Author: Smarter Language

Language learning may be hard work, but it’s not all serious all the time. There are a lot of different answers to “how to learn a language.” Some of the most effective ones are unexpected. Using fun, weird, and even straight-up goofy language programs and techniques can keep it enjoyable and help you get closer to your language goals. Why fun matters in language learning Who doesn’t want to make hard things in their lives more fun? When you’re learning a language, making it fun however you define it has benefits beyond your enjoyment. Making the process of learning a…

It’s common knowledge that immersion is the best way to become fluent in a foreign language, but how exactly can we immerse ourselves in a new language when international travel is not an option? Watching YouTube videos is one of the most effective and fun ways to immerse yourself in your target language while simultaneously exploring topics you find interesting. In this guide we’ll show you how you can incorporate YouTube videos into your daily study routine to elevate your learning experience and become more fluent.  Our method for boosting our foreign language skills with YouTube We use YouTube videos…

There are so many languages and so little time to learn them. How many languages can you learn at once? Stacking languages on top of each other isn’t easy, but with the right strategy it’s definitely possible and even has benefits over learning one at a time. How the brain manages multiple languages Not only are there several known benefits of being bilingual, but the human brain wasn’t designed for only one language. In many countries, bilingualism is the norm. Even within the country, there are plenty of people who grow up in bilingual households or speaking a different language…

Are your foreign language skills gathering dust on the shelf? Perhaps you studied Spanish for a few years in high school or picked up a bit of French while studying abroad, but now it feels like all of that knowledge has slipped away. Don’t worry – it’s never too late to polish off the rust and brush up on those skills! Our brains have the wonderful ability to quickly re-learn things we’ve learned and forgotten, it just takes a bit of effort and practice. If you’re ready to rekindle your passion for languages, we have some useful strategies you can…

So you want to learn a foreign language. Learning a new language is always a worthy use of your time and there are a lot of effective ways how to learn a language. Setting goals is an important first step in assuring that you’re using that time effectively. Once you know your goals, it’s easier to create a plan of action, know what to focus on, and make those goals your reality. But how do you set effective language learning goals? After all, not all goals are equally helpful. Setting effective language learning goals starts with evaluating what you already know…

Every language learning app teaches languages a bit differently, with study material designed to fit different users with different needs.  Duolingo and Pimsleur are two of the most popular language learning apps available today but they each follow distinct methodologies.  Duolingo vs Pimsleur – the basics Duolingo is best for learners interested in focusing on a language over a long period of time with the goal of reaching advanced levels of fluency.  On Duolingo, you’ll learn a good bit of grammar and vocabulary within a game-like interface that encourages strong study habits.  The app doesn’t have native-speaker audio but makes…

Reverso is an AI-based translation and dictionary tool boasting more than 45 million monthly users. For language learners Reverso is most useful for its “Context” tool, which allows users to search for example sentences in 17 different languages.  What is Reverso? Reverso provides translation, synonyms, conjugations and context sentences for a number of world languages. We primarily use Reverso Context to find example sentences of new words or phrases we encounter. It’s also a useful way to find multi-word translations, colloquial expressions and slang terms that won’t normally translate accurately in a standard dictionary or translation tool like Google Translate. …

italki separates itself from other language tutoring platforms in that it makes a distinction between “Professional Teachers” and “Community Tutors.”

LingoDeer is a fun and easy-to-use language app featuring 10 languages, four of which are Asian languages (Korean, Japanese, Mandarin and Vietnamese). It’s a great app for beginners with no prior experience, though there isn’t a lot of content available for intermediate or advanced learners. In our review of LingoDeer below, we share our experience using it to learn Korean and provide some key details on how learning a language on the app works. How does LingoDeer work? LingoDeer teaches languages through Lesson units that encompass three concepts: “Learning Tips” introduce you to new grammar concepts, “Stories” employ the concepts…