Ohh, another analogy!

Learning a second language to a native level is like losing weight. It requires a long term sustained effort which is unbelievably easy to quit. How many people do you know who have lost weight only to gain it back? Maybe they lose it, it comes back, they lose it again, it comes back etc, but it never stays off. It's just like learning a language. From day one you can't stop, ever, or you start all over again.

Had to restart...again

So, at the end of the summer I'm cruising along with my hanzi 汉字 learning characters like there is no tomorrow. Then, on a whim, I decide to try the Heisig method of learning Chinese characters. Granted he did it for studying kanji which are Chinese characters used in the Japanese writing system, but its the same thing basically. Anyway, I download an excerpt from his newest book Remembering Simplified Hanzi, and I do 50 in one day. I couldn't believe it! The most I had done my way was 20. But I did 50 easily, and the only reason I didn't do all 94 in the excerpt was because I was so pissed that it was so easy! Here I am busting my ass doing it the traditional way for 2 months and then I come across this method. It destroyed my motivation to study characters. Then, I went to Shanghai for a week and didn't do my SRS repetitions so when I got back I had like 200 reps to do. Today, after much agonizing, I decided to delete over 350 characters I entered over a 2 month period and start from scratch using only the Heisig method.

I was really getting burned out on learning Chinese after this new discovery. Other things occupied my time like teaching and what not. So, for a while learning Chinese was on the back burner. But, another weekend in small town China with nothing to do has cured me. It's back to learning. I think the reason most people don't learn a second language to a native level is simple because they give up. Either they reach a point where they are satisfied with their ability, or they realize the enormous effort just isn't worth it and stop completely. So, to prevent this from happening I got rid of over 350 character's that were really pissing me off and ruining my fun. Starting over sucks, but it's not like I'm deleting knowledge from my mind, just a computer program I use. What I have learned will stay with me as long as I keep on going, and don't stop.

The other thing I have been thinking about lately is that I don't seem to be getting any better. I still can't have a real conversation, just say a few words and sentences. But, I think about it like this. When I was a kid I'd always ask my mom to measure me and see if I'd grown any taller. I did this every day. And eventually I realized I wasn't going to see changes every day, it would take months and years before I could notice any difference in the marks on the wall. It's the same with learning Chinese. If I compare myself to 1 month ago, there isn't much difference, but when I compare myself to when I first came, there is a huge difference. I just gotta keep it up...

Studying Chinese has really changed the way I teach

Before studying Chinese my prep work before classes was pretty poor. I was the kind of teacher who winged it most of the time. These days, I am planning a lot more and trying to use more visual aids. I've also insisted on using the microphone so everyone can hear me clearly, and power point so students can read what I say. I think it's definitely helped the students focus more.

The other cool thing is, I've gained a lot more respect now that students can send me simple messages in Chinese and I can respond to them. I still have a lot of trouble with speaking and listening but reading is getting better. Just think, 2 months ago I could not understand a simple text message in Chinese. I have learned a lot in a short period of time, but I have a long way to go.

I have been slacking with my studies more than I should be, listening to English music a little too much, watching a DVD here and there in English. But, I try to stay on track by reminding myself it's just a waste of time. I already speak English, so what's the point?

Learning a foreign language in a classroom doesn't work

I told my students our second class that learning a foreign language in a classroom doesn't work very well. They didn't believe me. It's a good thing for my bank account, but a bad thing for them. It should be obvious after 5 or 6 years of study and they can't even put together a simple sentence. Instead, they blame their teachers or themselves for not being good enough. How sad. They don't even realize it's the fact they are trying to learn English in the classroom that is the problem. Then I proceeded to tell them how to teach themselves. I had to simplify it a lot since their English is at such a low level. Hopefully, they will try some of the things I suggested, primarily listening and reading 24/7, non-stop, ALL DAY LONG with a good dictionary in hand.

...

I have nothing to say right now.

My obvious realization of the summer...

If I don't spend so much time doing nothing, I can really accomplish a lot.

I'm alive...

...just busy. I love my job and my students.

Jackpot

Just found a great firefox add-on. It translates simplified and traditional characters for you. A great way to learn new words.

Pera-Kun

My method of study

I've been reading how other people study Chinese, and it's very different from how I'm doing it. Usually people will delay learning the writing system, or not push it that hard in fear of burnout. I am doing the opposite. I'm not actively studying words, grammar, or sentences just individual characters. After learning enough characters to read everyday material, then I will get serious about words and sentences. I think reading is the best way to learn the rules of grammar intuitively which is needed for near native fluency. You simply cannot learn the rules of grammar and then force individual words through a grammar algorithm. Computers can't do it effectively, and neither can we.

The other thing people do is listen. However, most people refuse to listen to things they cannot understand. I have been listening to Chinese constantly, whether I can understand it or not. I have noticed an improvement in remembering Chinese words after listening to Chinese constantly. My mind is becoming so familiar with the sound of the language I don't forget a word 5 seconds after learning it. I can also pronounce new words correctly after the first or second try instead of having to say it over and over again. The other cool thing that's been happening, I'll hear and word over and over and I can say the word perfectly but I don't know what it means. Then I'll be reading something and come across the word and *bang* it's instantly locked in my memory from hearing it repeated 10,000 times.

I used to completely block out the sounds of the Korean language when I lived in Korea. My mind simply did not want to listen to it. I did the same thing with Chinese initially, only listening to English music and watching English DVDs. Now, my mind craves the sound of Mandarin. I have no desire to listen to English music anymore, I just want to hear Mandarin, even though I can't really understand it.

I think there is a lot to be said for complete immersion, even when you can't understand the language. For the record, I'm still a newbie in Chinese. I can't hold a conversation and I can only use a few words here and there. I'm only up to 390 Chinese characters, but I've got my method down and time will take care of the rest.

Overdrive

My brain has been on overdrive lately. I've been cramming my brain full of Chinese characters, making it adjust to new contact lenses I bought with the help of a friend, and forcing it to learn Zhangzhou style Mahjong. Needless to say, it's pretty tired. For the record, I'm up to 335 characters. I only have 1 month left to reach my goal of 700 before the school year starts.

Study method

I've tweaked my study method slightly. I've started listening to Chinesepod podcasts continuously over and over and over and over allllll day long. I've broken them up into groups of 5 episodes, each between 8 to 12 minutes long. Each day I listen to another group of 5 episodes and absorb what I can. It's kind of amazing how well it works, sometimes I don't even pay any attention to it but it's playing in the background and I still pick up things. I even listen to it when I sleep.

The other thing I have to start doing is adding complete words and sentences to Mnemosyne. Ideally, I should just power through all 6000 individual characters but I need to learn actual language for my survival. So, I'm jumping the gun a bit by starting this phase while only knowing 220 characters.

QQ

I finally got QQ to work on my English XP machine. I followed these simple instructions.

1. Start -> Run -> Intl.cpl
2. Switch to Advanced Tab, and choose "Chinese (PRC)" for Language for non-Unicode Programs and click OK.

What is QQ? It's an instant messenger program used mainly in China. It's use outside of China is pretty limited. But, if you live here you're pretty much going to need to use it. My friend had to get a QQ number (screen name) for me because the sign up page is in Chinese.

So this is what it takes...

...for me to learn a language. The idea of learning a foreign language is so huge in my mind that I would rather do just about anything than try to learn one. But, I have finally found out what it takes to actually do it. Some people can just make a decision to learn another language and they do it. They can become fluent while not even living in a country that speaks the language. I am not one of those people. The only way I can overcome my resistance to learning the language is to put myself into a situation where it becomes necessary for survival.

That's kind of sad.

Past 4 days...

...I haven't done much. I haven't learned any new characters, words or sentences. But, today my motivation is back. On Tuesday my new Chinese teacher asked me to go to KTV (karaoke). She invited 3 other teachers from our school and after singing for a few hours one of the teachers asked me to go play pool with her. I've come to the realization that unless I learn Chinese my chances of a decent social life are pretty slim. She asked me the dreaded question every male expat is asked, "how long will you stay here?" The question is impossible to answer but this is the best I can do..."If I'm just by myself I can't stay long because it's too boring, maybe just 2 years. But, if I can learn Chinese and make a lot of friends I'd like to stay much longer."

So, yesterday I was too busy brooding over my terrible social life to study Chinese when it hit me. I've got to try harder. So, today my motivation is back and the studying has resumed.

Mnemosyne

I'm just starting to appreciate the power of the program Mnemosyne. First of all, I can spend just a little bit of time learning a single character because I know once I put it in Mnemosyne I'm going to see it again tomorrow, and probably the next day, and on and on until it finally sticks in my mind. It takes time to learn this way, but the effort required is much less than writing it out a billion times. The other cool thing is that it knows which characters I have trouble with, and it'll show me those characters more often. The characters I know very well, it will show me less frequently. I don't need to worry about keeping track of thousands of flash cards since it's all computerized. All I need to do is use the program every day and I'm all set. I'm up to 140 characters.