If someone had told me last year that I was about to start learning a language, I would have believed them. Yet, I would have found it harder to believe if they said I not only started but also stayed committed to it. This is my Achilles’ heel: I am a chronic hobby-jumper.
My journey started on a random day in October 2024 when I decided to download Duolingo and pick the most intriguing language on the platform. For me, that language was Russian. One clear question was on my mind: Would learning a language be more engaging if I had to return to a toddler-like state, relearning how to read, write, speak, and listen from scratch? For me, the answer was a resounding yes.
Duolingo
During my first month of learning, I relied solely on Duolingo. The alphabet course was excellent, and I genuinely enjoyed the experience. However, the initial excitement faded, and I found myself doing the bare minimum just to keep my streak alive—a streak that, for some reason, felt important to me. Fortunately, this routine helped me retain what I’d learned over the past two months. Looking back, if it hadn’t been for Duolingo’s streak feature, I probably wouldn’t have continued studying Russian. There was a stretch of about six weeks where I merely maintained my knowledge without any real motivation to progress, until one day, something just clicked.
‘The Hump’
In recent years, I’ve only managed to get past ‘the hump’ once, and that was with my love for Lego. I experienced an initial burst of excitement, followed by a frustrating period of stagnation and forced effort, which eventually reached a turning point where I finally overcame the struggle. For me, pushing through that stagnant phase is incredibly difficult, as my mind tends to drift toward other interests. But once I’m past ‘the hump,’ the hobby flows almost effortlessly. I become more mindful of the time I dedicate to it and can balance it alongside other commitments. After I conquered my Russian hump, my progress really accelerated.
Busuu & Preply
As I spent more time learning on Duolingo, I decided to try another app. I downloaded Busuu and started exploring its lessons. Right away, I noticed the lessons were better organized and often explained the reasons behind language rules. It also introduced grammar concepts explicitly, unlike Duolingo, which expects you to pick them up naturally — something I struggled with. The two apps complemented each other well, but I wanted more. I needed a real tutor.
In April, I signed up for Preply and had my first lesson with an amazing tutor named Victoria, who I still study with today. I started with one lesson per week but quickly increased to two after realizing how much I looked forward to them. Having a real tutor is invaluable — my progress has skyrocketed since.
My Daily Routine
What does my daily routine look like now? Since starting this journey, I’ve learned to use any spare moments as opportunities to study. The time between parking at work and entering the office is dedicated to completing my daily Duolingo and Busuu lessons. I don’t spend long on these apps anymore, but I make sure to complete at least one lesson on each every day. I’ve finished the initial modules on both apps, and while the A2 level content isn’t immediately relevant, I know it will be useful down the line. During lunch breaks, I go over pages from the Russian textbook we use in my online lessons and practice speaking exercises assigned by my tutor. I also dedicate 20 minutes daily to reviewing flashcards in a distraction-free environment, setting a timer on my phone to focus solely on memorizing the more difficult words. Aside from this and my two weekly lessons, that’s all I do! It’s enough to keep me engaged and progressing, and I’m very pleased with how far I’ve come.
Leave a Reply