{"id":652,"date":"2018-07-16T12:57:00","date_gmt":"2018-07-16T12:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/box5379.temp.domains\/~pjmaclay\/learning-language-openbook-blog-hop\/"},"modified":"2019-03-26T02:28:42","modified_gmt":"2019-03-26T02:28:42","slug":"learning-language-openbook-blog-hop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pjmaclayne.com\/?p=652","title":{"rendered":"Learning a Language #OpenBook Blog Hop"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nWhat language have you always wanted to learn? Do you think you will try?<\/b><\/p>\n

\nLearning a second language was a requirement for my high school. Back then, we only had two choices, French and Spanish. Not having a crystal ball to see into the future, I chose French.<\/p>\n

Although we only needed two years for graduation, I stuck with French for all four years. I can’t claim I was ever very good at it, although I got decent grades. My comprehension of the written language was far above my abilities with the spoken form. I couldn’t ‘hear’ the unique pronunciations and subtle differences between French and English. I got the words right, but I slaughtered the way I said them.<\/p>\n

My senior year, I studied Russian history. That was back in the Cold War days and I thought I should know more about our biggest enemy. As a side point of interest, I attempted to learn some basic Russian. There wasn’t anyone around who knew the language, so most of my study was grammar and the actual letters. This was pre-internet days, so I couldn’t even go online to listen to the language.<\/p>\n

Amazingly enough, the college I went to offered Russian. Even though I wasn’t required to take a language course, I jumped on the opportunity. And you know what? I had the same problems with Russian that I did with French. Did fine with the written portion, couldn’t catch the nuances of the spoken part.<\/p>\n

There is one language out there that doesn’t require being able to hear the subtleties of the spoken word and I’ve thought about giving it a try. Sign. I know there are on-line courses, but I value in-person teaching, and our local community college doesn’t offer sign as a course. I’m not sure I’m ready to make that much of a commitment to it anyway. I don’t know how I’d use it in my daily life.
\nBut I love watching videos of people who have the skills. Their hands dance as they talk.<\/p>\n

Maybe one of these days. Until then.<\/p>\n

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