Introduction: The Science of Stress and Language Learning

I’ve been working on an update to the Fluent Forever book for much of 2023 and 2024. It’ll come out in December of 2024, and one of the new sections revolves around Listening and Reading comprehension. Specifically, around how to leverage the science of stress to help you learn faster. I’ll explain: there’s an old concept in behavioral psychology that maps the relationship between performance and stress. It’s known as the Yerkes-Dodson Curve, and it reveals that there’s actually a good level of stress to have when learning, a level that will boost your retention and keep you engaged. If you get more stressed than that, you’ll start to feel anxious, frustrated, or totally burnt out. And if you get less stressed, then you’ll get bored and disengage. Here’s what it looks like:

Want to better connect with your multinational friends this year? Here’s how to say Merry Christmas in different languages, along with other festive greetings. We’ll cover pronunciation too!  

The holidays are coming around, and with them a flurry of travel dates, guests, hosting, visiting, and gift giving. All these activities provide meaningful opportunities to connect to the people that we love. 

Can you learn a language just by listening? As it turns out, the answer is largely yes. This article will show you effective strategies and guide you through the process!

Generally, you do have the ability to learn a language just by listening. You can see evidence for this in children: kids start comprehending language even before they speak it. The good news is that you can apply a similar strategy in your own studies. 

Planning to visit Israel or developing an interest in Hebrew? Learn these 63 common Hebrew words and phrases to get a head start on the language and your travel plans!

Updated February 6, 2024