MSI Press Blog

  If you've ever found yourself struggling mid-conversation in another language, desperately searching for words, translating in your head, and praying for a merciful topic change… you’re not alone. We've all been there. But today’s tip might just change the way you approach language learning — and save your dignity at the next international gathering. Let’s talk about language islands . What Are Language Islands? Back in the mid-1980s, Boris Shekhtman, a brilliant and wildly successful instructor at the Foreign Service Institute (and later the Specialized Language Training Center), coined the term “language islands.” His students — diplomats, international journalists, and world travelers — swore by his methods. And no wonder. A language island is a memorized chunk of speech — a little monologue, a practiced story, a polished opinion — that you know so well, you can say it without thinking. No mental translation. No stuttering. No panicked flailing for vocabulary. Just smooth...

  Today's Publisher's Pride is How to Improve Your Foreign Language Immediately by Boris Shekhtman, which reached #39 in study and teaching references . the successful practices of diplomats and international journalists now available to any language learner Book description: This is the fifth edition of a popular book that provides a unique set of tools designed to enhance an individual's success in communicati0n in a foreign language environment. The devices presented allow the speaker of a foreign language to demonstrate the level of his/her language more impressively, so impressively, in fact, that it appears that the speaker's language itself has improved overnight. These techniques were developed and tested by the author with adult professionals in such varied fields as journalism, diplomacy, government, and international business. Many of these professionals have attested to the efficacy of these tools in their own columns. "This book provides the most bang...

  image generated by AI Are there shortcuts? Yes. Polyglots, linguists, and pragmatic language learners know and use them. Will you get them in a classroom? Perhaps, in a few, but not commonly often. But here are some places you can find them: Tuesday's Tip for Language Learning  Open Architecture Curricular Design Transformative Language Learning and Teaching Cultural Relativism Level 4 Language Proficiency Language Learning post inspired by Think Yourself into Becoming a Language Learning Super Star (Betty Lou Leaver) book description Learn how to learn a language—your way. This book goes beyond standard language learning strategies to help you build a personalized system for rapid, effective progress. Combining reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills with insights from cognitive psychology, I show you how to strengthen memory, manage cognitive dissonance, and control emotional reasoning. Discover how personality, mindset, and health affect language learning—and ho...

  International businesspeople learn language for negotiation, trust, and market insight. Their learning is pragmatic, fast, and relationship-driven—less about grammar, more about persuasion and cultural fluency. They don’t necessarily learn better than university students, but they learn what matters most for success in global commerce. 💼 Why businesspeople learn differently Business language learning is shaped by profit, partnership, and persuasion. 1. Transactional urgency They learn because deals depend on it: understanding contracts, reading market signals, and building rapport across cultures. Mistakes can cost millions, so they focus on precision in context , not textbook perfection. 2. Targeted vocabulary Their learning centers on: negotiation phrases, financial terminology, and cultural etiquette. They often hire tutors or use immersive executive programs tailored to their industry. 3. Relationship-driven fluency Businesspeople learn to: read tone and body language, a...