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Jason W's avatar

Hi!

My name is Jason and I’m a Public School Educator in New Jersey. I really resonated with taking the time of learning material but more so making it fun!! Sure drilling it will eventually make you memorize the materials but finding a way to make it fun is SO important. Making it personal to YOU as we are all different learners.

One of the courses I teach is First Aid and we can of course just go over the material, practice, and move on; but the stories I bring to class is what encourages students to think about their own experience. Once it clicks, it’s exciting to watch! Making it your own is what allows you to hold that information :)

Glad we can connect!

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Cadyn Brice's avatar

I absolutely love this perspective, taking a step back and realizing that stopping is not the same as regressing. It truly is just another method to move forward. I like to think of it like baking or cooking a dish - you spend so much time with the prep, which is still a vital step, but you will never have a finished product until you let it sit in the oven or cook on the stove for a period of time. Being still holds so much importance and it’s so easy to forget that in a world that is so fast paced. Overall, just so glad to hear this mind shift has helped in your goals! Thank you for always sharing your thoughts with such transparency :)

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Grace's avatar

Oh I love the analogy to cooking! This rings so true for me!

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Pete Maku's avatar

Stopping is not the same as regressing… mmh (snaps fingers haha) I love that dude. Being still holds so much importance indeed. Thank you dude

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Erin Greenfingers's avatar

I've struggled with this. Stepping off track, I mean. I guess you could say going into business for yourself is the biggest "off-track" someone can attempt to do, considering how well we are trained to become "productive" members of society. But lately navigating the "off track" is scary. And though I know it's a season, I'm just trying to be patient with myself. Thanks for sharing the new energy, Matt!

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Pete Maku's avatar

Being patient with yourself is where the money is at for real. You realize that, there is a place I need to be, a skill I need to master, a person I need to become but either way it will take time so let me be patient with myself.

All the best even as you maneuver through this❤️

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Erin Greenfingers's avatar

Couldn't have said it better, Pete!

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Cat's avatar

Duolingo does work. And it is meant to be used just exactly as your friend says. Taking notes, stopping when you see a new word and practicing everyday for more than the normal 5 minutes. But you're meant to work with notes, and exercises. I became fluent in Dutch (of all languages ha ha) using duolingo, but I used it the right way, none of this competitive "game" some people make it look like.

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Pete Maku's avatar

I’m always competing🤣, I have to be number 1 every week please.

I never looked at it this way though, taking pauses, taking notes. I like this. Thank you.

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Jacob's avatar

Agreed!

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Cedric's avatar

I've been learning Portuguese on my own for a while now. I've tried many things, but I finally found a great self-study book, and it's been helping a lot! That said, when I lived in Recife (Northeast Brazil) for three months, that's when I really learned—mainly because so many people where I was couldn't speak English. So, I had to learn!

Funny that you mention taking a step backward. Ever since leaving Recife (I was there for research as part of my master's thesis in architecture), I’ve had this plan to go back and work there in social architecture. Unfortunately, most of the places I found interesting couldn’t afford another employee. Plus, I feel too inexperienced to fully lead a project on my own or take out a bank loan.

Long story short, I’ve been reflecting a lot, and I might just put this idea on the back burner while I build some work experience. Honestly, I haven’t figured it all out yet. I’m such a PLAN A type of person—I never have backups because I always go all in on one thing. Anyway, I trust life, and if it’s not meant to be now, maybe it will be another time!

I just rambled a bit there, hahah. But great post, Matt! It was a fun read. Love the drawings as well—I’m also getting into drawing!

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Kristof Valgaeren's avatar

Hey Cedric, long time no see!

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Cedric's avatar

Indeed!! what a lovely suprise seeing your face here hehe!!

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Keegan Sentner's avatar

Love this and finally someone told the truth about Duolingo and that terrifying little bird. Another one i’ve tried that i’ve found helpful and just interesting is The Mimic Method, which teaches you how to train your mouth to make the phonetic sounds used in the language!

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Brenda Janssens's avatar

Hy I'm Brenda from Belgium.

I really like reading your newsletters because I can resonate with your stories.

I am going to try to use Joseph's method on my French.

I am 23 now and I've been learning French in school since I was 11 years old. At this moment I can understand a lot of it but I'm not able to respond with ease. My goal for 2025 is being able to have a decent conversation in French by the end of the year.

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Kristof Valgaeren's avatar

Hey fellow Belgian! Good luck with your French! Where in Belgium are you from?

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Brenda Janssens's avatar

I live in between Antwerp and Mechelen.

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Kristof Valgaeren's avatar

Nice! I live close to Antwerp.

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Alyssa Mortell's avatar

The moto that I have been implementing this year, Wisdom is gained when knowledge meets experience.

I have been on my own language learning journey for a couple of years now with Mandarin Chinese and the apps have only helped prepare me for the government proficiency exams.

So, if I ever want to work or go to school in China I would need to pass the exams call HSK exams. But they definitely do not prepare you to speak to people in real life.

I have had to really get out of my comfort zone and actually have conversations and ask for advice on how to improve. Luckily people are kind, we all started somewhere.

I wish you the absolute best of luck on your learning journey Matt. 🎉 oh an PS. If a girl is being cute and it is in your personality to call her cute go for it! 😉

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CamiLaLi's avatar

Hola Matt, soy profesora de español para extranjeros y me ha sorprendido -para bien- este post. Es verdad eso que dices acerca de parar, es como hacer zoom in, a profundidad sobre algo. Sin embargo quiero hacer el matiz sobre lo que significa aprender un idioma: influyen varios aspectos: edad, personalidad, entorno cultural y sobre todo el motivo por el cual una persona aprende. Estamos en la época del "quiero todo ya" así que le gente no quiere detenerse y eso es en parte el mensaje que diste. También aclarar que no es lo mismo aprender en un entorno de inmersión -como el tuyo- ahora mismo y alguien que está en el medio de Indiana. De igual forma me parece súper interesante este acercamiento y análisis a las formas sobre como aprendemos. Un saludo desde la soleada Buenos Aires.

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Aldora B's avatar

Totally agree with this. Only became fluent in Spanish once I moved to a place where I used it consistently. This worked not because of the location but because I was constantly putting myself in situations where I would have to speak it, and if I didn't understand something I would ask or look it up until I got it. A lot of people go through the motions but don't use the pause enough to make sure they internalize what they got wrong or don't understand. Don't get me wrong it is exhausting and at times you feel you will never get there but it works! Interesting to apply this concept to life as well. Thanks for a good morning read!

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Monique Koszty's avatar

My name is Monique. I live in Madrid and have been in Spain going on 4 years. Originally, I came here to learn the language, and well, teaching English hasn't been the best way to do this. I set out to do this organically, to just pick it up as I thought would happen. Boy, was I wrong!

Over this almost four year process I've learned the necessity of the application of intentionality in every area of life with a scoop of tenacity and a side of a "never give up" attitude.

Thanks for sharing your method Matt! I'm looking forward to trying it out.

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Teodora Gaydarova's avatar

There's nothing unorthodox about your tutor's approach. You learn a language by studying, memorizing and practising. By reading and writing too. It took me close to a decade of my childhood and youth to master English, but I've been writing in this language professionally for 15 years. All the other things you mentioned - Netflix, radio, etc can expand your vocabulary once you have learned the grammar.

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Not Your Average GLOW Up's avatar

I’ve been doing this recently with Tarot. I’ve been reading the cards for 6 plus years I “know the cards” so for me my readings became a chaotic pile of 10+ cards. Lately I’ve been slowing down and really tapping into my art history. And breaking down the cards detail by detail. What direction are the people looking? What are they wearing? What other symbols are in the cards? What could they represent? Does this card remind me of a book or song I may have learned? What I’ve found is less is more. In a way it feels like learning a new language

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Danny Rybakowski's avatar

Hi Matt, true! A tool is only as good as the persons capability to use it. That's how I see Duolingo. I am currently learning my 5th language (French) and found most helpful to keep it fun and have a motivation to keep learning (e.g. talking to friends in their native language, going backpacking in another country...). Cheers to everyone learning here, it's an amazing spirit in this small community here :)

Best,

Danny

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Syd's avatar

Moved to Barcelona 3 years ago and knew 0 Spanish. I lived with a host family and forced myself into immersion. Spanish lunches are freaking long so I had to say something or it was an awkward hour and a half. I learned 100% through immersion without taking more than 3 weeks of classes. It's dedication, uncomfortable, and patience. Your teachers method is spot on, as I sometimes teach English to Catalans and use the same method. But it's not because I learned it was a good method through theory, but because I lived it. Keep going, go on dates with Spanish girls, call them "mona" when they do something cute it's endeering. I LOVE it when boys call me that in Spanish it's playful. Keep learning and keep up the hard work, and as you already know, get uncomfortable and you'll grow.

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Laura AlCor's avatar

What you explained reminded me of when I moved to Australia. I moved there because I studied to become an English teacher and I wanted to improve it before I could call myself a proper “English teacher”. I moved when I was 22 and according to my language school I was an advanced student…WTF is what I thought when I got there. Obviously the aussie accent was something I wasn’t used to, but at the same time it was being surrounded by the language in a whole different level. I didn’t know so many words, expressions… I still have the notebook where I wrote down all the words I didn’t know. It helped me a lot.

A year after I was teaching in Australia (also thanks to the help of the beautiful people I met).

I’ve been back in Spain teaching and being and teaching abroad gave me so much.

Today though, what took I step back from drawing. I’ve always been drawing and painting and really took time to improve and give my hobby some real love during covid until last year. Last year was really tough and I stopped doing many things I loved. I kinda miss it but I am not sure if I am ready to go back to it the same way I did.

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