• Cleggory@lemmy.world
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    24 days ago

    Americans seem to hate change and endlessly try the same things expecting different results.

    My Stockholm syndrome has worn off and I’ve been putting an hour a day into language learning since the war started.

    I look forward to taking your advice and making some friends.

    • Varyk
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      24 days ago

      That’s great to hear, both that the Stockholm has worn off and that you’re learning languages.

      what are you learning right now and which app are you using?

      Duolingo used to be my go to, but not no more, I find it pretty exhausting, so I’m trying out different apps and recently got into drops, which I’m enjoying.

      pretty simple layout, and not as much grammar, but good design, fun mechanics and I’m learning vocab fast.

      if you have any questions about traveling, feel free to shoot them my way, I’m happy to answer what I can.

      • Cleggory@lemmy.world
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        24 days ago

        I’m learning Mandarin Chinese currently, and you’re right that Duolingo can be almost pointlessly limited.

        Duolingo can be a fun/gamified way to kick off learning, but different languages have very different levels of support. (Hindi is known to be wrong/misleading for one.)

        I’ve shifted to using a mix of free courses on YouTube and other apps including HelloChinese and HSK 1.

        Drops seems really interesting especially once grammar is down, great to drill vocab.

        I may take you up on your generous offer for more advice later!

        • Varyk
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          24 days ago

          I used Duolingo to learn Italian, Japanese, German, Portuguese and so many other languages effortlessly before they completely switched methodologies and completely neutered the program.

          the duo Mandarin Chinese program was really good before the switch.

          I could already speak Mandarin well enough, but I went through the whole course in a few day as a refresher and to see how it’s stacked up against the other languages, and I was really impressed by the program they had come up with.

          I tried to go through it again after they introduced the crown system and was exhausted after like 10 minutes.

          I tried pushing through for a couple days, but they’ve completely broken the system and it’s just no fun to learn anything anymore for me on Duolingo.

          I even went through it again last year just to see, but it is not at all for me anymore.

          sorry, I guess I just don’t get to vent about Duolingo very much hahaha.

          have a fun language journey. and hit me up if you’re ever curious about anything travel-wise.