Monday, January 15, 2018

Add 1 Challenge

It's time for me to buckle down and seriously improve my Czech.  I took private classes but those ended a couple of years ago.  While I do speak Czech everyday it's not like I'm really improving.  Yes, I can go to the grocery store, mail something at the post office or order a taxi on the telephone.
But I use the same sentences every time so it's not like my Czech is actually improving.

I've got about two years until I start getting my paperwork together to apply for Czech citizenship.  In order to apply I will have to take a test to prove my Czech is at the B1 level based on the CEFR.  My Czech, right now, is probably somewhere between A2 and B1.  But for the citizenship test I will need to have solid B1 knowledge.  So I've decided to join the Add 1 Challenge.

The goal of the #add1challenge is to hold a 15 minute conversation in a foreign language after only 90 days.  Here's how it works...

You have to pick one language that you want to study.  Then commit to a non-negotiable study routine.  My goal is to study for at least 45 minutes per day, five days a week.

Every day you record if you met your daily study goal or not.
There's a private Facebook group and a Slack channel for people to help hold each other accountable.

Along the way there are various assignments and mini-challenges.  Plus every month you need to submit a YouTube video of yourself speaking in your target language.  Everyone has to submit a Day 0 video to show what their current level is.  Then new videos at Day 30 and Day 60.  On Day 91, the final video is due where you have to speak entirely in your foreign language with a native speaker for at least 15 minutes.

I can tell that this will be quite the challenge.  I like the thought of having a goal and controls in place to help keep me motivated.  I had never made a video before so that was a new experience.  I hope to learn how to add in subtitles for my next videos.

Here's my Day 0 video.  Wish me luck!

Update:  No 60 day video.

1 comment:

  1. Czech republic have big enought film culture, so you can watch every day of year 2018 one czech movie or even american movie (older then few months) with complete czech dubbing and subtitles.

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