Category: Language Study
Boris Shekhtman. The method ( continued)
As promised, I am continuing my account of my experiences studying Russian with Boris Shekhtman. At this point I have been meeting once a week for three hours with him for one-on-one tutoring. The lessons are very focused on my specific needs and idiosyncrasies in learning. As Michel Thomas explained…
Speaking a foreign language.
One of the major obstacles for many beginning and intermediate language learners is conversing. Basically, there is only so much conversation that one can muster around the very basic vocabulary and questionable grammar that a beginner has to work with. In addition, the foreign speaker in most cases, while impressed…
Paul Noble and plagiarisation.
Paul Noble, a British-based language teacher, recently contracted with Collins, the UK publisher, to author a series of CD courses to teach various languages according to a method which he claims he developed on his own. After I was alerted to the uncanny resemblance of his approach to that of…
Why is Rosetta Stone so successful when their courses are so bad?
As some of you may know, I am considered an expert on foreign language instruction based on my experience in the field and my authorship of a very successful series to teach Chinese to English-speakers. Yesterday someone asked what I thought of Rosetta Stone. I told him that I have…
Yiddish week or bust.
I have deliberately waited for some time to elapse before writing my impressions regarding a week in the Catskills among Yiddish-speakers. The name of the program ,which just celebrated its 25th anniversary, is Yiddish Vokh or Yiddish Week. It is sponsored by an organization called Yugntruf or Youth for Yiddish…
A novel approach to learning languages.
In 2001 the NY Times published a lengthy article in the Travel section by the former Moscow bureau correspondent, Francis X. Clines. I like people who have X as a middle initial. I assume the X stands for Xavier, which is a really neat name. How many people call their…
Michel Thomas Mandarin Chinese Vocabulary Course
The Michel Thomas Mandarin Chinese Vocabulary course has been recorded, edited and is scheduled for release in the UK in August, 2009. It will not be sold in the North America. Those outside of the UK may order it via Amazon.co.uk, download it from Audible.com or get it directly from…
Wonderful news
Today I received news that I have been accepted as a student in the International Chinese Language Program at National Taiwan University in Taipei. This is one of the most prestigious and rigorous such programs in the world. It is a tremendous honor for me to to be in this…
How would your life be different if you spoke Chinese – effortlessly?
Ever since I was a child I have been fascinated with foreign languages. At age 13 my parents told me I could have anything I wanted as a bar mitzvah present. Without any hesitation I requested a short wave radio. I bought it at Lafayette Electronics in Newark, NJ. It…
Dream Running
Today a friend told me about a wonderful experience. She runs in her dreams. It reminded me of what H.H.Lui, a teacher of Taiqichuan in Chicago, told me in the early 1970’s. Mr. Lui told me that he received one of the first business ( or economic?) graduate degrees from…
Recent Comments