Is Your Native Language a Help or a Hindrance?
When I started my Vietnamese intensive course, a lot of non-linguistists said that the Chinese students would have an advantage because they already speak a tonal language. As it turns out, their native language offers just as much hindrance as help...
Is the Problem Your English Level or Your Education Level?
There are no tricks and no hints. If your goal is to read at a native speaker level, then you need to read things a native speaker reads.
What are the best Chinese dictionaries for Android and Apple mobile devices?
A quick search in the Android Marketplace or Apple App store reveals pages and pages of Chinese dictionaries, including free, ad supported versions, as well...
Review of YellowBridge Online Chinese Dictionary
YellowBridge (黃橋 HuángQiáo) is one of the best online Chinese dictionaries available today. When I studying on or near my computer, it is the first place...
Learning Korean without Speaking
Normally, ALG says you do 800 hours of listening, then you start speaking, and you do writing and reading last. The reality is, however, if you are not at the ALG school in Bangkok, it is nearly impossible to arrange these type of lessons for yourself.
Review of “Walk, Talk & Learn French”
I first came across Walk, Talk & Learn French not in iTunes where I usually get my podcast fix, but via Tivo! I had no idea that you can stream or download...
Learning English Using Hulu (and other online TV sites)
In addition to endless English listening input, Hulu.com is now a source of reading input, too. How could a TV site be used for reading input? The answer is...
Vietnamese Loan Words and the Uniqueness of the Language
It is fascinating to see how so many components of the language can be traced to some other language, and yet Vietnamese is completely unique.
A Cast of a Thousand Characters: Learning to Read Chinese
The Chinese language is like an epic movie, starring a cast of thousands of characters.
Interview with LingQ’s Steve Kaufmann
This interview was originally done for my site, book and podcast series Living, Learning & Teaching in Taipei. This “information triumvirate”...