u/Correct_Ask_7794

Cringed a bit at "Mahala" but then actually laughed out loud at "Hanna"

I have a question about how to tell if what you're doing is helpful, or whether there are better or worse ways to increase your inputs.

I'm currently learning French (TL) in Montreal, doing the Francsisation programme with the Quebec govt. It's a really amazing opportunity as I'm being paid to study 30 hours a week (due to being an immigrant) and I've gone from basically no French to b1 in about 8 months.

However I'm now hitting a bit of a plateau, and I know I need to increase my inputs outside of class. The problem is doing this much active learning a week is really tiring my brain out, and I don't want to watch TV in French or try to read outside of class if it's just going to be mentally taxing without benefit.

I guess what I wonder at this level is what it is that's actually helpful - for eg with listening, is it just hearing without necessarily understanding a radio show that helps, or should you really try to listen hard? Ditto with TV (radio appeals more because it feels more like I can do other things while listening, like household chores).

And with reading, at this point is it smarter to be stopping and searching up every word I don't know in a comic book, or should I just try to keep reading and get the overall sense?

I'd love to hear what exactly people got or are getting out of increasing their inputs at the early b1 level! Thanks!

anyone have tickets but can’t make it?! X

I’ve been using a 3:1 ratio of ACV on à peri oral dermatitis flare up - this is a recurring, seemingly random issue for me and usually I take doxycycline to clear it up which works for up to to a year, but I lost the prescription I had filled before I moved back to the place I currently live where I have no Dr so I’ve been trying topical remedies as well as trying to improve gut health.

anwyay, dabbing the ACV onto my skin before I go to sleep at night really seems to be helping when nothing else has, but everything “offical” im reading warns against it. has anyone else had long lasting success w this method or has it worked temporarily and then damaged the skin long term?

i do feel like the “cause“ must be hormonal, bacterial, heat related or maybe gut health rather than à really damaged skin barrier because I have a super simple routine that I’ve had for years and I can go for a year or more with that with no flare ups and my skin is otherwise fine.

usually my POD is a small patch by my mouth, this time it’s by my nose and occurred after the first few very hot days of summer.

it’s all just such a mystery but I feel like I’ve found something that’s working but it seems so at odds w official advice so I wanted to seek feedback from actual people w the same issue!

hey everyone, I am visiting new york for a few days and the combo of the cost of eating out here plus my inherent love of bougie supermarkets means I’m shopping at whole foods to offset my costs (and also traipse around looking at fancy cheese which to me counts as a tourist activity)

I’m not from the US and id love to know which products or brands they stock that are particularly good value or delicious and worth trying, especially stuff which is only sold here. I might even take a few things back home with me but I don’t want to spend like USD$10 on protein cookies that taste like shit

I have a big sweet tooth but I also love finding new great oils and sauces and spices

a bit of a silly request I know but I honestly do geek out a bit on bougie stuff like this hehe