Has anyone used an app of some type to learn a language (or try and learn a language) while on the trainer?
Certain workouts and intensities probably would require more cognitive load and would not be good candidates for such multi-tasking. I was thinking an app with too much tapping and swiping probably would not be a good candidate.
Just trying to utilize the time as efficiently as possible. Let me know what app!
Duolingo is a nice and free app. Trying to do this during hard efforts I think would be really hard. A podcast aimed at language learning might be good too. Duolingo also has this but only for a few languages
Reviving this thread- any other thoughts on this? One of my current goals is to learn Spanish (I grew up in a bilingual houseā¦ but never dedicated myself to learning it and have lost so much). I can do an app store search myself- but so many options are pretty trash, not to mention its hard to interact with the gamified approach that most have now while on the trainer.
I think if you can learn a language while doing a workout then you arenāt working out hard enough. For sweetspot, threshhold, and V02 max, all I can do is listen to music. Sweetspot is on the border of where watching a bike race or a tv show can work, but not usually for the entire workout, so I just donāt.
Now, for the endurance rides in between, certainly, I think this would be doable. I often listen to audiobooks or catch up on my shows.
I agree its a bit to much beyond Z2. In a language I am B1/B2 in active study is a hard no, but for endurance rides I can listen to easier podcasts in the target language. Beyond z2, stuff that I can understand just fine while driving becomes gibberish. I suspect once you get to the point you can mostly understand native language netflix (which is way more advanced than most people think) you could probably do Ebooks while on the trainer. Trying to watch TV in the target language on the trainer even with subtitles is laughably incomprehensible. I thought it would be able to watch grand tour racing in my target language with a VPN to get around all the BS streaming issues and boy was I wrong. The fact that they talk over each other so badly makes it impossible.
Iāve read that moderate exercise can improve retention so I had the same ideaā¦
I routinely did āvelolingoā Z2 rides during the winter on TT bike. Duolingoās lower level lessons within each module are very easy on a phone as you are mostly able to select from word banks, etc. But they can be pretty hard when you have to type a lot from scratch in higher levels within each module, particularly as you get past first semester level stuff. Also, for anything where you have to translate and type answer in English, I just used the voice to text keyboard and that helps a ton. But I cannot get voice recognition to ever work for me in French, so Iām clearly far from where I need to be 
I have also watched random youtube language videos in the past when I didnāt want to type on the phone. Was definitely helpful.
Yeah just to chime in, Iām a fluent spanish listener (not speaker!) and I do watch netflix in Spanish on the trainer up to sweet spot. I give myself permission to watch whatever trashy shows I want to, but La Casa de Papel (money heist) on netflix is great, and has enough action to take your mind off the work, depending on the day.
I also use Eurosport on a vpn, but to echo other posters, the commentators really grate on me. I think itās just a cultural difference, since my Spanish friends tended to do the same thing but they just talk over/interrupt each other constantly. Then go on long tangents that are not very related to cycling at all. But I digress.
I donāt think I could learn a new language on the trainer though, even in endurance I have a hard time focusing on anything mentally challenging.
I would suggest something like Language Transfer. Itās more optimal for the trainer since youāre just listening/talking vs having to push buttons or type on your phone. Also itās a fantastic program and makes learning a lot easier than other methods in my experience. I linked the Spanish, but thereās other courses as well.
Whilst this is slightly off topic, I train whilst watching DVDs (whatever takes my fancy so action films or Lord of the Rings, normally films Iāve seen before so it doesnāt spoil anything if I miss a few minutes with my head down).
I have considered watching some of favourites in another language and seeing how much I understood. Not sure lightsabers and Death star translate that well though 
Maybe give that a go and see how the concentration copes with that?
Just to follow up on this- Language Transfer was the right choice! I started in May and am already speaking conversationally. I can do lessons at sweet spot and below, and started also doing it while I drive as well.
Yes, I know lots of folks donāt like to or canāt process things at SS, but I can and it works for me. Also like using the time for something else productive, Iām a time crunched person in general.
Just stumbled across this thread while searching the topic. So glad others have had the same thought: could I use my endurance rides to multitask and learn another language? Planning on trying out the āLanguage Transferā course mentioned above. Cheers!
One thing I have found to be helpful is to listen to music on Spotify in my target language, and watch the lyrics. Iām not sure itās āstudyingā but I find it a good way to see words/phrases in context and take screen shots of things I feel like I should know but need to look up later.
Cool thread. Iām on the path or (re)teaching myself Spanish. I havenāt seen Language Transfer before but at first crack it seems pretty cool.
I doubt I could manage actually taking in and processing a new language at sweet spot. I for sure couldnāt manage it higher.
Working on it in recovery rides would likely be a pretty good use of time.
I also will watch racing or Netflix in Spanish every now and then.
Iāve tried to use Duolingo during my cool downs in the past. In my experience, I made many more āsimpleā mistakes after Iād worked particularly hard during the workout. During recovery / endurance rides, I could regularly spend 20-30 minutes with Duolingo. Iāve also read multiple books during low intensity rides.
So after 18 months and two trips through LanguageTransfer (I did have to start seeking out conversation practice to apply the knowledge, plenty of cheap or free ways to do that) I know watch Netflix, etc in Spanish with Spanish subtitles. It has helped my listening a lot. I am more than conversational and can speak and communicate with native speakers without trouble (they probably dumb down certain things for me Iām sure).
Just curious @patrickd84 what are some ways youāre able to get some conversational practice? Definitely need some of that to apply what Iām learning
@Brandon I have some family that I can talk to regularly (lucky!), as well as a weekly Spanish speaking marathon on Fridays that I found on meetup. Its free. I think if you search āSpanish speaking marathonā youāll find it. Italki has people who give very cheap conversation practice from the country of your choice.
Iām now firmly in the high intermediate (b2) level and donāt hesitate to say I speak Spanish. Still working to get my vocabulary better. Iāve made the choice to start reading more (which is a chore but great for encountering new words).
Brilliant! Iām signed up for a marathon later this month!
Hmm. Iāll try because everything clogs up very quickly due to the lack of conversational practice. Recently, I have returned to studying and am eager to continue learning Spanish. To aid in this process, I am exploring resources like https://paperell.net/ a website that write essays for you, which I hope will assist me in my language learning journey. Many resources are available to modern students, and spending time on what genuinely interests you is essential. I believe that language learning is a crucial skill that requires a regular cognitive load to maintain, and I am excited to improve my skills with the help of such tools. I hope to improve my cognitive abilities and expand my knowledge by dedicating time to language learning.
Absolutely need that conversational practice. Happy to jump on zoom with anyone a couple times a month to get you some practice.