Assalomu alaykum!
Hi everyone! With my first week at CLI Intermediate Uzbek finished, I wanted to post a "week in review" update here at Uzbek Brian to let you know what I'm up to and share some resources from this week. This year with a busier schedule and more familiarity with local sights and the general process of being at ASU or in an intensive program, I figured a weekly update with occasional intermittent video posts or bonus posts would best suit my blogging schedule.
So that I cover everything, I'll be writing in 5 main categories in these posts: general outlook, class activities, what I did during free time, goals for the coming week, resources and homework files, and then any extra photos or videos from the week. Sorry they won't be as detailed, but 4-5 hours a day of immersion Uzbek plus lots of computer work for clients only leaves me with so much creative energy left at the end of the day. ;)
 |
| On top of "A" mountain overlooking Tempe |
Here we go for Week 1:
Outlook: I am excited to be back in Arizona, but in all honestly also excited that this first transition week is over! As I wrote in my last post, preparation before arriving here was quite busy, from finishing school to packing to getting work and living arrangements settled. In addition, starting with this past weekend I was not feeling well physically due to stress and too much activity catching up on me, and this persisted largely throughout the week (throat, sinus, headache, etc.)
A bit under the weather and a lot in need of review for Uzbek especially for such a fast-paced course, this week was a little rough for me but I am faring much better now and ready to be more settled in for the remaining 6. I have met some great people this week in both my Intermediate class and in the Elementary Uzbek class, and am happy to see my teachers again as well as some local friends and favorite food shopping destinations (and hiking and walking areas!).
 |
| My Intermediate Uzbek class 2013 |
Class: Jumping right in and living up to the name 'intensive', class has been quite efficient and information-packed this week and I am glad we are moving along at a good pace. This year in Intermediate, all instruction is essentially conducted in Uzbek, whether it be explaining a new grammatical concept, learning cultural notes, watching an Uzbek video clip, or just conducting classroom question and answer. I feel like already I have learned a lot and will be getting very comfortable swiftly understanding and forming spoken sentences.
The general structure is as follows: We start class at 10:30 (yay, can wake up at a godly hour!) and have with our main teacher, Saodat, a 2-hour morning class in the likeness of a traditional language classroom—covering new grammar concepts, vocabulary, dialogues, and so on. Then, after a midday break, we have at 2:15 a 1-hour afternoon conversation and discussion session with my teacher from last year and after that another hour with some other students from Advanced and Elementary during which we do miscellaneous exercises and activities.
 |
| Promenade on the way to the fitness complex |
 |
| Awesome pool! Great day to get some laps in always |
Free time: This section is slightly an oxymoron for me this week, but during free time I was able to get quite a few Uzbek writing pieces together for homework as well as work on a bunch of projects for website clients. I am currently working on a site for a hair salon of a friend of a friend, as well as continuing my partnerships with existing clients doing any web-based tasks needed. Also I was able to get down to the fitness center a few times in addition to everyday walking and music-listening, though I need to get back on a fitness kick this week as far as strength and cardio. Today I was happy to get some work on personal projects in process too.
 |
| Enjoyed some perfectly ripe jackfruit this week! Here it is opened up |
 |
| A portion of my fruit for the week -- great mangos and stonefruit! |
This week: This coming week I would like to buckle down on some new vocab using Quizlet flashcards (check out my collection at
Quizlet.com/UzbekBrian) as well as continuing work on making my homework exercises more accurate and complex. I am hoping for a good result on this week's test and if not will study up on prior new concepts to make sure I am all set as I continue to add to my arsenal of Uzbek knowledge. I also want to focus on fitness and work out in some form at least every day in addition to walking (and get back to my ab crunches on the machine!). Hoping to also head to a yoga class on Saturday at the studio I enjoyed a lot last year.
 |
| A little bio I wrote about myself in Uzbek (Click here to view the full document) |
Resources: Quite a few homeworks, here they are:
Uy Ishi 3-Iyun: Aeroport Haqida
Homework June 3: About the Airport (Click here to open separately)
Uy Ishi 4-Iyun: Aeroportdagi Qoidalar
Homework June 4: Airport Rules (Click here to open separately)
Uy Ishi 7-Iyun: Uy Ishi: Zulfiya Haqida
Homework June 4: About Zulfiya (Click here to open separately)
“Mening Ismim G’anisher”
Practice Story Transcript (Click here to open separately)
Last thing: Write me letters!
Are you a long-time Uzbek Brian reader? Uzbek language speaker or learner? Just stumbled on the site? Friend or family from back home? I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to write me notes, letters, postcards (or send me
books... :D) at the following address until July 20th-ish:
The Critical Languages Institute
c/o Brian Greco
Arizona State University
PO Box 874202
Tempe AZ 85287-4202
I decided I will post the quick review guide I made in a separate post with a hope for increase in possible traffic flow to Uzbek Brian since it is highly specific, summarized, and linguistic in nature. :) That's all for this week! Check back soon and feel free to comment or email me at uzbekbrian at gmail dot com!
Xayr,
Brian
