Fluency Roots: thoughts on language learning.
These posts are ordered in order of recommended reading. It’s not necessary to read every post, but the topics do build on top of one another.
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Starting from nothing
Learning a language as an adult has lots of advantages: you know your learning style, you have the motivation to learn even when it’s not fun, etc. However there’s also some pitfalls to avoid. At the very beginning of learning a language there’s a couple things to avoid that are going to help a lot…
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Slow down to speed up
This topic expands on the previous topics related to learning the core of a language. By learning the core of the language we don’t just gain the ability to speak more naturally and effortlessly, we also can become more efficient in our learning. Around the B1 level or so, it’s beneficial to take some time…
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Learning the core of the language
It’s common to see people and/or programs advocate for learning set phrases, memorizing conjugations, etc. Of course memorization is needed for starting certain parts like learning the alphabet of a given language (if it has one), but I believe that nearly every time you memorize you are taking a shortcut that limits your understanding. If…
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What is fluency? What are we aiming for?
What is fluency? Fluency is a very overloaded term. For the purposes of this site, fluency simply means being able to speak smoothly in a given language, it doesn’t mean knowing every single word, being a native level, etc. The main components of “fluency”: This definition above is my own, everyone’s might be different, and…
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Pushing through barriers
I’m generally not an advocate of “pushing” when learning languages, it should be fun most of the time. The exception is when there is a domain (speaking, listening, etc.) that you have a goal to learn, but are afraid to take that step. For example, you might have a goal to learn speaking, but have…
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The biggest risk in language learning: quitting
This post might seem to conflict with the prior point on pushing through boundaries, read further to see the nuance. The biggest risk in language learning (especially when self-studying, not having a strict program or critical deadlines, etc.) is the risk of giving up. Giving up completely is far more detrimental than a bit of…
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How can language learning advice be generic?
It might not be intuitive that language learning advice can be generic. While most language learning programs are tailored to a specific language, aiming to explain grammar, vocabulary etc. for that specific language, there is actually a lot of common ground between languages also. Consider this – Everyone has a natural aptitude level to any…
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Language schools – good or bad?
I was recently starting my journey to learning Japanese (around 6 months ago) and when I was going around Tokyo I happened to run into a student from the school I planned to go to long term (I was currently enrolled in but had not yet started a short term program and I had a…
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Kids learn way faster than adults right?
Everyone on earth has heard of the idea that kids can learn language better than adults (and the implied added idea that adults are hopeless and should just give up trying). I want to try to dispel that idea. One part of languages that people talk a lot about is accents. Most people never reach…
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Working with your brain, not against it
Your brain is lazy…efficient Your brain is optimized to be calorie efficient, much like the rest of your body. If it wasn’t your previous generations would have died in a famine a long time ago. If you don’t show your body you want to get stronger, it won’t waste calories building muscle, and if you…