My Method for Learning Languages from Scratch
Learning a language from scratch can be a daunting task. Where do you start? How do you develop a language learning routine that works for you? Here is what I would do…
French for Beginners: What You Need to Know
French was my first love when it comes to languages. In fact, there’s an expression in French: “On revient toujours a son premier amour.” It means you always go back to your first love. I love French; I love all the languages that I learn, but I have a special affection for French.
I highly recommend learning French for beginners. There’s a whole world that you can access so much better if you speak French. The language is spoken in other countries like Canada.
How to Really Learn a Language: Six Key Principles
Language learning can seem daunting. However, with the right approach, learning a language can be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. I may not be the best language learner, but I’ve achieved a…
What Makes Languages Easier to Learn?
When people ask me if learning a language gets easier, I think of Zhuangzi’s Parable of the Crooked Tree. In short, a man deems a tree useless because it can’t be cut…
How to Learn a Language On Your Own: Tips From a Polyglot
Whether you’re in a classroom or entirely on your own, the truth remains: success in language learning starts with independence. No one else can do the learning for you. So, how do…
Italki Review: How Does italki Work for Language Learners?
The last 15 years have brought revolutionary change to language learning. Amongst the most popular new opportunities is the possibility to connect with native speakers of the languages we are learning via…
How to Learn Vocabulary: A Polyglot’s Guide to Making Words Stick
Vocabulary: The Heart of Language Learning If you ask me, the single most important part of language learning is vocabulary. Grammar helps shape what you say, but it’s vocabulary that gives you…
How To Learn Portuguese
Many of us are watching the Olympics in Brazil. Despite all of the bad reports that we always get in the lead up to any Olympic Games – some British newspaper called the 2010 Vancouver Winter games the worst Olympics in the world ever, then there were all the problems with toilets in Sochi and now pollution in Rio – it looks like actually things are proceeding swimmingly, so to speak.
People ask, if I go to Brazil, can I communicate? What language do they speak? First of all, some may not know that Brazilians speak Portuguese. There’s no Brazilian language, there is Portuguese.
How Long Should it Take to Learn a Language?
Language learning depends mostly on three factors, the attitude of the learner, the time available, and learner’s attentiveness to the language. If we assume a positive attitude on the part of the learner, and a reasonable and growing attentivenes…
How To Improve Your Speaking Skills
You are unlikely to learn to speak a new language perfectly, but perfection should not be your goal. Your main goal should be effective communication. I am not perfect in any of the languages that I speak, but I can communicate. And whenever I communicate in another language I’m satisfied. I also know from experience that my ability to speak and to pronounce well will only improve with time, as long as I remain alert to what I hear and read, and how I use the language.
