alinajohsblog

[alinajohsblog]

THIRD COUNSELLING

[alinajohsblog]

4th December, 2023

Today I watched different pronunciation videos on Youtube. I do not think I learned a lot by watching them. I do often know how to pronunciate different words in English, the problem is that I just can’t pronunce them. This is mainly because of my accent in Swedish, which has a very different sound for the letter R, than the sound in English.

I do think that watching a lot - like a lot a lot, of these pronunciation videons could make a slight difference (by watching I mean watching and repeating the pronunciation). I think that this problem also could be solved by using English more. However, I have had English in school for almost 10 years, and can’t still pronunce in English fluently.

I have come to the conclusion that I might never will - and I think that is fine. The main idea of languages is to communicate with others. I manage to do that even if my pronuciation isn’t perfect - and I can live with that.

In total 98h

[alinajohsblog]

In November I bought the book Iron Flame, which is the sequel to Fourth Wing, which I read during my trip in October. 

Iron Flame has 623 pages. It took me 16 hours to read it, and I finally finished it last night.

The book continues the story of Violet Sorrengail, who meets new obstacles on her way to becoming a dragon rider. 

I have never read a book this thick - let alone in English. I am proud that I understood it from start to finish - without having to google a single word. I had to google a lot while reading the first book, and I think that not having to do that now indicates that I learned something while reading the first one. 

I think that I have concluded that I have achieved most in the reading department, even though my goal at the start was more about talking. I sure did think that I was good at reading, which I was in a way, but my reading lacked ”color”. 

When reading in Swedish I can picture the different settings and characters in my mind. This I couldn’t while reading books in English. While reading the first book I had to concentrate and work to understand the text so well – that I could picture it. After reading the second one, the pictures now come naturally, just as when reading in Swedish. 

I think that I am by now, almost as strong a reader in English, as I am in Swedish. I have always read in Swedish, even if the book originally was written in English. I think that I after this never will read a book translated from English to Swedish again.  

Hours in total: 97

[alinajohsblog]

1st December, 2023

Today I made an English test to the sequence that I planned earlier this week. It was a lot of fun to come up with different questions. I think tasks like these are usefull since they go hand in hand with my other courses.

Today: 2

In total: 80

[alinajohsblog]

29th November, 2023

Today I planned a sequence of 4 English lessons. It was a bit hard at first, to describe the different excericises in English. After a while I got used to it and it got a lot easier.

Today 2

In total: 77

[alinajohsblog]

27th November, 2023

Today I held an English lesson. As I mentioned last time, I think teaching is a good way of learning.

1.5h

In total 75h

[alinajohsblog]

24th November, 2023

Today I talked to my friends (that i met in October) through face time. It was good to get to use the language in a authentic conversation.

Today: 1h

In total: 73.5h

[alinajohsblog]

23rd November, 2023

Today I planned and recorded a podcast about my thoughts on university studies (how it’s been this far and so on).

By recording a podcast I practiced speaking in English. I found it kind of fun to talk to an imaginery audience, and I think that it could be fun to have my own podcast in the future.

I think that talking about my experience could have been more challenging if I had talked to someone about it insted of the imaginery audience.

Today: 2h

In total: 72,5h

[alinajohsblog]

22nd November, 2023

Today I read a lot of different articles on the internet to gather information to an essay about the Renaissance. By doing this I practiced both my reading and writing skills.

3h

In total 70.5h

[alinajohsblog]

21st. November, 2023

Today I did a few listening comprehensions from old matriculation examination tests. by doing so I worked on my listening comprehension.

Today 2h

In total: 67.5h

[alinajohsblog]

20th November, 2023

Today I helped my brother with his English homework. I think this was a great way to learn, and also to rehearse teaching.

1h

In total: 65.5h

[alinajohsblog]

17th November 2023

Today I went out on a walk with my friend, during which we only spoke in English, so that I could practice my English skills.

2h

in total: 64.5h

[alinajohsblog]

15th November, 2023

I thought it was a bit embarassing that I didn’t know more than 3 or 4 of the states in the US, so today I decided that I was going to learn all of them. I did not. I learnt a few at least, and found the different excerices online pretty fun.

I did not learn a lot of English during this task, but I still think that it could be included into the course, since I think that learning these kinds of things are also very important.

Today: 2h

In total: 62h

[alinajohsblog]

13th November, 2023

Today I substituted in a school, and held my first English lesson. It went really good and was very fun. I think it was good for my English learning journey, since I had to step out of my comfort zone.

1.5h

In total: 60h

[alinajohsblog]

9th November, 2023

Today I read som English newspapers and watched news in English. I did this because I feel that I have not had to do this earlier, and I think it is a good way to both learn English and be up to date with all that is happening in this somewhat crazy world. I would be lying if I said that I am not at all afraid of what tomorrow will bring.

Today: 2

In total: 58.5

[alinajohsblog]

8th November, 2023

My brother has an English test next week, so today I helped him study. I helped him translate words he didn’t know, and then I quizzed the vocabulary.

We went through the pages and I helped him with things he had a hard time with.

Time today: 2

Time in total: 56.5

[alinajohsblog]

7th November 2023

Today I played video games in English with people I did not know from before. By doing this I got to use the English language verbally, which was one of my goals for this course.

Time today: 2 h

Time in total: 54.5h