tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7292792765223562839.post148590533154612356..comments2012-10-16T21:45:55.908+08:00Comments on Free Durian: Language Diary ThursdaysLusyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352307000387725294noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7292792765223562839.post-37867893993732444492012-03-16T06:52:14.681+08:002012-03-16T06:52:14.681+08:00Oh, and I can't say whether you're right o...Oh, and I can't say whether you're right or wrong, since I have no idea what "으" sounds like. <br /><br />Have fun in Iran, but keep in mind that they're not entirely harmless to tourists like the Norks (not that one can blame them for being paranoid), so be careful.fgalkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06881569497528539411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7292792765223562839.post-67299740196082281772012-03-15T23:36:12.966+08:002012-03-15T23:36:12.966+08:00Well, I'm sure they'll get to actually tea...Well, I'm sure they'll get to actually teaching the language...eventually :)fgalkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06881569497528539411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7292792765223562839.post-15526773639105973802012-03-15T23:21:05.907+08:002012-03-15T23:21:05.907+08:00I suppose I should mention that I like the way the...I suppose I should mention that I like the way they put more focus on phonics here than I remember receiving in any of my language classes in Australia. It's just that I wonder if they take the focus too far the other way. Even if you have fantastic phonics, it's still hard to get fluent if you're not used to stringing sentences together. If there were, say, three classes a week instead of two, I'd be fine with 2-3 hours of phonics a week. I just find the balance to be a bit off at the moment.Lusyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00352307000387725294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7292792765223562839.post-78360636759102919272012-03-15T23:02:06.264+08:002012-03-15T23:02:06.264+08:00To me, ы sounds really similar the 으 sound in Kore...To me, ы sounds really similar the 으 sound in Korean. Of course, I could just be getting it completely wrong like most foreigners, or getting it wrong, but in a hilariously different way from most native English speakers. <br /><br />I dunno. I'd still rather have the lesson be maybe 1 hour of phonics plus 30 minutes of "hi, my name is so and so, nice to meet you". Even Korean phonics didn't take this long, and they have way more many vowels than you do.<br /><br />A private tutor does seem like a good idea, but I might have to put that idea on hold for a month, since I'm going to Iran for a couple of weeks around Easter. At least I should actually be able to find Russian speakers at university, unlike speakers of some languages *cough*Malay*cough*Lusyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00352307000387725294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7292792765223562839.post-51657538666249501572012-03-15T22:50:39.133+08:002012-03-15T22:50:39.133+08:00Well, after hearing countless foreigners stumble o...Well, after hearing countless foreigners stumble over the ы sound (I believe it can be used as a shibboleth), I can't say I blame your teachers. Sure, it may be boring right now, but believe me, when you do learn the words, you'll be grateful.<br /><br />By the way, you may want to give some thought to hiring a private tutor. In my experience, having individual attention helps tremendously- I've failed out of Spanish in college, then got a tutor when I had to learn it for work, and was chatting merrily in two months or so. Talking about random stuff you usually talk about does wonders for your active vocabulary, and it makes you more comfortable with the language.fgalkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06881569497528539411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7292792765223562839.post-19153230941124903762012-03-15T22:31:11.867+08:002012-03-15T22:31:11.867+08:00So it is. I somehow read the wrong line for the ge...So it is. I somehow read the wrong line for the gender. Oops. I shall correct it it forthwith. <br /><br />Yeah, I know phonics are important, but I'd rather they space it out a bit more, because an hour and a half of ба бо бу бы бэ па по пу пы пэ... twice a week for a month doesn't actually make it feel like a living language.Lusyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00352307000387725294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7292792765223562839.post-5181503216126833502012-03-15T22:14:52.955+08:002012-03-15T22:14:52.955+08:00Well, it just so happens there is a native Russian...Well, it just so happens there is a native Russian speaker reading this blog so if you need any help, feel free to ask. <br /><br />By the way, you made a mistake in the one thing that you have learned to say. Словарь is masculine, so it should be Это чей словарь? Это мой словарь. Or, perhaps, чей это словарь, which feels more natural (both versions are correct, though). <br /><br />And, well, phonics are important. That's how you avoid sounding like an American spy or an illiterate чурка to us. :)fgalkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06881569497528539411noreply@blogger.com