Successful language learners do the kind of things the unsuccessful ones don't AND avoid the ones that unsuccessful ones do!
Blog
10 Habits Succcesful Language Learners Avoid
Can Lucid Dreaming Help You Learn A Language
Can lucid dreaming help you learn a language? There has been a spike in interest in lucid dreaming in recent
5 Steps to Improve English Speaking
You may be wondering, five? Well, once you understand AND implement these steps, and start seeing the results you get,
Checklist – Will Your Speaking Keep Improving?
Here are a few questions I suggest you ask yourself to see if your listening is helping you as it
Improving Listening Skills is Essential for Any Language Learner
Improving your listening skills will undoubtedly have an enormous impact on your ability to learn to speak a new language.
Translation Challenges Faced by Translators
Challenges translators face when translating from one language to another Being a translator is about much more than simply being
How to Recognise an Exceptional Language Teacher
Many language learners don't understand that having a great language teacher is as important as going to a language class.
After classes, then what?
What's after language classes?One seldom discussed issue for language learners who are in classes is how are they going to
How to Improve English Pronunciation
Real improvement in English pronunciation IS possible.Do you really want to improve ? If you do, you have come to
Language Learning Hacks
Are you someone who struggles to learn a second language or feel it is taking you too long? Do you
Effective Grammar Practice
Learning a language clearly requires us to learn how the language itself works. Many people believe that grammar study can
3 Keys to Success (You need 3!)
(The text below is an expanded and slightly different version of the video)The 3 Keys to Successful Language LearningNo matter
Reducing the gap between knowing and doing
A very common question asked by language learners is – “Is it useful (or useless) to talk to people who are
Age is no barrier to learning a language
Neuroscience has just provided us with a key insight into the topic about the importance of age in learning languages. Many
Become better at monitoring your learning
What is monitoring? One of the essential keys to improving your language skills is the practice of monitoring your language use as
The 3 Keys to Motivating Language Learners
Listen into a Teleconference at the 3rd ELT Conference at Pontianak, Indonesia to a talk on The Keys 3 to Motivating Language
Language Teachers’ Main Concern
I recently sent out a survey to the subscribers on this website, seeking information about a number of things. One
Language Learners’ Main Concern
I recently sent out a survey to the subscribers on this website, seeking information about a number of things. One
What Can We Learn From The Olympians?
Language Learning and the Olympics At this time when all the news is filled with the excitement and the feats
There Is A Best Way To Learn A Language!
Read this and see for yourself that there is a best way to learn a language!By far the best way
Can you learn a new language by watching movies?
It has been over 125 years since the birth of cinema, but the buzz and awe surrounding it has not
Importance of Feedback in Language Learning
Feedback in Language Learning A critical element to effective language learning, in fact to any learning, is feedback. Without feedback,
The Surprising Power of Pronunciation
Anthony Larsen, a writer for SpanishHackers.com, guest blogs today on the power of pronunciation to help improve one’s language learning
Learning Languages Formula
Formula for Success You may be surprised to read that there is such a thing as a success formula for learning
Adult Language Learning Strategies
The Adult Language Learner Everyone understands that there are many differences between how adults learn languages and how children do.
Laziness is not what you think
So many people have told me that the reason they struggle to learn a new language is that they are
Overcoming Fears In Language Learning
Fear There would be very few people who approach speaking a new language with no fears. Fear of making errors and
Value of Repetition in Language Learning
For many language learners (and their teachers) repetition is highly valued, whether it be repeating vocabulary, grammar conjugations, sounds or phrases.
I Am Dreaming Of Learning A Language
No matter what religion you practice I suspect that many people around the world are winding down. It is a
Secret to improving your learning
If you have been trying to work out how it is that some people learn languages so readily whilst the
Questions are the answer
There are many reasons why it is that some people become successful so readily whilst others struggle and never really
Emotional Intelligence and Language Learning
There is an increasing acceptance that emotional intelligence is a key factor which can not only influence the quality of our
Yoda on Language Learning
How often have we heard the exhortation, or even made it ourselves, “Try harder!” The implication being that rewards come
A Language Learning Game
Languages are best learned when the learning is seen as games. Games are powerful paradigms for learning. Here you will
Flow in Language Learning
Are you in the flow? If you are then, according to Flow Theory, you are working and learning in a
Rate your ability to successfully learn a new language
Here is one way to assess your ability to learn languages. Many people talk about the difficulty of the language.
What do I learn next?
Does it really matter what I decide to learn next? One of the key issues that many learners overlook or
Is Language Learning Hard?
There certainly is a perception “out there” that language learning is difficult. With the prevalence of that belief, one would
Improving Your Memory for Learning Languages
An often heard lament of language learners is, "Oh my memory is letting me down". Is that really the case,
Improve Language Learning by Playing
Most people like to play, kids especially, even though there might be a few who might think it too frivilous!
Meaning Driven Language Learning
What is driving your language learning, the meaning or the language? This might seem like an odd question, but I
Why are some people good at cooking?
I was talking to some students the other day about why is it that some people end up being good
Trust is a Key to Becoming a Great Language Learner
You may be wondering what trust has to do with language learning. I am here to tell you that it
Welcome to The Dice Life: The Ultimate Productivity Hack
Morning. Latte, cappuccino, chai latte, frappucino – choices, choices and never enough time to think about what you really want.
Better Language Learning
I was struck recently from the experience I had when I attended a conference (IATEFL) for English language teachers in
Proof you can reach native like levels in another language
Here is the proof that some people might need to help them believe what I and others have been saying,
Language Learning for Advanced Learners
Most language learning resources or materials are not for the advanced learners. Nor is it what language teachers usually talk
Importance of Engagement in Language Learning
There are many reasons why so many people struggle to learn a second language. If I was asked to pick
How language learning can be like a game.
Learning language can be more like playing a game than most people think. Games are by their nature interesting and
Who Likes Change?
I have been exploring what holds language learners back and what can be done to move forward so they can
Making meaning the key
It is of course understood that in learning a language, the importance of meaning is paramount. This is taken for
Can we get lost in learning a language?
With the recent startling events concerning flight MH370 my thoughts turned to wondering about how getting lost applies to learning
Language Learning Dissected
There is still a lot we don’t know about the process of language learning, but there is also is a
What’s your excuse?
It would seem that the vast majority of people who attempt to learn another language give up on that endeavour
The 4 Minute Mile In Language Learning
For thousands of years, the 4 minute mile was considered not only physically IMPOSSIBLE, but according to doctors of the
Nelson Mandela and Learning Languages
I think by now most people who are connected to the media in someway would know about the passing of
What To Do To Ensure You Keep Progressing Your Language Learning
Many language learners set out and do achieve a certain level but somehow end up getting stuck at a level
Homework That Helps to Improve Your Language Learning
Over the years I have seen so many students waste countless hours on language learning homework which really has little
Love Improves Your Language Learning!
Anecdotally, there seems to be a lot of talk about how having a lover in the target language can do
5 Habits of Successful Language Learners
There is a widespread agreement by those who have looked at success that there is a lot we can learn
The Dangers of Language Classes and Courses
Dangers of Language Classes Saying that language classes or courses can be “dangerous” may cause a few ripples amongst my
Watching Movies to Learn Language
There are really a lot of different ways to learn languages. Of the ones that work, and not all do
Improve Reading Skills to Improve your Language Learning
As I have mentioned before reading can be used to learn the grammar of the language you are learning. However
Unlock Your Language Learning
Discover how to dramatically improve your language learning ability Have you ever wondered why it is that all of us
The Role of Feelings in Learning
I had the pleasure recently of being interviewed by Sylvia Guinan on the role of empathy in language learning in
Language Learning Styles
There is no doubt about the importance of having a sense of one's own preferred language learning style when deciding
Looking at Language Learning From The Bottom Up
What can we learn from the infants experience? Maybe you have thought about the question – “Why is it that
The A to Z to Best Language Learning
If you are finding your language learning is going more slowly than you wish, or not being as effective as
Language Learning and Empathy
You may be wondering what empathy has got to do with language learning. Well, just suspend your judgment for a
Language Learning And Freedom
The ways we learn languages can affect our sense of freedom. Speaking a language is an inherently creative act through
How To Learn A Language Effectively
There are a variety of factors that can affect the question of how to learn a language effectively. One of
Lifting The Lid On Mastering Stress In English
Listen to the podcast below (an interview with Dr. Piers Messum) and discover valuable insights as to how we stress
The Power of Guessing in Language Learning
So you maybe are wondering why guessing is so important in language learning. Especially when your experience may well have
Noticing and Learning Languages
Noticing what we are doing while we are learning a language, its impacts on others as well as ourselves is
Using Your Intuition To Power Your Language Learning
You may be wondering how intuition is related to language learning. One way to realise the significance of intuition is
Language Learning Games
Have you ever wondered why video games are so additive (to some!). Wouldn’t it be great if we could get
Mistakes and Language Learning
Many people do not want to make mistakes in learning languages, however they serve an important function in learning, which
Fun Language Learning Ideas
In many parts of the world we are entering a festive season. Whether it be Christmas, Hanukka, Kwanzaa, or just a
Beliefs And Their Impact On Learning Languages.
Our beliefs are one of the most powerful determiners of our outcomes in life. However they are results of our
Does Imitation Have A Place in Learning Pronunciation?
Listen in as Dr. Piers Messum explains how by using imitation as a key to learning pronunciation we have been
Lessons From A Gifted Language Learner
In trying to better understand what it takes to become a great ( if you prefer, you can use better!)
A Great Way Of Becoming A Better Language Learner
Most language learners (and teachers) seem exclusively concerned about the language they are learning (teaching), not themselves (the learner). Having
Learning Language Through Reading
It is possible to learn a language in many different ways. One way that appeals to many people is reading.
The Most Effective Language Classes
What are the best language classes and why? Many language learners go to language classes believing that is the best
Language Learning Immersion Is Not The Whole Answer
It has been shown that learning another language in an immersion environment is consistently superior to that of explicit language
Talent and Language Learning
There is an undercurrent of opinion that there are talented language learners and then there are the rest, who struggle
Language Learning Practice Revitalised
A little understood language learning strategy Every language learner I believe understands the importance of practice. However, just what constitutes
Learning Grammar Through Reading
Learning grammar without a grammar book!In previous posts and articles, I have written about the need to get away from
Language Learning and Culture
People do intuitively understand that there is a connection between languages and culture but sometimes the relationship between language learning
Practice Makes Perfect
Does “practice make perfect” or “does practice make improvement”? I think both can be true but really we will get
Are Language Classes Useful
Many people turn to language classes in the blind belief that they will learn a language there. Well, sometimes that
How To Make Your Language Learning Better
There are many reasons why we go to language classes. One of the more important reasons is that we are
How Do Talented People Learn Languages?
How talented people learn another language Many people wonder what it is that separates a so called talented language learner
Having a good memory is something all language learners want
Two ways to deal with the question of "how to improve memory".Most of the articles I have seen on how
Language Learning Goals
Having language learning goals is one of the key strategies that successful language learners have in common. One of the
Perception in English Spelling
Perception as a learning skill is of undoubted importance. It is hardly ever talked about in relation to learning languages
How To Memorize Vocabulary
One of the most common problems or issues that language learners talk about is how to memorize vocabulary. I have
Improving Language Practice
Language Practice Everyone knows the importance of language practice for language learners. However, there is not much discussion about what
Spelling in English – Part 1
There has been some confusion about the nature of English spelling, partly because it seems to have so many words
Effective Language Learning
The following is an abridged and amended version of a talk I gave to some advanced level English language learners last
Habits in Language Learning
Habits are a powerful mechanism that can power our success or hinder it beyond measure. So it is imperative that we
Language Learning and New Year Resolutions
One of the more common New Year resolutions that people make, along side losing weight, is to do with learning
What Are Really Good Ways to Improve Your English
One of the least talked about aspects about how to improve your English (or any other language) is the role
Vocabulary Learning in a Second Language
Concentrating on vocabulary learning to the exclusion of all else is a common mistake that many language learners make. That
Mistakes to Avoid to Successfully Learn a Foreign Language
I wrote a free Ebook some years back which detailed 7 mistakes you need to to avoid to successfully learn
Are Language Exercises a Good Language Learning Strategy?
There is almost a universal belief amongst language learners which goes something like ” if I do language learning exercises
Good Conversation Skills ARE Important for Language Learning
Why Improve Conversation Skills? You may be wondering why this topic is important for someone who wishes to learn a second
How Not to Learn Pronunciation!
Here is a hilarious video clip from Pink Panther of Steve Martin attempting to learn how to pronounce English. Though
How To Improve Pronunciation
Discovering how to improve pronunciation is an essential task for any serious language learner. It is easy to get discouraged
Steve Job’s Approach to Language Learning!
Steve Jobs’ impact on our life cannot be overestimated. His innovations have likely touched nearly every aspect of life to
Staying Motivated Whilst Learning A Language Is Critical!
Motivation in Language Learning is one of the important elements of successful language learning. One of the basic elements in
How to Improve Your Pronunciation – Part 2
You will discover ideas and practical suggestions as to how you can improve your pronunciation in this second part of
What You Believe Is What You Are Going To Get
One of the students I have been working with lately on improving her learning made a comment the other day,
How to Improve Pronunciation – Part 1
Improving pronunciation is something that every language learner wants to do. So, how to do it? Listening lies at the
How to Remember Vocabulary
How to remember vocabulary is a question that virtually all learners I have come across try to solve by drawing
Awareness in Language Learning
One of the basic understandings that can drive your learning forward is to understand that for language learning to happen,
Successful Language Learning
To better understand successful language learning we can learn a lot by a better understanding of what successful people do in
Mistakes Are Your Friend
One of the most coming reactions to mistakes is, “Ugh, that was silly” or “@#$%” or some such thing. Most
Language Learning Techniques
Will the language learning techniques you use effect your language learning? The language learning techniques you use to learn a
Language Learning Beliefs
Your beliefs in language learning are a critical factor in whether your learning is going to be successful The role