The Linguist – A polyglot's blog on language learning https://blog.thelinguist.com/ The Linguist - A polyglot's blog on language learning Mon, 11 May 2026 11:05:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://blog.thelinguist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-favicon-1-32x32.png The Linguist – A polyglot's blog on language learning https://blog.thelinguist.com/ 32 32 Comprehensible Input Examples and Strategies That Actually Work https://blog.thelinguist.com/comprehensible-input-examples/ https://blog.thelinguist.com/comprehensible-input-examples/#respond Tue, 05 May 2026 21:13:14 +0000 https://blog.thelinguist.com/?p=176490523 TL;DR: Comprehensible input means reading and listening to content you mostly understand in your target language. The strategy is simple: find content slightly above your level, engage with it consistently, and let...

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]]> https://blog.thelinguist.com/comprehensible-input-examples/feed/ 0 What Is Second Language Acquisition — And Why Most People Get It Wrong https://blog.thelinguist.com/second-language-acquisition/ https://blog.thelinguist.com/second-language-acquisition/#respond Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:39:02 +0000 https://blog.thelinguist.com/?p=176490445 TL;DR Second language acquisition happens through exposure, not memorization. Every time you read or listen to a language you mostly understand, your brain builds a web of connections that eventually becomes fluency....

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]]> https://blog.thelinguist.com/second-language-acquisition/feed/ 0 How to Learn Italian: The Best Method (2026 Guide) https://blog.thelinguist.com/the-best-way-to-learn-italian/ Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:54:00 +0000 https://blog.thelinguist.com/?p=176486512 TL;DR Summary The best way to learn Italian is through reading and listening to content you genuinely enjoy. According to the U.S. Foreign Service Institute, reaching fluency typically takes between 600 and...

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]]> What Is the Hardest Language to Learn? The Full Ranking Explained https://blog.thelinguist.com/what-is-the-hardest-language-to-learn/ https://blog.thelinguist.com/what-is-the-hardest-language-to-learn/#comments Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:00:55 +0000 https://blog.thelinguist.com/?p=176461335 What is the hardest language to learn? It’s a question I’m asked often. Here I reveal the answer from my experience and give advice and tips on how to get the most out of your language learning, even if that language is a tough one.

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]]> https://blog.thelinguist.com/what-is-the-hardest-language-to-learn/feed/ 9 Is Duolingo Effective? An Honest Review (2026) https://blog.thelinguist.com/duolingo-review/ https://blog.thelinguist.com/duolingo-review/#respond Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:39:32 +0000 https://blog.thelinguist.com/?p=176488258 TL;DR Summary Is Duolingo effective? For complete beginners building a daily habit, yes. For reaching conversational fluency, no. Duolingo is a fun, accessible entry point into a language, but it is not...

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]]> https://blog.thelinguist.com/duolingo-review/feed/ 0 The Best Way to Learn Japanese: 5 Tips From Someone Who’s Spoken It for 50 Years https://blog.thelinguist.com/best-way-to-learn-japanese/ https://blog.thelinguist.com/best-way-to-learn-japanese/#respond Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:19:32 +0000 https://blog.thelinguist.com/?p=176490386 TL;DR The best way to learn Japanese is simpler than most learners think. Start with kanji. A small number of kanji covers a surprisingly large portion of any text. Move into hiragana...

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]]> https://blog.thelinguist.com/best-way-to-learn-japanese/feed/ 0 How to Learn a Language On Your Own: Tips From a Polyglot https://blog.thelinguist.com/how-to-learn-a-language-on-your-own/ Wed, 18 Mar 2026 22:01:51 +0000 https://blog.thelinguist.com/?p=176485722 TL;DR Summary Most people think they need a classroom, a teacher, or a structured course to learn a language. They don’t. Independent learners often progress faster because they choose content they care...

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]]> Will AI Replace Teachers? Not If They Keep Building Faster Ladders https://blog.thelinguist.com/will-ai-replace-teachers/ https://blog.thelinguist.com/will-ai-replace-teachers/#respond Sun, 15 Mar 2026 17:36:10 +0000 https://blog.thelinguist.com/?p=176490372 TL;DR Will AI replace teachers? Most educators are planning to use it to build better quizzes and streamline their existing curriculum. I think that’s a missed opportunity. The real question isn’t whether...

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]]> https://blog.thelinguist.com/will-ai-replace-teachers/feed/ 0 The Best Way to Learn a New Language https://blog.thelinguist.com/best-way-to-learn-a-new-language/ https://blog.thelinguist.com/best-way-to-learn-a-new-language/#comments Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:30:58 +0000 https://blog.thelinguist.com/5-ways-to-learn-to-notice-a-new-language Good language learners notice what is happening in a language. They notice the sounds of the language, and the structure and the vocabulary. They notice as they listen and read. They notice when they use the language. How can we train ourselves in the ability to notice, in order to become good language learners?

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]]> https://blog.thelinguist.com/best-way-to-learn-a-new-language/feed/ 23 Effective Independent Lifelong Learning https://blog.thelinguist.com/effective-independent-lifelong-learning/ https://blog.thelinguist.com/effective-independent-lifelong-learning/#comments Wed, 04 Mar 2026 21:48:21 +0000 https://blog.thelinguist.com/?p=176460921 TL;DR Independent lifelong learning is the key to success in a rapidly changing world. Instead of relying entirely on formal institutions, effective learners independently explore their curiosities in a self-structured, disciplined manner....

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]]> https://blog.thelinguist.com/effective-independent-lifelong-learning/feed/ 5 How to Maintain Language Skills https://blog.thelinguist.com/how-to-maintain-language-skills/ Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:30:11 +0000 https://blog.thelinguist.com/?p=176485687 I often get asked the question, how do I maintain my languages? You know, I've learned so many languages, more or less up to 21. I don't know them all equally well, obviously. So how do I maintain them?

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]]> No More Excuses! Why Anyone Can Learn a Language https://blog.thelinguist.com/no-more-excuses-why-anyone-can-learn-a-language/ https://blog.thelinguist.com/no-more-excuses-why-anyone-can-learn-a-language/#respond Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:13:00 +0000 https://blog.thelinguist.com/?p=176488623 TL;DR Anyone can learn a language. Age and talent are not the determining factors. It’s a matter of consistency, motivation, and tolerance for mistakes. With regular exposure and persistence, fluency is achievable...

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