language and culture Archives

01Sep

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 […]

04Jul

4 Jul 2017

Thank You, Ukraine!

Travel

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, […]

13Jun

13 Jun 2017

How to Get the Most out of Language Immersion

Learning Techniques, Travel

Language immersion is often used to describe a perfect form of language learning. The term implies a situation where if we dip ourselves into water, we will come out wet. In the case of language learning, we come out of immersion able to speak a new language, so to speak. In fact, language immersion is a […]

29May

29 May 2017

Starting My Slavic Languages Month

Motivation

Heureux qui, comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage, Ou comme cestuy-là qui conquit la toison, Et puis est retourné, plein d’usage et raison, Vivre entre ses parents le reste de son âge! Quand reverrai-je, hélas, de mon petit village Fumer la cheminée, et en quelle saison Reverrai-je le clos de ma pauvre maison, Qui […]

12May

Getting Back Into Korean Learning New Comprehensible Input: Netflix Dramas!

12 May 2017

Getting Back Into Korean with New Comprehensible Input: A Netflix Drama!

Learning Korean, Motivation

Meaningful content, compelling content, comprehensible input, these are terms that we often hear from people talking about language learning. Stephen Krashen points out that we learn languages when we receive messages that are important to us, that have meaning. These messages should be of interest and yet not too difficult. As we read and listen […]

17Aug

Travel and Language Learning

Learning Languages, Travel

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. Here I am in our little yard. We’re in Palm Springs, my wife and I, so I want to talk about travel and language learning. People […]

30Jul

Learning Japanese Is Not Difficult

Learning Japanese, Learning Techniques

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, I want to give you a very brief introduction to Japanese. I was asked to do this in Chinese from one of my Chinese-speaking viewers, […]

23Jul

Output – When You Can’t Wait To Talk

Learning Techniques

Today I want to talk about getting to output. Now, obviously, you know that I’m a believer in input, developing comprehension, developing vocabulary, specifically passive vocabulary, at least initially, but eventually you want to speak well. Well, eventually to speak well, you have to speak a lot.

28May

Three Myths About Language Learning

Learning Techniques

The 3 biggest myths about language learning are that. 1. You have to practice speaking and focus on grammar. 2. You have to go to school. 3. It’s difficult.

27Feb

Automatic Translation Technology – Replacing Language Learning?

Learning Languages, Learning Techniques, Travel

I hear more and more about automatic translation technology. Skype recently announced their Skype Translator Preview – An Exciting Journey to a New Chapter in Communication. This translation technology will make it possible for people to communicate via Skype across languages. Two people can speak two different languages, and the conversation is automatically translated for each […]

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