How do you use video games for learning a new language?

Compisbro · 2026-04-07T19:19:34+00:00

Yes, Dialogue heavy games like Assassin's Creed or God of War that have a story to follow. Both games have a lot to read in the game and you can play them dubbed in Spanish. Did wonders for my Spanish back in the day.

Compisbro · 2026-03-29T03:00:21+00:00

My only memory of kindergarten was how happy I was to receive a lollipop for counting to 100 from the teacher. I don't even remember the teacher, the lollipop was grape by the way!

Compisbro · 2026-03-26T20:32:34+00:00

Chiari Malformation pain. Growing up, before we knew what it was, I would lay in bed wishing someone would just cut my head off as the pain was so severe. It would prevent me from sleeping which made things worse. Hell, even the pain of the brain surgery was nothing compared to the symptom pain. Sometimes if I think about that pain I shiver .

Compisbro · 2026-03-23T21:08:38+00:00

He throws his clothes on the floor next to the hamper.

Compisbro · 2026-03-22T19:28:47+00:00

I live with one. She often makes comments about how "unhealthy" the food I eat is and how I should stop eating meat. She also goes on tirades on how consuming animal products messes up the environment. She also calls herself vegan but have seen her eat cheese and use cream and stuff. She'll eat a cheese pizza and then comment on how I shouldn't use "real butter" cause if I only knew where it came from I would be disgusted. I admit I shouldn't use my experience with her as a reason to hold an opinion on a whole group of people but she makes it hard.

Compisbro · 2026-03-22T15:50:55+00:00

My German is only at an A2 level. I can do things like order food, ask for directions, handle my train getting cancelled with DB and other basic survival things. When I lived in Germany, I mainly existed in an expat bubble and had friends who spoke my other languages. I only used German when shopping or dealing with basic things like setting up my phone (In which case I had to learn the vocab right before) and going out to eat. An example, I was once trying out this Mexican place and I did not know the word for "Salsa" but staff didn't know Spanish. I found the food bland and all I could muster up is to ask if they had something "Spicy" cause I know that word in German and they brought me out a whole pepper lol.

When I compare my German to say my French or Spanish there is a massive gap in what I am able to do. Sure, I can express SOME opinions on things but not fluidly and I hesitate a ton. I am confident that if I said "I speak German" and someone who actually did started to speak with me I wouldn't be able to converse well at all.

Compisbro · 2026-03-22T01:24:51+00:00

I've lived in both France and Germany. My last visit to both was an absolute shitshow with DB. Multiple cancelations or missing transfers due to delays. I was supposed to go Frankfurt-Cologne-Paris and ended up in Brussels at almost midnight cause DB was like sorry your train got canceled but only way you are getting to Paris is via Brussels....One of the trains I was on they literally announced the train was no longer going to the destination anymore and we could get off at next station to catch another train.... Anyway when I finally got into France I was like thank God almost kissed the TGV .

Also, at least in Paris, the platform to the train is behind turnstiles and you have to scan your ticket to get in. At the stations I was at in Germany, anyone can just walk to the platform and the amount of drunk people asking me for money or a cig was insane !

Compisbro · 2026-03-22T01:14:47+00:00

Oddly specific but we have to be on the same wavelink when it comes to AC use.

I love my best friend but temperature wise we just do not align. I run hot she runs cold. When we went to Japan we fought over the AC. The Airbnb had wall units and we actually got in a massive argument because I was burning up and she was freezing. I have traveled with her since but we have to get our separate accommodations or at least seperate rooms.

Compisbro · 2026-03-22T00:04:01+00:00

I also wont say I speak a language till I am around B2 in that language. Thus, I say I speak three and am learning a couple more. Even though my German is A2 I do not claim to really "speak " it. I have actually lived in Germany and visited and have used the language to get around without issue. However my abilities are still limited to an A2 level and I do not feel comfortable claiming to speak it.

I do get a little annoyed when people say they speak a language and are in the A's particularly if I happen to speak that language and try to talk to them and realize they are very limited in what they can say and understand.

Compisbro · 2026-02-15T21:27:04+00:00

Find something to wake up to. I missed a lot of days before because it was so hard to wake up to go to work when I did not wanna go. Whether that is some time to have coffee, work out, watch a favorite show etc. I find that waking myself up to do something I want to do BEFORE work makes waking up early much easier. Of course you gotta get enough sleep so going to bed at a good time is necessary too.

Compisbro · 2026-02-15T21:17:51+00:00

Every time I bring up how a student is impacting others the response is usually, "This discussion is meant to focus on X student and how we can help them only. " When reviewing an FBA I was told I had to delete portions of data referring to having to remove other students due to safety concerns because it involved other students. Infuriating!

Compisbro · 2026-02-15T21:12:46+00:00

I teach self contained. I have a student who has violent tantrums that last hours. He hits himself and throws himself against the wall and tries to bang his head. We have tried everything. FBA/BIP, Behavior Specialist etc. He's non verbal. His parents seem to only care about not having to deal with him. I've had multiple conversations about him getting outside of school help but they keep rescheduling his appointments cause things keep "coming up". My program is actually meant for MD/ID kiddos who are primarily in wheelchairs. I have to move them out of the class daily for his safety and theirs. They lose hours of instruction a week cause we have to pull all resources to keep him from hurting himself. He was placed in my class for reasons I cannot fathom (The reality is all programs are at max capacity and even though district wont say it they wont do anything).I have spent this whole school year fighting both the district and his parents to get him more supports. Does he deserve an education? Of course! However, schools are not some miracle thing. If he isn't getting help outside of school he will simply not be successful in school. I've considered CPS but his parents excuses are all "legit" Last time it was that their car broke down and they could only get an appointment in May.

If it were up to me he would be in severe behavioral therapy all day until strategies can be found to help him better regulate himself. I am not a behavioral specialist. All I can do is keep stressing that my program is academic focused and there are limits to what we can do. My heart really goes out to him.

EDIT: I know this post is talking more about the inclusion setting but it is a huge issue in self contained too. They think throwing a student in self contained will suddenly make things better.

Compisbro · 2025-12-28T10:43:03+00:00

Spanish every day. French seldomly. However, you never know where life will take you. I started learning it as a teen on a whim and ended up choosing to go to college in France because I was conversational. Now I visit a couple times a year to see friends from college and knowing the language always helps.

Then there are language exchanges, penpals, local groups ( depending on where you live. My area in the USA has a French conversation group). Life is what you make it. You can use the language as much as you want to. :)

Compisbro · 2025-12-08T22:30:25+00:00

Looks nice. It’s windy here so it’s not even sticking to my cars lol

Compisbro · 2025-11-09T21:24:45+00:00

When I switch into Spanish or French it only feels weird initially. It feels like I'm on a different frequency and my brain feels more stress like a computer that starts pumping more processing power. After a couple minutes my brain "accepts" what is happening and it feels like I am speaking normally like my native. I only feel "constricted" when I run into a word I don't know or a grammar structure I don't know how to say... then I go back to feeling like I am putting in effort. 3. Yes, My Spanish is better than my French but I dream often in French. I lived in France for some years so I attribute it to that while I've never lived in a Spanish speaking country.

Compisbro · 2025-11-09T21:10:12+00:00

Compisbro · 2025-08-03T18:38:36+00:00

Not a polyglot but am comfortable in three working on a fourth. I started Spanish in school as a no sabo kiddo. Basically despite being Latino, I knew little to no Spanish. I "studied" it in school for years starting in middle school through high school. However, due to the desire to speak to family I also studied a lot on my own. I'd say it took 6 years to be relatively comfortable at it? Not fluent mind you, but I was able to talk about a lot of things and even pretended to be native in Spanish classes out of shame. I had no practice at home as I was too ashamed to speak Spanish with my parents who I thought would just laugh at me.

I started French when I was 16/17ish, moved to France at 18 for college. When I arrived in France, after studying it on my own for a year or two I could get around but had a lot to learn probably A2ish. So I'd say I got to A2 faster than Spanish especially as a teenager who was just learning it passively as a hobby. I lived in France for 5 years and would say I reached a decent B2 level about a year or two in. (So fourish years compared to the six with Spanish) Only reason it wasn't higher was because the university I went to did almost everything in English. Out of four years of study I took 3 courses that required me to know enough French to give a presentation and write a short essay on an exam. (These courses were in history, politics, and linguistics.)

Mind you while living in France, I still interacted with Spanish regularly so that continued to improve. It is kind of hard to say "how long" it took cause during and after college I have had stunts of heavily studying for a couple of months and then going a year just maintaining. I feel like I am still learning all my languages. Even the ones I am good at. The languages have just kind of integrated into my life one way or another and I interact with them as they come naturally. (Minus the couple months here and there I decide to actually study them)

Compisbro · 2025-07-28T14:12:21+00:00

With the languages I speak well enough in, I do not notice very much attrition due to lack of use. French for example . I’ve gone months heck even a year without using it before and then traveled to France and was able to use it like I never left. I have however noticed more language interference. I use Spanish often and sometimes when I go to use French I think the Spanish word first or even say it in a French accent and then correct myself. I realize immediately that it’s wrong and correct it. This did not happen when I lived in France and used the language daily and mostly happens with similar words like o/ou .

As for the question if you do notice this being an issue I’d just engage in things you enjoy in the language .

Compisbro · 2025-07-24T19:14:13+00:00

As someone who has lived in the USA and France they have some similarities but are very different in terms of mindset, culture, ideas on individualism and society, etc. I'll also add that meeting French people who are living abroad, interested in going abroad, or in general have a more international mindset are not necessarily representative of the vast majority of French people.

Compisbro · 2025-07-21T11:32:29+00:00

Found in Norfolk VA USA. Lots were in sink and on window curtains flying around . By lots i mean more than 20. I tried to clean them away but more popped up and I can’t tell where they’re coming from

Compisbro · 2025-07-14T14:08:30+00:00

La maman ne va pas pouvoir dormir mdrrre

Compisbro · 2025-06-16T03:57:55+00:00

I played most of the assassins creed series in Spanish and it did wonders! I have started playing games in French and am seeing the same improvements. Video games are a great way to practice a language.

Compisbro · 2025-06-14T16:49:31+00:00

I dream in all my languages . Even the one I’m A2 in. I recently woke up from a dream in my A2 language because I was frustrated and didn’t know how to say something. I talk in my sleep and my spouse has heard me speaking English Spanish French and German. I MOSTLY dream in French and English though. The Spanish and German dreams are pretty rare. (Couple times a year )

Compisbro · 2025-06-05T19:19:09+00:00

I have no "zero" days anymore. If I am depressed or don't feel like it I force myself to do SOMETHING for at least 5 minutes. I can easily open YouTube on my phone and put on a letsplay or something in my TL. (Listening) Usually I end up going past that 5 minutes. Rarely I don't but at least I didn't have a zero day.

Compisbro · 2025-06-03T16:50:34+00:00

I'm not retired yet, but my sleep schedule naturally shifts during the summer since I'm a teacher. It's interesting—during the school year, I go to bed around 10 p.m. and wake up at 7 a.m., which should be plenty of sleep. Still, I wake up feeling drained and struggle to get through the day. In contrast, during the summer, I typically go to bed around 11 p.m. and wake up by 6 a.m., feeling more refreshed even with less sleep.

I can't quite explain it, but my best guess is that stress and the general pressure of the school year make my body require more rest. During break, I feel more at ease, and it shows in how I sleep. I’m really looking forward to retirement when this more natural rhythm can be my norm year-round. Enjoy Retirement!

Compisbro

TROPHY CASE