyond the casual “I think I’ll watch that channel” on he TV”, or a plunge into the desktop dictionary to put salve on the wound of not knowing the right word.
I’m talking (OK, not talking yet, but some day) regular lessons in Duolingo, and a stack of textbooks on the night stand. I’m pointing to regular concerts (via YouTube). I’m pointing, proudly, to my new wall calendar. My “féilire” which arrived in today’s mail. Starting in just over two weeks, my fridge will have words to see me through the day, rather than cute cat pictures or scenic lighthouses. I’ve jumped the shark, says the significant other.
In a year’s time, with no excuse permitted, I should have an increase in my working vocabulary, and the days of the week will move from a verse used in memorization to a practical sense about which day comes after the one before. The life of the student, what.
And who knows. Perhaps I’ll encounter someone else that speaks the language. I’ll move from the theoretical to the practical. I mean, the dog likes being told that he’s a “madra maith”, but he likes everything I tell him. Hardly a critical audience. And when I talk about the weather (because everyone talks about the weather, in this part of the world), I’ll sound both effusive and knowledgeable. That should be a welcome change. Maybe I’ll change my computer keyboard settings, permanently.
