feat: add post on techniques ive recently incorporated into language learning

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diff --git a/content/2026-07-06-new-techniques-ive-incorporated-to-my-language-learning.smd b/content/2026-07-06-new-techniques-ive-incorporated-to-my-language-learning.smd
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+---
+.title = "New Techniques I've Incorporated into My Language Learning",
+.date = @date("2026-07-06T00:00:00"),
+.author = "Alexander Goussas",
+.layout = "post.shtml",
+.draft = false,
+---
+
+A while ago I discovered Alexander Arguelles' YouTube channel, and I could not
+be happier to have stumbled upon it. He's a former university professor whose
+had had formation in linguistics and is himself a very accomplished polyglot.
+
+In his videos, he shares the knowledge he's accumulated across the years
+pertaining language acquisition. They are useful and sometimes bizarre, but they
+are also always genuine and inspirational. Some of my favourites from him are
+his [Chinese shadowing
+demonstration](https://youtu.be/VdheWK7u11w?si=8zkigG5l3o-vvKlW) and the [razor
+parable](https://youtu.be/-W0JIlyOWbg?si=1XG6K2jvXmkajuxD).
+
+In this post I am going to outline some techniques that I've learned from him
+and that I have since incorporated into my language learning routine to great
+pleasure and success.
+
+## Scriptorium
+
+The Scriptorium technique basically consists of taking a text or a piece of
+literature in your target language and do the following:
+
+1. Read a part of the text that you can keep in short memory (a sentence for
+   example)
+2. Transcribe into a notebook the part you just memorized
+3. Check what you just wrote for any errors you might have committed
+4. Repeat for as long as you can keep focus
+
+I personally do it in 30 minute sessions and find it quite pleasurable. Dr.
+Arguelles recommends keeping an artistic journal for maximum pleasure.
+
+## Shadowing
+
+Shadowing is common technique that many people are already aware of. Before
+stumbling upon Dr. Arguelles' channel, I too had already heard a lot about it.
+Nonetheless, I never incorporated it into my language learning routine since I
+did not deem it particularly useful.
+
+By watching how the master does it, I learned that the way I had previously
+attempted was wrong. During shadowing, you don't need to hear your own voice.
+You focus on the recording and on reproducing the sounds that you are hearing.
+It takes a lot of focus and can be tiring for beginner practicants such as
+myself.
+
+I find it a good technique to internalize the contents of a given text, to learn
+new vocabulary and to practice your pronunciation, all at the same time.
+
+I usually do anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes of Shadowing each day, using the
+German Bible. Which takes me to my next point.
+
+## Reading the Bible
+
+Now, I'm not a particularly religious or spiritual person, but I'm also a very
+open-minded person. 
+
+Professor Arguelles presented [this
+website](https://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/audio-bible-resources/bible-is) in
+one of his videos as useful resource for shadowing. It makes available the whole
+text of the Bible in a myriad of different languages, along with audio, which
+you can use for shadowing.
+
+From what I've read so far, the Bible is written in a light prose and with
+simple vocabulary, so it's a good resource for both beginners and more
+experienced language learners.
+
+I read it for half an hour or one chapter a day, whichever takes less time. I
+read it once along with the audio, then I read it in silence looking up any
+unknown words, and finally I do a last pass along with the audio again.
+
+If I had to choose one of these techniques, I would choose Scriptorium. It
+honestly is very fun to do. There is something artistic and spiritual about
+handwriting and transcribing a text. Even more so if it's a text that you have a
+personal connection to.
+
+In any case, I would recommend you try each of them and see what works for you.