Learn Spanish with Duolingo

I grew tired of being one of the few members of my family who did not speak Spanish. Although a few of my family members and I speak Chickasaw it appears as though that doesn't count. There is an unwritten rule that Spanish is the language of the family.

Actually there really isn't a reason as to why I shouldn't be speaking Spanish fluently. My husband is Cuban, the television is always on a Spanish show or movie. I hear Spanish everyday, throughout the day, spoken from my husband and his family and friends. So again, why am I not speaking Spanish fluently? Only the gods can answer that question.

Almost one year ago, I decided to take the course on Duolingo. I found the course to be extremely user friendly and very well organized. There are so many activities on the website that it is almost overwhelming. Each lesson has five levels and at the beginning of each level is an introductory on the lesson which includes instructions and tips on the words or phrases within the lesson. This is a very important step before entering each lesson.

Once you complete a lesson and all the levels within that lesson, it turns gold and you are rewarded a crown for the completion of the lesson. This is the pattern as you move further along within the course.

Wait! Duolingo is not only about lessons and levels. There are currently seventeen sets of mini-stories that will help you boost your reading and listening comprehension. Each story is in dialogue form, and each character has a different voice which really emphasizes the story.

Now, within each story there are questions that you must answer about a particular word or phrase before moving on within the story. You can read through each story in about 10 minutes; however, if you are taking notes it may take you a little longer to finish.

After you have completed the story you have a choice to either exit the story completely or move on to the card deck. The card deck contains a list of words and its meaning in English. In other words, they are flash cards and depending on the length of the story you might have 20 to 60 or more cards (words or phrases) to learn. Remember, part of learning a language comes from memorization.

The course also provides real-life story podcasts. Most of these podcasts will range from 20-30 minutes and this is for your listening comprehension. There is also a read-along transcript of the story. These stories can be read and/or listened to repeatedly. Some have voiced in the discussion sections that they have learned to communicate more effectively entirely from listening to the mini-stories and learning the deck cards.

Speaking of discussions, Duolingo also has a discussion section where you can ask questions, post your learning experience and get answers to many questions. What is fascinating about the discussion section is, there are discussion sections within the lesson you are learning. In these discussions you will find all sorts of tips and other ways to say the sentence within that lesson. For example, if you want to know why the sentence used "estoy" instead of "yo soy", you will more than likely find the answer within the discussion.

Duolingo also has a language dictionary where you can look up the word you are learning and be given sentences for that word as well as all the past, present and future tenses in which the word can be used and more.

The course also has a list of all the words you have learned thus far, as well as what areas you are still strong, pretty good, time to practice or overdue in practicing. As we all know, repetition builds retention. Duolingo is really good at reminding you to practice and what areas you need to focus on.

A Few Extras

There are 25 levels to reach in the language you are taking. You move further along in the course and level up by earning XP's. You earn XP's by completing a level in a course, completing a mini-story, completing the tiny cards from your Duolingo course, and by finishing a timed practice.

Duolingo also has what is called streaks which is how many consecutive days you have been active in the course of your study. Once you have completed 100 consecutive days you can enter https://www.duome.eu/ followed by your user name. This will give you break down of your daily progress, how many words and levels gained and how many yet to earn.

You can also earn lingots (ling-guht) which is Duolingo's virtual currency. You are awarded lingots by leveling up, finishing a skill, and sets of 10 day streaks. You can shop in the store with these lingots and give lingots to others who post a comment that you liked in the discussion section.

Another aspect is the ability to have friends and followers. Your friends and followers can see how often you are practicing based on how many XP's you have for the day or week. They can also view your profile and what level you are on and how many languages you are taking at the present time. Having friends keeps you motivated especially if they are diligent in practicing you want to keep up with them.

Oftentimes, if I pass a friend in XP's, within the hour or two, they will pass me. But as a caution, you don't want to simply do a lesson to pass a friend or follower. Let all your lessons be completed in order to improve your skills and language proficiency not to simply be ahead of a race that only you might be running.

In closing, there are many other features and activities that Duolingo has to offer, but in order to not make this post too long, I only mentioned a handful; yet, with all that you have read or heard from others, you might ask, “Is Duolingo really all what it is cracked up to be?" Short answer - YES but only if you indulge in everything the course has to offer.

Until next time,

Happy Learning

Lying Feelings Got You Down

Hello, my name is Fred and I'm a feeling. I like to reside in people who live in the past, have low self esteem and judgmental. These people have the best houses because they are triggered by practically everything. And each time I present a trigger, I get the response I want, then I get my promotion.

Ha ha ha.

Our feelings are a direct result or response to what has happened to us in the past either directly or indirectly. Some people spend many years holding grudges, being unforgiving, hateful, spiteful, angry at the world, holding on to the events of high school or events during childhood. Oftentimes, these people never come to the realization that life is what you make it.

As creators, life is what you make it. Sometimes there are things that occur in our lives that are out of our control. And it takes a bit longer to overcome those memories of maltreatment, but for the other percentage, no matter what that percentage may be, life is what you make it.

Too often many what to blame someone or something for the way they feel. My mom mistreated me, my dad wasn't there, my spouse left me, my siblings don't like me, my friend betrayed me and on top of that, my car wouldn't start today. We all have a story. And some of us even wrote books on our stories. Yet our stories, as dramatic as they may be, should not be our excuse for misery and despair.

There will be times when you don't feel like getting out of bed. You don't feel like getting dressed. There will be days when you just want to remain in your woe is me realm. But those are the days when you force yourself to get up. Those are the days when you open the blinds, pull back the curtains, put on your lotion, oil or perfume and put on something vibrant and enjoy the day.

This is the day that you make a decree to enjoy the day. This is the day when you will over the way you feel. To let your will take control over those feelings of distress and sorrow. And once you begin to will over the way you feel, you will notice that you have less dreadful days. Less miserable days than you had before. And the percentage of you feeling in a state of sorrow and anxiety will become less and less prominent.

Now you might say, “Okay, I understand what you're saying, but how do I do that in which you suggested? How do I will over the way I feel?” The very first step is to acknowledge that you're depressed or you have anxiety. Acknowledge the feelings that you are experiencing no matter what they may. Acknowledgment of the situation is the most important step of all.

How many of you have had feelings about a particular situation and when you made your feelings known to the other person, came to the realization that that wasn't the case at all? When we hide our feelings, we are accepting those feelings as fact. Once we accept those feelings as fact, we allow them to rule over our day. We allow them to rule how we treat others. We allow them to rule our responses and actions. So again, the first step is to acknowledge those feelings by writing them all down.

The second step that you want to take is to confront those feelings, ask questions. Why am I feeling depressed? Why am I angry? Why am I sad? Once you have your answer, you want to ask yourself, is this feeling helping me or breaking me? Is this feeling even justified? Is staying in the bed all day helping me? Is crying all day helping me? Is throwing fits helping me? Be honest and be realistic with your answer. So again, the second step is to confront those feelings and ask questions. Wait, let me say this, because misery loves company. Confronting your feelings doesn't mean, calling up your friend and discussing how you feel. This isn't a group effort. This is for you to take inventory of your life, yourself.

The final step is to say your good-byes. After you've written down your feelings, confronted and asked questions, look at what you've written then picture it as a piece of luggage. One piece of luggage for each feeling. For example, if you've written down depression, anxiety, anger, jealousy, out bursts, resentment, and unforgiving, you are carrying on your back, seven pieces of luggage! Seven pieces of luggage, imagine that, while those whom you are angry with, or have issues with are luggage free... care free.

I then want you to look at the piece of paper with your feelings on it, and take some scissors and cut it into small pieces. Then place it in a zip lock bag and bury it at a place of your choosing. Then move on from that point.

It takes effort and will. Yet, everyday is a new day. Embrace it and enjoy the day!

Godmother's Corner

How to Get Rid of Writer's Block

Where the Hell is my Muse?

Writer's block... it can creep up when you least expect it. Hiding in the shadows, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. A day when you've cleared your schedule, the kids are gone for the weekend, hubby is on a fishing trip, the house is quiet and there you are, staring at a blank screen or sheet of paper. Great. Now what? Where's a muse when you really need one? Six hours have passed and you only have two words that you can actually use — Chapter One.

Yes. This has happened to me, time and time again. This thing called writer's block will halt my plans in obtaining my goal of writing 50,000 words for the month, and have me snuggled on the sofa drinking green tea and watching Netflix. Yes, this has happened to me. But what is this thing called writer's block, and why has it invaded my world?

Writer's block is nothing more than a lack of inspiration and imagination at the time when you should be writing your compelling story. The only thoughts you have on your mind are, what happened the day before, what happened last week, what will happen next week, the secret your sister told, and a song by Fergie. What a combination. But how do you get rid of writer's block? By getting rid of the unnecessary debris in your life... if only for a short while.

Stress in one of the most hindering problems for a writer. Your thoughts are all over the place, but yet nowhere. If it can't be resolved today, then cast it aside for today. If it is a problem that is completely out of your control, why think about it at all? Hand it over to a power greater than you. If it is a problem that can be resolved and will be resolved, why ponder it? Let it go. If you do not have stress, yet your mind is still overwhelmed, turn off the news and don't listen to any sad news whether it be from television or in person. Unless you're a writer on current events, daily watching of mainstream news can invade your imagination and inspiration, leaving you with a new friend called writer's block.

Speaking of friends, God bless them, sometimes you have to closed the blinds, don't open the door, turn off the phone, there's no one home. I know it's a little harsh, but it's perfectly okay to say, “Not today.” If they're your true friends, they'll be around tomorrow, but in the meantime, if you have set aside a day to write, then that is what you'll do — write. This doesn't mean we cast our friends aside. No way! As writers, we still interact with our friends. After all, some of our inspiration comes from being around others and observing others, and if you are a comedy writer, much of your inspiration is from being around others. The main objective is, set your priorities when it comes to your friends, to not add another friend called writer's block.

So, what do you do when all else fails and writer's block is now your new best friend? As I mentioned in Writing Tips for African Americans, I read teen books for fresh ideas. Hey, don't knock it until you've tried it! You'll be surprised how many adults read teen books to get inspired. A favorite of mine is Auggie & Me by R.J. Palacio. This particular book is from her Wonder collection. I usually do not have to read the entire book again, usually a few chapters will spark my imagination allowing fresh ideas to flow effortlessly. This happens with any teen book I choose to read. There's something about teen, young adult, even children's books that will get a writer in the zone to do what he or she loves — write.

Still doesn't work for you? How about this. Will you find your characters in a cheeseburger? Probably not. Did you know that certain foods can kill your writing mood? It's true. You've heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” When was the last time a pig or cow wrote a book? Fresh foods, healthy foods, stimulate the brain, bringing fresh ideas that turn into fresh stories, and memorable characters. It's true! So, next time you're experiencing writer's block, try eating some fresh fruits and veggies. It really works!

Well, I'm sure you have other ways of ridding yourself from writer's block. Whether you're a novel writer or a songwriter, writer's block can sneak upon us all. How we deal with it is the question. What's your solution?

Until next time,

Happy Writing 

Finding Your Voice as a Writer

Your Life is a Story

When you began your career as a writer, the first step is to find out what you're going to write about. What are your interests? What are your hobbies? What are your goals? Who is your target audience? Is anyone interested in the topics you're interested in? These are a few questions you might ponder.

As writers, we will all go through a season or more, of trying different ideas and topics. Even to the point where we're writing on topics that are not really interesting to us, but might give us a fair amount of readers. This can be a daunting task believe me. When this happens, writing becomes more of a task than a creative piece of enjoyment. Of course, you won't be bouncing off the walls in a state of ecstasy, but a few writers are, but you should never feel like... ugh, this again. Writing should be a time that you look forward to not a time that you dread.

Finding your voice can be a bit challenging for someone who is well-versed in many areas. They've done a lot, they've seen a lot, they have traveled different places, they've had several jobs; these type of people have a lot to say. It doesn't mean they are an expert or guru, it just means they have a lot of stories and have many topics they can discuss based on experience. On the other extreme, it can be challenging for someone who has a very tight comfort zone. Their life is a simple routine, they don't veer too far, they live a very humbled and ordinary life. This doesn't mean that these writers can't develop memorable characters and a powerful story, they may just have to work a bit harder to get the imagination flowing. But these individuals tend to do very well with non-fiction writing.

If you are a well-versed individual and you have ideas coming in from every direction, and you want to write about everything, calm down. You can take a few elements of your life and bring them into your story. For instance, if you worked at a bar, and you heard tons of stories and matters of the heart, and your desire is to write a romance novel, and you've traveled many places, have your setting centered around a place where you've traveled. If you had a steamy affair with a pilot, let him (his character) be a customer in the bar. Have your bar set in Paris. Think of different ways to bring elements of your life into your story. Remember, to change the names, and even the dates can be changed to a different period in time.

Another tip to finding your voice, especially if you want to write a story centered around past events, is to buy a newspaper or magazine during memorable events in time; such as, the presidential elections, the inauguration, war, Christmas season, extreme weather occurrences, etc. Why? If you want to write a story that happened during the time of 9/11, or when the president was elected, it is good to have evidence of the day frozen in time, rather than searching for articles via the internet. You may not wish to write about 9/11, but want to know what else was happening that day to add to your story. These are different ways of finding your voice and Thinking Out the Box

How long can you talk about your topic? Is it book worthy or blog worthy? You might want to write a book about dog grooming, but would it be a book or more like a pamphlet? You might want to write a fantasy book, but do you have enough information and imagination to write a full novel or novella? If you want to write a novel and not a novella, think of how you can add different elements of your life to your book. However, don't simply focus on word count, but rather write a compelling story.

Once you have found your voice, give your audience a chance to find you. A lot of times, writers can get discouraged when our work isn't getting read or read very little. My advice, write a good novel and leave it alone. Write another good novel and leave it alone as well. We wear many hats as writers. Of course you want to market your book, and do all the things necessary for your writing business, and after all of that is done, leave it alone and write your next book.

Don't worry about the numbers. Don't focus solely on the number of readers. There are plenty of books in the market, that didn't do well until its 5^th year or so. Write a compelling book and leave it alone. Whether it be fiction or non-fiction, give good information, great sources, and leave it alone. There are times in our career when we will focus on the numbers, but as a beginning writer, just write a remarkable story with memorable characters and then write another one.

Most writers want to earn a living as a writer, naturally so. But if you are constantly focusing on the numbers, you aren't focusing on your voice. Many would say, “Since I don't have the numbers, maybe this isn't the right voice.” Not necessarily. Give your audience time to find your voice. As quiet as it's kept, there are some writers who are above their time. A perfect example would be, The Lord of the Rings, written in 1937 by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Finding your voice comes in two stages. Finding your voice or niche, and allowing your audience to find it as well.

Until next time, keep writing.

amazon.com/author/nicolejrubio

Writing Tips for African Americans

Thinking Outside the Box

When you decided to become a writer, whether it was yesterday, last year or years ago, you were excited and motivated. You wrote your first novel or novella, told all of your family and friends, posted a blog and then your book was published and... only a few people bought it. You say to yourself, "I don't understand. I did my research. I marketed. I have a great cover, but my book is barely selling and on top of that, I don't have good reviews." There may be a few reasons for that. So, don't beat yourself up. Take a few steps back and let's figure this out for a moment... and breathe.

Okay. Now, just because you want to be a writer, doesn't necessarily mean, you are a writer. Let me explain. Writers obviously have something to say. They are great storytellers, enjoy creativity with regards to words, and have a great imagination. Their writing doesn't have to be too fancy, but fancy enough to get the point across, give the reader some type of emotion; such as, laughter, tears, anger or joy, and writers will, most often, give you something to ponder.

Is your writing original and fresh? We have all heard the phrase, there is nothing new under the sun. That's true, it isn't; however, when it comes to writing, it can be similar to another piece of writing, but have a slight or unique twist or element. Dare to enter a world where the other authors have not journeyed or journeyed carefully, or a little. Dare to go there. In other words, don't let your writing be so familiar that it's boring or predictable.

Write in your area of expertise. Many will disagree with this statement saying, "Don't write want you want, write what the reader wants." That is true to a certain degree. If your area of excellence is in the genre of Romance, then you could write romance novels or novellas. It would come easy for you; however, if many readers want to read Paranormal books, then you could be creative by writing a romance novel with elements of paranormal activity.

A great strategy in finding out what readers want, is to read the reviews of books similar or somewhat similar to your book or your idea for a book. If you are in social media groups, pitch a question. Ask your group what they find the most irritating in a book. What makes them want to turn the next page? How do they want to feel after reading a book? Are titles important? This is thinking outside the box. Don't simply ask your family and friends, but ask others you can give you a bias opinion.

As we talk about your book, has it provided any of the above to the reader? If not, that may be why your book is barely selling or getting average or below average reviews. Remember, don't take your reviews too personal, but rather learn from them. The reader is not attacking you... it's your writing they are scrutinizing, not you as a person whom they've never met.

When I first began writing, a few of my friends would ask me, "Why don't you write for African Americans?" My answer was, "I don't want to limit myself to one particular group of people." That was part of the reason. However, the other reason was, as a writer, I am an avid reader and I don't read many African American books, mainly because many African American books follow the same theme, slavery, hard-times, rape, drugs or murder. As a result, those topics are not an interest of mine at this point and time in my life.

As a race, I believe we have evolved, and no longer need to limit our enjoyment and entertainment based on those topics. I would rather like to see my African American family, learn and understand that part of our history, not stay in that part of history, but move on and rise above it.

This is a part of thinking outside the box and broadening your vision and imagination. Our books and movies do not always have to be centered around slavery, or single parent homes, but can be uplifting or mythological.

So, as you develop your mind toward thinking outside the box, you may want to read books in the genre of fantasy, comedy, or romance. Try reading a book that might inspire you to be different. A book that will spark your imagination allowing you to be free. You will be surprised how many adults read teen books, every now and again, to lighten the emotion and structure of their book. Comedy books can also bring a different free-spirited approach to your characters, allowing them to be less stiff.

Whatever method you choose for thinking outside the box, let your writing be unique and fresh, but most of all, have fun!

Until next time, keep writing!