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Education
Steve Kaufmann
I speak 20 languages. I've been learning languages for over 50 years and I've tried all kinds of approaches. I talk about my experiences, my approach to language learning, what I enjoy about learning languages and all manner of other topics related to language.
If you love languages, or think you would if you hadn't been discouraged by past experiences, this is the podcast for you. Anyone can learn a language. You just need the right attitude and the right approach!
The Key To Improved Listening Comprehension
I spend most of my time listening. Listening comprehension is where the action is, in my opinion. If you can understand movies, podcasts, conversations, the other end of the conversation, you can eventually get to where you can hold up your end of the conversation.
06:1407/02/2023
Tips To Improve Your Pronunciation From Expert @hadar.shemesh
Improving in a language, especially in pronunciation, is a matter of technique, practice and attitude. Hadar knows this from her experience learning English, and becoming an actress in New York, as a non-native speaker.
17:2903/02/2023
The Most Effective Way To Increase Your Vocabulary
Reading is a vital activity in language acquisition. It’s how to build vocabulary. In today’s video I talk about my experience with both intensive and extensive reading and why I like to do a mix of both.
13:4231/01/2023
The 5 Stages Of Enjoyment In Language Learning
I enjoy every stage of my language learning; when I start to explore a new language; when I go back again to something familiar that I don’t understand; when I start to understand more; when I understand most of it; and when I no longer feel I need to learn it.
07:4826/01/2023
Atomic Habits & Language Learning
Throughout his book, Atomic Habits, James Clear makes the point that small actions can, over time, have a major impact on outcomes. Developing good habits is more important than focusing on long term goals.
12:1924/01/2023
When Learning A Language DON'T Study The "Basics"
Some people say we need to “focus on the basics” when learning a language. However, we acquire various aspects of a language naturally, in an order that we don’t control. It is futile to try to master the basics, some of which will elude us for a long time.
08:4020/01/2023
Should English Be The Lingua Franca?
YouTuber Veronika Mark speaks excellent English and now she is studying Spanish in Mexico City. I caught up with her and discussed her studies and how her English has improved since we last spoke.
15:3217/01/2023
Can Learning Languages Help Prevent Dementia?
There may be many reasons why language learning, or bilingualism, is associated with a delay in the onset of dementia. Obviously, it is a form of exercise for the brain, creating new neural networks, but it also gives older people a strong sense of purpose.
05:5312/01/2023
One Thing I AVOID When Learning A Language
Do you enjoy answering comprehension questions about content in your target language? Many teachers and writers of language learning textbooks seem to think these questions are vital. I couldn’t disagree more.
06:5910/01/2023
Language Challenges & Maintaining Your Streak
Challenge yourself in 2023 and start a LingQ Language Challenge. We have a 30-day and 90-day challenges as well as the Streak with Steve challenge. Stay on track, motivated and learn from content you’re interested in and you will make a breakthrough in your target language.
06:4705/01/2023
My Language Learning New Years Resolutions 2023
In the coming year I want to follow my own advice and make sure I enjoy my language learning activities without worrying about how much I am improving. That’s my major New Year’s resolution.
08:5703/01/2023
In Language Learning Do It WRONG The First Time
We shouldn’t penalize people for getting things wrong in language learning. Maybe we congratulate them instead and encourage them to keep on getting things wrong, because eventually, with enough exposure, they’re going to get it right.
06:5301/01/2023
Why It’s Hard To Learn Similar Things When Learning A New Language
I find it easier to learn things that are different from each other in a new language. Take colours for example. If I can space the colours or connect them to something else, like a plant or a shirt, and I come across them in different situations, then eventually I assimilate them. I start to learn them. But if I try to learn them as a list, I find that very difficult to do.
05:0529/12/2022
Monolingual Child to Polyglot Adult: Stefani’s Journey
Stefani is fluent in five languages, intermediate in three others and learning two more. She is yet another outstanding polyglot who proves that you can grow up in a monolingual family and become an accomplished speaker of many languages.
14:1722/12/2022
Speak Your Way To Fluency
To speak well in a language we’re learning, we need to speak a lot. This requires strategy. We need to first build up our comprehension and vocabulary. Then we need to find or create environments that are familiar, comfortable and meaningful.
06:5920/12/2022
Can Writing By Hand Help You Learn A Language Faster?
Writing is a great way to improve your skills and comprehension, but particularly your ability to output, to speak. To write you need to look words up, so it’s an assist to get to speaking. Do you agree?
13:1916/12/2022
7 Reasons To Learn Languages
Aristotle's Metaphysics begins: "All men by nature desire to know". Languages are among the most useful and rewarding things we can learn and get to know. I discuss this in this video.
09:3914/12/2022
How Close Are Ukrainian And Russian?
Ksenia, from Russia, learned Ukrainian in Ukraine. I asked her how much Ukrainian a Russian speaker, with no previous exposure, understands. Answer: 40%.
20:5809/12/2022
Joe Rogan On Language Learning: Disappointing In My View
Someone sent me a few video clips recently of Joe Rogan discussing language learning with his guests. There is something in the attitude in these clips that bothers me as a language learning enthusiast.
09:2406/12/2022
How Do We Improve Our Writing In A New Language?
I recognize that writing can be a way of improving your ability in the language, a way of getting to more output. For some people it’s important to their academic and professional aspirations. So what do I have to say on the subject of writing?
11:1202/12/2022
Do Your Emotions Affect Your Success In Learning A New Language?
Emotion is an important part of learning languages. Cognitive research has shown that we learn better when we have positive feelings towards what we are learning. This is particularly true when it comes to the culture of the language we are learning.
06:0930/11/2022
Language Learning Success Depends On Rewarding Yourself
Reward yourself for what you can do in your target language. Don’t criticize yourself for what you can’t do. There are moments when you feel disappointed. Ignore these moments of self-doubt. Give yourself credit for staying active with the language, a guarantee of eventual success.
08:2124/11/2022
The Pareto Principle & Language Learning
If you Google “Pareto’s Principle” You will find all kinds of examples of how a small number of any series of events will account for the lion’s share of the results of effects of these events. People say this also applies to language learning. In this video I question this.
09:4522/11/2022
My Top Tip For English Pronunciation
Pronunciation and spelling can both give problems to learners of English. They are connected. Unfortunately, however, the spelling is not a reliable indicator of how words are pronounced. It takes a long time to get used to this.
13:5015/11/2022
Learn To Use These Cool French Pronouns “Y” And “En”
In every language I have learned there are certain usage patterns that tickle my fancy. They are usually handy in expressing my thoughts. The French pronouns "y" and "en" are good examples.
08:2410/11/2022
How Do We Know We're Learning A New Language?
If we engage in physical exercise, we have the feeling that we have done something, improved our fitness. We may even have tightness or soreness in our muscles. The same is not true with language learning. Often we don’t know if, in fact, we’re learning.
06:1003/11/2022
Want To Speak Well In Your Target Language? Read More.
Some people say they read well in a language, but struggle to speak. Solution: speak more, but don’t neglect reading. A wide passive vocabulary, best acquired by reading, enables you to engage in conversations with people on a wide range of content.
09:2401/11/2022
Vocabulary You Forget is Still Part of Your Memory
Many people think memory in language learning refers only to words you are able to retrieve when you need them. A much bigger part of your memory are words that you once learned and have forgotten. They are in your reserve waiting to be rediscovered.
06:0927/10/2022
How to Succeed in the First 3 Months of Learning a Language
When you start in a language, nothing is comprehensible. So then how do we get a toehold? Some advice for the key first three months.
09:0026/10/2022
How To Improve Your Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension is crucial in language learning and in life. The faster we can read, the more quickly we understand what we’re reading, and the faster we learn. There are tricks we can use to improve our reading comprehension. I discuss them in this video.
06:5021/10/2022
Mexican Spanish Vs. Spain Spanish
Some people worry about which kind of Spanish to learn, Mexican, Colombian, Argentinian, or the Spanish from Spain. In my view, this is not something worth worrying about when we start out in the language. Later on, once you are comfortable in the language, you can decide which accent or version you want to focus on.
10:0119/10/2022
Reading & Listening Comprehension Strategy: When To Focus
When we learn a language we focus on specific details at times, to get a clearer sense of the language. At other times we allow the language to enter our brain with less than perfect comprehension. Both help us grow in the language.
07:3914/10/2022
AI And Language Learning
I use artificial intelligence in the way I learn languages already. I think we’re just at the beginning of what AI can do to help us enjoy language learning more, and consequently do better.
13:3712/10/2022
To Learn Vocabulary We Must Forget Vocabulary
An obstacle to acquiring vocabulary is our reluctance to accept forgetting, our vain hope to hang on to vocabulary we have tried to learn. Maybe we should just let go of new vocabulary, repeatedly catch and release, until it sticks.
09:0404/10/2022
Does Language Immersion Work?
Language immersion sounds like magic. You go live in a country and once you are there you learn the language. In this video I explain why this isn’t necessarily the case, and what you can do to increase your chances of language immersion strategy success.
07:3029/09/2022
Combine These Language Learning Strategies For Success
Language learning is forgiving. It allows for errors and forgetting. We slowly become better by doing mostly top down, big picture learning, but sometimes we need to look at the details. We just shouldn't expect to remember them.
08:1428/09/2022
Don't Compare Yourself To Others When Learning A Language
You’re in charge of your language learning journey, you’re steering the boat. You go where you want to go and don’t worry about who’s behind and ahead of you.
07:2920/09/2022
How I Would Teach Languages In A Classroom
A language teacher should first and foremost be a motivator. I don’t believe you can teach a language to someone not motivated to learn it. Motivating learners is, of course, easier said than done, but it should be the primary goal of any teacher.
11:1816/09/2022
Can We Acquire A Language Naturally As Adults?
How deliberate should we be in learning a language? Should we deliberately study the language or do we just acquire it naturally?
10:3208/09/2022
Authenticity In Language Learning
I think we should aim for authenticity in language learning. The language content we are learning from, the conversations we have, need to be as authentic and as meaningful as possible. That way we learn without noticing that we are learning.
05:4506/09/2022
Forget About Native Pronunciation & Focus On NATURAL Pronunciation
I hear people say they want to achieve native pronunciation. A more realistic goal may be natural pronunciation where the speaker and the listener both feel comfortable. To achieve natural pronunciation you may need at first to just let go and play act a little.
06:0631/08/2022
Mastering TOEIC With Tetsuya Of @Morite2 English Channel
Tetsuya of the YouTube channel Morite2 teaches test-taking skills for Japanese people taking TOEIC. We chatted about the state of English learning in Japan and his adventures in language learning.
22:5925/08/2022
Steve Kaufmann & Stephen Krashen In Conversation
Tomorrow I will do a livestream with Dr. Stephen Krashen, linguist, educational researcher and activist, where we will discuss language acquisition.
Join us at 11AM Pacific Time on August 24: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7WUxvpPIKQ
06:1323/08/2022
Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules: My Thoughts
In Jordan Peterson’s book “12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos” the Canadian clinical psychologist offers life advice via 12 essays. Here’s where I agree and disagree with the ideas in the book.
16:0618/08/2022
Don’t Study Phrasal Verbs And Collocations
In English and other languages, certain words are often used with certain other words, sometimes to convey a special meaning. This juxtaposition of words is sometimes referred to as collocation. How do we learn to use collocations?
07:3916/08/2022
Why I Learn Languages: Persian
When learning a language I'm mostly motivated by an interest in the history and culture. Persian is no exception. Right now I'm listening to a podcast in Persian about Iranian identity.
13:0112/08/2022
How I Use Dictionaries When Learning A Language
To learn a language we need to look up the meaning of words. This means referring to dictionaries. Lately this has meant mostly referring to online dictionaries for me. Dictionaries are a necessary part of language learning as long as we use them effectively.
11:0409/08/2022
How To Focus In On Content When Learning A Language
For the last four or five days I've been focusing on a Persian podcast about the Islamic Revolution. I feel that this degree of focus and concentration has elevated my Persian. I explain in today’s video.
08:5505/08/2022
Variety Is The Spice Of Language Learning
Variety is the spice of life. Variety will help you learn. If you're in charge of your learning, you set the program, decide what you will spend your time on and set yourself up for success.
06:4003/08/2022
Listening & Reading Comprehension, YES - Comprehension Questions, NO
I don’t think comprehension questions are helpful in language learning. They destroy the pleasure of reading or listening. Brazilian educator Rubem Alves agrees with me. I listened to and read his thoughts while learning Portuguese. I didn’t always fully understand but I thoroughly enjoyed the process and my Portuguese improved.
08:0227/07/2022