So, although I let day 13 slip by because I was working until 11pm, I should have updated for day 14, buuuuut I got caught up in stuff. Trying to get used to my wife's new schedule, I have a few hours to do the stuff I want to do before I have to start getting dinner ready. It makes it weird and tough. For example, I'm writing now because I have to go get some money soon and take it to the leasing office of my complex before coming home to start prepping dinner. I have done 1 hour of study and 3 hours of my personal work, and I have about 3.5 hours until dinner needs to be made. We'll see how it goes.
Meanwhile, I finished chapter 5 of Spanish Demystified and started chapter 6. Learned numbers and stuff (not really gonna stick right now) AND reviewed conjugations...again... because I keep messing them up. Sin embargo, they are coming along. Oh yeah, and that's happening. Like, I keep referring to my wife as "Mi Esposa" and for whatever reason keep saying "no quiero" whenever I'm asked if I want something or want to do something. Also "Uno Mas" but that's been a thing since I think Shanghai Noon (2000).
MIDMONTH REPORT: At this point, I'm nowhere near where I was at the same point with Indonesian. According to DUOLINGO, I have only learned about 1k words (I was at something like 3k at this point with Indonesian) and my grammar knowledge is quite lacking. However, I'm also not reading Spanish newspapers, nor do I have a specific Spanish Grammar book. However, when it comes to my listening, I'd say I'm 10-20% which is about double or where I was in Indonesian. My confidence level is much higher and I've already spoken more Spanish than I did with Indonesian.
MIDMONTH DUOLINGO ASSESSMENT: Well, I've said a bunch of good things about Duolingo, so let's give my honest review.
Pro 1: Duolingo turns language study into a game that you feel like you can win. This breaks down the fear barrier usually associated with language learning. This is probably the best thing ANY language app can do, especially in our digital age.
Con 1: It doesnt actually teach you stuff. It's a game and it has tips, but if you wanted to explore some grammar principle or skipped past the stuff that you don't need or have down pat, you really can't. 15 days in and I'm still getting "Translate the Sentence: El hombre necesita dos boligrafos." Or other such thing. It destroy the fear barrier but then becomes a bike with training wheels that never come off.
Pro 2: It does have a structured study schedule. If you don't know how to study, it's got that figured out. There's a graduated structure that makes sure you learn things before moving on. That takes the work of determining a study schedule right out of your hands.
Con 2: Ads and Lingots. To really soar with Duolingo, you apparently need the paid version so you can skip ahead if you need. I skipped ahead a couple times because I have a couple hundred lingots from mostly testing out of the Japanese (I did that 2 years ago in front of my wife to prove I did actually know Japanese). If you can still a bunch of stuff without paying, but if you don't have lingots so you can skip ahead, you'll have to crawl through the free version.
Overall, I honestly give Duolingo a B+/A- because it does a great job and has podcasts to listen to. Now I just need time
Buenos Noches, mi amigx.
