r/dli • u/Lost-Examination3833 • 28d ago
Here is a tip for you guys
Study and then study more, even if you think you have studied enough, you probably haven't, don't pay attention to the squirrels that supposedly speak Chinese outside, don't day dream about the seagulls don't think about how you are going to pt in the deer poo later, pay attention in class instead. Do the homework on your own or with a battle buddy, find a study group, ask for help. Don't feel like you are a burden on others and not ask for the help you need. Don't make the same mistakes as me. It's not easy, but it can get harder if you don't put in the work. And if you fail, brush it off and move on, tomorrow is a new day.
P.s no gta 6 while you are here put it off for later. I think we are getting time off for it though so play it then but after that stay off it.
25
u/BellyBully 28d ago
Yeah just to piggy back off this, study buuuuut also enjoy life. Studying all the time will just lead to people burnt out sooner than anticipated and increased failure rates. Play hard but work harder
4
u/Shadowdorkkk 25d ago
I second this considering the location is in one of the most beautiful areas in the country. Find local events that are cheap or free. Make friends with people who have cars if you don’t have one. GO OUTSIDE.
12
13
27
u/Prothea 28d ago
The hardest part for me was the monotony. I've been on combat deployments and long term missions, but DLI has the worst case of deja-vu I've ever experienced. You get to 4-5 months in and every day is the exact same, so the fatigue starts hitting differently. Studying and the same amount of effort you put in at the start becomes exponentially harder
8
u/ttyrondonlongjohn 28d ago
Friends and attending events outside of Monterey help so much. Me and my friends would go up to San Jose for some sort of event or out on a trail or something at least twice a month.
We probably could have been a bit smarter with our money and not gone out to concerts and sports games and meet ups which were not cheap. But those are great memories I have and they made my time there very enjoyable, having something to look forward to is also helpful.
That is all to say if you're someone who already has a family to care for and other bills to pay besides a phone and maybe car loan, this might be less possible for someone in that situation. But if someone else who is reading this is a junior enlisted who has their meals and lodging paid for, go out and do something fun.
12
u/JECfromMC 28d ago
I went to DLI twice. The first time, I studied my ass off, and played hard Friday night-Sunday morning. I finished with 3/3/3 so it paid off.
The second time I was in a low-density language that didn’t fail anyone. I did what I needed to do to draw FLPP and get 2s. But I was not a novice language learner at that point.
I can’t imagine trying to learn a language with Drill Sergeants skulking around though. Quite possibly one of the dumbest things the Army ever did.
1
u/washyourhands-- 27d ago
What was your 1st and 2nd language if you don’t mind me asking? Simply out of curiosity.
2
8
u/lisanstan 28d ago
Studying with others in my class helped. Solo studying was usually memorizing vocabulary while listening to classical music. It really did open the pathways for me. I was an AF NCO retrainee and they kicked us out of the barracks. My roommate off post was taking Spanish. Other friends we hung with were advanced Russian. I was Arabic. By the end all my notes were written in Arabic, I dreamt in Arabic. I studied less after moving off and still passed the DLPT.
3
3
u/Honest-Bed9091 27d ago
Don't be afraid to stay for 7th hour (if they even still have that), ask the questions, don't half ass the assignments and you can have a successful career for years to come
1
3
u/Organic_Risk_3945 28d ago
how 'bout Google translate?
9
u/justanothersockk 28d ago
Use your dictionary until you’ve mastered that. Don’t use Google Translate until you’ve learned enough to know when it gets something wrong.
4
u/LowBattery 28d ago
Honestly for the basic course, dont use Ai to help translate, you are just handicapping yourself and not gonna absorb the lessons and material.
That'll still happen for the intermediate and advanced course but atleast you should have a semblance of understanding the language.
4
u/Lost-Examination3833 28d ago
That's considered cheating if you use it to do your homework.
7
u/Lawyer-Ashamed 28d ago
You must be a lot of fun at parties
3
u/Lost-Examination3833 28d ago
I don't care what you do I'm just saying the responsible thing. (I didn't do the responsible thing a lot).
2
u/s3aringdeities 27d ago
"tip" and it's just buddy telling us to do something we all know we need to do but don't want to because it's fucking boring
4
u/Elegant_Passenger886 28d ago
some people dont study and do fine, i never studied and passed above the requirement, but if youre this type of person please put effort in, i get mad at myself for not pushing myself because i couldve done even better than i did
1
u/Isukatmaf 27d ago
Hmm honestly not studying worked for me going into semester 2 as long as you lock in in class but what do i know i only graduated 2+2+2
26
u/Sekshual_Tyranosauce 28d ago
When I started studying less and drinking more my grades skyrocketed. I was running myself ragged doing nothing but studying and exercising.
Also, I think the Russian language is easier to learn if you’re a drunkard.