Why We Reach a Plateau in Learning a Language Posted by Sean Young on Mar 10, 2012 in Archived Posts
Look at the picture above. Do you see that huge piece of flat land coming up from the ground in the distance? That is called a “plateau”. Why is this in a language learning blog and not a geography blog? Just like when you’re driving across the desert, a plateau may be right there up…
Take It Step-By-Step Posted by Sean Young on Mar 1, 2012 in Archived Posts
In my previous post, I mentioned “Just like you can’t eat an entire meal in one bite, learning a language must be studied a little at a time“. That means taking your lessons and breaking them down into smaller, more manageable chunks. Even if you’re just learning from one small paragraph in 20 minutes, that’s…
Don’t Mind Going Slow… Posted by Sean Young on Feb 18, 2012 in Archived Posts
When someone sets out to buy a language learning book or language course, two questions most likely going through their mind are “Can this help me speak [language name] fluently?” and “How long will it take to learn this language?” Unfortunately, there is no universal standard for when a person is considered fluent in a language, and there is no…
New Kid in Town Posted by Sean Young on Feb 18, 2012 in Archived Posts
Hello, reader! My name is Sean Young and I’ll be the guy who keeps you informed with language news, learning tips and all kinds of cool stuff. If you are using a product by Transparent Language, you’ll find some useful tips here, too. A little about me: I was born and raised in Upstate New York…
Transparent Language’s Transparent Connect™ Online Courses Blend Cutting Edge Language-Learning Software and Live Instruction Posted by kheudorfer on Sep 14, 2011 in Archived Posts
Transparent Language, Inc. announces the full release of Transparent Connect, a complete language-learning solution that marries the two most important elements to foreign language acquisition: personal instruction and effective courseware. Now language learners are able to participate in one of the most unique online language courses available. Transparent Connect provides a True Blended Learning™ experience…
Adults don’t need to “learn like a child” Posted by kheudorfer on Aug 4, 2011 in Archived Posts
You may have heard these language learning claims before: “Learn a language the way you did as a child” or “mimic the way you learned your very first language”. Those of us in the language learning business see the fallacy in such arguments: learning our first language was actually quite difficult, not to mention slow! …
Old Dogs, New Tricks Posted by Keith Frankel on Aug 2, 2011 in Archived Posts
As the old adage goes, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. And a slew of scientific research has confirmed the spirit of the saying — at least when it comes to learning a new language. One recent study, however, challenges the notion of a language skill learning advantage in children. The leading thought…