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So much language, so little time
Oct. 30th, 2008 09:00 amI should learn another language. Several reasons behind this:
So the question is: what language do I take?
Spanish -- because it's basically ubiquitous in any large city, which should be handy. I'd need to find a partner, but it can't be *that* hard. I might practice a little at Dr. C, who is fluent.
French -- I took some of this in high school and it might be easier to restart my brain on that. Again, need to find conversational partner.
German -- Neil dabbled with this, so I'd have a much more fulltime conversational partner, and it would be a good couple's thing to do.
Sign Language -- ASL is much intuitive for babies to "speak." I've heard that kids are less frustrated, learn to speak and read earlier, and are better adjusted if they have even just a few signs. So that seems good, as a parenting thing. Also, if I ever meet anyone deaf, it'd be good to be able to communicate. Problem is that it's harder to get conversational partners here, I'd have to time classes more carefully (rather than learning via tapes and videos, which makes it inconvenient scheduling-wise), and it's hard to practice without waving your hands about in the subway :) On the other hand, I'm a far more visual and tactile learner than I am an auditory one.
Opinions, oh wise friendslist?
- Unlike when I decided to try photography, there are no subjective criticisms with language. Either you've got an aspect of it or you don't. There's less room for me to beat myself up.
- It'll distract me from feeling obsessive, cranky and sad, which is how I've felt lately. My professional life is much better when I'm not any of those, too.
- Whatever other language I take, it'll help with my English vocabulary or be useful in some other capacity.
- I have a serious case of envy for Ry and Anna, who've mastered at least 3 languages fluently. Neil says that the research about kids picking up languages faster is bunk -- if you immerse yourself in another culture and cut the languageline, then adults often pick up languages just as fast as kids do.
So the question is: what language do I take?
Spanish -- because it's basically ubiquitous in any large city, which should be handy. I'd need to find a partner, but it can't be *that* hard. I might practice a little at Dr. C, who is fluent.
French -- I took some of this in high school and it might be easier to restart my brain on that. Again, need to find conversational partner.
German -- Neil dabbled with this, so I'd have a much more fulltime conversational partner, and it would be a good couple's thing to do.
Sign Language -- ASL is much intuitive for babies to "speak." I've heard that kids are less frustrated, learn to speak and read earlier, and are better adjusted if they have even just a few signs. So that seems good, as a parenting thing. Also, if I ever meet anyone deaf, it'd be good to be able to communicate. Problem is that it's harder to get conversational partners here, I'd have to time classes more carefully (rather than learning via tapes and videos, which makes it inconvenient scheduling-wise), and it's hard to practice without waving your hands about in the subway :) On the other hand, I'm a far more visual and tactile learner than I am an auditory one.
Opinions, oh wise friendslist?
