Preface by Carol Orwig

These essays by Greg Thomson provide accessible, innovative and practical guides for self-directed language learners, whether learning a major world language or a previously unwritten minority language. Himself a proficient speaker of languages as diverse as Blackfoot, Urdu and Russian, Thomson worked for many years with the Summer Institute of Linguistics as a language-learning consultant, among other roles. He continues to study language acquisition and to give workshops and guidance, particularly to to people learning languages in the settings where they are spoken.

The first essay in this collection, A Few Simple Ideas for Beginning Language Learners is the most recently written and is a collaborative effort by the entire Thomson family, based on their experiences learning Russian.

Kickstarting your Language Learning tells beginning language learners how to get a start in comprehension and how to become a basic speaker of a language.

Language Learning in the Real World for Non-Beginners tell language learners how to move ahead, once they are basic speakers of a language, no matter how they got there.

Use of a Photo Book in Initial Language Learning gives advice on how to set up and arrange a book of photographs and how to take advantage of it in learning a second language.

Leave Me Alone! Can't you see I'm learning your language? is an essay on the importance of language learners developing and expanding social networks.