TAC 2017-2018 Luís

[vijayjohn]

I have a feeling maybe he isn't counting English.

[Luís]

I have a feeling maybe he isn't counting English.

Yeah. Just because I get to practice English all the time anyway (even when I'm not in an English-speaking country).
But I have to say spoken British English (and I don't mean RP) can be quite difficult to understand at times, particularly when you're used to American English.

I did visit quite a few bookshops, including Foyles. That place is amazing... there's a whole floor dedicated to foreign languages and there's even a whole shelf with Malayalam resources (no kidding ). Unfortunately everything was just too expensive (as most things in London). Most of the books I've seen can be ordered online for much less money.

[vijayjohn]

there's even a whole shelf with Malayalam resources (no kidding ).

Now this I have to see!

[Car]

there's even a whole shelf with Malayalam resources (no kidding ).

Now this I have to see!

Luís should have posted a trigger warning.

[Luís]

In fact, they have a huge section dedicated to Indian languages. I guess that's understandable considering there are a lot of Indian people (and people of Indian origin) in London and the UK in general. The African section was also pretty amazing, though it mostly focuses on languages from former British colonies. There was also a whole section with Maltese resources (which is something I had never seen before either)

[vijayjohn]

there's even a whole shelf with Malayalam resources (no kidding ).

Now this I have to see!

Luís should have posted a trigger warning.

WARNING: The following post contains references to resources for a certain major Indian language, not one of the endangered endangered ones but one of the major ones that are...well, you know. Strong language and extreme emotional outbursts are to be expected (once Vijay shows up, anyway). Viewer discretion is advised (as is general tranquility. Yes, Vijay, this means you!).

[Luís]

Update



Les 500 exercises de phonétique (page 182/203)

+ 2 new episodes of Pékin Express.



I finished the first volume of Gramática práctica del español ( ) and now I'm going through the second one...

Gramática práctica del español II (Unit 6/52)



Assimil Hebrew (Lesson 29/85)

I hate it that all the exercises are in cursive script only starting from lesson 29...



Premiers pas en arabe (Unit 23/29)

[księżycowy]

I take it you wanted the cursive script sooner?

[Luís]

No, I meant that from lesson 29 onwards all the exercises are in cursive only. I don't think it's the best option considering 99% of all texts a foreigner will come across won't be in cursive.

[księżycowy]

Oh, I get you now. Yeah, I get that. Especially that the dialogues are mostly in niqqud, which aren't in 99% of texts people would read either.

[vijayjohn]

I have a CD program (yes I still have CDs and even audiocassettes even though I can't use either of them anymore ) for learning Hebrew where you can turn the niqqud off.

[księżycowy]

It's a shame we can't do the same with our textbook.

[Luís]

Still not giving up, though...

[księżycowy]

Personally, I'm probably going to end up switching to my other Modern Hebrew textbook. But good luck.

[vijayjohn]

my other Modern Hebrew textbook

The Routledge Introductory Course in Modern Hebrew?

[księżycowy]

Ë:h.

[Luís]

There's some positive things as well. I like that their texts are pretty colloquial and up-to-date, with lots of practical vocab you can actually use (as opposed to learning about grape picking techniques in a kibbutz).

[księżycowy]

But, but, talking about grape picking in a kibbutz sounds super up-to-date and colloquial!

[vijayjohn]

But, but, talking about grape picking in a kibbutz sounds super up-to-date and colloquial!

That's what Colloquial Hebrew is for.

[Luís]

Update


I finished Les 500 exercises de phonétique

Le français parlé (page 14/240)

+ 1 episode of Pékin Express and 1 episode of Fais pa ci, fais pas ça


Gramática práctica del español II (Unit 13/52)


Assimil Hebrew (Lesson 32/85)

As lessons get longer and more difficult, I think I'll have to devote more time to each one of them. I'll have to start reviewing past lessons as well.


I finished Premiers pas en arabe

My goal was to learn the alphabet. I can't really read Arabic properly (especially without the vowels), but I have a good idea of how the script works. I might restart Arabic someday, but for now one Semitic language is enough!