They say that the disciple asked the Guru:
“Oh, Master, when will my second language be good enough?”
The old man scratched his shiny bald head, smiled, and said:
“It isn´t important how good it is, as long as it is better than yesterday. So, no pressure.”
Sounds wise, doesn´t it? But if you take it at face value, you are an idiot. Of course, it matters how good your second language is. If you still can´t order a beer in a pub, what does it matter that you can not do it a little better than yesterday? But from a certain level and perspective, it is kind of true.
And as for the “no pressure,” lazy people could use some of that pressure, but they never do, because they are lazy. Anxious people should, and would like to, relax but can´t because they are anxious. So, it´s easier said than done.
But hear this, when you are learning something, whatever it is, you are inevitably learning a bunch of other stuff in the process, too. And you never know when it will come in handy. You think you are learning a second language, but you might be learning a skill, that will change your life dramatically. Or it won´t.
Take me, for example. I feel my German is still nothing to brag about – although I would most likely be able to order that beer. The chances of the waitress bringing me a bear instead are hopefully getting slimmer with every lesson. So, I believe that I am improving with every Duolingo lesson, with every online lesson with my teacher and with every Dracula chapter that I translate. Is that good enough? Time will tell.
And as for the last part, I am definitely getting better at editing videos. It may be helpful one day. Or not. But I am certainly having a lot of fun. Look at the video I made of the second chapter of Dracula in which Jonathan is (still) in danger. And don´t judge my German too harshly. After all, it is not about perfection but progression.
A video version of this blog entry:
