A Hibernating Mode for Learning Chinese
henning
October 18, 2009, 06:52 AM posted in General DiscussionFor career related reasons I will have to cut down my Chinese studies significantly - probably for a time frame of about 2 years. I already limited my community time, but now I need to go to the real meat.
What I absolutely want to avoid is losing it all during that time. So my primary goal for the next to years is: Keeping and consolodating my level.
What I think might work:
- listening to podcasts in idle situations (housework, commuting, etc.)
- casually reading some Chinese material
- keeping a daily "hibernating slot" (max. 45 minutes) in which I do some writing, work through the lessons here, or do some HSK material (not all each day and not in a high dose).
The fun times with 90-120 minutes each day plus some really heavy learning on the weekends are definitaly over.
Sigh. Hope it works.
lechuan
October 19, 2009, 07:24 PMall dialog mp3's that you've already studied over and over... (then just look up what you've forgotten).
changye
October 18, 2009, 07:37 AMHi henning
I recommend you listen to Chinese radio stations on the web as "background music", instead of Bach and Beethoven, whenever it's possible, which I think is the easiest way not to lose the feel of Chinese. I often listen to 中央人民广播台, for example, when reading Japanese online newspapers (and even while at work).
http://www.cnr.cn/
henning
October 19, 2009, 02:54 AMsebire, tal,
please note that the time I gave up there is an upper bound. That is the major difference - it is not a lower bound as it used to be.
changye,
yes - I was thinking in that direction. Thanks for the link! Interestingly, it only works with the IE, but that is fine.
changye
October 19, 2009, 03:13 AMHi henning
Be careful not to get assimilated into the world of propaganda. Resistance is futile? 抵抗是徒劳吗？
henning
October 19, 2009, 03:21 AMchangye,
fortunately my Chinese abilities are too low to get all the subtile cues that would otherwise turn me into a blind marionette. Language ability can be an effective propaganda filter.
Tal
October 18, 2009, 07:32 AMWas wondering why we didn't see a lot of you these days henning. It's a shame, your presence is missed.
Just like sebire, your hibernation sounds like me at my most active. Well... since I became a parent 8 months ago anyway.
Good luck man, keep the inner flame burning!
sebire
October 19, 2009, 06:51 AMHenning, it's my upper bound too. Recently, I vary between doing about a lesson a week to 30 mins to an hour every other night. Depends how tired I am. I intend to listen on my commute, but I'm usually really sleepy. So yes, a good week would be if I did about 3-5 hours, a bad week, nothing.
RJ
October 19, 2009, 10:41 AMHybernation - isnt that what your computer does when you fall asleep, and then it never works right again?
Henning
Im sure you will get more done asleep than most of us do while awake. Isnt there another way? Perhaps you can multitask a little. Delegate a lot. :-)
henning
October 19, 2009, 01:02 PMRJ,
you pinpointed my deepest fear.
But delegation is not an option. I am alone with this job.
bodawei
October 19, 2009, 02:04 PM@henning
I think I may have the opposite problem. I may have a Chinese addiction. A heavier work load saves me from a nasty fate.
orangina
October 19, 2009, 04:21 AMyay! changye just gave us more 星际迷航 vocab!
sebire
October 18, 2009, 07:13 AMGosh Henning, your hibernating plan is how I learn Chinese. You shouldn't have any problems :) Or at least, you'll only improve at my rate, which is probably not going to set the world alight, but I'm happy with it.
Hope you still pop by from time-to-time, good luck with whatever you're getting up to!