Why short stories are one of the best ways to learn a language
Reading short stories at the right level builds vocabulary and a feel for grammar at the same time. Why it works, and how to start without getting stuck.
Articles
Notes on learning languages through reading, the words and phrases that matter, and using them when you travel.
Tú, vous, Sie: when to use the formal 'you'
Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and German all distinguish a formal and informal "you". When to use which, how to switch, and what changes from country to country.
Saudade, Fernweh, sobremesa: words English doesn't quite have
A tour of words from Portuguese, German, Spanish, Italian and French that need a whole sentence in English, and what they say about how people talk.
Spanish phrases that actually help when you travel
The Spanish you'll really use on a trip, organised by situation, with notes on where Spain and Latin America say things differently.
How many words do you need to understand a language?
A few hundred words get you surprisingly far, but comfortable reading takes thousands. What vocabulary research suggests, and what it means for your next step.
Greetings in Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Brazil and Germany: what to say and do
Handshake, cheek kiss or a simple hello? How people commonly greet each other in five languages and six countries, and the phrases that go with it.
Spanish false friends that trip up English speakers
Embarazada isn't "embarrassed" and actual doesn't mean "actual". The Spanish false friends worth learning early, with what they really mean and what to say instead.
How to order at a French café or restaurant
Bonjour first, "je voudrais" second. A practical guide to ordering food and drinks in French, from café counters to set menus and asking for the bill.
Spaced repetition, explained without the jargon
Why reviewing a word just before you forget it works so well, how flashcard schedulers decide what to show you, and the mistakes that make reviews pile up.
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and French: how similar are they really?
The Romance languages share Latin roots, lots of vocabulary and similar grammar. Where they overlap, where they don't, and whether learning one helps with the others.
French false friends: words that look English but aren't
Librairie, préservatif, actuellement and more. The French false friends English speakers meet most, sorted from mildly confusing to properly embarrassing.
How to order coffee in Italy (and the words behind it)
Un caffè is an espresso, the bar is a café and you often pay before you order. A short guide to Italian coffee culture and the vocabulary that goes with it.
Getting from textbook to real conversation
Practical ways to make the jump from studying a language to actually speaking it, including what to say when you freeze in the middle of a sentence.
Why French spelling doesn't match the sound (and how to read it aloud)
Silent final letters, liaison and nasal vowels make French look harder to pronounce than it is. The patterns that let you read French aloud with confidence.
Why German words are so long (and how to read them)
German glues words together into compounds. Once you know how they're built, long words like Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung become surprisingly easy to read.
Getting around Germany by train: the German you'll actually need
Gleis, Abfahrt, umsteigen and Verspätung. The German words on station boards and in announcements, so train travel in Germany feels less confusing.
Learning with songs, series and podcasts: what actually helps
Music and TV can teach you a language, but having it on in the background does very little. How to turn media you enjoy into real practice.
German pronunciation for English speakers: the sounds that matter
Ü and ö, the two ch sounds, w as v, final consonants that harden. The German sounds English speakers find tricky, and how to practise each one.
Italian expressions you'll hear every day (and what they really mean)
Allora, dai, magari, boh, figurati. The small Italian words that fill every conversation, what they mean in context, and how to start using them naturally.
Portuguese for a trip to Brazil: phrases for everyday situations
Tudo bem, valeu, com licença and the rest of the Brazilian Portuguese you'll use daily on a trip, from greetings and food to getting around.
A language habit that survives busy weeks
Motivation comes and goes; a routine doesn't have to. How to set a small daily minimum, tie it to things you already do, and keep going after a missed day.
Brazilian vs European Portuguese: what actually changes
Pronunciation, você versus tu, "estou falando" versus "estou a falar", and everyday words that differ. A practical guide to the two main varieties of Portuguese.
How to actually practise a language while you travel
A trip is the best language class there is, if you use it. Practical ways to speak more, understand more and avoid slipping back into English.
Stuck at intermediate? How to get past the plateau
Why progress feels slower after the beginner stage and what tends to help, from more input and harder material to noticing what you've been avoiding.
Spanish expressions about food (and what they really mean)
Pan comido, media naranja, importar un pepino. Everyday Spanish idioms built on food, what they mean and when you'll hear them.
Back home: how to keep a language alive after your trip
Languages fade fast without use. How to hold on to what you learned while travelling, with small routines that fit into ordinary weeks.
Shadowing: a simple technique for pronunciation and listening
Shadowing means repeating audio a split second behind the speaker. Here's how to do it step by step, how to choose material, and how long to practise.
Surprising facts about Europe's languages
A language older than its neighbours, nouns that always take capitals, an academy that guards French, and more facts about the languages of Europe.
Asking for directions in Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and German
How to ask the way and understand the answer in five European languages, with the key words for left, right, straight on and near.
Common mistakes English speakers make in Spanish (and quick fixes)
Ser versus estar, por versus para, "I have 30 years" and other classic errors English speakers make in Spanish, with simple ways to remember the right form.