Community Challenge 2/53: fluent in 1 week in a new language
I made her smile.
this might not sound like much. but Bulgarians are notorious for not smiling.
she spoke zero English. zero.
I walked in, and said my 3 little sentences.
she looked at me. paused. gave me the bread.
then smiled.
the old bakery granny.
we had a tiny conversation. but it worked. human connection with just 2 days of practice.
here's what's working:
3 sentences that will make them smile every time:
(Bulgarian): Az ucha balgarski. English: I am learning Bulgarian.
(Bulgarian): Imam obuvki. English: I have shoes.
(Bulgarian): Koya e lyubimata ti duma? English: What is your favorite word?
Number 2 is very important and easy to say, point at your shoes confidently.
If they are not smiling or laughing in 30 seconds, I will buy you a coffee.
say these three and watch their face change. works every time. they can't believe a foreigner is actually trying. I’m sure works in other languages too!
also my secret AI weapon: Gemini Live
You can use it free in the Gemini app on your phone.
I walk around the city, point my phone at things, and ask "how do I say this in Bulgarian?"
signs. menus. buildings. everything becomes a lesson.
I sit in my room and describe what I see. Gemini corrects my pronunciation in real-time. free. on mobile.
the hard part:
learn 147 new words per day. my brain is full by 3pm…
but the bakery lady's smile keeps me going.
5 more days until Sunday: full day speaking only Bulgarian with locals.
PS: share with someone learning a language: 53skills.com
Thank you for being one of the first 100 neohumans to join this project.
#53skills
Reply to this email with all your questions, comments, or tips, I will answer.
Or share with friends who want to join.
- Alex
