I'd like to share a thought that's been brewing in my mind, a bit of an abstract concept, perhaps, but I hope it resonates with you. It's about the unique power language learning bestows upon us, enabling us to lend an empathetic ear to those often unheard. Quite a concept, isn't it? Let's dive a bit deeper. Read More
I want to discuss an interesting phenomenon that I've experienced numerous times during my language-learning journey. This is about how native speakers often overestimate my language proficiency. Let me tell you, it's both a blessing and a curse. Read More
I want to delve into a common scenario in the language-learning world, which I'm sure many of you have experienced. Imagine this: You've been studying a language, maybe several, but then life happens. Suddenly, you find yourself in a situation where you can't devote as much time to language study as before. It's a situation I find myself in, with Portuguese, Swedish, and German - languages I've learned but have had to sideline while focusing on my current language pursuit, Russian. Read More
As some of you might know, apart from being an avid language enthusiast, I'm also a computer programmer. At my current job, I mostly interact in English with my colleagues and rarely get a chance to make use of my multilingual abilities. Read More
If you're new here, or new to the concept of polyglots, you're probably getting acquainted with diverse language learning strategies. And maybe, just maybe, you've stumbled across a rather ubiquitous trend on platforms like YouTube - the videos promising to teach you a new language in a week, or an hour, or three hours. Read More
I feel moved to share with you a topic close to my heart. I'm not entirely sure how to articulate it, but I'll do my best, starting with my personal experience. Read More
Let's discuss something crucial - the common pitfalls in learning a new language and the misconceptions many beginners have when starting their journey. I'm sure some of you have heard me advocate for online language instruction over conversational exchanges, and there's a particular story that reinforces this preference. Read More
I'd like to tackle a topic that goes beyond the realm of online language instruction and permeates all aspects of life where we deal with specialists - the notion of taking control as a client and driving the narrative. Read More
I'd like to shine a light on a key component of language learning that's often overlooked: the vital role of online language instruction in developing spontaneous conversational abilities. It's a different kind of skill, a muscle if you will, that requires a specific kind of exercise to develop. You can't build it through self-study alone - it requires actual application in real-life contexts. Read More
I'm thrilled to share with you an update on my Russian language progress. It's been a whole year since I embarked on this journey, and I thought it would be valuable to chronicle my experience and the lessons I've learned along the way. Read More
I want to share with you my tried and tested method of assimilating new audio material accompanied by text - an experience that I have honed through learning Russian. If you've ever grappled with dialogues filled with new vocabulary or audio tracks that seem to play at lightning speed, you might find this little technique of mine handy. Read More
I want to offer you some insights about how I've been navigating my language learning journey, specifically about the ways I've managed to train my teachers. Over the years and through numerous languages, I've picked up a couple of techniques that I consistently transfer from one teacher to another, and I thought you might find these useful. Read More
I want to extend a virtual fist-bump of camaraderie to my fellow procrastinators. Believe me, I know the struggle all too well. My own journey has been a constant battle against procrastination. I am the type of person who gravitates towards things that are fun and engaging. Mundane tasks like dealing with piles of paperwork, or attending to unpaid bills can easily be pushed to the back burner. Read More
I want to share some insights with you on what forward progress in language learning truly looks like. As an experienced language learner myself, I've often grappled with the messy, ambiguous, and decidedly non-linear process that is language acquisition. Read More
I want to share an analogy that I've found both motivational and thought-provoking, inspired by the movie The Truman Show. If you haven't seen it, the film centers around a character named Truman, who discovers he's living in a fabricated world where everyone around him is an actor, and his life is a reality show. Read More
I want to talk about a common delay tactic that many novice language students employ when taking online language lessons. This tactic involves discussing and philosophizing about the language with their teacher, rather than actively trying to speak the language they're learning. Read More
I want to share a couple of productivity hacks that have helped improve my language learning experience. While it's essential not to lose interest in your language studies, these hacks can give you an extra boost along the way. Read More
I would like to discuss a "thinking outside the box" topic: how to best use your time to make forward progress in your language learning journey. I'll share a simple yet powerful example that I often struggle with myself, and that's the importance of clarity during your language study. Read More
I want to discuss an important topic in language learning: training versus action. Understanding the balance between these two components is essential for making progress in your language journey. Read More
I want to discuss a topic that many language learners grapple with: exchanges versus paid instruction. While I've touched on this in some of my previous content, I thought it would be interesting to share my perspective on this debate. Read More
I want to address an age-old question: "How long does it take to learn a language?" We've all heard many variations of this question, such as "How long does it take to learn German?" or "How long does it take to learn Vietnamese?" In almost every case, I believe this is the wrong question to ask. Read More
I want to discuss the dark side of gamification in language learning. While I don't have much personal experience with gamification, as I'm not a heavy user of apps like Duolingo and don't obsess over streaks or competing with others, I've observed some negative consequences of gamification among language learners. Read More
I want to talk about a topic that often comes up in discussions about language learning: persistence versus talent. Many people wonder if they need talent to learn languages, if they should have started learning as a child, if it's impossible to learn languages as an adult, or if they need to be exceptionally smart to learn a language. Read More
I want to talk about the uncanny valley and how it applies to language learning, especially when it comes to people's obsession with sounding like a native speaker. Read More
I want to talk about dead time and how you can make the most of it. This is an interesting balancing act for me because I have a tendency to overdo it mentally and spread myself too thin, which can lead to the brink of mental exhaustion. Read More
