Monthly Archives

Make mistakes!

This probably sounds a bit counterintuitive coming from a language learning tip, but it’s actually a very important, and difficult, lesson to learn. One of the things that can prevent you from improving your language skills, particularly pronunciation and conversation skills, is the fear of looking silly, or being embarrassed by making a mistake in public.... More

Tags: conversation, language learning, newsletter, pronunciation
November 18, 2008

Be a copycat

Remember in school how the teacher always made you take notes in class? She could have given you a handout describing everything she was writing on the board, but she was teaching you a valuable process, one that could help you when learning a language: copying.... More

Tags: copycats, journal, language learning, newsletter, taking notes, tips
October 24, 2008

My Travel Words and Phrases: French Airports

From the very beginning, it can be intimidating and endlessly frustrating just trying to get around in a foreign country. Sure, those signs are “self-evident” to residents, or perhaps anyone who speaks the language, but what if you’ve never been there before, and don’t know the language at all? And, to top it all off, this is an issue that you have to deal with immediately, as soon as you get off that plane. And then yet again when you leave.... More

Tags: airport, language, Paris, travel
October 24, 2008

Dear diary …

In many of our book/audio and online courses we encourage learners to keep a Language Journal, because this can really be a great tool, at any level. The best thing about a journal is that it allows you to do so many things at once.... More

Tags: language journal, newsletter, tips
September 19, 2008

Finding language resources in your own neighborhood

You may think that opportunities to practice your foreign language of choice are limited to spending hundreds of dollars, or more, on a plane ticket, or maybe renting an obscure foreign film at your local film rental place. However, depending on where you live, there could be plenty of free, or at least very inexpensive, practice opportunities in your own neighborhood.... More

Tags: conversation exchange, foreign language practice, newsletter, tips
August 22, 2008

How many languages at once?

I recently got an interesting e-mail inquiry from a customer who’s learning Japanese with our Ultimate Japanese course, as well as Spanish, with our Ultimate Spanish course. He’s now set his sights on Hindi, and wanted some information on our Hindi course. I loved this question for two reasons. First, because I love people who choose Living Language over and over again! But also because this guy is my kind of guy - a linguaphile who just wants to keep on learning languages.... More

Tags: bilingual, Language learning, language tips, multiple languages
August 20, 2008

I want to learn a language, but…

I don’t want to learn any grammar. If someone were to say to you, “I want to learn how to swim, but I don’t want to get wet,” what would you think? That’s exactly what I think when someone says “I want to learn a new language, but I don’t want to learn any grammar.” For a language learner, grammar is, to push the metaphor a bit, like water for a swimmer. It’s all around you, you can’t avoid it, sometimes you struggle through it, but it holds you up and makes it possible to swim in the first place. But while swimmers are universally grateful for water, grammar gets a bad rap from a lot of language learners.... More

Tags: learning grammar
June 10, 2008

Similar words

One of the most frustrating things about learning a new language can be memorizing all that new vocabulary. After creating your 500th or so flashcard (and after your fifth run to the drugstore for index cards), it can be difficult to stay motivated. However, if you’re ever feeling frustrated, it might be helpful to take a break and think of this: similar words.... More

Tags: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, language learning, newsletter, Portuguese, Spanish, tips
June 5, 2008

My Travel Words and Phrases: Paris and Money

With currencies the talk of the town lately (unfortunately so for many American travelers), what better French terms to discuss than those dealing with money? As a result, this installment of Paris Travel Words and Phrases covers some useful terms that will help you get by during those very frustrating times of unfavorable exchange rates.... More

Tags: French, language, Paris, tips, travel, vocabulary
May 21, 2008

Reading foreign literature

Once you’ve reached a basic level of fluency in your chosen language and feel the need to challenge your comprehension and/or translation skills further, it’s a good idea to start exploring foreign literature.... More

Tags: bilingual books, foreign literature, language, newsletter
May 21, 2008

Having trouble memorizing vocabulary?

You obviously need to learn new words in order to speak a language. Even though that may seem straightforward compared to learning how to actually put those words together in sentences, it’s really not as simple as it appears. Memorizing words is difficult, even just memorizing words in the short term. But long-term memorization takes a lot of practice and repetition. There are a few different ways to “lodge” a word in your memory, and some methods may work better for you than others. The best thing to do is to try a few until you find the one that works best for you. ... More

Tags: flash cards, language learning, newsletter, tips, vocabulary
April 25, 2008

Pronouncing Arabic

As with most languages, one of the most challenging aspects of learning Arabic is sounding like a native speaker, or developing the skills to reproduce specific sounds. Everyone faces this issue, but it is even more difficult if you’re learning a language (like Arabic) that doesn’t have the same linguistic roots as your native language. For example, it is difficult for Arabic speakers to perfect the sound “p” in English, since the letter doesn’t exist in Arabic. Similarly, for native English speakers, the Arabic letter Haa is often very challenging since it has no English counterpart. (Pretending to clear your throat with an “ahem” would get you close to producing the sound.)... More

Tags: Arabic, audio, newsletter, pronunciation
March 24, 2008

Pretend to pronounce…

Are you frustrated by how difficult it is to pronounce a new language? Don’t be. There are easy things you can do to get better, and you’re never too old to improve your pronunciation if you really work on it.... More

Tags: language, newsletter, pronunciation
February 22, 2008

Finally, an excuse to watch more movies!

Foreign films are a great way to practice a new language. You can learn by watching them with or without subtitles, and pausing and rewinding to hear a sentence or two over again if you need to. Not to mention the very helpful fact of having audio with clear visual aides, language set in real life situations, and plenty of cultural information. The ease at which you can rent foreign films online or in stores these days makes them an ideal and, importantly, fun way to learn more about a language and the culture of places where it is spoken. For example, here are some great French staples that you can watch as a student of French. ... More

Tags: French, language, movies, newsletter
January 22, 2008

Turn up your radio!

Music is a language nearly everyone can understand, and you’d be surprised how great it can be for language learning. Find an online radio station, or scan the dial. ... More

Tags: language, newsletter, radio
December 14, 2007

Go online!

One of the greatest ways to explore a new language, at least without actually going to a place where people speak that language, is to explore the internet.... More

Tags: newsletter, online course, tips
November 26, 2007

My Travel Words and Phrases: Paris (around town)

Part III of Shaina’s essential words and phrases cover interesting tidbits on things to do in Paris, including some helpful advice about why (and when) not to ask for ice and butter in restaurants.... More

September 5, 2007

3 Essential Phrases in French, Latvian, and Croatian

Inspired by Wired’s 3 Essential Sentences Wiki, here’s our version of some essential phonetic travel phrases. Brought to you by the editorial team at Living Language, with their amazing skills in all kinds of cool languages. ... More

August 16, 2007

My Travel Words and Phrases: French Food

Part II in Shaina’s installment of essential French words and phrases covers the best part of traveling to Paris: food.... More

June 26, 2007

My Travel Words and Phrases: Parisian Transportation

I am fortunate enough to have traveled to Paris a good amount over the years. I therefore like to think of myself as only semi-lost there and perhaps able to impart something like wisdom. And so, on that expert basis, I offer you semi-regular installments of French words and phrases that I think will come in handy in the one of the most visited cities in the world. ... More

June 7, 2007