Learn Languages with Steve Kaufmann

The Internet has changed how we learn languages. There are so many apps and so much readily available technology that it has never been easier to learn languages. Want to learn a new language? Sign up for LingQ today: https://bit.ly/3v5dZIk

Learning Japanese, and living in Tokyo for 9 years, had a profound influence on my life, especially professionally. It wasn't necessarily meant to be. It came about because of a personality conflict I had with my boss. I might have ended up in Beijing instead. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3eW6PAx

Mistakes are an essential part of language learning, a chance to notice and learn. We should welcome our mistakes. Unfortunately, school teaches us to be afraid of mistakes. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/2RMwNNE

Talking, having meaningful conversations in the language we are learning, is not only a major goal for most language learners, it is a necessary part of getting to fluency. But our attitude is important. It's best to focus more on communicating meaning, and how the language is used by others, and less on how we think we sound.

We are often attracted by the appeal of 10 secrets to losing weight, seven tips for keeping your house clean, so why not 10 secrets to language learning? These secrets or tips usually get us thinking about ways to do things better. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3uqk1CQ​

The key to success in language learning is to engage with the language often and in ways that you find enjoyable. If you like doing flash cards, using spaced repetition systems, then it's worth doing. If not, this kind of learning activity won't help much. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/33fnKXO

We acquire languages gradually through input. Some people think we need to master certain basic concepts or vocabulary first as soon as possible. In fact, we acquire the most common words and structures of the language slowly and mostly if we are exposed to them often enough in natural contexts.

Given that the fastest way to learn a language is to listen and read a lot, how do you begin a language from scratch, when you don't understand anything? Here I demonstrate how I start a new language.

Neither "speaking from day one" nor "getting a good grammar book and dictionary" will enable a person to learn a language more quickly. These things can be part of a learning strategy. Mostly, however, we need to acquire the language through lots of exposure, lots of reading and listening.

A lot of language study takes place in schools. In the English language school system in Canada, very few school children outside of French immersion learn to speak French despite years of classroom instruction and testing. Why is this? ___ Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3euQz8f

Reading is the killer app for learning languages, but also for learning other things. In order to study effectively we need to work on our reading skills, and that means reading a lot. We should also take advantage of audio in order to ramp up our ability to absorb information from reading. This applies to language learning and learning other subjects as well. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3toiU6i​

People ask me how long it takes to learn a language, sometimes with reference to a specific language. I feel like asking them "what's the hurry?". Just enjoy the language and enjoy whatever you are able to achieve in the language. ___ Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/2OxOzTD

Russian is not only a language rich in history & literature, it’s also a gateway to other Slavic languages, which share most of the same grammatical challenges(or delights). Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3cH5hsP

Are some languages harder to learn than others? Yes, think so. Some have less or more forgiving grammar. Some have unfamiliar or hard to learn writing systems. Some are harder to pronounce or have little common vocabulary with languages we know. But if we are truly motivated, it doesn't matter. ___ Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3cmp2FV

In order to be successful language learners, it can help to have some sense of the learning process, what is actually going on in our brains. This can determine our learning activities and our expectations of ourselves. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3cRZZKa

Three major East Asian languages, Chinese, Japanese and Korean share a lot of vocabulary, history and culture and yet each one is distinctive, and well worth learning. ___ Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3toimwJ

Here I interview Yuzzy, a Japanese exchange student at a high school in England. I ask him what he finds most difficult in English, and he doesn't know. He doesn't worry about the details. He has just absorbs the language. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3t0OLct

I don't worry about how well I speak Spanish, nor about the mistakes I make. I can't control how others react to my Spanish. I can only control how I feel about using the language, and these are feelings of pleasure and satisfaction, regardless of my level. I have always enjoyed my 60 year association with the Spanish language and culture. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/2Og8i9C​

Many people attend Toastmasters sessions to practice their public speaking skills, to practice a foreign language or to meet people. Here are some ideas on how to organize your thoughts. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3kaMnwK

Japanese can take longer to learn than some European languages, but it isn’t inherently difficult. In fact, I found Japanese to be a forgiving language, one where it’s harder to make mistakes. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/2M9hNXO

Learning a language while sleeping is sometimes hopefully offered as an effortless way to learn languages. I have not seen evidence that this works, or is even possible. ___ Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3s0roz9​

There’s an abundance of academic studies about vocabulary, what words do and how they’re acquired. But it’s really quite simple: listen and read and your vocabulary will grow! Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3cX9x87

What constitutes a good study plan for learning languages? Developing good habits, things you enjoy doing every day, is more important than any kind of step by step plan or program. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/2MCDrnt

We can improve our English speaking skills by speaking more. But if not surrounded by English speakers, the next best thing is to step up our listening and reading while waiting for more opportunities to speak. ___ Study this video as a lesson on LingQ: ​https://bit.ly/3jeJ3A7​ LingQ course of my videos as lessons: https://bit.ly/3r79JW4

BTS, the popular Korean pop group, has an appeal that represents a desire in the world for everyone to just get along and accept each other. Here I talk about how they have fun speaking different languages, especially Chinese and English. ___ Learn Korean with BTS on LingQ: https://bit.ly/2MimLRD

For all the languages that I have learned, I only attended school twice. However, in every case it was becoming an independent language learner that brought me success.

As with all the languages I’ve learned, my passion for the language, and all that surrounds it, was key to success in learning Mandarin. But lots of reading and listening helped me achieve my goals. Study a language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3oX5egl

It’s a New Year. 2021. What do I hope to achieve this year? I’ll stay on Persian and Arabic for a while and maybe go back to Turkish in the summer. We’ll see how I do. Learn a new language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3rS6YcC

I got turned on to French long ago and my passion for the language has stayed with me for over 50 years. In this video I share my journey to French fluency. Learn a new language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/2WX9NuL

We don’t need more language textbooks, with limited language content, drills and explanations. We just need each other to talk about what interests us, record it, transcribe it and offer it to learners of our language. Learn a new language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/2Ma2U70

History is one of my major motivations for learning languages, and learning languages motivates me to learn history. In this video I discuss my interest in languages, different peoples, and the course of history, with special reference to the languages I am now learning, Persian, Arabic and Turkish. Learn a new language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3phQkkB

When I learn languages I get into the culture and history of that language. Listening to the history in the language connects me emotionally, but I get most of my information reading in English. Learn a new language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/3gNGHHh

When we learn a foreign language we imitate an aspect of another culture. In other words, we are entering into a foreign cultural space. This can sometimes cause difficulties. Learn a new language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/2JMPahF

We all have language habits, ingrained from our native languages, or languages we speak well. How do we get outside these and develop new language habits? Jeremy discusses this with reference to Korean. Learn a new language on LingQ: https://www.lingq.com

When I learn languages I enjoy the process, even when I’m not sure I’m progressing. People who love fishing enjoy it even when the fish aren’t biting. Learn a new language on LingQ: https://bit.ly/38Op5ZO

It's always fun to practice a language we are learning with a native speaker, wherever we may find them. We shouldn't be disappointed, however, if they reply in our language. There can be many reasons for this. Learn a new language on LingQ: https://www.lingq.com

In learning languages, we discover all the many ways that people from different cultures are the same. During the process of discovering this we can learn a new language, and learning the language teaches us about the new culture. Learn a new language on LingQ: https://www.lingq.com Get my 10 Secrets of Language Learning: https://www.thelinguist.com

Learning English is sometimes different from learning other languages. It’s often learned out of need or obligation, rather than interest. I discuss this with Gabby of Go Natural English. Learn a new language on LingQ: https://www.lingq.com

We should never underestimate the power of passive vocabulary. A broad passive vocabulary is the key to increased engagement with a language, more listening and reading, enjoying movies, and eventually being able to have meaningful conversations. Passive vocabulary is the key to progress in the language we are learning. Learn a new language on LingQ: https://www.lingq.com

The modal verb, the "would, should, might" etc. type of verb, is a staple of English as a second language instruction. In order to become comfortable using these verbs, better to spend less time with explanations or drills, and more time listening, reading and speaking. Learn a new language on LingQ: https://www.lingq.com

Will John Olumeri has a popular channel on YouTube and a strong interest in languages. I am always impressed by people who share my enthusiasm for learning languages. And his Danish pronunciation is amazing. Learn a new language on LingQ: https://www.lingq.com

Learn a new language on LingQ: https://www.lingq.com As is the case in many languages, once your French is at a level where you can easily interact with native speakers, you may find yourself wondering at the meaning of certain colloquialisms. Street French focuses on these in their channel. We discuss this in this interview.

Learn a new language on LingQ: https://www.lingq.com If anything, the COVID-19 pandemic drives home the fact that we are all connected. We got into this because we’re connected and will get out of it because we’re connected. So I focus my energies on learning languages so I can connect better with other people and cultures.

Learn a new language on LingQ: www.lingq.com Arabic is spoken by over 400 million native speakers on three continents. A powerful historical language, it has influenced languages in the region and in Europe. Mike Still is an Arabic speaker, has lived in several Arabic countries and helps people learn Arabic. We discuss the learning of Arabic in this video.

Learn a new language on LingQ: www.lingq.com Over 100 million Germans speakers in Europe. At the center of the old continent and at the heart of its history. Classical music and Rammstein, engineering and philosophers, Rhine wine and beer. Lots to like.

Learn a new language on LingQ: https://www.lingq.com Comprehension questions aren’t helpful to language learners, but many teachers think these can determine learners’ levels. To me they are just another useless test. Input, pleasurable input, listening & reading, using content that we choose and enjoy, these are the fastest way to improve in a language. Being asked questions to prove our understanding of what we read and listen to adds nothing.

Learn a new language on LingQ: https://www.lingq.com Race is irrelevant to language learning. At every polyglot meeting I find people of every race and gender speaking lots of languages. Yet some people are surprised that people who look a certain way can speak certain languages. *In reviewing this video I realize that I talk too much. Also our trip to Japan was cancelled because of coronavirus.

Learn a new language on LingQ: https://www.lingq.com We have to stay with it to succeed in language learning. It is too easy to be frustrated at our lack of progress. In this video I talk about three things that keep me going.

Learn a new language on LingQ: https://www.lingq.com Languages surround us wherever we are and wherever we travel, like a limitless buffet of delicious morsels of food. We can choose to limit ourselves to a few or to sample many. Here Moses Mccormick and I talk about the fun and challenges of learning many different languages.

Learn a new language on LingQ: https://www.lingq.com I'm really enjoying short biographical monologues, followed by "circling questions", in Persian. I would love to see the same in Arabic, and in fact for all languages. If you want to help develop this kind of intermediate contents for other languages, please watch my video and contact me: [email protected].