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How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

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Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#31

Post by fluxcapacitor »

Pimsleur CDs. They are great for car driving, because the programs are organized so you listen in a continuous play (as opposed to normal language CD books that assume that you will be holding the rewind button to repeat the last sentence). They also leave pauses so you can speak without having to pause the audio manually. And no workbook to follow, so you can keep your eyes on the road :)

Of course such course will not make you fluent, but it's excellent to put you on a good path.

Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#34

Post by edw519 »

There is a company that makes language CDs specifically for drivers. Put "Behind the Wheel" into the Amazon search box to see what's available.

About 5 years ago, I had a 60 minute commute each way for about 6 months. So I learned French.

It worked really well. Lots of listening and repeating, both in French and English. Increasingly difficult levels. And stuff you'd actually use. I went to Paris and surprised myself. All that repitition in the car actually paid off.

The best part is that you learn without sacrificing safety or focus on your driving. Just start the CD and follow the directions. That was the most impressive part to me.

I'd like to learn Spanish now, but my commute is only 5 minutes. It's just not important enough to take time away from my other work. But converting lost time in your commute into a new skill is a no brainer.

Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#36

Post by kwantam »

Not quite the web dev / web news / media that you're requesting (you've had other suggestions better than I could provide to that effect), but perhaps you'd consider the Feynman lectures on physics? They're available on CD, and they're honestly quite entertaining.

Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#37

Post by vinhboy »

No one said NPR, so I am going to say NPR. The only bad side effect is that you will become very cynical about politic. But seriously, sometimes a 1.5hr hour commute seems like too short when I am listening to NPR. I commute 2 hours each way and NPR is how I roll.

Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#38

Post by ganley »

ganley wrote: post #25

This is going to seem like both a troll and off-topic - sorry about that - but I've never understood, why do people tolerate a commute like that? Especially a driving commute (as opposed to public transport, where at least you could read or something).

Hope that didn't come across too critically; I'm just always curious. My commute is about 35 minutes each way, which is about the limit of what I can stand.

On a more on-topic note, I've looked hard and found little as far as good tech-learning podcasts. My regulars are The Moth (storytelling, fantastic), Long Now Foundation's Seminars About Long-term Thinking (all great, but maybe start with Dmitry Orlov, Saul Griffith, and Will Wright/Brian Eno). I just discovered Math For Primates; quite good if you're interested but not overly well-educated in math.

My local public library has a semi-decent selection of books on CD.

Also, don't underestimate the value of that time for just thinking. Turn off the radio and just let your mind wander.

Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#39

Post by spoiledtechie »

billpg wrote: post #3

Software/Techie... HanselMinutes Stack Overflow (inactive, but might come back) Security Now Just interesting... In Our Time (BBC Radio 4) Stuff You Should Know (How Stuff Works)

I don't truly understand the need to listen to stackoverflow and hanselminutes. Their podcasts aren't really learning. They are more there just to make a few extra bucks than to teach anything really interesting.

Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#40

Post by georgecmu »

Look into webcasted lectures from major universities. MIT, Yale, etc all have them. My favorite is Berkeley, where all webcasted lectures have an audio-only option.

http://webcast.berkeley.edu/courses.php

Ones I especially recommend:

History 5 The Making of Modern Europe, 1453 to the Present [http://webcast.berkeley.edu/course_details.php?seriesid=1906...]

Economics 113 - American Economic History by Brad DeLong [http://webcast.berkeley.edu/course_details_new.php?seriesid=...]

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