How I can combine learning Esperanto with a busy day, I don't know. I don't think it's a problem with Esperanto as such, as I had the same experience with other things I attempted to learn, be it brushing up my Latin or learning basic Economics. There's a limited amount of time and energy available, and anything non-essential falls by the wayside first.
Any idea how to solve this dilemma?
Hi Oliver,
ReplyDeleteEven if it's just a few minutes a day, regular exposure can be a big help. The online site lernu.net has lots of courses that can be consumed in small bits.
Another option is to subscribe to a periodical for beginners (like "Juna Amiko", or "Kontakto"), or get a novel in basic Esperanto (like "La Krimo de Katrina" by Sten Johansson) and set aside a few minutes each day to read part of it, while making a list of new words to look up and/or grammar questions to ask. Check the EAB bookstore: http://esperanto-gb.org
Finally, there's an old (but still excellent) textbook by Montagu Butler called "Step by Step", with short, bite-sized lessons that you can do in a few minutes each. You can get it from Esperanto-USA, at http://esperanto-usa.org/retbutiko
Amike,
- Hoss
Thanks, I'll give that a go. I have subscribed to the Lernu 'word a day', but I find that the definitions are already getting too complex if you're not 'in it'...
ReplyDeleteHi Oliver
ReplyDeleteWhen I got bored, listening to the television, I attempeted simultaneous translation, to myself, into Esperanto.
Somewhat weird, but it defeated my boredom, and improved my Esperanto :)
Hi, I always have the same problem and especially so with Esperanto. I am getting back on track whenever I meet up with other Esperantists! Maybe you could find a group where you live?
ReplyDeleteWhere I live there are exactly 2 other people who speak Esperanto in a radius of over 300Km! We do meet very irregularly with each having busy schedules, but when we do meet it always gives a boost to pick up those textbooks again!
Amike,
Carsten.
Try to expose yourself to Esperanto material as much as you can. If you use Facebook, set the interface to Esperanto. Consider using twitter and following http://twitter.com/esperanto, this will give you a stream of news in Esperanto. There's also the Esperanto planet, a collection of Esperanto blogs in one handy location: http://e-planedo.kerno.org/.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I've done so far. I'm now seeking out local Esperantists (very few and far between) and planning to read some Esperanto e-books -- sites like http://www.librejo.com/ warrant exploration.
I did the Esperanto email correspondence course when I started, which was both brilliant and free. As well as working through the material my teacher would answer any questions I added, all within 24 hours. I still email her occasionally and I can't understate the help she's been. You could have a go at that (the first few lessons would be revision, but that wouldn't hurt). That's at http://pacujo.net/esperanto/course/.
You need a penpal. I have a really good one who lives in poland. :) My Esperanto gets better everyday.
ReplyDeleteYeah, ten minuets a day will help tremendously. I went through the same drop off. Try these videos from youtube:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqmBL3vWrXw&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWbyXVSiCxw&
Hey! I enjoyed reading this blog! I know that the last update was a lot of time ago, but... How is your esperanto learing going?
ReplyDeleteStill stalled... I must find some time again! I already have a plan that might re-kindle my enthusiasm, which I will blog about here when I get round to it.
ReplyDeleteGreat! I will be waiting. Count with me! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThis has happened to me too.
ReplyDeleteTake a break. Don't do anything Esperanto related. At some point your interest will be rekindled, but don't force it.
Something like learning Esperanto should be a labor of love and not work.