Learning something new is an exciting process, but every learner takes a risk. What if you make a mistake? What if others think it’s funny? Today, I want to talk about embarrassment and shame in language learning. I’m going to explore why these emotions happen, why they slow down your polyglot progress, and how to start dealing with them.
Sometimes even the best spreadsheet tricks aren’t enough to make you more productive. It’s always been human nature to want to play, as well as work. And recently, it looks like many software makers understood the power of play. So what are gamification productivity apps? And which ones would I recommend?
Each spring, the excitement was already palpable: my next journey was planned, my gear was ready, and I was looking forward to some time away from work and from the city. This year, it’s different. I imagine it’s different for you. If you used to enjoy travels as much as I did, I imagine it’s also not the easiest time for you. Are there any good alternatives to travel which can help us feel better about it all?
One of the best reasons for learning new things has always been this: every new skill you learn, and every new social group you learn with, can become an antidote to the stresses of your work or home life. But how does this change when your work and your home changes? What if you’re expected to stay at home a lot more – and to work from home each day?
A handful of new ideas for lifelong learning for work-life balance would be needed in such situations. This post is a starting point for these ideas. By thinking through the questions and problems below, you will hopefully be able to tweak your existing learning habits, or start new ones. And by doing so, you may end up bringing more balance to your life in strange, uncertain times.
As a language learner and teacher, I spent a lot of time – and money – trying out different apps and programs for language study. Some were more expensive than others, and many of them are very well known. But what about free and open source language learning apps? What are the benefits of using them? And what would be my three polyglot must-haves in this category?
Whenever I start a new project, at home or at work, I always get excited by one stage: choosing the tools and organising my work space. Other interesting things happen, too – but picking the right tool for the job is always one of the nicest parts of getting started.
When it comes to lifelong productivity, I think this part matters a bit more. There are a lot of organisation and productivity tools out there, and I know I tried a few of them in my life. Some have made me really productive, and others were just a waste of time and money.
Today, I want to talk about three of my favourite free and open source productivity apps. I will briefly explain why they are important to me, and why going for an open source app might be the best choice for you. Then I’ll give you a quick review of each app. The good news is that you can start using them out straight away!