Category: Languages

One of the things I’m going to experiment with in my language studies is using memory palaces to retain information. What is a Memory Palace? A memory palace is a place you imagine – it could be an actual palace, or a building, or a city – with plenty of distinct locations in it. Then […]

When I was training to become a translator, my language course was a pretty intense program. The pace was fast and I was expected to learn and retain a mountain of information every week, for over a year. My classmates and I all knew that we needed some way to help us retain everything. Our […]

Some people view language learning as this mystical undertaking that only a select few people can do. One of my coworkers used to say that he didn’t have any “natural language talent,” which to him explained why he was having trouble in the German class he took at night. I just don’t buy it. I’ve […]

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, […]