Spence from Seattle
@misojosgatos.bsky.social
Pronouns: He/Him
Languages:
🇺🇸 (N), 🇪🇸 (C1), 🇫🇷 (B2), 🇨🇳 (HSK 2.5), 🇩🇪 (A1)
Studying for:
Fun
#langtwt #Bogota #Colombia
http://youtube.com/@spence-from-seattle
Languages:
🇺🇸 (N), 🇪🇸 (C1), 🇫🇷 (B2), 🇨🇳 (HSK 2.5), 🇩🇪 (A1)
Studying for:
Fun
#langtwt #Bogota #Colombia
http://youtube.com/@spence-from-seattle
Pinned
my first #langsky intro
Name: Spence
Pronouns: He/Him
Nationality: 🇺🇲
Native: 🇺🇲
C Tier: 🇲🇽
B Tier: 🇫🇷
A Tier: 🇨🇳 (繁體字), 🇩🇪
Hobbies:
Meetup Organizer
Amateur YouTuber
Armchair Philosopher
Board Games
Volunteering
Name: Spence
Pronouns: He/Him
Nationality: 🇺🇲
Native: 🇺🇲
C Tier: 🇲🇽
B Tier: 🇫🇷
A Tier: 🇨🇳 (繁體字), 🇩🇪
Hobbies:
Meetup Organizer
Amateur YouTuber
Armchair Philosopher
Board Games
Volunteering
Google's AI search results sent a woman to one of my language events, but it failed to specify what language the event was for, what the activity was, or the correct name for my group. Thankfully, the woman speaks that language, but it's a cautionary tale for event organizers.
October 22, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Google's AI search results sent a woman to one of my language events, but it failed to specify what language the event was for, what the activity was, or the correct name for my group. Thankfully, the woman speaks that language, but it's a cautionary tale for event organizers.
Is everybody else seeing *tons* of "content" that insists"AI is a bubble."? I swear every fifth YouTube recommendation is about that. I finally started muting those accounts.
October 20, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Is everybody else seeing *tons* of "content" that insists"AI is a bubble."? I swear every fifth YouTube recommendation is about that. I finally started muting those accounts.
I organized an event for "jeux de société en français" (board games in French) here in Bogotá. However, a local guy didn't realize it was a French event. We adjusted the games to play in French, Spanish, and English. (He spoke the latter two. The rest of us spoke all three.)
October 19, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I organized an event for "jeux de société en français" (board games in French) here in Bogotá. However, a local guy didn't realize it was a French event. We adjusted the games to play in French, Spanish, and English. (He spoke the latter two. The rest of us spoke all three.)
I love meeting other people learning languages other than English (and Spanish) here in Bogota because they share my love of languages, unlike locals learning English who (primarily) do it out of necessity and/or for economic reasons.
October 19, 2025 at 4:25 AM
I love meeting other people learning languages other than English (and Spanish) here in Bogota because they share my love of languages, unlike locals learning English who (primarily) do it out of necessity and/or for economic reasons.
The solution! Thanks to Lu @noryeok on Twitter!
September 22, 2025 at 11:55 PM
The solution! Thanks to Lu @noryeok on Twitter!
Unpopular Opinion: Random strangers on the streets of Paris are not obligated to speak French with you. If switching to English helps you understand more quickly, they have all the right in the world to switch mid-conversation. #langsky #languagelearning
September 22, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Unpopular Opinion: Random strangers on the streets of Paris are not obligated to speak French with you. If switching to English helps you understand more quickly, they have all the right in the world to switch mid-conversation. #langsky #languagelearning
Does anyone know how to make Facebook show you posts from your friends? Bluesky has the options of "Discover" and "Following." I want to choose "Following" / "Friends" on Facebook rather than seeing nothing but random posts.
September 18, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Does anyone know how to make Facebook show you posts from your friends? Bluesky has the options of "Discover" and "Following." I want to choose "Following" / "Friends" on Facebook rather than seeing nothing but random posts.
Ugh! I feel *so* disconnected from the language learning community. I attended an online French Meetup for an hour, and I felt like I was back "home" again. English and Spanish are like cooking at home. French (etc) is like going to an exciting new restaurant.
September 4, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Ugh! I feel *so* disconnected from the language learning community. I attended an online French Meetup for an hour, and I felt like I was back "home" again. English and Spanish are like cooking at home. French (etc) is like going to an exciting new restaurant.
TIL - Don't use the "memo line" for your Wise transfers. They have an automated keyword search and cancel your transfers for any and all purposes besides: "1.4 a receiving your own salary and/or wages"
wise.com/acceptable-u...
wise.com/acceptable-u...
Wise-Acceptable Use Policy
Send money to your friends and family or pay for goods and services in foreign currency. No margins and no spreads on true market exchange rates.
wise.com
September 2, 2025 at 2:51 PM
TIL - Don't use the "memo line" for your Wise transfers. They have an automated keyword search and cancel your transfers for any and all purposes besides: "1.4 a receiving your own salary and/or wages"
wise.com/acceptable-u...
wise.com/acceptable-u...
Do you *think* about grammar in your native language when you speak casually or write something informal like a text or a tweet?
August 21, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Do you *think* about grammar in your native language when you speak casually or write something informal like a text or a tweet?
This is how I feel about my latest hobby: being a GM for a #ttrpg group. Thankfully, my friends are kind enough to humor my early efforts. But I have the voice of @brennanleemulligan.bsky.social whispering in my ear: "Get good!"
You may not think you can really draw or write NOW. The more you do it the better you will get. It's called art practice for a reason. Talent is just applied passion. If you really want to make art, you will make art, and not even yourself can stop you.
August 17, 2025 at 5:12 AM
This is how I feel about my latest hobby: being a GM for a #ttrpg group. Thankfully, my friends are kind enough to humor my early efforts. But I have the voice of @brennanleemulligan.bsky.social whispering in my ear: "Get good!"
Attended a talk on Buddhism tonight, and understood the vast majority when I wasn't distracted by my wandering thoughts. Then the pop quiz, when I talked with the teacher after her talk. 😯
July 8, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Attended a talk on Buddhism tonight, and understood the vast majority when I wasn't distracted by my wandering thoughts. Then the pop quiz, when I talked with the teacher after her talk. 😯
Furigana for the karaoke lyrics! 😲
June 21, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Furigana for the karaoke lyrics! 😲
Thank you for all the votes! Really interesting! I would say my natural instinct is to plow when faced with obstacles. Simplifying (the clear winner) sounds like a gentler and more thoughtful approach.
June 11, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Thank you for all the votes! Really interesting! I would say my natural instinct is to plow when faced with obstacles. Simplifying (the clear winner) sounds like a gentler and more thoughtful approach.
How do you adjust when your abilities in your target language drop briefly (rough day)? I've found this can happen when I'm tired, confused, overloaded, etc. #langsky #langtwt
For example: Shift - Different Skill; Simplify - Easy Materials; Plow - Keep Pushing; or Pause - Stop studying
For example: Shift - Different Skill; Simplify - Easy Materials; Plow - Keep Pushing; or Pause - Stop studying
June 10, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Reposted by Spence from Seattle
Thanks for asking! I have two channels:
1) Spence from Seattle (random mix of stuff) www.youtube.com/@spence-from...
2) Spence: Aventuras y Tecnología (ESL lessons and some other language stuff) www.youtube.com/@spence-de-s...
1) Spence from Seattle (random mix of stuff) www.youtube.com/@spence-from...
2) Spence: Aventuras y Tecnología (ESL lessons and some other language stuff) www.youtube.com/@spence-de-s...
Spence from Seattle
I am Spence from Seattle. I currently live in Bogotá, Colombia. Let’s explore my passions for languages, cultures, and technology as we discover the world from my unique perspective. Here you will fin...
www.youtube.com
June 7, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Thanks for asking! I have two channels:
1) Spence from Seattle (random mix of stuff) www.youtube.com/@spence-from...
2) Spence: Aventuras y Tecnología (ESL lessons and some other language stuff) www.youtube.com/@spence-de-s...
1) Spence from Seattle (random mix of stuff) www.youtube.com/@spence-from...
2) Spence: Aventuras y Tecnología (ESL lessons and some other language stuff) www.youtube.com/@spence-de-s...
I'm having so much fun studying French. I've even had very brief flashes of thinking in French.
June 7, 2025 at 5:05 AM
I'm having so much fun studying French. I've even had very brief flashes of thinking in French.
Reposted by Spence from Seattle
My Japanese teacher, demonstrating politeness:
"We use this form of the imperative when speaking to our social inferiors: a teacher to his pupils, parents to their children, me to my cat... but don't tell my cat I said that..."
"We use this form of the imperative when speaking to our social inferiors: a teacher to his pupils, parents to their children, me to my cat... but don't tell my cat I said that..."
June 4, 2025 at 11:35 AM
My Japanese teacher, demonstrating politeness:
"We use this form of the imperative when speaking to our social inferiors: a teacher to his pupils, parents to their children, me to my cat... but don't tell my cat I said that..."
"We use this form of the imperative when speaking to our social inferiors: a teacher to his pupils, parents to their children, me to my cat... but don't tell my cat I said that..."
Oof, how much of my language learning has been motivated by this? 🤦♂️ I'm currently dating a Colombian, and my Spanish lessons have gone from 50 minutes per week to three hours as things have gotten more serious.
June 4, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Oof, how much of my language learning has been motivated by this? 🤦♂️ I'm currently dating a Colombian, and my Spanish lessons have gone from 50 minutes per week to three hours as things have gotten more serious.
Comprehensible Input. People seem to forget that Stephen Krashen added the word "compelling" to the concept and that it should be minimally comprehensible. You can look up his theories to get the real explanations. I'm just telling you my interpretation.
June 2, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Comprehensible Input. People seem to forget that Stephen Krashen added the word "compelling" to the concept and that it should be minimally comprehensible. You can look up his theories to get the real explanations. I'm just telling you my interpretation.
My goals (subject to change)
French: finish 200 page children's book, finish very short online philosophy class
Spanish: keep taking Spanish classes
Meditation: 900 minutes of meditation #langsky
French: finish 200 page children's book, finish very short online philosophy class
Spanish: keep taking Spanish classes
Meditation: 900 minutes of meditation #langsky
June 1, 2025 at 9:13 PM
My goals (subject to change)
French: finish 200 page children's book, finish very short online philosophy class
Spanish: keep taking Spanish classes
Meditation: 900 minutes of meditation #langsky
French: finish 200 page children's book, finish very short online philosophy class
Spanish: keep taking Spanish classes
Meditation: 900 minutes of meditation #langsky
June 1, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Some people say that proficiency exams like these are pointless. But I've found that they motivate me and give a sense of purpose in my language learning. I think in the case of my French cert it may have helped me with my ESL teaching applications. But I've never directly used it for anything.
May 31, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Some people say that proficiency exams like these are pointless. But I've found that they motivate me and give a sense of purpose in my language learning. I think in the case of my French cert it may have helped me with my ESL teaching applications. But I've never directly used it for anything.