You may have noticed if you've returned to the site in the last couple of weeks that I've not added anything since the end of last month. I am still here. And I do still exist.
I have been completely overwhelmed with work at university and other commitments that I haven't been able to take anything extra on or keep up with other things, like this or my social life.

My final assignment is due next Friday and after that I will hopefully be able to see friends again and hopefully keep up with things like this.

I do have some great posts in mind so make sure you keep returning, or better yet subscribe in Google Reader or befriend me on Twitter @NicCrossLingo

Nic

I'd like to start by wishing everybody a happy World Translator's Day! (oh and if you're in Botswana, happy Independence Day)

In 1991 the International Federation of Translators (FIT) decided that setting aside one day a year would be an appropriate way to recognise the work of translators and to raise their profile. And they settled for September 30th, a day also celebrated as the day of feast for St Jerome, translation (as well as archaeologists; archivists; Bible scholars; librarians; libraries; schoolchildren and students)'s patron saint.

So, have a great World Translator's Day!

And tomorrow you can tell me how you celebrated.

I'm new on Twitter!

My account is NicCrossLingo. I look forward to hearing from you.

Nic

It happens to all of us sometimes. Well surely, I hope it's not just me.

For one reason or another you can't seem to concentrate and get things done. Maybe you're in the middle of writing reports for your students and your brain won't link up. Which one is Baader again? For me that signals that I've hit the wall.

When this happened to me today, I went down to the street for a short walk and got some food. I stayed a while and felt much better for it afterwards. That I left my desk, raised my heart rate, let my eyes relax and got something to raise my blood-sugar surely helped me keep on track. When I came back I felt much more invigorated and ready to continue writing reports.

This is repeated in Mason Hipp's article over on FreelanceFolder 5 easy ways to finish your work day with a bang. Number three:

3. Go For a Walk

Another big reason for reduced productivity late in the day is pretty obvious: sitting at a computer all day is tough. It's not tiring in the same as working in construction or another physical job, it is tiring mentally. Not only is it difficult to be productive after sitting at a computer for several hours, it's also very bad for you physically (especially your eyes).

Do yourself and your business a favor - get up and go for a walk. Most experts recommend 5-10 minutes for every hour on the computer, but I've found that you can see great results from even less than that. Give it a try and see what works best for you.

I'm not a smoker so going out for a cigarette wouldn't accomplish much. Although hang on. Would it? Yeah of course it would!

It seems to me that smokers are making a healthy decision by having a smokers break. They are getting up and leaving their work. Now don't get me wrong - I'm a happy non-smoker and secretly wish you were too - but just the act of getting up and going out on the balcony, forgetting work for a second seems to be positive.

What do you do when you feel like you might be hitting the wall? I would love to hear other advice.

Nic

FreelanceFolder

I can tell you for sure that working long hours like I have to this week is counter-productive. Now I know you know that already, but it's been proven, which I'll get to soon.

As a returning student and an ESL teacher (as well as an aspiring blogger and endeavouring translator), there is always lots to do. This week I have had my English students hand in essays and do end of term exams. My university course needs my weekly essays as well as weekly translation projects and we have just had a major assignment given out (which I won't be able to think about for a while...) (it's meant to be part-time, right?). Today I spent most of the day marking and writing reports as I knew they have to be handed out tomorrow. Plus I had a two hour study meeting with my uni peers.

If you're still here, I can tell you that I soon enough hit the wall and needed to get my mind off things for a while. You can read about what I did in the next post after this.

Now the interesting bit. After a four-year study at the Harvard Business School, it has been found that working less benefits workers in many ways. They stress predictable time off as a way to be more productive, not just raise morale.

What do freelancers think of this? Is this obvious?

Nic

Read the original here [via Lifehacker]

I've changed the background colours and I've also adjusted the number of posts that will appear on the front page. This is a temporary change and I'm hoping to gauge your opinion.
I've also adjusted the ads so that they will hopefully be more specifically related to the topics. For now, I'll keep them here.

Future changes may include a new start page and new commenting system. I'm also looking to organise a way for guest posts to work.

What do you think? Do you like the new look? Should I be more radical?

Just a quick one, as it's Saturday night here. But I was reminded today of this Calvin and Hobbes strip I read and wanted to post it. I hope you enjoy. Click on the picture to see the rest.

Calvin and Hobbes is the brainchild of Bill Watterson.

Clusterflock
Nic

Language Geek posted an article back in March about learning multiple languages at once. Josh, the author, is learning German, Russian and French (as well as Dutch and Spanish) and raises the question of what is the best way to learn multiple languages gleichzeitig.

This is an interesting question. I have been learning German as my number one second language, but also beginners Spanish. I've also been thinking about starting to pick up Dutch and or French. I'm taking advanced German on a postgrad course at the University of Auckland so the question is one I can relate to.

He suggests:

I'd still like to study all four, but I've not quite figured out the best way to do it yet. I mentioned staggering the languages in my previous post, but I doubt I'd stick to a strict schedule (Spanish on Mondays, German Tuesdays, whatever).

This would seem to work. I suggest using different materials for different languages as well though. So for example, German on the PC with byki or anki or whatever you like, Dutch with a grammar/vocab self-study book, Spanish with a conversation buddy followed by watching a DVD? Then after a month or so switch around.

On a seperate note, I managed to pick up es espanol 1 nivelinicial at 90% off today at the University Bookshop in Auckland. That was NZ$6 (about USD4!). I was very happy, especially that it includes a CD. I'll have to see how it goes - maybe there's a very good reason it's so discounted.

Cheers guys, Nic

Alice's Ponderous this week put up a fun way of teaching adjectives of description for people. Take a look. It uses the picture to the left, which might give you a clue.
This sounds like a lesson fun for students both young and old. I can also see it as a good way of getting some pictures up on your walls at the start of a term.
Have a look!

I'm always prowling the Internet to find new pages and resources for teaching English. One I often go back to for daily updates is one with the predictable name 'The English Blog'. I particularly like their daily discussions of words from the headlines and cartoons.


The English Blog. Have you checked it out? Found other useful pages?