Blog
Notes from past the beginner stage.
Vocabulary, habits, and what actually works when the app you were using runs out of road. No listicles. Founder voice.
What a Forgotten Language Taught Me About Building One
A woman who spoke Russian better than English at seven, and nothing at forty. What attrition research says about how language is actually built — and why LAFwords teaches through encounters, not explanations.
Anki Alternatives for Intermediate Learners: An Honest Guide
Six honest comparisons of the most-recommended Anki alternatives — plus the one gap most of them share, and how to pick the tool that actually closes yours.
Active vs Passive Vocabulary: A Better Way to Think About Words You 'Know' But Can't Use
The active/passive frame is the wrong model. Vocabulary lives on a depth gradient — and the work that closes the gap is meeting words across varied contexts, not drilling.
The Intermediate Plateau: Why Your Language Stalled at B1/B2 (and How to Break Through)
A comprehensive field guide for B1/B2 language learners stuck between competence and fluency — what the plateau actually is, why it happens, and the five habits that move you through it.
What to Do After Duolingo: A B1 → B2 Plan That Actually Works
You finished Duolingo and the language still feels foreign. Here's the practical plan for getting from intermediate to actual fluency — no app listicle.