593

I realized yesterday that I actually prefer not to work one-on-one with people. I tense up in a situation where I am expected to operate in a collaborative way, or when something is expected of me. That’s because I know that my viewpoint is going to be regarded as being outside of the box.

On the other land, I love interacting with in a playful, lighthearted manner. That’s fun for me. It’s no trouble.

For me it’s best to make suggestions, not try to teach or convince. So my ‘What I get from so-and-so’ is the correct approach for me.

592

I spoke with a Dutch woman about language learning. She’d lived and worked in Japan for 20 years, learning Japanese before learning English. She’d been thrown into it and for 3 months had struggled. Yet she feels that this is the way to go. However, I can’t help thinking that she seemed anxious. Her rather negative disposition made me doubt the sink or swim approach.

In the evening, I completed the Suske en Wiske story I’d started. It had a rather gruesome scene of a werewolf attacking and getting its claw chopped off. It later reverted into a human hand.

591

It’s a little early to discuss the book about blogging, since I’ve only just started reading it. The title is Blog INC. Blogging for passion, profit, and to create community. The author is Joy Deangdeelert Cho. And so, more of that in the future.

With Sachi last evening we listened and read to the first Harry Potter chapter. That’s something that we’ve done before. But this time I’ll try and listen to the whole book chapter by chapter most evenings. 

For today though and the upcoming week I’ll be busier than usual. I look forward to things settling down again. 

590

I returned after an hiatus to my kanji coding system. I’d mentioned reducing the number of digits from 5 to 4. But I haven’t yet mentioned increasing the count of letters used in the primary position from 3 (p, n, and o) to 15. I now have letters for hand, thread, fire, ‘beta’, metal, ear, speaking, jay-slide, soil, tree, water and double as well. All of those I’ll write with a capital.

In other news, I’m reading up about blogs in a book that I’ll discuss tomorrow. I’ve also embarked on a 10-post writing project so as to populate ELIL. 

589

I checked and discovered I’ve started 6 blogs to do with languages: 20 Tongues 20 moons, Language first aid, A language a life, Any language I like, English coach, and Voyage of languages. That’s crazy! But it shows I’m definitely interested in the topic.

None of the blogs was suitable, I felt. I needed a fresh start. And so, say hello to Every language I like. I think I’ll describe it as a blog by a language teacher who doesn’t believe in teaching languages or learning languages.

Over the next few days, or weeks, I’ll start to flesh it out.  

588

As soon as I rattle of these 100 words I’m setting up a simple blog—or maybe revamp or convert another which I’ve started. There are several. I’ll call it Every Language I Like. And I’ll spend an hour on some content, a mission statement, its layout and all that sort of thing.

It’ll be a breeze, because I won’t be expounding a particular point of view. I won’t be trying to sell or convince. I won’t be trying to design a perfect program or course. No sweat, no hassles. Just a repository for the ideas that I’ve come across.

587

I chose Suske en Wiske for last night’s bedtime reading. It is a comic with a Tintin-like format. And it originated from the same part of the world, Belgium, as Herge (though by a different author). But the volume that I have is special. It’s been translated into various Limburgse dialects. A different dialect was used for each of the 6 main characters.

The incredible thing is that I can make out the meaning without properly knowing any of the words. For me they appear to be Scandinavian tongues but with a Dutch twist. No doubt the illustrations help also.

586

Just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you should.

Kawauchi won the 2018 Boston marathon in atrocious conditions. How will that affect his health in the long run? I played 34 chess games in 7.5 hours in my first try on Lichess. But was that wise? My dreams were restless.

I’m able to acquire multiple simultaneous languages. I’m able to perform as a language teacher. But is that advisable?

Which is better: Any Language I Like, or Every Language I Like? These are the questions that occupy my mind. Shall I make some chess moves to distract myself?

585

585 is not a particularly auspicious number. And yet on the 585^th day of this project I’ve stumbled upon the vehicle and the direction in which to continue this journey. I’ve figured out how I shall go about it.

I’ll use the phrase: What I get from. That’ll be my brand and motto.

I write posts on What I take from Schliemann, What I take from Kaufmann and so forth. Then I’ll speak to these each in a video. This collection of talk-posts will constitute the value that I provide. Thereafter, I’ll invite people to subscribe to a language fraternity.  

584

What I’m thinking about is what I might include in an introductory workshop. I’m also thinking about Udemy, and whether to use it fully, partly, or press ahead on my own. But now I’ll confine myself to the first point.

In a workshop, I would probably run the participants through a Heinrich Maneuver. I’d give then a questionnaire to test their left brain right brain balance. I might get them to do a modified Gold List trial, simulate shadowing across a bridge, try a spaced repetition system, show them Lomb’s core list method, and even give them Krashen’s German lesson.

583

I’m not as quick as Mami. After our meeting at Pikaado, she has already entered a course and set a starting date! I’m still mulling things over.

It appears that for me an introductory session on polyglot principles would be the thing. I’d conduct a face-to-face introductory workshop at which I could invite people to enroll for a 30-step course.

I’m not keen on working with live individuals. On the other hand, I could use them to refine my patter. Udemy seems a good platform to host an adaptive release online course. I’ll explore that right away after completing this.

582

She spoke Bergen-flavoured standard Norwegian with moderately rolled ‘r’s, which suggested, Harry wagered, that she was from Fana or Kalaret’ 

comes from The Snowman by Jo Nesbo. A new book—for $1 ex Mosgiel Library. And my inspiration to listen to a little Norwegian in the evening.

All the Harry Potter books are available in Norwegian as audiobooks on Youtube. But as entire volumes. A bit too big to include on my mp3 player, which says it’s full, even though it shouldn’t be.

But you do what you can. You make use of such technology that works in a fashion.

581

My Kindle has turned up, I’m happy to say. Also, this morning Mami and I have an appointment with the people at Pikaado. All I need to do now is to untangle a longstanding family feud, and I’ll have put in a good day, ha ha!

I’ve got the count of languages on my mp3 player up to 12. Files need to be in mp3 format, I’ve learned. I use YTD to convert them if I need to, but I haven’t ‘gone pro’ with that software and so it takes time. I still need Russian, Norwegian, Arabic maybe. Not Dutch.

580

I’ve had a few hiccups, or hiccoughs, but I do have my mp3 player up and running. It’s a pleasure to use. I seem much less anxious about ‘skim listening’ than I used to be. Yesterday I walked home from Woodhaugh while managing to listen to the entire first chapter of HP1. That was a first for me—completing the entire chapter. I didn’t even mind when it started raining.

But no sooner is the mp3 player on the go than I misplace my Kindle. It’s been a few days. I can’t remember where I last used it. Ah, technology!

579

There’s nothing nicer than lying in the sun on the grass under a tree. That’s what I was able to do yesterday out at Mosgiel at the children’s play park. And at the same time I could listen relaxedly to a number of different languages.

They exist on my mp3 player. With a thumbnail I can scroll easily through them. I can think of no more pleasant way to acquire languages.

All I need to do is add to them. Have about 20 texts of up to 30 minutes in length. And delete a bunch of stuff that doesn’t belong.

578

I’ve probably said it before, but I’ll say it again, and this time act on it.

My focus is language acquisition, not my acquisition of the languages themselves. Of course, that’s something that I’ll do as well. But it’s not my primary interest.

I am interested in engaging in long-term projects that require dedication, thought and imagination. And I’ve done a number of them in my life. This is merely the latest.

Very well, then. Henceforth, I’ll give up tabulating hours. I’ll write more about the central theme, and about what I plan to publicize my ideas. As of now.

577

Something small; something larger.

I’m going to restock my mp3 player. I want a playlist of about 20 short clips—30 minutes maximum—of texts. That’ll let me scroll quickly through. It’ll be better.

Next, Michael Stember. I watched his 600-metre finishing kick last evening. And then I watched the clip when he talks about turning into a sushi chef. His passion.

Which is how I too need to approach what I do. My passion, I realize, is to figure things out. I love to engage in a long-term project that requires that combination of both my intellect plus creativity.

Today: J1 D1 G2             

Total: J617 D241 G101 F66 P64 Sp46 A16 I14 Sw14 C9 Ro6 N4 M4 Da3 Ru3 Gk3 H2

576

Further to the previous entry, I’ve been doing some more thinking. It seems to me that chess played at speed is similar to using, or acquiring, a new language. I read that players don’t use their conscious brain when playing at great speed. They make moves instinctively. They use—I guess—predominantly their right brain at that time. So would watching a lot of high-speed streamed chess matches be akin to gaining massive light exposure? Would it help your game?

But I’m not going to allow myself to get side-tracked. I have an appointment with Pikaado to prepare for soon.

Today: J1 Sp1 D1 F1             

Total: J616 D240 G99 F66 P64 Sp46 A16 I14 Sw14 C9 Ro6 N4 M4 Da3 Ru3 Gk3 H2

575

I forgot to mention the other day how I combined 2 Youtube channels, watching hyper-bullet chess while listening to the German audiobook of HP1 (chapter 3). So I’m repeating that now as I type.

Swedish is going well, thanks to my Kindle. A page at a time (about 100 words) gives me quick, light exposure. I got to the end of the first chapter of Logner while waiting in the cold to collect Sachi from school. I followed that up with some Spanish. 

I also remembered to charge up my mp3 player, and plan to bring that more into play. 

Today: G1 Sp1 Sw2             

Total: J615 D239 G99 F65 P64 Sp45 A16 I14 Sw14 C9 Ro6 N4 M4 Da3 Ru3 Gk3 H2

574

I resonate with Steve Kaufmann regarding his initial response to Arabic. He wants/wanted to get the script under control to be able to obtain input. He too was intimidated by the cursive nature of the Arabic script and the fact that each letter has 4 different ways of being formed. (Mind you, English does too in a way with its capitals, italics and so forth.)

So I spent an hour at least on Arabic. I did listen to all 6 Bookbox stories. And I even listened to half of a video of someone speaking Spanish to describe the Arabic alphabet.

Today: A5 G1 Sp1             

Total: J615 D239 G98 F65 P64 Sp44 A16 I14 Sw12 C9 Ro6 N4 M4 Da3 Ru3 Gk3 H2

573

Today I pledge to listen to all 6 of the Arabic stories on Bookbox. Once. And I’ll simply listen out for different sounds, and to get a sense of their frequencies and rhythm. 

Since I’ll be doing Arabic anyway, I’ll look over Steve Kaufmann’s recents videos. He has been concentrating on Arabic for a few months now. I’d like to review his approach, and maybe check on his site, Lingq, to see if there is anything there that looks useful.

There are indications that I’m getting better at utilizing my evenings. Let me build on that and do more languages.

Today: J1             

Total: J615 D239 G97 F65 P64 Sp44 I14 A11 Sw11 C9 Ro6 N4 M4 Da3 Ru3 Gk3 H2

572

Yesterday evening I first heard about Pikaado. It’s a Dunedin-based initiate and a site where people may teach a skill or activity. Mami introduced it to me, and both the concept and the presentation appealed to me instantly. Perhaps that is where I may begin to get in touch with other people interested in an alternative form of language acquisition.

I especially like how they say: You don’t need to be the best in the world at something, you just need to know more than an absolute beginner. Everyone has something they are good at, Pikaado helps you share it.

Today: J1 F1            

Total: J614 D239 G97 F65 P64 Sp44 I14 A11 Sw11 C9 Ro6 N4 M4 Da3 Ru3 Gk3 H2

571

It sounded good, didn’t it? A different language every 5 minutes. It tried it with Japanese, Romanian and Arabic—my first cluster. However, things didn’t work out. Not in that way.

Too much scramble. Too high a degree of organization required. Because, no matter how well you line up your resources, you’re going to waste at least 30 seconds for each transition. And that’s 10% of your time gone, right there.

Plan B, therefore. Arrange the languages in alphabetical order (so as to remember). Then cycle through them, spending as much or as little time on each as I wish.

Today: J1 Ro1 A1              

Total: J613 D239 G97 P64 F64 Sp44 I14 A11 Sw11 C9 Ro6 N4 M4 Da3 Ru3 Gk3 H2 

570

Japanese, Romanian and Arabic form the first cluster of my chain. The plan is to commence each 18-language cycle with them. I planned to do it early this morning, before writing these 100 words, but I’ll do it later on in the day instead. I just don’t want to put myself under any sort of pressure.

Yesterday I listened to Steve Kaufmann speak about his ideal language teacher. I commented on that—that I agreed with his opinion that language teachers generally only pay lip service to the communicative aspect and fall back into grammar instruction.

Change will come slowly.

Today: J1 D1              

Total: J612 D239 G97 P64 F64 Sp44 I14 A10 Sw11 C9 Ro5 N4 M4 Da3 Ru3 Gk3 H2

569

Apart from English, I don’t think that I spent time on any language at all today (although in Kathy Reichs’ novel, Deja dead I did come across instances of both French and Hindi). Nevertheless, I am happy with what I got done.

And that was to decide firmly for each of 18 languages exactly what I would be doing, including which resources and tools I would need. I clumped the 18 into 6 groups of 3. Finally, I linked them into some sort of order—both within each set of 3, and also the 6 separate sets.

Will it work? 

Today:               

Total: J611 D238 G97 P64 F64 Sp44 I14 A10 Sw11 C9 Ro5 N4 M4 Da3 Ru3 Gk3 H2

568

Some languages are easy, in that I know exactly what to do to ‘do’ them. Others I still need to scratch my head over. However, I’ve just completed the project of examining them singly. I now have 17 that I’ve officially begun. (18 including English.) 

Now I need to work on the transition. I’ve got to streamline them. I need to group them in clusters of 4 or thereabouts. And then finally I’ll link up those clusters into a chain. Chain tag is one of the best things I remember about primary school. So I’ll try and replicate that here!

Today: J1 D1 Sp1               

Total: J611 D238 G97 P64 F64 Sp44 I14 A10 Sw11 C9 Ro5 N4 M4 Da3 Ru3 Gk3 H2

567

Our English language department is expanding. We are being invited to apply for more hours and additional responsibilities. So how do I feel?

Currently I teach two mornings a week. I feel that’s enough. Also, I don’t feel inclined to do anything in the nature of program development simply because my ideas on language acquisition differ from most of my colleagues.

However, if I could engage in something experimental—a voluntary reading program, for instance, or the exploration of how to offer AnyLanguage then I’d happily work full-time. I may just float that idea out there and see what happens.

Today: J5 D1 G1               

Total: J610 D237 G97 P64 F64 Sp43 I14 A10 Sw11 C9 Ro5 N4 M4 Da3 Ru3 Gk3 H2