Learning, Comprehension, and the Coming

These past few weeks I have been mucking around with Rosetta Stone and trying to make sure everything is working properly. Not only that, it is now finals week, and I haven't been able to focus on Germany. I have been able to do a few things, such as Skyping with my host family, get through a couple of lessons in Rosetta Stone, and bounce a few emails back and forth between me and the Schneider family. With school coming to an end here shortly, I can begin to focus more on the exchange and less about classes. Other than Rosetta stone acting up, keeping in touch with my Host Family, and getting through school, these past few weeks have been fairly dead.

Over the past two weeks I've been able to work with Rosetta Stone to help with comprehension and the language barrier. There are 20 levels and 4 lessons per level. As of right now, I am on level 2, lesson 3. With Rosetta Stone there are more than just lessons, it comes with; Games, Stories, and even Live Conversations. So far I have attempted 3 conversations and one of them has full worked. I believe I know the problem so I shouldn't have any more troubles. I found that I need basically the entire Internet, as my brother was on Netflix and that made me cut out multiple times, and a USB head set on Internet Explore. I personally like Google Chrome, but it was the reason the second call didn't work, as well the headphones I was using didn't help. So far this program is working fairly well, but I still can't say I recommend it.

On Monday, Memorial Day, I had another Skype call with my host Family. I have to say this call was better than the last. I got to meet my host sister who was an exchange student in America a couple years ago, so her English was superb. That made the conversation flow a little more so we weren't at loss in that aspect. I need to be careful that I don't get sucked into just speaking English though, otherwise the year will not go over to greatly. I was able to say a few things in German though, which they had told me I didn't do half bad. I am not sure when my next call will be, but I am hoping that I can ask a few more questions and understand a little more of what they are saying. Also while talking to my host sister, the conversation of using Google Translate came up. I had originally been using it to help translate emails, but I now realize it sucks! Well sort of, Google translate takes into consideration context, and then translates phrases and words. Sometimes it’s right, (Like if I were to say "die schwarze Katze" or "the black cat") but most of the time it is off. So far though, this whole German thing is coming along.

These past few weeks have been nothing but catching up. I have been piled with projects for school (which turned out to be half of my finals), and given a limited time to make sure my grades are good, and things go smoothly for College applications in August. Due to all of this, I have not been able to keep updated on everything else. With two half days left, there shouldn't be much more to do except show up to class.

A little while ago I got the chance to go to a graduation party for a bunch of Exchange students in IE (International Exchange.) After that there was a "going away" orientation. On the outside I was smiling at all the thing that they were doing, but on the inside I knew I was going to have to go through this, with a different mindset. I know it will be hard to leave after I'm over there, but I don't know how hard, or anything else that will come with it. However that is for the future, and this is now, and as of right now I have my first Orientation tomorrow. I have no idea what we will be doing, but I am hoping that it will be good. I will be able to meet with other exchange students though (one of which will be going to Germany for a semester.)

For anyone who is planning on going abroad, my recommendations to you are to start learning your language without Google Translate, and also to listen to plenty of music in your language. That should help you get used to hearing the tone of peoples voices as well as the words, and children songs are good. Also make sure you have everything set to go for the year you come back, whether that be college, or another year of high school or whatever, it will help get you back into the flow of everything you are used to now.

That is all that I got for you, I will be posting my next blog a day early because I will be going on a backpacking trip that weekend. That will be on the 12th of June. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions leave them in the comments below and I will do my best to answer them!

Thanks Everyone,

~Michael Steiner~