From: Alexander Goussas Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2026 19:25:45 +0000 (-0500) Subject: feat: add post on techniques ive recently incorporated into language learning X-Git-Url: http://git.frustrated-labs.net/?a=commitdiff_plain;ds=sidebyside;p=frustrated-functor.dev.git feat: add post on techniques ive recently incorporated into language learning --- diff --git a/assets/styles.css b/assets/styles.css index 93d3cab..9d430d7 100644 --- a/assets/styles.css +++ b/assets/styles.css @@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ a { } } -h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 { +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, ul, ol { text-indent: 0em; } 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 new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bc6e744 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/2026-07-06-new-techniques-ive-incorporated-to-my-language-learning.smd @@ -0,0 +1,81 @@ +--- +.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.