Starting translating Spanish
A friend of mine wrote on Facebook a post including the word ectopic for irregular heartbeat. I looked up ectopic and found a website in English. When I got to the end, I saw the message, read in Spanish.
So I tried the Spanish. An amazing number of long words were easily recognizable. I shall list some here, below. I could then turn back to the English and try reading again, checking on one or two words whose meaning had escaped me.
Read the article in English
Here are the first ten words in Spanish and English. Many of them are almost the same word. Just add a or o and maybe e or s or change the i and y.
Spanish - English
el the
en in
leer read
los the plural as in Los Angeles meaning the angels
minuto minute
normal - normal
ritmo rhythm (s?)
signos signs
una persona a person
uno - one
English - Spanish
human humano
in en
the el or los the plural as in Los Angeles
minuto minute
normal normal
one uno
a person una persona
read leer
rhythm ritmo
signs signos
After Chinese, going back to Spanish seems easy. But I have found a new easier way to learn Chinese, on my mobile phone.
Chinese
Hello Chinese is my current favourite free system for learning Chinese. It teaches you the first sentence you need. I was allowed first to say why I wanted to learn the language, which was for conversation. So, they must have three types of exercise.
Duolingo started by asking me to identify sounds and shapes. Very dull. Often I looked at the shape and thought, how am I supposed to know that. It took me a while to work out where I needed to tap on the page to find the hidden translations.
Hello Chinese seemed to have more little pictures which were easy to recognize. So I could spot the question, are you American, or the answer I am American, from the flag. Then try to learn the Chinese sign underneath.
One day I hope to give my opening speech at a bilingual Chinese-English Toastmasters club. 4 minutes minimum. I am trying to encourage two members of my Toastmasters club in Singapore, Braddel Heights Advanced, to give their opening speech in English.
Although they have rudimentary English, they are shy to start. I imagine that if I can conquer a speech in Chinese, I can show them how to do it in English. One sentence at a time.
My opening sentence is Chinese will be,
My name is Angela. I am not American. I am English.
Google translate gives me these translations:
First Spanish>
Mi nombre es Angela.
Yo no soy americano.
Soy Inglés.
Now the Chinese:我叫安吉拉。
我不是美国人。
我是英国人。Wǒ jiào ānjí lā.
Wǒ bùshì měiguó rén.
Wǒ shì yīngguó rén.
From Hello Chinese I have confirmed that the first Chinese word is I. Shi means to be and looks like the letter B above an E. Bu is not, a bit like but. Ren is person. Guo is land or country. Meigui means America. Literally beautiful-land. Ying-guo - Eng-land.The Chinese drawing like a capital A looks like a little stick figure running person.The middle symbol for An is a little kneeling woman under a roof, meaning peace. Yes, An means peace.That took about 20 seconds to say. I have a long way to go to a four minute speech. But I have the first three sentences to practise. Three times twenty seconds is one minute. Only 12 days.
12 sentences of three to five words.
Useful Websites
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/235710
Hello Chinese
Duolingo
Memrise
About the Author
Useful Websites
Toastmasters clubs
BHA Toastmasters Club
https://www.facebook.com/bhatmsg
TCA Toastmasters Club
https://www.facebook.com/tampineschangkatadvTMC
Senja Cashew, Singapore
https://www.toastmasters.org/Find-a-Club/03758978-senjacashew-toastmasters
Singapore International Dynamic
https://www.toastmasters.org/Find-a-Club/07664276-singapore-intl-dynamic-speakers-sgi-dynamic-speakers
Harrovians, UK
https://www.facebook.com/Harrovians/
About the Author
Angela Lansbury, is a semi-retired travel writer still researching bucket list countries and seeking out the special, unusual, people, places, landmarks, hotels, museums and trails, fabulous foods, recipes, clothes and online souvenir shopping.
Angela Lansbury is a member of Toastmasters International.
Angela Lansbury B A Hons is the author of ten books by regular publishers, plus another ten self-published books.
About Angela The Speaker & Trainer
Angela Lansbury is a teacher of English and other languages to Toastmasters clubs and businesses.
Angela has several blogs speeches, comedy and song writing and organizing, writing intermittently, but writes almost daily on these three:
Please share links to your favourite posts.
TCA (A for Advanced club) is another advanced speakers' club which meets both online for visitors from worldwide and physically for walks, meals and socials in the Tampines area. Meetings are in the TC Community Club when Covid-19 regulations in Singapore allow it, but meanwhile come along to meetings online.
TCA meetings are on the fourth Tuesday evening of each month at 7 p.m Zoom room open to check your sound and online appearance and chit-chat, ready for a 7.15 pm start. I usually manage to attend meetings whether I am in Singapore or the UK.
Another club, totally online, is Singapore Online Dynamic, meeting 9 pm Singapore time on Fridays. I am a member of this club.
I am also a member of Senja-Cashew. When it meets physically it is in a convenient large complex containing a swimming pool beside a landmark lake next to a shopping complex. Right now it is online.
Once you join a club, your club's president will give you the opportunity to be informed of Toastmasters club meetings worldwide, especially those which have interesting workshops.cAbout the Author
Angela Lansbury, is a semi-retired travel writer still researching bucket list countries and seeking out the special, unusual, people, places, landmarks, hotels, museums and trails, fabulous foods, recipes, clothes and online souvenir shopping.
Angela Lansbury is a member of Toastmasters International.
Angela Lansbury B A Hons is the author of ten books by regular publishers, plus another ten self-published books.
About Angela The Speaker & Trainer
Angela Lansbury is a teacher of English and other languages to Toastmasters clubs and businesses.
Angela has several blogs speeches, comedy and song writing and organizing, writing intermittently, but writes almost daily on these three:
Please share links to your favourite posts.
You also get access to the online magazine. And the club will appoint a mentor to guide you through your first three speeches and plan your year so you can complete a Pathway suited to your personal interests. I chose the basic Presentation mastery path to start. Next I did the Engaging Humor path. Now I am onto the leadership paths such as Visionary Communication.
I am also a coach for Nee Soon South.
All the clubs worldwide have just handed over to the new team from July 1st, all full of enthusiasm, seeking new members, sometimes with a space for a committee member if you are job-hunting, or climbing the corporate ladder, just the thing to add to your c.v.
Toastmasters has made links with the Rotary club organization. So if you are interested in Rotary clubs, you might investigate both.
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