Comments on: Tip of the day: Ignore everyone, do what you want http://languagegeek.net/2009/04/09/tip-of-the-day-ignore-everyone-do-what-you-want/ just blogging about my language geekery Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:33:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Erin http://languagegeek.net/2009/04/09/tip-of-the-day-ignore-everyone-do-what-you-want/#comment-539 Erin Wed, 06 May 2009 23:07:00 +0000 http://languagegeek.net/?p=328#comment-539 It turns out I was mistaken on a few things, and my adviser set me straight! :) There's a great deal of language acquisition research going on in the theoretical camp, so even though I'm studying the same thing I said I was, technically I'm headed toward a career in theoretical linguistics. Regardless of which camp wants to claim me, your post helped me articulate what it was I wanted to research. :D And btw, I do agree with you--spending time being angsty over language acquisition is something I sometimes do instead of actually learning a language, and it's just using one interest of mine as a means of procrastination and doesn't actually count as studying a language. It turns out I was mistaken on a few things, and my adviser set me straight! :) There’s a great deal of language acquisition research going on in the theoretical camp, so even though I’m studying the same thing I said I was, technically I’m headed toward a career in theoretical linguistics. Regardless of which camp wants to claim me, your post helped me articulate what it was I wanted to research. :D

And btw, I do agree with you–spending time being angsty over language acquisition is something I sometimes do instead of actually learning a language, and it’s just using one interest of mine as a means of procrastination and doesn’t actually count as studying a language.

]]> By: Josh http://languagegeek.net/2009/04/09/tip-of-the-day-ignore-everyone-do-what-you-want/#comment-538 Josh Sun, 03 May 2009 16:21:31 +0000 http://languagegeek.net/?p=328#comment-538 Erin: Sounds fascinating. Glad my little post helped you make youre decision. :) Erin: Sounds fascinating. Glad my little post helped you make youre decision. :)

]]> By: Erin http://languagegeek.net/2009/04/09/tip-of-the-day-ignore-everyone-do-what-you-want/#comment-537 Erin Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:14:06 +0000 http://languagegeek.net/?p=328#comment-537 Sure! I've been debating which "track" to take in linguistics for awhile, theoretical or applied. (You can't really do both and why not is something I don't really understand, but all my profs agree, so it's apparently the standard.) Your post reminded me why I went into linguistics in the first place--which is because I love learning languages so much, and also love learning about learning languages just as much. So I went applied, which largely deals with language acquisition (but also includes other applications of theoretical linguistics such as sociolinguistics). Writing this now makes the decision seem obvious, but I've agonized over this for over a year now. :D Sure! I’ve been debating which “track” to take in linguistics for awhile, theoretical or applied. (You can’t really do both and why not is something I don’t really understand, but all my profs agree, so it’s apparently the standard.) Your post reminded me why I went into linguistics in the first place–which is because I love learning languages so much, and also love learning about learning languages just as much. So I went applied, which largely deals with language acquisition (but also includes other applications of theoretical linguistics such as sociolinguistics). Writing this now makes the decision seem obvious, but I’ve agonized over this for over a year now. :D

]]> By: Josh http://languagegeek.net/2009/04/09/tip-of-the-day-ignore-everyone-do-what-you-want/#comment-536 Josh Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:07:41 +0000 http://languagegeek.net/?p=328#comment-536 Erin: Care to elaborate a bit? :) Sounds interesting! Erin: Care to elaborate a bit? :) Sounds interesting!

]]> By: Erin http://languagegeek.net/2009/04/09/tip-of-the-day-ignore-everyone-do-what-you-want/#comment-535 Erin Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:21:38 +0000 http://languagegeek.net/?p=328#comment-535 Hey Josh, This really is excellent advice, but I think I may have taken it differently than you intended. :D I say this with a smile because you helped me figure out my focus in my MA Linguistics degree. Thanks for all the good blogging, and keep up the good work! :) Hey Josh,

This really is excellent advice, but I think I may have taken it differently than you intended. :D I say this with a smile because you helped me figure out my focus in my MA Linguistics degree. Thanks for all the good blogging, and keep up the good work! :)

]]> By: Paul http://languagegeek.net/2009/04/09/tip-of-the-day-ignore-everyone-do-what-you-want/#comment-534 Paul Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:47:26 +0000 http://languagegeek.net/?p=328#comment-534 Josh this is excellent advice and I take it very personally :) I am certainly guilty of this; except I am worse. My problem is I get so caught up in the grammar I am too scared to actually use what I have learned. So I'd go further and say that the time has to come when the learning theories and grammar rules must be put aside and start living the language you are learning. (And yes, this comment is entirely written to myself.) Josh this is excellent advice and I take it very personally :) I am certainly guilty of this; except I am worse. My problem is I get so caught up in the grammar I am too scared to actually use what I have learned. So I’d go further and say that the time has to come when the learning theories and grammar rules must be put aside and start living the language you are learning.

(And yes, this comment is entirely written to myself.)

]]> By: amboycharlie http://languagegeek.net/2009/04/09/tip-of-the-day-ignore-everyone-do-what-you-want/#comment-533 amboycharlie Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:43:20 +0000 http://languagegeek.net/?p=328#comment-533 Here's another thing you can do. Figure out an interesting project that you can do with the language, especially with Kanji, that forces you to use them meaningfully. That way you're working with the language, rather than trying to force feed yourself. I have a site where you can play some spelling and matching games with it, putting those together taught me a lot. Here’s another thing you can do. Figure out an interesting project that you can do with the language, especially with Kanji, that forces you to use them meaningfully. That way you’re working with the language, rather than trying to force feed yourself. I have a site where you can play some spelling and matching games with it, putting those together taught me a lot.

]]> By: Kelly http://languagegeek.net/2009/04/09/tip-of-the-day-ignore-everyone-do-what-you-want/#comment-532 Kelly Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:48:34 +0000 http://languagegeek.net/?p=328#comment-532 I totally agree. The best way to learn a language is to read something in that language, go and talk to a native speaker or log on to an online radio station. As much as I enjoy reading about other people's experiences of learning languages, it's so much better to discover these things for yourself. Translation is a great way to boost your vocabulary and learn how to convey the same meaning in your own native language, while listening to a radio show in the language you're learning is a great way to improve your listening comprehension skills, especially when you have little or no contact with native speakers. I have little use for language acquisition theories in my language learning.. I totally agree. The best way to learn a language is to read something in that language, go and talk to a native speaker or log on to an online radio station.

As much as I enjoy reading about other people’s experiences of learning languages, it’s so much better to discover these things for yourself. Translation is a great way to boost your vocabulary and learn how to convey the same meaning in your own native language, while listening to a radio show in the language you’re learning is a great way to improve your listening comprehension skills, especially when you have little or no contact with native speakers. I have little use for language acquisition theories in my language learning..

]]> By: Mick http://languagegeek.net/2009/04/09/tip-of-the-day-ignore-everyone-do-what-you-want/#comment-531 Mick Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:55:40 +0000 http://languagegeek.net/?p=328#comment-531 This post has some good advice. I'd elaborate on why actually studying a language is better than quibbling about learning techniques, but my time will be better spent learning more Finnish. This post has some good advice. I’d elaborate on why actually studying a language is better than quibbling about learning techniques, but my time will be better spent learning more Finnish.

]]> By: Ramses http://languagegeek.net/2009/04/09/tip-of-the-day-ignore-everyone-do-what-you-want/#comment-530 Ramses Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:04:40 +0000 http://languagegeek.net/?p=328#comment-530 There's a solution to all this. Debate about learning language but do it 1) in your target language or 2) while listening to your target language. That's what I always do (but then, I always listen to Spanish, even when I'm doing other things in Spanish). There’s a solution to all this. Debate about learning language but do it 1) in your target language or 2) while listening to your target language. That’s what I always do (but then, I always listen to Spanish, even when I’m doing other things in Spanish).

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