My crazy challenge: update number 2!

One month and a half into the challenge and still going! Yay!

It’s been more than a couple weeks but here I am finally! In case you’re new here (welcome!), you can check the story of my crazy challenge. This experience is meant to create the best learning/practice routine for my students, even the busiest ones! So let’s take a closer look at this update number 2.

The truth

I want to start with the great news: I completed the first part of Beginner 1! There are 3 parts in this level and I got my certificate for the first one! Woohoo, celebration dance!

Ok, so now that you have the good news, here comes the truth: I didn’t practice at all for a few days… (Booooo Sarah!) What? I was busy! (Yea, right, I’ve heard that before…) Well, actually, do you know the word « procrastination »? Let’s just say I had a phase like that lol.

More seriously, we can joke about it but no shaming; it’s ok, no pressure (we have enough already in this world…). Like I said: the most important is to do the work in the end and not make excuses. I guess my motto could be « expect the best but stay kind »; that goes for both my professional and personal life.

I went back to it and did everything in one day! I got a message saying « Keep going, you got this! »; yeah!

Set a weekly goal

I set a weekly goal to have kind of a guideline: 6 activities per week and Sunday off. But then again, I didn’t practice for a few days and when I went back to it, I did almost all of my weekly goal at once.
So I decided to set a higher goal! This way, my « good student syndrome » (see in update number 1) pushes me to go back to it, because I want to reach my new weekly goal.
This is how you adjust your practice: knowing yourself to use what works for you!

So my new weekly goal is 9 activities per week; we’ll see how that goes on the next update!

I’ve tried to work on my accent by repeating and copying the beautiful melody of Italian language. I do that in English too. I was sharing with a friend of mine not long ago that I like the sound of (what I call) very round English accents, and when I hear it, I try to repeat it.
Some people might think that I do this to make fun of it, but it’s actually the opposite! It’s because I love the sound when they pronounce it that I want to keep it in my English box!

Secret tip: this is how one day you’ll have people telling you « Wow, you don’t have an accent, your French is so good! ».

What I’ve learned from it

I guess I’ve already started to tell you what I’ve learned from it…lol!

In the last update, I told you I was thinking of changing the time of my phone reminder, but I haven’t done it yet. What I did is write down on my agenda my daily practice. In that way, when I take a look at my program for the day, my practice is in there.

Also, what I’ve learned in Italian so far is not very hard; but I was thinking that when I’ll reach higher levels, I might not go as fast as right now… I guess we’ll see that « en temps voulu », like we say in French.  

My advice

My advice regarding pronounciation is to listen and repeat, but when you repeat, do not be afraid to exagerate. Yes, really, come on: I want to see those lips moving and this mouth opening!
It’s more fun and actually a very good practice for your sound system (throat, mouth, nose).

Now, like I always say: don’t be too hard on yourself! Life happens; some days, you’re going to be tired, super busy or maybe sad and just not into learning. And that is ok; your learning journey is supposed to be fun and challenging in a good way, not something else to add on your to-do list or another thing to make your heart or mind heavy.
If you need a break, take it! And then go back to your learning/practice with a clear mind and a big smile!

I’ll keep you posted for the next steps; stay tuned!