There’s a lot of buzz in language learning about spaced repetition, and spaced repetition software (SRS) in particular. Some people would have you believe that you absolutely have […]
How to Learn a Language Fast: 5 Things to Speed Up the Process
Let me guess: You want to learn a language as quickly as possible. I don’t blame you. My site is about learning foreign languages and enjoying the journey, […]
The Easiest Language to Learn
So you want to learn a foreign language to get something off your bucket list, or to pass the time, or because your school is making you. So […]
How Long Does It Take to Become Fluent?
When you’re studying a foreign language from scratch, how long before you can expect to become fluent? The answer, of course, is tricky. I’ll give some time estimates […]
Seven Unexpected Benefits of Being Bilingual
There are some obvious benefits to bilingualism. You can make more friends, study at overseas schools, and get your foot in the door for a wider range of jobs all around […]
Can’t Speak a Foreign Language? Why Speaking is So Hard
Learning a foreign language is difficult in general. But while reading, listening, and writing have their own challenges, speaking is by the far the most difficult skill to […]
How to Transcribe: An Essential Skill in Foreign Language Learning
Transcription is simply the act of writing down what you hear. You’re not providing any analysis or interpretation, and you’re definitely not translating anything. All you’re doing is […]
Why Perfect is the Enemy of Good in Language Learning
This morning I had a much needed break from work and discovered a truth about life in general and language learning specifically. Even though I live in Germany, […]
Why Smiling is Vital When Speaking a Foreign Language
I’ve heard people say that Americans smile too much, and that it feels phony. For sure, here in Europe, I’ve discovered that people are generally more reserved. I […]
7 Ways to Get the Most Out of italki
A couple months ago I stumbled across a new website called italki, which describes itself as a “language learning social network.” On italki, you can meet strangers from […]
How Many Vocabulary Words a Day Should You Learn?
With languages, I definitely tend to use a lot of what I call “organic” learning methods. Actually using the language–reading, listening, speaking, and writing it–is vital in the […]
Three Reasons to Fail Often During Language Learning
Well, it’s probably not the best thing in the short term. But if you “fail forward”–that is, improve from the experience–then it’s one of the best things you […]