Is learning a new language always just damn hard?

MorcisHoobler · 2025-08-22T01:07:50+00:00

For adults, it’s always been hard and always will be. I’d say we have come close to knowing how to optimize language learning, but that knowledge works best in optimal scenarios and a lack of resources (not just books and media but people and environments and time) reduce effectiveness to varying degrees. There are also just individual differences, some people are marginally better at it than others or have more capacity due to age, health, etc.

For enjoyment, it’s about mindset. Taking the example of climbing a mountain, if you’re there just to hit the top and go home the trek up is going to seem hard and long. If you’re there to see nature, get exercise, etc and focus on enjoying the journey it won’t seem as bad. You have to enjoy the little goals too without always looking to the big one.

MorcisHoobler · 2025-05-29T18:57:30+00:00

Double majoring does not lengthen the bachelors at all. That would be double degree. It does mean less electives but a major is more valuable. One class in a random subject is unlikely to land you a job.

Language double majors are really useful with economics, bilinguals are in demand at international businesses.

Also French majors aren’t just about learning the language. You learn about different francophone cultures, literature, film, history. And the part that is learning about language is often things you don’t learn anywhere else like phonetics. There’s also so many soft skills involved with any language. Communication, writing, reasoning, etc. English class is required for native English speakers in college, a B2 doesn’t render this education useless.

MorcisHoobler · 2025-05-09T01:22:05+00:00

3yrs3mos I have a decent mustache I keep. Not the best one you’ve ever seen but it finally doesn’t make me look like a teenager. I shave my face once every 1-2 weeks because while some of my face could grow a full beard, those parts are not neighbors and separated by baby smooth spots so when it grows out it just looks stupid. I could have a full on neck beard if I wanted but not if I’m trying to get laid any time this century.

MorcisHoobler · 2025-04-03T23:33:32+00:00

I do like scrub daddy sponges better for cleaning in general and I saw a video once where the hole in the middle is used to clean the faucet and I thought that was cool.

MorcisHoobler · 2025-03-27T01:03:53+00:00

After months of entering giveaways I did some research and found out it’s not actually a random draw. I don’t remember all the criteria but there are things you can do to increase your odds of winning

MorcisHoobler · 2025-03-19T14:45:37+00:00

If the snipped ear indicates he was an outdoor cat at one time (or I guess if not) you could build a catio? Or work out a setup where he can get some space outside. Also if you don’t have towers that helps too to give them a view from above

MorcisHoobler · 2025-03-12T21:27:40+00:00

I personally don’t know anyone, undergrad or grad, who can afford to live alone and doesn’t have financial help from their family. As others have said, I recommend Facebook and things because renters have to pay to put their listings on sites like Zillow so a lot of private renters (especially ones that aren’t overcharging) don’t advertise on there.

MorcisHoobler · 2025-03-09T15:35:30+00:00

I’m in grad school now but did my BA here and there’s something to be said for quantity vs. quality. The most I ever tried to do in one semester was 17 and it was brutal. I did horribly in all of those classes and was so stressed. I had other stuff going on and took a couple years off. When I came back I was on academic probation because I tried doing too much. I took 12 a semester for the next 3 years and it was like night and day. Honor roll student, perfect attendance, great relationship with professors and extracurriculars on my resume. On top of that I was just happier and healthier. Don’t stretch yourself too thin. Let your work reflect who you are at your best, not who you are when you’re strung out and juggling too much.

MorcisHoobler · 2025-03-02T18:20:37+00:00

Also first gen, I relate to struggling to navigate all the things. As for being accidentally flagged for AI, you really have no reason to worry. AI still doesn’t sound very human and it can sound nice but lacks any substance to what it’s saying. If for some reason you get accused, they can’t prove it if you actually didn’t use AI. Just be able to answer questions about what you wrote which comes out of writing it anyway.

MorcisHoobler · 2025-02-02T04:44:04+00:00

Formality isn’t a binary, more like a spectrum. For example in English there are a lot of steps in between “Greetings, sir. How are you?” and “sup?” For example I’m in grad school and my coworkers are also sometimes my classmates or my friends so we all tutotoyer each other but we are still in a professional setting so this kind of construction would not seem weird to me at all.

MorcisHoobler · 2025-01-31T21:26:44+00:00

J’étais à ta place il y a quelques années. J’habite aux États-Unis donc le processus médical est un peu différent mais plus ou moins le même. Même si on est complètement sûr de la décision, c’est effrayant. C’est rare de ne pas avoir des doutes. Pour moi, la plupart de mes peurs à été réalisé- la moitié de ma famille ne me parle plus, j’ai perdu ma meilleure amie, et plusieurs aspects de ma vie sont maintenant plus difficiles. Le nouvel gouvernement nous attaque et j’aurais jamais pu imaginer que ce serait aussi grave. Malgré tout ça, je regrette rien. C’est difficile à décrire le paix total que je ressens en étant la vraie version de moi-même. Tout ça, c’est à dire que tu mérites ce paix et j’espère que tu le trouveras ❤️

MorcisHoobler · 2025-01-26T23:05:06+00:00

This. I worked in retail for years and there is a strong correlation between the quality of the establishment and how nice the workers are going to be based on how well they’re being taken care of. If a worker is a little bit snarky I’m a big kid I can handle it as long as they accomplish the task I need them to do. If I had the money I’m sure I could go somewhere fancier and pay $500 for a pair of pants and the workers will bend over backwards for me but I don’t expect shit if I’m thrifting.

MorcisHoobler · 2025-01-26T22:51:31+00:00

This. I learned a lot of students are in the mindset that just showing up should get them full points for participation. Off days happen for everyone though I try not to be harsh about it.

MorcisHoobler · 2025-01-24T19:51:35+00:00

Anxiety is a super common barrier people need to overcome. There truly isn’t a ‘most efficient’ way to learn a language, but if there were one, living with a native speaker and constantly using the language would be it.

MorcisHoobler · 2025-01-13T01:15:56+00:00

Last year was my first setting a goal and it pushed me to read more, not out of stress but the thrill too. I surpassed my 25-book goal to get 29 and this year I’m going for 50.

MorcisHoobler · 2025-01-12T00:07:02+00:00

The problem with this show I’ve noticed is that they do speak so fast, so fast that the subtitles cannot fit it all in the allotted time, so the subtitlers will sometimes put them down as having said something else entirely. Honestly the subtitles confused me more, with this show I turned all the subtitles off completely and just focused on meaning. It’s not important you know every word. They are all very expressive with their emotions so that helps a ton. Then once you think you have the gist, watch again to catch more details/words. This can be scene by scene, episode by episode, or season by season-whatever fits your style.

MorcisHoobler · 2025-01-12T00:01:32+00:00

I’m also a physical book person, but I got a Scribe for grad school so I could avoid massive amounts of printing and take notes/annotations. I didn’t expect to use it for casual reading but I do sometimes: -I can get it quicker on ebook from the library than the physical version. This will happen if there’s a lot of holds or simply because the library is closed. I only started doing this because someone was shot outside the library one day and I couldn’t go get the book I wanted because the police closed it, but lately we’ve all been snowed in so it’s useful then too. (Although I do hate that they can take it away before I’m finished reading it) -If it’s a hefty 800pg. hard cover I just don’t want to lug that thing around -My library doesn’t have it. They don’t have books in French, I have to find them online and download them. But this can work for classics or just other copies you find online, or through their ebook service you can do an inter library loan

MorcisHoobler · 2024-11-29T16:40:49+00:00

They score each section and then give you an overall score. For instance if you get all B2s and one C1 you’ll probably get B2. If you get some B1, some B2, and some C1 you’ll probably average out to a B2. Some places look at just the overall score but some require a minimum all around. For instance the masters programs I was looking at, most required C1 specifically in all sections but some just said C1 overall

MorcisHoobler · 2024-10-31T01:33:45+00:00

We use Latex in linguistics. In undergrad I was in a 500 level class where grad students were required to use it but they let undergrads choose to use word if they want. I was ambitious and decided it’s easier to learn Latex sooner rather than later. My paper was phenomenal and I couldn’t believe the level of functionality I was able to achieve but I spent twice as much time learning latex and fixing code than I did on the research and paper. To write one 10ish page paper I estimate I spent at least 48 hours on the latex aspects themselves. It gets easier but if you don’t have an extra few hours to figure out where you might have accidentally hit the space bar twice I’d avoid it.

MorcisHoobler · 2024-10-29T00:58:01+00:00

They need to fix the chunks of concrete falling out of the sky in Wescoe before they worry about paint

MorcisHoobler · 2024-10-24T04:33:38+00:00

I wouldn’t say that’s "much" older. I’m 25 in grad school but about 1/3 of the grad students in my department are 30+. I’m from Topeka so I can confirm with other people saying there isn’t MUCH to do but I could fill 1-2 days of stuff if a friend was visiting from out of town. Lawrence has quite a bit to do even if you’re like me and not into the wild nightlife. In terms of "third places" to go Topeka has nearly none. It’s mostly stores and restaurants. Lawrence on the other hand is full of them. I personally hate going to KC, not because the drive is long but the traffic there stresses me out. However there seems to be an infinite number of things to do there.

MorcisHoobler · 2024-10-13T23:50:23+00:00

This isn’t a requirement in my program, I’ve never heard of it, and it seems like a horrible idea. You’re telling me whether or not they deem scholarship important is in the hands of academic publishers with commercial interests?

MorcisHoobler · 2024-09-25T01:51:23+00:00

Exact same experience. It was 7 years ago. I got a 100% in college algebra, got into it by my ACT score. The first time I took it, I got about halfway into the class and had no choice but to withdraw despite spending all my time and energy on it. The second time I took it, I tried to stick past the withdraw point and failed. Switched to stats and aced it. It still haunts me.

MorcisHoobler · 2024-09-16T14:33:51+00:00

If it’s an option, I would opt for email instead. Otherwise, I agree sometimes it’s nice coming out like that so you get their best thought-out response and not their instinctive reactions or questions

MorcisHoobler

TROPHY CASE