10Dec
10 Dec 2019
How Long Should it Take to Learn a Language?
Language learning depends mostly on three factors, the attitude of the learner, the time available, and learner's attentiveness to the language. If we assume a positive attitude on the part of the learner, and a reasonable and growing attentivenes...
Read more How Long Should it Take to Learn a Language?25Jul
25 Jul 2019
Learning Multiple Languages at Once: Is It a Good Idea?
I don’t think it takes any special talent to learn multiple languages. Some people may do better than others, but everyone can do it. Some may pronounce better, some may have a larger vocabulary, different people have different interests, but everyone is capable of doing it. It’s an extremely rewarding thing to do.
Read more Learning Multiple Languages at Once: Is It a Good Idea?09May
9 May 2019
Patterns and Language Learning
Patterns and Language Learning has been transcribed from Steve’s YouTube channel. The original video was published on May 29th, 2013 Listen to the audio and don’t forget to check out Steve’s podcast on iTunes or Soundcloud https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.lingq.com/resources/contents/audionorm/resources/contents/audio/2014/02/22/Patterns_and_La.a7e8c95ca259.mp3 [...]
Read more Patterns and Language Learning23Oct
23 Oct 2018
Why is Motivation Important When it Comes to Languages?
Why is Motivation Important When it Comes to Learning Languages? 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 want to talk about a subject that comes up all the time — motivation. I think motivation is the […]
Read more Why is Motivation Important When it Comes to Languages?04Sep
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 Content21Aug
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 Frustrations13Feb
13 Feb 2018
Meaningful Language Learning Goals
The goal of fluency in a foreign language can often seem vague and elusive. It is not always clear what fluency means. Those who have not experienced the feeling of achieving fluency in another language doubt they can get there, and doubt they would know if they did. Learners often feel they are not making […]
Read more Meaningful Language Learning Goals30Jan
30 Jan 2018
How to Learn Any Language Effortlessly
When I wrote my book The Linguist: A Personal Guide to Language Learning, I began with what I called ‘The Parable of the Crooked Tree’. The author of the parable was Zhuangzi, an early exponent of Taoism, a school of Chinese philosophy from over 2,000 years ago. I referred to Taoism on a number of occasions in my book. Zhuangzi’s basic principle in life was to follow what was natural, what [...]
Read more How to Learn Any Language Effortlessly19Sep
19 Sep 2017
Ser Vs Estar in Spanish
Every language has some issues, often grammar issues, that cause learners difficulty. In the case of Spanish, one thing that gives people special trouble is the existence of two forms of the verb “to be”. Both ser and estar translate into English as “to be”. Here’s how to get them straight. What’s the Problem? On […]
Read more Ser Vs Estar in Spanish11Jul
11 Jul 2017
Italki Review: Get the Most Out of the Language Learning Resource
The last 15 years have brought revolutionary change to language learning. Amongst the most popular new opportunities is the possibility to connect with native speakers of the languages we are learning via the Internet, and specifically via Skype. We all take Skype for granted today, but the app was first launched in 2003, in Estonia. […]
Read more Italki Review: Get the Most Out of the Language Learning Resource