Everyone always says that the first thing you need to do with any new long term project is to set goals. Unfortunately they don’t always explain how exactly you’re supposed to do that. One of the most effective methods used for setting goals is the SMART system. “SMART” is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and…
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Even in a digital era in which more people check Facebook and surf the Web with their tablets and smart phones than they do their computers, not everyone is yet sold on mobile language learning. Some cite past experiences using language applications as “less authentic” or somehow inferior to more conventional methods. Still others are…
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When I was approached by Rocket Languages last year to do a review I really wasn’t especially optimistic. The program looked overpriced and I was really unsure of how effective it would ultimately be. This review of Rocket Languages has taken me far longer than any I’ve done in the past because I really wanted to…
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*Note* This list is a couple of years old. In that time, some of these apps have changed considerably, some of them for the better – some maybe not so much. I can’t say that my feelings for any of them are particularly strong and many still have the same issues they did when this was…
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In an earlier post about the first steps one should take when starting a new language I mentioned my method of classifying tools into something I like to refer to as primary and secondary language learning strategies. Any language learner who is serious about pursuing their language goals – be they long term or shorter term – needs to pay…
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“A journey of a thousand miles begins a single step…” Or so they claim. Studying a new language isn’t always especially difficult to do in and of itself. Sure, there are hurdles; words you just can’t seem to nail down and difficulties managing your time, but in general the hardest part of learning a new language…
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