Wed 21 Feb 2007
Wasting Time
Posted by 馬先生 under Language
I should be learning the language, instead I spend too much time reading about the language. To be more specific, reading about how people learn languages and opinions on language study. I regularly surf various language forums throughout the day reading about how people become fluent and getting involved in various debates. At the end of the day, I can spend 4-5 hours reading about something I already knew or information that simply doesn’t improve my Cantonese. You can see that 140 hours per month is spent on meaningless discussions.
I followed a lengthy discussion on Chinesepod.com - Is Steve Kaufmann right? I read every comment, even checking Steve’s blog for any posts and comments. This consumed around 3 hours of my time, in which I gained nothing. This type of time wasting happens on a daily basis. For the last 4 days I had very limited Internet access being in Guangzhou for Chinese New Year with my wife’s family. I was able to learn a large amount of Cantonese and spent the majority of my time in “oral Cantonese” discussions. This time would have probably been spent reading/writing in English on language blogs/forums when in Hong Kong.
Even at this very moment typing this post, I am watching TVB, however, my brain remains in English because I’m typing in English. My thoughts are constructed in English while I write and read English. Its like an addiction, if I have a computer in front of me, I can’t help but check/participate/and debate on various language forums. As I can’t read no more than 40 Chinese characters, I am forced to browse using English as my Internet language.
Why not turn off the computer? I would learn faster if I didn’t have the Internet, however, the Cantonese Dictionary has become a vital component for my continual improvement. I need to know definitions in order to understand what I’m hearing, and so why I continue to use the Internet. You can’t simply just listen to new words and eventually work out the meaning that easily.
I’m sure many other people fall into the same trap. The intention is to learn the language, but instead you are spending the time reading posts about languages as is the case if you have read this post.
Hong Kong
February 21st, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Very well said, my friend!
BTW, Steve has just put up a new post in his blog in reply to Ken’s post. I worry that I am falling into the trap again!
February 22nd, 2007 at 1:29 am
Right on!
Although I didn’t take the time to go through every comment, I was able to see some pretty confrontational comments on that famous thread! Why do people focus on such things?
You’re so right in that time could be so much better spent saying more constructive things.
Some comments were great though. Must credit those.
BTW, your (or your wife’s) Cantanese transcripts are great! It really gives me a feel for the language (not that I’m learning it actively like you or anything). Very helpful indeed.
I follow your blog closely. I can relate to some of your experiences with the native people not taking your learning seriously. I had that in Germany when I was learning German. Their English is too good, so they switch right away. That’s why I NEVER switch away immediately when someone talks to me in a second language unless they directly or indirectly ask me to.
Anywho, keep up the good work.
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Yes, it’s too interesting to stop. Reading about so many things on the internet makes you not want to stop.
February 25th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
I only just found your website. I have been familiar with chinesepod.com which has been of no help to me at all seeing as I to am trying to learn Cantonese. I have only been in Hong Kong 1 year (about as long as I’ve been learning Cantonese). I am stepping up on my Cantonese and also getting married to a Hong Kong Chinese. Just cool to read your website being in Hong Kong also.
February 25th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Keep it up Dean. You’ve been in Hong Kong much longer than me.
Great on getting married, just ensure the policy remains that you speak only Cantonese, speaking English will only hinder your progress.
Thanks.
February 26th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Writing blogs and reading blogs are so interesting that these activities suck up all of your time. Giving up them are mission impossible. Regretting on the time wasted is unnecessary because you will do it on and off intermittently in future even you start to regret now.
February 28th, 2007 at 6:50 am
I agree…to much time reading about learning (reading your blog,lol) and not enough time doing… but it does help with one thing…keeping passionate about your study!
I lived in Hong Kong for two years. I didn’t watch TV, Movies, or even listen to the radio. I still learned how to speak the language.
I studied about an hour a day. Everyday I was out, talking with people on the street… it certainly helped.
February 28th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
You could say that learning about learning Cantonese is a hobby of yours. I think we all go through this pursuit to find the “holy grail” of learning to speak a foreign language. It gives us hope away from the arduous task of actually learning the language by conventional means. It is only when we realise that more time is spent researching the way we learn language and less time is spent actually learning do we realise we have fallen into that trap!
There is some good that comes from reading forums and blogs - it helps us to maintain interest and keep focused. We can take what we feel useful and adopt these ideas in our own learning techniques.
Richard.
March 9th, 2007 at 9:57 am
Yeah I wouldn’t feel too bad about “wasting time”. I wouldn’t say it was wasted. It basically gives you a break from learning and its a form of relaxation. I could just as well say that I spend 16 hours a day awake, so why not spend every minute studying SOMETHING, then I’d be amazing right? Your mind simply can’t handle that much studying. It shuts off eventually. Take a break and read some blogs… just don’t get too caught up with them.
March 19th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Just stumbled upon your blog. There’s a lot of experiences which I’m sure many people have endured in their quest to become fluent. I would certainly advocate ditching English and attempt to speak Cantonese all the same. I did it the other way round i.e. ditched Cantonese and spoke nothing but English for 2 years. I even spoke Cantonese with an English accent for a few weeks afterwards. I got my fluency and tones right after watch TVB, old black and white films, cartoons. The thing to do is to think like a child..when you were a kid I bet you didn’t think too much of how fluently you spoke as long as you got your message across. Yes, there will be embarassing moments and yes, you will be ridiculed but who doesn’t (I’ve certainly had my share). Best of all is not to think too much about it as the more fear you have of saying something, the less you will say..
March 20th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
Yeah fella, just chill and it will all come together. I think you’re too het up about the whole thing. From your pic you look more Chinese than White anyway so that’s half the battle…..
July 16th, 2012 at 7:06 am
i have the same problem! i am an English speaker in US just started taking Cantonese lessons 4 weeks ago. i am very discouraged so i spend time reading about the language and how to learn instead of listening and talking. i don’t have Cantonese practice buddy so i only hear Cantonese in class and on CD. i would like to live in HK and hear Cantonese all the time, but i am so bad, i am afraid i would never learn. i don’t know if immersion would work or i would still need language/grammar lessons even if i was living in HK? when you are a kid learning to speak, people are patient and slowly explain simple (but useful) sentences, i don’t think people would put up with that for an adult. i am struggling with how to learn, so i spend too much time reading about it.