Discussion 7

[Unitha Cherry]

Reflecting on my language learning I would say that for me and the language I’m studying, language and culture are so entangled. Hebrew and Judaism are so wrapped up in each other that in learning about one I have learned about they other. I think that because Hebrew is the language of Judaism and Jewish culture, I am picking it up passively. I am not sure if I would say that the discussions about language structure have helped my understanding of my target language but they have been insightful. They have helped my understanding on language formation. I liked the discussion on competence because it speaks to how different languages form meaning and de facto rules. It also made me wonder how far someone could take the self-study program. AAVE is by some considered to be a different language and has words that English does but with different meanings. Is it worth its own study? It also made me think about what is defined as a language. Is it different meaning, understanding, or forms of  communicative competence?   A lot of my current study is very passive. I have two apps I have been using that give me lists of words for the day. As my study relates to my journey with Judaism  I have had to choose a name for my conversion and been able to use what I do know about the language structure of Hebrew and my starter vocabulary to help with that. The one thing that has changed with my plan is that I want to use a metric to track my growth. I have found a few online programs that have good reviews that I would like to use when I move to the 110 section. I have become frustrated with my language learning only because I currently don’t have to opportunity to learn my language in the way I want. I have been going to services and using the other method I outlined to start though I think I want to move away from a more free form of study to one that is regimented. In my plan especially because Judaism is to some degree tied to my study I think I am focusing on that particular aspect of competence.