How to Learn Any Language in Record Time and Never Forget It

How to Learn Any Language in Record Time and Never Forget It

Preface from Tim Back in 2012, Gabriel Wyner wrote an article for Lifehacker detailing how he learned French in 5 months and Russian in 10, using mostly spare time on the subway.  That article went viral. But don’t run off! That was nothing but version 1.0.  This post gives you version 2.0 and more. He’s …

Why Can't You Draw The Face of a Penny? Understand the Reason and Learn Spanish Twice as Fast

Allow me to explain using a related problem. Vocabulary lists in a run-of-the-mill Spanish textbook usually look something like the below, taken from real-world sources I won’t shame by naming: La mano – the hand El arbol – the tree Las muñecas – the wrists ¡Nos vemos mañana! – See you tomorrow! Mande? – Sorry? Pardon? What …

12 Rules for Learning Foreign Languages in Record Time — The Only Post You'll Ever Need

12 Rules for Learning Foreign Languages in Record Time — The Only Post You'll Ever Need

Preface by Tim Ferriss I’ve written about how I learned to speak, read, and write Japanese, Mandarin, and Spanish. I’ve also covered my experiments with German, Indonesian, Arabic, Norwegian, Turkish, and perhaps a dozen others. There are only few language learners who dazzle me, and Benny Lewis is one of them. This definitive guest post …

Random 4: Tim Ferriss and Kevin Rose on Y-Combinator, Language Learning and More

This pre-China trip includes the below: – Personal experiences with Y-Combinator, demo days, and pitching new ideas through avenues like YC. – Five things you can do as a new startup to get your ideas, app, or product in front of influencers. – Tweaking your website: per-user metrics, cost per acquisition, lifetime value of the …

How to Learn Any Language in 3 Months

How to Learn Any Language in 3 Months

The Okano Isao judo textbook I used to learn Japanese grammar. Post reading time: 15 minutes. Language learning need not be complicated. Principles of cognitive neuroscience and time management can be applied to attain conversational fluency (here defined as 95%+ comprehension and 100% expressive abilities) in 1-3 months. Some background on my language obsession, from …

How to Feel Like the Incredible Hulk in 2009

The above video is of my presentation at the Entertainment Gathering, titled “How to Feel Like the Incredible Hulk.” In a short 17 minutes, I explain exactly how I conquered fears of swimming, language learning, and ballroom dancing by questioning “obvious” guidelines and dogmatic teaching. I explain three approaches (first principles/assumptions, material over method, and …

How Not to Use a Lawyer – A Personal Case Study (Plus: Protocol Marketing correction)

How Not to Use a Lawyer – A Personal Case Study (Plus: Protocol Marketing correction)

Ah, lawyers. It’s a love-hate relationship. Just this week alone, I’m working with a literary attorney (publishing), an entertainment attorney (TV), and a corporate financing attorney (angel investments).  All three are great. Yesterday, though, I received the threatening letter below from Protocol Integrated Direct Marketing, whose call centers I recommend in the 4HWW. WTF? Click …