So I am taking a class. One. Because I can't handle or afford more than that. And I'm having a hard time with it.
More below the dooblydoo.
So those of you that follow me know that I periodically get obsessed with languages and getting out of the boat occasionally, which also led to me to studying Korean and returning to TaeKwonDo after a break of many years while at my parents.
There's not a TKD program I want to join here - though one did start recently and I thought about it - and I'm really into Finnish right now. Probably because there are educational opportunities in Finland as an undergrad - but only if you speak Finnish or Swedish - and Finnish offers more choices.
Now, as a language - I like Finnish. It's case based so it's orderly once you sort out what changes where and why. It sounds fun, both beautifully expressive and ridiculous. Here is what I'm talking about: (just stop it after the snapped banana - you'll know.)
LEARNING FINNISH WITH SAARA:
And from the comments:
The spruce is on fire. = Kuusi palaa.
The spruce returns. = Kuusi palaa.
The number six is on fire. = Kuusi palaa.
The number six returns. = Kuusi palaa.
Six of them are on fire. = Kuusi palaa.
Six of them return. = Kuusi palaa.
Your moon is on fire. = Kuusi palaa.
Your moon returns. = Kuusi palaa.
Six pieces. = Kuusi palaa
So. Yeah. Finnish. Digging it.
Not sure how much my Finnish teacher will appreciate my homework of 5 sentences using vocabulary words we know. Since we know "kuusi" - I used 5 examples from above. And I have kind of a reason for being a bit of a jerk.
We're taking a non-graded conversational class. There are people in our class who have been taking it over and over for 4 years - and still can't remember "kuusi" is both "6" and "spruce." There isn't any structure, we don't use the books, we haven't learned any verbs or even pronouns. So there's not much talking going on. How can I talk without verbs and pronouns!!!!
The talking we do have is primarily the teacher on my case about imperfect pronunciation. Because I didn't know that k is pronounced G, p is B and t is D. I know that now - but I didn't 3 seconds into the class still waiting on our books. I suppose she was intimidated a bit by the fact that I have studied and can use many languages - and I am even fairly fluent in some of them. But I just like languages.
If I asked a question about anything - it got worse. Grammar? More pronunciation drills and mockery. Culture? Same. Verb declination? More of it.
I stopped going to class I was so upset by it. I haven't been in 2 weeks. I'm going tonight because it's my night to provide snacks - but it's really put a bit of a downer on the whole prospect. Not of learning Finnish - I can do that of course, I have books and the internet. But enjoying the class experience and learning more that way - doesn't seem to be in the cards.
Now - this class goes until mid-June. And I expect I will get yelled at tonight for using the internet as a resource because she believes that you can't learn from the internet even from native speakers. But they teach verb declination and grammar on the internet - so the speaking I can do - I got there.
No one wants to be in the position of basically having to say to their teacher - lay off me, I'm autistic and mentally ill. But that's what it's coming to with this class for me.