27Sep
27 Sep 2018
How Hard is it to Learn Japanese and Can You be Fluent in 3 Months?
How Hard is it to Learn Japanese and Can it You be Fluent in 3 Months 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 a subject that has come up before and that is […]
Read more How Hard is it to Learn Japanese and Can You be Fluent in 3 Months?18Sep
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?12Sep
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 least […]
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 Frustrations24Oct
24 Oct 2017
How to Improve Your Listening Skills
Listening comprehension is the base skill, in my view. We have to understand in order to be able to have conversations with people. If we have good listening skills, speaking skills are easier to develop. Here is an exchange on this subject from our Forum at LingQ. Hi Steve: I have a few weeks before […]
Read more How to Improve Your Listening Skills17Oct
17 Oct 2017
Effective Language Learning: Listening and Reading
I want to cover the issue of input-based learning that I have spoken about in two past YouTube videos in Chinese and Japanese. It goes by different names but basically amounts to spending most of your time on listening, reading, working on your vocabulary and becoming familiar with the language rather than on output-activities or grammar-focused activities.
Read more Effective Language Learning: Listening and Reading01Sep
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) 201718Jul
18 Jul 2017
Motivational Language Quotes: The Tao of Language Learning
Language learning is an endurance sport, and we all need a little encouragement along the way.If you’re in a rut, struggling to move to the next level or just need a gentle push to start your study session for the day, let my Tao of Language Learning set you on your way. “A good traveler has no fixed plan, and is not intent on arriving.” - LaoziIf you are learning a language, listen to [...]
Read more Motivational Language Quotes: The Tao of Language Learning