Take the Meilaender Challenge #2: Learn a Foreign Language!

We are all spending a lot of time at home right now. You could just watch movies, play video games, and post to Instagram all day. (When you aren't doing schoolwork, of course.) Or you could do something useful, like... learn a foreign language!

For about the last year or so, I have been using the free online website DuoLingo to teach myself French. It works well and is actually pretty fun. So here is the second challenge I am issuing my students for the rest of the semester: pick a language (or languages) to learn on DuoLingo, and see if you can make more progress than I do.

Here's how it works: DuoLingo measures your progress using a system of "XP" points. You acquire XP points by completing lessons. So you need to earn more XP points--starting now!--than I do between now and the end of final exams on May 5.

Rules:

1. You must select a language or languages that you do not already know. For instance, I already know German, so I can't use points earned in German (even though I occasionally do a German lesson just for fun).

2. You may use a lesson that you have already begun learning if you e-mail to tell me how many points you already are starting with. For instance, I currently have the following point totals:

French: 63,994 XP
Italian: 17,848 XP
Latin: 5,841 XP
Polish: 5,812 XP
Czech: 4,327 XP
Spanish: 938 XP
Hungarian: 100 XP

So those are my starting points, and only points I earn beyond those count toward the challenge. Remember that if you already have XP in a DuoLingo account, you must tell me where you are starting in order to be eligible!

3. I will publicize the names of any student who beats me, thus earning you eternal renown and props among your peers.

4. The department will award a small prize--probably very small, but still a prize--to whichever student accumulates the most XP.

Let the race begin!

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