Weeks progress?
None. No studying was done whatsoever. This means 2 weeks of no active studying. One week is understandable, but two? Time to acknowledge that I have encountered my second issue.
So no Spanish at all?
Well, I watched movies which had subtitles and read an article or two. However I said I did no active studying and I have defined these as passive. I did go to Uruguay for a day, just to renew my visa, and had many opportunities to speak Spanish. Needless to say I was very comfortable when speaking, I understood most of what was said and could predict the rest from context. But I feel that this wasn't a true challenge as it was all touristy language and none of it required me to use tenses or push boundaries. Even though I was producing the language, I felt it was more like revision than anything else.
This seems to suggest that you could be a very comfortable functioning tourist very quickly.
The second problem
The question seems to be “where do we go from here?”. The memory techniques I have used have been highly successful thus far. The understanding of the language which I teach to students raises their awareness and level of the language. However, I have thought myself to be at too low a level to really utilise this approach. This seems to be untrue right now.
Solution number 1
The two main groups of collocations are lexical and grammatical. Recently my learners and I have modified these models and said that instead of making lists which are too long, it might be better to create smaller, more functional groups of these collocations.. As a result, there are further things to define.
Lexical collocations: typically strong meaning tied strongly to a situation. Such as “have a coffee” which is a specific collocation meaning “to drink”. Thus, it is heavily attached to this theme/ topic of food/drink. “have a soda”, “have a beer”, etc. Typically specific meaning and strong ties to a situation.
Grammatical collocations: Although meaning here is also strong, there is no strong tie to any one topic, but rather the flexibility to adapt to any topic, i.e. “not only.....but also......”. The meaning is adding information but also adding emphasis as well. “not only do I like fish, but I also enjoy chicken”. This collocation could be modified to fit any topic. i.e. “ not only do gym regularly, but I also eat right and take vitamins.”. Strong meaning but flexible to any topic.
Solution number 2
Using multiple mnemonics, I will attempt to create a large reference base of accurate popular language in my head.
Combining the “memory mansion”/”Roman room” technique, along with two more, the plan is to be able to fit 300 plus items in each house.
The number association technique allows you to memorise numbers by connecting them with a picture. Two = shoe, eight = gate. Anything that sounds similar can be used.
The abbreviation technique is something more common (perhaps not the typical name, but it is easy to understand). Basically the way to remember large lists of words. “Dancing really takes it out of me” - taking the initial letter and changing it to a strange story - “dogs run toward igloos on one mano” (yes,I combined English and Spanish mano=hand) but the sentence is extremely visual, provides you with an accurate word count and the beginning letter of each word. Attach a meaning (in this case: to express tiredness) and imagine it with your visual sentence (the dogs are tired after running).
Not only this, but if you imagine 10 numbers at each location of your memory mansion, such as 1-10 at your front door, change the numbers for pictures/ images, you are able to connect your visual sentence to the visual 'button' in your memory mansion.
Example?
Number one = sounds similar to 'sun', see a sun at your front door, push it like a button to connect your memory of dogs running to igloos on one mano in the sun (number 1). after running the dogs are tired. Dogs Run To Igloos On One Mano = Dancing Really Takes It Out Of Me. Once you are comfortable, your brain will realise the obvious ways to manipulate the sentence, such as changing dancing for any other verb + ing or an activity. Changing the object from 'me' to 'you'/'he'/etc.
“Studying really takes it out of most people”
The plan.
I will attempt 10 phrases/ sentences per day. Each week totalling 50. More if I'm able, less if I'm busy. But at least there is a plan which I am confident about.
Seems I have graduated from one word memories and tourist language to more native constructions, a bold claim indeed, lets see if I can back it up.
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