Keep it going, sounds like a great idea!!

Rob

--- Arlie Stephens <arlie@...> wrote:

> Hello Everyone,
>
> As most of you know, our instructors have been too
> busy to work on the course
> for the past few months, and we've been kind of on
> our own. They had hoped
> that they'd become less busy, and get back to
> writing new lessons, etc., some
> time this summer.
>
> Well, it looks like this isn't going to happen. I
> got an email from �skar
> telling me that they didn't think they were going to
> be able to get back
> to us anytime soon, and asking whether I wanted to
> take over as moderator,
> since (with the group having stayed active in their
> absence) they didn't
> want to just close it.
>
> Now I'm not qualified to teach Old Norse. My role in
> this group has been
> as proofreader and guinea pig; basically, Haukur and
> �skar tried out lessons
> on me before releasing them to the whole group. I
> would fix up any problems
> with the English (though their English is very good
> in any case), point out
> any incursions of modern Icelandic spelling (easier
> for me to spot than them)
> or vocabulary they'd not yet introduced, and they'd
> use my errors and questions
> as a guide to revising their explanations.
>
> So I'm basically just yet another student ...
> slightly more advanced than
> the posted lessons, but still a complete beginner.
>
> However, I have been plugging away continuing to
> study the language in the
> absence of our instructors. There are resources
> available, both on line and
> in print. I suspect some of you people have been
> doing the same.
>
> Moreover, I'd kind of like to have a mutual support
> group for people trying
> to learn the language. A place to post pointers to
> useful resources, ask
> questions about resource availability, compare
> experiences/translations,
> and simply encourage each other to keep on going.
>
> It might even be nice to work on specific
> translations in parallel ... that
> way, we could even compare results, and get some
> idea if we're getting
> anywhere.
>
> Plus, if feeling especially ambitious, we could try
> chatting in Old Norse.
> (Or even modern Icelandic, for that matter.)
> Doubtless the results would
> be hilarious to anyone who actually knew the
> language ... but the practice
> might do us some good ... and those who think they
> see an error could point
> it out. (Plus, we still have at least one modern
> Icelandic speaker on the
> list, if he doesn't run screaming at the thought of
> reading our doubtless
> inept attempts at using the language; he might take
> pity on us and point
> out a few of our errors... or provide a good
> example, at least.)
>
> So, my question for everyone here is: would that be
> useful to you? Or would
> you rather see the list shut down? Or simply left to
> continue as is ... very
> quiet, with the occassional question or
> announcement? Or have you got some
> other alternative to suggest?
>
> I'll create a poll on the Yahoo groups site with
> this question, to make
> tabulating the results easier. Also one for those of
> you who feel confident
> enough with the language to help others ...
> basically, I'm wondering how many
> of the 224 members of the list are (a) still active
> and (b) not total
> beginners.
>
> Please respond ... to the polls, or on the list. I
> want to figure out fairly
> fast whether there's enough interest to keep this
> list open, and then start
> thinking about how to make it useful.
>
>
> --
> Arlie
>
> (Arlie Stephens
> arlie@...)
>
> Sumir hafa kv��i...
> ...a�rir spakm�li.
>
> - Keth
>
> Homepage: http://www.hi.is/~haukurth/norse/
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> norse_course-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices
http://auctions.yahoo.com/