We have reached the end of the Advanced Level, but before we move on, I'll cover some ways that you can test your reading and writing skills in your target language.

I also discuss general considerations that all advanced language learners should know, as well as how I create an immersion environment in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese to take my language learning to the next level.

Featured Languages: Spanish, Mandarin Chinese

Website: https://keithhayden.net/

Skritter Chinese and Japanese (Non-affiliate link! I just like the app!)

As you gain more experience in your target language one way to prove to yourself and others that you really know your stuff is by taking a test and having an objective entity evaluate your skills.

If it has been years or perhaps decades since your last test, the idea of taking one may make you uncomfortable. You may be asking yourself questions like: "How can I test myself?" "What makes a good test?"

In this episode, I will discuss specific methods to test your speaking and listening skills in your target language. I also cover some general considerations for those advanced learners on the cusp of calling themselves native-like students of any language.

Website: https://keithhayden.net/

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interviews - Speaking Test

Writing can be a very private affair, but as advanced student one of the best ways to improve is to get feedback for your writing.

In this episode, I discuss various ways to get your writing in front of an audience, even if it is just one person and why it is more important than ever to have confidence in anything that you produce.

I also talk about the importance of learning a little about culture of people that speak your target language.

Featured language: Spanish

Website: https://keithhayden.net/

Translator: https://www.deepl.com/en/translator

With the ability to listen to almost anything you want in your target language comes the confusion of how choose and get the most out of materials created for native speakers of your target language.

In this episode I talk about general advice on how to choose better materials and get more out of dedicated listening time.

I also provide my take on the pros and cons of using music as a tool for language learning. I even read some Spanish rap lyrics and sing a little karaoke to a classic Japanese song!

If you enjoy music and languages you will love this fun episode!

Featured languages: Japanese, Spanish

Website: https://keithhayden.net/

"Innocent World" © 1994 Toy's Factory Records

In Black American culture, an open mic night is an event where anyone can say whatever is on their minds in order to share their thoughts, emotions, and ideas with other people.

If you have attained a high level of speaking proficiency in your target language, you can count yourself among those speakers ready to step to the mic and say whatever you want to whoever will listen.

But what should you say? Who should you talk to?

In this episode, I discuss techniques for improving your speaking. I cover the following topics:

How to get more out of traveling/living abroadHow to find practice in your local communityAlternatives for practicing your speaking alonePractice options if you cannot travel or have no regular internet accessWhy learning idioms is a difficult but worthwhile pursuit in your language studies and how to learn them

NOTE: Forgot to mention it in the episode, but Word Reference is a great resource for learning Spanish idioms! Lots of explanations by native speakers can be found for certain idiomatic expressions. I use it quite often as a reference when I encounter an unfamiliar expression.

Featured languages: Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese

Website: https://keithhayden.net/

Resources: Español con Juan

As an advanced student of your language, you can now read almost anything you want in your target language.

But how do you decide what you should read? How can you begin to get the most out of your reading sessions with books and other long form written materials?

In this episode I explain different techniques on how to take advantage of all of the colors of the reading rainbow to increase your overall language proficiency.

Featured languages: Spanish

Medium article on reading in a foreign language: https://medium.com/@kwhayden11/frustrated-with-reading-in-a-foreign-language-heres-how-to-do-it-better-8a348d078128

Website: https://keithhayden.net/

Welcome to the advanced level! You may feel already fluent and even functionally literate in your target language. This is a significant accomplishment!

But are there more ways that you can still improve? Of course!

In this episode I provide you with an overview of some of the ways that you can continue to improve in your target language as a veteran language learner.

I also discuss the advantages of using a monolingual dictionary to further enhance your acquisition of the language.

Featured Languages: Japanese, Spanish

Monolingual Dictionary Article: https://medium.com/@kwhayden11/how-i-learned-spanish-part-7-using-a-monolingual-dictionary-74ddab955691

Website: https://keithhayden.net/

You invested serious effort to reach an intermediate level of literacy or proficiency in your target language.

Maybe you've scoured the internet for free and paid resources, muddled your way through countless awkward conversations, or even dared to take a trip to a place where your target language is the primary language.

It's a lot of work. Which is why hitting a language plateau or a period of zero or even negative growth can feel very frustrating and confusing in your language journey.

In this episode, I talk about how to recognize that you have reached a plateau with your target language, and ways to reinvigorate your study activities in order to motivate and keep you on track to meet your goals.

Featured language: Spanish (If you are learning Spanish you will find helpful resources here)

Español Automático Website: http://www.espanolautomatico.com/start-here

Website: https://keithhayden.net/

The intermediate phase of language learning is full pitfalls and traps. Some of these are a result of the natural process of acquiring a language that we have little knowledge in. Others are self imposed.

The goal of this episode is to outline some of these pitfalls, and describe techniques to help you avoid them.

By describing my language study plan for Mandarin Chinese, I hope to provide you with a template to better structure your language study in this difficult phase.

Featured language: Mandarin Chinese

Link to website: https://keithhayden.net/

Many language learners see writing as a "nice to have" skill when studying their target language. So why write at all?

In this episode, I discuss why writing often gets ignored by language students and easy ways to take baby steps into writing (even if you feel you are a terrible writer).

Featured languages: Spanish, Japanese

My early Spanish writing on Medium.

Link to website: https://keithhayden.net/