There are better alternatives to achieve fluency
I’ve been attempting to learn Italian for a few years now. Note that I said attempting. Frankly, learning a language is not easy. Like any other skill, language learning requires dedication and time, something not always available to full-time workers.
When looking for resources available to learn a language, I came across Duolingo. Duolingo is a free app that sends you daily reminders (should you choose to do so) to learn vocabulary for that language.
Here’s the problem: learning a language and learning vocabulary are not the same thing.
Learning vocabulary is something you would do in your AP class when your teacher told you to write definitions for all of the words learned in that lesson. Not only is this a waste of time, it also prevents you from learning how to use those words when the focus is on consumption rather than application. …
And how to prove the election wasn’t rigged
With the election fraud that has been clogging up my Facebook feed for months and the recent Capitol riot/insurrection, I think we’re overdue for a part two on how to debate conservatives. If you would like to read part one, find out how to do so here.
With that said, let’s go over how to debate people who believe the election was rigged and those who try to justify the riots that took place on January 6th in the Capitol building.
Why should you debate Trump supporters?
For the same reason you should stand up to bullies or join a self-defense class. When ideas or opinions like election rigging or mask-wearing go unchallenged, they become a society’s false truth. …
And why artificial intelligence is the future of language learning
As an aspiring language learner, I’ve come to a realization. Despite the many methods and resources available to learn a language, none of them can achieve true mastery. They all lack certain elements that force us to rely on multiple resources to achieve fluency.
The most critiqued product for learning a language is Duolingo, and in fact, it ought to be replaced with better technology that’s currently available.
Why Duolingo prevents mastery of a language
The problem with Duolingo is its focus on vocabulary. Duolingo fails to offer multiple learning methods, like interacting with phrases, sentences, images, and conversations. Duolingo also fails to implement real-world scenario usage of the language. …
Careful who you ride with
Fifty dollars?
Celena bit her lip as she stared at her phone. She looked down the road towards the city, where bright lights shined against the night sky.
Celena scrolled lower on her phone, looking at the different prices on Uber. She found the carpool option, which was half the price. She clicked it. Her driver would arrive at her location in three minutes.
She looked at her surroundings and stared at the graffiti on the side of a building. Someone had boarded up the windows with plywood, though some of the plywood had fallen to the ground. …
The subway waits for no one
“What time did you say the subway gets here?” Lysa sighed, leaning against the steel beam.
“Bout five minutes or so. Why?” Latinus said. Lysa shrugged, looking at the time on her phone. It was almost midnight.
“I’m tired of standing up.”
“Well, there’s a bench over there if you want to sit down,” Latinus walked towards a black bench near the stairs. Lysa followed. Latinus leaned against the back of the bench and rotated his neck as he closed his eyes. The cold from the bench soothed his back. As Lysa plopped herself down next to him, she jumped.
“This thing is freezing,” she said. Latinus opened an eye, looking at the departure board behind her. …
Focus on maintaining a conversation instead of a daily streak
After showing my students the film La Vita e Bella, a movie about Italians in the Holocaust, I hinted I knew Italian. One of them raised his hand.
“If you’re on a beach and you see a shark, how do you call for help?” he asked. I stayed silent.
I could not answer his question. I realized I have not learned Italian. Instead, I have learned Italian vocabulary. I realized survival skills are paramount in learning a language, instead of absorbing and memorizing vocabulary. Duolingo’s method of learning does not achieve fluency. …
This week’s actions call this question to order
On Wednesday, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol as Congress certified the Electoral College count. Now, people on social media and Congress members have called for either the 25th amendment or impeachment against Trump. But which is the better option?
Invoking the 25th amendment
What is the 25th amendment?
Congress created the 25th amendment as a response to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In short, if a president is physically or mentally incapable of performing the duties of a president, the vice president takes command.
Under Section 3, the president must submit a written declaration that he cannot perform his duties. …
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