Author: morausky

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 to use SRS to learn a foreign language, but is that true? What is Spaced Repetition? Spaced repetition is the practice of exposing yourself to material over […]

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, but I also know that people are often learning a language for a reason and want to start using their new skills ASAP. This article is about […]

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 you ask yourself: “What is the easiest language to learn?” It’s a fair enough question, and something linguists argue about. And I know the answer. Ready for […]

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 at the end of the post, but before I get to that, I have to explain how I came up with my estimates. In my view, how […]

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 the world. However, there are also several benefits you might not expect. Knowing a second language changes the way you think and interact with the world. (Note: […]

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 master. When I was in language school, we had to take a proficiency test before graduation. Almost everyone scored lower on the speaking portion than on the […]

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 putting spoken words down on paper. It’s pretty straightforward, sure. But just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’re trying to learn a foreign language, […]

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, I work for an American company that follows the American holiday schedule. Today is the American holiday of Labor Day, so I got to stay home while […]

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 live in the Swabian region of Germany, and the Swabians in particular have a reputation for being gruff. At my local supermarket (Edeka),  for example, going shopping […]

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 all over the world and practice your language via one of three arrangements: Language exchange – Meet someone who speaks the language you’re learning, who also is […]