I think I have forgotten how it was like to learn Korean. I did remember certain episodes, but my memory is full of holes.
I remember..
- the day I first flipped through a full length korean book, and being excited when I could read a few sentences here and there
- the first time i chatted with a korean on MSN (I was super nervous)
- the first time I tried voice chatting in Korean (another nervous breakdown)
- the first time I tried to do korean news translation
- ……
But I forgotten how it was like to learn Korean. But I vaguely remembered not having any difficulties remembering new words or grammar structures. Unlike how I feel with Japanese now. Either my brain has deteriorated or that I’m simply find it harder to remember Japanese. Or maybe Japanese is just harder.
I don’t like memorizing vocabulary. And I will not do so.
Torn between studying Japanese just for the sake of exams (which I do have!) or simply learning other content (which will not be tested).
4 Comments
rin
16 April, 2011 at 11:33 PMI took quite some time before getting used to the sounds of Japanese..plus when i read any Kanji the Chinese pronunciation comes ringing before i could think of what’s the Japanese reading.=l
Are you studying in jcs?
Alexander Ristich
18 April, 2011 at 1:43 PMI find that whenever I put pressure on myself to remember/memorize certain things in a language, I often get discouraged when I am unable to do so.
Instead, I just read and listen a lot and eventually things comes together. I may forget what I read two days ago, but if I see it again or see it in a few different contexts it’s likely to stick more and I will also have a more natural feel of what it is. Not to mention I won’t be stressed out when I’m unable to remember something I recently read or heard.
Forgetting is a natural part of life (not just language), so instead of expecting yourself to remember everything you see, read or hear, be glad when you remember anything. 🙂
Alexander Ristich
18 April, 2011 at 1:46 PMHave a look at this article:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/8200956/Cant-learn-a-foreign-language-Not-true-say-scientists.html
Pay special attention to this line near the bottom: “He thought repetition was the key – but the brain learned best when it was relaxed and not trying to remember anything at all.”
hangukdrama
23 April, 2011 at 8:12 PMThanks for the advice! ^^ Personally, I feel more inclined(?) to memorise when i’m learning languages in a classroom setting and i definitely enjoy the process less. It feels strange when we are not allowed to use vocabulary and grammar constructions that we have not learned in class :/