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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?

#51

Post by mindcrime »

edw519 wrote: post #34

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 mysel…

I'm going through the "Behind The Wheel" series on Spanish now, and it's been interesting so far. I'm far from fluent in Spanish, but I've definitely learned a lot. One thing though... if you try to learn a foreign language, it helps a LOT if you have somebody to talk to - who is already fluent (preferably a native speaker). Without somebody to talk to, it's hard to really know how well you're doing.

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

#53

Post by timwiseman »

sad wrote: post #26
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).

Many reasons come to mind, such as not wanting to live in the area you work (maybe you have kids the schools are bad, or the neighborhood isn't real good). It could be that living close to a family member is more important than living close to where you work, like maybe your wife is taking care of her mother or grand mother while you are out working (or the other way around). There are lots of good reasons. These day…

All good ones. I personally find it not worth moving closer because I am in a long term mortgage as you mentioned.

I have another friend with a long commute because he lives close to where his wife works.

Another person I know used to have a commute of over 2 hours. His job location, like some others, was deliberately located away from population centers for security and safety reasons. Moving significantly closer would have been very difficult and meant being a long way away from everything in his life other than his job.

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

#54

Post by jaaron »

jasonlotito wrote: post #17
stefanobernardi wrote: post #16

Audiobooks dude. Just buy yourself a few and you'll never go back. It's just learning without the hassle of staying seated and having books in your hand. While I was commuting I listened to so many that literally changed my life. My favorite being Never Eat Alone, by Keith Ferrazi (You can also download a few mixergy interviews).

Yes. Very yes. Very, very yes. I use audible.com. Started with a gold account, and jumped right to platinum. Been using it for more than a year, and I've been incredibly happy. The only complaint is that the site sometimes feels slow. But I'm not on it often. Usually just once a month to get my new books, though I've been buying books as well recently to fill in gaps. Couple audiobooks with podcasts and you'll do fin…

Here's another vote for Audible.

A couple years ago I had to weekly commute from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. Audiobooks not only kept me sane on the 5 hour commute, but I began to wish the commute were longer.

And just yesterday I finished a 3 day driving trip across the US. Had an audiobook running the whole time and it made the trip great.

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

#55

Post by krisneuharth »

stefanobernardi wrote: post #16

Audiobooks dude. Just buy yourself a few and you'll never go back. It's just learning without the hassle of staying seated and having books in your hand. While I was commuting I listened to so many that literally changed my life. My favorite being Never Eat Alone, by Keith Ferrazi (You can also download a few mixergy interviews).

Public libraries generally have a good selection of audiobooks available for free.

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

#56

Post by icco »

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).

I had a two hour commute for two summers when I was younger because I could live for free in San Jose, but my job was in SF. I road CalTrain everyday and was blown away by the number of people the took the train for such a long time every morning. But I guess it all comes down to just whatever is financially reasonable and keeps you happy.

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

#57

Post by jasonlotito »

jaaron wrote: post #54
jasonlotito wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. Very yes. Very, very yes. I use audible.com. Started with a gold account, and jumped right to platinum. Been using it for more than a year, and I've been incredibly happy. The only complaint is that the site sometimes feels slow. But I'm not on it often. Usually just once a month to get my new books, though I've been buying books as well recently to fill in gaps. Couple audiobooks with podcasts and you'll do fin…

Here's another vote for Audible. A couple years ago I had to weekly commute from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. Audiobooks not only kept me sane on the 5 hour commute, but I began to wish the commute were longer. And just yesterday I finished a 3 day driving trip across the US. Had an audiobook running the whole time and it made the trip great.

"Audiobooks not only kept me sane on the 5 hour commute, but I began to wish the commute were longer."

How true. Sit in the driveway or in the parking lot, wanting to finish the rest of the chapter. Or hating that you have to get out and start the day when you know your 10 minutes away from finding out what his plans really are.

Argh!

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

#58

Post by aagha »

nonrecursive wrote: post #47
stefanobernardi wrote: post #16

Audiobooks dude. Just buy yourself a few and you'll never go back. It's just learning without the hassle of staying seated and having books in your hand. While I was commuting I listened to so many that literally changed my life. My favorite being Never Eat Alone, by Keith Ferrazi (You can also download a few mixergy interviews).

I have a commute that takes an hour each way on average. Some audiobooks I've enjoyed: * I Drink For a Reason - very funny * Stumbling on Happiness (sounds self helpy but is actually a great book on our inability to predict how we will feel about situations in the future) * A Brief History of Everything - one cool story after another * A Long Way Gone, Memoirs of a Boy Soldier - hard to bear, but eye-opening * Gettin…

Read "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy and sit back while your mind gets blown--more true if you have children.

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

#59

Post by hdx »

vinhboy wrote: post #37

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.

Totally love NPR too, except during pledge drive season :P

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

#60

Post by lionhearted »

For learning languages, everyone I know who has learned from the LanguagePod101 Series has enjoyed it.

http://languagepod101.com/

I went through maybe 20 of the JapanesePod101 lessons and it helped my grammar and expanded my vocabulary a bit. A friend liked the ChinesePod101 which he was listening to in Taipei at the same time as taking formal Mandarin Chinese lessons.

There's a full access no billing info required seven day trial, and you can download as many as lessons as you want during that time. They're fun and easy to listen to, worth checking out if there's a language you'd like to brush up on or get introduced to.

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