On the surface, at times it does appear that imitation does work when wanting to improve your pronunciation. For the people who
Why Doing Nothing* Can Be Better Than Doing Something At advanced levels of English it can be problematic knowing where exactly to focus
One of the central key beliefs in improving skills is the idea of practice. "Everyone" says you need to practice if you
Successful language learners do the kind of things the unsuccessful ones don't AND avoid the ones that unsuccessful ones do! Achieving the
Have any of you ever heard someone say ( apart from me!) that playing basketball (or any sport really) is like learning
The text below whilst on the same topic is slightly different It is easy to come to the conclusion that for English
Can lucid dreaming help you learn a language? There has been a spike in interest in lucid dreaming in recent years and
The text below is a slightly amended transcribed version of the clip above. With subheadings included to improve readability.Hi there Over the
The text below is a slightly amended transcribed version of the clip above. With subheadings included to improve readability.Hi there. IntroductionThis is
The text below is a slightly edited version of the video clip.Hi there. Today. I would like to talk about the second
Last week as you might recall, I set about debunking the idea that learning a second language like English for example, or
The post below is an edited (improved) version of the video clip above.Hi there. Today, I want to address the question of
What's after language classes? One seldom discussed question for language learners is how are they going to keep learning once they leave
You may be wondering, five? Well, once you understand AND implement these steps, and start seeing the results you get, you will
Here are a few questions I suggest you ask yourself to see if your listening is helping you as it should. I
Improving your listening skills will undoubtedly have an enormous impact on your ability to learn to speak a new language. Of course
Challenges translators face when translating from one language to another Being a translator is about much more than simply being bilingual, it
Many language learners don't understand that having a great language teacher is as important as going to a language class. What happens
What's after language classes?One seldom discussed issue for language learners who are in classes is how are they going to keep learning once
Every language is different in sound to every other. Some are very different and some not so. Each person from any language
Have you ever wondered what would be that one question you could ask a prospective language coach that would show you that
Your memory is not the problem. Your memory is appearing to fail you because the way you are using it is not
One of the least recognised qualities that effective language learners need to develop if they are to ever to get to the
Any English learner who wants to get to a native speaker level can in theory do it by themselves. However as most
Feedback IS understood by most people to be important but it remains one of the least understood areas in learning a language.
The key challenge of how to improve English pronunciation is something that each learner faces and needs to master. Even if you
Real improvement in English pronunciation IS possible.Do you really want to improve ? If you do, you have come to the right
Are you someone who struggles to learn a second language or feel it is taking you too long? Do you seem to
Learning a language clearly requires us to learn how the language itself works. Many people believe that grammar study can help and
(The text below is an expanded and slightly different version of the video)The 3 Keys to Successful Language LearningNo matter who you
A very common question asked by language learners is – “Is it useful (or useless) to talk to people who are also learning
Neuroscience has just provided us with a key insight into the topic about the importance of age in learning languages. Many times research of
What is monitoring?One of the essential keys to improving your language skills is the practice of monitoring your language use as you are using
Listen into a Teleconference at the 3rd ELT Conference at Pontianak, Indonesia to a talk on The Keys 3 to Motivating Language Learners. This is something
I recently sent out a survey to the subscribers on this website, seeking information about a number of things. One question was
I recently sent out a survey to the subscribers on this website, seeking information about a number of things. One question was
Language Learning and the OlympicsAt this time when all the news is filled with the excitement and the feats at the Olympics,
Read this and see for yourself that there is a best way to learn a language!By far the best way to learn
Feedback in Language Learning A critical element to effective language learning, in fact to any learning, is feedback. Without feedback, we just
Formula for Success You may be surprised to read that there is such a thing as a success formula for learning languages. I
The Adult Language Learner Everyone understands that there are many differences between how adults learn languages and how children do. Less people
So many people have told me that the reason they struggle to learn a new language is that they are lazy. I
Fear There would be very few people who approach speaking a new language with no fears. Fear of making errors and hence making a
For many language learners (and their teachers) repetition is highly valued, whether it be repeating vocabulary, grammar conjugations, sounds or phrases. This practice
No matter what religion you practice I suspect that many people around the world are winding down. It is a good time
If you have been trying to work out how it is that some people learn languages so readily whilst the majority end
There are many reasons why it is that some people become successful so readily whilst others struggle and never really achieve the
There is an increasing acceptance that emotional intelligence is a key factor which can not only influence the quality of our lives but
How often have we heard the exhortation, or even made it ourselves, “Try harder!” The implication being that rewards come to those
Languages are best learned when the learning is seen as games. Games are powerful paradigms for learning. Here you will find one
Are you in the flow? If you are then, according to Flow Theory, you are working and learning in a state that
Here is one way to assess your ability to learn languages. Many people talk about the difficulty of the language. A far
Does it really matter what I decide to learn next? One of the key issues that many learners overlook or don’t adequately
There certainly is a perception "out there" that language learning is hard. With the prevalence of that belief, one would think there
An often heard lament of language learners is, "Oh my memory is letting me down". Is that really the case, or is
Most people like to play, kids especially, even though there might be a few who might think it too frivilous! (Must be
What is driving your language learning, the meaning or the language? This might seem like an odd question, but I believe the
I was talking to some students the other day about why is it that some people end up being good cooks and
You may be wondering what trust has to do with language learning. I am here to tell you that it has everything
Morning. Latte, cappuccino, chai latte, frappucino – choices, choices and never enough time to think about what you really want. Best stick
I was struck recently from the experience I had when I attended a conference (IATEFL) for English language teachers in Hungary that
Here is the proof that some people might need to help them believe what I and others have been saying, namely that
Most language learning resources or materials are not for the advanced learners. Nor is it what language teachers usually talk about. There
There are many reasons why so many people struggle to learn a second language. If I was asked to pick a key
Learning language can be more like playing a game than most people think. Games are by their nature interesting and engaging so
I have been exploring what holds language learners back and what can be done to move forward so they can produce the
It is of course understood that in learning a language, the importance of meaning is paramount. This is taken for granted much
With the recent startling events concerning flight MH370 my thoughts turned to wondering about how getting lost applies to learning a language.
There is still a lot we don’t know about the process of language learning, but there is also is a lot that
It would seem that the vast majority of people who attempt to learn another language give up on that endeavour well before
For thousands of years, the 4 minute mile was considered not only physically IMPOSSIBLE, but according to doctors of the time –
I think by now most people who are connected to the media in someway would know about the passing of one of
Many language learners set out and do achieve a certain level but somehow end up getting stuck at a level before their
Over the years I have seen so many students waste countless hours on language learning homework which really has little likelihood of
Anecdotally, there seems to be a lot of talk about how having a lover in the target language can do wonders for
There is a widespread agreement by those who have looked at success that there is a lot we can learn from how
Dangers of Language ClassesSaying that language classes or courses can be "dangerous" may cause a few ripples amongst my peers but I
There are really a lot of different ways to learn languages. Of the ones that work, and not all do so well,
As I have mentioned before reading can be used to learn the grammar of the language you are learning. However you can
Discover how to dramatically improve your language learning abilityHave you ever wondered why it is that all of us learned our first
I had the pleasure recently of being interviewed by Sylvia Guinan on the role of empathy in language learning in Teacher Appreciation
There is no doubt about the importance of having a sense of one's own preferred language learning style when deciding how to
What can we learn from the infants experience?Maybe you have thought about the question – “Why is it that nearly all infants,
If you are finding your language learning is going more slowly than you wish, or not being as effective as you would
You may be wondering what empathy has got to do with language learning. Well, just suspend your judgment for a minute or
The ways we learn languages can affect our sense of freedom. Speaking a language is an inherently creative act through which we
There are a variety of factors that can affect the question of how to learn a language effectively. One of the critical
Listen to the podcast below (an interview with Dr. Piers Messum) and discover valuable insights as to how we stress and reduce
So you maybe are wondering why guessing is so important in language learning. Especially when your experience may well have been similar
Noticing what we are doing while we are learning a language, its impacts on others as well as ourselves is a key
You may be wondering how intuition is related to language learning. One way to realise the significance of intuition is to consider
Have you ever wondered why video games are so additive (to some!). Wouldn't it be great if we could get addicted to
Many people do not want to make mistakes in learning languages, however they serve an important function in learning, which in fact
In many parts of the world we are entering a festive season. Whether it be Christmas, Hanukka, Kwanzaa, or just a time to
Our beliefs are one of the most powerful determiners of our outcomes in life. However they are results of our experiences, but
Listen in as Dr. Piers Messum explains how by using imitation as a key to learning pronunciation we have been misled and
In trying to better understand what it takes to become a great ( if you prefer, you can use better!) language learner,
Most language learners (and teachers) seem exclusively concerned about the language they are learning (teaching), not themselves (the learner). Having been a
It is possible to learn a language in many different ways. One way that appeals to many people is reading. What is
What are the best language classes and why?Many language learners go to language classes believing that is the best way to learn
It has been shown that learning another language in an immersion environment is consistently superior to that of explicit language instruction- as
There is an undercurrent of opinion that there are talented language learners and then there are the rest, who struggle to get
A little understood language learning strategy Every language learner I believe understands the importance of practice. However, just what constitutes language practice
Learning grammar without a grammar book!In previous posts and articles, I have written about the need to get away from learning grammar
People do intuitively understand that there is a connection between languages and culture but sometimes the relationship between language learning and culture
Does "practice make perfect" or "does practice make improvement"? I think both can be true but really we will get much further
Many people turn to language classes in the blind belief that they will learn a language there. Well, sometimes that is what
There are many reasons why we go to language classes. One of the more important reasons is that we are seeking feedback
How talented people learn another language Many people wonder what it is that separates a so called talented language learner from one
Two ways to deal with the question of "how to improve memory".Most of the articles I have seen on how to improve
Having language learning goals is one of the key strategies that successful language learners have in common. One of the biggest obstacles
Perception as a learning skill is of undoubted importance. It is hardly ever talked about in relation to learning languages but its
One of the most common problems or issues that language learners talk about is how to memorize vocabulary. I have talked before
Language Practice Everyone knows the importance of language practice for language learners. However, there is not much discussion about what actually is
There has been some confusion about the nature of English spelling, partly because it seems to have so many words that don’t
The following is an abridged and amended version of a talk I gave to some advanced level English language learners last year about
Habits are a powerful mechanism that can power our success or hinder it beyond measure. So it is imperative that we need to
One of the more common New Year resolutions that people make, along side losing weight, is to do with learning a new
One of the least talked about aspects about how to improve your English (or any other language) is the role of habits.
Concentrating on vocabulary learning to the exclusion of all else is a common mistake that many language learners make. That is not
I wrote a free Ebook some years back which detailed 7 mistakes you need to to avoid to successfully learn another language.
There is almost a universal belief amongst language learners which goes something like ” if I do language learning exercises in grammar,
Why Improve Conversation Skills? You may be wondering why this topic is important for someone who wishes to learn a second language. One
Here is a hilarious video clip from Pink Panther of Steve Martin attempting to learn how to pronounce English. Though very humorous,
Discovering how to improve pronunciation is an essential task for any serious language learner. It is easy to get discouraged when you
Steve Jobs’ impact on our life cannot be overestimated. His innovations have likely touched nearly every aspect of life to do with–
Motivation in Language Learning is one of the important elements of successful language learning. One of the basic elements in motivation that
One of the students I have been working with lately on improving her learning made a comment the other day, out of
Improving pronunciation is something that every language learner wants to do. So, how to do it?Listening lies at the foundation of learning
How to remember vocabulary is a question that virtually all learners I have come across try to solve by drawing up vocabulary
One of the basic understandings that can drive your learning forward is to understand that for language learning to happen, there must
To better understand successful language learning we can learn a lot by a better understanding of what successful people do in any area
One of the most coming reactions to mistakes is, “Ugh, that was silly” or “@#$%” or some such thing. Most of the
Do the language learning techniques you use effect your language learning? The language learning techniques you use to learn a foreign language
Your beliefs in language learning are a critical factor in whether your learning is going to be successful The role of beliefs
There are so many people who struggle to learn languages or who just progress too slowly. One of the key factors that define
Your language learning strategies are a key factor if you are interested in taking your language learning to the next level. Many