There have been so many changes during my, I thought, brief absence from LingQ.
I like the Recently Active Threads function, the Date Joined is interesting (although some people will confuse me by simply starting afresh with a new identity) and the summary given by hovering over the icons on the lesson page is great once you get used to things popping up like that. I haven’t tried the export function yet. The library is a joy to use.
Especially interesting is the increase in willingness to tutor. The system change cannot alone be the source of this, has the membership changed much?
As I am sitting between two chairs in respect of native and second language, I won’t offer anything apart from the occasional comment, unfortunately never as sharp in wit as Blindside70’s.
Have I missed any other great changes?
I have been thinking about your question for a hour. I think your descriptions of the changes are exhaustive. You refer to some things I have not noticed.
I have noticed some students coming back to LingQ after an absence of a couple of years. Although they haven’t spelled out their reasons for being willing to give LingQ another try, I think the fact that it looks newer and more fun and shiny is appealing to them.
Is the expression “to sit between the chairs” from Danish?
I’ve actually noticed an increase in writing submissions, particularly. I can’t explain this jump, either, but it does seem that people are becoming more motivated to speak and write, at least in the short term.
Has anyone else got the same impression?
I do not do writing correction but am experiencing an increase in discussion sign ups. We have a few things yet to do to make activities at LingQ easier for people to engage in and to follow. In general, the more people become involved, the more activities are offered, the more people want to do. I hope we can build on the momentum.
In French, people say “between two chairs” as well. They would say it in regard to Alsatians because of their culture- a bridge of sorts between French and German culture. Alsatians speak mostly French now, but their architecture and cuisine seem very Germanic to other French people. Their last names are often German, and the Alemannic dialect they speak is German with some French-German words like “Merci Vielmols” (Thank-you).
Correction: between French and German cultures
Variation: Merci Vielmal (possibly a Swiss way of this), but I don’t know for sure.
Related expressions: to be on the fence/to be between a rock and a hard place.
Swiss way of saying this, I mean. Suzanne, btw, I think it’s great that you are between two chairs. It makes you one of the most delightful members here. You remind me of Joseph Conrad who took up his second language and wrote better than many native speakers in English.
In German we have the same expression “zwischen zwei Stühlen sitzen”.
@ YutakaM: Thinking about my question for an hour? I hope it was in English! As to the origin of ‘sitting between two chairs’ I have no idea. I don’t speak Danish, but think it quite possible that the expression is also common in Scandinavia. As Vera said, we use it in German.
@ RQ: You do stroke one’s ego beautifully! I like the idea of being a bridge between two chairs, it feels much more comfortable than sitting on the fence or being between a rock and a hard place.
I’d be interested to read more about Jezsh and Skyblueteapot’s observations and I certainly am looking forward to the goodies to come, hinted at by Steve.