MSI Press Blog

Precerpt (excerpt prior to publication) from My 20th Language by Dr. Betty Lou Leaver --  First Language Literacy: The Lifelong Launchpad A foundational truth in my lifelong language journey is this: literacy in one’s native language shapes the success of all language learning that follows. Literacy builds the internal architecture of language awareness—structure, logic, rhythm, and flexibility. Those who develop high literacy in their first language possess a powerful springboard for mastering others. This difference becomes strikingly clear when comparing institutional outcomes. I served as a leader in both the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) and the Defense Language Institute (DLI), where language instruction is intensive and time-bound. While students at both schools receive nearly the same number of classroom hours, the proficiency expectations differ significantly: FSI graduates are trained to reach professional fluency, while DLI students typically aim for working profi...

  Second language teachers have long revered Stephen Krashen’s “i+1” approach: the idea that learners acquire language best when exposed to input just slightly beyond their current level. It’s digestible, incremental, safe. But also—slow. At best, learners nibble their way through proficiency, one cautious bite at a time. But what if nibbling isn’t enough? 🧠 The Case for i+20 (or More) Let’s imagine a different metaphor: not the spoonful, but the whole garden. Or, better yet—the lake. Language learning as immersion, as transformation. The learner jumps in with an instructor nearby, guiding the strokes but not holding them back. This “sink or swim” model—supported by immersion programs and accelerated curricula—suggests something radical: exposure to complex, unsimplified language from day one builds not just vocabulary, but survival strategies. Learners begin to cope , not just comprehend . 📉 The Time Curve Stepwise acquisition averages 17 years from novice to near-native fl...

  Available now on pre-order!  Nothing So Broken  - war, memoir, more. Today we provide a precerpt (an excerpt from a book not yet published) -  -home run-   Coach Shepard, or ‘Shep’ to most, wanted me to do five push-ups every night during the commercial breaks of my favorite TV show, which was probably Three’s Company at that time. It was my final year of little league and I hated it. I wasn’t on Johnny’s team with Mr. Bott coaching. They weren’t any good, but they had fun. No, I played for the Millbury Credit Union juggernaut with the hyper-competitive coaches. We won all the time, but I didn’t smile much. And my parents had to talk me out of quitting on several occasions. I also struggled with the weight of the bat, tapping slow, and sad ground balls to first or second base for easy outs. Then, Shep assigned the push-up homework. Toward the end of the season at East Millbury Park, another victory well in hand, I stepped up to bat against Paul Norman, a good ...

  Coming soon! Spiritually Homeless by Kris Girrell.  Book description: Many have walked away from organized religion not out of apathy, but out of honesty. Still the spiritual hunger remains; the longing for community and a place called home persists.  Spiritually Homeless  offers a deeply compassionate and practical guide for those navigating spiritual life beyond church walls. Whether you left organized religion years ago or never belonged to some sect to begin with, this book will meet you right where you are. Through stories, reflection, and decades of experience in spiritual leadership and psychological insight,  Spiritually Homeless  explores how we find belonging, create ritual, face the dark night, and rediscover awe—without needing to return to doctrines that no longer fit. For more posts about Kris and his books, click  HERE . Check out more at Kris Girrell's  website . To purchase copies of any MSI Press book at 25% discount, use code...