Achieving fluency in a language is a goal of every serious language learner. However, achieving fluency is a daunting proposition. You may, for example, have heard friends or colleagues effortlessly switch between languages. You feel that there is no way that you can emulate them. As far as you are concerned, they have a special …
The Myth of Fluency: What Does It Mean to Be Fluent in a Language?Read More »
Those of us with children will have noticed how quickly they make progress in language acquisition. Within the short space of time, a child can go from babbling to forming coherent sentences. This is all the more amazing since they do this through simple exposure to the language, without any formal instruction. Any adult learner hoping …
Language Learning in Adulthood – Advantages and DisadvantagesRead More »
Given their affordable and accessible nature, podcasts are a great option when seeking to improve your French language skills. In this article, we’ll explore how podcasts in French can dramatically improve your foreign language abilities – and which French podcasts you should be listening to. Why You Should Listen to Podcasts in French Podcasts are …
Top 10 Podcasts in French to Improve Your Listening SkillsRead More »
Making mistakes is an inevitable part of learning French for the first time. It’s how you learn, grow and develop a more advanced understanding of a difficult language. Being aware of common French mistakes can prevent you from developing incorrect speech patterns. Over time, this can save you from embarrassment and confusion. From verb usage …
There are 6 German modal verbs, some sources may say 7, of them and… they are all irregular! Hooray! But there are also some simple rules for how to use modal verbs in German, and they have a lot of similarities. Modal verbs or auxiliary verbs are a special class of verbs. As you can …
Modal Verbs in German: Everything You Need to KnowRead More »
We all know second language speakers who speak as if native speakers. They speak eloquently, they use idiomatic constructions and their pronunciation is comparable to someone who has spoken the language from early childhood. On the other hand, there are learners who exhibit competence in one or more of these fields, but lack expertise in …
For anyone learning a language, transition words usually aren’t first on the list. But after you’ve mastered nouns and common French phrases, transition words are key for stringing your sentences together. In fact, transition words are what transform your broken French into the smooth, swoon-worthy language you’ve always dreamed of speaking. So what are you …
40+ French Transition Words to Boost Your VocabularyRead More »
As you get more advanced in Spanish, you’ll start to discover nuances of the language. Even for something as simple as greeting someone, there are hundreds of ways to say the same thing. You may be familiar with “¿Cómo estás?” as one of the most common ways to ask someone “How are you?” But do …
What is the Difference Between “como estas” and “como te va” in Spanish?Read More »
In English, we often use pet names and specialty words to express affection toward people we love. French terms of endearment are no different, relying on phrases involving animals, nature, and even food to express love and appreciation. You might be familiar with phrases like mon amour – and that’s a great place to start. …
Researchers have long studied the processes of child language acquisition and have applied these theories to second language acquisition. In the 1970s and 1980s, linguist Stephen Krashen proposed a series of hypotheses about language acquisition. He argues that the comprehensible input to which learners are exposed is of primary importance. How does a child learn …
Comprehensible Input – How Clozemaster Mirrors Natural AcquisitionRead More »
