I was learning Irish about, gosh was it 2008-2010? A while ago. I actually still get Transparent's word of the day emails because I've never bothered to cancel them, and I had been wondering about the repeat cycle. (As a result, I know how to say/write "is this real leather?" in Irish.)
At the time, a polyglot friend recommended a Windows app on which you could add your own flashcards that it would add to the review cycle in one of those scientific patterns of how frequently you'd need to refresh. I entered a lot of words -- and now I forget the name of the program. I feel like it might have started with a J? I should see if my dreamwidth tagging is good enough to find it.
I have duolingo (computer and iPhone), and Memrise (ditto). Memrise has modules for ASL self-study. Mauril (android) is a Canadian-government-sponsored English and French learning app - their "easy" is calibrated vs actual functional use, not the first-baby-steps version of duolingo. Every now and then I look through the available apps (Windows, iPhone, and android phone) for learning Plains Cree and end up a little frustrated because none of the setups look exactly like the big-business gamified apps I'm accustomed to - I think that probably I need to actually pay some money and/or take some classes if I want to put my brain where my intentions are about learning a local language as an act of reconciliation.
I think it's cool that it's easier to type accents and special characters on my phone (or on my android work-phone) than on a laptop keyboard. Lots of times I skip the accents when doing duolingo exercises by computer, since I know it will just warn me and not count them as a fail.
For me, I don't find that running through vocabulary and simple comprehension exercises on an app counts as "really" doing language learning -- but it's a satisfying exercise that fits my need for routine and rewards, and it has a more helpful outcome than getting to level 1700 on my phone game. As you say, a relaxation mechanism. When I want to really do language learning there are a bunch of other things I do as well, starting with reading a grammar text, attempting to read kids' books, watching TV with subtitles, etc.
Anyway, I have no streaks on anything right now. I've been watching some K-dramas on Netflix with subtitles, but I keep looking at my knitting and forgetting that I can't just listen.
Also, nice to finally "meet" you after seeing your comments in friends' journals for ages.
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Date: 2023-07-21 03:37 pm (UTC)At the time, a polyglot friend recommended a Windows app on which you could add your own flashcards that it would add to the review cycle in one of those scientific patterns of how frequently you'd need to refresh. I entered a lot of words -- and now I forget the name of the program. I feel like it might have started with a J? I should see if my dreamwidth tagging is good enough to find it.
I have duolingo (computer and iPhone), and Memrise (ditto). Memrise has modules for ASL self-study. Mauril (android) is a Canadian-government-sponsored English and French learning app - their "easy" is calibrated vs actual functional use, not the first-baby-steps version of duolingo. Every now and then I look through the available apps (Windows, iPhone, and android phone) for learning Plains Cree and end up a little frustrated because none of the setups look exactly like the big-business gamified apps I'm accustomed to - I think that probably I need to actually pay some money and/or take some classes if I want to put my brain where my intentions are about learning a local language as an act of reconciliation.
I think it's cool that it's easier to type accents and special characters on my phone (or on my android work-phone) than on a laptop keyboard. Lots of times I skip the accents when doing duolingo exercises by computer, since I know it will just warn me and not count them as a fail.
For me, I don't find that running through vocabulary and simple comprehension exercises on an app counts as "really" doing language learning -- but it's a satisfying exercise that fits my need for routine and rewards, and it has a more helpful outcome than getting to level 1700 on my phone game. As you say, a relaxation mechanism. When I want to really do language learning there are a bunch of other things I do as well, starting with reading a grammar text, attempting to read kids' books, watching TV with subtitles, etc.
Anyway, I have no streaks on anything right now. I've been watching some K-dramas on Netflix with subtitles, but I keep looking at my knitting and forgetting that I can't just listen.
Also, nice to finally "meet" you after seeing your comments in friends' journals for ages.