French
Reading Harry Potter in French (And Other Easy First Novels)
Is Harry Potter too hard in French? What the French Ministry of Education's own recommendation reveals, an easier alternative, and how novels fit next to daily reading practice.
Getting started with Spanish and French reading
Where to begin if you are new to Spanish or French: a realistic plan for the first months, what to do when an app stops being enough, and your first books.
Spanish
Reading Harry Potter in Spanish (And Other Easy First Novels)
Is Harry Potter too hard in Spanish? What actually makes it difficult, easier alternatives like El Principito, and where novels fit next to daily reading practice.
French
How to Learn French for Beginners: A Realistic 90-Day Plan
A practical 90-day French plan for complete beginners — honest expectations, a week-by-week roadmap, and the key mistakes to avoid from day one.
Spanish
How to Learn Spanish for Beginners: A Realistic 90-Day Plan
A practical 90-day Spanish learning plan for complete beginners. Honest expectations, a week-by-week roadmap, tool recommendations, and the mistakes to avoid.
Spanish & French
Why You're Bored of Duolingo (And What to Do Instead)
Millions try Duolingo, keep a streak for a few weeks, then quietly stop. This isn't a willpower problem — it's a design problem. Here's the fix.
More topics
Level progressionWhat the CEFR levels mean, how to move from A1 to A2, A2 to B1 and B1 to B2, why learners stall at each stage, and how long each step takes.
Vocabulary & grammarHow many words you need at each level, false friends, and the grammar that confuses learners most, as it appears in real news.
News & sourcesHow to learn by reading the news, which news sites to start with at each level, and when you are ready for El País, BBC Mundo and Le Monde.
Reading methodWhat the research says about reading and comprehensible input, reading compared with listening, and why graded readers often fail adult learners.
Habit & practicePractical guides to better reading comprehension in Spanish and French, and to reading for work.
Tools & appsHonest comparisons of apps, podcasts and tools for Spanish and French learners, and how reading practice fits next to each one.
Exam prepWhat the reading sections of the Spanish and French exams test, and how daily reading builds the skills they need.