Feedback

Today for the first time, my drawing instructor gave some teacher-initiated feedback on what I could work on in my drawing of a face. I feel a bit discouraged as the one he chose to give this feedback on was the drawing I felt I had best succeeded in and the one that makes me feel happy each time I look at her. 

Eh bien, I went back to the drawing board. I listened again to the lecture and the suggestions of measures and sketched my own two faces for another practice. Whatever Jayson says or does not say, I understand in theory at least his suggestions for how to use measures to draw faces with realistic proportions. 

Father and Daughter 

In my language learning, I have been encouraged by like-minded people - those, for example, who like to learn more than one language at a time, and who are willing to try out many new 'methods' of language learning. 

I came across a method for learning vocabulary that I intend to try. It is called "The Gold List Method". I like the adaption that Lydia Machova has brought to the original method.  It is based on the idea 70% of expressions written thoughtfully in a focused, calm environment (with translations) will, without effort, be absorbed into long-term memory. The  30% of words that are not retained after a 2-week gestation period, if rewritten, will result after another 2 weeks of gestation with an additional 70 or so percent that are now part of long-term productive memory. One more 'distillation' often results in having acquired all the expressions on the original list.  Lydia strongly recommends this work being done in an attractive notebook, with colored pencils is this adds to the personal bonding with these lists. This appeals to my 'drawing' and 'coloring' side, of course.  

 The method is more complex than this, but it in line with what I have being noticing about my vocabulary learning. Also, it provides an alternative to trying to memorize using flashcards - a method which I have not been motivated to stick to.  I'll get the link to this method for you. 

I seem to have eternally renewed confidence that I can continue to progress towards a basic fluency in speaking Spanish and and a renewed fluency in German, and French. 

On the side, I can dabble in Swahili, Mandarin, and Wolof. Yesterday, I relearned Tsi Tsi! that means in Mandarin: you are welcome!