How I Learned German (and How You Can Too)
TL;DR Summary German took me a while to get used to. In the beginning, I just listened a lot and tried to get a feel for it. I didn’t bother much with…
Korean vs Japanese vs Chinese
TL;DR Summary Chinese, Japanese, and Korean each have their unique traits and challenges. Regardless, all three can be learned effectively through consistent reading and listening. Knowing one language can help with the…
Learn a Language the Natural Way
Many language learners and teachers cling to the idea that rules are the foundation of language learning. Memorize the rules, understand the structure, and fluency will follow—right? Wrong. The truth is, our…
Comprehensible Input: How It Helps Language Learning
What is meant by comprehensible input in language learning? Stephen Krashen uses this term, as well as the term compelling input, to refer to the kind of language exposure we need in order to learn a language. The term CI, in language learning, can apply to both. What do they mean?
Why I Don’t Use Comprehension Questions to Learn a Language
Comprehension questions are a staple of traditional language learning. You read a passage, listen to some audio, and then you answer questions to prove that you’ve understood. Sounds logical, right? Well, I…
Create Your Own Dictionary to Learn New Words
When it comes to learning a new language, some learners like dictionaries. They read them. They treasure them. They worry about getting the best possible dictionary. I don’t like using dictionaries. Using them is like one-way love.
The Importance of Reading
Of course, we want to speak, we eventually want to speak a lot. Our goal is to speak. We want to speak well, but the emphasis should be on listening and reading because it’s something we can do whenever we want, on our own and it really does help our brain become familiar with the language.
Language Learning Mindset: Take Your Time
Everywhere you look, people are selling the dream of instant progress in a new language. There are plenty of videos out there claiming that fluency can be achieved in three to six…
Is It Hard to Learn Japanese?
Japanese, simply in terms of the vocabulary, the structure being very different from say English, if you’re an English speaker, is going to be more difficult. However, there are a number of things that make Japanese easier, in my opinion.
No More Excuses: Why Anyone Can Learn a Language
The truth is simple: anyone can learn a language. It doesn’t matter if you’re 20 or 70, whether you think you have a knack for languages or not. Learning is a natural…
