Welcome

Over the past decade, I’ve been researching language learning methods and theories with the question of how we can more effectively learn new languages.

Based on what I’ve learned and experienced, I think it’s not only possible for the typical adult to reach very high levels of fluency and ability in new languages, it also doesn’t have to be a struggle.

In fact, given the right opportunities and resources, I think it could become normal for second language learning at any age to be an incredibly fun experience where the learner gains other skills and knowledge throughout the process.

We might even be able to go from zero ability to approaching the level of a native speaker having hardly spent any conscious time or effort on the language learning itself.

I think that today, more than ever, the technological and human potential is available to make this vision a reality, but it’s not being applied effectively, and so language learning is not nearly what it could be.

What I see as perhaps the main cause of this failing are disconnects in communication across language learning research and language learning practice.

In the academic world, there is a lack of research on what I think are some fundamental questions about second language learning.

At the same time, research that has been done has produced findings that could help a great many language learners, but these findings remain largely unknown and unapplied.

There are also innovative language teaching techniques and methods that are being used with success in a few places, but have never found their way into widespread use.

With this blog, I want to help overcome the disconnects by making connections, between ideas, knowledge, and people, so that ultimately everyone can access better ways and means of learning languages.