Learning To Write

Techniques for developing writing skills in a new language. Articles cover alphabet learning, connecting reading with writing, transliteration methods and understanding idiomatic expressions.

A Few Letters at a Time

Tackle unfamiliar alphabets step by step rather than all at once when learning languages like Russian or Mandarin.

Idioms

Idioms confuse language learners because they don't mean what their words literally say, but mastering them is key to sounding like a native speaker.

Letter Association

Use letter associations to remember how foreign language letters sound and avoid pronunciation mistakes that change word meaning.

Reading

Reading is one of four essential language skills and often the most practical, whether you're travelling, working, or staying in touch with people abroad.

Reading and Writing: The Relationship

How reading and writing skills reinforce each other when learning a language, despite their significant differences.

Transliteration

How transliteration helps language learners pronounce and spell words from different alphabets like Russian and Greek.

Writing and Speaking: The Relationship

How writing and speaking work together to help you actually master a language, not just understand it.