Bite-sized Ukrainian grammar lessons with English explanations and listening practice to train your ear, get used to irregularities, and build confidence in understanding Ukrainian cases and speech. 

Grammar bits in Ukrainian

This podcast is designed for beginner and intermediate learners who want to practice the language in a fun and practical way. Each episode features simple stories and helpful grammar tips.

Story Bits in Russian

Talking to yourself isn’t just harmless—it’s scientifically proven to boost cognitive function and language retention. According to research, internal self-talk regulates emotions and improves focus, especially under pressure. Now imagine doing this in your target language—it’s like rewiring your internal operating system to think in new words, sounds, and rhythms.
And here’s something else that’s fascinating—rehearsed monologue, or what we call “self-talk,” activates the same brain regions involved in conversation with others. That means that practicing your thoughts aloud, even in private, preps your brain for real-life social interactions.

When you talk to yourself in a new language, you’re building not just fluency—you’re building trust. Trust in your own voice. Confidence grows when we hear ourselves trying.
And in moments of doubt, this diary becomes your mirror. It shows you how far you’ve come—not just in words, but in courage.




111 Tips for Learning a Language 

Tip 66 - Speak to yourself before you speak to others

As a pessimist, you might view language learning as hard work—and you’re not wrong.
Language acquisition requires effort, repetition, and managing confusion.

Here’s the beautiful part: Pessimists tend to manage disappointment better than idealists.
When you anticipate difficulty, you're less likely to be devastated by it.

In psychological terms, this creates cognitive resilience—the ability to stay in the game even when things go wrong. You expect challenges. You face them head-on. You recover faster because you weren’t expecting ease.

You might never say, “I’m going to be fluent in a year.” That’s okay.
But you might say, “I’m going to keep learning, even if progress is slow.”
And that is the spirit of persistence.
Don’t try to change who you are. Just learn to steer with it.
Pessimism doesn’t mean you’re giving up—it means you’re prepared to endure.
And that, my dear listener, is what long-term success looks like.


Tip 65 - How Pessimism Builds Resilience in Language Learning

Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation states that:
Every mass attracts every other mass in the universe with a force that is proportional to the product of their masses, and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
Let’s break this down in a way that applies to language acquisition. Imagine that:
•	One “mass” is you, the learner.
•	The other “mass” is the language you are trying to learn.
•	The “force” is the attraction or motivation pulling you toward fluency.
•	The “distance” is how far you currently are from using the language fluently and comfortably.






Tip 64 - How to apply Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation into Language Learning

You may have heard the phrase “beating a dead horse”, which refers to continuing an effort that is no longer useful. But how do you know when your study methods, goals, or mindset are the dead horse? And when should you move on?

Let’s explore how to detect when something isn’t working, how to adjust your approach, and most importantly—how to avoid wasting energy on language learning methods that will never work for you.

🐴 The Dead Horse Theory in Language Learning
The Dead Horse Theory suggests that if a strategy no longer works, stop using it. But here’s the catch—most of us don’t realize we’re on a dead horse until it’s too late.
We keep pushing through outdated learning strategies, believing that more effort will eventually yield results. We blame ourselves for not being “smart enough” or “motivated enough,” when in reality, we might just be riding the wrong horse.

Here’s where self-awareness and rational decision-making come into play. How can you tell if you’re stuck beating a dead horse in your language journey?



Tip 63 - How to apply the Dead Horse Theory in Language Learning

Immerse yourself in the beauty of language through literature and poetry. By reading stories and verses, you unlock cultural insights, expand vocabulary, and develop a deep emotional connection to the language. Use tools like annotation, contextual vocabulary learning, and creative exercises like writing your own poetry to make language learning enriching and enjoyable. Remember, every story you read and every poem you recite is a step closer to fluency.