Motivation Archives - Page 4 of 6

22Nov

Scrabble pieces spelling out "Do not give up"

22 Nov 2018

What Matters the Most in Language Learning

What Matters the Most in Language Learning has been transcribed from Steve’s YouTube channel. You can download the audio and study the transcript as a lesson at LingQ. Hi there, Steve Kaufmann here. Today I’m going to talk about what really matters in language learning. This thought came to me as I was having lunch just now. […]

11Oct

11 Oct 2018

Learning Czech and Accumulating 100 Words a Day

Motivation

I studied Czech a few years ago so my statistics at LingQ for that language are not current. However, the statistics from my recent Polish challenge illustrate the fact that we can learn or add to our “known words” total well over 100 words a day. In fact in the case of Polish (since I know other Slavic languages) it is over 300 words a day. You can learn 100 words a day, if you are willing [...]

28Aug

28 Aug 2018

Thoughts on Langfest 2018 and Future Recommendations

Motivation

I just returned from four wonderful days attending the 2018 Langfest (#Langfest18) or Montreal Language festival. While these memories are still fresh in my mind I want to put some of my thoughts down to share with you. Overall impressions Montreal is a vibrant city, and an old city for North America, or at least […]

21Aug

21 Aug 2018

Language Goals and Frustrations

Learning Languages, Motivation

I had lunch earlier this week with a college professor who is head of the Asian language department in a large university here in Vancouver. He told me that a majority of students who enroll in Asian languages quit after the first year. I was surprised to hear that. Then I did some research and […]

03Jul

3 Jul 2018

Why Learn Another Language?

Motivation

There are many reasons we might decide to try to learn another language. We might need the language for study or work purposes, to communicate with family or friends or to connect with the culture of the country where the language is spoken.I must admit, I am motivated initially just by the possibility of accessing a new culture, with all that that can bring me in terms of learning about [...]

12Jun

12 Jun 2018

Can We Learn to Speak a Foreign Language Like a Native Speaker?

Motivation

I can speak 17 or so languages to varying degrees of fluency. Some I speak really well, like French, Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish. Even in languages that I speak less well, like Swedish, German, or Russian, my accent is not too bad, people tell me.

15May

15 May 2018

Online Language Learning & Measuring Progress

Motivation

Traditionally, language learners have been divided into three groups: those who learn informally on their own, those who attend school, and those who do both. In a classroom environment, the teacher can assign tasks to the learner and provide some overview and even coercion to ensure that the learner carries out these tasks, regardless of […]

23Apr

23 Apr 2018

Learning a Language is Like Falling in Love

Motivation

I have been asked to redo the recording for this podcast that I did over two years ago. Here it is again. This evening I have to give a short talk in Japanese to about 30 members of the Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce. I am a Director of this Cha...

27Mar

27 Mar 2018

A Language Learner’s Manifesto

Motivation

Have you been studying a language for a while? Are you still afraid to speak ? Follow the Language Learner’s Manifesto and become confident and FLUENT in your chosen language.

13Feb

13 Feb 2018

Meaningful Language Learning Goals

Motivation

The goal of fluency in a foreign language can often seem vague and elusive. It is not always clear what fluency means. Those who have not experienced the feeling of achieving fluency in another language doubt they can get there, and doubt they would know if they did. Learners often feel they are not making […]

I speak 20 languages

Motivation