When I first started learning Hebrew, I used a very popular overpriced software which promised to make learning a new language simple and intuitive. But after a few days of clicking on colorful stock photos of smiling people and saying things like “the cat is under the table” over and over again, I began to…
Boost Your Vocabulary with The New Kindle Paperwhite Feature
I’m usually not the first one to get all excited about a new version of some piece of hardware, but I’ve noticed a few features of the newly released Kindle Paperwhite which might be very helpful for language learners. Overall, the new Paperwhite is not that different from the old one, it’s marginally faster and…
Learn German With Adventure Games
Foreign language learners have access to a wealth of online learning materials, from books to interactive exercises, videos, audio and more. And yet, one key ingredient is still often missing: real world practice. Sure, if you already live in the country where your target language is spoken, there is no excuse. Just go out and…
How To Add a German-English Dictionary To Kindle on Your iPad or iPhone (iOS)
One of the great benefits of using ebooks for language learning is the ability to use custom dictionaries. Instead of having to search for each unknown word in a dictionary you can get instant translations while reading your book. If you own a Kindle Paperwhite or Kindle Touch and have installed a dictionary (see here…
Learn Better English Through Storytelling
If you speak English, the world is your oyster, whether in business, academics, technology or on the internet. If you were born into an English speaking country, good for you. If not, you probably had to work hard to acquire the language, or are still working on it. Growing up in Germany, Sweden and Thailand…
3 Reasons Why Video Games Are Underestimated In Language Learning
Is dabbling in video games a valid method for learning a foreign language? Slaying dragons and fighting epic space battles may be an entertaining way to kill some time, but it’s not what most people would associate with learning a new language. Perhaps it’s easy to change the in-game language of your favorite ego shooter or role-playing-game, but…
The Practice Of Not Knowing: A Third Method Of Foreign Language Learning
When learning a new language there are those things we need to know, those things we need to practice and a million other things we don’t know. 1. Knowledge Is (Passive) Power Knowing something usually doesn’t take a lot of effort. Either I know, or I don’t. It’s the process of committing something to memory…
How Not To Learn German Quickly
Through the years as a German teacher I had the chance to work with learners from all over the world. Not only did I observe a variety of difficulties due to peculiarities of mother tongues but even beyond that each individual student had very different needs in terms of explanation and practice. Therefore, I have…