Viestejä: 74
Kieli: English
erinja (Näytä profiilli) 8. elokuuta 2010 23.34.40
On NASK - this is an important issue - it is only for people who have an high enough level that they can actually speak Esperanto well enough to attend an Esperanto-only class. It's really not aimed at beginners at all. The language course levels are intermediate and advanced only - there is no beginner level. If you're a real beginner, or even an eternal beginner, you need to have done a pretty good degree of self study before even deciding to go to NASK.
FYI I am not on the NASK committee; where NASK is held is not my decision, nor do I have any real influence over this decision. However, I am part of an advisory group which has been trying to come up with ways to keep NASK successful as we go into the future, possibly by changing some aspects of its length/location/format.
ceigered (Näytä profiilli) 9. elokuuta 2010 16.26.55
Sometimes I suspect we from the rest of the world wonder if you've forgotten that we're existing quite happily and not in total ex-communist-fascist-liberal-teaparty(whatever-conservative-faction-that-is)-anarchy next door 
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@ Nask issue, I had no idea the attendence numbers were so low. Of course, since it's pan-North American and not for beginners, then it makes improving the course or making it more attractive a lot harder I'd imagine. I'd imagine then that cheaper options with more flexibility and brevity would be the way to go, but I my sympathies to those organising it as it seems to be a difficult task to manage.
erinja (Näytä profiilli) 9. elokuuta 2010 16.43.16
Regarding Mike's other comment about local Esperanto clubs - for those of you who haven't attended any meetings of your local club, please don't feel that you have to speak good Esperanto in order to attend! Most clubs go out of their way to make beginners feel welcome, and to help beginners along, so even if you are interested in Esperanto but can't say anything more than "Saluton", you are still welcome to attend.
At any rate, someone on the NASK advisory group has floated an interesting idea - to hold three sessions of NASK each summer. One week each; one east, one central, and one west, to give people from different regions an easier opportunity to attend. I'm not sure how the cost on that would work out, but it is a very interesting suggestion. The weeks would be consecutive, though, to ease the way of the teachers coming from abroad, so they couldn't easily be spread across the summer. I believe that NASK has often been held in July, so even if you are busy for part of July, you could possibly attend a different session that was less geographically convenient.
One potential issue with this idea is that you'd be breaking up the group, so each individual NASK might still end up rather small - still perhaps 15 people or so. It would be a bit of a disaster if the full attendance was still only 17 or so, like this year had; that would be only around 5 people per session! However, hopefully if this idea were ever carried through, more people would attend, due to the decreased cost and time, and increased convenience.
biguglydave (Näytä profiilli) 9. elokuuta 2010 21.13.18
erinja:At any rate, someone on the NASK advisory group has floated an interesting idea - to hold three sessions of NASK each summer. One week each; one east, one central, and one west, to give people from different regions an easier opportunity to attend.There are obviuously some risks, but given the status quo, it looks like some consideration is being given to change. Thanks for the update!
erinja (Näytä profiilli) 9. elokuuta 2010 23.08.54
biguglydave:There are obviuously some risks, but given the status quo, it looks like some consideration is being given to change. Thanks for the update!I never would have started this thread if consideration wasn't being given to change. The fact is that numbers have been declining for some time, and NASK operates at a loss every year. Changes obviously need to be made so that NASK can be successful again, and the new format needs to be decided upon by mid-September (to allow the new NASK to be organized and advertised properly), so there is a time concern as well.
Please keep the comments coming, everyone. I have already provided the NASK committee with a link to this forum and a summary of some of the main themes that have emerged. If you haven't spoken up yet, please do so, even if it's only to say "me too" on someone else's point. A comment with 10 "me toos" will get more weight than a comment that is met with complete silence
36lima (Näytä profiilli) 10. elokuuta 2010 1.05.19
I tend to not be a really social person (I'll admit, I'm a bit awkward around people if it's not work-related), however, I would consider the group lodging a positive. I think it would help me to assimilate the language better during that period (and retain the information afterwards).
I'm not at the level I would need to be to attend (yet) but I would be much more likely to attend one of the micro-events than an event that required a three week commitment. I haven't had three consecutive weeks off for almost two decades and I don't expect that to change any time soon. I can always hope though!
Kelly
Miland (Näytä profiilli) 10. elokuuta 2010 20.24.12
Then there is the expense. In my view attending a World Congress is cheaper even if including an antaŭkongreso or postkongreso, and gives a better experience of immersion in an international Esperanto-speaking environment. Also UEA has funds to help with the cost for people coming from countries that are less well-off.
One possible solution may be to tell people to study the taught material by themselves in advance (e.g Richardson) and then have a practice week (or possibly a little longer) which could be something like Britain's Somera Festivalo without the courses - effectively an Esperanto-speaking holiday with guided tours, discussions or debates and social events all in Esperanto.
orthohawk (Näytä profiilli) 17. elokuuta 2010 2.29.42
erinja:For me, it has mainly been a question of cost. The lodging cost is more than reasonable but add on the course fee (which, from what I understand, is so high so as to get academic credit from SDSU) and it becomes near prohibitive. Then add in travel expense (which for me because of time constraints means flying) and it's a no-go.
- Timing; is three weeks too much?
- Location; it's currently held in San Diego, but it was held in Vermont for a few years, in an attempt to get more European participants. That didn't seem to work, and holding it in California didn't seem to increase the number of Asians. What if it were somewhere in the midwest, like Chicago?
Time isn't really a factor because I can save up vacation time thru the rest of the year. I understand that not everyone gets 3 weeks of vaca per year but in instances where it is possible, well,I figure I'm going to live thru those 3 weeks anyway, I can do it while attending NASK.
The location is a secondary concern, especially with the expense as related above. If it were in St. Louis, Chicago, or even Austin, a bus, or even driving myself would make it doable.
mikelo11 (Näytä profiilli) 29. maaliskuuta 2011 5.37.46
ki4jgt (Näytä profiilli) 29. maaliskuuta 2011 6.08.06