We’d just finished a supermarket shop and were already outside when he suggested we go back in to check for something we’d been meaning to buy. I said no. He kept imploring me — until…
You might think that mistakes and errors are the same thing, but when it comes to language learning there’s a subtle difference. What is this difference and how does it affect your language studies? What’s…
Being a good conversationalist is much more complex than being able to speak a language. Everyone can have a conversation but some people bore you half to death while others are fascinating and fun to…
Can you pick up a language just by listening? I’ve written before that I don’t think it’s very helpful for beginners to start watching Vietnamese TV, hoping to magically pick up the language. If you…
Each lunar new year in Vietnam is themed with an animal, one of the 12 Vietnamese zodiac animals. Why is this and how does the Vietnamese zodiac system work? Why your birth year is important…
Language learner & teacher · 10+ years helping learners build practical and effective study habits. Podcasts are one of the easiest ways to learn Vietnamese – you can listen while commuting, cooking or walking. Unlike…
Do you get enough Vietnamese speaking practice? I’m guessing not. I’ve mentioned several times that I use conversation lessons when learning foreign languages. But what exactly is a conversation lesson and what are the factors…
Speaking a foreign language can be a challenge, but when you overcome that it can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. How can you improve this difficult skill? In order to improve your speaking skills…
Tết 2022 is fast approaching – Chúc Mừng Năm Mới! What a year 2021 was again. Through it all I’ve still been learning and practising my languages. This post is my annual round-up of how…
In 2011 I arrived in Vietnam ready to teach English after a couple of months backpacking and ready to learn the language. In total I spent 3.5 years in Vietnam between 2011 and 2016. Some…