Luis von Ahn on Learning Languages, Building Companies, and Changing the World (#135)

Luis von Ahn on Learning Languages, Building Companies, and Changing the World (#135)

“The [common trait in] people that we have noticed are best at learning a language is that they have no trouble sounding stupid.” – Luis von Ahn Luis von Ahn (@luisvonahn) is an entrepreneur and computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He is known for inventing CAPTCHAs, being a MacArthur Fellow (“genius grant” recipient), and …

Why Can't You Draw The Face of a Penny? Understand the Reason and Learn Spanish Twice as Fast

Allow me to explain using a related problem. Vocabulary lists in a run-of-the-mill Spanish textbook usually look something like the below, taken from real-world sources I won’t shame by naming: La mano – the hand El arbol – the tree Las muñecas – the wrists ¡Nos vemos mañana! – See you tomorrow! Mande? – Sorry? Pardon? What …

A How-To Guide: Accelerated Learning for Accelerated Times

The above video is a short presentation I gave at The Next Web Conference in Amsterdam. It covers a basic framework for mastering any skill quickly, including languages, music, dance, and more. What skill have you put off learning for longest… and why? Let me know in the comments. Perhaps I (or other readers) can …