# [[2022-008 Learning a language in Obsidian - Brilliant September]] <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b_P5yIBkYLg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> ## Thumbnail ![[How I learned Swedish in 30 days.png]] ## Title 1. Learning Swedish in 30 days (100) 2. ==How I learn languages in Obsidian== (and other apps) (64) 3. ## Hook I love learning languages. I live for that moment where someone's eyes light up because you said a phrase in their native language. Apparently, I'm not the only one (show comments on screen asking about my language learning, from `B-Roll/YouTube comments`)-- many of you seem to feel the same way. So in this video, I'm going to talk about how I learn languages using a variety of tools, including Obsidian, and specifically, how I recently studied Swedish for 30 days. ## Structure > [!NOTE] Note to Eve > - Please work on the Brilliant part first - I need to give it to Brilliant to approve. > - Main B-Roll is in `B-Roll/OBS/main.mp4` > - Main A-Roll is in `A-Roll/A6600/C0001.MP4` - Where do I start? - **Reason.** Start with 'why'. If you don't have a solid reason, you're not going to be very successful. - **Goal.** Have a concrete goal. (conversation? book? trip?) - My purpose for Swedish: speak it with my colleagues on a work trip. I had three weeks before a one-week trip to Stockholm, Sweden, to see a lot of my colleagues for the first time, and I wanted to be able to converse lightly with them and also with other Swedish people. - Aiming to be fluent is like starting a new job and planning to be the CEO. - **Fun**. Prioritise for fun. What are some fun things you can do in the language that are easy to do? I buy board games in German so that I can read the rules in German. I love Spanish music, so I have many Spotify playlists with Spanish songs. - Speaking from Day 1 - Pimsleur - (At the end, use some footage from `B-roll/OBS/pimsleur-swedish-1.mp4`) - Italki: 12 lessons in 3 weeks - (Use B-roll from `B-roll/OBS/` - no need to use audio, but use some B-roll from both teachers) - (Here is my Italki profile: https://www.italki.com/user/1021739 - I'd like to highlight at some point that I have taken 245 lessons in Italki) - Notes in Obsidian for every lesson: [[Learn Swedish]] - This should be fun! - YouTube videos - Btw: English captions on all my videos - Switching the language on some devices - (B-roll: `B-roll/sopirulino/headspace-cursos.mov`) - Mörk Borg in Swedish - (Use `B-roll/MRK_BORG_Svenska.pdf`) > [!note] Note to Eve > - Please make this Brilliant sponsor spot take 60-90 seconds. > - Please use B-roll to make this more dynamic and interesting to watch, like: > - When I say "I'm actually hooked", show that I have a 35-day streak in `B-roll/Brilliant/brilliant-35 day streak.mov` > - For learning Python: `python.mov` and `python2-drawing-stars.mov` > - For learning algebra/maths: `brilliant-algebra.mov`, `brilliant-laptop-pre-algebra.mov` (show how I use Obsidian in split screen around 5:40) > - Show how I did some calculations on my iPad (and show text that says `iPad Pro 11"`): `obsidian-ipad-calculations.mp4` > - I have a bunch of Brilliant assets in `Brilliant/Assets`. Feel free to use any of them except the green ones. > - At the end, when I mention signing up, use `Brilliant/Assets/960 x 100 red.png` > - Please work on this part FIRST, and export it separately so that I can upload it for Brilliant's approval. > [!tip] Brilliant sponsor spot > I'm talking specifically about human language learning here, but prioritising for fun is something I do when I'm learning computer languages too. I've been using this app called Brilliant to help me learn a little every day. > > Brilliant is the sponsor of this video, but I'm actually hooked and I want to keep making these videos for them because I don't want to lose my free Brilliant subscription. I recently finished their Computer Science Fundamentals course and moved right on over to their Python course. I have studied Python before, but Brilliant does it in a really practical, interactive way-- it helps you actually write code and visualize what your code is doing. > > They have heaps of different type of lessons I want to try - I feel like they're adding new ones all the time - so I also recently started refreshing my algebra on it. Maths is another type of language that I've always enjoyed, but the way I learned it was very abstract. On Brilliant I could visualize what I was doing as I did it, and I've been really surprised with how much more I'm understanding on an intuitive, rather than theoretical, level. > > We are in the age of the geek, and I love what Brilliant is doing to educate people in the maths and sciences. If you do too, please use this link (it's also in the description) to sign up for free, and the first 200 of you will get 20% off Brilliant's annual premium subscription. - Learning Vocabulary - Duolingo (Use `B-Roll/GalaxyZFold3/Screen_Recording_20220802-005947_Duolingo.mp4`) - Memrise (Use `B-Roll/GalaxyZFold3/Screen_Recording_20220805-215400_Memrise.mp4) - Kindle books (Olly Richards' short stories in Swedish) + Reader + Readwise (Use `Screen_Recording_20220912-150540_Kindle`) - Doodling in Swedish - Obsidian Spaced Repetition - Writing - Obsidian Language Tool Integration - Writing in my daily note - Obsidian Tracker - The Results - after 30 days (`Use 06:00-06:55 ish of B-roll/OBS/final.mp4`) ## Outro Most of us have a tendency to make things even harder for ourselves: even before we learn a language, we put expectations on ourselves to be perfectly fluent, to study every day, and to remember a language forever. Personally, I'm exhausted just thinking of that. Instead, I set small goals I know I can reach, rely heavily on speaking and other things that are fun for me, and let my passions dictate my schedule. I've found that if I enjoy the process, I don't care so much if I don't remember the destination as clearly. Constantly learning languages is not just what I like to do; it's part of who I am. It's how I connect with people and how I can move countries the way I do. Check out this video to see how I'm building the life I want by exploring other countries. Knowing the language of a country definitely helps make moving a lot easier. Thanks to Brilliant for sponsoring this video, and thank YOU for watching! *Tack för att ni tittade!* ## Related videos and resources https://brilliantorg.notion.site/Brilliant-Sponsorship-Messaging-with-Makrwatch-717cec39472e466399c2fa82d0d9f45d Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/nicolevdh (This video was sponsored by Brilliant. Thanks, Brilliant!) Pimsleur Swedish 1: https://amzn.to/3Buo8m4 Italki: https://www.italki.com/i/ref/fHFBb Mörk Borg RPG: https://morkborg.com/ Duolingo: https://invite.duolingo.com/BDHTZTB5CWWKSMEKZHWDOXTNPY Memrise: https://memrise.com Olly Richards's short stories in Swedish: https://amzn.to/3LqJV2T Obsidian Spaced Repetition plugin: https://github.com/st3v3nmw/obsidian-spaced-repetition Obsidian LanguageTool Integration plugin: https://github.com/Clemens-E/obsidian-languagetool-plugin Obsidian Tracker plugin: https://github.com/pyrochlore/obsidian-tracker Other plugins: Callouts, Daily Note ## Timestamps 0:00 Intro 0:26 Why learn Swedish? 01:36 Speaking from Day 1 - Pimsleur, Italki 04:20 Obsidian notes for language lessons 06:40 Learning languages while having fun 10:37 Learning vocabulary 13:43 Obsidian Spaced Repetition 17:47 Learning to write - Obsidian LanguageTool integration 20:26 Obsidian Tracker 21:18 Swedish in 30 days - results ## Pre-production - [x] Create captions using Rev, then edit them. - [x] Take a thumbnail photo and create one for YouTube (1280 x 720). - [x] Add description. - [x] Include the title and any keywords in the first few sentences, but in a natural way. - [x] Add related videos and resources as links. - [x] Add end screen. - [x] Add cards if necessary. - [x] Add chapters for YouTube if longer than 5 minutes. - [x] Add mid-roll ads/check monetization settings. - [x] Post video preview on Patreon. - [x] Post video preview for YouTube channel members. - [x] Schedule on YouTube. - [ ] Add video to relevant playlist(s), or create a playlist if necessary. - [x] Promote on personal social media. - [x] Twitter - [ ] Create a blog post on [site](https://nicolevanderhoeven.com). - [ ] Add to weekly newsletter. ## Post-production - [ ] Add to video-database. - [ ] Add to other notes in my vault as appropriate.