#languagues

day twelve of my april studyblr challenge

learning a language? speak it like you’re playing a video game by marianna pascal.

i’ve always been pretty interested in video games, growing up with a huge nerd for a dad, but it wasn’t until the second uk lockdown that i got super into a wide variety and started playing them (somewhat competitively) with friends. so, the idea of combining languages with video games, definitely grabbed my attention.

the main idea of this ted talk was that when speaking another language confidence is key (attitude > ability).

those with a high-level in a language, who were more so focused on themselves and getting it right, communicated ineffectively.

communication was more effective with those at a low-level and focused on the person they’re talking to, and a result they’re trying to achieve.

she mentions several people she came into contact with whilst teaching english in malaysia. the first being a student of hers, faizal, and how he was so calm, collected and confident whilst speaking english at a low-level.

[06:05] “when faizal goes into an english conversation, he doesn't feel judged. he is entirely focused on the person that he's speaking to and the result he wants to get. he's got no self-awareness, no thoughts about his own mistakes.”

prior to this, in a cyber-café, she noticed the parallels between not worrying about being judged and confidence, through a guy playing a first person shooter game.

[05:15] “what really interested me was behind this lousy player were three of his friends, sort of standing there watching him play. what i really noticed was even though this guy was terrible, even though his friends were watching him, there was no embarrassment. there was no feeling of being judged. there was no shyness. in fact, quite the opposite. this guy's totally focused on the bad guys, smile on his face.”

which i find pretty funny, as to begin with i got super embarrassed playing video games in front of others. until my friends helped me realise that this is for fun and enjoyment, not just to be good at something.

all things come with practise. and you’re more likely to improve with most things if you’re amongst others of a higher level who can help you a bit, here and there.

i also jotted down a very interesting statistic about the proportion of non-native english speakers in the world:

96% of english conversations involve a non-native speaker.

면도하다: afeitarse 목욕하다: bañarse 이를 닦다: cepillarse/lavarse los dientes 샤워하다: ducharse 씻다: lavarse/limpiarse 머리빗다: peinarse 말리다: secarse 머리를 감다: lavarse el pelo/cabello 쉬하다 / 오줌 마렵다: hacer pis 응가하다: hacer caca

Хотя, конечно, с перекладом стандартов жизни на Средневековье, в некотором смысле он это и есть. Небритый бездомный рыцарь, которого 'уволили' с 'должности' наследника и продолжателя рода, неопределённого возраста, но явно даже и не второй свежести, в заношенных латах. Ну а выпивали они там все, как будто это олимпийский спорт, за исключением может быть Станниса.