Lots of people ask me for help with starting to learn a second language – they know they want to speak Italian or German but they’re not sure how to start learning from home, or which language learning resources to use. In this post I’m including all the resources I think will help you to learn your second […]
Category: Languages
How many hours does it take to learn Spanish?
Are you planning to start studying Spanish or have you been studying Spanish for a couple of months already? Either way, you are probably asking yourself how many hours does it take to learn Spanish Fluently? After doing big research and reading a lot of different sources, I have found a satisfying answer for myself. […]
Choosing a Spanish language school in Spain
I’ve been learning Spanish, using different programs and through Skype lessons with my Peruvian teacher from the Live Lingua website. And in my opinion, when you don’t have the opportunity to learn in a Spanish speaking country – this is the best solution because you learn directly from a native speaker. However, to maximize my […]
Tips for Learning Spanish Efficiently
Tip #1 – Practice Spanish regularly This idea is key when learning any foreign language, and it is one of the most important tips for learning Spanish. This is how our brains work: new information is stored in short-term memory, and, to transfer it into long-term memory to be able to use it in the […]
How Language Learning is Like Learning Any Skill
As I write this blog, I think more and more about learning, in general, and learning as it relates to languages. It seems like many people who write about language learning think of languages as special cases, unlike learning to play tennis or to play the guitar. This is true to a certain extent: You […]
Making the Most of Language Exchanges
I have been doing language exchanges since I studied abroad in Russia in 2003. I was teaching English to some university students, and sometimes I would meet one of my students outside of class. I would help her (it was always a woman, in my example) with her English, and she would help me with […]
Finding In-Person Language Tutors / Partners
There’s plenty of information out there about how to find a language teacher or a language partner online – iTalki is the most popular option (one that I, personally, have never used). But what can you do if you would really like to have a static-free conversation, where no one’s connection cuts off? Here are […]
So you want to learn to speak a little Italian?
It comes as a surprise to some visitors that in Italy the principle language spoken is Italian. And while many Italians do speak English, many – especially among the not-so-young – don’t, and no amount of speaking English loudly and slowly will help. And even those Italians who can speak English might find it a […]
10 Ideas for Learning a New Language Five Minutes At A Time
We live in the most hurried, busy time the world has perhaps ever seen. We have more engagements, more work, more distractions to fill more hours of more days and if you are like me, you still find yourself wishing you could accomplish – just a bit more. Amongst all this business is a desire […]
Climbing the Listening Ladder to Learn Another Language
Have you built a personal listening library? As a language learner, it is important to engage with your target language through all four language modalities at all stages of the language learning journey. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner you need to be reading, writing, speaking and listening on a regular – […]