italki - Eye of the Tiger – my short philosophy for language studying This post is dedicated for Michael, my

T.s

Eye of the Tiger – my short philosophy for language studying This post is dedicated for Michael, my friend on italki, who gave me the inspiration for this notebook. As a martial art instructor for approximately 10 years, I have been training all of my life in order to be able to fight like a machine. A fighter in the arena can't think before every box or punch he makes, otherwise he would be defeated by his rival. Therefore, he must train repeatedly until he reacts automatically without thinking. Study a new language is as the same as with martial arts skills. The key word is diligence that combines both discipline & practice. Practice will give you the ability to react naturally without thinking in different situations (for example the case with Angelina in my previous post: http://www.italki.com/entry/526273). Why discipline? Well at the beginning of study a new thing, I am thrilled and dream about success but a few weeks later my enthusiasm gets low (is it just me?) therefore discipline is an important value to insure my studying process for the long term. Shortly my philosophy says: It is better to run every day for 5 minutes rather than running 35 minutes one day per a week. This way will help you stick with your goal, practice every day and after a few months, who knows, maybe you will become the next Balboa!

Mar 6, 2015 1:45 PM

Corrections · 8

Eye of the Tiger – my short philosophy for language studying 1

This post is dedicated to Michael, my friend on italki, who gave me the inspiration for this notebook.

As a martial art instructor for approximately 10 years, I have been training all of my life in order to be able to fight like a machine. A fighter in the arena can't think before every box or punch he makes, otherwise he would be defeated by his rival. Therefore, he must train repeatedly until he reacts automatically without thinking.
Studying a new language is (as) the same as with martial arts skills.

<em>(Or</em> 'The study of a new language...<em>')</em>

The key word is diligence, which combines both discipline & practice. 2

Practice will give you the ability to react naturally without thinking in different situations (for example the case with Angelina in my previous post: http://www.italki.com/entry/526273).
Why discipline? Well at the beginning of the study of a new thing, I am thrilled and dream about success but a few weeks later my enthusiasm gets low (is it just me?) therefore discipline is an important value to ensure my studying will continue in the long term.

(ensure - make sure insure - buy insurance for)

Shortly my philosophy says: It is better to run every day for 5 minutes rather than running 35 minutes one day per (a) week. 3

This way will help you stick with your goal, practice every day and after a few months, who knows, maybe you will become the next Balboa!

1 - Technically correct, but I think 'language study' sounds nicer

2 - That vs which - a highly disregarded rule, but see it here: http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/whoVwhVt.asp and even better explained here: http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/which-vs-that

3 - Usually people say 'It is better to... than to...'. I would write "It is better to run every day for 5 minutes than to run 35 minutes one day a/per week" (or 'one day per week' or 'one day a week').

I would use the 'rather' in sentences like this: "Rather than running 35 minutes one day per week, I prefer running for 5 minutes every day" or "I would rather run 5 minutes a day than (run) 35 minutes once a week"

Excellent writing, Tal, very few and minor mistakes! Very few corrections were needed! I wrote you some comments that might be of help.

As always, you shared some interesting thoughts - thank you! : )

March 6, 2015

Michael I totally agree with you especially with the last sentence .. Good language partner is very important for our progress .. It can be a new subject for my next post :)

March 12, 2015

Hi Tal! Thank you for the message! I am pleased to read the "dedicated post" :) I have some thoughts under that topic. First of all I remember my thought about a connection between a language skills and sport skills. I'm passionate athlete and I see a lot of similar between sport training and language learning. I can say "to be fit" for foreign language. Martial art is really suitable as analogue. You have written right thoughts. I think so. I can add only one about a language partner. Somehow I used to go to a boxing gym for a half year or a bit more. I was single there. Another people were there with partners. At the first I had a partner. But unfortunately for me that man gave up the workouts. It was really bad for my workout. I had to look for a partner in the begin of every workout. Often I was alone doing shadow-boxing or punching bag. My progress didn't move ahead. And I gave up my boxing. I think different language partners are required to inspire us, to improve our skills, to make us stronger in our learning. Language is conversation between people and we can't get good results if we read book or do exercise alone without conversation.

March 11, 2015

Thank you Carla ..

March 6, 2015

It's a good writing! And I agree with you. I myself try to read Russian notebook and try to read 2-3 English articles. Not much. But I try to do it everyday and it does work well. I'm still far from good enough but it helps.

March 6, 2015

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