In the first post on this blog I introduced myself as a Twitter refugee… and nothing else. In truth, I am still active on Twitter, and while I don’t think that site will be going down in the next few days I do feel that the writing's on the wall. Even if Twitter as a service ultimately survives Elon’s madness it will be a very different place, with many worthy folk having scattered to the winds, signing up for this or that replacement.
I have chosen Tumblr.
Now that I am here and happily reblogging (with occasional original posts like this one sprinkled in), I suppose I should explain what I’m about and what to expect on my little corner of the Internet.
I have a variety of interests, but in this space I will mainly be posting and reblogging about three of them: language learning, outer space/space news, and (eventually) learning to draw. Of these three, it’s the language learning that will be of primary focus for me on this website for at least the short term, and I want to take a moment and share some of my ambition on this front.
- Language Learning -
I have recently begun the long, laborious, difficult, and satisfying journey of language learning. I have a list of languages I wish to learn. The two at the top of the list are Chinese (Mandarin) and Hindi.
I started learning Mandarin Chinese toward the end of August (你好。你怎么样？), and while progress has ultimately been slow I am at least making it. I’ve found myself somewhat surprised very early on in that it isn’t meaning or writing the characters I’ve struggled the most with, but tones and making sure I use the right tone when speaking. Right now I’m primarily going through Duolingo lessons and copying their sentences and translations for use in SRS repetition. Sometime down the line I’ll be going through Grammar lessons and trying to find ways to interact with native speakers for feedback - maybe starting with a tutor before anything?
I have not yet started learning Hindi, but I plan to soon. I will start along a similar path as with my Mandarin: Duolingo, then focusing on learning Grammar and eventual practice with other speakers - native, ideally.
Aside from reblogs, right now I think most of my posts on here will be questions. Maybe I’ll have comments on aspects of the language (does Mandarin really not have a general word for “brother” or “sister?”) or other things along those lines.
So, I would like to end this short introduction with some questions. Right now I plan to use two websites to get feedback from native speakers: LangCorrect and italki. The first is a place to post journal-style updates in your target language, then native speakers will offer corrections and advice, with the idea being that you offer corrections and advice to people learning your native tongue. The second is for direct interaction, and while I’m mainly looking at italki for tutors, I’m just happy to get good advice and corrections from any fluent speaker.
So, the questions! Are there other resources I could also be using? Are there alternatives to LangCorrect and italki that are as good or even better? Is the Duolingo bird going to kill me in my sleep? Thank you in advance for any advice you can give me.
Started Hindi a week ago and the Duolingo course seems... lacking. I'm almost through their rapid fire tour of the Hindi writing system and I don't feel like I've really learned much. I have a writing practice book I'm about to start using, bit I'm hoping it will pick up when I start learning phrases and sentences.
I dunno, it just seems like after being on their Chinese course and the way that's paced their approach to the Hindi writing system seems very haphazard in comparison.
