However, even if my new acquaintance doesn't know it, I know very well that there are big gaping holes in my vocabulary. I can make myself understood by beating around the bush and inserting an English word here and there, but I still have much, much to learn.

I've begun meeting with a language helper again, just twice a week for one hour. I don't always get my study time in as I should, but the accountability of meeting with her is helping me do more than I would otherwise!

This week we've been watching Aamir Khan's program on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/show/satyamevjayate?s=1). My language helper and I watch it together, and I stop it when I hear a new expression or a word that I don't recognize. One of us writes it down, making sure there is enough context to remember how to use the word. Either at the moment or later I explore the use of the word in different contexts:
-Is this a common expression? What do people usually say? How else could I say this? What other examples can you give with this word? Can it be used in a family context or just a government context?

My experience so far:

1) Each show covers one topic, so we stay within a certain vocabulary domain.
2) These are words that every Hindi speaker understands, even if they aren't used in everyday conversation (most of the words that were new to me were actually Urdu words).
3) The show is in segments, so I can complete one or two segments per lesson, even if I can't watch it all (I do about 15-20 minutes of the show in a one hour lesson).
4) Most of the new words were Urdu words, but my Hindi-speaking language helper understood them all and gave me the Hindi equivalent as well.
5) I am getting the vocabulary I need to speak about deeper issues. Some Stage 2 and Stage 3 Mini-Projects were difficult to do because my language helper was reticent to talk about them. This show will be covering 13 such topics, beginning with female foeticide and child sexual abuse. Because the show introduces the topic, not me, I find that it is easier to talk about the topic with my language helper.
6) My vocabulary is growing: statistic, depend, tribal, interference, topic, importance, emotions, develop, disturb, threat. (Words related to this issue, but with a wider application).
7) I am learning expressions, too: अपने हिन्दूस्तानी होने पर बड़ा फ़क्र (गर्व) होता है, बात की तह तक पहुंचना, किसी को कटघरे में खड़ा करना, इक्कयावन (51) बहू
8) There is great opportunity to USE what I learn, since many people are discussing this program!

Thanks a lot

Best Wishes,
Doris

I want to ask all you language-walas about best practices concerning Landour Language School. We are thinking of spending a few weeks or even some months there this summer for drilling and grammar. What advice can the community concerning best teachers, when to sign-up for classes, etc.

We also are curious what would be some decently priced accommodations for a family of 4 (2 kids). Have any of you couples out there tried doing Landour Language School together with two kids? I assume this takes some schedule juggling!

Thanks for all the advice in advance.

CL

The observation and interview questions are in English, so you will have to use your language skills to put the questions in Hindi or Urdu. Don't get overwhelmed by doing all the questions for one project!

Useful for a SHARED EXPERIENCE story, or a launching point for other mini-projects about marriage symbols, widowhood, or death.

With just a few phrases I could engage with people even when I didn't understand anything they said.

Thankfully I know a little more than this now. But it was a helpful start!

This is one of the ways I'm trying to be intentional about being a better listener of Hindi. Try it out!

CL

The following article in last Sunday's "The Hindu" is a good starting point for a mini-project INTERVIEW on school discipline, or LIFE STORY about being punished in school (your story, your friend's story), a PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION before visiting a school, or a WHAT HAPPENED story about school punishment in the news.

The pictures are a helpful launching point into the topic.

"We were pranksters..."
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/article2861010.ece

This is the chai and chat forum and here you can talk about anything that is not language learning related. This is a place for us to meet our fellow OSLS students and we can ask any questions or share experiences about life in India.

You can start new threads for new topics of conversation.

Whether you have a question or insight about travel, shopping, renting, driving, surviving, thriving and connecting in India, don't hesitate to write a post and share with us here!

OSLS set this forum up as a place where we can meet and interact with other fellow OSLS students who are learning Hindi and Urdu the OSLS way.

This forum is password protected and only fellow OSLS language students have access to it.

The wisdom of the group is always greatest so do share in this forum whenever you have a question or experience or difficulty that relates to language learning or whenever you have an experience or helpful insight or resource to share.

The chai and chat forum is a general forum where you can talk about anything that's not language learning related.

You can start new threads to begin new topics of conversation.

So whether you have questions or experiences to share about story telling, mini-projects, community time, language schools, grammar, listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary, resources or motivation or anything that is on your mind, don't hesitate to post your questions and thoughts!

OSLS set this forum up as a place where we can meet and interact with other fellow OSLS students who are learning Hindi and Urdu the OSLS way.

This forum is password protected and only fellow OSLS language students have access to it.

The wisdom of the group is always greatest so do share in this forum whenever you have a question or experience or difficulty that relates to language learning or whenever you have an experience or helpful insight or resource to share.

The chai and chat forum is a general forum where you can talk about anything that's not language learning related.

You can start new threads to begin new topics of conversation.

Whether you have a question about language helpers, OSLS materials, methods, community time, resources, motivation or anything that is on your mind, don't hesitate to post your questions and thoughts!