I'm going on a short "vacation" from blogging (personal note)
Hello Everyone!
Normally I write articles with advice about language learning or information about Polish and American culture. Today's article is going to be a much more personal!
As of right now there are 224 articles and almost 4000 comments on this blog.
I'm extremely proud of my blog and I love the community that exists around it. I've met TONS of interesting people here and developed a few close friendships.
You guys have helped me with many things over the years: corrected my Polish, sent me encouraging emails, translated my ebook into Polish, recorded an audio version of my ebook and much more.
Thank you so much for reading, commenting and helping! I'm extremely grateful. :-)
(BTW, Tobiasz Karoń, who recorded my audiobook is releasing a new audiobook soon! Check out this video to learn more about it.)
However, it's also a lot of work!
Of course, there is the time to actually write the articles, record videos and respond to comments. But I also receive about 50 emails a day connected with this blog, mostly from people asking for advice specific to their situation.
Due to some changes in my life recently, I've had trouble finding time. So, I've decided to go on a short "vacation" from blogging.
Read more to find out why and what this means!
"I translated all the words, but I still don't understand!"
I learned Polish primary by reading and listening to Harry Potter. When I encountered a word I didn't know, I looked it up in the dictionary and made a flashcard.
There's more to it, but that's the short version I usually put in my blog articles and videos. You can find the whole story in my free ebook.
Many other people have tried similar methods with other language and have also been successful!
However, occasionally I get emails from people saying:
I started reading Harry Potter in language X but your method doesn't work! I translated all the individual words but the sentence doesn't make logical sense and isn't understandable.
(BTW, I've been trying to turn all the advice I regularly give over e-mail into articles on my blog, so I can just send links and write fewer e-mails.)
Read more for my response!
Vlog: Post office in the USA!
(If you're a subscriber and you didn't get an e-mail about this video, it's because you didn't selected "I'm interested in ... Life in the USA and American culture" or "I'm learning ... English" in your subscriber options.)
Today we're going to take you on a short trip to the post office! You also get to to see the bus in Milwaukee and a little bit of our neighborhood.
(Click here to help work on the subtitles or translate them into another language!)
Read more for a full transcript!
How to find motivation that is POWERFUL enough to succeed!
I've written many times (because it's sooo important):
The only way to fail to learn a language is to give up!
Learning a language takes a lot of time and effort. Along the way there will be days when you want to give up!
In order to prevent that, you'll need strong motivation.
Not a weak, external motivation like getting a good grade or finding a new job (although, those can help you get started). You need truly POWERFUL, internal motivation.
But what if you don't have such a motivation (yet)?
I get lots of e-mails from people who really want to learn a language, but don't think they have the type of motivation necessary to succeed.
Luckily, it's possible to find motivation powerful enough to succeed... on purpose!
Today, I'm FINALLY going to explain one of the techniques that I've been recommending over e-mail for years.
Read more to find out what it is!
How to get started learning Polish (from zero!)
When you're first starting a new language, everything is unfamiliar. There is sooo much that you don't know, it's hard to know where to get started.
The truth is: there's a million ways to get started... and most of them will probably work. However, some may go smoother than others. :-)
Today I'm going to give you my personal recommendation - based on my experience learning Polish!
Of course, I've already written lots of articles about learning Polish that would be useful.
Unfortunately, as a blog, these articles aren't organized in any particular way. When someone asks me for advice on getting started, I have usually have to send them at least a half dozen links. :-)
Today I'm going to organize this information into a short, step-by-step guide!
Read more for 5 simple steps to getting started with Polish!
Vlog: Grocery shopping in the USA!
(If you're a subscriber and you didn't get an e-mail about this video, it's because you didn't selected "I'm interested in ... Life in the USA and American culture" or "I'm learning ... English" in your subscriber options.)
As you requested in the survey a couple weeks ago, here is a video in English showing daily life in the USA.
You asked for less videos where I'm talking to the camera and more out in the world. So that's what we tried to do!
Please let me know what you think of the video! Do you want more like this?
(Click here to help work on the subtitles or translate them into another language!)
Read more for a full transcript!
The key to understanding English tenses!
Every language has some difficult bit.
It's that one aspect of the language that you'll be working on over and over again the whole time that you're learning it.
For English, it's verb tenses.
Counting the way the teachers usually do, English has 14-16 tenses. (There's many ways to count them!)
No matter what the exact number - the point is that English has a very complex verb system. I get TONS of questions from English learners about which tense is correct in a particular sentence.
A couple weeks ago, during one of our English lessons over voice chat, a learner (Hi Marcin!) asked me:
Why did you say: "I was using it as an example?" Why not: "I used it as an example?" You weren't talking about it very long - shouldn't it be past simple instead of past continuous?
The answer is actually quite simple. And it ISN'T a grammar explanation. ;-) Really! I won't need to draw a picture or show you a chart.
In fact, all this confusion comes from a fundamental misunderstanding about English tenses, which itself stems from years and years of teachers explaining the tenses in a particular way.
Today, I'm finally going to clear up this misunderstanding!
Read more to learn the key to understanding English tenses!
Big changes to my blog! (results of the survey)
Thanks to everyone who completed the survey about what they'd like to see on my blog in 2013!
Last week I was feeling a little depressed that fewer people were reading and commenting.
But I received lots of good critiques on the survey - both positive and negative. It was sometimes difficult to read, but it's exactly that kind of honest feedback that I needed.
This week I'm feeling very optimistic that I can use what I've learned to make my blog even more helpful for you!
So, thanks again. :-)
Today, I'm going to share the results of the survey and announce some changes and future plans.
I spent a lot of time analyzing your responses and learned many interesting and unexpected things.
Read more to find out what they are!
A blog in crisis! What should I write about?!
First of all, thank you for reading my blog. I really appreciate it. :-)
Once a week I publish an article with language learning advice. I hope these articles are helpful in your language learning journey.
Lately, I've noticed that fewer people are reading and commenting. It isn't really a "crisis" - that was just a sweet-sounding title. ;-) But I'd like to turn this around before it becomes a real crisis.
I don't just blog for myself (although it is a lot of fun). I write these articles for YOU! If they aren't helping you make progress in learning a language - I'm failing.
Tell me how I can make my articles more helpful for you!
Please fill out this survey and let me know:
- What do you want more of?
- What do you want less of?
- What is your biggest problem with the language you're learning right now?
I'll use the results to decide what I should focus on in 2013! I think it's going to be a great year. :-)
Thanks in advance in advance for your help!
Get over your fear of speaking in a foreign language (without leaving your house!)
Have you ever tried to speak in a foreign language ... but your mind just went blank?
Then afterwards the words simply came to you?
You are not alone!
Fear of speaking a foreign language is sooo common that psychologists have even given it name: Foreign language anxiety.
According to linguistic Stephen Krashen - one of the foremost experts on how humans naturally learn languages - this anxiety has a strong negative impact on your ability to use a language!
If you want to actually speak in the language you are learning, you will NEED to get over this fear.
However, it's almost never addressed directly in language learning courses!
Today, I'm going to give you some tips for getting over your fear of speaking (without even leaving your house)!
Read more to find out how!
English
Polski
