I have been thinking about this question for a long time. The more languages I learn, teach and use, the less satisfied I am with the simple idea that your mother tongue is simply the first language you learned. It is certainly the language that came first for most people. But I think something else […]
What actually makes a language a mother tongue? Read More »
I have heard the advice many times over the years: if you want to learn a language successfully, learn like a child. There is an appealing simplicity to it. Children seem to absorb languages naturally, without worrying about grammar, vocabulary lists, pronunciation exercises or whether they are making mistakes. Adults, by comparison, often seem to
Adults Don’t Learn a Language Like Children Read More »
We often assume that if we read more, listen to more, learn more and collect more information, we will naturally become better at using it. But learning something and being able to use it when the moment comes are not quite the same thing. I see this clearly in English. Professionals spend years learning new
More input = more ability? Not automatically. Read More »
