----- Original Message -----From: Teja Johnson-LewisSent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 12:42 AMSubject: [norse_course] Short, sweet, and to the pointI'm very humiliated about my last e-mail, which I realize was more than a bit off-topic (as Arlie so graciously pointed out) HOWEVER, that doesn't stop the truth.THE TRUTH: the truth is that norse course is overrun by smart people! As a beginner who hasn't even made it to the eighth lesson yet, I myself feel a bit intimidated by brilliant Konrad and the rest of his linguistic pals. They are very familiar with old norse and it's messing with a lot of people's response to the course. People need to write more often to the course even if you're embarassed or feel silly. I feel silly as I type, but oh, well. I think that there are a lot of members of the course who haven't spoken up because they're afraid. I wish e-mails could express how much I am stressing this concept!!
THE PROOF: a few other people have written back, agreeing. Then, there's the e-mail that first made me realize that I'm not alone.
1.) Erin Steacy said that she was in lurkdom for most of the time.
2.) Raymond J. Lewis's hogwash comment was very off-topic, but helpful nonetheless.
3.) Glessner Robin had the same feeling.
4.) Jennifer L. Culver was on this course for months and didn't speak up since a little while ago because she thought that she'd appear ignorant of the language because everything looked so high-level.
Some people also had the advantage of knowing other languages. Raymond and myself only know English and the ON concepts are very new to us.
If you haven't written, please write! I'm willing to listen and I'm sure others are, too. It would be easier and more helpful to read old norse and questions and answers of our own level, rather than reading Konrad-type things. (I only say Konrad because he writes the most. Others write too, and they know who they are.) Please, please, write!!!
Sincerely and desperately, Teja
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more
Sumir hafa kvæði...
...aðrir spakmæli.
- Keth
Homepage: http://www.hi.is/~haukurth/norse/
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
norse_course-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
Hello Telja, Erin, Raymond, etc. - that is all who are struggling through the the early stages. You have my sympathy, and I think you are right to say, 'I don't know, I don't understand.' I am a teacher who took early retirement and what thirty years in the game has taught me is this - if someone is keen to learn then you grab them (metaphorically). I don't care whether they have just started to learn the alphabet or if they are up to university standard or at any point in between. As an older person who is almost at the end of Gordon's 'An Introduction to Old Norse' could I appeal to the knowledgeable among you to give more time to these younger folk. It is so soul-destroying to be desperate to learn something and find there is no one to help you.And to those amongst you who feel you are stupid or too ignorant then I say 'You are not'. You wouldn't be trying to learn Old Norse if you were. Don't give up. Keep at it. Shout it out, 'I'm at an early stage and it still seems hard. Help me!'Good luck to all of youJed Mc Harg