Here's a video, you can watch it. Or not.

[@daysandwords]

Help the team get back to Houston this year by donating to the GoFundMe (even a dollar would be gratefully received.) gofund.me/114e7633

[@hillmanntoby]

I figured it out guys, DFNS was Finnish and Scots all along.

[@DNA350ppm]

Not even close 😀 !

[@candicraveingcloude2822]

​@@DNA350ppmI think it's a joke?

[@DNA350ppm]

@@candicraveingcloude2822So do I! 😀

[@Komatik_]

I wish it was Finnish.

[@buffcanuck83]

C’est marrant !

[@aleidius192]

The successful language channels I follow all seem to be Language + Culture channels. Podcast Italiano will have a video on why Italians no longer use the word "Malo" followed by a video about Dante. Learn Italian With Lucrezia has a weekly video of her going somewhere interesting in Italy and talking about it, in addition to having a video on literally every Italian grammar rule that exists. I'm sure you'll be able to figure out how to present the interesting peripherals of language in an entertaining way if that is what you decide to do.

[@sambeawesome]

This! I LOVE Kemushichan's channel for Japanese language and culture. She showcases so many hidden gems, and blends the two topics together nicely. And as she learns more about the language/culture (like when she had her children there, what it's like to give birth in Japan and the new vocabulary she's encountering), she shares those experiences as well.

[@PodcastItaliano]

I flinched when I saw my name mentioned. Thanks!!

[@daysandwords]

@PodcastItaliano - cheers for taking a look at my channel!

[@yannpollet1269]

I think because of KZbin algorithm, I watch the same video of " how to learn a language" so many times (by different youtubers, you included) that I started to watch one in my target language (MrSalas in Spanish) because I already knew the theory. And all these videos were the same for me, the same points were made everytime. For me, the step after, if we stay in the "Language learning" theme, is to watch videos about the culture of a specific country or about the targeted language (because you still practice by watching these videos and you learn more about the language), I'm thinking about youtubers like Linguisticae in French or Linguriosa in Spanish. That's also why one of my favorite video of this channel is the one about the word "lens". It changes and you learned new things

[@Komatik_]

Yeah, this is the issue with language learning videos in general: The basic methods are simple enough, after which we really shouldn't be watching language learning youtubers and instead immersing in the target language. In that sense, and to borrow Jobs' "Dropbox is a feature" quip, I think the comprehensible input and methods make the most sense in the context of a target language channel that can have a much wider leeway to talk about other things since the thing that binds the channel together would be the foreign language content. I like how Kaufmann does it where he sometimes just does language learning explainers in French or Japanese or whatever. They're fun to listen to and work as both language learning content per se and immersion material. Last I checked they have pretty good numbers which goes against normal logic. Dreaming Spanish's format of explaining various things in Spanish and having CI explainers seems ideal to me. I know I'd watch Lamont videos in Swedish, would be good to derust the language some :D EDIT: Finished a half-formed thought.

[@shananigans0117]

Yea it’s frustrating that channels about language learning all seem to be about teaching the language or showing off how shocked people are they can speak a different language

[@quit-rt4vz]

If you look behind the most famous people that isn't really true

[@albertstebbins7590]

Scotland has to be established titles. You are going to visit your 1 x 1 plot of scottish goodneșs.

[@hillmanntoby]

The video does highlight something important in that it's kind of impossible to make useful language learning content in a way the algorithm will like. There are some channels that take an academic approach to languages, and make comments about language acquisition. But most channels I see with 2LA as a focus are full of clickbait, are a satire channel for gigachads, or already were celebrity/influencer polyglots before KZbin. There's really only so much to talk about once you know the basics, and who really wants to watch someone else's "2024 Language Goals"?

[@MaxLearnsPersian]

Maybe I'm not the right person to answer, since I have a channel myself, but I love watching other peoples goals in general. A lot. Especially fitness and movement goals and language goals. I think what language youtubers can do is show you how hard and fun it is to learn a language, and this motivates you. You don't have to be an academic, polyglot or gigachad to do that. But it's not amazing, special or great. It's just a person showing how they learn something, an online documentation someone can benefit from a tiny bit. What do you think?

[@hillmanntoby]

@@MaxLearnsPersian I don't personally have any issue with that type of content and think there are those that might enjoy it. But does the algorithm like it and can it draw an audience? The underlying issue that comes with all of this is people are generally not posting vlogs for fun like it's 2006 anymore. They post to drive engagement, gain subscribers and eventually revenue. And the underlying incentive structure is to reward those for being sensational. But the discipline of SLA doesn't really have anything "new" to be sensational. We don't know everything about why our brains work the way we do with language, but we know basic methods that are effective. So to make sensational content, you have to be sensational. Shock natives with your skills, tell everyone how you learned 8 languages and will learn 8 more in 2024, etc.

[@MaxLearnsPersian]

Sad but true!@@hillmanntoby

[@DNA350ppm]

@@hillmanntobyWhat is SLA again? Acronyms and abbreviations drive me crazy! For SLA some plausible suggestions in this context: Some Lazy Asses, Showing Lots of Art, Skip Language Apps, Slow Living Assistance, Sweet Loving Amsterdam, Swedes Look Amazing, Scandinavia's Lasting Always and has the last word... kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJ3Ol6GghaZ6r68 So AtBW to y'all ASAP! 😀

[@daysandwords]

@DNA350ppm - If you put links in your comments, they will always be held for review. SLA is second-language acquisition.

[@ForeverForwardPod]

bro, the title… 😂 i cracked up when I saw it. and honestly, I REALLY resonate with so much that you covered in this video. i’m at the VERY beginning of my youtube content creation journey, and i know absolutely zero about production or mastering the art of a “shot.” so, there’s that. my production quality is basic but getting better. further, regarding your comments around new discoveries and unique video ideas within a “niche,” again I resonate big time. I’m so impressed that you’ve consistently created unique content for so long on a topic that, to be fair, i can imagine being hard to ideate around!! keep em coming bro.

[@daysandwords]

Thanks man! I haven't checked out your last few videos yet, but I will, because I still think it's a really profound insight that you shared about it having become "uncool" to be interested in literally anything.

[@ForeverForwardPod]

@@daysandwords I really appreciate that man... And I stand by what I said! 😂 We need more people in the world pursuing personal interests in ANYTHING other than Netflix and scrolling on Social Media. You're a perfect example of how an interesting and useful hobby can end up leading to a community of nearly 100K people coming together to learn something new. Onwards my friend 🙌🙌

[@lukasschultz2921]

I’m looking forward to you coming to my beautiful native Sweden! You should also try not to just go to Stockholm but instead also coming down to the southern parts. I especially recommend rural Småland and Skåne, you will love it!

[@87advil]

How was that Spanish livestream a year ago 😱

[@Stephanie-gv8rh]

Oooh that’s exciting! Maybe coffee break? A podcast? 🤔 also donated! Gotta support the youngsters learning stem! ❤

[@daysandwords]

Thanks Stephanie!

[@zarajday]

Woah, Days of (French and) Swedish finally going to Sweden? That would be a dream come true. Also, I totally get what you mean. I make videos about psychology but am expected to have decent video quality, good marketing and branding, good audio, and to not read my scripts awkwardly. I feel like that is why experts in traditional media are rarely the onscreen personalities. But in today's media landscape that is the expectation.

[@lindaha]

Hey Lamont, I'm really curious about what you're up to and I really hope that you and your family will be able to travel to Sweden (and Scotland)! I think your content is really good and I love how honest you are with your audience (us). So thanks for the great work! I wonder if you're going to explore language roots and/or similarities? 🤔

[@mikezimean2]

Wow, language simp on the preview, this content about learning languages has to be gooood

[@WHY-DO-I]

don't put language simp in the thumbnail he stands against "Language Learning" content

[@daysandwords]

Yet there he is, in the thumbnail...

[@LanguageSimp]

@@daysandwordsmy incredibly handsome face will help push this video on the algorithm. 10m+ views incoming ‼️

[@daysandwords]

​@@LanguageSimp Haha dude, thanks for checking it out. I'd have asked you but we all know you're a Gigachad Polyglot who isn't affected by this stuff. Cheers for stopping by.

[@TerpstraMark]

Schotland and Sweden? Coffee Break Languages ?

[@marysmith1081]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@Tomanita]

Yay, I'm happy to hear that you're finally going to Sweden! I hope everything works out. Just make sure that you don't accidentally book your flight to Switzerland instead😁

[@daysandwords]

Let's be honest, I wouldn't say no to Switzerland. 😂

[@CouchPolyglot]

I hope your GoFundMe is as successful as last year (or even more!), I will share it with my community and looking forward to your news regarding Sweden/Scottland 😄

[@daysandwords]

Thanks Laura! Check out Laura's channel everyone. ❤

[@ZacharyJ-w9s]

Oh shoot is he about to collab with Language Simp?

[@BooksWithBrad]

Wow i loved that little Swedish bit. Your accent sounds so great ❤ (although i know nothing about Swedish that sounded fresh)

[@mariefrenchtutor3180]

The very fist frame (before the video even starts) is with language simp… annoncing he’s learning Japanese… is that a clue or should it had been cut in the editing ?

[@daysandwords]

Um, that's actually your imagination. You're looking at the video's thumbnail, not any frame of the video. The first frame is black. But I like your dedication. There are clues all throughout.

[@TheStickCollector]

Do they really know the language? Or just every possible survival phrases that make it look like they know it? Can they recite Homer's oddesy?

[@jaydefgjdhf3068]

What does this mean?

[@TheStickCollector]

@@jaydefgjdhf3068 just enough language to make the videos, but nothing more. Faux literacy

[@MaxLearnsPersian]

There are fakers out there, but also a lot of real people showing their real skills. Both of them should be recognized as such, I think. Days and Words is very real, for example. And Matt vs Japan for example, very real. Ikenna is very fake. I consider myself also real ofcourse, since I am not editing my speaking videos for everyone to see I'm still an A2 after more than two years of studying...

[@daysandwords]

@TheStickCollector I'm not really sure if you're referring to anyone specific - but it's beside the point. I cannot recite Homer's Odyssey (odyssey, not oddesy) in English or any other language, and there are many many works in English, either original or translated, which I have not even read. I'm not sure if there is anyone in the world who ACTUALLY has this definition of fluency... even among people who say they do. There is a Belgian psychologist on KZbin who speaks some of the best English I've ever heard... but she doesn't even sound CLOSE to native and I doubt she can recite very much of anything. This is not fluency... it's recital... I can pretty much recite Spider-man Into the Spider-verse in Spanish... but I'm not really that fluent in Spanish.

[@bofbob1]

Of course. Ulysses, Ulysses, soaring through all the galaxies In search of Earth, flying into the night! Ulysses, Ulysses, fighting evil and tyranny With all his heart and with all of his might! Ulysseeeeeeeeees, no-one else can do the things you do! Ulysseeeeeeeeees, like a bolt of thunder from the blue! Ulysseeeeeeeeees, always fighting all the evil forces, Bringing peace and justice to all! lol ^^

[@frozenwolf8458]

I would like to hear what you think about the channel "One Word at a Time"

[@johannab3668]

It's Evan and they're going to duke it out in Scotland by hurling logs and shouting curse words in their target language.

[@stevencarr4002]

why was the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and the Wah-Wah singer in the start? It comes from a fantastic video, and everybody should see it. If anybody has a busy schedule, it is her.

[@daysandwords]

I'll say two things: 1. Tuva (the wah-wah woman) is actually Swedish. 2. That's probably leading you down the wrong path.

[@stevencarr4002]

@@daysandwords I know she is Swedish and very talented. Apparently, she is now often known as the wah-wah-wah woman. She is world-famous for that incredible performance she gave in 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra.

[@daysandwords]

​@@stevencarr4002There was someone else (not Swedish) in that performance who wasn't in this video because it felt too out of place, but who probably would have actually made a better clue.

[@daysandwords]

Just to clarify Steven - the "actually" in the bit about Tuva being Swedish was like "Yes, she is in fact Swedish, so this makes some sense..." - It wasn't like a "You're wrong, she's not Danish" actually... Does that make sense? But no, I have not contacted Tuva. This was on the right track though.

[@matt92hun]

I'd assume that languages would be good for content, even for languages like Swedish, spoken by 5 people and a mountain troll. You could make endless content in both Swedish and Spanish about cameras, child raising tips, differences between countries, tips for learning Spanish from Swedish, etc. "Top 10 differences between Swedish and Australian schools" "These optics are only made in Mexico" "Why I wouldn't raise my child in Argentina", all in different languages.

[@mybestideas1]

As a senior marketing professional, let me tell you, content is the king, and everything else is a gimmick. Sure feable-minded might get drawn to click-bite, drama channels but unless your topic is video editing, for your nieche, the great videography and editing is not that important. Sound is. And to me, and many truth is. One does not learn anything, especially the language in a few months. What you bring on board with a great humour is hard to find. You're like a breath of fresh air on KZbin, and I hope that you will never succumbing to the algorhytmic pressures that can lead to addiction and self-doubt. Wil gladly help the cause. Keep doing you!

[@daysandwords]

@@mybestideas1 You're either a two faced liar or you'll turn on a dime. Looking at all your comments combined and it genuinely seems like you have a split personality. Please get off my channel and go and get help.

[@callmeacutekitten8106]

Why is language simp in the thumbnail

[@daysandwords]

He's such a hyperpolyglot gigachad that you can't keep him out of anything.

[@callmeacutekitten8106]

@@daysandwords all eyes wanna see the chad 👀

[@Komatik_]

Because he's attractive to every woman.... and man on the planet.

[@FeralMina]

so it’s Basshunter, then?

[@daysandwords]

Huh?

[@FeralMina]

@@daysandwords o, i guess not. based on the clues, i thought the person you were trying to collab with in Sweden was Basshunter. but i guess not. or maybe Henrick Linder?

[@daysandwords]

Nah, never heard of Basshunter. The name of the person is actually in the video, but it's not a KZbinr and not necessarily Swedish either.

[@bofbob1]

Man I sure hope it gets easier to make videos! I'm working on my first one and goddamn does it take a lot of time... I opted for really simple animation using Blender, and ffs nothing on there is intuitive. It's nowhere near as bad as Gimp (is anything as bad as Gimp? ^^), but still... At least I already know my way around audio set-ups and a few good DAWs, otherwise I probably would've just given up. I think I might have to cut my losses and just publish something even if it's nowhere near what I wanted it to be, and just try to make more gradual improvements over the course of several videos. But ggaaaah it's frustrating. ^^

[@daysandwords]

Yeah I would just publish and fix it next time. Otherwise you get stuck making one video that will NEVER be as good as you want it to be.

[@Komatik_]

The good thing about Blender is that the net is full of tutorials for everything imaginable.

[@daysandwords]

I first heard about its existence from that Australian guy who looks like Mr. Beast. Like one quarter of the comments on his videos are "How come Mr. Beast is teaching animation?" or something haha.

[@bofbob1]

​@@Komatik_ For sure. I would've been completely lost without those! At some point, I'll have to do a deeper dive into the underlying mechanics of it though. Like, a lot of tutorials give you a step-by-step description of how to do X, Y or Z, but they don't explain why you have to do any of it. Like they'll tell you how to put an image on the surface of an object but won't explain what UV mapping even is. And if you don't understand the why, then as soon as you have to do something slightly different from the tutorial, everything goes to shit. ^^ @daysandwords Blender Guru! Yeah I totally did his donut tutorial to get started 🙂 But yeah deep down I know you're right. I just need to publish it and be done with it. My inner perfectionist is screaming bloody murder though ^^

[@daysandwords]

"Like, a lot of tutorials give you a step-by-step description of how to do X, Y or Z, but they don't explain why you have to do any of it. Like they'll tell you how to put an image on the surface of an object but won't explain what UV mapping even is." Yeah, that is the case with a lot of things. In photography/videography, there are so many terms and camera features that are literally like "Oh, your camera doesn't even have HGPLEDIRB? Wow, what a waste of money." And I swear 90% of people are then saying "Oh yeah yeah, don't worry, I am getting that soon." and then 20 minutes later, they're googling "What is HGPLEDIRB?" Language learning is a bit like that actually. "Shadowing", "input", "sentence cards" etc.

[@Charlotte-ti2yk]

Sweden and possibly Scotland? How exciting! I’d certainly be up for a few beers in Scotland (assuming it’s Edinburgh or Glasgow you’d be coming to?) if you make it here… 🍻 Edit: or coffee, if that’s more your thing.

[@LearnGermanorcrytrying]

I feel like I'd love to make language vlogs but 100% nobody would watch them, since vlogging content always ranks lowest on KZbin 😢

[@daysandwords]

It really depends what you call "vlogs". I think "vlogging ranks low" is just because 99% of vloggers expect people to care about the most mundane garbage ever. Is Ryan Trahan vlogs? Because those videos are flippin amazing and get millions of views.

[@LearnGermanorcrytrying]

@@daysandwords I know what you mean. I think I would call that format more like "casual DIY documentary" maybe, cause it's not cinematic. I don't watch either, I watch storytelling videos (but with pretty landscapes, like Jonna Jinton)... I did a bunch of travel vlogs when I went on part of the Kungsleden (for Fjällräven Classic) on my main channel, and they really underperformed. I do hate the idea of a niche though, I just f*cking despise it. My personal theory why a lot of vlogs, even pretty ones, don't do well is because it's giving people FOMO. Traveling, experiences, beautiful or cool experiences, everyone craves that. It is nice to watch as long as you think you can do it to, but in the current economy, a lot of people probably don't feel like that anymore... I have been thinking about this for a while. I also believe that it's just more digestible for many to be bombarded with entertaining dopamine-producing infotainment. Thanks, TikTok... :/ And while I appreciate every single creator going against that (cause I think it'll pass), I find myself watching that stuff too...

[@mbachrodt]

Are you attending the Eurovision contest in Sweden?

[@daysandwords]

That's on the right track...

[@mbachrodt]

@@daysandwords Hmm..., Eurovision is in Malmö...how about you attending the International Conference on Foreign Language Learning in May, also in Malmö? But there is the whole graphical pics you include from the film Arrival and thinking about Heptapods that has me wondering...

[@daysandwords]

Colder, colder... What happens at Eurovision...

[@seanmaher3018]

​@@daysandwordsholy sheet your representing Australia!!!

[@daysandwords]

That's a weird combo of colder and warmer. I assume you were joking, but no, I do not sing quite that well (I can sing... but not "represent Australia" level). There is a clue in the video at the point that you'd expect there to be clues!

[@runningriot7963]

Have nice time meeting Louise Geller

[@daysandwords]

I was beginning to think you were all terrible at playing detective!

[@TritiumOxideHTO]

@@daysandwords Maybe your good detectives all catch up on KZbin at the end of the week so we're just a bit late to the game. I clicked pause when you hinted I should and got it easy-peasy, though I had to Google her to know anything about anything.

[@daysandwords]

People still haven't actually got it though. I'm not meeting Louise Geller. Well... maybe I am, but that's far from the whole thing.

[@aspasego4663]

Grande Mr. Salas te quiero mucho language SIMP

[@JimingoRL]

You're meeting Mike Boyd to help him learn a language

[@the_mrlightsite]

Sweden🥳 You’re very welcome, Lamont /Swede

[@smoothjazz2143]

Why the thumbnail change?

[@daysandwords]

I try different thumbnails for basically all my videos. I had a theory for why the one with Laura in it might do well, and it didn't, so I went the opposite way. Normally, even if the data doesn't lean one way or the other, after a day or two, I know perfectly well myself which is the better thumbnail, so that helps me decide on the next one.

[@julbombning4204]

Everyone search for the påskägg now because I wanna know the answwe

[@daysandwords]

There are only a few guesses that are even on the right track! It literally SAYS it (on screen) if you look in the right place.

[@julbombning4204]

Okey that does it! I’m going Sherlock mode@@daysandwords

[@daysandwords]

Where do you live, BTW? (As in, what city?)

[@julbombning4204]

@@daysandwords I live in Stockholm! But a bit outside, like 40 min with car out in värmdö. It’s technically an island but it’s connected with bridges on highways so it’s very easy and quick to get in and out of it

[@DNA350ppm]

Welcome to Sweden (we say Välkommen till Sverige and mean it very relaxed and cordially)! 😀 I hope many will be inspired to learn Swedish. Here's an example of very proper Swedish pronunciation, which I hope is helpful for beginners especially - sing along, in a wonderful Italian melody. Pay some extra attention to kärlek, känns, skingra (Love, feels, disperse). Included are other examples of perfect and clear pronunciation, too, following the Swedish rules. They are slightly random, especially for some cases of old-fahioned, but still used spelling, which cause Swedish kids some headache even today. I'm looking forward to your coming videos as always, Lamont - I can't guess whom you will meet up with! Maybe you are going to meet up with Swedish KZbinr Mauri - example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aonUXpiAfsihrJo 😀

[@SzczeryPoliglota]

Lamont + PewDiePie, yeaaaaaaaaaaah, we knew it!

[@daysandwords]

Haha a few people are saying PewdiePie but he lives in Japan.

[@Komatik_]

@@daysandwords Ah, so you're going to teach Dogen Stockholm pitch accent? 🤔

[@Mobik_]

Why you always say "Lo quiero"?! That means "I want that/it". If you want to say "Los quiero" (I like you, guys)... then... you're eating the S completely. Source? I'm Argentinian... native Spanish speaker.

[@daysandwords]

It's from "Into the Spider-verse". It can mean "I love you", but only if talking to someone formally, like a police officer... which is the context in which it is said, which is what makes it relevant to this channel.

[@Forsthman64]

Comment for the algo

[@DNA350ppm]

Supported!

[@ApricityLife]

Are you becoming a laird through a totally legit business? 😂

[@Gabe-no5zy]

Can’t you put the 4 year old in a kennel? 😂

[@nendoakuma7451]

I assume you’ll meet PewDiePie.

[@daysandwords]

He has lived in Japan for 2 years, and England for the 8 before that.

[@sherisheribaby9450]

Coffee Break

[@BrunUgle]

Do KZbinrs make more money when they trick their viewers into watching a video multiple times looking for clues? If so, you’re very clever. I don’t live in Sweden, but I live near Sweden now, and I have a spare mattress if you need a place to crash that isn’t technically Sweden or Scotland, but sort of in between.

[@BrunUgle]

After two watches, the only “clue” I think I noticed was a base clef among the question marks. So, maybe it’s something related to music. My guess is that you are going to Scotland to learn the bagpipes and then you’re going to join ABBA and give them a fresh new sound.

[@daysandwords]

Norway, right? I might legitimately take you up on that. 😂 We don't make more by people watching again unless they see more ads whilst doing so, but this video isn't long enough for that. However, in theory, if lots and lots of people watched slowly through the video in order to get clues, the algorithm would detect high engagement and recommend it more. It obviously hasn't worked on this video but that's to be expected, since I was talking a lot about things other than language learning.

[@BrunUgle]

@@daysandwords You’d be very welcome. Just let me know.

[@EasyFinnish]

Hi! If I had money I would offer you and your family the trip to Sweden and Finland 😊 You could get to know also "finlandssvenskar" here in Finland. After 5 years learning French and Swedish I think I have seen all here on youtube what comes to "how to learn a language..." videos..😅 but I think we got to do it some how keep our "niche" alive if we are youtubers that make learning material here...and it's not always fun...but hey, thanks for your video