Zot Hacks – U/U Zot Blog

February 14, 2025Glenda Orozco No Comments

Deceived or Trompé?

Learning just one language is never enough. Once you begin, you’ll find it hard to stop, as the journey of language acquisition is endless. Embracing a new language is a rewarding hobby that demands discipline, curiosity, and humility. It extends beyond mastering alphabets, pronunciation, symbols, and even tongue movements. Today, language learning is not only a professional skill and an academic requirement but also a gateway to unique and enriching experiences.

There is often a hidden motivation behind the pursuit of learning a new language. This endeavor requires dedication, so having a strong source of motivation or a clear goal is essential. For some, it’s the desire to communicate with coworkers or loved ones, to enjoy movies or series without misleading interpretations or intrusive subtitles, to deepen their connection with their own culture, or to integrate into a new one. It might also be driven by the benefits to neurological health. For me, it’s been a complex blend of all these reasons.

In fact, I am learning new languages so that I can ‘chew my own food.’ My journey into this learning community began after a catharsis moment: I had been reading translations and, consequently, someone else’s interpretation—I had never experienced the author’s original work. After going through a substantial number of books by global authors and praising their meticulous attention to syntax, their skillful use of semantics, and their innovative literary devices, I realized that I had only been consuming a digested version. This realization left me feeling deceived and as though I had been deceiving myself.

Subsequently, I embarked on a challenging quest. In my pursuit of truth, I had to confront several obstacles. Considering that mastering my native language, Spanish, took a lifetime, and my journey with English required years of practice, I wondered how I could find the time for this new challenge. However, after learning English, Italian, and currently studying French, along with conducting some research, I have developed an effective plan for busy individuals to learn languages:

Duolingo, the well-known and widely used language learning app, is recognized for its accessibility and engaging approach. While Duolingo’s exercises and course structures are scientifically designed to facilitate learning in a few minutes, achieving ambitious language goals requires more than just completing a 3-min lesson.

Listening to native speakers is quite different from listening to Duolingo. Although Duolingo provides a solid foundation, the language as spoken in everyday life can sound quite different. Memrise addresses this by incorporating clips of native speakers asking everyday conversational questions, simulating real interactions. This allows users to observe and learn from facial expressions, mannerisms, and intonations.

A shortcut to becoming articulate in a new language is mastering ‘the 50 most common’. When real-world interaction is the goal, focusing on these common elements can quickly elevate you to a functional speaker.

Irregular and regular verbs
Pronouns
Question words
Idioms/ expressions
Words
Curse words

Finally, strengthen your ear by watching native TV shows–especially the news and talk shows– and series.

There are 7,100 languages in the world to choose from now it is just a matter of committing.

Happy studying,

Glenda O.

January 16, 2025Lucas

Outlining My Winter Quarter Game Plan

My first Fall Quarter at UC Irvine was a rollercoaster of an experience. There was so much to take in, but everything went by quickly. It involved a lot of navigating, exploring, and time management that helped me get a feel of college life and how to live individually. Along the way, I have learned many new ways to get my daily tasks in order and how to navigate through UC Irvine resources so that I could finish my first quarter strong.

One of my biggest challenges last quarter was learning how to first manage my time from day to day. I found it difficult because I had quite a bit of lenient time to do the things I wanted, and I overindulged in that. When I first had the freedom to choose to do whatever I wanted, I idiotically used most of my time to do fun things, which pushed back study and homework time. A change that I will be making for this winter quarter to combat procrastination and poor time management is using a timer that I got from Amazon for around $17 (picture and link of Amazon product below). So far, this timer has been helping me get SO MUCH work done, allowing me to finish tasks in a timely manner, with lots of time to spare to do the things I want at the end of the day. My strategy for using this timer is to set about 3 hours each day on the clock, usually taking a break between each hour. I make sure that by the end of the day, I eat up all of the time that is left on my clock until it reaches zero. After finishing those 3 hours on my clock, I know I’ve done a plentiful amount of work for the day and reset the timer to 3 hours for the next day’s use. I believe this is one of the best ways to tackle laziness and procrastination—it helps you stay productive and on task throughout the day. It also feels GREAT once you hit 00:00 because, to me, it indicates that I managed my time effectively and got work done! Can’t wait to see how my Winter Quarter will progress with this new method at getting daily tasks done (loving it so far!).

Only 16 minutes left at the time of writing this! LET’S GOO!!!
Amazon link to product: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09W2B267P?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Small Winter Break Highlights

For winter break, I just traveled back up to NorCal where I spent some time at my grandparents’ house in the Bay Area for Christmas. Had fun spending time with the family eating and opening gifts! The rest of the break was spent back at my home in Patterson. I’d also like to take the opportunity to introduce my family’s new cat, Ichigo! My family got him back in October of 2024 and I’ve been enjoying his company for the last few times I visited home. I really enjoyed playing with him and helping take care of him during my last few winter break weeks in Patterson before coming back to UC Irvine. Ichigo was the perfect touch in making my winter break very restful and perfect.

Here are a few photos of Ichigo that I took over winter break.

Thank you for reading my blog and please stick around to read even more of my Zot Blogs!

Best of luck to everyone this Winter Quarter!

All the best,

Lucas

December 6, 2024Lucas

Letter to Self

Dear Lucas, from the beginning of my first quarter at UC Irvine,

Congrats on starting your new academic journey at UCI! I know you might feel a little nervous and overwhelmed by the amount of things you can do as you partake in your first years as an independent person. But don’t you worry, take things one step at a time, and ease your way in. Start by meeting new people, which can include talking to people in your residence hall, going to random club meetings, or just attending UCI events!

You’ve made a few new friends?! Great! Your first midterm is already coming up! Make sure to plan out your days efficiently to ensure that you are on track to understanding all of the material you’re learning in class. The biggest mistake a college student can make is not creating a weekly schedule and following an organized calendar that plans what they will be doing each day. PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL: if you are not setting dedicated hours throughout the day to tasks like studying, trying new things, etc., then you’re not making great use of your time. So, don’t slack off, stay off of social media, and try as many new things as possible!

There are so many new things to do and try during your time at UC Irvine! I know that you’re going to get involved in active life clubs, play basketball, and hit the gym, but did you know there are night classes at the ARC? I know it might be a little far from where you are living, but try committing to at least one activity at the ARC for a quarter to see how you’ll like it. There are so many activities to choose from, ranging from martial arts classes, cooking classes, and the many sports to try out! This is also a great opportunity to meet new people with whom you will share a common interest in doing the same activities.

Although it is a great way to relax by doing fun activities here and there, it is also important to make time for studying and building relationships with your professors and TAs. Going back to planning your weekly/daily planners, I suggest trying to work your daily tasks around TA and professor office hours, so if you need to attend them for extra help, you’ll have the time to do so.

It will seem like a lot at first, but by following a strict schedule, you will meet all of your deadlines for your classes, make lots of time for outside activities, and have days for yourself where you can sit back and relax (just don’t do this too often).

Remember, it is ok if things don’t work out or if you make mistakes—those are all a part of your journey as a college student. Feel good about yourself and treat yourself when you succeed and learn from your mistakes. College will be a great opportunity for both your academic and personal growth, make the most of that while you continue your time at UC Irvine.

Sincerely,

Lucas

November 9, 2024Lucas

Stress-Eating and Studying

My second set of midterms is already coming up for Chemistry and Biology. Learning from mistakes that I’ve made when preparing for my first set of midterms, I have finally incorporated an easy-to-follow weekly routine that helps me plan out what I will do during the day and the times throughout the day I will dedicate my tasks. It’s extremely hard to study for hours straight, so I’ve included topics in this blog about study snacks, staying active, study tips, and how to stay motivated to alleviate the stress of studying.

Munchies and Staying Active

Before midterm week, I usually like heading down to Brandywine to get at least 1-2 cups of coffee in for a study session, especially if I am extremely tired mid-day or towards early evening. I try not to drink coffee past 8 PM, since I will most likely stay up until 2 AM. I don’t believe “all-nighters” are all that helpful when trying to learn/study material and I think it is VERY important to get as much sleep as possible, plus my brain cannot function or comprehend material when I am tired. Trying to run off energy drinks late at night is definitely not the move for me. As for snacks, I always snack on almonds or other mixed nuts like pistachios or cashews. They are great study snacks that are very convenient when you run to the library to study and can keep you full for hours!

It is always a good idea to take breaks when studying, but it is even better when those breaks are focused on activeness! For example, I have finally got back into my workout routine six weeks after moving it because I’ve gained quite a few pounds from overeating at the Anteatery and Brandywine. I have also been keeping up with my weekly hikes with the Hiking Club at UCI, which is a great way to take your mind off of school by embracing nature and socializing with new people, while at the same time, staying active! I always feel great when I am doing something active and getting back into the study session motivated right after.

Here are the photos of the things I’ve done to stay active for this upcoming midterm week!

My Helpful Study Tip and Keeping a Motivational Mindset!

I find it difficult to stay focused on studying, so I like to set myself one-hour timers where I dedicate that time to studying and studying ONLY. No phones, no games, NO DISTRACTIONS. Then, I usually take 10–25-minute breaks depending on how tired I feel after taking in an hour’s worth of reviewing material. This studying method is also known as the Pomodoro Technique, where you have intervals of studying and take breaks in between to help you recharge every so often. Some people will use these breaks to play a quick video game or scroll on social media; however, I think that incorporating these activities into your breaks will prolong them because they are a source of distraction, causing you to lose track of time. I think an active activity is a better way to take breaks and recharge for your next few hours of studying! For instance, going out on a short walk/run, stretching, or simply doing a few jumping jacks are better because they help with blood circulation and oxygen flow to the brain, helping you stay alert. Furthermore, staying optimistic about studying helps with enjoying the material you are learning. You basically have you hype yourself up and force yourself to like what you are learning. Having a negative mindset will leave you unmotivated and lead to procrastination. Also, setting a simple study goal for yourself, like telling yourself that you will finish reviewing these certain chapters by the end of the day, will help you get by those long study hours.

Thank you for reading my blog and please stick around to read even more of my Zot Blogs!

All the best,

Lucas

November 7, 2024Glenda Orozco

Sequels and Band-Aids

Dear Reader,

I’ve been traumatized. I am recovering from the sequels that my first midterms left when I have a second round coming next week. Fortunately, I learned from my last experience and modified my strategies for midterm readiness. Here are my study rituals:

When it comes to learning concepts…

Especially for science classes, an in-depth understanding of processes is key to solving application questions, this implies a bit of memorization and connecting knowledge you cumulatively sum from class to class. My ultimate strategy has been turning my little brothers (12 and 10 years old) into intellectuals. If I can have them understand cellular respiration (yes, all the cycles, the parts of the cell where they take place, the difference between animal and plant cells) and answer all their innocent, hypothetical yet challenging questions, then, as I corroborated in my last Bio midterm, I can get an outstanding grade. Use diagrams, label, describe, connect steps or systems, play with hypothetical scenarios (what if… situations), and while doing practice problems research the why behind the answer (why this option is right and this one wrong).

When it comes to application questions…

Most of the time, midterms are multiple-choice and this can be detrimental. My approach is to take the given information, analyze it, draw conclusions, read the question, and, lastly read the options. The point is: Don’t read the options first, formulate your own conclusion and then proceed to evaluate options and determine the best answer. Jumping straight into options will hinder your thinking process, distracting you from the topic you should recall to answer the question. On the other hand, when it comes to math problems, precision is your hangman. Identify minuscule errors made during practice problems, these errors will not go away and will cost you points in an exam. Learn how to round, use your calculator, rearrange formulas based on the information given, and understand the why behind the components of the formulas.

To save you time…

Sometimes researching the reason behind the answers can be a lengthy and rigorous process. Finding the perfect YouTube video tutorial, the chapter in the book, the notes on the lecture to answer that tricky question, implies investing time in researching. In my experience, asking TAs and LAs the explanation behind the answers has taken me to navigate their thinking processes. Along the way, they will pull out shortcuts, analogies, caveats, unwritten rules, and their strategy on how to see, start, and finish a problem. They are valuable resources that can amplify your ability to troubleshoot while saving you research time.

Here my wisdom lies, from a traumatized first-year student to you. Thank you for reading and please show yourself appreciation and sympathy. You are not behind. Be patient and put in as much effort as you need to satisfy your own expectations. Embrace the struggle because the reward will be proportional to it.

Best,

Glenda Orozco.