Show HN: I send myself automated emails to practice Dutch

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

A side project that emails its creator three advanced Dutch words a day—powered by AWS, Terraform, Lambda, DynamoDB and the ChatGPT API—has sparked debate over engineering complexity versus simpler options like cron jobs, Google Apps Script, or val.town. Commenters explore whether email is an effective channel for language learning, how to add spaced repetition or Anki-style features, and the risks of relying on LLMs for example sentences, while also noting that ubiquitous English in the Netherlands can undermine motivation to learn Dutch and that immersion via media or daily life often works better.

Project overview & motivation

  • Service sends automated daily emails with three advanced (C1) Dutch words, translations, and example sentences.
  • Built to avoid paying for apps that start at beginner level and to support ongoing vocabulary growth after courses.
  • Also used as a playground to practice AWS and Terraform, not just to optimize for simplicity.

Infrastructure complexity vs simplicity

  • Many commenters see AWS + Terraform + DynamoDB + Lambda as overkill for such a small task.
  • Alternatives suggested:
    • Simple Python script + SQLite/text file + cron + direct SMTP.
    • Google Apps Script with Gmail and Drive.
    • val.town, Cloudflare Workers, GitHub Actions, or dedicated “cloud cron” services.
  • Some defend the over-engineering as a valid way to learn cloud infrastructure for personal projects.

Email as learning channel

  • Several people like email as a low-friction channel: you’re already in your inbox, and daily messages help form a habit.
  • Compared to opening a dedicated app, email is seen as harder to ignore and easier to re-engage with after breaks.

Vocabulary source & quality concerns

  • Words and example sentences are generated via ChatGPT and stored so they’re not repeated.
  • Some worry about the quality/idiomaticity of LLM-generated examples and recommend using real corpora (YouTube transcripts, Wikipedia, dictionaries) instead.
  • One suggestion: define words in simple Dutch rather than giving English translations to promote immersion.

Spaced repetition, Anki, and alternatives

  • Current system shows each word only once, explicitly noted as the opposite of Anki.
  • Multiple commenters urge adding spaced repetition, possibly via tracking correctness counts or using libraries like py-fsrs.
  • There is interest in integrating flashcards into email (e.g., overdue Anki cards via email), but Anki’s ecosystem and APIs are seen as limiting.
  • Some argue using actual Anki or AnkiConnect is better than rebuilding it; others find standard apps too high-friction.

Dutch language context & immersion

  • Discussion veers into how easy it is to live in the Netherlands using only English, which hurts motivation to learn Dutch.
  • Some describe Dutch as less “useful” globally, others defend it as charming and culturally rich.
  • Alternatives for learning suggested: social media in Dutch, newsletters, TV apps, games in target language, and LLM “pen pal” or grammar-explainer setups.