Posts from the 'Grammar' Category

Amelia on April 29 2010 2

Grammar: Now for the (Kind of) Bad News

Browse the ads for language learning software or flip through language school brochures and you’ll probably see most of have one promise in common: freedom from the horrendous unspeakable torture known as “grammar study.”
All right, I know some teaching methods and teachers really do overemphasize grammar study—including memorizing tables of case endings or verb conjugation [...]

Amelia on April 26 2010 3

Using Songs to Learn a Foreign Language: Get More From Your Pop Music

Some people discount using songs to learn a foreign language because most genres of songs use only basic vocabulary and simple grammar. The argument is the text of pop music and other common genres isn’t varied or complex enough to provide enriching exposure to the language.

No, it isn’t and that’s exactly why songs are such [...]

Amelia on October 22 2009 0

Learning a Foreign Language: Tips for Learning Grammar

Lots of people—even those who love learning foreign languages—claim they hate studying grammar. They associate grammar study with tedious gap-fill exercises, boring rote memorization and the frustration of getting it “wrong” again and again.
While you will, at some point need focused work on grammar, there’s no reason grammar drills should take up the bulk [...]

Amelia on September 12 2009 1

Dealing with Interruptions in Your Language Studies

One of the biggest stumbling blocks on the road to fluency is the continual interruptions. Interruptions do more than slow your progress than just take time away from your studies; they also erode the progress you’ve already made.
Just like kids forget what they’ve learned over the academic year while they’re on summer vacation, you [...]