Thursday, October 27, 2016
Hi there! How are you guys? Yeah right! Like anyone would
read this.
Anyway, lately I’ve been busy learning new languages. I know,
I’ve been learning some languages since like… forever, but this time I’m doing
this really seriously. Yeah I’m still using the Duolingo apps. Some would say
it’s not really effective, but that’s not the only way I learn.
I have my own program. So, for me, so far Duolingo is still
the best and most effective free apps to learn languages. But of course it’s
not enough to really be able to communicate with those languages. So, I’ve made
my own program.
First, I have a specific schedule for my Duolingo practice.
For each language I’m learning at time, I have to practice 18 to 22 lessons a
day. And I always have to make a note for each new lesson. Then, I have to
practice reading articles and stories in the languages I’m learning. I would
search articles and stories from google and try to translate it to English. Then
I have to practice listening too. Usually I listen to the songs in the
languages I’m learning, or watch Game of Thrones, Modern Family, or news in
those languages.
I also have to write in those languages. That’s why, lately I
always write in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese in my blog. I haven’t write
anything in Indonesian or English. And I only write simple things like
introduction, food, animals, sports, hobbies. Because I’m practicing. Anyway,
my life has been great. I just got back from a nice trip to Belitung. I’ve
posted some photos on my instagram @astaripahleviofficial .
So, I’ve finished three languages in Duolingo: Italian,
Spanish, and Portuguese. It doesn’t make me automatically fluent in those
languages. I still need lots of practice, especially in Spanish and Portuguese.
Everyday I read, watch, listen, and write anything in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese.
But I still need one more thing. I really need native speakers to really
practice my oral. Hmm, that sounds wrong, doesn’t it?
And for now I just started learning French. It gives me a
whole lot of new challenges. Yeah, French turns out to be very challenging
compared to the other three languages from the same root. I still have to find
the pattern. There are so many differences from the other three. I also need to
work harder on the spelling and pronunciation.
But so far, it all went really well. Not just achieving my
target everyday, I even have gone further than my target. On my schedule, I was
supposed to finish Portuguese lesson by the end of October, and start learning
French on the beginning of November. But I’ve finished my Portuguese lesson so
much sooner than I was planning, and already been able to start my French lesson
so much sooner than the schedule. I was supposed to start learning French four
days from now, but these last three or four days I have already finished about
20 – 25 % of the lessons. If I could keep it that way, I might have finished my
French lesson by the 10th of November. So I’m gonna have a long
break before my Dutch and German lessons.
And why so obsessed? What’s with all this obsession and
ambition to speak all those languages?
Actually I’ve been thinking. Just like a smartphone, we were
created with lots of features. Some smartphones can do lots of things, from
making your own music videos to tracking airplanes, yet some people just use
their smartphones to take perfect selfies. I mean… wtf?
Well, it’s actually the same with us humans. We were created
with so many features. Some people can run really fast, some people can dive
very deep under the sea, some people can climb the highest mountains, some
people can play so many musical instruments, some people can speak more than 50
languages! No, seriously, there are at least three men that I know of, that can
speak 60 something languages. Seriously! It’s really awesome!
Yeah, we have so many features! Yet we only do what? Go to
school, graduate, get a boring job, get married, have children, and die? Seriously?
That’s sad.
So, me, learning these languages, is just one of my ways to
use my features. After these languages, I might learn something else, like
music, art, philosophy, cooking, anything more interesting than making a family. Well, I’m not saying that making family is bad. It is not bad. In fact, it is
very good. For those busy making family out there, you’re all the nicest and
most selfless people. Thank you.
It’s just not interesting for someone like me. I don’t think
I have it on my list of features.
Anyway, that’s it for today. See you later guys!
