Clear explanations speed things up
A large review of language teaching studies found that explicit teaching of rules led to clear and lasting gains.
Source:Norris & Ortega, 2000, Language Learning
How it worksGrammar
Short grammar lessons that point at real sentences
One rule at a time, a short lesson, a quiz and explanations of your own mistakes.
Topics follow your level. Each one has a short lesson with examples, a quiz and an explanation when you get something wrong.
Try it
Mini lesson
Verb second
In a normal Dutch sentence, the verb is always the second part.
- Morgen
- ga
- ik
- naar huis
Tomorrow I am going home.
The verb
Which one is right?
How to use it well
One topic at a time
Finish the lesson and the quiz before moving on.
Look for it while reading
Spotting the rule in a real text makes it stick.
Use it once in writing
A single sentence of your own turns the rule into something you can do.
Why it works
You learn what you notice
Learners pick up forms they consciously pay attention to in real language.
Source:Schmidt, 1990, Applied Linguistics
The research behind it
Peer-reviewed studies this tool is built on. Tap a title to read the paper.
- Review of many studiesNorris & Ortega, 2000Effectiveness of L2 instruction: A research synthesis and quantitative meta-analysis
Language Learning
- What they did
- Combined 49 studies of grammar and language teaching.
- What they found
- Teaching focused on language forms helped, explicit explanation helped most, and the gains lasted.
- Review of many studiesSpada & Tomita, 2010Interactions between type of instruction and type of language feature: A meta-analysis
Language Learning
- What they did
- Combined 41 studies that compared explicit and implicit grammar teaching for simple and complex rules.
- What they found
- Explicit teaching gave larger gains for both simple and complex rules.
- Theory paperSchmidt, 1990The role of consciousness in second language learning
Applied Linguistics
- What they did
- Reviewed research on attention and awareness in language learning.
- What they found
- Argued that learners pick up the forms they consciously notice in the language they meet.
The mistake most people make
Reading every rule at once
Do this instead
Rules you never use fade fast. Learn one, use it, then take the next.
More tools
- TodayTen minutes a day, planned for you
- TopicsLearn the sentences you actually need
- Flashcards and practiceWhy short reviews beat long study sessions
- MistakesYour mistakes are your best lesson plan
- WriteWriting shows you what you cannot say yet
- LibraryRead at your level and collect words as you go
- ConjugateVerb forms on autopilot