For people who love languages, or would but were discouraged.
- Believe in yourself and have the right attitude
- Put in an hour a day
- Use a system that works... like LingQ
Free12Sep
12 Sep 2018
How to Learn a New Language with Video, Audio, and More
If you’re wondering how to learn a new language, content, meaningful content, compelling content, this is the key ingredient, as I have often said. You need the right content to get started and you need the right content to continue on your journey all the way, all the way to fluency. The nature of content […]
Read more How to Learn a New Language with Video, Audio, and More04Sep
4 Sep 2018
The Best Way to Learn Another Language? From Interesting Content
Of course, language learning success depends mostly on the learner. But what about external factors? What does a keen language learner need most of all? The answer is interesting language content. What constitutes interesting content will depend on each learner, and even on the changing interests of each learner. But the best way to learn another language is through interesting content, [...]
Read more The Best Way to Learn Another Language? From Interesting Content28Aug
28 Aug 2018
Thoughts on Langfest 2018 and Future Recommendations
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 […]
Read more Thoughts on Langfest 2018 and Future Recommendations21Aug
21 Aug 2018
Language Goals and Frustrations
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 […]
Read more Language Goals and Frustrations14Aug
14 Aug 2018
Learning Languages is a Subconscious Process
Language learning is essentially a subconscious process. I saw these words in a LinkedIn post from a group I belong to that includes language teachers. The topic of discussion was how grammar instruction and error correction don’t have as much impact on language learning success as is traditionally imagined. This is a concept that leading […]
Read more Learning Languages is a Subconscious Process07Aug
7 Aug 2018
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, [...]
Read more How To Improve Your Speaking Skills31Jul
31 Jul 2018
How to Learn Chinese: My Top 6 Tips
I studied Mandarin Chinese 50 years ago. It took me 9 months to reach a level where I could translate newspaper editorials from English to Chinese and from Chinese to English, read novels and interpret for people, I did this in the age of the open reel tape recorder, long before the age of the […]
Read more How to Learn Chinese: My Top 6 Tips24Jul
24 Jul 2018
Can Older Adult Learners Acquire New Languages?
I often hear this question from adult learners. Sometimes my followers on Youtube, Facebook, or Twitter bring this up. In fact, not so long ago I had the following request from one of my followers. “I want to do some research on the problems of older language learners and see what I can do to help them.” I replied by asking. “What do you consider to be an older language learner?” His [...]
Read more Can Older Adult Learners Acquire New Languages?17Jul
17 Jul 2018
Introverts Vs Extroverts in Language Learning
The myth is that there exists a battle in language learning: introverts vs. extroverts, and that extroverts are the better language learners. I do not believe at all that you need to be an extrovert to learn a language. Language learning comes down to the three keys: number one, attitude. You have to be interested in the language. You have to like the language. You have to believe you’re [...]
Read more Introverts Vs Extroverts in Language Learning10Jul
10 Jul 2018
How to Avoid Language Attrition
Many people, even if they’ve only learned one foreign language, may only visit the country where the language is spoken once a year or once every few years, so it can be hard to maintain or improve those language skills. Not being able to maintain a language can lead to something many multilingual people fear: language attrition, or the weakening or loss of a language. In my case, I claim to [...]
Read more How to Avoid Language Attrition