Learning a language - don't believe the hype!

Before I get into any discussion of specific language learning ebooks I want to emphasise one thing that I can say with absolute rock-solid certainty on the basis of my many years of experience learning languages:

THERE IS NO SHORT-CUT TO LEARNING A LANGUAGE!

And don't believe anyone who claims otherwise.

There are a LOT of courses, ebooks, websites and whatnot out there, making wild promises along the lines of:

Learn French in a Week!

Speak German like a Native Within a Month!

Now I jokingly wrote somewhere on this page, in reference to language learning, "You'll be fluent in no time!" But the fact is, learning a language, whether from an ebook or online course, a printed coursebook or in the classroom, is a process that takes TIME and EFFORT. When learning a language, this is something you should accept from the outset.

Learning a language means learning a SKILL. Can you learn to play the piano in a week? Of course not. Can you learn carpentry in a week? Not likely! For you to take these skills on board, certain changes have to happen in your brain. A completely foreign "program" has to take root in there and begin the process of turning a newly-learned action (piano-playing, carpentry, speaking a foreign language) into second nature, a process that will always have room for further development.

So don't fall for promises of easy and quick results! These promises are at best exaggerated. The ebooks and online courses I will be considering on this site will be tested to ensure that they embody a scientifically sound approach to language learning and that they will truly help you master the language you wish.

I look forward to discovering new languages and ways to learn them together with you!

Introduction to language learning ebooks

With the rise of the Internet and of digital formats, it is easier to learn a language than ever before.

All you have to do is choose from the huge number of language learning ebook titles that are out there. No waiting for the product to arrive, no piles of books or CDs/DVDs to get scratched. An ebook language learning course is entirely in digital format and can be read on your screen, or better still, on one of the many ebook reading devices that are beginning to flood the market.

There are a great many ebooks out there for learning a great many languages, French, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish - all the European languages you would expect of course - but also language ebooks intended to help you master the languages of some of the world's booming markets. Hindi or Chinese anyone?

On this site we will be taking a regular look at the language learning ebooks currently on offer, as well as discussing how to best make use of an ebook language course, and what devices these can be displayed on.

Stick around! (now I wonder how you say that in Hindi!)