Exam Prep Review #5

Progress update on the list of topics to cover.

Speaking Goals

• Build Confidence: I need to speak clearly and confidently even when I get to a bit I’m not sure about. If I don’t know the word, just guess and keep on going rather than fretting and looking confused.
• Conversely, don’t be cocky: talk at a sensible speed to give myself time to think, and don’t go off at a tangent that seems interesting if I’m not sure where I’m going with it. Obviously this is in conflict with the point above. I haven’t really got anywhere with these first two but I’m planning to do a sort of portuguese version of “just a Minute” as a way of making myself do it. One for the next couple of days, I think. 
• Speak portuguese for at least 5 minutes every day between now and the exam. Crossing this one off – I have done loads and have 4 hours of conversation practice booked in the next 5 days, plus whatever I can coax out of Mrs Colin

Listening Goals

• Listen to videos of people speaking in a range of accents from Alentejo, the rural centre of the country. and the islands (hence that Açoriano video I just posted).
• Listen to at least 3 video films with subtitles. Not really a film but I’ll count “Na Ponta da Língua” for one and the Ricardo Araújjo Pereira thing as another. One to go.
• Get to grips with the Raul Solnado “Guerra de 1908” sketch Done!

Cultural Goals

• Read at the very least:
  • • A Língua Portuguesa (Fernando Pessoa) I probably won’t get to finish this but it’s locked and loaded. I have read two extra (smaller) books in the meantime.
    • Mensagem (Fernando Pessoa) Done!
    • Brevíssima História de Portugal (A.H. De Oliveira Marques)
    • Maybe even A construção da democracia em Portugal (Kenneth Maxwell) although that seems a bit ambitious. No way is this happening. 
• Make a timeline of portuguese history to get a sense of how it hangs together. Done
• Write about portuguese landmarks – the Padrão dos Descubrimentos, Torre de Belém, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and so on. I’ve done one and listened to some audio about the others

General Language skills

• I need to build my vocabulary – Memrise and Lingq daily goals – Still winning
• I’m getting better at the ver/vir (which was one of the 4 Evil Exes I identified a year or so back) but need to step up my game on some of the other weirder irregulars like Por and Dar
• Finish the exercise book I’m on now Done!
• Do a couple of mock exams to get a feel for the speed I need to be working at to get in under the time limit Work still needed. Only half a one!
• Practice writing legibly. I type so much these days I need to get my hand used to forming letters or I’ll be penalised for spelling errors. Crossing off. If I can’t do it now, I’m in trouble,
• Letter format and forms of address Still one to do
• Learn – actually learn verbatim – one song. Still not done.

Plans for the next few days to make sure I hit all the remaining items

Sunday:

• Do the Just a Minute Challenge
• Watch “Gatos Nao têm Vertigens”
• Spend 15 minutes trying to commit the song to memory
• Do half an hour more on the transcript
• Go through DIPLE model exam

Monday:

• 1 hour lesson
• Do half an hour on the transcript
• Write about the Padrão dos descobrimentos
• Write about the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
• Watch 1 episode of “O Ministério do Tempo”

Tuesday

• Read on the train
• 1 hour accent practice
• Write about o Mosteiro de Batalha

Wednesday

• Read on the train
• 1 hour lesson
• 1 hour conversation practice
• Write a letter of complaint
• Go to bed early

Thursday

• Exam