The Real Reason You’re Bad at Languages
Have you ever thought you just don't have the "language gene"? The truth is, your struggles likely have nothing to do with your age or talent, but everything to do…
Tag: second language acquisition
Learning vs. Acquisition: The Big Secret
Ever wonder why years of high school French left you unable to order a coffee, while others seem to soak up new languages effortlessly? The secret isn't about talent; it's…
The Foreign-Language Effect: Thinking Rationally
Research suggests that thinking in a second language can reduce our emotional biases and override flawed mental shortcuts. This "foreign-language effect" creates cognitive and psychological distance, forcing us into a…
The Science of First Language Attrition
We celebrate learning new languages, but what about the one we learned first? First language attrition is the fascinating, and sometimes frustrating, process where our native tongue can fade after…
Language Ghosts: L2 to L3 Interference
Ever tried to speak your third language, only for a word from your second language to slip out? This phenomenon, known as L2 to L3 interference, is a common hurdle…
Cracking Connected Speech
Ever feel like you know thousands of words but still can't understand native speakers? The culprit is often connected speech, the set of "secret" rules that govern how words blend…
The Word Glue: Mastering Collocations
Fluency isn't just about the words you know, but how you stick them together. This article explores collocations, the natural word pairings that separate proficient speakers from native-sounding ones. Discover…
Tongue Gymnastics: Training Your Mouth for New Sounds
Pronunciation is more than mimicry; it's a physical skill akin to a sport. This article explores the biomechanics of speech, explaining how your tongue, lips, and vocal cords are muscles…
When a Language Won’t Awaken: The Hard Truths of Linguistic Revitalization
While the revival of Hebrew is a celebrated success, the path of language revitalization is often fraught with failure. The hard truth is that most efforts face immense challenges, from…
What Makes Finnish Difficult to Learn?
The Finnish language, native to Finland and parts of Sweden, Russia, and Norway, is one of the most distinctive and fascinating tongues on the European...
What is the Hardest Language to Learn?
The question, “what is the hardest language to learn?” has been a topic of curiosity for many and remains a subject of debate among linguists...
The Language of Dreams: Do Bilinguals Dream in Both Languages?
Dreams are a universal phenomenon, yet they remain shrouded in mystery. Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, famously referred to dreams as “the royal road...
Unlearning Your Native Language: The Subtle Influence of Mother Tongue in Foreign Language Learning
In the mosaic of human culture, language shines as one of the most vibrant elements, revealing the depth and nuances of different societies and civilizations....
The Age Factor in Language Learning: Myth or Reality?
Learning a new language can be an exhilarating yet challenging task. Across different societies, a common perception exists that language learning ability is strongly correlated...