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Hi! I have a very short attention span, and I rarely find it in me to enjoy using only one resource to learn a language, so I often rely on immersion and actively using the language right from the beginning to learn languages. I’ve done this with pretty much all my languages, and it has worked out pretty well for me so far, especially with French! This is heavily inspired by this article on the medium, which changed my whole outlook on languages. I hope I can offer some helpful advice!

Starting off (A0 –> A2)

First of all, you’re going to have to set your goals in the language. What do you want to do in your target language? Do you want to be conversational or fully fluent? Do you want to focus on all the skills (reading, listening, writing, speaking), or only a couple? Which accent/dialect do you want to choose? Set your goals, and give yourself some habits to start sticking to.

In most cases, I would advice learning the alphabet and the pronunciation at first. For the alphabet, find a guide online and learn the stroke order. Keep on writing it over and over again. For languages like Mandarin Chinese or Japanese, where you have to memorise characters, try and memorise the most common characters. Also, find a pronunciation guide on YouTube or somewhere online, and immediately start working on it. Once you have a general idea of what the sounds are, start speaking and try to shadow natives (i.e. repeat what they say after them with the same intonation - you can do this with YouTube videos, or beginners exercises online).  To practice both of these at the same time, you can try reading out loud, and maybe try dictating what you hear sometimes.

Start listening to the language a lot. Try and listen to YouTube videos and podcasts, and get used to the sound of the language. You might even want to watch a TV show or anime in your target language with English subtitles. I’d also recommend reading and listening at the same time, so if you have subtitles in your target language, then that could be great too. The more exposed you are to the natural use of your target language, the less unintelligible they will seem. 

Memorise some basic vocabulary and phrases. There are loads of articles online that have basic vocabulary lists and phrases in different languages (there are even some on this website). Try memorising a few of them. In terms of what exactly you should learn vocab for, I would recommend learning vocab lists for these: numbers, subject pronouns, common greetings, the most common verbs (the first 100 should do) and their most common conjugations, days of the week, months, seasons, years, how to tell the time, how to talk about the weather, family, colours, house vocab, food, money and shopping phrases, common adjectives, common places,  adverbs, parts of the body and medical vocabulary (I got all of this from this post). It’s a lot, but it will give you a strong foundation. You can then start learning vocabulary for your interests specifically. You can do this using multiple methods. First, you could use flashcards, like anki, memrise and Quizlet. You could also play around with apps like Duolingo or Lingodeer. Also, you could write them down, and keep testing yourself on them until you have them memorised (both target language to english, and english to target language). Make sure that you have audio, and that you know how the word/phrase sounds, and the pronunciation.

Start speaking with someone online. I recommend apps like Tandem and HiNative. Start trying to have conversations of basic topics straight away, and make sure you get corrections. Look up the words as you go.

Memorise a few basic grammar structures. This is especially important for languages like Korean or Japanese, which have extremely different grammar structures to English. Learn basic present, past and future tenses, along with basic articles and determiners, agreement, reflexive verbs, basic particles, negation and gender.

Immerse. I would recommend starting off with posts and videos that offer advice about things, since the language used in these tend to be simplistic, but topic specific. You can also use apps like LingQ. When practicing listening and reading, you can use the advice in these two posts (listening, reading). Don’t memorise every word you come across, and slowly try to ease yourself in.

Making the leap to the intermediate stage (A2 –> B1)

Vocabulary: I’ve already talked about methods of memorising vocabulary earlier, so I won’t talk about it again. As for what you should be memorising, I would suggest basing it on your interests and topical issues. When you immerse, and come across certain interesting words, then memorise them. You can also explore the tag for your target language on tumblr, and try and memorise some of the in depth vocabulary lists on here.

Grammar: I would suggest finding a specification, or list of grammar structures for the intermediate level, and learn all of them using articles and youtube videos. Then, try and use the rules regularly in your speaking and writing and receive corrections. Also, do practice questions. 

Listening: I have gone in depth on how to practice listening in the post I mentioned earlier, so I won’t elaborate too much. Overall, I’d say that it is better to make sure that you are listening to the language a lot, and that what you are listening to is comprehensible input. 

Reading: Find some learners exercises online, and keep doing them. You can also just generally try to read more, based on your interests. I would also suggest to apply the methods from the post I mentioned earlier.

Writing: Try and write a few sentences every now and then, and use your new grammar structures and vocabulary as much as possible. Make sure that you receive corrections. I have gone in depth on this subject in this post.

Speaking: Find a speaking buddy online, and try and organise meetings, where you just try and practice speaking. Look up words you don’t know, and be brave: most people are kind, and won’t mind if you make mistakes, so keep trying to move forward.

Going from intermediate to conversational (B1 –> B2)

Vocabulary: Focus on your interests, and areas that will be useful to you. Make sure that you actually use the words that you are memorising while writing and speaking. 

Grammar: I think the same advice as the beginner to intermediate stage is applicable here.

Listening: Listen to both intermediate podcasts and YouTube videos in the target language (innovative languages, iyagi, dreaming spanish, a piece of french, InnerFrench etc.), and also to native material (youtube videos, films, TV shows, vines, tiktoks etc.) that you find interesting. Use transcripts or subtitles (in the target language) to memorise new vocabulary, and then keep repeating the audio until you understand everything. 

Reading: Read whatever you can get your hands on, as long as it is reasonably simple enough. I would recommend kids books, and also translations of books that you have already read in your target language.

Writing: Try starting a journal in your target language, and also try writing letters/e-mails to people, and maybe write some essays on topical issues. Once again, make sure that you get corrections. 

Speaking: Continue having conversations with people in your target language. Let yourself make mistakes and be corrected, because that is the only way to improve. For your accent and pronunciation, shadow native material (I use Easy Languages for this). 

It’s so interesting what you can find!

Oh! Building on your notes I figured I should mention to everyone that most academic institutions with a library are going to have a page with the research guides the librarians have made for their patrons. This will include basic topic guides on things like how to use the library or how to create citations. There will also be subject guides for areas of study like philosophy or biology. As well as specific course guides to assist classes that are being taught like FM 114: Introduction to the Fashion Industry or BME6938: Nanoparticle Nanomedicines.

two teaspoons of instant coffee

one teaspoon of brown sugar (who am I kidding you measure that ish with your soul love)

enough hot water to dissolve everything

and depending on your mental stability

cold: cold milk, dollop of cream, fucking icecream if you have it, and a lil bit of cinnamon and vanilla

hot: just put some milk in with a dash of cinnamon and vanilla and microwave it till it foams

margaret atwood

the brontës (the complete works is a MASSIVE file fyi)

anne carson

hélène cixous

bell hooks

clarice lispector

audre lorde

virginia woolf

compilations

feminist theory

academic writing (both books and articles)

One night he was writing something and his wife noticed he was writing from right to left.  Since she was studying occupational therapy she realized he had a learning disability and started working with him.  He slowly began to learn to read, and at 26 got his GED and went to college.

His first year of college he took the lowest level math course he could take, 001.  Over the years he worked on learning what he needed to, ended up graduating with a biology degree.  He then went on to get his masters and PhD, graduating at the top of his class.  He is now an extremely accomplished biologist and professor.

Also in there: therapist, early childhood educator, then finally: web developer–because by then it was an actual thing that existed. I didn’t actually figure out what I “wanted to do when I grew up” until about eight years ago, when I was 36. I tried pursuing writing when I was 30, stopped, then started pursuing it seriously again when I was 40. 

Tips To Incoming College Freshman:

1. Pack as light as possible but aggressively check to make sure you have all essentials. You prob won’t need more than one “fun” book to read because you’ll most likely lose motivation to read at all. You don’t need a ton of snacks because you’ll just end up eating them all in one emotional day. Bring a reusable water bottle and skip the big pack of waters. Do you really need a coffee machine? But also you might totally forget your pillow, toothbrush, or makeup bag and THAT would be tragic.

2. Go to all of the events but feel free to leave early. Your school may have a points system for your housing that relies on going to events. Also you will never regret going for food and a picture with friends BUT you will always regret it if you missed out on the one group picture everyone posts to Instagram if you don’t go. But they can get pretty boring pretty fast so leave when it feels right.

3. Learn what makes you feel presentable in 2 minutes. Practice quick hairstyles, quick outfit combos, and (maybe) super quick makeup. If you have an 8:30 class you will oversleep at some point, you will feel disgusting, and you will have to walk into a room with a minimum of 20 people staring at you. Pro tip: it’s worth it to run and have a couple extra minutes to breathe in the bathroom before class rather than jogging straight to class and hiding the fact that you’re out of breath as you take your seat.

4. Determine your romantic goals beforehand. I’m not sure if it was just my school and the people I was exposed to but it felt like everyone was in a mad dash to get into a relationship. So before you get swept up into the wave of hormones and sudden independence, really examine what you want. Because it sucks to realize you wanted more or less after the fact.

5. Don’t join a ton of clubs. You will not have time for them and when you do have time you’ll feel unmotivated to go. So just sign up for one your first semester and go from there.

6. Find upperclassmen you admire and try to go for what they seem to go for. If your RA is always super busy because she’s in honors and she does theater and volunteers and you think she’s amazing, sign up/apply for all of those things. If you see a guy who barely goes to class but is an important part of his frat and manages to keep a job and good GPA, figure out what he’s doing. Don’t wait until you wish you had done more or already feel overwhelmed. Get the advice/guidance of the people who are actually doing what you want to do.

7. Think about YOUR values. In college you are (most likely) not being watched and asked to do things by your parents. Which means you will find out if your religion, diet, friend groups, studying habits, and personal choices stem from you or your parents. So why not think about it now and save yourself a guilt trip later? If church is important to YOU go find a church! If eating healthy is important to YOU figure out your meal options. But if anything is unnatural to you, yet was normally enforced by your parents, college is the time to try something else.

8. Essential Wardrobe: 2-3 professional outfits (skirts+trousers+blouses+blazers) for business classes, interviews, or presentations, 2-3 party outfits or just clothes you feel attractive in, 2-3 workout outfits (because, let’s face it, you have access to a gym now so you’ll want to try it), and LOTS of comfy clothes/passable pjs. Minimize high school tshirts, embarrassing pjs, and uncomfortable shoes. Maximize comfortable jeans, hoodies, and easy slip on shoes.

9. Invest in AirPods, earbuds, or headphones you like. If you ever take advantage of the library you will really want something for listening to music. Also, a noise cancellation feature might be good for studying in you dorm.

As I head into my senior year, I thought I would share some of the things I’ve learned over my time at college. I hope these help! 

This post covers some potentially triggering subjects like drinking & substance use. I’ve labeled the section that talks about it, so you can navigate through the list at your own pace.

I’ll go back to my regular content after this post, don’t worry. 

This one’s kinda silly but if you’re going to make microwavable Mac and cheese, fill it a little lower than the fill line. It will be extra cheesy

These next couple focus on alcohol and other substances. You can skip to # if you are triggered (if you are not, though, I recommend reading this section if you have no experience with alcohol)

If you’re going to drink, DRINK RESPONSIBLY. Make sure you’re with people you trust (esp if you’re going out) & know your limit to the best of your ability. Remember that it’s Always OK to say no if you are uncomfortable in a situation (& this applies to things other than drinking).

This is for those who did not drink before college but plan to once you get there. Try not to drink too much in the first couple nights of orientation. If you get hurt or go too far the consequences can be more severe

If you’re worried about a friend who you think has had too much to drink, ask them what their level is on a scale of 1-10. Everyone’s scales are slightly different but if they have a hard time answering, offer them food & water, and maybe start taking them home. (Too much to drink can be anything from a friend nodding off when they sit down or heavily slurring & stumbling. It can look different for different people so just keep checking on your friends)

That being said if a friend goes too far & you were having a good time & not paying attention, you are ok. You do not have to be responsible for your friends’ actions the whole time while you are trying to have fun. There’s a balance here and it can be really really hard to find sometimes. The guilt is real though, so make sure to assess the situation and go easy on yourself when you are not at fault

Don’t leave your drunk friends alone

If you’re going to bed when you’re still drunk, drink lots of water, have a snack. Coffee and scrambled eggs are my go-to breakfast when I’m ever hungover

Don’t put partying above school & classes

You don’t have to get drunk to have fun. Some of the best times I’ve had so far have been watching movies with my friends. 

Know or be aware of your school’s & city’s policies about weed & smoking.

If you smoke in the dorms, yes, the RA’s can smell it. Some of them will care, others will not. It’s a risk you have to determine yourself based on the information presented to you

If you are offered harder substances at a party, don’t take them.

If anything happens to you or a friend, it is ok to call for help. Some schools have protection policies so that you will not be legally charged if you need to go to the hospital, so just ask your RAs or dorm advisor for more information.

If you’re generally going out, make sure you’re with people you trust. If you decide to hook up with someone, make sure you are both able to consent (if there’s alcohol make sure you know you know your boundaries. Different people see it differently, but most of the time alcohol means no consent is possible), and make sure your friends know where you’re going 

Last for this section: parties are fun! It’s ok to have fun. Just be aware of the risks and dangers involved, and have fun in the safest way you can.

STUDY TIPS:

Plan out your homework in advance. If you are able to work ahead, you should. Work piles up quickly, and it is easy to drown in assignments. 

TAKE BREAKS!! Your mind needs it. Also, if you’ve reached the point of no return, and it’s like 3 in the morning, just go to bed. Your body will thank you later, and you will be more likely to remember information that you’ve literally slept on. 

One bad grade won’t kill you or your GPA. 

Find your study space or spaces! If you find an area that helps you concentrate, you’ll be the most productive. 

Stay on top of reading! It may seem trivial or counterproductive, but many of the classes I am currently taking classes that are mainly discussion oriented, and I would be lost if I hadn’t done the reading. That being said, you don’t have to read everything in extreme detail. If you only have time to skim, so you can get the gist of what you just read, that’s fine too.

Try to stay away from sparknotes and other websites like that if your class is/has a discussion. You’ll need more in-depth knowledge of the text, so it is better just to skim some areas & ask a few questions. Asking questions also counts for participation

If you have trouble reading or focusing on reading, take notes. If it doesn’t bother you too much, don’t be afraid to underline or make notes in the margain of your book. I’ve found that taking notes on graph paper is my favorite method, though. Feel free to make them as cute as you want! Just make sure you’re learning.

Try not to put too much pressure on yourself, have fun with your classes. You really get a chance to explore your interests here, even through a major.

Finals week:

Everyone is stressed, and everyone understands the stress and pain you’re going through. You’re not alone!

Try to get as much sleep as you can. Staying up all night stressing isn’t going to help your performance.

After you’ve taken the test, try not to think about it too much. Worrying about grades is draining, and you can’t do anything until you get the test back. 

If you get it back and you didn’t score as well as you thought you did, don’t be afraid to talk to your professor. So many professors are willing to help boost your grade (especially if you’ve built a good relationship with them throughout the semester). Just make sure you’re calm and willing to listen. Yelling doesn’t solve any problems. 

Take notes in class! Try to combine what’s on the slides, and what the professor actually says out loud. On tests, there will probably be a combination of both. 

Also, if you can, take notes by hand. You’re more likely to remember things that you’ve written down by hand. 

Audio recordings are also helpful. If you want to record the lecture, and then copy them down later, I’ve heard that’s a good way to study.

Take classes you actually enjoy. It’s easy to take classes that would look impressive on a resume, but that you have no interest in taking. Read the class description, research the professor (Rate My Professor is a great website for this), and make sure you actually want to learn what it’s offering. I’ve signed up for classes just for the hell of it, and those have been my least favorite so far. 

& to add on: the skills you learn in non-resume classes can still be put on a resume. Many employers look for a wide range of skills, hobbies, activities, etc.

It’s also ok if the class doesn’t turn out exactly like you thought it would be. 

Don’t be afraid to use your school’s drop/add period (where dropping a class does not show up on your transcript) if you hate a class in the first couple weeks!

Talk to the professors! I know I already mentioned this, but so many of them are willing to help. They genuinely have your best interest at heart. 

If you’re struggling with the material, don’t wait until finals week to seek help. If your school has tutoring centers, go. to. them. Their jobs are literally meant to help you do the best you possibly can.

If you can, don’t be afraid to speak up in class! Your thoughts and questions might be beneficial to the whole class, and it’s always better to clarify something you’re confused about. If you can’t bring yourself to actually talk in class, you can email your professor or visit their office hours. That is 100% fine. 

Balancing class with outside work

If you need or want to work as part of your college experience, try to find a job with flexible hours. 

If it’s on campus, and you have to move yourself there, make sure it’s something that you enjoy doing. I worked at my college’s student employment office, and after every shift, I would leave drained and miserable. Make sure you understand what you’re getting into before you start working, even if the job sounds appealing on the surface level. 

Above all, make sure that your responsibilities as a student are made clear to your employer. 

General safety & advice:

College is fun! But at the same time a lot of bad things happen, and it is important to be aware of the things that could happen.

If you need to go somewhere off campus, make sure your friends know where you are. 

If you feel unsafe, get a pepper spray mace, & Don’t go anywhere at night, even if it’s across campus to get some food. You never know what could happen. You never know when pepper spray may come in handy, because people are creeps. 

Try to stay away from Uber. If you’re going to Uber, make sure you don’t go alone.

Be cautious, but don’t hold back from experiencing college the way you want. It is a time of growth, and that means that it will be fun. For a lot of people, it is the first time in the “real world,” which means for as many people just trying to exist, there will be others who are growing into behavior that is wrong and unacceptable. 

Transitioning to college is hard. I have always wanted to be a college student, but when I finally got there, my mental health kind of plummeted in the first couple weeks. Find your systems and coping mechanisms, and try to relax. College is supposed to be both an educational and fun experience, and there isn’t one way to enjoy & experience it!

Everyone’s experience is different.

Living with a roommate will be challenging if you haven’t already had to live with someone else. Try to compromise, but don’t let yourself get walked on. Stand your ground, and try to approach negative situations diplomatically. 

If things are going really bad, don’t hesitate to speak with your RA or an on-campus counselor. They’re meant to help and support you, and you shouldn’t be afraid to voice your complaints. 

Don’t be pressured into doing things you don’t want to do. Everyone’s college experience is different, and as long as you’re having your own best time, you’ll be doing amazing. Don’t let others’ idea of fun drag you down. 

Don’t join too many clubs your first semester. Even though clubs are a great way to meet people and take a break from studying, it is easy to sign up for too many, which can be overwhelming. 

Balancing social life and school: 

Even though studies are important, it’s also important to maintain the friendships you make. Try to eat dinner together, or try to meet up with them during the week. Even doing homework or studying can count as an activity sometimes!

Everyone is in the same boat, and even though you may not realize it, many of you will be thinking the same things about being new to college. I know that when I first came to college, I was so afraid of making friends because we come from such different backgrounds. But after talking, I found that they had a lot of the same thoughts I did, and I’ve never been closer to people in such a short amount of time.

Dating is fun too, but make sure you don’t push your friends away for the sake of a significant other. 

Consent is key!

Gonna : going to: She's gonna excel at this one.

Wanna : want to: I wanna eat a cheeseburger with fries.

Tickled pink : Extremely happy: She was tickled pink to see him after so long.

Psyched : excited: My aunt was psyched to see me.

Gotta be kidding : joking: You've gotta be kidding! This can't happen.

Get the hang of it: become expert: After so many tries on the surfboard, he soon got the hang of it.

Didn't make it: couldn't come : They didn't make it to the event due to bad weather.

Stone's throw away : very near: My home is just stone's throw away from the bakery.

Under the weather : ill: She seems to be under the weather, she needs rest.

On a whim : sudden or impulsive idea: He quit his job on a whim.

Right off the bat: from the beginning: Right off the bat he hated it.

New kid on the block : a newcomer to some place or group: Everyone at school knows he is new kid on the block.

Crying wolf : they say there is a problem when there is not : Her friend thought she was just crying wolf .

Stick out like a sore thumb: different than others : She stuck out like a sore thumb due to her fancy dress.

It's my way or the highway : situation when there is no alternative/ take it or leave it: You'll have to do this, it's my way or the highway.

Falls through: failed: My assignment fell through due to lack of relevant research material.

Blown away : impress someone: The committee was blown away by her negotiating skills.

Racking his brain: thinking very hard : Even after racking his brain for so long , he came up with a foolish idea.

Water under the bridge: past events that are no longer important : leave it ! it's now water under the bridge .

Rough start : difficult start: When she moved to the new town few months ago, it was a rough start for her.

From the scratch : start from nothing/ zero/ beginning: I'm learning how to bake a cake from the scratch.

Cost an arm and a leg : extremely expensive: Living in metropolitan cities like New York costs an arm and a leg.

Hands full : very busy: Alex has her hands full with extremely demanding corporate job. She's really stressed out.

     Here are some ideas I’ve either found work for me or I’ve been told work for other people. Hopefully you’ll find some of them effective or, if not, maybe they’ll inspire you to come up with some brand new strategies of your own.

Declare your intent aloud. Announce to yourself (and other people, if they’re around) that you’re going to do the thing you need to do. Eg: “I will clean the sink.” “I am going to have a shower.”

Talk yourself through the task. Narrating the steps of my current task as I do them helps me to concentrate and follow through. Eg: “I am gathering the empty cups from the table and putting them in the sink.” Sometimes I can then even start narrating things I am not doing and I’ll automatically follow through because it’s become a habit in the moment. If a task involves reading, try reading it aloud.

Steal the energy from elsewhere. Engage with something that makes you feel good first, then ride that high to do the thing that doesn’t. If the task involves doing something physical, put on some energetic music that makes you want to dance and then channel that dance energy into task energy.

Hype yourself up. Channel your inner feel-good sports movie coach and start telling yourself how awesome you are, how you’re gonna kick this task’s butt and this task doesn’t stand a chance. Repeat random over-the-top motivational phrases until the motivation has no choice but to appear, like summoning an eldritch being by annoying them until they acknowledge you.

Break the task into steps. Very often I’ll have trouble tackling tasks, even simple ones, just because I don’t know where to start and the whole thing feels bigger than it is. In this case I find it helps to determine the steps that a task involves and do them one at a time, treating each one as its own job. Eg: Instead of “I will write an essay” try “I will write an introductory paragraph” or even just “I will write an introductory sentence”.

Write the steps down. Goodness knows I can’t follow verbal instructions for the life of me unless they’re given one step at a time. Rather than trying to keep the steps straight in your head, write them down and keep referring back to that list when you get sidetracked, lost, or stuck.

Do the task out of order. If the task allows it, try doing whatever part is most appealing first to ease yourself into the workflow.

Make the workload smaller. If jobs like doing dishes or laundry seem like too much work, consider if you can get rid of some of the clothes or dishes to cut down on how much work there is in the first place. If you’ve committed to too large a project, see if you can simplify it or distribute the work involved among a group.

Narrow your focus. Rather than tackling an entire task at once, try breaking it into easier-to-manage chunks. If you need to do laundry or dishes, specify that you’re only going to wash shirts or plates. If reading an entire book is intimidating, assign yourself a certain number of pages at a time. If reading an entire page of text is intimidating, try covering the page with a loose piece of paper and slowly revealing lines as you read.

Do it in five minute increments. Set a timer for five minutes and do the task for the duration. If you feel like you could do a little more, keep at it. If you’re still struggling, give yourself a break (you can also time your break if you find that helps) and try again later.

Use a buddy. See if there’s someone who’s willing to have a call going or who will come sit by you or even just check in every once in a while to keep you accountable. ADHDers are notorious for lacking internal motivation, so employing someone else to externalize it can make a big difference.

Be kind to yourself. Sometimes, no matter what you do, your brain just doesn’t want to cooperate. If you feel yourself getting frustrated, remember that it’s not your fault. Take a step back, have a snack or drink of water, give yourself some time to decompress, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Taking care of yourself will help you to actually be in good enough condition to do the job.

     I’ve also talked more in-depth about how I personally tackle doing tasks despite executive dysfunction here, and I have an ADHD Writing Advice post here that has some tips that may be applicable to tasks other than writing.