Learning Languages
27Mar
Esperanto, the most important language to learn.
The Economist is running a poll on the most important language to learn. Esperanto is on top. More than anything this shows how skewed this kind of internet polling can be. If you asked 100 random people on the street I doubt if many would know wh...
Read more Esperanto, the most important language to learn.27Mar
The world is full of linguists!
I finally returned from my trip to the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia. I loved the layed back tropical paradise atmosphere of Roratonga, the green and clean nature of New Zealand, and the energy and optimism of Australia, and friendly peo...
Read more The world is full of linguists!12Feb
Adults can learn languages better than children?
A recent study shows that adults can learn languages better than children. There are other studies that show children as better at learning languages, and point to a critical period after which it is more difficult to learn languages. We know empi...
Read more Adults can learn languages better than children?01Feb
Active vocabulary and passive vocabulary.
What do we mean by knowing a word. Here is a video on the subject.
Read more Active vocabulary and passive vocabulary.18Jan
“Babel No More” by Michael Erard, a book review
Babel No More by Michael Erard is described on the front cover as “the search for the world’s most extraordinary language learners.” The book is well written, like an adventure or treasure hunt. A number of well known speakers of many languages, h...
Read more “Babel No More” by Michael Erard, a book review12Oct
Learning words, word frequency, graded readers and more.
To me the major task in language learning is the acquisition of vocabulary. If this is done through massive listening and reading, it will naturally bring with it a constantly improving familiarity with the language, making it easier and easier to...
Read more Learning words, word frequency, graded readers and more.07Oct
Multiculturalism and language learning – a TV Interview
Multiculturalism and language learning. A TV conversation with David Berner. This will be added as a lesson in the English library at LingQ as soon as we have the transcript. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnNgiNYLF_s]
Read more Multiculturalism and language learning – a TV Interview02Oct
Good intentions for language learning in the UK.
Kids in Britain should learn languages from the age of 5, according to the Minister of Education. Given the attitude towards languages in Britain, and how languages are usually taught, this propsal, if implemented, would lead to more job opportuni...
Read more Good intentions for language learning in the UK.02Oct
Holistic language learning.
A language needs to be learned as a whole and should not be analyzed or compartmentalized. I will expore this in a video which I will publish here later. First a definition of holism, from Wikipedia Holism (from ὂλος holos, a Greek word meaning al...
Read more Holistic language learning.01Oct
Why do teachers like to tell you what to read?
Motivation is at the heart of language learning and literacy. The interest we have in the subject we are reading is a major motivator for reading, enabling us to struggle with difficult texts and as a result, learn. Here we are told to read the Ne...
Read more Why do teachers like to tell you what to read?