September 2023 Inside Circle: The Energy of Adjusting Your Targets & Sustaining a Language

Intro

Kyejin: Welcome to the Inside Circle. That is the month-to-month e-newsletter…. Peter: That is the month-to-month no-holds-barred e-newsletter providing you with tried and examined studying strategies that can assist you attain your language targets this 12 months. Kyejin: Hello, I am Kyejin, and I am joined by my co-host, the founding father of Progressive Language, Peter Galante. Peter: Hello, everybody, Peter right here. Physique Kyejin: How are you, Peter? Peter: Properly, I feel you can perhaps hear my voice. Getting over a chilly. Kyejin: Oh, no. Yeah, it is getting chilly right here. Peter: Yeah, and so sadly, after we make our plans for the 12 months, or we make our plans for the week or our plans for the day, there are at all times these surprising issues that pop up. And yeah. Kyejin: And this is among the examples. Peter: This is among the examples, and a chilly can take out 5 days in a month, which is an enormous period of time. Kyejin: Certainly. Peter: So, earlier than we discuss that and the consequences, let’s sort of simply go over final time. So Kyejin, did you need to inform us, simply remind us what we did final time? Kyejin: Certain. So, final time you realized concerning the energy of consolidating your routines. Peter: And Kyejin, you are engaged on getting your motivation again, proper? Kyejin: Proper. So I attempted to get again my one-on-one classes, and I attempted to writing messages to my Premium PLUS lecturers. And likewise I attempted to search out some attention-grabbing methods to be taught French plus make studying French part of my life. Peter: I like the best way you mentioned that, and it looks like you had been profitable. Kyejin: Sure. Properly, sure, I feel I might do higher, however nonetheless, it is on the best way. I discovered an attention-grabbing option to combine my French studying into my each day life. And I need to introduce that right now. Peter: OK. So, let’s discuss introducing French or language research into your each day life. That is a very, actually, a really attention-grabbing subject. However earlier than that, let’s simply shortly contact on our month-to-month targets. Kyejin: What was your month-to-month purpose final time? Peter: Final time we had been speaking about getting again to that common routine…. Could not, could not do it. The truth is, I needed to reintroduce the stay courses again right here in Tokyo, however that did not work as a result of I couldn’t exit of the home. Yeah, once you’re sick, even if you happen to get examined to just be sure you haven’t got COVID or the flu, there’s those that, that, that shut proximity so folks nonetheless can doubtlessly, they like if individuals are not sick when doing this stuff. Kyejin: So, particularly throughout this era. Peter: Precisely. So, the routine I used to be not capable of obtain. Nevertheless, the DELF e-book that you simply gave me. Thanks a lot. That was very, excellent. Kyejin: Attention-grabbing. Was the e-book too laborious for you, or is it excellent on your degree? Peter: Properly, I wasn’t capable of check the listening. I feel I would like the audio element to that. I meant to observe up with you about that. However the studying and the writing had been excellent, however the listening and the talking once more, I have not had an opportunity to essentially check that very nicely. Nevertheless, the 2 sections I did regarded fairly good. Kyejin: Wow. Are you assured in passing these abilities in DELF? Peter: That is an attention-grabbing option to phrase the query as a result of at present I can’t signal as much as take the check as a result of all of the seats are full. So I’ve two doable alternate options to doing this: discovering a special location exterior of Tokyo to take the check, or the worst case, I can have my college put together a critical apply examination the place they grade it and I get my outcomes. The advantage of that’s that I am going to get my outcomes very fast. So I am going to have the ability to make the announcement earlier than the top of November, whether or not I might have handed or not. Kyejin: That is true. And I’ve information too. I additionally didn’t get the DELF. Properly, I feel I checked the web page after a couple of days, perhaps like every week later, the open date, and it was full. I could not be a part of the B1 check. So, wow. I used to be actually stunned, and I am very pleased that I already took the check earlier than. Peter: Took and handed the check. Kyejin: Sure. Sure. And you recognize, if you happen to take the examination in November, truly, you get the end in perhaps late December or January. So I used to be nicely ready. Peter: Yeah, you’re very exceptional. Kyejin: Thanks, However now I have to discover a totally different purpose as a substitute. Peter: Properly, you hit your purpose. So that you’re doing so nicely, and I am at a little bit of a low level, simply getting over being sick, not having the ability to enroll in the check, and being behind in lots of areas. So Kyejin, you and I each haven’t got a seat on the examination. Kyejin: That is proper. I am actually unhappy. Peter: So initially, we had deliberate to speak about the right way to condense. Properly, the stretch, the stretch to your purpose, like the right way to prep for the ultimate check, the right way to prepare. However proper now, we at present haven’t got seats for this, and Kyejin, you already reached your purpose, right? Kyejin: Right. And yeah, fortunately, I took the check already, so I reached my purpose. Properly, that was a apply. However, nicely, fortunately, I reached the purpose, and now my new purpose is to keep up my French proficiency. Peter: Sustaining a language. So yeah, you’ve got already reached your purpose. You sort of set a brand new purpose simply because it was handy. However yeah, you’ve got already reached your purpose. So, sustaining a language. Kyejin: Sure. Sustaining language. My French, Peter: Let’s discuss your introduction to your each day routine or, like principally integrating language, learning along with your each day routine. Kyejin: Sure. Really, I’ve a query earlier than that. Peter, you studied? Peter: Denied. Kyejin: Okay. Bye. Thanks for listening. No, no, no. You studied many languages. And the way do you retain up with all of the languages you have got realized up to now? Could I ask? Peter: Yeah, that is an issue. I feel I’ve spoken about this previously. I attempt to get to a sure degree after which keep as finest I can. And often, the best way I outline sustaining is with the ability to communicate for 2 hours relatively freely 90% of the time. I need not search for the phrase, or I can have a 30-minute to an hour-long dialog, one on one. And I desire to try this in a really informal setting, like both over a meal or over a espresso or sort of a really informal setting. So these two languages fall into… these are for me, these are Chinese language and Italian. So, twice every week, I meet with my lecturers, and we casually speak at perhaps a excessive intermediate degree. The opposite languages, a few of them, it’s important to allow them to go as a result of it is unimaginable to maintain. I imply, it is similar to figuring out. You sort of should hold working at it, proper? Even my Japanese, which we stay right here in Tokyo, is at a really excessive degree. You can nonetheless work at it to make it higher and higher and higher. So, Japanese is one thing I communicate every single day. The opposite two languages I keep. A number of languages, I needed to let go. Meaning I do not research them in any respect. After which there are a couple of languages which might be on very, very gradual progress. That is Korean and Hebrew. So I used to be truly higher at them years in the past after I was actively learning laborious, and now they’re in gradual upkeep mode. So I spend one hour every week with a trainer going over them. So, I feel it is doable if you happen to’re actually, actually working at it to maintain seven languages, perhaps, like, you’ll be able to research one a day. You’ve got a bit time for one language a day simply to keep up it. However once more, keep, it signifies that you are, you are barely maintaining with it. In all probability, dropping talent is a greater option to describe sustaining a language. Kyejin: Yeah, truly, that was my drawback. Properly, I do not communicate seven languages such as you, however… Peter: I do not both. There’s English, Japanese, Chinese language, and Italian in that order. Kyejin: However nonetheless, that is excellent. However I communicate Korean, English, Japanese, and now I am studying French. And for Japanese, I stay in Japan, so I attempt to communicate Japanese exterior, or there are lots of probabilities the place I can use my Japanese in Japan. And for English, fortunately, I can use it at work. So I communicate English every single day. And for Korean, I attempt to learn articles or watch some YouTube movies in Korean. I attempt to hear or learn some issues in Korean every single day, learn books or one thing. It is my mom tongue. However nonetheless, if I do not use it if I do not hear or watch something or learn, I really feel like my Korean isn’t good. So I attempt to try this. For French, the issue is I really feel like I do not make French part of my life, identical to Korean, Japanese, and English. So, I have been looking for some attention-grabbing methods to combine French studying into my each day life. And I already talked to you about a number of issues like I am watching some attention-grabbing, enjoyable YouTube movies from FrenchPod101 throughout my lunch hours, or I take heed to the podcast whereas I used to be strolling, and I am nonetheless searching for different methods, too. And this month, I began enjoying a recreation in French. Peter: What recreation? Kyejin: Have you learnt Animal Crossing? Peter: No. Kyejin: So it is a very cute recreation made by, I feel, Nintendo. And principally, what I do is I speak to animals that I develop within the recreation, and I choose up some fruits. I catch some fish, and all of the duties had been written in French. So, after all, I do not perceive every part, however I feel I perceive perhaps like 70%, and typically animals are speaking like, “I misplaced my merchandise. I do not keep in mind the place, however in all probability it is close to the seaside. And might you please discover it?” Then I am going to the seaside and attempt to discover one thing that my animal misplaced, or the animals speak like, “It is getting chilly. So please cowl your self with a blanket at evening; in any other case, you’ll catch a chilly.” So I discover it very attention-grabbing first, and I can full some duties written in French. And yeah, I do not really feel like I am learning, and I am utilizing my French within the recreation. In order that’s one of many factor, and the opposite factor is… Peter: So Kyejin, let me simply cease you right here. So, simply again up a couple of steps. So this can be a Nintendo recreation. Which, so first, the place did you discover it? Which market? Kyejin: I used my telephone. It is a Nintendo recreation, and I can obtain it on-line without cost. Peter: OK. So you employ your telephone, and your telephone is an Android-based telephone or an iPhone. Kyejin: iPhone. Peter: OK. So, did you get it by way of the app retailer? Kyejin: Sure. Peter: OK. So that you downloaded Animal Crossing by way of the app retailer. Then, once you loaded the sport, it allowed you to pick the language? Kyejin: Sure, I do not keep in mind what number of languages there are, however I undoubtedly keep in mind Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, English, clearly, and a few widespread languages. So I selected French. Peter: Very attention-grabbing. After which, now you play the sport for a bit bit every day, proper? Kyejin: I can not say every day however a couple of occasions every week, however I am making an attempt. Peter: OK. Obtained it. Thanks. In order that’s tremendous attention-grabbing. Would you say that you simply’re ready to try this since you’re at the next degree or do you assume any degree can do that? Kyejin: I feel you want no less than B1. Really, I attempted this recreation after I was a really newbie, French learner, and I could not perceive something. I might set the sport for like Korean, English or Japanese. However, nicely, truly, my fundamental purpose of enjoying this recreation was to apply the language in additional pure atmosphere. So, that point, I sort of stopped. However now, nicely, my degree is increased than earlier than. So I might play the sport in French. Peter: Yeah, that goes again to this: sustaining a language. And when you get to a sure level, it lets you have interaction in additional enjoyable actions, like passively watching a present within the goal language or having fun with studying within the goal language. And so that you really want the… the time you spend is definitely extra enjoyable versus sitting there with flash playing cards. And so it is an incentive to get good. So, yeah, that is a really, very attention-grabbing approach that you simply’re now having fun with the language. So I am going to attempt to see. It sounds attention-grabbing. Kyejin: Good factor is it is interactive. So it isn’t simply learn and end. They provide you a process, do that in French. Then I learn it. Generally, I search for the phrases, and I full the duties, and I really feel like, wow, I did one thing in French. It is not simply learning. It is extra like I used French. Peter: So Kyejin, so that you mentioned a couple of occasions every week, proper? So for example thrice every week. Kyejin: Yeah, thrice every week, perhaps 4 occasions. Often, I do that in my commuting hours. Peter: And the way lengthy do you work together with the sport for? Kyejin: half-hour to an hour? Peter: Wow. Oh, wow. So that is fairly an funding right here. Kyejin: Certainly. And truly, time flies. So I spend round an hour to return to the workplace or go house, and time flies, and whereas I am enjoying the sport, I am finishing some work in French, and I arrive house shortly. Peter: Yeah, Let’s take the dialog in a special course after a pair extra issues. And do you see the outcomes? Kyejin: Truthfully, I do not see the direct end result as a result of I learn and full some duties. However I really feel extra snug having a dialog with my animals. At first, I used to be like, wow, all of them communicate French, and their French isn’t the textbook fashion of French. There may be some slang, or they use informal French. So, at first, I felt perhaps that is nonetheless an excessive amount of for me, however now I am getting extra used to it. So if that is the end result, sure, I am seeing some outcomes. Peter: That is, I suppose one of many greatest, I imply, that is why AI has such promise, proper? Since you’re speaking in a really managed atmosphere, proper? It is typically laborious to speak to folks. Though once you speak to folks, it is lots simpler to know as a result of a number of physique language, a number of communication is physique language, proper? However it goes again sort of up to now, proper? If we alter this dialog, we’re sort of getting away from the check outcomes. But when we make this dialog about just like the languages you research within the languages I research, proper? So your native language is Korean, the work atmosphere is English and you reside in Japan, which makes these three languages essential to your each day life. And for me, English is my native language, my spouse is Chinese language, and we stay in Japan. So, these three languages are essential to my each day life. And there is a number of connections or we name them anchor factors throughout all of the spectrum, cultural, survival, et cetera. That makes Italian for me and French for you the sort of this outlier. Properly, why are we doing this and why are we learning French, and what can we need to get out of it? Proper? So, I feel we have carried out some actually deep dives on this and another classes and different discussions. So yeah, the connections that you simply’re making an attempt to construct. That is an attention-grabbing one. It is a very enjoyable atmosphere, proper? Not very stress-filled or going abroad and dwelling within the nation, which could be very… on a stress degree, in all probability fairly excessive, proper? Kyejin: Proper. Peter: So the sport is nice for getting you immersed in French, proper? Kyejin: Proper. Peter: However what, what’s, what’s a end result you need to obtain from this? Simply to enhance your French to make use of in different conditions or simply to take pleasure in enjoying in a French atmosphere? Kyejin: First, I needed to make it simply a part of my life as a result of I imagine language studying is a marathon. I’ve to do it eternally. And as I discussed, Korean, Japanese, and English, I have already got a option to keep the language abilities. However for French, I really feel like I am missing it. I haven’t got a option to keep it in my each day life. So I am making an attempt to have enjoyable with French, in contrast to different languages. Once I need to have some recreation or after I need to watch enjoyable YouTube movies or take heed to music or motion pictures today, I am making an attempt to decide on French or France-related as a result of I like studying a language and I need to stick with it. Peter: So the purpose from this recreation, what you need to get out of it, is best French, proper? Kyejin: Sure. Sure. And this one is generally serving to me with studying French. And it isn’t the formal French that I see within the textbook with excellent grammar. However it’s extra just like the pure French that younger folks usually use on the web. And that does not imply that they use damaged French. However it’s extra just like the shortened type or some widespread phrases; perhaps it is slang, however nonetheless many individuals use it within the nation. So, for instance, they usually shorten with apostrophes. Within the correct French grammar that I realized from the DELF textbook, that is unsuitable. However I see that sort of grammar lots on YouTube feedback and like regular French folks on-line. And truly, this recreation used that sort of language. So I acquired actually used to this. Peter: Yeah. Any publicity to the language is great. However yeah, the time constraints, it begins to get so powerful. The extra languages and the extra time you spend on these various things. However Kyejin, thanks very a lot for sharing. That is a really good approach of integrating it into your each day routine. Offers me an concept… Kyejin: However nonetheless, it does not assist me with my talking. So, in October, I need to enhance my one-on-one lesson hours as a result of now we now have FrenchPod101 non-public courses. So I will be taught with my FrenchPod101 trainer. Peter: Wow. I am nonetheless ready for my non-public lesson from you for Korean. That is my final purpose. However I can by no means safe that. OK, so let’s discuss this dialogue, a bit off subject. However I feel the rationale that right now was or this dialogue wasn’t so centered is that nicely Kyejin already accomplished her purpose, and we each had set new targets for November, however we each didn’t get a seat or on the examination. So, Kyejin, I feel you talked about earlier that we have to rework our targets. So it’s important to rework your purpose, and my purpose continues to be very a lot the identical. This A2 check, and I’ll attempt to discover a totally different location. I am a bit extra motivated to discover a totally different location as a result of I wish to take the check like Kyejin has carried out. Nevertheless, if I can’t, I’ll take the check. I am going to ask the college right here in Tokyo to create a pattern check and simply give their consensus on whether or not I might have handed or failed this check. So, in some methods, my purpose stays the identical. Nevertheless, it isn’t the identical as what Kyejin did sitting down and taking a check. However I am nonetheless fairly decided and able to bounce again. However final month was, yeah, however each month, there’s at all times one thing. However the illness undoubtedly affected my bodily means to work my approach by way of. Kyejin, what, what about you? What, what do you assume? What do you assume your new purpose can be? Have you ever given any thought or? Kyejin: Yeah. So for October, as I discussed, I need to enhance my talking hours by including my FrenchPod101 non-public courses. And I additionally need to proceed utilizing my attention-grabbing, enjoyable methods to be taught French that I discovered to make it actually the a part of my life. And likewise, I need to discover a totally different purpose for the 12 months as a result of I didn’t take B1 once more this 12 months. It was full so shortly. So, Peter, what’s your purpose for October? Peter: So, yeah, I have to get again to my intense schedule as a result of both approach, I can be taking the check or apply check, which can have a rating that I report again to finish our settlement… regardless that it is technically not the identical. I belief that the college can do an excellent job at this. So, I’ve about 5 weeks left to get into check form. So my purpose is less complicated than yours in a approach as a result of it has not modified. I am nonetheless aiming for this, this passing a check. Kyejin: Sounds good. So our deadline is October thirty first, 2023 listeners. What about you? Tell us what your small measurable month-to-month purpose is? E mail us at inside dot circle at revolutionary language dot com, and keep tuned for the subsequent inside circle.

Outro

Peter: Bye everybody. Kyejin: Thanks for listening and we’ll see you subsequent time. Bye.