A language learners’ forum

Would anyone else be interested in a daily output challenge, where I post a prompt of the day and we all share our output for that prompt by the end of the day?

The monthly output challenges centered around a theme are awesome in theory, and I'm sure they're actually awesome in practice for many folks too! But I've found them to be too big and nebulous and intimidating, so I never really do them. I'm curious whether a smaller, "bite-sized" daily practice would work better for me.

I keep a Twitter list of writing prompts; I'll pick whatever catches my eye each day. (@TableTopicsInc in particular looks promising.)

For myself, I intend to write a post around each prompt, and then record myself talking about it (not reading what I wrote, but rather using that content as a warm-up exercise to speaking pseudo-extemporaneously). You do you.

It sounds good to me, but I know I wouldn't be able to do it every day. I assume you mean though that the challenge would start anew each day and people would participate on the days they had time/energy/desire to participate.

Brun Ugle wrote:It sounds good to me, but I know I wouldn't be able to do it every day. I assume you mean though that the challenge would start anew each day and people would participate on the days they had time/energy/desire to participate.

Exactly!

I did a "practice run" tonight over on my language log — I wrote 294 words and recorded 3 minutes of speech (2 minutes reading what I wrote, plus 1 minute improvised)! So I'm pleased. Also embarassed/nervous to put my recorded voice out there, because really, who likes to hear their own recorded voice even when they are fluent? Nobody, that's who. But oh well, it's all to the Greater Language-Learning Good.

Sounds like a fun idea - having something designed to be short would be good.

Would people be able to submit later? Thinking about time zone issues and also just times when you need a bit longer to write.

pact83 wrote:Sounds like a fun idea - having something designed to be short would be good.

Agreed. The prompts I pick will all be short — although folks are of course welcome to set harder personal goals for themselves, or embellish if they find themselves on a roll.

pact83 wrote:Would people be able to submit later? Thinking about time zone issues and also just times when you need a bit longer to write.

I'm currently thinking that people would submit links to their writing/speaking here on this thread, with an emphasis on responding to the current day's prompt, but responses to past prompts would still be welcome. Having multiple people all writing/speaking on the same topic sounds fun/encouraging to me, but the real point is output.

Today's prompt:

Is it more important to be smart or personable?

[tweet by @TableTopicsInc]

Go write/record your responses on your language logs and then post links to them here!

Sounds like a good idea. I'm in.

Is it more important to be smart or personable?

I wrote 94 words, with no recording; a short entry for today.

A bit more from me on this, though I'm not convinced I've used the right Dutch word for personable...

Interesting topic - and good to be able to understand most of Arthaey's Spanish response!