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-… How to improve your Vietnamese spelling
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… How an afternoon in a park taught me to pronounce ng-
Do you feel like you should write in Vietnamese, but you don’t really know what to write about? Choosing the right topic enables you to practice your Vietnamese in a low-pressure setting. Writing gives you… 12 topics to kickstart your Vietnamese writing
When you think about writing in a foreign language, what springs to mind? Writing essays for class? Writing a short text about a trip you went on or a fun evening you had with friends?… Writing in a foreign language… Actually there are different kinds of writing.
Sometimes when learning a language we struggle with motivation. It seems like a never-ending uphill climb. You’re so focused on where you’re going and how you’re progressing (or where you’re failing), that you forget how… How to celebrate your progress – the Can-do List
Picture the scene. You’re in Vietnam, sitting down to eat with a friend and having a conversation in Vietnamese. It’s going well, your understanding is high and you’ve asked lots of questions. It’s a great… It’s ok to forget words when learning a foreign language
A new type of post on the blog, I’ll periodically be featuring short posts with little golden nuggets of knowledge or advice about language learning. Thảo ơi, how do I choose reading and listening materials… How do I choose materials suitable for my level?
Every language learner wants to, or should want to, improve your pronunciation. Here’s a technique I picked up while teaching English in Vietnam: how to noticeably improve your pronunciation in just 15 minutes. What you… How to improve your pronunciation in 10 steps
Yesterday I announced the Summer Recording Challenge. I hope you will join me on a 40 day quest to improve your pronunciation this summer. I’m not going to rope you into this without any advice… 4 steps to prepare for Summer Recording Challenge
Classes can be a great way of getting good, consistent input in your language learning journey. For many people, myself included, learning stagnates without a push to keep going (and there’s nothing like having paid… When should you quit language classes?