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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, ApRIL 1, 2019
Learning another language
Dear Annie: I love learn- net. And in many cases, tuition
ing languages. I grew up with is free. Check out the website
immigrant parents who spoke Duolingo, and visit your local
their native language to me, and library to see whether it has a
I studied another language in Rosetta Stone subscription. Soft-
ware solutions aside, one
high school. I’m also a
DEAR
of the best ways to prac-
native English speaker.
ANNIE
tice and learn a new lan-
I wouldn’t say I’m tri-
lingual, but I can get by
guage is simply to speak
in those two languages
with people in it. Once
I’ve learned aside from
you’ve gotten on track
English.
learning the basics of a
The thing is that learn-
new language, check out
ing those languages was
Meetup to find a group
easier than it is to learn ANNIE LANE in your area that speaks
Creators
languages now that I’m
in that language.
Syndicate Inc.
out of school. I learned
It’s wise of you to
my parents’ language as
take such an interest in
a child, when the human brain’s learning new languages, as it
plasticity is at its maximum and can be a big boost to your brain.
learning new languages is easiest. Researchers at Penn State Uni-
And the other language I learned versity found that bilingual peo-
while in school; I essentially ple are better at multitasking,
didn’t have a choice but to show and researchers at the University
up to class and learn the language. of Chicago found that bilingual
Now learning a new language people tend to make better, more
requires self-discipline. No out- rational decisions when speaking
side force is going to help me in their nonnative tongue, pre-
learn another language. I’m not sumably because they’re forced
sure I have the discipline, but I to think in a more deliberate way.
really would like to learn another Though you’re already nearly
language or two. Any tips? — trilingual, it stands to reason that
you could reap more of these
Lazy Linguist
Dear Lazy Linguist: School benefits with each new language
is always in session on the inter- you learn. And though it might
be more challenging to pick up a
new language as an adult than as
a child, it’s by no means impossi-
ble. See the article titled “A crit-
ical period for second language
acquisition,” published last year
in the journal Cognition, if you’d
like to read more about that.
Dear Annie: In regard to the
letter from “Polite Guy,” I have
to side with the former hippies
and their daughter on this one.
The other day, I was deliv-
ering some books to the local
high school. At one point, I was
standing in front of a door with
a 2-foot stack of books in my
arms, trying to figure out how I
was going to open the door. More
than a dozen kids walked around
me. Finally, one kid opened the
door for me.
I didn’t think that was a mat-
ter of good manners. I thought it
was a matter of common decency
— with a little bit of awareness
of what’s going on outside your
own skin thrown in.
I value kindness, sincer-
ity and consideration, not good
manners. — Judy G.
Dear Judy: I don’t espouse
etiquette as a set of ironclad rules
that we all must follow for fear
of punishment.
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Over the course
of the day, you’ll definitely get less done than
you wanted to. That’s OK. As long as you keep
plugging away, you’ll also get way more ac-
complished over the next three months than
you thought possible.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You never know
what someone else is going through. What
looks like a routine action may actually be
requiring great courage and perseverance of
a person. Your kindness and soft heart will be
appreciated.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). People who are
more socially connected tend to be less mate-
rialistic. To live simply is a virtue and a skill that
pays back spiritual dividends. In short, the less
you need the happier you’ll be.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). For today, if
you can’t see which option is right, then there
is no right option. In such a case, the best
move is no move. When it’s time to act, you’ll
feel it.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Right now, your
hottest clue about the future can be found
in the past. This involves three magic steps.
Study the history; look for patterns; and
believe them when you see them.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Distraction
isn’t always negative. In fact, distraction can be
just what’s needed to help you through a heal-
ing process or a transition. You’ll come back
later with a more enlightened perspective.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your eloquence
is undeniable. It’s not about what you say; it’s
about what you don’t say. You’ll be guided by
a sense of restraint that will hold you in good
stead.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Hope is crucial,
and there’s not enough of it. Be an agent of
hope. When the facts do not point in a hopeful
direction, hold on to hope anyway. The very
act of hoping can sometimes be enough to
turn things around.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Take stock in all that
you can do in the current situation. It’s more
than you could see in the beginning, and
you’ll continue to grow in power if you don’t
give your power away.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll be the first
among your friends to recognize a need and
fulfill it. To give a little is to give a lot, as it’s a
direction to lean into, and it starts a trend of
generosity.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It’s as if love really
does make the world go around — and not
in a particularly reciprocal sort of way. It may
be that you’re chasing someone or something
that is chasing someone or something else.
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). This is no time to
return to where you’ve been and what you’ve
done. That’s over. Moving on won’t be hard
once you commit. The mantra now: “Tomor-
row.” Go ever forward.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (April 2). A liber-
ation takes place over the next five weeks. A
counterintuitive approach will be your success
key. For instance, the answer to getting what
you’ve wanted for a long time is to stop trying.
An upgrade in June allows you to make more
money. September brings the boost your fam-
ily has needed to strengthen ties. Aries and
Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9,
40, 3, 33 and 17.