Category: Languages

The first question on any would-be language learner’s mind is this: Which language should I learn? It’s a difficult question. The actual number of distinct languages in this world is something that’s heavily debated among linguists and anthropologists alike, but suffice to say the number is well towards ten thousand. Sounds like a lot of […]

“I’m no good at learning languages” If you’re reading this blog — and have a pulse — you’ve had that thought before. Languages take a lot of time, effort, and energy to learn. Every single language learner, from the earliest enthusiast to the hardened hyperpolyglot, has struggled with learning at some point or another. That’s […]

Have you ever given up learning a language? After triumphantly telling yourself one day that “Yes, I’m finally going to learn this language!”, have you ever stopped studying, let go of your learning or otherwise let your fluency falter? It’s happened to the best of us, myself included. Sometimes the language is harder than we […]

Computer-based writing skills are the speaking skills of the information age. If you speak a language, you can communicate with anyone in the same physical space as you are, but if you can type a language, you can communicate with anyone who can read that language—anywhere, and at any time. These skills are important to […]

Hey, you there! Yeah, YOU. Reading this article. Who are you? Or rather, what kind of language learner are you? “Kinds? There are kinds?” you may ask. Oh, sure. Many kinds. In the age of the Internet, language learning as both a hobby and a professional pursuit is more widespread than ever before. With more […]

Are you comfortable? No, not in your chair. Not on your couch, or bed, or wherever you’re reading this. Are you comfortable in your language learning? When you use your target language, do you stick to the things that you know how to do? Do you play it safe, and use just the resources, techniques, […]

There is a myth in language learning that suggests that the fastest gains in ability will come to those who spend the longest amount of time studying per day. Dive into online language learning forums, and you’ll see people discussing, debating, and promoting the merits of studying for two to three hours a day, or […]

In this article series, we’ve been examining a concept known as deliberate practice; a research-backed method for improving performance in any skill up to the highest levels possible. In our first article, we took a bird’s-eye view of the concept, looking at its various necessary components. In our second and third article, we began a […]

Language proficiency tests are the most accurate and efficient way to officially prove your language level. The most widely-available and accessible of these tests are based on three major proficiency frameworks: the ILR scale, the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, and the CEFR. There’s one problem, however. Taking proficiency tests requires you to have time, energy, and […]

Languages vary. Sometimes a little. Sometimes a lot. As explained in our article What is a Language? What is a Dialect?, all languages vary across multiple spectra. These spectra encompass natural linguistic variation, including regional dialects, social dialects (sociolects), registers, styles, and personal dialects (idiolects). For social and political purposes, however, such variation is inconvenient, […]