Hi, everyone!
I’m asking for help! Recently, I’ve started learning a new language. After searching the internet, I’ve now got some questions.
1.Given that I need to learn both pronunciation and fluency, which device do you advise – a mobile phone (like iOS) versus a personal laptop (like macOS)? I find mobile devices more convenient, but when I speak, I feel anxious about being overheard by other applications on my device – specifically, I worry that they’ll record and listen to my speech.
Btw, I always feel more connected when I talk about or write down something local in notes software like notes applications advised in privacy guides on my phone; and I find similar or relevant content within half a day.
I’ve read about open-source language learning and believe they’re secure – no one can track your usage. Do they honestly tell the whole story? If you have any suggestions or software advice, please write down!
In the future, I might consider taking online language courses. I know it can be a bit unusual to discuss this, but how can I protect myself within this field? Actually, I’m feeling a bit stagnant about choosing how I connect with this network. Could you offer any guidance?
I’m also looking for some advice regarding AI chat – I know the most common language learning tool is likely an AI chatbot. However, GPT is known to retain conversation history, while others may delete it or do the same thing. Could you offer any insights?
Both works. Unless you somehow installed malware on your phone and laptop, you should be fine. You may want to uninstall intrusive apps (i.e. Google) generally speaking though.
Not any concerns that I’m aware of! I personally use Anki to learn vocabulary. It has a feature that basically pronounces the words you’re learning, which is super cool.
This is more of a personal opinion, but a lot of online tools don’t really work. You’re better off taking a formalized course or immerse yourself into the language IRL, and use these tools as a supplement.
In the future, I might consider taking online language courses. I know it can be a bit unusual to discuss this, but how can I protect myself within this field? Actually, I’m feeling a bit stagnant about choosing how I connect with this network. Could you offer any guidance?
There is the age old strategy of finding a friend fluent in that language and having informal conversations in each other’s languages. If you want to find a professional tutoring service, look at using a payment alias service like privacy.com. You don’t need to go down a route of using Monero or something for these services, because they won’t accept it most likely. Or you can use crypto to pay a friend for their time!
Just ensure that you don’t tell them like actual information during the calls. You should be fine otherwise. I argue that you should show your faces so both of you can read each other’s lips while talking, but this is not a requirement.
We don’t recommend using any AI chatbot that is not self-hosted. Otherwise, duck.ai and Proton’s Lumo can work if you accept the risks. They won’t be able to talk to you back via voice if i can recall correctly.
I’ll be honest, ChatGPT’s mobile app is super useful for language learning. Abide a bit creepy in how you can actually talk to the model in different languages and they’'ll still sound human.
To maintain privacy while effectively practicing a language, I would suggest using both a phone and desktop/laptop. If you use a phone, just be cautious of the apps you use, because they probably all track and collect information. If you use translation apps or websites, the popular, non-open-source ones are definitely tracking you or collecting data. The issue is that privacy usually negatively effects convenience. So you could use GrapheneOS or Linux paired with a privacy-oriented browser like Mullvad Browser, you would just suffer because of multiple inconveniences and cause your learning experience to be degraded.
Regarding open-source software claims about security and privacy, they usually are telling the whole story. But if you are that concerned, you or someone else can always check the code yourself and verify software developers are telling the truth. In terms of software, Privacy Guides already has listed some software here - Language Tools - Privacy Guides .
When you say “protect myself within this field", I assume you mean maintain your privacy within the field of language and culture learning. If you want to protect yourself, just pick up general security and privacy habits that are explained all throughout Privacy Guides’ website – things like not disclosing Personally Identifiable Information, not using Google apps when you have access to more private, open-source alternatives, etc..
For an AI, you could try Ollama. I’ve never used it personally but you can do more research into it.
The suggestions you mentioned are very practical. Thank you for your suggestions. I will try to uninstall the intrusive applications. In addition, the online tools seem to be really not as effective as expected. I will try to find a balance.
After browsing the paid alias service, I would like to know what the priority is between mysudo and privacy.com. Why after browsing mysudo policy page, I found that mysudo may be better, but mysudo’s server is in the United States now. Does this have little impact? After all mysudo claims to use AES256.
"There is the age old strategy of finding a friend fluent in that language and having informal conversations in each other’s languages. " Very good advice, seems to be what I really need, thank you.
“Just make sure you don’t tell them real information during the call. Otherwise you should be fine.”
Additional question, in addition to taking online courses, are the currently recommended mainstream instant messaging software capable of making secure calls between friends? For example, signal, simplexchat, Briar? If, in addition to taking online courses, I find a friend who is proficient in the language for informal conversations as you suggested, I think I may need a way to communicate online at any time in addition to face-to-face conversations.
I also think it’s a bit creepy, so try to avoid actually talking to GPT, and I’ll occasionally try sparingly using duck.ai and Proton’s Lumo in order to detect learning effects.
I really want to try Linux but with my current computer level, Linux is still very difficult for me.Is there any private translation software or website? I tried libretranslate and it works fine, but it doesn’t seem to work on phones.
Thank you for your answer. I feel more relieved now.
"I assume you mean maintain your privacy within the field of language and culture learning. " Yes, that’s what I’m trying to say. I will follow the instructions and have changed my security and privacy habits in many aspects according to the guidelines.
I will try and explore Ollama, it seems to be a very convenient conversation tool.
For video calls, it is tough to have the same good quality as mainstream platforms like Discord or Zoom. Signal is more likely as it is arguably much more friendlier and suitable for your needs. You’re going to have to do some work in convincing them to install it though.
Keep in mind that most online courses or tutoring sessions use zoom or their own proprietary video chat platform. You may not be able to avoid this so just a heads up.
Both services are equally recommended by Privacy Guides and are hosted in the US. I wouldn’t worry too much about the encryption algorithm used because it is often marketing mumbo jumbo. AES 256 is pretty much a standard in most online services. As long as your public facing identity is hidden from the company you are purchasing from, the location of the alias provider is less relevant.
Sorry, this is saying that I don’t have to worry about the location of the alias provider, meanwhile AES256 is the standard for most online services, so I don’t have to worry about the interaction content with the alias provider. Right?
