Have you ever been Skrittering away, listening to something in Chinese in the background, and someone says the word that you're practicing at that moment? I love it when that happens.

I don't think I could ever skritter while doing listening practice as well. PROPS. I can barely work with something like the TV or radio on in the background if it's anything but music - the words are so distracting (even if they are in English)!

I'm with WoodenFrogs on trying to keep my Skritter experience distraction free, so props to you. But, I love when I'm reviewing and a word that I saw that day comes up as a nice reminder, or if I've been studying and then see the word after. I mentally do a select a little "got it" in my head!

I usually listen to something (mainly Chinese/Taiwanese music) when I practise, partly because I'd get bored otherwise and partly because I think the distraction actually helps learning. In my view, if you're too precious about quietness for all your studying, you won't be as well prepared for real-world Chinese with listening/speaking in noisy restaurants, people talking over one another, etc.

I like to have something going in Chinese in the background, not only to alleviate boredom, but also to remind me what I'm working for. Just reviewing one isolated word after another, it can be easy to forget that it's all part of a living, breathing language that frames the lives of a billion individuals. If I'm listening to someone expressing themselves in the language, that helps a lot to keep me focused on the long term goals I'm striving towards and to give me the energy to work for it.