October
Preface: Mahsa Amini protests (again)
Wow, already two months+ into the semester -- time is really flying! I wish I had a good update from the September post, but alas, I do not. The internet blockade is still going. I suppose it has only been about a month or so, but this time feels different than the shutdown in 2019 (caused by a hike in gas prices). As I mentioned in the September journal, that one only lasted about a week, and the current internet shutdown is on week seven. The primary mode of communication we use, Whatsapp, is almost completely blocked out. If we meet early in the morning, it seems to work, but the quality has dropped. Instead of twice per week, my language partner and I are meeting three times a week, so at least that is an improvement from September.
I think over winter break I will try to find another language partner on iTalki, but I want to wait until classes have died down so I can adequately explain how I want to learn; so for right now, I am just going to keep talking with my father as my primary language partner.
PLO Lessons & Progress
In the last journal, I had reviewed/learned up to E31 (E=Elementary, please see August post for further explanation). I just finished E38, so only two more lessons at the Elementary level (E39 & E40)! Though I am definitely not where I predicted in my learning plan, I still think I am making good progress despite the circumstances. Before this past summer, I had made it to the Intermediate level, so I am going to talk a little bit about what I anticipate for the upcoming month (and the last learning journal). The jump from Beginner to Elementary on PLO was significant, as the main texts got longer, more complex, and more difficult. The jump from Elementary to Intermediate was intense if I remember correctly. Right now, I am going through about one lesson per session, but when I get to Intermediate, this may (and probably will) slow down, as the lessons are much longer, and start discussing more abstract ideas (economy, lifestyle, etc.), so the vocab might be harder to remember. I am getting ahead of myself, though, as I have not started Intermediate yet -- I assume if I keep the current pace that I am at, I will begin the Intermediate level around this time next week.
The decreased number of sessions per week is definitely an adjustment, as I think it is harder for me to remember the vocab from previous lessons. Currently, the best way I am counteracting this issue is by listening to the audio files/main text videos on PLO when I would normally have a session with my language partner. PLO has some sample questions after each lesson that I previously ignored, but now I am taking those quizzes in place of my language partner quizzing me.
In SDLC 105 we have finally started grammar! I am very excited, as I think this area has -- by far -- been my biggest struggle in Farsi. Though in the Elementary lessons it has not proved much of a hindrance, I know the Intermediate level will be much more involved, so I feel like I will be more adequately prepared to dissect it this time.
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