The uses of adversity

J is sick today. 

When this happens on a weekend, we don't let him play videogames (since they can nauseate), but usually let him watch movies and videos to his heart's content. Today he watched some of Angriff der Klonkrieger, Ratatouille, and now the Ratatouille Let's Play videos I just wrote about. I'm happy because this is the first major dose of L2 media J has had in a long time.

These days I often find myself in the unusual position of worrying that my son doesn't spend enough time watching television! (Only in German, of course.)

Schnurpse

J loves the "Schnurps" poems by Michael Ende:

Especially "Das Schnurpsenkonzert":

And this one about two Schnurpse fighting:

New Let's Play video in L2

The Let's Play Ratatouille by RoxasLP SoraHerz from the last media update is very high-quality and substantial. Two years ago J watched another Let's Play of the same game, which was ok, but this is much better because the player comments throughout.

As I've discussed before, Let's Play videos are fabulous for L2 acquisition because they offer thick description of the visual material in real time, with (usually) lively commentary to boot. This one has the additional advantage of subtitles when the characters speak, which J is actually able to follow now. 

Media update 295

J reading: Manfred Mai, "Jonas der starke Ritter." In: Das große Buch der Abenteuer, S. 59-101; Die schönsten Rittergeschichten zum ersten Selberlesen, S. 9-64.

Me reading: Fabian Lenk, Die Zeitdetektive. Band 1. Verschwörung in der Totenstadt; Michael Ende, Das große Michael Ende Vorlesebuch (herumgelesen); Roger Hargreaves, Mister Fies; Miss Hokuspokus; Miss Zwilling.

Listening: Ralph Erdenberger, Robin Hood (134 min.); Torben Kuhlmann, Lindbergh (43 min.); Ich weiß was, "Albert E. erklärt Rekorde" (45 min.), "Albert E. erklärt schlaue Tiere" (49 min.).

Viewing: Dreamworks Dragons: Auf zu neuen Ufern, vol. 2 (22 min., = one episode); Star Wars: Das Erwachen der Macht (135 min.); Star Wars: Angriff der Klonkrieger (142 min.); Ratatouille (111 min.); Es war einmal der Mensch, "Die ersten Weltreiche" (25 min.); RoxasLP SoraHerz, Let's Play Ratatouille, episodes 1-11 (270 min.)

2016
Total audio: 41.7
Total video: 40.57
Total gamplay: 5.40
Age 6.12.8

Denglish 5

J: "Mommy, you have to kitzel me!"
K: "No I don't have to kitzel you."
J: "Kitzel my foot!"

Denglish 4

This evening we were talking about archery and J went to the closet to look for his bow (der Bogen, a masculine word). At first he couldn't find it, so he called out. My wife went to help. Thinking it was me coming up behind him, J said: "Ich habe ihn gefunden aber ich kann ihn nicht ..." Then he saw who it was and continued: "Mommy, I found him but I can't reach him; can you get him for me?"

Das Volk der Murinae 3

We've gotten a good chunk more written about the Murinae, the rodent people Jamie is planning on proposing to Blizzard. Today we started working on the pantheon.

Die Götter und Göttinnen der Murinen 

Eine wichtige Göttin heißt Pallas Murina. Sie ist die Göttin des Krieges. Sie hat ein kleines Häschen als Gefährte. Das ist ein Kampfhäschen. Eine von ihren Fähigkeiten ist, dass sie fliegen kann. Pallas Murina ist die Gemahlin von Schweizo. 

Schweizo ist der Käsegott. Er ist der Gemahl von Pallas Murina. Sein Tempel steht in der Mitte des Käsewaldes. Die Murinen opfern dem Gott Schweizo Käse und bekommen von ihm Käse zurück.

J himself came up with "Pallas Murina" (he loves the goddess Athena); "Schweizo" was my suggestion, based on J's reference to Schweizer Käse.