“What’s the best way to learn Spanish?” Spanish was the first language I learned to a conversational level, so I get this question a lot. People often want a magic bullet: what’s the one best method or technique to get the Spanish language into their heads? Here’s a secret: there is no one best way […]
MORESpaced Repetition System: Learn Vocabulary and Never Forget It!
The Space Repetition System (SRS) is a great method to make sure you remember vocabulary so it sticks in your mind! But what is it? I’m sure you know the feeling when you have learned a word, and you’re sure of it, but you just can’t say it. This may simply be because it’s been […]
MORE10 Best Chinese Online Dictionaries
If you’ve read some of my articles, you already know I’m no fan of big, heavy, expensive printed dictionaries. I’m all for online and downloadable dictionaries that I can take with me on my trips because they’re handy anytime and anywhere. I even wrote a blog post on the best online dictionaries where you can […]
MOREFrench for Kids: 10 Helpful Online Resources
Looking for some French resources for kids? You’re in the right place! You can learn a new language at any age. You don’t need to be a toddler, or a kindergartener, or some other “magic age”, to become fluent in more than one language. But there are still plenty of reasons to start your children […]
MORE“My Love” in Different Languages – 77 Weird and Wonderful Romantic Names
Have you ever tried calling your significant other “my love” in other languages? There is no better way to impress them than by giving them a special name from another part of the world. Around the world and across languages, people express their love in different ways. The ways to say “my love” in other […]
MOREPor vs. Para in Spanish: The Ultimate Guide
What’s the deal with por vs. para? That’s a common question from Spanish learners. That makes sense, because the difference between the words por and para is one of Spanish’s more difficult aspects. But I’m here to help you understand it all. Here’s a quick overview: Most of the time, both por and para translate […]
MOREThe German Alphabet – a Complete Guide
The German alphabet uses the same 26 letters as English, plus the extra character “ß”, and three vowels with umlauts, “ä”, “ü”, and “ö”. This article is the most comprehensive guide you’ll find to the German alphabet anywhere on the Internet. I’ll explain everything you need to know to read, write and pronounce the German […]
MORE20+ Resources for Spanish Reading Practice (Beginner to Intermediate)
Are you thinking of getting some Spanish reading practice? One of the best ways to learn Spanish words and grammar is to read in Spanish. The problem? Textbooks are too basic (or too boring!), while novels are difficult for beginners. With that in mind, I’ve put together a collection of Spanish reading resources that are […]
MOREHow To Learn Mandarin Chinese Faster – It’s Easier Than You Think
Napoleon Hill wrote in his bestselling book Think and Grow Rich, “There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge.” Do you say to yourself, “I am too old/young/fat/skinny/rich/poor/educated/uneducated/white/black/gay/straight/hairy/hairless/sheep/goat to be learning a new language [or insert any formidable-sounding thing].” Realize this kind of negative talk is self-defeating and that you are your own worst enemy.
MOREHow to Speak German: The Faster Way to Learn German
One of the most common questions I’m asked is: “What’s the best way to learn German?” Or, another variation: “What language hacks will teach me how to speak German with ease?” Well, I’m going to teach you just that. In my travels around the world and my conversations with language learners I’ve noticed that the […]
MOREEverything You Need to Know About Definite Articles in Spanish
In English, we only have one definite article: “the”. But there are five definite articles in Spanish: el, la, los, las, and lo. I’ve got good news for you: it’s really not complicated, and I’ll show you everything you need to master definite articles in Spanish. I’ve included a lot of examples to make learning […]
MOREHow to Find the Right Online Language Tutor for Your Language Classes
One of the most frequent questions I get when I talk about my intensive language projects is How do I find a good online language tutor? Today, I want to cover this question in as much detail as possible. Here’s what we’ll talk about: This article is part of my online language lesson series of […]
MOREHow to Use Possessive Adjectives in Spanish
Possessive adjectives in Spanish are words like “my” (mi) and “his” (suya). They show that an object belongs to somebody. Possessive adjectives work a little differently in Spanish compared to English. I’ve put together this guide so you can understand exactly how they work. In this complete guide to mastering Spanish possessive adjectives, you’ll learn: […]
MORE15 Online Language Lessons to Learn Italian for Free
There are many ways to learn Italian for free. Wait, did you think learning Italian meant breaking the bank? Think again. The internet is full of Italian language lessons that cost nothing. They come in every format: With these, you won’t have to worry about spending a single centesimo (“cent”) on your Italian lessons! You […]
MOREHere’s an English Poem to Show How Crazy English Can Get
This video is entirely in English (I haven’t done such a thing for a half a year!) and is very simply just me reading a poem. But this is no ordinary poem! It was written (not sure by whom) to demonstrate the weird spelling convention that English follows, and is incredibly difficult to read without practising it a lot in advance!
I used to offer the best students in my classes (when I was an English teacher) €100 if they could read the entire thing without slipping up. Considering that I couldn’t even do this myself (I slip up once in the video even this time, and probably pronounce one or two words wrong), I knew that the money was safe!
This poem is generally used to prove that English is the “hardest language in the world” (I shit you not; as I always say every language makes this claim), so I’ve decided to hijack any searches people make for this poem, to add some humour to a normally dull and discouraging concept, and then add some encouragement of my own at the end!
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