Efficiency vs. Efficacy: The Critical Difference Between Doing Things Right and Doing the Right Things in Language Learning
"Effectiveness is doing the things that get you closer to your goals. Efficiency is performing a given task (whether important or not) in the most economical manner possible. Being efficient without regard to effectiveness is the default mode of the universe."
read moreInterview with Dr. Orlando Kelm, Professor of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Texas, Austin
In his own words, Dr. Orlando Kelm is "a lucky guy" professionally. Not only does he get to spend his time with two languages (Spanish and Portuguese), but he also the Associate Director of Business Language Education for the UT CIBER (Center for International Business Education and Research, a part of the McCombs School of Business. In our interview, Dr. Kelm shares what he believes to be the 6 most important factors in effective language learning.
read moreWhy Grammar-based Instruction is Bunk
In recent years, grammar mavens and traditional language educators have been up in arms against a perceived attack on "the righteous study of grammar". Their basic contention is (as recently stated on a a pro-grammar blog), "Anything students need to know has to be taught, not caught." These defensive claims always perplex me considering that nearly all language classes (whether at high schools, universities or private language schools) still spend the vast majority of class hours teaching and testing grammar rules. If anything, we have been too accepting of grammar-based instruction, and need to do a better job of showing people the truth (hence the creation of this site.)
read moreReview of Rosetta Stone language Learning Products
With $210,000,000 in sales last year, Rosetta Stone is far and away the best selling language learning product on the market today. But Rosetta Stone’s sales figures say more about the company’s marketing budget than the quality of their products. A quick look around the web reveals a healthy mix of positive and negative feedback about the product, but there is a big problem with objectivity: the positive reviews tend to be from affiliate sites hoping you click the “Buy” link. Since I don’t sell Rosetta Stone, I figure I can provide an honest, objective review of...
read more10 Things Your Language School Doesn’t Want You to Know
Language schools can be a wonderful place to learn more about your target language, meet fellow learners (who can become both study partners or even lifelong friends), and get your linguistic and cultural feet wet before (or even while) immersing yourself in a new culture and foreign tongue. However, language schools can also be a major impediment to the very goal you go there to achieve: learning a foreign language as quickly and efficiently as possible. This may come as a shock to those who have been conditioned to believe that classrooms are the only place, or at least the best place, to learn a language. Read on to see the top ten disadvantages of formal, classroom-based language learning.
read moreInterview with Steve Kaufmann, Creator of LingQ.com and Author of “The Way of the Linguist”
With 11 languages under his belt, Steve Kaufmann is an extremely accomplished language learner. His extensive language learning wisdom in shared in his book titled The Way of the Linguist: A Language Learning Odyssey and his online language learning system called LingQ. In the interview, we discuss what Steve believes to be the 7 most common misconceptions about language learning, how to learn Mandarin effectively, and the role of a good teacher.
read moreWhy Most Fail in Language Learning and How YOU Can Succeed
This is the complete version of a shorter presentation I entered in the "Fuze Tell a Story Contest." It expands much more on: 1) Why most learners fail to learn foreign languages depsite years of effort. 2) Tips on fostering the right attitude for successful language learning. 3) Advice on what materials to use for maximum efficacy and efficiency.
read moreMind Mapping: A Wonderful Tool for Managing Vocabulary, Organizing Your Writing, and Working With Your Tutor
The first thing I’d like to say about mind mapping is how upset I am for not knowing about it sooner! Why wasn’t it taught to me in elementary school, junior high, high school, or even university? Why did I labor through so many classes, books and professional challenges without this amazing tool? Oh well, at least a little angel introduced the concept to me before it was too late… (Thanks Kim!) Mind mapping is certainly not a new idea, and many different folks have probably come to it on their own. We owe its popularity, however, to one man: British author, speaker, and...
read moreA NOT To Do List for Successful Language Learners
To do lists seem like a good idea in theory, but they have one major disadvantage: there is an infinite number of potential to do items. With this in mind, Timothy Ferriss, best-selling author of The 4-Hour Workweek (and a speaker of 6 languages), recommends "not to do lists" instead. Since they isolate a finite set of behaviors that are getting between you and your goals, they are far more effective than traditional to do lists. This tool applies perfectly to language learning, where most learners waste a lot of time on ineffective methods, bad materials, and counter-productive attitudes.
read moreInterview with Antonio Graceffo, Prolific Adventure Author, Linguist, and Martial Artist
In this exclusive interview with Antonio Graceffo, he "pulls no punches" (pun intended) when sharing his views on how to learn a foreign language effectively. His language learning wisdom stems from formal training as an interpreter and translator at Germany's prestigious University of Mainz, coupled with over a decade of living, learning, and working in South and East Asia. Antonio speaks numerous languages (French, German, Italian, Khmer, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese), and has used his language skills to good ends. On top of a stunning trail of articles and books (see the list below), Antonio continues to fight the human rights atrocities in Burma.
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