My focused Romanian study is going well. I am listening to dialogues exclusively in the car during my commute. I will plan on taking the Interpreter test for the Coast Guard Auxiliary at the end of January, after beginning to speak the language exclusively with my wife in our home. This Sunday we go to a Romanian liturgy and party.
I'll keep you posted.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
A New Language Goal
I've resolved today that I'm going to charge my reasonable Romanian into a much stronger tool, with the plan that I will attempt to become a certified Romanian Interpreter for the Coast Guard at the end of January.
I'm a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Auxiliary has an Interpreter Corps that supports the U.S. Coast Guard. Maybe my Romanian's good enough right now to pass their tests. I don't know. But I don't want to leave anything to chance. I'm taking another large course with the Coast Guard in January which will have me driving some long hours back and forth, during which time I will be listening to my Romanian dialogues. I will also now move in the direction of speaking only Romanian at home with my Romanian wife.
I'll make regular updates on this blog about the progress of my attempt.
I'm a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Auxiliary has an Interpreter Corps that supports the U.S. Coast Guard. Maybe my Romanian's good enough right now to pass their tests. I don't know. But I don't want to leave anything to chance. I'm taking another large course with the Coast Guard in January which will have me driving some long hours back and forth, during which time I will be listening to my Romanian dialogues. I will also now move in the direction of speaking only Romanian at home with my Romanian wife.
I'll make regular updates on this blog about the progress of my attempt.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Mastering the Arabic Forms/Measures
If you're learning Arabic (and unless you were raised speaking it, you're never done!), then you've grappled with the enormously difficult system of the Forms (Measures) of the Arabic Verb.
Setting aside the question of the irregular verbs, even the most regular of letters can have up to ten different forms in which to appear.
As a handy reference, here is a presentation the 10 main Arabic Verb Forms. (There are a few extremely rare and now archaic and unused Forms beyond the 10. Don't worry about those.)
While you're just getting started in Arabic, it's important to have a clear chart of the Arabic Verb Forms readily on hand to consult while you're needing to look things up in your dictionary.
The best one I've seen for casual learning purposes are available for sale on the internet by one Snarla Husayn.
She has her chart of Arabic Verb Forms available in the form of a mousepad:
A wall poster:
conjugations of the ten measures by SnarlaHusayn
sell your artwork online using Zazzle.
And even a t-shirt with the Arabic Verb Forms!:
As long as you're buying nifty Arabic learning materials, check out Snarla Husayn's Store at Zazzle, where she has, among other things--
Shaykh Zubayr (get it, Shakespeare in a kafiyah!):
Anyway, what I found while learning Arabic is that the more I surrounded myself with the language constantly, the greater progress I made. And products like these really can help make the language come alive.
Setting aside the question of the irregular verbs, even the most regular of letters can have up to ten different forms in which to appear.
As a handy reference, here is a presentation the 10 main Arabic Verb Forms. (There are a few extremely rare and now archaic and unused Forms beyond the 10. Don't worry about those.)
While you're just getting started in Arabic, it's important to have a clear chart of the Arabic Verb Forms readily on hand to consult while you're needing to look things up in your dictionary.
The best one I've seen for casual learning purposes are available for sale on the internet by one Snarla Husayn.
She has her chart of Arabic Verb Forms available in the form of a mousepad:
A wall poster:
conjugations of the ten measures by SnarlaHusayn
sell your artwork online using Zazzle.
And even a t-shirt with the Arabic Verb Forms!:
As long as you're buying nifty Arabic learning materials, check out Snarla Husayn's Store at Zazzle, where she has, among other things--
Shaykh Zubayr (get it, Shakespeare in a kafiyah!):
Anyway, what I found while learning Arabic is that the more I surrounded myself with the language constantly, the greater progress I made. And products like these really can help make the language come alive.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
A Great Idea That Deserves Help
J. Snider at 52 Languages has a great idea that needs our support. Check out the details here:
http://52languages.blogspot.com/2011/03/appeal-to-language-enthusiasts.html
I just voted for the idea. It's a great way to support language learning to a new generation.
http://52languages.blogspot.com/2011/03/appeal-to-language-enthusiasts.html
I just voted for the idea. It's a great way to support language learning to a new generation.
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