The Foreign Services Institute (FSI) has developed a difficulty ranking of languages based on the time it will take an English speaker to learn the different languages. You can see the ranking here: https://www.state.gov/foreign-language-training/ It ranks the languages on their similarity to English. For example, Spanish and Swedish are in category 1, requiring an average […]
Tag Archives: languages
Making the most of a language learning partner
Whatever language you are learning, it is now easier than ever to find a language partner with whom to practice. You might pay your language partner, or you might teach them your language in exchange. So how do you get the most out of these practice sessions or lessons? I have found it important to […]
Comprehensible reading material for language learners
Reading is one of the most important elements of language learning. While speaking may be a priority for many, before long, reading ability becomes a necessity, especially if you live in a country where that language is dominant. When I moved to Japan in 2000, not being able to read was a source of great […]
Keep at It – There’s Always More to Learn
Once you have reached a high level in another language, or passed the highest grade of a proficiency test for that language, there is a tendency to ease up on your studies. You think, “I have mastered the language, so I don’t need to study anymore.” I thought like this after I passed first grade […]
Need motivation? Try taking a test
After the initial novelty of learning a new language wears off, you might find yourself opening your textbooks fewer times than you used to, or not maintaining your daily streak on Duolingo. It happens to even the most dedicated language learners. When learning a language, you soar to plateaus and plummet to depths (or hit […]
Word Retention in Language Learning
Over the years I have spent teaching English to Japanese speakers, the one complaint I have heard more often than any other is “I can’t seem to remember the words”. Obviously, if you are learning a language, you need to learn (and remember) words. When I ask my students how they go about learning words, […]
