PTPL 039: Obsidian's Spaced Repetition Plugin ROCKS For Language Learning
PLUS Creating a DIY Rocket Book, and increasing productivity by overcoming horror vacui
PLUS Creating a DIY Rocket Book, and increasing productivity by overcoming horror vacui
This week —
Horror Vacui is the fear of empty space. I comment on how overcoming it can lead to better design (graphic, product, UX, life)
How Obsidian’s Spaced Repetition plugin is helping me learn French more effectively than paid alternatives
I’ve figured out how to make a DIY Rocket Book!
Productivity Tips and Inspiration
This past week I expanded some thoughts I wrote last year, in response to someone who used Word files and Google Docs as their second brain: Do You Need a Notemaking App, or Are Word Files Enough? My answer: it depends! Click on the link to find out why.
On Horror Vacui, and the importance of being bored
When Slava Polonski, PhD talked about breaking free from the fear of empty space, they were referring to principles of design.
But horror vacui can apply to so much more, including what we do — and don’t — fill our lives with. Having more of something can suggest affluence, while less is associated with poverty, but the inverse can also be true!
When every available space is filled with even the most beautiful, well thought out details, there’s no room left to learn the lessons that cannot come without room to move. Boredom is willing to teach us things we can’t learn when we’re constantly in motion, but we have to let it speak.
Deliberately leave empty spaces in your calendar for just being. Not for filling the mind with external input like news, social media feed, or replying to messages. This space is for listening to the spaces between.
Rest, walk, draw, listen to music, be still
5 minutes is enough, but 15 or more would be better
Do this no matter how busy you are
Put away devices, walk away from them, notice how that feels
Adventures in Plain Text (and a little paper)
Spaced Repetition plugin — with variable speed audio!
I’ve been using Obsidian’s Spaced Repetition plugin to learn/improve my French. So far it’s surpassing my expectations, and has entirely replaced Brainscape. My favourite feature: variable speed audio! This feature is only available on Brainscape’s paid plans, and even then the Obsidian version wins the crown by a long shot.
In one month of using spaced repetition I’ve seen significant progress in being able to understand the language and express myself verbally, thanks to Céline Guerreiro’s brilliantly simple method of learning how to learn languages.
If you’re an English speaker like me, trying to improve your French, I highly recommend reading Céline’s article on the false beliefs that might be holding you back from learning French, and booking a 30-minute appointment with her to learn more. I did exactly that, and am very pleased I did. No, it’s not a funnel into an expensive course! The only ‘payment’ I make for getting help learning French is simply to help someone to learn English.
French speakers looking to improve their English can find Céline’s newsletter here.
Paper
I’m still using my Paper Saver notebook daily for brain dumps and general, fleeting notes.
An exciting development: I’ve sourced some paper that works exactly like that of the Rocket Book! Frixion pens in hand, my aim now is to print a nice collection of templates onto the reusable paper while continuing to use ordinary scrap paper for the bulk of the pages in the Paper Saver.
The Moleskine Cahier is now separated from the main book, to make it easier to use as a sketchbook.
Next: Get a good scanning + OCR system in place. Ideally this will be a 1–2 step process, possibly involving a Shortcut. Apple Notes is an option, but I’m not keen on their export options.