The Rooster Smiles

Learning a New Language

Ruth — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:00:26 +0000

I just wanted to send a few recommendations your way about learning languages. I studied linguistics in university, and despite that most of my tips come from experience in teaching English and learning languages. Here are my top five tips:

Meet Someone – a new relationship with a native speaker in your new language can seem daunting but building communication is key in a relationship and language learning.
Brush up on your English Grammar – Yes there are always parts of a language that cannot be directly translated, but there is an underlying structure to language. Comparisons stick with you, how this language is the same, how is it different. I find the “English Grammar for students of…” series wonderful. I have used it to help with my French, German and Japanese. It has simple explanations of grammar equivalences based on their functions in English and the target language. I’m sure there are other resources out there like it, this is the one I use. Brushing up on your English grammar sounds tedious but it really helped me keep associations about differences, especially in Japanese grammar.
Know yourself – Each person learns differently and at a different pace, knows what works for you and what doesn’t. I took a Japanese class from the embassy and found the instruction too slow for me, studying on my own let me set the pace and the number of online one-on-one available means I can find an instructor and ask questions when I need help. Structured language classes aren’t for everyone, don’t be afraid to dive right in and try learning it yourself if that’s your style. There are lots of resources out there, LingQ and Before you know it are two great vocabulary building programs.
Don’t be afraid to look stupid – Really, the biggest obstacle to language learning is really you. Accept that you will make mistakes, everyone does.
Get out there! – Immersion is the best way to learn, try to avoid using your native language at all. Read, write, speak and even think in the new language. Yes even talking to yourself in the new language is helpful, albeit hard to start and a little weird if you take to doing it out loud on the bus after work as one German instructor had me doing … weird looks aside it worked. Practice is really the best way to learn.

Good luck and happy learning!

Where am I going?

Ruth — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 01:48:42 +0000

Today I submitted my masters applications. Its a very scary thing to have them sent off and not be able to look at them. I know I’m kinda crazy, I want to continue changing it until the day they get looked at and a decision is made, but I can’t I have to let go at some point and just say, my work will stand for itself. This whole process is so much different the my applications for schools for my undergrad. I applied to Architecture and Linguistics in my last year of high school, Linguistics was just put your name and grades here, for Architecture I had similar reference checks, essays and a portfolio to submit as well as an interview. With interviews at least I had some chance to say this is me! and explain why I’m so awesome, instead of one page written and re-written like a thousand times over two weeks. My finished product sounded authentic I hope but I found it so hard to tell someone how I got interested in all this in the first place and my life goals all in one page.

I’m applying to M.A. Public Administration in International Development and M.Ed Adult Learning and Global Change. Two programs that seem very different but both lead me into careers where I get to help people. I love learning about how our world is changing everyday, bringing us closer to a global community, making distances between people smaller with increased communication. I’m very excited to see if I can make it in either stream. The M.Ed is online, a joint program between people from all over the world. An exciting idea in itself. But it focuses on how adults can learn in the changing world system. Yes I am a nerd, but after years of enjoying working in retail, helping people sort out issues and what not, I want to continue that through to my future career.

Why am I writing this all out here? Mostly because this is all I have been thinking about for the last two weeks, how to express what my goals are to others. But I hope this frames why I am so interested in traveling for long stays in other countries. Once this mound of student loans is off my back, the world is out there to be discovered.

What I would love in five years is to be living in another country, working with people, saving for a boat and getting out there collecting experiences as much as I can. I want to have either improved my German or learn another language.

All for now, more later,

Ruth

Reflecting on Life

Ruth — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 23:29:27 +0000

At the moment I’m in the process of tying up loose ends of my masters applications and watching snow slowly accumulate on my balcony. I love learning, I’m the biggest nerd, and my number one reason for wanting to travel so much it to learn about other people and how they live their lives. But the process of thinking about where you want to go in life and having to write it down on paper to convince others that you belong with them at their school has seriously made me contemplate where I am in my life at this moment. I acknowledge that at 22, how much of my life has gone by for me to be at some specific place in it when so much of it is ahead of me but at the moment I feel like I’m living in some kind of idealized life that soceity has dictated that doesn’t suit me at all. Where is the adventure? Where is the new experiences? Where is that spark?

This is why I chose two very different programs to apply to, why I’m looking to study in an unconventional environment and why I want to be out there living my life instead of trapped in this tiny apartment with three cats, my boyfriend of five years and an annoying roommate who cant stop talking about China. One thing I have learned, I am no longer interested in spending a long time in China.

While I may or may not be in the same place in two years, lets hope this starts some change in my life, get my mojo back. OH NO she lost her MOJO… he he, I couldn’t resist the Austin Powers reference. More me time, more time for my art, my photography and most importantly for the outdoors, well, maybe once the snow melts. Gotta love Canada.

Ruth

My Present Status

Ruth — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:14:55 +0000

I am really not sure where I want to go with this blog, as you can see from the sparatic and varied posts. I do have a real goal set here, other then to share whatever it is that is going on in my head.

Being a university student my time is pretty much eaten up by work and school. As I work towards finally finishing my undergrad this year, I’m hoping to get on here more often.

Ruth

Thrombosis Update

Ruth — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 18:58:02 +0000

This summer went by so fast. I cant believe it has already been six months since I was diagnosed with Deep Vein Thrombosis and PE. I am finally ready to come off of blood thinners and start trying to get myself back in shape. The drugs made me feel exhausted and foggy. I am excited to be finished with them!

Since I last posted I have started teaching English online. It is alot of fun and I am starting to think about more things that I can accomplish with my Linguistics degree. I have been looking at getting into Adult Education or education policy. I think the possibilities of using internet and technological advances in education would be really interesting.

Ruth

Sailing and Spring

Ruth — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:25:59 +0000

Finally the snow is gone and its time to get out and work on the boat! Have had a wonderful time scrubbing down the hull and getting the Jester prepared for Launch Day next week. It is fast approaching and the list of tasks seems to be growing instead of shrinking but we are getting there slowly.

As for end of semester work, it is much harder to find the motivation to finish reports and stay on task when your brain and the weather both beg for you to take a break and get outdoors. Being behind in classes as it is, this years academic push to the finish is appearing much more difficult than normal.

Enough procrastinating for now,

RUTHLESS

Thrombosis

Ruth — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:15:57 +0000

Shortly after settling into our new apartment I had severe back and chest pain. Thought is was just strain for moving our three bedroom townhouse into a tiny apartment (which is still rather overcrowded but more on that later). A few weeks later while shopping with my sister I noticed it was getting hard to breath (ie. losing my breath going DOWN stairs). Anyway next morning I woke up to alot of pain in my left arm, swelling and a lovely purple colour. Aparently I have had blood clots in my arm (a very large one at the moment) and my lungs. Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Emboli are the official names, things that young people are not supposed to get! I have never smoked but the current explanation (as we cant run tests till later) is that my birth control contributed to a genetic predisposition to clotting. I am finally just starting to readjust to the new medication, and am never taking hormonal birth control again. As a student I am greatful for Canada’s health care system, there is no way I would have been able to afford the multiple doctors, ER and clinic visits required for all the tests to insure my safety. I am so lucky, shaken up and still really nervous. As more tests and blood work is left to be done, to rule out the dreaded C word completely, I am greatful for all the support I have received from the University community and look forward to an uneventful summer!

All for now

Home Reno

Ruth — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:50:16 +0000

I just moved into a small apartment and and hoping to upgrade the drab 80s rental into a faboulus place for me, my boyfriend and our roommate. The kitchen is my first area of attack as the landlord has agreed to replace the flooring.

Since our last place, where I was not allowed to paint or anything, I have been fretting the inevitable clean up of the wall beside the stove. The new place is similar in that there is no backsplash, however their decorating rules are much more leniant. I am looking for backsplash ideas that are cheap and easily removable when we decide to move. Ikea has these wall pannels that attach with rails that are easily cleaned while Smart tiles have stick on tiling that can be removed by a hair dryer. Smart when its going to be next to a heat source? Not so sure, I will update as my research continues.

Problem number two I am faced with baseboard heaters under pretty much every window. This wouldn’t be such a big deal if I owned blinds, but I do not. The apartment has more windows then our three bedroom townhouse did, and considerably less space. Blinds to go or goodwill might soon be receiving some buisness.

Finally the extremly narrow front hall/ stairway without a closet is fast becomming a pain in the butt. The previous tenants were nice enough to leave their solution (various ikea hallway shelves) strewn accross the front walk. It is now missing hard ware and pieces but we shall see if I can scavenge it.

All for now, Pictures later

Ruth

Photo Update

Ruth — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:13:05 +0000

I finally got around to uploading my photos. Took procrastinating from studying but its done. There are a few from our fall hikes and one more spring hike I hadn’t uploaded.

Blogging

Ruth — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:41:38 +0000

Now as anyone who looks at this blog, if anyone does, will notice is that my posts are few and far between. I am a blogger noob according to my little brother, but this hasn’t kept me from following a few blogs about travel and such.

Its the art of sitting down an actually writing about something that’s hard. Life seems so repetative sometimes, the interesting becomes uninteresting and nothing seems notable. This is why I’m trying to keep track of my trip planning. To get a start on blogging and find my voice to talk about the things that provoke me from day to day.

As I try to develop a sense of what exactly I want to accomplish, I will continue to post and hope that I can get a hang of this blogging thing.

All for now!

Ruth