Who am I and why should you listen to me?
Those are good questions.
I’m Eli. I'm primarily a language learner. I've been passionate about learning languages since I was 9 years old.
My journey began when I found a discarded English textbook from my neighbor. It was filled with fun exercises and stories translated from Portuguese to English. It taught pupils how to read in English.
Since then, I've explored German, French, Italian… a bit of Greek and Polish… and even ventured into Russian, Chinese, and Japanese.
I've learned these languages, but it doesn't mean I've mastered them all. I'm just like you, continually learning.
My learning has been both a hobby and a necessity for work. I’m a language teacher as well.
Throughout this learning-teaching journey, I've always sought practical advice. But most online guidance came from internet polyglots.
They offer valuable insights, but their advice often doesn’t suit my circumstances. Living in a “developing” country presents unique challenges, and suggestions like "travel to the country where the language is spoken" aren't always feasible.
I realize I'm not the typical audience for such polyglots. My conversations are with people like you. You might have a job, a family, or a business to manage. Perhaps you're learning a language due to marital ties, frequent travel, or just personal interest. But language learning is not the central aspect of your life.
(An important one, for sure; but not central.)
I speak to you because I understand you need practical, useful, and straightforward advice. You appreciate directness and realism in conversation. That's who I am, and that's how I approach language learning. And I hope that you will glean a useful, practical, applicable piece of advice or two from my talks.
