Learn Languages with Steve Kaufmann

Portuguese should be easy for me. I speak Spanish, and the vocabulary, grammar and word order are almost the same. But when I go to speak Portuguese, Spanish keeps getting in the way. I had the same experience moving from Japanese to Korean, and with Persian words hiding in Arabic. Have you ever found a "similar" language harder than you expected?

What makes language learning content easy? It's not about knowing 97% of the words. That's the goal, not where you start. What helps me most is repetition, short sentences, clear audio, and above all, content I'm genuinely interested in. What kind of content made a new language finally click for you?

Many learners are told to focus on the 1,000 most common words and stop there. I've never done that. In Arabic I now have over 35,000 known words at LingQ, and while I can't use most of them yet, they let me follow podcasts on history and politics and discuss difficult subjects with my tutor. A big vocabulary is my potential in the language. Do you stick to common words, or do you push yourself to learn the rare ones?

Some of my best language learning material came from a random book I pulled off my library shelf. A history of Portugal, a book about Prague, a Swedish novel. A little Portuguese here, a little Czech there, a little Swedish, and it all adds up, like snow that slowly covers the ground. You don’t always need two free hours to make progress. What’s the most useful thing you’ve found by accident while learning a language?

Someone told me they can speak their second language but cannot understand what people say back to them. I know this one well, because my wife can hold a social conversation in French and Spanish while missing most of what she hears. The fix is not more speaking practice, it is a much wider base of listening and reading. Comprehension is what lets you talk about more than a handful of familiar subjects. Which side are you on right now, speaking or understanding?

I meet a lot of people who tell me, almost with pride, that they understand a language well but can't speak it. Usually two things are going on. Their comprehension isn't as broad as they believe, because they only follow the familiar topics they hear again and again. And they have made "I can't speak" part of their identity, so every meeting they sit through in silence confirms it. Which language do you understand far better than you speak?

When I start reading in a new language, I accept that I am not going to understand most of it. My brother compared it to mowing a lawn: if the grass is high, you set the blades high on the first pass and lower them the next time through. I go over the same content again and again, and each time I pick up something I missed before. Do you push through content you only half understand, or do you wait until you feel ready for it?

Spanish is spoken across three continents, and learners worry constantly about picking the wrong version. But compared to English or Portuguese, the variation is surprisingly small. The vowels stay consistent whether you are in Mexico, Colombia or Spain, and most of what really changes is slang, rhythm and a couple of consonants. I have found that after a day or two in a new country you stop hearing the accent at all and just hear the meaning. Which Spanish accent do you find hardest to follow?

I have somewhere between 60 and 70 shelves of books in this house, well over a thousand of them, in several languages, and I have finally started cataloguing the lot. Going through them reminded me why paper still matters to me. The research is fairly clear that we retain more from paper than from a screen, and I think the reason is simple. When it is just you and the book in your hands, there is nowhere else to go, no pixels, no navigating, no temptation to scroll away. When did you last read a paper book for three hours straight?

I was with some Canadians recently who all agreed that French would help them professionally. Within a few minutes I had heard three reasons why they hadn't learned it: I can read but I can't speak, the Montreal accent is too hard, and they changed our class this year. Every one of those puts the problem somewhere outside the person saying it. I lived in Hong Kong where nobody spoke Mandarin and I learned Mandarin anyway, because I did the listening and reading. What's the reason you give yourself?

Reading is a huge part of how I learn languages, but it is not equally easy in every language. In Spanish or Turkish I can sound out almost any word the first time I see it. In Arabic and Persian I often cannot, so I read those online where I can hear the word pronounced. The writing system changes the whole shape of my routine. Which language has been the hardest for you to read?

Friction is what reduces our enjoyment of language learning, so in this video I go through the nine forms it takes and what I do about each one.

Should you focus on words or grammar? Here's how I approach grammar as an input-based learner, and why most corrections never stick.

In this video I'll you how I'm getting ready for my trip to Portugal by using point-of-view stories, circling questions, and AI to create custom lessons.

Today I want to talk about the fifth language skill — the one nobody teaches alongside reading, writing, speaking, and listening, and the one that might matter just as much.

Today I want to talk about the state of flow — that feeling of being completely absorbed in what you're doing — and how you can use it to become a better language learner.

Vocabulary is the clearest measure of your level in any language, so here is how I acquire and review words, and why I skip most of the popular methods.

At 80, I'm still learning languages every day, and I'm convinced it does more for your brain than any Sudoku puzzle ever could.

Everyone says you have to leave your comfort zone to learn a language, but is it really true?

I started learning Mandarin in 1968 with flashcards and reel-to-reel tapes, and here is what I would do differently today.

Today I want to talk about learning slowly — and why if you accept that learning a language takes time, learning slowly actually gets you there faster.

After an hour of focused reading in Persian, I felt my grasp of the language jump forward, and it reminded me why reading is the most powerful tool we have for acquiring a new language.

Most adult language learners are chasing a goal they're unlikely to reach, and I want to share what I think we should focus on instead.

There are three stages of comprehension in any new language. Early on, you barely understand anything — and that's fine. The goal at that stage isn't comprehension; it's letting your brain pick up the patterns. Then comes the long middle stretch where you're learning words but listening still feels patchy, until one day you notice you understand more than you used to. Where are you right now?

I've been chipping away at Arabic for years, and I recently sat down with Hasan Alhamwi, the founder of Arabic All The Time. He left a career in civil engineering to build the largest library of Arabic comprehensible input on the internet. We talked about why videos beat textbooks for Arabic, when learners should finally start reading, and whether all those dialects are really one language or many. If you're learning Arabic, what's giving you the most trouble?

I asked AI what the most important element in language learning is, and the answer surprised me — here's why it comes down to time.

Every time I watch interviews from places like Budapest, I'm struck by how well young Europeans speak English. It isn't because their schools suddenly got better — I don't think classroom instruction has changed much at all. What changed is access. The internet, social media, YouTube, and streaming platforms mean people are surrounded by English all day, and that lowers the friction while raising the motivation. I think the same forces are starting to spread to other languages, and speaking three languages could soon be completely normal. Where did most of your language exposure actually come from — school, or something else?

Flashcards feel like progress. But are they actually helping you learn a language — or just keeping you busy?

The CEO of Air Canada spent 550 hours studying French over six years — and still couldn't speak it. Here's why traditional language learning fails, and what actually works.

Duolingo has 135 million users — but most of them aren't using it as the gateway to real language learning that it can be.

After learning Japanese in Tokyo in 1971 and speaking it for over 50 years, I share the five things I'd do differently today.

AI is transforming every industry — but if education doesn't rethink its broken model first, AI will just make a flawed system faster.

In this video, I share my science-based daily language learning routine and break down why it works.

In this video, I explore the phenomenon of brain rot and how language learning can help you combat it.

In this video, I break down five common grammar misconceptions that hold language learners back.

In this video, I explain why focusing less on improving the language itself and more on learning something genuinely interesting can be the key to finally reaching fluency.

In this video, I break down common difficulties German learners have and what you can do about them.

In this video, I explore how (and whether) Stoic philosophy can be applied to language learning.

Today I'm sharing 5 things I wish I knew when I was just starting to learn languages.

In this video, I compare intensity and perseverance in language learning and explain why both matter.

Happy New Year! In this video, I reflect on 2025 and share my goals for 2026.

In this video, I share my four C's—the things that have helped me learn 20 languages over the years.

In this video, I talk about how language learners can combine their interests with the power of AI to create comprehensible input.

In this video, I sit down with Kyle from ‪@pensandoingles6884‬ to talk about the struggles English and Spanish learners face, learning through comprehensible input, and how AI-generated content can support language learning.

What speaking 8 languages actually looks like (feat. ‪@gabrielunlocks‬) by Steve Kaufmann

In this video, I discuss the possibilities and limitations of AI for language learning.

In this video, I walk you through my best tips for improving your French pronunciation.

In this video, I talk about why curiosity is the biggest driver in my own language learning — and what the research says about it.

Join me for a conversation with Geneviève Breton, a passionate French teacher from Quebec, recorded during my trip to the province in October. We talked about language, culture, and what makes learning French in Quebec so unique.

In this video, I discuss the cognitive load theory and how it can be applied to language learning to make it easier and more enjoyable.

Dans cette vidéo, j’explique pourquoi l’apprentissage des langues est souvent rendu plus difficile qu’il ne devrait l’être, et comment arrêter de le compliquer inutilement.

In this video I explain why it's never been easier to learn another language.

In this video, I talk with Jon Hamilton, a former Green Beret, about language learning and how physical training relates to mastering new languages.

In this video, I explain why language learning is often made harder than it needs to be and how to stop overcomplicating it.

In this video I discuss the importance of noticing in language learning and whether it's something we can deliberately train.

In this video, I talk about automaticity in language learning—why it matters for speaking and how you can develop it.

In this video I discuss how the complexity theory can be applied to language learning and how even the smallest interaction can make a big difference.

In this video, I share advice I received from pro golfer Drew Jones that I believe will help anyone learning languages.

In this video, I talk about what it really means to “know” a word, why forgetting is normal, and the simple steps I use to remember and retrieve vocabulary.

In this video, I share how we can use the concept of leading and lagging indicators to set better goals in language learning.

In this video, I discuss 4 ways in which learning languages can make us happier.

Struggling with language learning motivation? Here are 3 tips to get back on track.

In this video, I explain why our motivation to learn a language can fade—and how shifting your mindset can help you stay focused on long-term progress.

In this video, I talk about how we choose which language to learn—and what factors are worth considering.

Will ChatGPT make us forget how to think? Not if you use it right by Steve Kaufmann

Language anxiety is real, but you can beat it. This simple formula helps.

In this video, I share why I'm optimistic about the future of language learning and how we can use tools like ChatGPT or NotebookLM to create our own learning materials.

In this video, I talk about the role of questions in language learning—when they’re helpful, and when they can actually get in the way of enjoyable, low-stress learning.

In this video, I talk about how memory changes as we age and what that means for older adults learning languages.

In this video, I talk about my experience learning Persian as well as the challenges and successes I’ve had along the way.

In this video, I share my impressions of Google's NotebookLM and discuss how I'm planning to use it for language learning.

In this video, I talk about why I’m skeptical of language tests and their ability to accurately assess someone’s language level.

Intensive vs. extensive reading: which is better? by Steve Kaufmann

In this video, I talk about the challenge of understanding more than you can say, and share strategies for turning passive vocabulary into active vocabulary.

In this video, I talk about key ideas from Jeff Haden’s book The Motivation Myth and share my take on how motivation really works in language learning.

In this video I talk about why perfectionism has no place in language learning and how our brains actually use mistakes to learn.

In this video, I discuss the importance of acquiring low-frequency vocabulary and share my approach to learning less common words.

In this video, I talk about how comparison can either inspire or discourage you when learning a language — and how I approach it to make sure my motivation doesn’t suffer.

In this video, I talk with Mike—a Japanese learner and LingQ user—about the challenges of learning Japanese and his personal journey.

In this video I talk about why we need both novelty and repetition in our language learning routine, and how to strike a balance between the two.

Repetition is a key part of language learning, but how can you make it truly effective?

Canada has a new Prime Minister—but how good is his French?

In this video, I answer questions about AI, explicit grammar study, and gamification in language learning.

In this video, I talk about how focusing on understanding first sets me up for better speaking skills down the road.

Is immersion-based learning effective for completely unfamiliar languages? I think so! Watch as I take on Punjabi with LingQ in my latest video.

10 things I never do when learning a language by Steve Kaufmann

Motivation, time, and the ability to notice are all key to language learning. In this video, I share how I use LingQ to make the most of all three.

In this video, I share how to start learning a language from scratch in a way that aligns with how our brains naturally learn.

Worried you’ve forgotten a language? Reviving it might be easier than you think! In this video, I share my step-by-step plan and discuss my experiences with Turkish, Arabic, and Persian over the years.

In this video, I discuss the concept of cultural weightlessness and share how Taoist philosophy has shaped my language learning journey.

In this video, I explore the advantages and disadvantages of using paper books for language learning.

In this video, I share 7 reasons why I prefer listening before reading when learning a new language.

New Year’s resolution: goal or commitment? by Steve Kaufmann

As 2025 approaches, I wanted to explore how personal traits influence our plans and actions — and why it’s important to consider them when making New Year’s resolutions.

In this video, my friend ‪@LucaLampariello‬ and I explore how input, pronunciation, and mindset shape language learning success.

In this video, I share why I believe YouTube is the best platform for learning languages and how both teachers and students can make the most of it.

In this video, I share 7 things to stop doing right now to avoid hindering your language learning progress and start enjoying the process.

In this video, I share my personal experience with reading in different languages and explain why reading a book is an important milestone for a language learner.

In this video I share my experience with language textbooks and some tips on how to choose the right one.