TID 36: Taught yourself a new language

Was it really on 23 January that I temporarily abandoned these attempts to expand on the Things I’ve Done? Wonder how long I’ll last this time? Longer if I don’t try to be fancy about illustrations.

This language thing is a farce. When I drove down here, more than eight years ago, I listened to tapes of conversational Italian, and arrived with a rudimentary and serviceable ability to say what I wanted. Then I had lessons, and tried to learn fancy forms of verbs, and even read newspapers. And now I’m convinced that I have barely the skills of a 4 year old, if that. I get by, and Italian is new to me, but I also find it frustrating not to be able either to just chat or to discuss ideas. Immersion would be a good idea.