How to beat Anki backlog
Have you ever left Anki alone for a few weeks and come back to a huge card backlog? Several months ago I got overwhelmed by my Anki decks. I’d been on holiday and not reviewed…
How to get more practice #1: do a language exchange
I’ve said before that it’s really important to get feedback from a native speaker on your Vietnamese pronunciation. But what if you’re not in Vietnam? What if you’re learning at home with an audio course…
How to find and add audio to Anki flashcards
Last month I introduced some techniques and tools for tackling hard-to-remember vocabulary. My recommended solution for most words that you’ve learnt through your study, conversations or reading is spaced repetition. But most shared decks don’t…
3 ways to remember vocabulary when learning a foreign language
Thảo ơi, I have a hard time remembering vocabulary. What can I do about it? Some experts reckon it takes 6 or more meaningful exposures to a word to truly learn it, so it’s perfectly…
How learning styles affect language learning
Have you ever wondered why some learning activities work well for you, while there are others you can’t stand? Some people love classes, others enjoy podcasts and others can’t get enough of writing and note-taking.…
Absolute Beginner Vietnamese: How to start learning
If you’re a complete beginner in Vietnamese and you barely know a word of Vietnamese, where should you start? I don’t know about you but I find it tricky to learn the first few words…
How I learnt Vietnamese – Part 1
Back in March I passed the 3-year mark since I started learning Vietnamese. In this time I’ve worked hard but also taken some breaks where I’ve done little but maintain my level. Recently I realised…
How to improve your Vietnamese spelling
It’s fairly easy to learn how to read Vietnamese words aloud. It’s a bit trickier spelling them due to letters which can sound similar like a and ă, or are essentially the same like gi-…
Vietnamese Pop Music – 10 Artists
Music is a fun way to get in touch with Vietnamese culture and can even benefit your language learning. But I have a confession… When I lived in Vietnam I didn’t really listen to Vietnamese…
How an afternoon in a park taught me to pronounce ng-
Readers have been asking me questions about Vietnamese pronunciation. It’s an important part of learning Vietnamese but I didn’t know where to start. Then last week I read this short article explaining how to get…