07Jan
7 Jan 2020
How to Learn Chinese: My Top 6 Tips
I studied Mandarin Chinese 50 years ago. It took me nine 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 Internet, […]
Read more How to Learn Chinese: My Top 6 Tips18Sep
18 Sep 2018
Should Kids Learn their Heritage Language?
To learn any language takes an awful lot of motivation. So if the children of immigrants are motivated to learn their heritage language because they want to talk to family members, or because they are interested in that culture or identify with that culture, then by all means. Any motivation or opportunity is great when […]
Read more Should Kids Learn their Heritage Language?03Jul
3 Jul 2018
Why Learn Another Language?
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 [...]
Read more Why Learn Another Language?07Nov
7 Nov 2017
5 Reasons to Learn Greek
There are many reasons to learn a language. Some people learn a language for professional reasons, because they need the language for their job. Some people learn a language because they have a relative or special person who speaks that language. Sometimes, though, we need to take the time to learn a language simply for […]
Read more 5 Reasons to Learn Greek01Sep
1 Sep 2017
Montreal Language Festival (LangFest) 2017
This summer, from August 25-27, language enthusiasts from all over North America, and even some from Europe, gathered at Concordia University in Montreal for the second annual Montreal LangFest. What is the LangFest? LangFest is a place for people to indulge their interest in languages and learn from each other. There were workshops on […]
Read more Montreal Language Festival (LangFest) 201704Jul
4 Jul 2017
Thank You, Ukraine!
I am back in Vancouver after a month in Europe, mostly in Ukraine. I still have vivid images of that country, and particularly of Lviv where I spent the better part of three weeks. I see the city in my mind, the cafés, the public squares, the cobblestone streets, the friendly people filling the streets, […]
Read more Thank You, Ukraine!17Feb
17 Feb 2017
Tips to Help You Learn Mandarin
I studied Chinese in 1968. At the time I was working for the Canadian Government, the Ministry of Trade and Commerce’s Trade Commissioner Service to be exact. Canada was preparing to recognize the People’s Republic of China and decided that they needed to train some officials in Mandarin. I was sent to Hong Kong to […]
Read more Tips to Help You Learn Mandarin24Jan
Want to Achieve a Language Learning Breakthrough?
What constitutes the essence of achieving a breakthrough in language learning? I think that the key lies in the word “linking”.
First of all learners must form emotional links with the language they are learning. They must be interested in the language, in the people and in some aspects of the culture.
Read more Want to Achieve a Language Learning Breakthrough?09Jul
The Golden Age Of Language Learning
This is a transcript of one of my YouTube Videos – To keep up with my latest thoughts on language learning, subscribe to my YouTube Channel. Hi there, Steve Kaufmann. Today my subject is; The Golden Age of Language Learning. It is something that has dawned on me that we live in The Golden Age of […]
Read more The Golden Age Of Language Learning18Jun
Are There Different Types of Language Learners?
This is a transcript of one of my YouTube Videos – To keep up with my latest thoughts on language learning, subscribe to my YouTube Channel. Hi there, Steve Kaufmann. You often hear that there are different types of language learners. There are auditory learners, visual learners and kinetic learners; people who like to learn by […]
Read more Are There Different Types of Language Learners?