Started module 4 yesterday.
Meet the new teachers, same as the old teachers.
Indeed, I have the same two teachers as I had for module 3, and things with our Monday/Wednesday teacher have begun in style.
And by style, I mean with me having to explain the difference between past tense and present perfect tense to the teacher, after he gave us the wrong answer on an assignment during class.
To be fair (sort of), he seemed to be much more prepared prepared for the start of module 4 than he was for the start of module 3. Then again, he didn't even know he was teaching on Mondays at the start of module 3, and showed up more than half an hour late.
You can't see it, but I'm rolling my eyes.
We also worked on an assignment in which we had to figure out where the "stød" (or glottal stop) was in each of the seasons and months of the year. If you've been reading my posts for a while, you know my feelings on "stød." Now, I've come around a little bit on the idea. A very little bit. For example, on words that sound almost exactly the same, sometimes the stød and the context of the surrounding sentence are the only way to know which word is being used. However, insisting that we listen for something that is both difficult (and often impossible) to hear and usually unnecessary for the sake of being understood... feels like a waste of time. Time that we could be using to learn useful things like... words and grammar.
Not to mention that stød is generally the least of people's problems when it comes to Danish pronunciation.
The good news is, our Thursday/Friday teacher is also the same as well, and I find her knowledgeable, easy to understand, and downright delightful.
Showing posts with label Grammar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grammar. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
4 Tips to Learn Danish Quickly
Danish is an extremely difficult language to learn. However, it turns out that there are a few factors that can greatly improve your chances of learning it before other people. Today, I give you a few of those factors.
1. Have a Danish boyfriend/girlfriend or spouse. Your Danish teacher may very well assume that you have one, and therefore some of the homework that you are assigned will involve talking to said significant other. For those who do not have a Danish significant other, see option number 2.
2. Regularly go to a job where most of your colleagues are Danish and will happily be patient with you while you struggle to express yourself in Danish without switching to English, despite the fact that speaking English is far easier for both of you than speaking Danish together might be.
3. Be a highly logical person who already has a fairly firm understanding of grammar rules. Learning Danish will test the grammar skills of even the most literate of native English speakers. If you don't already have a basic understanding of grammar, learning Danish will teach you more about the structure of the English language than you ever thought you needed to know.
And finally...
4. Already speak either German, Dutch, Swedish, or Norwegian. There are a few classmates of mine who, from early on in our Danish classes, were able to understand most of what the Danes said. At first, I found this extraordinarily frustrating. What was I doing wrong that I just didn't know what all of these words meant, even if I could understand what words were being said (which is a challenge unto itself, especially early on)? Turns out, the only thing I was doing wrong was not knowing one of the aforementioned languages. Enough of the words in those 4 languages (and possibly a few that I've forgotten) are similar enough to words in Danish that it's entirely possible to understand Danish very quickly.
Those who are lucky enough to fit into 2 or 3 of these factors will find themselves racing ahead of the others in their class.
As for me? The only category that I even vaguely fit into is #3. In most cases, I'm able to understand and remember the grammar rules easily enough. Unfortunately, it's the words that I have a tough time remembering.
There's very little that one can do with even a perfect understanding of Danish grammar if they can't remember any of the words.
1. Have a Danish boyfriend/girlfriend or spouse. Your Danish teacher may very well assume that you have one, and therefore some of the homework that you are assigned will involve talking to said significant other. For those who do not have a Danish significant other, see option number 2.
2. Regularly go to a job where most of your colleagues are Danish and will happily be patient with you while you struggle to express yourself in Danish without switching to English, despite the fact that speaking English is far easier for both of you than speaking Danish together might be.
3. Be a highly logical person who already has a fairly firm understanding of grammar rules. Learning Danish will test the grammar skills of even the most literate of native English speakers. If you don't already have a basic understanding of grammar, learning Danish will teach you more about the structure of the English language than you ever thought you needed to know.
And finally...
4. Already speak either German, Dutch, Swedish, or Norwegian. There are a few classmates of mine who, from early on in our Danish classes, were able to understand most of what the Danes said. At first, I found this extraordinarily frustrating. What was I doing wrong that I just didn't know what all of these words meant, even if I could understand what words were being said (which is a challenge unto itself, especially early on)? Turns out, the only thing I was doing wrong was not knowing one of the aforementioned languages. Enough of the words in those 4 languages (and possibly a few that I've forgotten) are similar enough to words in Danish that it's entirely possible to understand Danish very quickly.
Those who are lucky enough to fit into 2 or 3 of these factors will find themselves racing ahead of the others in their class.
As for me? The only category that I even vaguely fit into is #3. In most cases, I'm able to understand and remember the grammar rules easily enough. Unfortunately, it's the words that I have a tough time remembering.
There's very little that one can do with even a perfect understanding of Danish grammar if they can't remember any of the words.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Studieskolen - Module 3.1, What's This? Another Test?
There I was, plugging away at my Danish classes, when out of the blue...
An unexpected test.
Okay, it wasn't entirely unexpected. Our Thursday/Friday warned us last week that we would be having a test to move forward from module 3.1 to module 3.2. She didn't, however, specify when until earlier this week. And the test was to be today (Thursday). She also didn't tell our Monday/Wednesday teacher what kinds of things would be on the test, so that we knew what to study.
So, it was a big giant mystery when we arrived in class today. I was feeling fairly confident that I understood that grammar that we'd learned so far, until she handed back some recent homework and I realized that I'd gotten about 80% of it wrong.
While some of the previously taught grammatical rules are becoming more and more clear, we've started to learn more that seem to tie my head into knots.
Thursdays are always a little bit tougher than other days, with class the day before followed by a cappella rehearsals at night. I find myself rushing through the homework without really focusing on what I'm doing.
Something to work on, for sure.
Oh, and have I mentioned that the puppy is going through a phase where he's forgotten how to sleep through the night?
My husband brought home ear plugs today. Maybe a full night's sleep will help solve the concentration problems I've had in class lately.
When in doubt, blame the dog.
An unexpected test.
Okay, it wasn't entirely unexpected. Our Thursday/Friday warned us last week that we would be having a test to move forward from module 3.1 to module 3.2. She didn't, however, specify when until earlier this week. And the test was to be today (Thursday). She also didn't tell our Monday/Wednesday teacher what kinds of things would be on the test, so that we knew what to study.
So, it was a big giant mystery when we arrived in class today. I was feeling fairly confident that I understood that grammar that we'd learned so far, until she handed back some recent homework and I realized that I'd gotten about 80% of it wrong.
While some of the previously taught grammatical rules are becoming more and more clear, we've started to learn more that seem to tie my head into knots.
Thursdays are always a little bit tougher than other days, with class the day before followed by a cappella rehearsals at night. I find myself rushing through the homework without really focusing on what I'm doing.
Something to work on, for sure.
Oh, and have I mentioned that the puppy is going through a phase where he's forgotten how to sleep through the night?
My husband brought home ear plugs today. Maybe a full night's sleep will help solve the concentration problems I've had in class lately.
When in doubt, blame the dog.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Studieskolen - Module 3.1, Words, Words, Words
I'm a little over two weeks into module 3 now.
So far, so... okay.
I'm still following along well enough, but I still have a tough time deciphering our younger teacher's accent.
The good news is, from what I can tell, we've basically learned all of the major grammatical rules. It seems that module 3 focuses more on expanding our vocabulary and solidifying the grammar rules that we've learned. And the latter is certainly working for me. Rules that I'd learned in module 2 but had always had a tough time remembering seem to be making more sense to me now. And I'm glad to be finally learning more words.
Danish is a much more compact language than English. While some sources claim that English has over 1 million words, Danish has 150,000 at the most. I think one major difference is that English has a lot more words that are obsolete, while Danish uses a far higher percentage of its words on a regular basis.
Pronunciation is still a bit of an issue for all of us in the class. We can all understand each other fairly well, but Danes (our younger teacher specifically) seems to have a tough time understanding us some of the time. Danish is not a language spoken by foreigners very often, so Danes often have a hard time understanding the language when it's spoken with any kind of accent, no matter how subtle.
There are some words in Danish, though, that make a lot of sense and should be considered for stealing by the English language. For example, the Danish word for "mother" is "mor" and the word for "father" is "far." Simple enough. And then they take it a step further with grandparents. Your mother's mother? "Mormor." Mother's father? "Morfar." And of course, "farfar" and "farmor." It makes so much sense, and saves time from having to clarify if you're talking about your "maternal grandmother" or "paternal grandmother."
On an unrelated note, this is the Facebook page for the Copenhagen Rugby League Football Club. "Like" it!
So far, so... okay.
I'm still following along well enough, but I still have a tough time deciphering our younger teacher's accent.
The good news is, from what I can tell, we've basically learned all of the major grammatical rules. It seems that module 3 focuses more on expanding our vocabulary and solidifying the grammar rules that we've learned. And the latter is certainly working for me. Rules that I'd learned in module 2 but had always had a tough time remembering seem to be making more sense to me now. And I'm glad to be finally learning more words.
Danish is a much more compact language than English. While some sources claim that English has over 1 million words, Danish has 150,000 at the most. I think one major difference is that English has a lot more words that are obsolete, while Danish uses a far higher percentage of its words on a regular basis.
Pronunciation is still a bit of an issue for all of us in the class. We can all understand each other fairly well, but Danes (our younger teacher specifically) seems to have a tough time understanding us some of the time. Danish is not a language spoken by foreigners very often, so Danes often have a hard time understanding the language when it's spoken with any kind of accent, no matter how subtle.
There are some words in Danish, though, that make a lot of sense and should be considered for stealing by the English language. For example, the Danish word for "mother" is "mor" and the word for "father" is "far." Simple enough. And then they take it a step further with grandparents. Your mother's mother? "Mormor." Mother's father? "Morfar." And of course, "farfar" and "farmor." It makes so much sense, and saves time from having to clarify if you're talking about your "maternal grandmother" or "paternal grandmother."
On an unrelated note, this is the Facebook page for the Copenhagen Rugby League Football Club. "Like" it!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Studieskolen - Module 2, Back to School
Okay.
Module 2.
Class started Monday, we this time the classes are longer, but only 3 days a week.
So far so good. It mostly feels like a continuation of module 1, since we're in the same room with the same teacher, and almost all of the same students. We have a few new people, and a handful who didn't continue with us for one reason or another, but it's mostly the same.
We're starting to get a bit more into the nitty-gritty of Danish grammar, and that's good. I wish there was a bit more focus on vocabulary, but that's probably just me being impatient.
I've found it kind of funny that the few Danish speaking people who I've told that I passed module 1 have assumed that I am now pretty much fluent. From friends to my hairdresser, as soon as I passed the module 1 test, they started speaking to me and sending emails in Danish that were way beyond my current skill level.
I think it's easy to forget how long it really does take to get to a conversational level. I'm definitely not there. I can understand most of what my teacher says, but that's because she knows what she's taught us, and tries not to stray too far from that when she speaks to us in Danish.
We've been told that module 2 is longer than module 1. Twice as long, in fact. So it won't be until December that we take our test for module 2. My impatience to be fluent made that news a bit frustrating.
But they know better than I do how long it takes to learn the language. Best to trust the professionals.
Module 2.
Class started Monday, we this time the classes are longer, but only 3 days a week.
So far so good. It mostly feels like a continuation of module 1, since we're in the same room with the same teacher, and almost all of the same students. We have a few new people, and a handful who didn't continue with us for one reason or another, but it's mostly the same.
We're starting to get a bit more into the nitty-gritty of Danish grammar, and that's good. I wish there was a bit more focus on vocabulary, but that's probably just me being impatient.
I've found it kind of funny that the few Danish speaking people who I've told that I passed module 1 have assumed that I am now pretty much fluent. From friends to my hairdresser, as soon as I passed the module 1 test, they started speaking to me and sending emails in Danish that were way beyond my current skill level.
I think it's easy to forget how long it really does take to get to a conversational level. I'm definitely not there. I can understand most of what my teacher says, but that's because she knows what she's taught us, and tries not to stray too far from that when she speaks to us in Danish.
We've been told that module 2 is longer than module 1. Twice as long, in fact. So it won't be until December that we take our test for module 2. My impatience to be fluent made that news a bit frustrating.
But they know better than I do how long it takes to learn the language. Best to trust the professionals.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Danish Lessons - Rosetta Stone, Entry #5: The Binge
We've narrowed down our move date a little bit, and it's coming up quickly.
With our honeymoon in New Orleans scheduled for mid to late June, and my fiance due back by mid-August, it looks like we'll be heading to Copenhagen some time during that window. Probably some time in July.
That's 4 months. I have 4 months to learn Danish.
That realization hit me this week, and I went on a Rosetta Stone binge. I've taken to sitting down with it for 1 or 2 hours each day.
The sad part? I'm still only halfway through Unit 1....of 8.
I have a looonnnggg way to go.
It's starting to get a little bit more frustrating that Version 2 of Rosetta Stone doesn't explain any grammatical rules. I definitely appreciate learning the vocabulary, and committing phrases to memory. But I'm looking forward to taking the formal state-provided Danish classes once we move, so that I can start to get an understanding of why some words are pluralized one way, and others another way, etc.
I think if I can keep up the binge, I may be able to finish the program before we move.
If my head doesn't explode first.
With our honeymoon in New Orleans scheduled for mid to late June, and my fiance due back by mid-August, it looks like we'll be heading to Copenhagen some time during that window. Probably some time in July.
That's 4 months. I have 4 months to learn Danish.
That realization hit me this week, and I went on a Rosetta Stone binge. I've taken to sitting down with it for 1 or 2 hours each day.
The sad part? I'm still only halfway through Unit 1....of 8.
I have a looonnnggg way to go.
It's starting to get a little bit more frustrating that Version 2 of Rosetta Stone doesn't explain any grammatical rules. I definitely appreciate learning the vocabulary, and committing phrases to memory. But I'm looking forward to taking the formal state-provided Danish classes once we move, so that I can start to get an understanding of why some words are pluralized one way, and others another way, etc.
I think if I can keep up the binge, I may be able to finish the program before we move.
If my head doesn't explode first.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Informal Formal Danish Class #5 - I Didn't Cry!
...Much...
We arrived at the class a few minutes early, and I took the time to be as honest as possible with the instructor. "I'll be honest," I said. "I haven't even looked at this stuff in two weeks."
Sometimes life just gets in the way.
And this made for an extraordinarily taxing first half of the class. We started by trying to invert sentences. Where we can say either "I went to the store yesterday" or "Yesterday, I went to the store," in Danish the sentence structure looks more like "Yesterday went I to the store."
That's all well and good. I have a decent understanding of that grammatical rule. What I don't have is the vocabulary committed to memory yet. So, while I should be able to build a sentence well enough, I don't have the words with which to do so.
It made for a very frustrating first hour or so.
After that, though, we worked on an exercise where we tried to determine which vowel sounds we were hearing when the instructor pronounced various words.
And we were all equally awful at that, so I felt much better.
We arrived at the class a few minutes early, and I took the time to be as honest as possible with the instructor. "I'll be honest," I said. "I haven't even looked at this stuff in two weeks."
Sometimes life just gets in the way.
And this made for an extraordinarily taxing first half of the class. We started by trying to invert sentences. Where we can say either "I went to the store yesterday" or "Yesterday, I went to the store," in Danish the sentence structure looks more like "Yesterday went I to the store."
That's all well and good. I have a decent understanding of that grammatical rule. What I don't have is the vocabulary committed to memory yet. So, while I should be able to build a sentence well enough, I don't have the words with which to do so.
It made for a very frustrating first hour or so.
After that, though, we worked on an exercise where we tried to determine which vowel sounds we were hearing when the instructor pronounced various words.
And we were all equally awful at that, so I felt much better.
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