I want to delve into an aspect of our lives that we often overlook: time management. It's something that ties into everything we do, including our language learning journeys. To bring some perspective, I'll refer to a principle often attributed to Steve Jobs - the ability to say "no" to a thousand things. Read More
I'd like to delve a bit deeper into a topic I touched upon in a previous post, specifically about the importance of making mistakes in language learning. We've established that making errors, fumbling, and stumbling over words are all crucial parts of the process. Not only that, but these little mishaps can be quite endearing to your listeners! Read More
I want to dive into a topic that is somewhat of a psychological roadblock for many language learners: the obsession with speaking perfectly or sounding exactly like a native speaker. It's this mindset, this perpetual self-flagellation, where learners punish themselves mentally for not being "good enough," for not sounding "perfect." This very obsession often serves as a demotivating crutch, hindering progress instead of propelling it forward. Read More
I'd like to introduce a concept I've been mulling over, which I call the "Memorization-Grammar Quadrant." This idea was born from my own experience with learning Russian. Read More
I'd like to delve into the often-misunderstood world of language learning methods, and explore the chasm that exists between perception and reality. To illustrate this, I'll draw parallels with my profession: computer programming. Trust me, what the world thinks computer programmers do is often worlds apart from our day-to-day reality. Similarly, people often harbor misconceptions about the process of language learning, which can lead to unmet expectations and disappointment. Read More
I'm going to take you down memory lane and revisit a Russian lesson I once had. This was a time when my Russian skills were good enough to engage in fluent conversations on almost any topic. My teacher and I would often find ourselves engrossed in deep, sometimes personal, discussions. But then, invariably, we would realize that we hadn't spent enough time on formal exercises and grammar. It was a gentle reminder that learning a language is never just about talking and understanding. Read More
I want to tackle an issue many of us grapple with: finding the time to learn a language. Let's face it; we all lead busy lives, and sometimes it can seem impossible to carve out those precious minutes needed to dive into the intricacies of a new language. But I'm here to tell you it's not just about time management or being more efficient with your daily routine. Although yes, let's admit, we all could probably do with a little less aimless scrolling on social media. Read More
I'd like to touch upon an essential aspect of the language learning journey: progress isn't always linear. There will be periods of rapid growth, times where you're absorbing new words and grammar rules like a sponge. Then, there will be moments where it seems like you're stuck, putting in tons of work with little discernible progress. These phases can be immensely discouraging. Read More
I'd like to share with you some of the unexpected treasures I've discovered in my language learning journey. More specifically, I want to talk about those hidden gems in other languages that you would never find in your own, ones that move you and resonate so deeply that it would be a shame to go through life without encountering them. Read More
I want to dive into a topic that might seem somewhat contrary to the philosophy we usually espouse. We've always advocated for the potential to learn a language remotely, no matter where you are situated. However, I feel it's essential to acknowledge another potent method of language acquisition - immersion through living in a country where the language is spoken. Read More
I feel drawn to a rather common phenomenon that impacts many language learners: the struggle to rekindle the learning process after an unexpected hiatus. Imagine, you've been consistently investing time and effort, reaching a certain proficiency level, and then something happens. Perhaps life gets in the way, your schedule changes, or motivation dwindles. Suddenly, you find yourself dangling from the rope of language learning, seemingly having slipped all the way to the ground. It's disheartening, to say the least. Read More
I'm feeling inspired to explore a topic that hits home for many of us: the ups and downs of the language learning journey. Specifically, I want to delve into the concept that language acquisition isn't a smooth, linear progression - it's more like a mathematical step function. Now, stick with me on this, even if you're not a math whiz. A step function starts at one level, then suddenly jumps to another level, continuing on from that higher plane. And friends, language learning is exactly like this. Read More
I'm back again to continue our conversation around the language dance we often encounter while living or visiting another country. This time, we're turning the tables and taking a look at situations when you, as the language learner, might be put on the spot. Read More
I hope this blog post finds you well. I'd like to share a little two-part insight I've picked up on my language learning journey. The first part explores speaking a language to someone who may not want to reciprocate in kind, and the second delves into handling situations where others want to converse with you in a language that you may not want to speak. Read More
Firstly, I would like to apologize for the hiatus. As you might know, most of my posts are motivational, upbeat, and are meant to lift your spirits on your language learning journey. And as many of you know, I've been learning Russian for the past two years, and recent events in Ukraine have genuinely thrown me for a loop. Read More
I want to share an article I wrote on Quora that I'm quite proud of. It eloquently encapsulates my thoughts better than what I might be able to piece together spontaneously here. This article delves into the reasons for learning Spanish, answering a question that was put forth: "Why should I learn Spanish?" The response I crafted represents my personal motivations for learning this beautiful language and I felt it might resonate with some of you. So, here goes: Read More
I'd like to delve into an interesting aspect of language learning, one that I've touched on briefly in the past. It's the idea of using language learning as a tool for self-confidence. Read More
I want to take a moment to revisit a concept that I believe is essential for successful language learning - the Swiss cheese method. This approach basically focuses on capitalizing on the small pockets of time you have available throughout the day, say 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there, instead of trying to carve out larger chunks of time for study. Read More
I want to delve into the concept of self-study and motivation, particularly focusing on the inevitable dips in motivation that we all experience. As a language learner myself, I believe that both self-study and online language instruction are two fundamental elements of a successful language-learning journey, and one cannot exist without the other. Read More
I'd like to revisit a topic we've discussed before - the comparison between paid language lessons and language exchanges or other forms of casual conversation practice. There's a particular aspect of this topic that I want to delve deeper into, and that's the sense of responsibility a teacher feels when you're their paying student. Read More
I'm going to start off this post by addressing a common phenomenon in the language learning journey: stage fright. This is when you're perfectly comfortable during self-study sessions, but the moment you step into a conversational interaction with a real person, whether it be an online instructor or a native speaker, you suddenly freeze up. Why does this happen? And, more importantly, how can we overcome this paralyzing fear? Read More
I wish to explore a curious aspect of language learning - the scenario where people learn languages without any external compulsion or specific need. Read More
I want to share an unusual yet effective concept with you. It's called the Swiss Cheese Method, and no, don't worry, it has nothing to do with actual cheese, which is good news for a vegan like me. Read More
I'd like to engage in a candid conversation about an entity we've all crossed paths with, one that can be both a boon and a bane - YouTube. This isn't limited to YouTube, though; it applies to any video platform like Vimeo, or even social media giants like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Read More
Let's dive into a topic that's often been a cause of debate among language learners - the selection of self-study materials. Specifically, let's talk about the choice of reading material, which was sparked by a question from a member of our language learning community. Read More
