Learning a New Language
A young friend
sent me an invitation to join him in learning a language with the help of an
app on my smartphone. I had always wanted to learn Spanish. When my two
youngest daughters were in school and started with Spanish I had imagined it
would be a good occasion to learn the language as well. However, I never got
down to it. Now both have long left school, and one of them even teaches
Spanish while I never started learning in earnest. For quite a while I used a
cassette course during my commute to work, so I did get some rudimental
knowledge of the language. So, while this invitation was sent to me so that my
friend would get some more points to help him with his course, I decided to
give Spanish another go.
At the
start, the app informs you that you can learn a language by just investing 10
or 15 minutes each day, going at your own speed. The important thing is to stay
at it continuously. The app is packed with encouragement and praise. At the
moment I have been at it for 45 days and am looking forward to reaching my 50 -ay
streak. I am having fun learning. With each completed question and lesson the
little symbol of the app appears from the sideline and applauds. Other learners
can follow my progress and the app invites them to congratulate me on reaching
my goals. The whole thing is intricately
constructed like a computer game with incentives to learn and do better. I can
collect gems and crowns and need hearts to continue learning. Although I lose a
heart with each mistake, I am not abandoned. I can receive new hearts by
practicing. The exercises are repeated until I get them right. Although I am
annoyed when I make a mistake and lose a heart, my real learning takes place
when I am practicing in order to regain lost hearts. Then at some points, I am
just given a new heart to help me go on.
Learning
with this app is fun and learning should always be fun to be successful. The
course uses all the elements of positive affirmation and psychological
learning. I am impressed by the mastermind behind the app who created such an intricate
and effective system to help me learn. I am not only learning a language but
also keeping my ageing mind active. Scientists have studied the learning
processes of the human brain and software developers have used this knowledge
to create apps that make learning so much fun. It is much too complicated for
my mind to comprehend how it all works, but I can still appreciate the workings
of it all.
The app is
helping me create a good habit, encouraging me to spend time each day learning
a new language. My Bible is inviting me to learn a new language, too – the
language of God’s love. The online Bible reading programs may not be as
exciting as my language app but they can be effective. But there is nothing
like the hands-on feeling of a Bible in my hands. It takes a bit more initiative
to start reading, but the good old book is full of encouragement if I just dig
a bit deeper. When I make mistakes and lose my heart, the Bible shows me how
they are remedied. The Bible helps me learn and God will give me a new heart for
free if I will just accept it, so that I can continue on my way toward the
crown that is waiting for me at the end.
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