Pronoun Practice Website Idea
TL;DR: Anyone want to make a website like Duo Lingo for learning and becoming proficient at someone else's pronouns?
Dear Trans Programming Community (of which I know is vast) or Allies,
I had this idea the other day of a website where you can plug in someone's pronouns and their name and practice using their name and pronouns in various sentences sort of like Duo Lingo but to learn and become more comfortable with someone's pronouns. (I am not a program savvy person, though I know I could learn. This website idea is quite complex though so I thought if I could outsource it someone might feel inspired.)
Practicing things by saying them out loud has always been helpful in creating new patterns in the brain. And especially pronouns like "they/them" (which are mine) or neo pronouns (which I can definitely use some practice with) it can take a while for the brain to go through the process of replacing the assumed/past pronoun with the correct pronoun every time before it's able to bypass that pattern and be able to connect the person directly with the correct pronoun. (Same way you learn someone's new name.)
I feel like this would be helpful because allies/accomplices and friends often go through that awkward stage of stuttering/guilt (their own) when learning to adjust their language. This website might be able to mitigate that uneasy phase of learning so that the person whose pronoun is being corrected might not have to go through as much public discomfort. (I recently had a coworker who I adore get very angry at being reminded of my pronoun because it triggered the negative way her language was corrected as child by her parents. She wanted to learn my pronouns without being prompted. This website would be an option.)
I suppose one way it could work is to have a page that is basic grammar having to do with the specific pronoun, then a quiz on the grammar. Then have sentences to practice verbally using pronouns and then, last, have fill in the blank sentences where you're expected to choose/fill in the appropriate pronoun and form of that pronoun included with the person's name. (Things could get tricky with people who don't have pronouns and go by their name alone. But I think there could be an option for that as well with some adjustments.)
I feel like the sooner we can teach those willing to learn how to be more comfortable learning pronouns without having to be put on the spot and feeling shame (that is then projected to us, who are the pronoun havers) the sooner it can become a more intrinsic part of our culture and society. And it takes us out of the equation for being in the firing range of those emotions. And it gives power to allies and accomplices to practice that allyship on their own time. So I hope there's an accomplice or trans person who feels led to take this project on. And I'd eventually like to see it in other languages as well!
Thank you for your time!













