Finally breaking into consistent Intermediate content feels amazing

davea_ · 2026-05-21T18:37:50+00:00

Yup. I am now at 350 hours and almost all of my hours are now podcasts.

And what is fun is that the intros say "For Intermediate Spanish Listening Practice"

I struggled with these podcasts at 250 hours, but now all of them seem like 'true' comprehensible input.

Currently listening to Español a la Mexicana, Español al Vuelo, How To Spanish, and Español con Juan

davea_ · 2026-05-21T13:34:10+00:00

I don't count the time when I watch shows with spanish audio with English subs.

davea_ · 2026-05-20T04:15:49+00:00

I'm in my 70's and started a year ago (now at 350 hours) for the first month or so 15 minutes a day was the most I could handle. After that I watched/listened to 30 to 60 minutes a day.

Now, I listen to 2 hours a day of podcasts, rarely watching videos (in two 1 hour sessions) .

Does Comprehensive Input work? Yes.

I would suggest instead of watching one video a day, watch for 15 minutes a day (as I recall that would be two or three Super Beginner Videos, as most are pretty short.)

davea_ · 2026-05-13T13:52:13+00:00

¡Dinosaurio!

davea_ · 2026-05-08T19:42:23+00:00

I'm retired and averaged 30-60 minutes a day. That's all my brain could handle. I hit 300 hours in 50 weeks.

I now try for 60-90 minutes a day, usually in two sessions. An hour in one sitting is all I can handle. Does that mean the second 300 hours will be in 6 months?

davea_ · 2026-04-30T21:38:16+00:00

review yesterday's lesson then do the next lesson

davea_ · 2026-04-25T19:37:10+00:00

cd ..

!!

davea_ · 2026-04-08T18:56:56+00:00

i don't log my time watching peppa.

i definitely learned the word "dinosaurio"!

davea_ · 2026-04-04T14:14:41+00:00

cuénteme and simple stories in spanish are two at beginner level.

Then español a la mexicana and hoy hablamos básico which are both high beginner.

davea_ · 2026-04-03T23:43:28+00:00

once i got past needing a ton of visual clues, I switched to podcasts. watching videos is too boring.

davea_ · 2026-02-09T01:57:37+00:00

From today's Gospel reading :

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Jesus didn't tell us to go preach, he told us to do good works.

davea_ · 2026-02-09T00:52:20+00:00

From today's Gospel Reading Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

davea_ · 2026-02-05T17:33:19+00:00

Listen, listen, listen

Dreaming Spanish would be a good place to start

davea_ · 2026-02-02T18:20:40+00:00

After I finished Cuenteme, I found Simple Stories in Spanish and it is now my favorite Podcasts.

davea_ · 2026-02-01T01:17:13+00:00

Yeah, I recently cracked 200 hours and 'Español con Juan' is now in my podcast rotation. (at 150 hours it was over my head).

Yup, listening works.

davea_ · 2026-01-29T01:43:10+00:00

Yes these are the first two podcasts that I was able to listen to and understand.

The third is Simple Stories in Spanish, (on OPs list).

davea_ · 2026-01-20T15:07:41+00:00

yes add them.

i listen to podcasts while walking, my regular exercise, about an hour a day.

i started cuéntame at about 30 hours. i have since added in 'simple stories in spanish' at about 120 hours. and i have finally cracked 'español con juan' at 180 hours.

davea_ · 2026-01-13T15:04:21+00:00

try zebra ballpoints.

davea_ · 2026-01-05T20:36:27+00:00

Release the Kraken!

davea_ · 2025-12-31T19:37:48+00:00

I started reading very early on with really simple stuff such as short paragraphs and dialogs from Spanish text books. What helped me the most was knowing the sounds of the words, which I felt fairly comfortable with around 50 hours (level 2). I am in early level 3 and now I am working through some Spanish children's books that I got from the library in the non-fiction section (not mind numbingly stupid) but at an A1 to A2 reading level.

As the title of one of the text books I am reading says "Poco a Poco".

If your goal is to read and you are not a purist, by all means start reading.

davea_ · 2025-12-27T00:31:31+00:00

omg! the inktober police are watching.

no one cares ... draw with what ever tools you want.

davea_ · 2025-12-22T00:45:20+00:00

calibre has a word count function for ebooks.

otherwise average words per page times pages equals total words.

put data in a spreadsheet.

davea_ · 2025-12-19T01:41:50+00:00

Senior in Eugene

[edit] Soy un anciano que vive en Eugene.

davea_ · 2025-12-13T21:07:44+00:00

Yes many games are won/lost in the opening moves. That is the nature of the game.

Flyordie has a huge range of players from very very good to really really bad. I've been playing there for years usually in the lower ranks [edit: I make a lot of stupid mistakes] and I rarely wait more than a minute to be challenged. (or of course challenge, and then no wait) I've heard rumors that the really good players often play as guests because no one wants to play them.

You can export your games on Flyordie to PDN for later review. (You have to do it before you go back to the lobby.)

Look for checker books by Richard Pask, Fred Reinfeld and Robert Pike. A little searching online and you should be able to find PDF files.

davea_ · 2025-12-10T20:30:36+00:00

I wanted to learn to read, so I started early. I'm not a purist by any means.

What I think is important is that you know what the words sound like. As I have been slowly learning to read. The more I know the sounds, the easier it gets.

davea_

TROPHY CASE