People want to know how to improve memory retention and how to shave off the amount of time it takes to learn new words. This can happen quite easily – but here are some general guidelines for getting a good nights rest. Artificial Light should be banned an hour before bedtime.  – Artificial light robs your… Read More Sleep Hacking and Language Learning

So…. the time has finally come…. sort of! Duolingo has launched on the mobile application and they’re saying that its 65% done for the desktop version. I have been using duolingo on and off very spurradically to pick up vietnamese as a hobbyist – but the audio and learning methodology are quite nice and linear.… Read More Duolingo Japanese Review

Funnily enough, there is more than one way to say “no” in Cantonese depending on the situation and what you’re trying to express. In this post let’s explore the different ways to say NO in Cantonese. 唔係 (m4 haih) – No; incorrect The first character is a fourth tone (mm) sound and when coupled with… Read More How to say “No” in Cantonese

Disclaimer: We have not updated this in forever!  I am doing an MBA in Japan so its been hard to find time for an update – but I am currently cramming for a Japanese exam and I am inspiring myself by returning to blogging.  Look forward to – infrequent – updates!  😀   6,000 Words –… Read More The Best Online Course for Learning Japanese Vocabulary – How long does it take to learn Japanese vocabulary with a flashcard application?

Are you de-motivated? Are you too tired, too busy or just generally uninterested in spending the time it takes to learn Chinese? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone. Demotivation is a common problem that everyone will experience throughout the course of their Chinese learning journey at one point or another. What matters is how you deal… Read More 5 Ways to Break your Chinese Learning Slump

We have finished the JLPT N4 and I believe that we passed. Initial takeaways – the JLPT’s grammar and reading section were brutal.  I was able to pass vocabulary.  I hope that I got the minimum points on the listening. We will register for the N3 to be taken in the summer.  I think that… Read More JLPT – N4 After Report

It’s too late to register for the December JLPT, so if you haven’t registered… tough luck! But for those of you that are taking the test, I have found that there are several great resources that will help those of us that are prepping. 1st Recommendation – Nihongo Challenge http://www.amazon.com/Nihongo-Challenge-N4-Kannji-Japan/dp/4872177576 http://www.amazon.com/Nihongo-Challenge-Grammar-Reading-JLPT/dp/4872177568 (I have linked to… Read More Last Minute JLPT Study Resources

In addition to having the one of the strongest tea cultures in the world, coffee culture is also exploding in China. As of July 2015, Coffee Consumption is in a growth cycle of 7x the global average, about 25% to 30% year on year.① With Coffee Cafe’s popping up everywhere, themes and gimmicks to set… Read More Mandarin Chinese Coffee Vocabulary List

It seems like every day a new app comes out that promises to help you learn characters easily. With a growing pool of research in memory and memory competitions on the rise, this article will be a quick round-up of some of these learning methodologies and some of my thoughts on how you can use… Read More Cool Chinese Character Memorization Methods