Prove it to yourself

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Bear with me for a minute as we take a short detour.

About four months ago I began my sourdough journey. (Masa madre in Spanish in case you didn’t know). For some time I had refused to try it as I’d heard quite a few people presenting it like a mysterious and complex process, akin to alchemy.

But my love for bread and all flour is unparalleled, so I gave it a try.

Well, it turns out it’s not that impossible at all. Basically, it’s only flour and water. The magic happens by itself without your intervention.

Yes, once it’s alive you need to feed the starter regularly in order not to run out of it and keep your production consistent, but if you looked after a Tamagotchi, nothing you haven’t experienced before.

Like I assume most bakers see it, my bread literally tells a story. Not just a biological story related to fermentation, but more importantly, the story of my learning. What’s the right ammount of water/salt? What kind of flour works best? How much time should I leave the dough to rise before baking it?

And the best is it’s getting better and better. Not only do I know it’s better, but I can prove it to me and others who have tried it then and now.

I’ve taken pictures, made notes with the different recipes I experimented with, with the temperature of the oven, cooking time… most possible variables.

Of course, the kind of better I’m referring to is not the impossible, linear better, but rather consistently better. Some breads are reminders that things can always take a turn for the worse.

Believe it or not, I’m telling you this story to connect it with your Spanish learning.

Concrete evidence of progress not only boosts your confidence but also helps you stay motivated and focused on your goals.

Mati, you got my attention. How can I prove my Spanish progress to myself?

Well, be creative! Here are some ways you can create tangible proof of your progress as a Spanish learner:

SET SPECIFIC GOALS

Establish clear, achievable goals for your language learning journey. Whether it’s vocabulary related to specific topics of your interest, a grammar point, developing your writing skills, just name it:

“For the next week/month/2 hours I’m going to focus on [your choice].”

Remember to always make your goals specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART, as smart guys call them).

And once the term is completed, establish an APPRECIATION DAY. On that day you’ll go back to the beginning and see your journey unfolding right in front of you. I do it with my students and It’s so empowering.

JOURNAL

Maintaining a language journal where you track your daily progress can be incredibly beneficial. Write down new vocabulary, grammar rules, and phrases you’ve learned, as well as any conversations or interactions you’ve had in Spanish on any given day.

If you do it regularly (on a daily basis), It won’t take long until you have a nice collection of entries to track your progress.

RECORD YOURSELF

It’s unbelievable the sense of otherness you can experience when you record yourself, right? Make several takes of you reading the same/saying the same and pay close attention to what could be improved. Don’t stop until you’re convinced it’s better than the first.

WATCH A MOVIE

I’ve discussed the different approaches to movies in a specific article. One strategy that applies to the framework I’m sharing here is rewatching a movie several times at different moments in your journey.

Say you watch for the first time today. Set a reminder in your calendar to come back to the movie in 60 / 120 / 180 days. Of course, you’ll be more familiar with the movie, and you’ll feel the difference.

LISTEN TO A PODCAST

Similarly, I’ve written an article about learning Spanish with podcasts. Sometimes we want to listen to an episode 10 times but if we’re missing most of what’s being said it’s possible that the level is too far above for now. Come back later and see how it goes.

READ A BOOK

The same applies for books. Get a book that makes you wanna read it. If you’re not enjoying it because it becomes tiring, give it some time and go back to it later.

SEEK FEEDBACK

Paid Online lessons are not the only way to get feedback. Nowadays we are offered with

Practicing with native speakers or language exchange partners is a fantastic way to gauge your progress. Pay attention to how easily you can communicate, understand, and express yourself in Spanish during conversations.

TRAVEL

This one is not as easy, but the feeling of accomplishment when you travel and communicate with locals is unmatchable.

Anyway, by putting these methods into action and actually showing how much you’ve improved in Spanish, you’ll just boost your confidence.

Remember, staying consistent and attentive are the secret ingredients to mastering a foreign language.

To wrap all this up, I want to share a song that will help you remember today’s mantra. Amazing, amazing song. It’s the reason why I chose this title:

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Have an awesome day ahead!

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