Learn everything you need to know about English prepositions with my short and long videos.
Language learning blog
Learn about English past tenses with my short and long videos for English learners.
Past Tenses in English: video collection
How to learn French verb conjugations Learning French verbs can be a daunting task, especially when you’re a beginner. French is quite different to English, in that there are many different verb forms that are used depending on who the subject of the sentence you’re saying is. These different forms are called ‘conjugations’. For example, in English, the form of the verb ‘to go’ is the same when you say ‘I go’, ‘you go’, ‘we go’ and ‘they go’. In French, on the other hand, the verb form (conjugation) will be different in each of these four examples. It may […]
How to learn French verbs in 5 easy steps
When you’re starting to learn French, you may be slightly confused by all the accented letters that exist in French. Before you move on to learning some basic French greetings or learning about French tenses, make sure you familiarise yourself with the French alphabet. This will allow you to practise saying everything you’re learning out loud, which is something I definitely recommend you do, even if you’re a complete beginner. So, here’s my ultimate guide to the French alphabet and specifically the French accent marks. Let’s get started! The 5 French accent marks in the French alphabet The French alphabet […]
French alphabet: the ultimate guide to French accent marks
What’s the difference between ‘tu’ and ‘vous’ in French? When you’re only just starting to learn French, it can be quite confusing that two different pronouns exist to mean ‘you’ – ‘tu’ and ‘vous’. But what is the difference between ‘tu’ and ‘vous’ and how can you use them correctly? Don’t worry – you’re about to find out. ‘Tu’ is the singular version of ‘vous’ In English, when you use ‘you’, it can mean both one person and multiple people. To use ‘tu’ and ‘vous’ correctly in Frech, you need to know that there are separate words to say ‘you’ […]
What is the difference between ‘tu’ and ‘vous’ in French and how to use them
How to say ‘hello’ in French? Saying ‘hello’ and greeting people in French is probably one of the first things you’d want to learn how to do when you’re just beginning to learn French. But there are many different ways to say ‘hello’ in French so it can be quite confusing! For example, some French greetings are more formal than others. There are, in fact, French greetings fit for every occasion. Don’t worry – we’re going to go through all of them together. Let’s look at what’s available to us when we need to say ‘hello’ in French. 1. Bonjour […]
How to say ‘hello’ in French and other essential French greetings
Christmas present ideas for language learners Christmas is coming up so I thought I’d share some present ideas with you guys! I know it’s only November… But I also know that some of you are super-organised (I’m trying to be, ok?) and are already thinking about what to get for people. Getting a Christmas present for a language learner is not an easy task. That’s because you never know exactly what level that person is at. Also, if they’re serious about their language learning, they probably already have the popular or obvious resources, textbooks and dictionaries. That’s why my list […]
Christmas present ideas for language learners
Language learning advice I’ve never shared before I’m sure you’ve seen lots of people on YouTube share ‘things they’ve never shared before’ already. This theme was trending a while back and I thought it would be fun to do something similar but focused specifically on language learning advice. I’ve shared a lot of language learning advice on my blog and on my YouTube channel already. You can check out my favourite pieces here: How to understand native speakers How to sound more fluent in a foreign language How I became fluent in English (relevant to all languages) How to create […]
Language learning advice I have never shared before
Learning French is not just about being able to communicate in the most basic way. It’s also about being able to communicate accurately. For example, when you’re having an amazing meal at a restaurant, you don’t just want to say that it’s good. You want to say it’s delicious. Or amazing. Or the best thing you’ve eaten for a while. You want your communication to reflect accurately how you’re feeling or what you’re thinking. And to do that, you need to expand your vocabulary. In this post, I’m going to give you a list of French adjectives that will help […]
15 French adjectives to use instead of ‘bon’
How to understand native speakers Understanding native speakers is something many language learners struggle with. Whenever I learn a new language, I get a bit of a shock. I learn a lot of vocabulary and a lot of grammar. And then, when I’m ready to go out there and speak, I realise how little I actually understand. How is that possible, I think. I’ve been working so hard, I know so many words, I can even read newspapers in the language. But I can’t actually understand what people are saying to me! I’m sure you’ve been faced with a similar […]
How to understand native speakers: top tips
5 fun language learning activities for children I have very fond memories of teaching English as a foreign language to kids. Although I no longer do it as a job, the topic of teaching children is still close to my heart as I’m now a mum myself. I recently blogged about the 6 reasons why you should teach your child a foreign language. And in this post, I want to share with you my top 5 activities that you can use to teach your little one their first words in a foreign language. 1. Use picture books to introduce vocabulary […]
5 fun language learning activities for children
If you’re learning French, there are some basics you need to know before you move on to the more complicated things. So, I’ve put together 99 essential and very common French words and phrases that you must know when you’re learning French. First things first Before we start, I need to explain two things. First, the difference between ‘tu’ and ‘vous’. If you already know it, you can skip to the next section. The difference between ‘tu’ and ‘vous’ in French The word for ‘you’ in French (when you’re just talking to one person) can be translated as ‘tu’ or […]
99 essential and most common French phrases every French learner must know
When I first went to France – in 2007 – I thought I could speak French. I’d done my homework before going – I knew the grammar, my vocabulary was pretty good, I was reading novels in French and even translating poetry from French into English at university! But when I actually got there and was suddenly confronted with real French people, I realised that I wasn’t as good as thought I was! I didn’t really know how to speak… Well, I was good at giving presentations about climate change, and the pros and cons of living abroad because that’s the […]
Top tips for speaking with native speakers
Teaching your child a foreign language In a recent blog post, I wrote about how my journey with foreign languages began. It all started with a bit of fun, when my Mum introduced me and my little brother to our first English words when we were very young. What followed was a life in which languages play a very important part. My personal life – including my fascination with travel and the friends from around the world I’ve made over the years. My professional career – which has been centred around language in one way or another. And my online […]
6 reasons why you should teach your child a foreign language
Are you learning English? Get your free English grammar booklet and regular lessons from me by email. One of my earliest memories from my childhood is playing with my Mum and my little brother at home, and my Mum teaching us some English words. She told us ‘a box’ is what we call ‘pudełko’ in Polish – my mother tongue – ’a dress’ is ‘sukienka’, and ‘a book’ is ‘książka’. Almost 30 years on, I can still remember those were the exact words my Mum taught us. So simple yet so powerful! At the time, it was just […]
How learning to say ‘box’ in English led me to fluency
How to create a language learning routine When you’re trying to learn a foreign language, it’s very easy to let things get in the way. There’s always something that’s more important to do, it always seems like there’s not enough time, and sometimes you just don’t have the energy or the motivation to sit down and learn new words. Having a proper language learning routine can help you overcome this issue. It will help you become more disciplined and stay on track with your language learning. I’m about to share with you my favourite tips for creating a language learning […]
How to create a language learning routine
How to learn grammar in a foreign language Grammar, grammar, grammar… I’m sure some of you hate the idea of it. And some of you even hate the word itself! And that’s fine – not everyone has to love grammar. And it’s not true that you need to learn grammar all the time if you want to be fluent in a foreign language. How is that possible, you may be wondering. Well, I’m about to explain. You can read on if you want, or just check out my video instead! If you like getting my language learning advice in video […]
How to learn grammar (and should you even do it?)
Best language learning blogs Here’s my list of the best blogs for language learners! I will be updating this article regularly as I find more blogs that might be useful for you guys. I’m also going to start with general language learning blogs, which are already included in this article, and I’m going to regularly add lists of my favourite blogs for learning specific languages (French and English coming next!). Make sure you’re part of my community of language learners if you’d like me to send you an email next time this article is updated with new blogs! Blogs […]
Best language blogs to help you learn any language
We all have our heroes. We all know people who can speak foreign languages in a way we admire. We look up to them and get inspired by them. And we’re often tempted to follow them. We want their advice and we want to hear their success stories. We want to do things the way they did to get to where they are. But is that the right thing to do? Perhaps not. In this post, I’d like to talk to you about why you should not follow your language heroes. And I’m going to explain what you should do […]
Don’t follow your language heroes
How to learn a foreign language So you want to learn a foreign language? You might be reading this because: You’ve decided to learn a new language and you’re looking for ways to do it effectively and independently You’re already learning a foreign language and you’re looking for tips on how to make your language learning process more effective, or how to make progress faster I can help you with both. I’ve been learning languages for over 15 years now. I’ve tried and tested different methods and strategies. I run this blog to share with you the things that have […]
How to learn a foreign language
Are you learning English? Get your free English grammar booklet and regular lessons from me by email. This post deals with the question of what the difference is between the Past Simple and the Past Perfect tenses in English. It’s a question many English learners ask themselves so a useful one to read up on! What’s the difference between the Past Simple and the Past Perfect in English? The Past Simple and the Past Perfect are both tenses we use to talk about things that happened in the past. However, we use the Past Perfect to talk about something that […]
What’s the difference between the Past Simple and the Past Perfect in English?
Fluency is not just about knowing all the words and knowing how to use them. It’s not about speaking quickly either. Fluency is about feeling comfortable speaking, and speaking in a way that ‘flows’. Do you know what I mean? Whatever stage of learning a language you’re at, there are things you can do to sound more fluent. I’m about to share them with you. And don’t be put off if you’re only a beginner or an intermediate learner – you will also benefit from my tips, in the same way a more advanced learner will. Are you ready? Read on! […]
How to sound more fluent in a foreign language
Language learning is fun but it can be a little bit annoying sometimes! Don’t you agree? In the video below, I talk about the 6 most annoying things about learning a foreign language. Comment below with the things you find particularly annoying about language learning. And remember you can read the post below if you don’t fancy watching the video! 1. You always know the answer *after* somebody tells you what it is Imagine you’re saying something and you’re trying to remember a word that you already know really well. You used it yesterday but for some reason it’s gone […]
6 most annoying things about learning a language
Are you learning French or wondering how to learn French from scratch? This article brings together all of my top advice on why and how you should learn French. This advice is based on my own experience of learning French – things I’ve tried and tested. I decided to write this guide to give you an overview of the French language and also to give you some tips on where to start when you’re a beginner. Are you ready? Let’s get started! Click on the section that interests you below. 1. Why should I learn French? 2. Is French difficult […]
Learn French from scratch: the ultimate guide to French for beginners
In the 15+ years I’ve been learning foreign languages, I’ve heard my share of silly things people say about language learning. I thought it would be fun to put this silliness together and make a video! You can watch it below or, if you prefer, scroll down to read the post! Don’t forget I’ve got tons of fun and useful language learning videos on my YouTube channel so head over there and subscribe to make sure you don’t miss any future videos! Here’s the write-up of the most silly things people say about learning foreign languages! 1. Why are you […]
Silly things people say about learning foreign languages
Last year, I asked 18 different language learning experts and enthusiasts for their favourite tips and techniques of 2016. I published them in a massive round-up article, which became very popular with the language learning community. I was really happy I could help so many of you by relaying those 18 people’s top advice. If you didn’t see it last December, you can read it here: Language Learning Experts’ Favourite Strategies in 2016 This year, I’ve decided to do something different. I’ve looked at loads of articles about language learning published around the web in 2017 and selected 18 […]
Language learning experts’ top tips and advice of 2017
How to remember vocabulary in a foreign language This article is not really about memorising vocabulary in a foreign language. If you’re interested in the topic of how to learn or memorise vocabulary effectively, make sure you read my three other posts on this topic: How to learn vocabulary effectively How to learn vocabulary: top tips How to use mnemonics to learn vocabulary in any language What this article is about, though, is how to make sure that you don’t forget the vocabulary you’ve already learned. Or, in other words, how to maintain the vocabulary that you have. How to […]
How to NOT forget vocabulary in a foreign language
How to learn a language from songs I bet you’ve tried learning a foreign language from your favourite song. ‘Despacito’ anyone? I bet you have tried translating it into English! No? Well, have a go and see what you think… Why am I talking about this anyway? Because although the title of this post is ‘how to learn languages from songs’, I’m also going to cover the topic of ‘is it a good idea to learn languages from songs’. If you’d rather watch my video on this topic, here it is! Otherwise, keep reading. Learning a language from music Don’t […]
How to learn languages from songs
How to learn two languages at the same time Some of you may remember my blog post about how to learn several languages at the same time. It’s a topic that many, many people are interested in for some reason! The post I wrote about it a couple of years ago is actually one of the most popular posts on the 5-Minute Language blog ever. And that’s great! I’m happy to see that so many people want to learn more than one language. But… There are also people who don’t care about being polyglots. They don’t want to learn multiple […]
How to Learn Two Languages at the Same Time
Feeling shy is something most of us have experienced before when trying to speak a foreign language. Some of us feel anxious, not too confident and sometimes even scared. It’s all natural and it’s all part of the journey. But there are some things you can do to overcome the shyness and feel more confident when speaking the language you’re learning. I’ve made a video about this topic so make sure you watch it and don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel, which is where I post videos like this one regularly. If you’d rather read my tips, then […]
How to be less shy when speaking a foreign language
The 23 April 2017 is World Book and Copyright Day. To mark this occasion, I’ve decided to share with you my 5 favourite books that I think you should read if you want to become a more effective language learner. I’ve also made a video in which I share some extra details about the books. Make sure you watch it as well and don’t forget to subscribe to the channel: Are you ready to look at the 5 books every language learner should read? Let’s get started! 1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People What is it? A classic in […]
5 Books Every Language Learner Should Read
Speaking – it’s tough! We’re all in the same boat, though. You’re not the only person who’s feeling that way. It takes courage to get started. It can be overwhelming. But… I’ve got good news for you – you can do it! When I moved to France in 2007, I thought I had what I needed. I’d been learning French for about four years at that point. I could easily read novels in French, including Victor Hugo and Marcel Proust, and I was also getting into graphic novels. I had a lot of vocabulary – both formal and informal – […]
Overcome the Fear of Speaking in 3 Easy Steps
How to sound like a native speaker? If you prefer to watch a video about this topic, then here it is! Don’t forget to subscribe to the 5-Minute Language Youtube channel and give this video a thumbs up – thank you! If you’d like to read my advice in detail, here it is! When I moved to England for the first time, I really wanted to sound like a native. I felt very strongly that my ability to speak without my native accent was the one and only goal to aim for. I wanted to be part of the crowd. […]
How to sound like a native speaker in a foreign language
Is Spanish difficult or easy to learn? How hard is Spanish to learn? Is it a question you’re asking yourself? Let me tell you this: there are no ‘difficult’ or ‘easy’ languages to learn. Everything is relative. Whether or not you perceive a language to be ‘difficult’ or ‘easy’ will depend on a number of factors, including: your native language (the language you’re learning may, for example, share a lot of vocabulary with your native language, which will make it more straightforward to learn) whether you’ve learned any other foreign languages before (for example, if you already know some French, […]
Is Spanish difficult to learn?
How I became fluent in English Get your free English grammar booklet and regular lessons from me by email. Since I moved to the UK many years ago, people have been telling me how good my English is. Here are some things I’ve been hearing over and over again: Your English is so good! Your English is better than mine (and I’m a native speaker)! You don’t have a Polish accent! I can’t tell where you’re from! This is flattering and it does make me feel good about the effort I’ve put into developing my English language skills over the […]
How I became fluent in English (relevant to all languages!)
I don’t know about you but whenever I look for language learning advice online, it all seems so easy. Just do this one thing, then do this other thing, and a little bit of that, and it’ll all be good. It’s one big success story. It’s all positive, motivating and inspiring. But is that a true picture of what it’s like to learn a language? No, it’s not. And nobody seems to be talking about it. Nobody seems to be talking about the dark side of language learning. You keep learning new words and the more you think you know, […]