Translation: I am learning German.
My SiL (a family practice physician) has this theory that you need to tax your brain occasionally and present it with challenges in order to help stave off dementia. I'm not sure if this is scientifically true, but I also don't think it can hurt. Following a knitting pattern can be a small challenge, and the last potholder I wove was quite a test. I play word games every day, but I wanted something more taxing. How about learning another language?!
I've been doing this for 17 days so far, and Duolingo says I've learned 119 words. I'm not booking my flight to Germany anytime soon, but I could order pizza, bread, beer, and wine, so that's a good start.
I have some trouble with articles (der for masculine nouns, die for feminine, and das for neuter nouns) but this will take a lot more practice. Duolingo is set up as kind of a fun game, and I want to keep my streak going, even if I mistakenly call the menu masculine.
I do like saying "Entschuldigung"!
Welche Sprachen kennen Sie? (Which languages do you know?)
Most days I know English...though sometimes I wonder! I took French in high school but would be lost trying to speak it (I can count to ten and say please and thank you - also "where is the library?"). With pizza, beer, wine and bread, I think you have things covered!! LOL
ReplyDeleteI may not be a physician, but I fully agree with your sister-in-law that learning new things is a great way to keep your brain sharp! I'm continuing to learn French, even though I was nearly fluent when I graduated from high school; even though I've forgotten a lot, I'm discovering that the language has changed a lot in the *mumblemumble* years since then. It has been a lot of fun to listen to some of the Olympics coverage and understand a lot of what is being said in French!
ReplyDeleteLearning languages does encourage neuroplasticity from all I have read. I have tried to talk myself into learning a language for that reason, but I really don't have the brain for languages. I took French and Spanish in high school, but I was never fluent, mainly frustrated. There are other ways to encourage neuroplasticity, and I think I am better served by pursuing those. I am impressed with your motivation, Bonny!
ReplyDeleteI am laughing at this... I had a German Nana... and so often I hear her speaking in my head (ich liebe dich) those words were a balm when I was little and they remain a balm in adulthood. I also know a prayer she whispered to me at night.
ReplyDeleteAs for me in high school... well, I was one of those weird kids who took Latin.
I agree with this! I do so many logic puzzles and take classes at the university and I love exercising my brain. I took 2 years of spanish and 1 semester of french. I can say my leg is broken is Spanish :)
ReplyDeleteI took 8 years of French (2 junior high, 4 high school, 2 college) and I can still sort of read it but I was never good at speaking it. Good for you for learning German! Does duolingo help with pronunciation, too?
ReplyDeleteWhen I had my two hour commute to work I used the time in the car to teach myself French. I had several CD language courses but my favorite way to learn was using French music CD's and just singing along. Francis Cabrel is still a favorite of mine.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great way to learn and practice a language!
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ReplyDeleteWow! i admire you for learning a new language. I speak English reasonably well. I had three years of Latin in high school. It was useful for standardized testing and continues to help me with word meaning. I took two semesters of French in college but I barely got past the greeting stage - Bonjour.
I especially like that I can feel that I'm staving off Alzheimers with knitting (especially when it's a complicated chart... that I obtain the data for, use Excel & Photoshop & other programs to organize the data into charts/patterns)! I do other things, too, like word games and DuoLingo! Today will be Day #829 in my streak, mostly learning Spanish with the occasional look at Scottish Gaelic. Most days (these days), I do the bare minimum to keep my streak alive (and have been saved by an earned freeze on occasion), but it's fun. My BIL's learning German & his streak is in the thousands!
ReplyDeleteMy high school and college Spanish failed me when I tried to order wine in Madrid. "Vino roja," I said confidently. "Vino tinto," corrected the waiter gently.
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