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The Power of Mind Mapping in Language Learning (And Life!)
What is a Mind Map? British author, speaker, and memory master Tony Buzan defines mind maps as follows: “A Mind Map is a powerful graphic technique which provides a universal key to unlock the...
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What is the Best Way to Learn Japanese Hiragana & Katakana?
What are kana? The Japanese kana system is a “syllabary”—an alphabet made up of syllables instead of letters—that represents all the sounds of the language. There are actually two separate sets of...
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My Top 10 Tools for Learning Japanese Through Online Videos
We have been conditioned by well-intentioned mothers to believe that television will “destroy our brains.” This might well be true if one spends their time watching “reality” TV shows that don’t...
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Struggling to Learn Kanji? Use Imaginative—Not Visual—Memory
The Problem with “Visual Memory” Does this sound familiar? You stare at a given kanji (漢字・かんじ, “Chinese character”) for a few minutes, trying to will the strokes into memory. You write the kanji out a...
View ArticleHow to Change the Display Language on iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, Kindle,...
I talk frequently about the power of what I call Anywhere Immersion, which is the process of creating a foreign language immersion environment no matter where you happen to live in the world using fun...
View Article5 Kick-Ass Language Blogs to Help Keep You Motivated
We all have days when we’re unmotivated to put in the time. We all endure embarrassing linguistic and cultural gaffes that can make it hard to get back on the horse. And we all encounter learning...
View ArticleCommit to Tiny Daily Language Habits So Easy You’ll Do Them Even When You’re...
You can often spot a new language learner by the scale of their language learning goals and daily habits. When we first start out in a new language, the excitement makes it easy to commit to big,...
View ArticleLearn Japanese with: Video
This is the first post in a new series I’m calling “Learn Japanese with _____.” Each post will highlight a method, tool, resource, website, app, book, or life-hack you can use to immerse yourself in...
View ArticleLearn Japanese with: Amazon Prime Video
This post is part of a series called “Learn Japanese with _____.” Each post highlights a method, tool, resource, website, app, book, or life-hack you can use to immerse yourself in Japanese no matter...
View ArticleLearn Japanese with: Netflix
This post is part of a series called “Learn Japanese with _____.” Each post highlights a method, tool, resource, website, app, book, or life-hack you can use to immerse yourself in Japanese no matter...
View ArticleLearn Japanese with: TED Talks
This post is part of a series called “Learn Japanese with _____.” Each post highlights a method, tool, resource, website, app, book, or life-hack you can use to immerse yourself in Japanese no matter...
View ArticleHow to Apply Gretchen Rubin’s “Four Tendencies” Framework in Language Learning
The author Gretchen Rubin has long been fascinated by human nature, and wanted to know why some people easily adopt new habits while others struggle to change. After years of investigation, she...
View ArticleInterview with Mike Campbell of Glossika
In this episode of the Language Mastery Show, I catch up with my old friend Mike Campbell, the founder of Glossika. A lot has changed in the seven years since we last spoke at a Starbucks in Taipei,...
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Interview with Gabriel Wyner of Fluent Forever
Gabriel Wyner is a polyglot, former opera singer, the author of the book Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget It, and the creator of the new Fluent Forever app, the most...
View ArticleInterview with Claude Cartaginese, creator of The Polyglot Project
Claude Cartaginese is one of the kindest guys you will meet in the language learning blogosphere, and I really appreciate all he has done to encourage language learners, gather advice from the world’s...
View ArticleInterview with Tamara Marie, founder of Spanish Con Salsa
Tamara Marie is a language coach and the founder of Spanish con Salsa, a site and podcast that help you learn Spanish through through music, travel, and cultural immersion. In the interview, we...
View ArticleInterview with Shannon Kennedy, founder of Eurolinguiste
Shannon Kennedy is a language lover, traveler, musician, and writer. She has written extensively for Fluent in 3 Months and Drops, and is also the Language Encourager and Community Manager for the...
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FAQ: Should I Use Flashcards to Learn a Language?
You may be surprised to hear that flashcards can be a rather controversial topic in the language learning world. Some swear by them. Some swear at them. So where do I fall in the flashcard continuum?...
View Article10 Common Thinking Errors That Cause Depression & Anxiety and Block Your Path...
I have struggled with depression off and on for much of my adult life. If you’ve ever been severely depressed, you know just how hopeless and meaningless life can feel and how difficult it can be to...
View ArticleInterview with Gretchen McCulloch, Author of Because Internet
Gretchen McCulloch is an internet linguist, the “Resident Linguist” at WIRED Magazine (Best. Title. Ever!), the co-host of the Lingthusiasm podcast, and the author of the new book Because Internet:...
View ArticleInterview with Inés Ruiz, Founder & CEO of Medita Spanish
Inés Ruiz is an award-winning entrepreneur, a former Spanish teacher at Cambridge University, and now the founder and CEO of Medita Spanish, the world’s first language and meditation app. By...
View ArticleInterview with Dr. Gareth Popkins, founder of How to Get Fluent
Dr. Gareth Popkins is a lawyer, historian, and former English and Welsh teacher who is fluent in German, Russian, and Welsh, advanced in French, conversational in Hungarian, Finnish, Italian,...
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The Best 10 Japanese Dictionary Apps
Today’s Japanese learner is but a click or tap away from a dizzying array of digital Japanese dictionaries. But which should you choose? The plethora of options available can lead to what author Barry...
View ArticleInterview with Gabriel Gelman, founder of Sprachheld (“Language Hero”)
Gabriel Gelman is the founder of Sprachheld, a popular language learning website for Germans learning foreign languages (and―as an added bonus―non-Germans learning German as a foreign language). On...
View ArticleInterview with Katie Harris, founder of Joy of Languages
Katie Harris is the founder of Joy of Languages, a site dedicated to helping make language learning a joy instead of a chore. She was bored to tears with languages in school, but eventually figured...
View ArticleEllen Jovin Returns to Talk About Her Traveling “Grammar Table”& New Book,...
I am pleased to bring back my first repeat guest on the podcast: the author, teacher, and language lover Ellen Jovin. A lot has happened since our first chat over five years ago, including: Travels...
View ArticleLearn a Language by Doing the Things You Actually Want Get Good At
I recently started reading Scott H. Young’s excellent new book Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career. Though the book is about metalearning in general,...
View ArticleInterview with Jonty Yamisha: Circassian Language Activist, Accidental...
Jonty Yamisha is a language activist, an “accidental polyglot” in his own words, a “third-generation Circassian refugee,” and the founder of OptiLingo, an audio-based language app that uses “guided...
View ArticleHow to Get Fluent in Japanese on iTalki
Ever catch yourself saying, “I really wish I could learn Japanese but it ain’t ever gonna happen ’cause I can’t just up and move to Japan! Nor are there any native Japanese speakers near me… Guess I...
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Why Duolingo Won’t Get You Fluent in Japanese (But Why You Should Use it Anyway)
Whether you find Duolingo to be a green-feathered friend in your pocket or an intimidating monster lurking outside your door waiting to pounce on you for not meeting your daily study goal, there’s no...
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How to Learn Japanese Using Apple Music
This post is part of a series called “Learn Japanese with...” Each post highlights a specific resource or method you can use to immerse yourself in Japanese anywhere in the world. In today’s world of...
View ArticleMaster Japanese Now Available in Paperback from Amazon!
After many years of requests from Language Mastery readers, I am very excited to announce that today, the print version of Master Japanese is now available on Amazon for just $29! 🎉 (Cue music and...
View ArticleMaster Mandarin 3.0 Launching on April 6, 2020!
Update: Master Mandarin 3.0 is now available! I am excited to announce that the brand new version of Master Mandarin: How to Learn Mandarin Chinese Anywhere in the World will be released on April 6,...
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Read these 3 Books to Get the Linguistics Education You Never Had
Every so often we make seemingly small decisions that end up changing the course of our lives forever… For me, one such choice was taking an introductory linguistics class as a humanities elective the...
View ArticleNihongo Creator Chris Vasselli on How To Learn Japanese Through Anime, Manga,...
Chris Vasselli is a programmer, passionate Japanese learner, and the creator of the Nihongo iOS app, my go-to Japanese dictionary and reading tool for authentic Japanese content. We discuss his...
View ArticleAuthor Nick Velasquez on How To Master Any Skill, Learn Japanese, and...
Nick Velasquez is the author of the new book Learn, Improve, Master: How to Develop Any Skill and Excel at It. In the interview, we discuss the core principles, strategies, and tools you can use to...
View ArticleCan you learn to speak Japanese using smartphone apps?
There is a lot to like about language learning apps: They allow you to squeeze in more language learning time throughout your day. Busy schedules can make it tough to find large chunks of time to...
View ArticleMandarin Blueprint Founders Luke & Phil on How to Master Chinese Characters,...
If you have a burning desire to learn Mandarin Chinese but feel overwhelmed at the very thought, then today’s podcast is a must-listen episode for you. Yes, to the uninitiated, Chinese characters look...
View ArticleSkritter CEO Jake Gill on How to Level Up Your Mandarin & Learn to Write...
Jake Gill (高健) is a Chinese educator, former “Teaching Chinese as a Second Language” graduate student, and the CEO of Skritter, an innovative language learning app that helps Japanese and Chinese...
View ArticleAJATT’s Khatzumoto on How To Immerse Yourself in Japanese Anywhere in the World
NOTE: This interview was originally recorded in 2010 as part of a collection of expert interviews included with my Japanese learning guide Master Japanese. This version includes excerpts from the...
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How to improve your listening, reading & spelling skills with Clozemaster
I’ve written before about whether or not you can learn a language well using smartphone apps. The short answer? It depends. Some language apps can help, but none can replace the primary tasks that will...
View ArticleThe 3 Essential Ingredients You Need to to Learn Any Language
Mastering a foreign language is at once extremely complex and predictively simple. On the one hand, you have to learn the nuanced meanings of thousands of words, internalize hundreds of grammar...
View ArticleLMS S4 E2 – Attitude > Aptitude
🧠 Master Your Mind My tip this week for foundation one—Master Your Mind—is to realize that mastering a language is more about psychology than ability. When I tell someone that I speak Japanese and...
View ArticleDrops App Review: Does Drops Work? Will it Get You Fluent in a Language?
Drops was founded in 2015 by Daniel Farkas and Mark Szulyovszky, two language-obsessed entrepreneurs who wanted to create a better way to learn languages. Like many startups, this Estonian-based...
View ArticleFAQ: Should You Use Subtitles When Watching Anime, Shows & Films in Japanese?
The short answer? It depends. It depends on your Japanese learning goals Do you want to speak Japanese? If your primary goal is having conversations with people in Japanese, then subtitles are of...
View ArticleLMS S4 E4 – Hack Chinese Founder Daniel Nalesnik on How to Master Mandarin &...
From full-time Mandarin immersion at Peking University (北京大学) and Shanghai’s Fudan University (复旦大学), to years of independent study online, Daniel Nalesnik has spent the last 13+ years on a mission to...
View ArticleLMS S4 E5 – Slow Chinese Founder Andrew Methven on Learning Chinese Through...
Andrew Methven is the creator of Slow Chinese 每周漫闻, a weekly newsletter that helps Mandarin Chinese learners immerse themselves in authentic, colloquial language via interesting stories and news events...
View ArticleLMS S4 E7 – Jim & May from “Spanish and Go” on Spanish Immersion & Traveling...
Jim and May describe themselves as a “gringo/Mexican international couple” on a mission to connect English speakers to the Spanish-speaking world. Their excellent podcast, YouTube channel, blog, and...
View ArticleLMS S4 E8 | Hyperpolyglot Steve Kaufmann on How He Learned 20+ Languages
Steve Kaufmann is a hyperpolyglot who has learned more than 20 languages (!!!) and the founder of LingQ, an online language learning platform that helps you acquire languages using content you love. He...
View ArticleLMS S4 E9 – Leo Listening Founder Cara Leopold on How She Got Fluent in...
Cara Leopold is the founder of Leo Listening, where she helps “intrepid travellers and adventurous expats improve their English listening skills so they can better understand and better connect with...
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