An abstract image depicting social learning

Language learning isn’t learning without the social

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A fresh-off-the-press npj paper confirms this month what polyglots have been saying all along: other people make language learning better!

If you’ve ever felt that a single good conversation in your target language does more for your progress than hours of app-based drilling, you’re not imagining it. The paper by Zappa, Slater and Rodriguez-Fornells, published in npj Science of Learning (part of the Nature family) makes a strong, evidence-backed case for something many language learners instinctively know: social interaction isn’t a nice add-on to language learning – it’s central to how it works.

The paper revisits long-standing ideas in second language acquisition research and combines them with newer technological perspectives, asking a deceptively simple question: why does interacting with other people help us learn languages so effectively?

Interaction isn’t optional – it’s structural

At the heart of the paper is the instinctive idea that language is fundamentally a social tool. We don’t acquire it just by hearing words or memorising forms, but by using language to do things with other people: asking, clarifying, negotiating meaning, reacting, repairing misunderstandings.

This aligns with what linguists have called the interaction hypothesis: when learners are forced to adjust what they say in order to be understood – and to understand others – their attention is naturally drawn to gaps in their knowledge. Those moments of “oh, that didn’t quite work” are often where real learning happens.

In other words, conversation isn’t just practice. It actively shapes acquisition. And any practical language learning strategy should really aim to build in that social aspect (sorry, shy polyglots – myself included!).

What’s the new take here?

Where this 2025 paper gets particularly interesting is in its discussion of virtual reality (VR) and immersive digital environments. The authors argue that VR offers a powerful research and teaching space because it allows for:

  • social interaction that feels meaningful and contextual
  • repeatable, controlled scenarios (something real life is terrible at)
  • lower-stakes environments where learners may feel less anxious about speaking

Rather than replacing real human interaction, these tools can scaffold it – especially for learners who find face-to-face conversation intimidating (I’m including myself in that cohort!), or for classrooms where access to diverse speakers is limited.

The key takeaway isn’t “everyone must now learn languages in VR”, but that the social dimension of learning can be designed for more intentionally, even when technology is involved.

Why this matters for your language learning

If you’re a learner, this research reinforces a few practical truths:

  • Listening and reading are essential, but they’re not enough on their own
  • Progress accelerates when we have to respond, adapt and negotiate meaning on the fly
  • Low-pressure interaction (with tolerant partners, or mediated by tech) often beats “perfect” study conditions

That might mean language exchanges, group classes, conversation clubs, or even carefully chosen digital environments that encourage spontaneous output rather than scripted responses.

And for teachers?

For teachers, the message is simple: design for interaction, not just exposure. That doesn’t demand flashy tech, but it does mean thinking about how we prompt learners to respond to one another, repair misunderstandings, and co-construct meaning.

Technology, including AI and immersive tools, is most powerful here when it supports those social processes rather than replacing them. Used well, it can widen access to interaction and reduce anxiety, especially for quieter or less confident learners.

A final thought

Language is something we do with people. This paper is a useful reminder that however sophisticated our tools become, the engine of language learning remains deeply human: interaction, responsiveness, and shared meaning.

If your study routine or teaching practice has drifted too far towards passive consumption, this might be the nudge to bring conversation back to the social centre.

The CEFR scale - a ladder to fluency in language learning

CEFR and Interactive Language Learning: Bringing the Threads Together

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The Council of Europe’s CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) scale is something we’re almost instinctively aware of as language learners. A1/2, B1/2 and C1/2 are the shorthand we regularly use for fluency. A recent paper by Gökhan Haldun Demirdöven in Frontiers in Education takes a long-overdue fresh look at the framework in light of new immersive, technology-mediated language learning. How does our common language ladder mesh with recent developments?

A lot of recent work on language learning tech focuses on platforms such as XR, AI-driven environments and conversational agents almost as a pedagogical end in themselves. Instead, this paper asks a more structured question: how might these technologies meaningfully align with what the CEFR already – with well-established practical application – conceptualises as language ability?

In other words, can we design immersive digital environments to support the kinds of communicative action, mediation, and interaction that CEFR descriptors actually describe?

CEFR : More Than Just Assessment

The author takes the 2020 revisions to the CEFR as a starting point, identifying features of the updated framework – particularly its emphasis on mediation, multiple competences, and real-world communicative tasks – and considers how these might map onto immersive learning contexts. Examples include simulated environments for task-based interaction, AI-supported conversational agents, and speech-recognition systems that are sensitive to sociolinguistic variation rather than enforcing a single normative model.

One enlightening conclusion is that the CEFR is not simply an assessment tool; it is also a design framework. New language learning technologies are useful as long as they support CEFR-aligned communicative action, rather than as standalone innovations. This is a helpful course correction in a space where language-learning technologies can sometimes prioritise novelty over pedagogical coherence. For me, as a language software developer, it’s certainly something that strikes home – language professionals should avoid developing new language tech in a vacuum, and instead build on previous work with a proven track record.

For teachers, curriculum designers, and language-learning app developers, it’s a really timely reminder that innovation in language learning does not have to sit outside existing standards. Frameworks like the CEFR can play an active role in shaping how new technologies are pedagogically grounded.

Norsk for Free : Norwegian Resources for Beginners

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If you’ve followed my learning journey for long, you’ll not have missed the fact that I love norsk. And while I probably did it the long, cumbersome (and expensive) way over the years, with classes and pricey course books, learning Norwegian doesn’t have to cost a krone.

In fact, thanks to Norway’s healthy respect for accessible education, there’s a surprisingly rich spread of free online resources — especially for Bokmål, most learners’ introduction to the Norwegian language landscape. Once you’ve got the hang of that, you can dip a toe into Nynorsk without spending a penny either.

Here’s a quick, curated tour of the best free offerings out there. But first of all…

…Why Bokmål First?

Most free online courses and apps choose Bokmål as their default, simply because it’s the most widely used written variety in Norway, covering many major towns and the vast majority of published material. That makes it an accessible base before broadening out into the richness of Nynorsk.

Top Free Resources for Norwegian (Bokmål)

LearnNoW (NTNU)

A gentle, university-designed introduction to the language. LearnNoW takes absolute beginners through to around A2 with tidy lessons, audio, and interactive tasks. It’s structured, friendly, and surprisingly comprehensive.

👉 https://www.ntnu.edu/learnnow

Norwegian on the Web (NOW)

Another NTNU gem, and one of the classic free courses online. NOW includes a free PDF textbook, a grammar book, listening tasks, and self-study exercises. Think of it as your “foundation and framing” resource.

👉 https://www.ntnu.edu/norwegiancourse

Bnorsk.no (Kompetanse Norge)

A treasure chest of reading comprehension, vocabulary lists, grammar explanations, pronunciation guides, writing tasks, and even digital “språkkaféer”. Perfect for learners who like variety and mixed-skill practice.

👉 https://www.bnorsk.no

Duolingo (Bokmål)

How could we leave out the green owl? While it’s not top of the list, Duolingo’s Norwegian course has a strong following, and it’s reassuringly solid for vocabulary building. Not a full curriculum on its own, but excellent for daily momentum.

👉 https://www.duolingo.com/course/no/en/Learn-Norwegian

Loecsen (Phrases & Survival Language)

Perfect if you want to get speaking quickly. Loecsen focuses on phrases and bite-sized vocabulary, delivered through simple audio and illustrations.

👉 https://www.loecsen.com/en/learn-norwegian

NorwegianABC

Clear explanations, short video and audio snippets, and a good collection of beginner-friendly lessons. Straightforward and fuss-free.

👉 https://norwegianabc.com

Live Lingua – FSI Norwegian Course

Live Lingua hosts digitised versions of older courses, including a useful introductory Norwegian programme with audio files. Handy if you learn well from structured, traditional materials.

👉 https://www.livelingua.com/courses/norwegian

Litt Nynorsk

Nynorsk for Learners (via Bnorsk.no)

Bjorsk hosts a slim but helpful set of reading and grammar resources to help you get oriented with Nynorsk basics.

👉 https://www.bnorsk.no

Introductory Nynorsk Guides

Several online guides offer video lessons, grammar walkthroughs, and example texts, perfect once Bokmål feels comfortable and you fancy branching out.

👉 https://www.norwegian.app/learning-resources/nynorsk

Lykke til!

Once you get started, I recommend getting some norsk content creators into your social feeds too. No single course or platform will cover all bases, so it’s a great way to add some real ‘live lingua’ to your plan.

Whichever route you choose, I wish you a warm lykke til – I hope you enjoy the wonderful cultural journey that Norwegian opens up to you!

Christmas 2025

Christmas Gifts for Language Lovers : 2025 Edition!

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It’s that time of year again: the seasonal round-up of gifts for the language-obsessed. Whether you’re shopping for a budding bilingual, a seasoned polyglot, or the friend making language learning resolutions at last – here’s this year’s curated list of things to delight and support.

As you’d expect, AI is everywhere in the ‘edu-gift’ shopping lists lately. Which is why I’ll start with some old-school resources – no gimmicks, no experimental tech, just solid trad resources you can hold in your hands. That’s not to say there aren’t some techie gifts worth a look, so we’ll round off with one fun wee gadget!

📚 Journals & Notebooks

Sometimes the simplest tools are the best — especially for vocab. There’s something refreshing (and frankly more memorable) about writing things down compared to tapping buttons in an app. And with ‘functional stationery’ as strong as ever, there are a few lovely language-specific picks:

FLUENTISH: Language Learning Planner & Journal

Fluentish is a neat, structured journal for vocabulary, grammar notes, weekly goals and reflections. It’s light-touch enough not to overwhelm, but organised enough to help learners spot progress. Great for anyone juggling multiple languages or trying to build a routine.

Goldlist-Friendly Vocabulary Notebooks (various languages)

If you’ve ever flirted with the Goldlist Method — that gentle, handwriting-based approach to deep vocabulary learning — then a good layout makes all the difference. There are plenty of notebooks set up with the familiar 3-column pattern the technique requires.  If it’s for a gift, you can get some wonderfully themed ones like this Korean ‘build your own dictionary’ notepad.

Great stocking fillers, particularly lovely for learners who like to keep their notebooks tidy and colour-coded.

🎲 Card & Board Games

Language learning shouldn’t always be earnest. A few games – many of them handily portable – genuinely pull their pedagogical weight while being light-heartedly frivolous:

TOP TRUMPS: LOL SURPRISE (FRENCH EDITION)

It’s Top Trumps, but in French and with cute animé style characters — which somehow makes it both sillier and more useful. Great for kids or nostalgic adults, and brilliant for casual vocab exposure without even trying.

TOP TRUMPS: NARUTO (GERMAN EDITION)

Now this one is actual animé – but in German. The text on each card adds a surprising amount of reading practice (and speaking, if you insist on your fellow players sticking to the target language). You learn without noticing — the best kind.

KLOO SPANISH BOARD/CARD GAME

OK, this one is a bit less portable. But KLOO games are designed explicitly for language learners as resources to learn from. You build Spanish sentences as you play, picking up grammar patterns and vocabulary naturally. Ideal for families, classrooms or anyone who’d rather learn Spanish through play than through verb tables. (Personally I like both ways.)

🤖 One Fun Gadget

The gadget market is heaving with “AI translators”, many of which are… optimistic in their promises. After wading through the noise, there’s one that’s consistently reliable and genuinely useful for language learners and travellers alike:

POCKETALK S2 GLOBAL TRANSLATOR DEVICE

Supports a huge range of languages, handles two-way voice translation, and even does camera/text translation. Fabulous for travel, reading menus abroad, and giving you that extra bit of confidence in multilingual situations. It won’t quite teach you a language (wouldn’t that be lovely), but for linguistically-minded gadget fiends it’s a fun distraction.

I will add that with consumer electronics like this, you do have to do a bit of homework – there are a lot of cheap, plasticky versions about – so always browse, check the reviews and compare before buying.

Final Christmas Thoughts

This year’s list is a fun blend of handwritten learning and functional stationery, games that trick you into practising, and a single smart gadget that (almost) earns its keep. Whether you’re buying for a learner or quietly treating yourself, these picks all support real, meaningful progress — the kind that lasts longer than Boxing Day.

Wishing all Polyglossic visitors a wonderful language-learning Christmas!

Diffuse squares

SingaKids: A Glimpse of Where Multimodal AI Tutoring May Be Headed

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A recent pre-print on SingaKids, a multilingual multimodal tutoring system for young learners, offers an interesting look at how AI-supported language learning is evolving. You can read the paper here: SingaKids: A Multilingual Multimodal Dialogic Tutor for Language Learning.

Designed for early primary classrooms, SingaKids is an AI-based system that uses picture-description tasks as the basis for spoken interaction. It combines dense image captioning, multilingual speech recognition, a dialogue model tuned with pedagogical scaffolding, and child-friendly text-to-speech. The system works in English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil, with extra attention paid to the lower-resource languages to improve recognition and generation quality.

Flexible Scaffolding

Something that stood out to me in particular was the system’s focus on scaffolding rather than straightforward correction. That approach is flexible; depending on a child’s response, the system shifts between prompts, hints, explanations, and more structured guidance. Higher-performing learners are pushed towards fuller reasoning; less confident learners get clearer cues and more supportive turns. It’s a step away from the rigid “question–answer–score” pattern and closer to the texture of real classroom dialogue.

Although the work is aimed at children, several ideas have wider implications for the rest of us. Picture-guided dialogue isn’t new in ‘grown-up’ resources – think Rosetta Stone, for instance. But it could easily support adult learners practising free production in AI tools, too. Improved multilingual ASR – especially for hesitant, accented, or code-switched speech – would benefit almost every speaking-practice tool. And the flexible scaffolding approach hints at future e-tutors that adapt to the learner’s behaviour dynamically, rather than funnelling everyone down the same path.

The project sits firmly in the research space, but it points towards what the next generation of tools may look like: multimodal, context-aware systems that don’t just respond to learners but actively guide, prompt, and adjust. For anyone keeping an eye on developments in educational AI, it’s a nice indication of the direction of travel (and I’m probably a wee bit envious of those kids getting a chance to try it first!).

Free-writing with an inky nib

Free-Writing : Breaking the Block in 10 Minutes A Day

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I attended a great little workshop at the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Academic Development (IAD) the other day, all about strengthening academic writing habits. True to IAD form, it was a really practical session. And one technique the instructor had us try out ticked all the boxes: free-writing.

It’s a simple, surprisingly energising practice. For ten minutes, you pick a specific topic or section you’re working on, set a timer, and just write. No editing. No backspacing. Absolutely no rearranging paragraphs. Just let the ideas spill out, stream-of-consciousness style, without worrying about polish or perfection.

Anyone who’s ever come across NaNoWriMo will recognise the spirit of it – that on-a-roll just-get something-down momentum. It’s a great technique for getting into a foreign language writing habit. But hearing it framed specifically for academic writing made came at just the right (write?) time for me, after a year of research and note-taking but precious little thesis. Suddenly the blank page felt less like a wall and more like a playground.

Strict Limits : The Key to Free-writing

The key is to be strict. Only after the timer ends do you look back at what you’ve produced. That’s when the real gems show themselves: angle on your argument that rise from your cluttered thoughts, a paragraph you can develop further, or maybe a sentence that unlocks the rest of a larger section or chapter. Even the nonsense is useful – it warms the gears. You’ll be surprised what a sense of achievement you get from it, whatever the output!

I’m now trying to build it into a ten-minute daily habit, and it genuinely feels like I’m making some concrete progress. If you’re facing down a stubborn bit of writing that refuses to budge, this little habit might just help you break the block too.

Macmillan’s “Mastering” Series: Language Learning Stalwarts of the 80s and 90s

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You might remember that I was reminiscing about the forgotten Made Simple series the other week. It led me to recall another language learning series of old, and one I often mix up with Made Simple, I must admit. It’s Macmillan’s Mastering … series, another once much more familiar name in the self-paced and further ed market.

It’s not surprising that they sometimes merge into Made Simple in my language book memory. The book format itself was similar – a somewhat taller paperback, with that thick, off-white paper that feels really satisfying to turn (and crease, for fellow page corner turner-downers like me). Even the covers features that black, yellow and red of their Made Simple cousins. Like those books, these feel like grown-up courses, and, were likewise staples at night classes in the 80s and 90s.

The Mastering library overlapped with Made Simple in topics, but with a couple of important differences. For one thing, the series contained an intermediate stage for the mainstream languages; Mastering German 2, for example, is a very decent second-tier course that picks up where the first leaves off.

Impression of Mastering French I (Macmillan)

Mastering … take a slightly broader path with its titles, too. Mastering Arabic, for example, is one of the few really accessible, off-the-shelf courses in the language from the time. Perhaps that’s the reason it’s one of the titles that’s still very much with us; now acquired by Bloomsbury, Mastering Arabic continues as a respected and well-used course book today.

That’s not to say the old ones aren’t worth a look, too. And you can often pick them up on eBay for just a couple of pounds – you know we like a bargain at Polyglossic!

AI Role-Plays that Actually Move the Needle

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Papers on AI in education are two a penny at the moment, but there’s a particularly nice one that appeared recently in Frontiers in Education (30 Sept 2025). It takes a fresh look at AI-generated, scenario-based conversation practice for university EFL learners – one of perhaps the most obvious and widespread use cases for AI in language learning, but given a smart, systematic treatment by a team of scholars from Saudi Arabia, China and Pakistan.

The gist is simple: build realistic speaking scenarios with AI, let students interact in them over a term, and see what happens. Over 18 weeks with 130 first-years split into control vs. AI-scenario groups, the AI cohort came out ahead on pronunciation, accuracy and conversational flow. They also reported higher interest and better teacher–student interaction to boot.

The catch? Emotional thinness in AI dialogue, patchy content quality if you don’t curate, and a risk of learner over-dependence on the tech. 

So, what can we pinch for our own learning? Well, the paper itself is full of useful nuggets and worth a careful read. But here are some key takeaways for avoiding “AI for AI’s sake” based on the team’s findings.

1) Make your speaking tasks scenario-first, not tool-first.

Before opening any chatbot, sketch a brief: Where am I? Who am I? What’s my goal? What counts as success? That mirrors the paper’s “input → interaction → output” design and stops generative models meandering (always an occupational hazard worth mitigating against).

2) Bake in “flow nudges”.

The study’s gains in conversational flow suggest prompts that push you to repair, clarify and keep turns moving. Add rules to your prompt like: “If I give a short answer, ask a natural follow-up; if I stall, offer two options.” That keeps the exchange discursive rather than Q&A-ish. 

3) Add in a feedback micro-loop.

The report notes improvements in pronunciation, which is fine if you’re using AI in voice mode. If not, replicate that with a regular mini-feedback cycle that gives short explanations for tricky words of phrases.

4) Curate, don’t just generate.

A recurring warning was inconsistent or culturally off-kilter content when left unchecked. Make sure to describe your scenario frames in terms of function, time and place (e.g., returning a faulty purchase in Athens; arranging a GP appointment in Lille). 

5) Add a human(-like) layer to keep things warm

Students benefitted from richer teacher–student interaction around the AI tasks. Translate that to solo study by doing a quick human check: post one 60-second recap to a study buddy, social feed or tutor each week. This ‘social accountability’ step compensates for the AI’s limited emotional range. Try recording the dialogue afterwards as a voice note, too, for some added spoken practice.

6) Watch the dependence trap.

The authors flag tech over-reliance. Give yourself “AI-off Fridays”: repeat a scenario from memory with real materials (voice notes, a friend, or even talking to your phone camera), then compare to your AI-assisted version for gaps. 

AI in Practice

Bringing all that together, here’s a ready-to-use mini-format you can try for a 15-minutes role-play practice that isn’t crow-baring AI in for no real gain:

  • Minute 0–2: Choose a vetted scenario card (place, role, goal, 3 key phrases).

  • 2–3: Prime the bot with constraints (stay in A2/B1, insist on follow-ups, correct only one thing per turn).

  • 3–10: Converse. Every third turn, ask for a meaning / explanatory nudge on one tricky word or structure.

  • 10–12: Bot summary with 3 personalised upgrade lines you could have said.

  • 12–15: Record a no-AI voice note version. Park it for a weekly human warm-layer check.

Pastable Prompt

You are a language conversation partner tasked with improving the language skills of me, the user.
We’ll do a short scenario-based speaking practice in French.
Follow these rules carefully:
1. Keep the level at A2–B1 CEFR.
2. Always stay in character and make the conversation feel natural – imagine we’re really there.
3. Insist on follow-up questions whenever my answers are too short or unnatural.
4. Correct only one thing per turn, briefly and gently, then move on.
5. Every third turn, give me a short “💡 Language note” explaining a tricky word or structure that came up.
6. After about 20 lines or so of dialogue (ideally when the conversation draws to a natural close), give a performance summary, including what I did well, some ‘upgraded’ versions of my sentences showing how I could sound more natural or advanced, and 2-3 new phrases worth learning from this conversation.
7. Keep the tone friendly, realistic, and mildly humorous if it fits the setting. When ready, start the conversation by greeting me in the target language and setting the scene.

The bottom line is that AI role-plays can be genuinely useful when we design around them: scenario first, small feedback loops, and human warmth stitched back in. Treat the model like a scene partner with good timing but flat affect, and you’ll harvest the fluency gains without outsourcing your judgement.

The paper’s results are encouraging; its realistic caveats are a gift that ground us back in practical realism. As always, build guardrails into your AI usage first of all, to ensure that you get the most from – and enjoy – the chat! 

Perplexity Tasks for Language Learners

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AI techniques to support language learning are pretty well-known now. From structured conversation partners to resource creators, LLM platforms have been embraced by the polyglot community.

Like many of us, I dip in and out of them almost unthinkingly now. Often, I’ll snap in a page from a chapter I’m working on with my Greek teacher, and it’ll help me prepare ahead of a lesson. Sometimes, I’ll get it to reel off a list of useful phrases on a topic I’m studying. LLMs can make great worksheet creators, too. In many ways, it’s simply a very interactive reference tool, giving (mostly) reliable answers but with a big nod to context.

I’d been pretty dogged in my choice of platform, sticking for the most part with ChatGPT Plus. Claude and Gemini were also in the mix, alongside some fun running local models. But for the most part, I thought my tool choices were pretty settled.

But then I gave Perplexity a whirl.

Perplexity – Task Master

Perplexity isn’t an LLM in the sense that ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude are. It uses LLM technology. But it’s actually more of an intelligent, context-sensitive search tool, that uses natural language APIs to turbo-boost its web-hunting activities.

I’d clearly not found that prospect very exciting, as I’d not gone near it until now. But thanks to a bundled free upgrade, I got to try the premium tier of late. And one particular feature stands out as potentially transformative for my learning habits: Perplexity Tasks.

Tasks are scheduled searches you set up with natural language instructions. And those instructions can be as rich as your usual LLM prompts in terms of requested formatting and such like, so in essence, you can build regular bulletins with up-to-date information in any language you like. Take one of mine, that runs daily:

Search the global news for the biggest world news story of the day. Summarise it in French, German, Modern Greek, Polish, Scottish Gaelic and Swahili at a level appropriate for an intermediate learner, ensuring that the translation is of the highest, native speaker standard quality, idiomatic and natural-sounding. Summaries should be 3-4 sentences long. Highlight key words in bold.

Accompany each summary text with a glossary / vocabulary list detailing all the key / difficult words from it in dictionary format (listing word class, irregular parts if applicable etc.). Hyperlink glossary items to Wiktionary entries where available with further information on them (use the English version en.wiktionary.com).

Lay it all out neatly to make it easy on the eye. Use plenty of emojis for impact too. Make this a fabulous resource for polyglot language learning! 🌍

Now, every morning, I get a wee news digest emailed straight to my inbox in multiple languages. It’s learner-friendly, includes vocab support, and gives me something to talk about in my language meets and lessons. I’ve done the same for academic paper searches in linguistics, and stories on dialect appearing in news outlets.

It feels like a proper game changer!

Tasking on Other Platforms

Now, you don’t need Perplexity to do this – it’s just one of the most user-friendly ways I’ve found to do it. If you have ChatGPT,  check out Scheduled Tasks. In Gemini, Scheduled Actions will do the trick for Pro members. Copilot is in on the game too. Others will no doubt follow suit shortly – clearly, task scheduling is becoming one of those features AI platforms are expected to have.

What I like about Perplexity, though, is that its whole raison d’être is the search – it feels particularly suited to web-based tasks like news digests. It’s also quite nice to keep the separation between my everyday LLM ramblings, and my more structured, scheduled items (use it for a few weeks and you’ll have clogged your timeline up with dozens of chats!).

If you’ve been looking for a way to make AI genuinely work for your learning rather than distract from it, try setting up a task or two – you might just find it becomes part of your morning ritual as well.

The Made Simple Series : Language Learning Blasts from the Past

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While helping my uncle clear out some old boxes lately, I came across a proper forgotten classic of language learning: the Made Simple series.

I knew it as soon as I spied the familiar black, red and yellow paperback – it was an early nineties edition of Spanish Made Simple, chunky, well-worn, and still with my teenage pencil notes in it. I’d passed it on to my globetrotting uncle ahead of a trip he made to South America, so it had done some serious miles.

Spanish Made Simple, Third Edition - cover impression

Made Simple was a series familiar to many who took evening classes back then. And with its slightly polytechnic-esque look and feel, it sat naturally alongside Teach Yourself, Colloquial, Hugo In Three Months and language course stalwarts, keeping up but not quite displacing them. They covered the usual mainstream languages – French, German and Spanish – but also featured other self-teach titles from Electronics to Philosophy. 

And they feel solid, with a no-fluff, down-to-brass-tacks grammar-vocab-reading model. There’s a real ‘adult ed’ feel to them, which is probably why I loved them as a language-obsessed teen. They just felt grown-up.

Made Simple… Made Disappear?

Despite the Spanish edition making it to 2.5 million copies in print, the series never held the primacy that rivals like Teach Yourself and Colloquial hung onto. Other series expanded into more languages, for example, and shifting formats – especially the rise of audio media – made keeping courses like these a real specialist undertaking. In fact, they did manage to cling on in a modern incarnation by Penguin Random House, with fresh, up-to-date jackets. But those original, ubiquitous Made Simple language titles drifted into obscurity, and you’ll only spot their tricolore jackets on the shelves of second-hand booksellers these days.

That said, being obscure and forgotten doesn’t mean being obsolete. You will know, by now, my take on old language learning gems! For those of us who cut our language learning teeth before apps and streaks, they’re a charming reminder that all you really need is a pencil, a bit of patience, and a good old-fashioned tome.

So with that, consider the original Made Simple series unearthed and celebrated once again in this post. If you’re hankering after a new angle on your language, those old Made Simple volumes are still well worth a look!