New Year's Resolution

Well ... I never used to make one ... this is my first and only:

I will study Hindi for 30 minutes every day, and if I don't manage to do so, I will compensate in the following days.

Let's see ...

 

A Long Leson after a Long Time

Oh, it took an eternity to complete the whole lesson today! The texts became longer, an I still have to catsch up with my studies. Anyway, no regerets. Just the pleasant feeling that I am advancing!

Lesson 12b
2b -L1, reading, L2, L5, L6 (5) - this left from the last time. I missed the dictation also.

Lesson 13a
5a - L2, L4 (3), L5
5b - L1, L2, L3, L4 (3)
6a - L1, L2 (3)
6b - L1 (5)

Lesson 13b
2b - L6, L7, L8 (3), L9 (3), dictation
3a - L6 (3), L7 (3), dictation
3b - I left it for the next time

After a Break

I slowly continue with my studies. Today I did the second part of lesson 12 (e.g. Lesson 12b):

2a - L2, L5, L6 (5)   -  left from the previous lesson

1b  - L6, L7, L8 (3), L9 (3), dictation
2a - L7 (3), dictation
2b - I didn't do

Hard to Go Further!

I finished lesson 12a on 16.11.13 and started to work again. And... until then I don't get any time to go further. So, I confessed... and I promise to find time!

So this I did for last:
4b - L2, L4 (3), L5
5a - L1, L2, L3, L4 (4)
5b - L1, L2 (3)
6a - L1 (5)

1b - L6, L7

My Modified Pronunciation Exercises

So! Most important to me is to speak correctly, that's why it is crucial to use all your means in order to achieve this result. The available resources are text and audio, that's why let's use them wisely!

L1 - start with endless listening to the text (usually while traveling, just to save time and to keep from being bored). It must stick like caramel to your teeth. You must almost hate it. Listening is important even if you did the text already. You must finish by keeping it in mind with all his intonations and pronunciations, it must turn almost to a song, you must be able to recite it at any moment. Apart from learning intonations and pronunciation, you are also learning new words and standard phrases. A text is a treasure.
- Reading aloud.
L2 - First read the text aloud (trains reading skills). Then listen to the text while reading it (not aloud).
L4 - If translation is still not clear, listen to the text once, reading the translation.
L5 - Listen to the text once without the book or the translation
L6 - Most important pronunciation exercise! Read the text once. Then listen to one phrase, then repeat it while reading. You may repeat a phrase several times until you are not happy with your pronunciation. Do it till the end of the text.
- Dictation - 3 times in 3 different days.
L7 - Repeat phrase after phrase with audio, but without a book.
L8 - Read the text without the audio.
L9 - First read one phrase, then listen to the audio. Do it till the end of the text.
L10 - Voice recording while listening +- reading, after hearing the audio (phrase per phrase)
L11 - Voice recording while listening +- reading , but before hearing the audio (phrase per phrase)
L11a - Voice recording without listening or reading
L12 - Repeating of standard phrases in real time situations

And my preliminarily program:   L1, L12 - whenever there is time
A - L6 (1), Dictation, L7, L8, L9
B - L6 (3), L7 (2-3), Dictation
C - L1, Reading, L2, +- L4, L5, L6 (5), Dictation

Let's see if it works!

Torn Between

Torn between listening and pronunciation! I definitely will have to split these two exercises (as I did with my cardio and weights training at the fitness). I also need to modify the pronunciation exercises, because, to my opinion, this part of the studies must be done very meticulously and carefully. Understanding is all about pronunciation, isn't it?
I have got so bored today that I didn't finish the pronunciation part. So that's my study plan:

1) 4a - L2, L4 (3), L5
* as a standard I add reading to L2 and translation to L4
4b - L1, L2, L3, L4 (3)
5a - L1, L2 (3)
5b - L1, L2 (5) (I just felt too powerful:)

2) 1a - L7, L8, L9
1b - L6 (2), L7
* I couldn't do all the repetitions needed and I didn't do text 2a too
______________________________________________________

L7 - repeating the text with audio, but without a book
L8 - reading without audio
L9 - reading with audio, but in advance to (before) the audio

It's Taking Too Much Time!

Wow, I checked the study time - it took me around 2 hours (11:00 to 13:00) to complete the today's program. I am happy for studying for such a long itme, but I will not have the chance once I will start working on Monday! I need to divide the tasks somehow ... One hour is still realitic, but not more...

1) 3b - L2 + reading, L4 (3) + translation, L5
4a - L1, L2  +reading, L3, L4 (4)
4b -  L1, L2 (3)
5a - L1 (5)

2) 1a - L6, L7
1b - L2, L5, L6 (5)
___________________________________
L7 - repeating with listening, but without looking at the text

Second Part of the First Level

From today I will add the reading and repeating to my studies. This is the second part of the first level in the UMIN method. What I did today:

1) 3a - L2, L4 (3), L5
3b - L1, L2, L3, L4 (3) + reading, + direct translation from word-to-word translation
4a - L1, L2 (3) + reading
4b - L1, L2 (5) + reading

2) 1a - L2, L5, L6 (5) + dictation
_______________________________
L6 - repeating of the text using the book after listening to the phrase

I feel like I will do it !!!!!

Two Lessons in a Day

I missed my studies yesterday (I only listened to 2a, 2b, 3a), so I compensated by doing two lessons today instead of one. Here is the plan:

2a - L2, L4 (3) + oral translation, L5
2b - L1, L2, L3, L4 (3) + oral translation
3a - L1, L2 (3)
3b - L1 (5)

And the second lesson:
2b - L2, L4 (3), L5
3a - L1, L2, L3, L4 (5) + oral translation
3b - L1, L2 (5) + reading
4a - L1 (5) + reading

I'm Moving On

I'm so happy to continue with my studies that I even do more repetitions than needed! It is such a pleasure to feel, that in minutes I can understand and repeat completely unknown words and phrases in Hindi, and all this without a teacher! What can I say, I love this method! UMIN is what you need in language studies!

What I did today:
1b - L2, L4 (5), L5 (3)
2a - L1, L2 (5), L3, L4 (5) + oral translation to Hindi
2b - L1, L2 (5)
3a - L1 (5)

The Second Day

Today's plan (completed):
1a - L2, L4, L5
1b - L1, L2 (3), L4 (6)
2a - L1, L2 (5)
2b - L1 (5)
_____________________________________
L5 - listening without text or translation

p.s. I also listened to the 1b audio for 30 minutes today.


I should add some sports to my brain activity...
Here is the new run-and-read device, Indian patent:)

WOW!!!

Oh, I am finally satisfied with my studies! I feel the progress and I see the perspectives!
Zamyatkin was way too boring; all these endless repetitions of the same text that make you feel sleepy, with no notion of progress... Anyway, I must admit, there are things in his method that actually work: the "ïntoxicating" repetition of the text (in the free time!) that makes you remember it and to notice the smallest changes in the tone, and also the very well explained tactic to set up your pronunciation while repeating the text. Otherwise, it sounds good, but doesn't work for me.
So I came back to Umin, yesterday I read the  study plan one more time and wrote it down. I have 3 6texts with audio in the "Teach yourself Hindi" book, let them be my training texts. I restarted my studies today.

08.11.13
Lesson 1 - Listening and translation of text 1a - done long ago in the Zamyatkin times:)
Lesson 2
1a - L1, L2, L3, L4
1b - L1 (5)
Lesson 3
1a - L1, L2, L4 (3)
1b - L1, L2 (3)
2a - L1 (5)
1a - dictation
________________________
L1 - listening
L2 - listening with reading
L3 - word-to-word translation
L4 - listening while reading the translation

I added myself the dictation, it is not in any method, I just feel comfortable writing things and I want to write correctly (it helps also for the better reading and remembering of the words). According to my experience it should be done after you listened and translated the text, and better also after you started reading it, so you will remember the right reading of each word.

My New Pocket Book for Learning Hindi!

As long as all my books are in electronic format, this is a relief, that I finally have got a true paper book for studying Hindi! And what a book! All common expressions are there. I am amazed.
I will use it like a "dessert"to my daily studies, I will also carry it in my bag and read it whenever I travel.

Further ...

I did the next two lines today, listened and repeated, though not for so long, maybe for half an hour. It is too late and I can't stop myself from yawning. Concentrating seem to be the most difficult problem to solve in this study method. I will review the similar methods to search for solutions...

Going on

I am finally continuing with my studies:

40 minutes of listening to the first text,
Repeating the first two lines of the text (out of 8 lines),
an finally a dictation on all of the text ... still with mistakes.

It is now clear, that  that the previous studying exercise is preparing for the next one. I am so happy that I am progressing, I will not give up!
p.s. And it is still very difficult to study, especially to concentrate, because the tasks are so monotonous...

I MISS MY STUDIES!!!

Starting today only. Can't wait!!!!

Tiebreak

I am taking 5-day break in order to get myself together, to regain some strength and balance in order to be able to go on with my work, my sport and my studes...

Motivation to study

1. Set up your goals
2. Make a plan
3. Turn off distractions

Technical Problems:(((

My favorite MP3 player is not switching on! And my old one was battery low, so I lost all of the little motivation that I had to go to fitness. I charged the old one, but I still hope that my new one will work! Looks like I will have to claim warranty...
Anyway... to the studies.
I listened to the 1st dialogue for 40 minutes going to work, then I printed out the test and followed it while going back home ... unfortunately only for 10 minutes before mu player stopped. Ya, you would say, sho stopped me to excersice at home? Haha ... guess who:) maybe me myself in person:)

Keep going on!

I missed the Sunday studying (I had to work the whole Saturday night through and I slept the half of the Sunday). At least on Sunday I reviewed the method and made some approximate plan of studies.
So today I kept going on and made 40 minutes of listening in the morning and 1 hour in the evening, all on the way to and from work. Not a big deal, but still staying on track.

Short Note

I'm going back from work now waiting for the bus on the bus stop. Today I did 40 minutes of listening to the first matrix text while going to work this morning. I can't listen now, because I am afraid of not hearing my phone if they will call me for emergency. So this is it for today: 40 minutes. I know, it is like   lighting fire - you need to make it long enough, if you will just try for some time every day, it will never work. I already thought of  time-gaining strategies like listening at the gym and while cleaning, but I still didn't do it. I can easily say, that with some amount of duties in the week it is not possible to do it ... But NO EXCUSES is the first principle on the way to success. So no excuses. I can do it!

Second "Matrix" Day

I listened to the first dialog for 30 minutes in the morning and about 40 minutes in the evening by traveling. I thought it will be boring, but it's not. But because of the sounds and the fact, that I can't truly relax and concentrate on the listening. Still I started and I'm so proud .. :)

First Days In The Matrix

So I restarted my language study ... with Zamyatkin methode.
First, I read the book. It is similar to Umin and Baytukalov, just less complicated.
Second, I selected a convinient audio course - the same "Teach yourself Hindi".
Yesterday I cut out all the unnecessary sounds of the first three audiofiles.
Today I listened to the first file for thirty minutes while going to work... that's it for now! I need ot reach 3 hours a day.
I am a studying Superwoman:)))

Changing the Study Material

It's not bad to start with difficult texts ... it's bad not to complete your goals. I go on with the much more simple audio files of "Teach Yourself Hindi"of Rupert Snell. Today's plan later:)

Hard Times

I think, 40 minutes a day are absolutely not enough for my hindi studies. Mainly because I still didn't master devnagri reading and because the word range in the sentences is so confusing. And I still can't always recognize the grammatical forms in order to understand how is the sentence composed. So, I did less then expected today. This is the plan:

09.10.13/ We
1/1 -  L1 (1)     L2 (1)   L3

L3 - translate the text word by word

First Try

Yesterday I heard the first paragraph of the first text, it was about Tamil Nadu and I barely understood something. That's why maybe I got bored so fast, that I gave up after my third attempt. Today, I was more serious.

So let's mark the yesterday's studying schema:

07.10.13/ Mo
1/1 (text 1/ paragraph 1) -  L1 (3 repetitions)

And today's schema:
08.10.13/ Tu
1/1 - L1 (2); L2 (3)             1/2 - L1 (5)

Study methods:
L1 - listening without text
L2 - listening with text, I added also reading of the text, because I still have difficulties with devnagri script. I am reading and repeating every sentence separately 3 or more times, sentence by sentence.

The New Beginning

So ... trying to start with the UMIN method:
- I need audio files containing 700-1000 words, together with the script. The audio lessons in the manuals are way too short, so I need to switch to more advanced level. The Advanced Audio Blog on Hindipod101 seems a bit difficult, but it's the best choice for now.
- The text has to be divided into 1-minute long parts. I took only one chapter per part, because it's difficult for me to read this text in devnagri and to listen simultaneously.

So today I heard the first part of the first audio lesson, I felt tired and went to do "important things"... but still I started! I realize that the biggest problem will be always the time, so I hope tomorrow to start early, exactly when I'm coming home, in order to be able t do everything that I planned.

So ... best of luck for my studies :)

I just read this ... inspiring!

Principles... what principles???

- Exercise every day for 30-40 minutes (or two times for 20 minutes).
- If you can't study new things, repeat old ones at least.
- Skipping a day will not just keep you staying - it will bring you back.
- Learn the language like a child: first practice, then theory.
- First learn how the foreign language sounds - listen to texts, read by native speakers.
- Repeat the texts even without understanding them.
- Start reading scripts of the audio files.
- Learn pronunciation.
- Repeat phrases.
- Read adapted books first, then continue with non-adapted books.
- Learn words and grammar when they appear in texts.
- Listen to radio and other audios made for native speakers.
- Learn grammar and do excercises
- Talk with natives.

30 Minute Language ... Update! The UMIN Methode

Searching for Hindi manuals, I came across a book about alternative language learning. It is based on the everyday 30-minute studying, first only through listening to the foreign language and repeating, the learning of the words and the grammar comes later. I am not doing anything anyway ... I thought I should try this thing and if it works at least to some extent, it will be a gain:)

Monday Studies

- I read the texts form lesson 11 and 12 (Dymshic) and wrothe the new words into my vocabulary notebook.

P.S. I Read about the Anki application yesterday. Looks fascinating, but I'm mot sure that I will find enough time to write all my words on flashcards. Maybe only the toughest ones?

What I Did This Week

- On Thursday morning I repeated the words from lesson 9 and 10.
- On Friday morning I wrote the half of these words.
- On Saturday and Sunday I finished the other half of these words.

P.S. At the end of my Hindi-Russian dictionary is a very nice short grammar, I found the simple and composite postpositions, I'm so happy!

All about Studying

I feel so good when I study, I love all of these strange letters, I get crazy with the feeling, that I can read them and I actually understand what I am reading! I love studying... it is just hard to start!


- Make study plan
- Fix study time
- Write
- Study mornings

The two most important rules:
- Sleep early

- LIMIT TV!!!!!! It's a huge distraction!!!

P.S. Will I ever understand this???

Jab lohe ka kam karke koii TaTa aur juuton ka kam karke koii baTa ban saktaa hee, to fir ham jiTlle kyon beeTe hein?

Starting with Text Reading

Well, Monday's duty didn't really leave me much time free - at least not some when my head was clear enough to learn. I read a Hindi text going to work - it was actually the text from lesson 9, with the exercises after it. I need to learn the words from the text, because I have difficulties with the genders. Yes, an I have to write those exercises too.
So it is Tuesday and I need to go on with the text and exercises from lesson 10 - let's see how much of this I will do.

P.S. I'm also practicing my English by writing this blog:)

Learning Hindi: The Books

- So, as before every big study, I need first to plan WHAT and WHEN I will study.
- I find that books with deep and systematic approach may take more study time, but they give more knowledge and it all pays back later.
- I chose two books: the Hindi manual of Dymshic from 1980 and the Hindi manual of Ulciferov from 2006. Both are accepted as study material at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. The book of Dymshic is more detailed and focused on grammar, it has also more exersises and texts are longer, so I think I will use it as a primary study book. The manual of Uliciferov will be as a support for texts and exersises.
- I need to print out a part of the Dymshic manual, because I need sometimes to write inside the book, and it is more comfortable to read from a page than from the screen.
- Study starting tomorrow! Even though I have a duty:)

 

Getting started: 30 Minute Language - Concept

- I studied many languages in my life, and I studied them in very different ways.
- I believe that 30 minutes a day make more than 7x30 minutes a week.
- Here I will post my daily progress in language studying.