A few more vids.

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I was able to get through the thousand.  There were some which were a stretch.  Surprising few.  Mostly the longer more complicated words.  I learned to, if it was very long or with serious linguistic switchbacks, to stop the video and just look at the screen.

Sometimes, though, I would let the stress push me on through.  Sometimes that helped, sometimes I couldn't do it in time.  The goal was to try pronouncing it msyelf, before they spoke the word.  And, mostly, usually, even on the more difficult ones, I could.  However, if it was fifteen letters... usually I would pause the video.  Or it seemed like fifteen.

I spoke all one thousand words.  Usually twice, or three times.  Sometimes four times.  Did I do it well?  As well as I could.  There is one pronunciation I am going to have to investigate.  It is when words end with an "ir".  I can't tell if they are saying "if", "iv", or a very soft "ir".  I just don't quite get that.

The rest I mostly have.  Just remembering that "ll" can be like a "j" or "h"?  That "h" doesn't usually make a sound?  That "g" can be a "g" or... a "h", or "k", or "hk"?  Something, that one too I need to look up and learn more about in particular instances.  And "j" is "h"?  Those are... how I heard things, and with some limits to my understanding.

After that, I got started on Spanish phrases.  This one doesn't have a count.  I would guess, from the timer though, that I am around 40 to 45 percent through.  But I am tired.  So I probably won't finish.  Still, that's... not bad.

How good am I really doing?  I simply don't know.  I think I am... doing better than average.  Not... for a starter.  My pronunciation is very good (with some limits).  But even for a, probably, say, mid to upper middle level tier Spanish as a second language speaker, I think I am at about that leve.

Pronunciation, however, is very far from knowing the grammar, verb conjugation, hearing ability on the fly, or speaking conversationally.  I can imitate, but like a parrot, not a speaker.  Even so, that is... a very good start.  I would rather have the capacity to speak the language, before I know else, as a starting capacity, than to know conjugation, grammar, or else.

What surprises me is how much even once knowing German helps.  But toss in French, a bit of Italian, and some smatterings of Spanish, even if Castillian and long ago, and yes.  I... really have a capacity to trill those r's, and ll's, and such.  And the longer words don't, mostly, phase me.  A few exceptional words, initially, through me.  But, when I figured a few things out, not a problem.

I did very well.  I was pleased with what I did, could, do.  I was curious where to start, now I know.  But, too, I have several books from kindle, and some audiobooks, pulled down and ready to review.  Whenever... I get to that.  But, yes.  I will probably, a few times a week, just run through these words.  Though I will be reviewing how to pronounce some things.

Impressive!  I'll be honest with you, I may well be on the road to learning Spanish, and in a hurry.  I might well be understanding verbal in a year or two.  Speaking?  Writing?  Let's... be real.  Those probably take decades.  And, probably, never really that good.  But, to understand, and be able to converse lightly?  That may be enough.

The other languages of interest, Filippino, Cambodian, Thai, Japanese?  Those... I don't know.  I suspect I would have to be there, with a three time a week, two hour a time, tutor, plus having it all around me.  And that will probably be limited to very light, very limited, spoken.  The writing and reading just probably isn't possible.  I, if I got there, would give it a go.  But...  As well, over there, there is a limited reason to learn their written.

Their laws are... whatever they say, whenever they say.  The more you know, the more you are required to know, even though knowing doesn't help.  It... just... may not be wise to learn their language.  Or... let them know that has been done.

Still, as mentioned, I am quite pleased with what happened tonight.  The first Spanish praticums in... what year... 2023... from... 198... 4?  3?  We'll go with three for ease, so from 1983 to 2023, is forty years!?!  Okay.  So, yeah.  I... did okay.  I did exceptionally well.  I probably hit in the 90% mark.  And learned some of the things I couldn't understand, and know what to investigate.  Not... bad.  Sure, the simple (mostly) words, but a thousand of them, pronounced mostly before I heard them, and all at once.  Not... bad.