Learn a language for the Mind blog

Why Learn a Language with VLLC Instead of Relying on AI?

9/10/2025

In a world where technology is evolving faster than ever, it’s easy to believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can do it all; including teaching you a new language. And while AI tools can certainly help with vocabulary, pronunciation, and quick translations, they can't replace the depth, structure, and human connection that comes from learning with a dedicated language program like VLLC. I have written below some reasons why choosing VLLC gives you a smarter, more rewarding path to real fluency.

Language Is human and so Is VLLC: AI tools like chatbots and translation apps are impressive, but language is much more than words on a screen. It's about cultural understanding, emotional tone, and real-time conversation skills; things that require a human touch. At VLLC, you're guided by real tutors who know how to adapt their teaching to your learning style. You’re not just memorising; you’re communicating with people who care about your progress and understand the nuances of the language.

Structured Learning That Gets Results: AI platforms often offer fragmented learning: random words, phrases, or grammar points without a clear path. VLLC uses a proven, goal-oriented system that’s structured, flexible, and focused on practical outcomes like travel, career advancement, or everyday conversations. You follow a personalised plan, with benchmarks and tutor support, so you always know where you're going and how to get there.

Accountability and motivation are the biggest reasons people quit language learning is a lack of consistency. With AI, it's easy to skip a day… then two… then forget it entirely. With VLLC, you’re never on your own. Regular tutorials, structured programs, and real conversations keep you engaged and motivated. You’re part of a learning community that helps you stay on track and celebrate every milestone.

With VLLC you get real-time feedback, not Just corrections; AI might tell you when you’ve made a mistake, but it won’t explain why or how to fix it in a way that makes sense to you. At VLLC, feedback is personal, constructive, and adapted to your learning goals. Whether it’s improving pronunciation, understanding cultural etiquette, or mastering tricky grammar, your tutor is there to guide you not just correct you.

Learn the language of travel, not Just the textbooks: VLLC specialises in helping learners use language in real-life settings especially for travel and immersion experiences. While AI might give you the literal translation of "Where is the bathroom?" VLLC prepares you to handle conversations, read signs, order food, navigate transport, and feel confident in a new country. When you learn with VLLC, you’re not just learning a language you’re learning how to belong in another culture.

Use AI as a tool, not a teacher: AI can be a helpful companion on your language journey but it’s no replacement for the personalised, human-focused learning you get with VLLC. If you’re serious about becoming fluent, travelling with confidence, or connecting across cultures, VLLC gives you the tools, support, and experience to get there. Start your language journey with us and go further than you ever thought possible.

Ready to learn a language that takes you places? Contact VLLC today to find the perfect program for your goals.

Photo 1 by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
Photo 2 by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

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The Mental Shift of Thinking in Another Language

9/9/2025

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Have you ever caught yourself thinking in a language that isn’t your native tongue — and realised, with a jolt, that something inside you had quietly shifted? It’s a strange, exciting moment. It usually doesn’t happen in an app but it does happen when you learn a language with VLLC. It happens when you're in a tutorial, speaking with a native speaker or abroad, standing at a market stall in Bangkok, asking for mangoes in Thai, or navigating a train schedule in Spanish, and suddenly your brain starts processing the world differently. That’s the magic of language learning: it doesn’t just change how you speak — it changes how you think.

A New Language = A New Lens: Language isn’t just vocabulary and grammar; it’s a reflection of how people see the world. When you start to think in another language, you start to adopt that worldview — often without realising it. Thinking in another language often means adapting to different values, social rules, and rhythms of life. It’s not just communication — it’s mental rewiring.
Small Shifts that make a big impact: So what does this shift feel like in real life?

You stop translating in your head and start responding naturally.
You become more comfortable with ambiguity — making peace with not understanding everything.
You notice subtle social cues you would’ve missed in English.
You begin to feel in another language — your “thank you's and sorry's" come from a new place inside.

It’s humbling and empowering at the same time.

Being immersed is often the catalyst for this shift. Surrounded by sounds, signs, and daily interactions in the target language, your brain has no choice but to adapt. It’s not about perfection — it’s about presence.
How to encourage the shift: You start asking for directions, ordering food, sharing stories — and each time, the language moves a little deeper into your mind. Sometimes, the mental shift sneaks up on you. You dream in another language. You instinctively say “excuse me” in French. You count change in Italian. And one day, you realise: your brain has made a new space for your new language.

How to encourage the shift? Even if you're not fully immersed, you can cultivate this shift:

Name your surroundings in your target language as you move through your day.
Practice inner dialogue in the language — narrate what you're doing or how you're feeling.
Watch TV, read books, or journal in the language to build “your new language brain!”
When abroad, force yourself to think in the local language, even before speaking.

The goal isn’t fluency — it’s fluidity: letting the language flow through your thoughts as part of your daily life.

Final Thoughts: Becoming Multilingual in Mind and Spirit: Thinking in another language isn’t just a milestone — it’s a mindset. It teaches you to be flexible, humble, curious, and connected. It reminds you that communication is more than words — it’s an act of empathy and understanding. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your language learning journey, know this: the shift is coming. One day, without even realising it, you’ll think a thought, make a joke, or feel a feeling — in another language — and it’ll feel completely natural. And when that happens, you’ll know: your world just got a little bigger.

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The Seven Fastest Spoken Languages in the World

26/8/2025

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I recently read an article from The Language Nerds, who post on social media. The facts I have listed are their results from a recent study by Pellegrino, Coupé, and Marco. This study is about how linguists measure the speed of languages by how many syllables are articulated per second or per minute. This study doesn't include data from all the languages of the world, but this is what they have discovered so far. I have included the link to the article at the bottom of this blog.

Japanese is the fastest recording language. It has a rate of 7.84 syllables per second! Spanish is right behind Japanese and is nearly as fast with a rate of 7.82 syllables per second. French lags just a little far behind with a rate of 7.18 syllables per second. Italian is relatively slower than Spanish and French with a rate of 6.99 syllables per second. English is among the slower languages with a rate of 6.19 syllables per second. Before last is German with a speed of 5.97 syllables per second. Mandarin is the slowest recorded language with a rate as low as 5.18 syllables per second.

I actually would have presumed that the Asian languages were faster but apparently, languages with either a complex tone (4 or more tones), or complex consonant clusters, tend to be slower while languages with no tone, or a very simple tone system tend to be faster.

Reference: https://thelanguagenerds.com/list-of-the-fastest-spoken-languages-in-the-world/

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Language Learning and the Mind

15/7/2025

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Learning a language for some is easy, and yet for others, it is close to impossible. However, much about learning a language is in the mind, and we must remember that our brain is a powerful thing. The best way to get to grips with learning a language fast, is to have a general idea of how your subconscious works and how we learn in different ways.

Children are the best example of how the subconscious mind helps learn a language. Children who grow up in households, or just countries where more than one language is spoken, become bi or multi-lingual very quickly. They are absorbed in the language through the constant repetition of words, phrases and even mannerisms, allowing the brain and mind to soak up the language while almost resting. There is no forced “you will learn this” when it comes to children, no learning grammar, and this means the child is confident in learning the language and feels confident in speaking it.

The mind plays tricks on us all the time, and for many, overcoming the fear of speaking a language is one of the greatest challenges. However, the childlike approach to using the mind, especially a more subconscious mind technique which uses repetition, is one of the best language learning methods. Vocational Language Learning Centre uses this technique and has had much success with teaching many students a new language. Once one has learned to relax the mind and accepted it is not a race to learn the language fast, you will become more receptive. Being more receptive means you will learn, and may even learn more quickly as your confidence grows.

Becoming socially interactive through language also improves the learning experience. Confidence grows and the immersion in conversation prepares the mind to both listen and speak in a natural, if somewhat daunting situation.

Many people talk about mind maps when it comes to learning a language. Bringing together the lexicon and syntax is in many ways what learning a language is. It is a little like a jigsaw puzzle and once one learns what goes with which, things fall into place. This way of learning is less subconscious and more structured and logical. It basically creates a map for the language learner to follow. It does work and is very much a more deliberate way of teaching the mind to work, or think in a certain way.

Our human brains and our minds are more than capable of learning another language or multiple languages. There is not many people who are unable to learn (unless there is a medical learning difficulty), some just find it more difficult than others, especially those who feel pressured into speaking or using a language. Of course, there are now many shortcuts to learning a language such as translation apps etc but in reality, nothing beats really learning the language and actually communicating to someone in their native tongue.

Language stimulates the brain and the challenge in applying the mind should be embraced. For many, a combination of understanding, applying and using rules along with the social use of language, will be how they eventually learn. The mind is a very powerful tool, and in a nutshell, it needs a combination of stimulation and relaxation to deliver the results you are looking for. When you understand how best your mind works, learning a language is merely a matter of time and perhaps placing mind over matter.

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Accessing information from your subconscious mind...

9/7/2025

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Can you remember the last time you met someone in the street that you know and you forgot their name? You are usually with someone and feel rude not doing an introduction. Your mind goes into a panic searching for the name – which you get - as you are walking away.
OR
You are having a language assessment and the tutor asks you what your name is in your new language and you can’t answer – you have no idea where the information is…..even though you have said it EVERY tutorial since you started.

Often information is on the tip of our tongues, but we just can’t access it in the moment. The following is not scientific – it is my subjective experience, but it may resonate with you.

I imagine my mind like a filing cabinet. Everything I have seen, heard and learned has been filed in the correct drawer, but when I am stressed or putting pressure on myself – T-H-E—D-R-A-W-E-R-S—S-T-I-C-K…….when I am relaxed the drawers open easily and smoothly.

So the secret – as with everything – IS TO RELAX. Don’t put more pressure on your brain to remember – trust that the information is there and that you are able to recall it. Another strategy I use is to ask myself a specific question: What is the Italian word for xxx? What is that person’s name? Then relax…..It will pop into your mind a few moments later. IF you want quicker recall, you need to learn to put your body and mind into a state of relaxation quicker. (This is the subject for another blog).
Try these tips for words you forget in your new language and let me know your experience.
Happy learning
Jo

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Why do people want to learn a foreign language?

3/6/2025

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Why Learning a Foreign Language Is a Smart and Rewarding Choice
Learning a foreign language is more than just acquiring a new skill—it can open doors in nearly every area of life.
1. Boost Your Career Prospects
In today’s global economy, language skills are a major asset. Employers value candidates who can communicate across cultures, especially in companies that deal with international clients or partners. Being bilingual or multilingual can give you a distinct edge in a competitive job market.
2. Enhance Your Travel Experiences
Speaking the local language transforms the way you travel. It allows you to connect more deeply with people, navigate unfamiliar places with ease, and immerse yourself in the culture. Instead of just visiting a country, you experience it from the inside out.
3. Strengthen Your Mind
Learning a new language is excellent for your brain. Research shows it improves memory, sharpens problem-solving skills, and may even help delay the onset of dementia. It’s a workout for your mind that pays off for life.
4. Enrich Your Life
Beyond the practical benefits, language learning is a gateway to new friendships, perspectives, and cultures. It can be a fun, inspiring journey that broadens your worldview and brings personal growth.
In Summary:
Whether you're aiming to advance your career, make the most of your travels, keep your brain sharp, or simply explore the richness of other cultures, learning a foreign language is one of the most rewarding investments you can make.

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How can you discover what type of learner you are?

24/3/2025

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We all know that we learn differently.

Some of us love to study by ourselves; others learn best in groups.

Some of us love to learn while sitting on the beach or in front of the TV, others in a quiet environment.

There is no right or wrong .....

People of all ages can learn virtually anything if allowed to do it through their own styles..

Each of us has a preferred learning style and Fleming's (2001) Visual Auditory Kinaesthetic (VAK) model identifies 3 specific preferred learning styles:
1. Visual Learners - learn best when they can see pictures of what they are learning, so it is important to use pictures and diagrams.
2. Auditory learners - learn best through sound - music and talk. They think in words rather than in pictures so it is important to have discussions, verbal lectures and allow them to talk things through.
3. Kinaesthetic learners - learn best when they are involved, moving, experiencing and experimenting - they express themselves through movement, It is important to do role plays, walk around and use juggling balls.

The more you can learn through a combination of these styles - visual auditory and kinaesthetic, the more effective your learning will be Have a try of this questionnaire to identify which style is yours:
http://vark-learn.com/the-vark-questionnaire/

Once you have learned what type of learner you are, the following are some techniques that you can use to improve anything you want to learn:

If you are a visual learner:

Colour code your notes and highlight important points.
Learn to use mind maps - so illustrate ideas a pictures
Use flow charts and diagrams for note taking.

If you are an auditory learner:

Read aloud
Recite information to learn
Use tunes or rhymes as mnemonic devices

If you are a kinaesthetic learner:

Role Play to physically experience learning
Translate information into diagrams or other visual study tools
Recite a list of items by counting on fingers
Memorise or drill while moving e.g. when walking
Learn to juggle and practice while learning.

I am an auditory learner - therefore I learn languages best by listening and then repeating aloud. Sometimes I close my eyes when listening so I can "hear" more effectively. I don't want to be distracted by what is in front of my eyes....

Most of us have a dominant style and a secondary style. If you can identify your preferred styles you will be amazed at how much more effective your learning will be. Id love to hear what your learning style is and what you do to make your learning more effective.

Joanne Ammerlaan is the National Manager of Vocational Language Learning Centre and a Master Practitioner of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming)

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Setting Language Goals......

11/3/2025

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As in every area of your life, setting goals can help propel you forward in your language journey so that you will achieve your goal. Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and for motivating yourself to turn your vision of this future in to reality.

"Goals are new, forward moving objectives. They magnetise you toward them." Mark Victor Hansen.
"Goals transform insurmountable mountains into walk-able hills." (author unknown)

So how to set goals for your new language:
For this to be effective, you need to set goals on a number of levels:

1- Firstly, create your "big picture"
Why do you want to speak a new language? The more specific and emotional this goal is the more effective it will be. As many of you know, my goal for Russian is sitting at my brother in law's kitchen table and understanding all his stories (yes, we are drinking some vodka!) Another goal may be to be in a Thai market bargaining with the sellers in Thai, or wine tasting in the south of France with a French winemaker. Whatever your goal, you need to imagine yourself using your language fluently and it needs to make you smile!!! Get excited about achieving it.

2- Secondly, break this goal into smaller milestones.
You may want to use VLLC certificated to do this or a specific vocabulary target, e.g. to reach this goal I first need to complete Certificate II (social proficiency - about 1500 words), then Certificate III (basic vocational proficiency - about 2500 words). Set some time goals as well.

3- Thirdly, break this down into smaller and smaller monthly and weekly targets that you must hit in order to reach your main goal e.g. spend 30 minutes every day on my language; keep up top date with my homework - do it straight after my tutorial; meet a language buddy; aim to finish a Certificate II in 9 months means I need to complete an online lesson each week. Plan how and when you will do your weekly language study in as much detail as you can.

Finally, once you have your goal and plan of attack, it becomes a day to day journey. Enjoy hitting the little milestones
- reward yourself - this provides real motivation.

Remember that "The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step" Lao Tzu

Share the highs and share the lows ....... If you need help ASK..... Many of us at VLLC area at different stages of our language journey and all remember the frustrations and excitements of each stage.

Most importantly, be flexible. If one week doesn't go to plan, keep going. Its the long term efforts that will help you get to your language journey end.

A goal without a plan is just a wish...... Don't just wish it - plan for it to become your new reality....
Jo Ammerlaan, National Manager VLLC

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5 awesome things I learned about myself learning Russian

4/3/2025

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As most of you know I have been on my Russian language journey for a while now and have learned a few things about myself during this process.

I absolutely love having a conversation in another language, being able to understand what someone is saying to me and that they can actually understand what I am saying to them gives me a real thrill every time, the novelty of it all never wears off and it really has the WOW factor that is impossible to describe.
I have realized that the way I like to learn a language is to be able to talk and have a go without someone stopping me when I make mistakes.. Ok yes, I have also learned that I have an impatient streak!!
Learning Russian has made me more inquisitive about the culture, helping me to understand things so much better through the language. The two really go hand in hand.
I have developed huge empathy for non native English speakers living in Australia.
I have learned to laugh at myself. Sometimes I don’t get it right – and yes, it’s actually funny, if you can't laugh at yourself then who can you laugh at?

I’d love to hear what you have learned about yourself in your language journey…..
Jo

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How does language learning affect your brain?

17/2/2025

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Language learning has a profound impact on the brain, enhancing cognitive functions and promoting neuroplasticity. Engaging in the process of acquiring a new language stimulates various areas of the brain, particularly those associated with memory, attention, and problem-solving. Research indicates that bilingualism can lead to increased gray matter density in regions responsible for language processing and executive functions.

Moreover, learning a new language improves working memory and enhances the ability to multitask. It encourages the brain to form new neural connections, which can delay the onset of age-related cognitive decline and reduce the risk of dementia. The process of mastering vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation also fosters greater mental flexibility, allowing individuals to switch between tasks more efficiently.

Additionally, language learning promotes cultural awareness and empathy, as it often involves understanding different perspectives and contexts. This holistic development not only enriches personal experiences but also enhances social interactions. Overall, the cognitive benefits of language learning extend beyond mere communication skills, contributing to a more agile and adaptable mind.

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