I've done some shadowing now, about 70 mp3s now, and it's been good. I am getting the pronunciation and prosody better. Especially the prosody is getting better.
I think it's useful. I am also picking up some chunks though this will require a lot more work and active memorization of these chunks.
I think I can practice more while sitting on the plane or waiting at the airport.
I can load some of these mp3s onto the Galaxy Player and KT phone.
So it's working out. The hard work making separate tracks really paid off. I am getting better shadowing done this way. It's much better than the first time I did "shadowing" of the KGU book.
It doesn't take that long either. I think it will take about a few more days to finish shadowing the book. Then I can work on shadowing the Essentials book, but don't do it too fast. Do it leisurely and really learn everything thoroughly.
I think you'll have to do shadowing TWICE. On the second time, spend time memorizing the "chunks", the sentences worth remembering.
Maybe test yourself as well ...
So this is working out! I like it. It's good. I've always liked the KGU book.
After I do these two books, what's the next one to shadow? I might do the WOW comics??? Not sure. I think the business one is too difficult to shadow. I should really do something simple.
The Migrant workers book is excellent for shadowing. I will do that! I will get someone to read through that, I will record and make separate tracks for the sentences, and label them appropriately. I might even get them to read the English sentence. I think this will work out well. I might forget about the English sentence. It's too complicated.
So I have lots of things I have to do. There is a lot, I have to say. I can't wait until I learn the 20,000 Korean words I need to know. That will be fun!
I do enjoy deciphering things. It's a good feeling when I've been able to translate something complicated. I've gone past the stage of translating easy things. I am ready to translate long and complicated sentences.
So I've got the study plan firmed up. A little bit of shadowing while I do grammar study. I might not do the workbook, or leave it until later. It will take a long time to do, I think. It's such a thick book. And what do I get out of studying it?
I am not sure. It might help me remember the grammar. I'm not sure. I hope I don't have to look up the dictionary too much. I will look up the words as I study it.
Anyhow, too much thinking about studying. You should just do it. Stick with your plan.
I am not sure whether this method works for ANY language.
I think the chunks business I would do first off when learning a new language.
Then I would study the grammar. I would try and get the most comprehensive grammar book in English I could find. I would also get a hold of a fantastic dictionary.
After studying grammar, I would tackle easy books. Then I would move onto news articles.
I would continue shadowing. Easy stuff at first and then getting progressively harder stuff.
So grammar, translating and picking up vocabulary, and shadowing. Those would be my core activities.
I would keep reading because I would be reading everything I translate.
Watching videos would not be a very important part of learning the language. I would only watch for enjoyment.
That would be that. Shadowing so that I can be fluent in conversation, and the grammar and vocab study because I want to be able to read and write in that language.
I think I would aim to pick up 10,000 words.
The chunks are the key. If I get translations for all 3000 chunks and learn the 3000 chunks off by heart - how to say them in the TL - then I am well on my way to being fluent.
Then the grammar and vocab study are for reading and writing. I would do the summaries and memorization much earlier.
So I would be fluent in about 6 months. I wouldn't bother about learning vocabulary separately. It's best to learn from the grammar books themselves.
So that would be it. The chunks and shadowing of other stuff would be the central tasks for learning to be a fluent speaker and have the correct pronunciation and intonation. The grammar study and vocabulary study are for learning to read and write in that language.
Then you can interact with native speakers.
Make sure you pick up slang and colloquialisms!
Find sources on the net and learn these! These will help you sound more like a native.
So it's going well. Keep my fingers crossed.
