04Jul
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!13Jun
13 Jun 2017
How to Get the Most out of Language Immersion
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 […]
Read more How to Get the Most out of Language Immersion29May
29 May 2017
Starting My Slavic Languages Month
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 […]
Read more Starting My Slavic Languages Month22May
22 May 2017
Duolingo Review: Does the Resource Offer Compelling Content?
Duolingo is one of the most popular language learning tools on the Internet. It is certainly the best known. It has been well promoted, and it is free, which is a big advantage. I have a limited amount of time available for language learning, so for me the fact that it is free is less […]
Read more Duolingo Review: Does the Resource Offer Compelling Content?12May
12 May 2017
Getting Back Into Korean with New Comprehensible Input: A Netflix Drama!
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 […]
Read more Getting Back Into Korean with New Comprehensible Input: A Netflix Drama!10Apr
10 Apr 2017
Use TPRS to Accelerate Your Language Learning
Storytelling is a powerful engine of language acquisition. Apparently Blaine Ray, the originator of TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling), was also the first person to create these circling stories that are at the core of the three-part mini-stories that we are now developing both for LingQ and the language learning community in general. […]
Read more Use TPRS to Accelerate Your Language Learning10Mar
10 Mar 2017
Language and Memory
I am starting to believe that memory is not that important when it comes to language learning. I have recently started learning Greek. Most of the words are completely unfamiliar to me, and not related to languages that I already know. As I start to get a toehold in this world of new and strange […]
Read more Language and Memory24Feb
24 Feb 2017
Сколько времени занимает изучение языка?
Изучение языка зависит большей частью от трех факторов: от подхода к языку обучаемого, доступного для обучения времени и внимательности обучаемого к языку. Если мы предположим позитивный подход, рациональное и растущее внимание к языку со стороны обучаемого, как много времени нужно затратить, чтобы изучить язык? ФСИ, институт дипломатической службы в США, подразделяет языки по сложности для [...]
Read more Сколько времени занимает изучение языка?22Feb
22 Feb 2017
Finding the Time to Learn a Language
“I just don’t have time.” This is one of the most common reasons people give for not being able to learn languages. I am now retired, but I am still quite busy. I play sports, make time for my family and I have a number of tasks that I perform as part of LingQ. They include […]
Read more Finding the Time to Learn a Language05Feb
5 Feb 2017
Who Should Correct Our Language Errors?
When we speak in a foreign language, there is a very high probability that we will make mistakes. We make more mistakes when we first start using the language, and gradually the frequency of these mistakes diminishes. Everyone who learns a foreign language would like to speak as accurately as possible, with the least possible […]
Read more Who Should Correct Our Language Errors?