The science of learning
What do studies actually show? These articles distinguish research findings, plausible applications and common misconceptions.
Why Knowing the Words Is Not Always Enough to Understand a Text
A reader can recognize almost every word in a foreign-language article and still miss its meaning. Sometimes the missing piece is not grammar or vocabulary, but knowledge of the situation the author a
Why Children Invent Words Nobody Has Ever Said to Them
A child says “goed” instead of “went,” and an adult laughs at the funny mistake. But the form can reveal something important: the child has noticed a pattern and is trying to apply it beyond the words
Your First Language: When It Helps and When It Gets in the Way
When a Russian-speaking learner says “I very like this city,” the words are familiar, but their combination follows a pattern carried over from Russian. A more natural English expression is “I really
Why the Most Entertaining Lesson Is Not Always the Best Remembered
After a lively class, students remember a funny activity, a competition and a colorful prop. A week later they may still struggle to explain the main concept. Enjoyment matters, but it is not identica
How One Powerful Idea Helps You Understand Many Different Topics
A learner knows the names of rivers, mountains and deserts, but cannot explain why cities develop beside water or how the landscape changes. The missing ingredient may be a useful organizing concept,
Why Some Creative Assignments Arrive Too Early
A class of beginners is asked to design an advertising campaign in a foreign language. The task sounds imaginative, but the students barely know how to make a request or describe a product. Most of th
“I'm a Visual Learner”: When a Useful Preference Becomes a Limiting Label
A student says, “Listening is pointless for me. I'm a visual learner, so please put everything in a table.” Preferring diagrams is a valid experience. The difficulty begins when that preference become
What to read next
Choose an article matching your immediate question. Move from explanation to practice, or explore why an error keeps returning.
Back to all articles