Lucas Ardelean, a language enthusiast and ESL teacher, shares his story about how he almost gave up on learning his first language through immersion, and what helped him finally have a successful learning experience. He shares mistakes he made, gives advice on how to learn a new language, and provides some helpful resources. Thank you, Lucas!

Language Learners Triangle

Time in the language
Comprehensible input
Motivation

Develop a learning lifestyle

Turn every aspect of life into a language and culture learning exercise.

Sing in the language
Talk to yourself.
Read everything.
Write new words down.
Speak in the language at every opportunity.
Have Intentional conversations to practice new words and grammar.
Take time to rest.
Find media at your level: TV, movies, YouTube, Podcasts, magazines, books,

Approaching a language

Determine why you should learn
How will you do it? Make a plan and set goals.
Find a good language coach.
Start to become familiar with the target culture and language.
Be committed for the long haul
Experiment with methods.
Have fun

Books

Lanier, Sarah. Foreign to Familiar. Hagerstown: McDougal, 2000.
Storti, Craig. The Art of Crossing Cultures. Boston: Intercultural Press, 2001.
Thomson’s academic writing on GPA can be found here.

Apps

Mango Languages
LingQ

Some Definitions

Coach - a foreigner or local who helps you and the nurturer in the task.
Comprehensible input - Content that a learner can understand the essence of but not does necessarily mean that they will understand the grammar or even all the words.
G.P.A. - Growing Participatory Approach (GPA) as developed by Greg Thomson
Nurturer – language helper or teacher
Production – speaking the language.

Music by Canuto Ngui "Nfumayong" from Equatorial Guinea.

An Interview with Lucas Ardelean - learning a new language