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 Tips06Jun
6 Jun 2019
Patience In Language Learning
Patience In Language Learning was uploaded onto Steve’s YouTube channel on August 10, 2015 Hi there, Steve Kaufmann here. As you know, I like to talk about language learning. If you enjoy my channel, please subscribe. I try to put out a video at least once a week on tips or experience that I have […]
Read more Patience In Language Learning21May
21 May 2019
How Many Words Do We Need to Know?
Learning Words – How Many Do We Need To Know? was uploaded onto Steve’s YouTube channel on October 25, 2014 Hi there, Steve Kaufmann here again. Today I want to talk about words. It’s a subject that comes up all the time, how many words do we need to know? I guess I have two […]
Read more How Many Words Do We Need to Know?17Jan
17 Jan 2019
Google Translate Doesn’t Work?
I hear all the time that Google Translate doesn’t work. It’s not accurate. It’s this and that. I think Google Translate is a tremendous resource and not only for language learners. It’s not 100% and it’s better for some languages than others, but I find it extremely useful.
Read more Google Translate Doesn’t Work?31Dec
31 Dec 2018
How to Memorize Vocabulary – Is It Even Necessary?
In my opinion, the best way to memorize vocabulary is NOT to memorize vocabulary. I have always found that trying to memorize vocabulary is an extremely low-efficiency activity. No matter how hard you try, some words are going to stick and some words will not stick until much, much later.
Read more How to Memorize Vocabulary – Is It Even Necessary?01Nov
1 Nov 2018
Why I Don’t Worry About Common Core Vocabulary
Why I Don’t Worry About Common Core Vocabulary has been transcribed from Steve’s YouTube channel. You can download the audio and study the transcript as a lesson at LingQ. I’ve had family visiting, my son and his family from the UK, my brother from Toronto. I was kicked out of my office, so I’m doing it from […]
Read more Why I Don’t Worry About Common Core Vocabulary25Oct
25 Oct 2018
How Not To Forget Foreign Languages
The question, don’t you forget your languages or how do you maintain your languages? That’s a very common question.
How do you not forget languages? The simple answer here is I don’t forget languages. I have not forgotten a language and I think there are several reasons for this.
Read more How Not To Forget Foreign Languages11Oct
11 Oct 2018
Learning Czech and Accumulating 100 Words a Day
I studied Czech a few years ago so my statistics at LingQ for that language are not current. However, the statistics from my recent Polish challenge illustrate the fact that we can learn or add to our “known words” total well over 100 words a day. In fact in the case of Polish (since I know other Slavic languages) it is over 300 words a day. You can learn 100 words a day, if you are willing [...]
Read more Learning Czech and Accumulating 100 Words a Day14Aug
14 Aug 2018
Learning Languages is a Subconscious Process
Language learning is essentially a subconscious process. I saw these words in a LinkedIn post from a group I belong to that includes language teachers. The topic of discussion was how grammar instruction and error correction don’t have as much impact on language learning success as is traditionally imagined. This is a concept that leading […]
Read more Learning Languages is a Subconscious Process17Jul
17 Jul 2018
Introverts Vs Extroverts in Language Learning
The myth is that there exists a battle in language learning: introverts vs. extroverts, and that extroverts are the better language learners. I do not believe at all that you need to be an extrovert to learn a language. Language learning comes down to the three keys: number one, attitude. You have to be interested in the language. You have to like the language. You have to believe you’re [...]
Read more Introverts Vs Extroverts in Language Learning