The Lingaso Blog

Language learning,
done with depth.

Exam guides, vocabulary systems and honest learning tips for Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean and Chinese. No fluff.

41 guides

JapaneseExamsJLPT

JLPT N5 Study Plan: How to Pass in 10 Weeks (December 2026)

A week-by-week JLPT N5 study plan for the December 6, 2026 exam — vocabulary, kanji, grammar, reading and listening, plus free practice tips and a 4-week compressed option.

9 min readUpdated September 2026Read →
JapaneseBeginner

Learn Hiragana & Katakana: Read the Japanese Alphabet (with Chart & Quiz)

Learn to read both Japanese kana in days. A clear step-by-step guide to all 46 hiragana and katakana, voiced and combined sounds, a printable chart and a free quiz.

12 min readUpdated September 2026Read →
FrenchSchool & curriculumIGCSE

IGCSE French 0520: Complete Guide to Papers, Topics and Grades

Everything about Cambridge IGCSE French 0520 — all four papers, the five topic areas, mark schemes, a model sentence ladder for top-band writing, and an 8-week revision plan to reach A*/9.

13 min readUpdated September 2026Read →
FrenchExamsDELF/DALF

DELF & DALF Exam Guide: Every Level from A1 to C2 Explained (2026)

The official French proficiency diplomas — six CEFR levels, how scoring works, which one you need for university or residency, and how to choose the right level for your goals.

12 min readUpdated September 2026Read →
FrenchSchool & curriculumIB

IB French B & Ab Initio: The Complete Guide to Scoring a 7

Full breakdown of Paper 1, Paper 2, the Individual Oral, the five prescribed themes, HL vs SL, and the vocabulary strategy that separates a 6 from a 7 — with a route toggle between French B and ab initio.

14 min readUpdated September 2026Read →
FrenchGrammar

The French Subjunctive: When to Use It and How to Stop Guessing

Four semantic categories that explain every subjunctive trigger, present and past formation tables, the key exceptions, and exactly where it earns marks in DELF, IGCSE and IB.

9 min readUpdated September 2026Read →
FrenchHow to learn

French B1 to B2: What Actually Changes and How to Cross the Plateau

The specific vocabulary, grammar structures, and communicative competence that separate B1 from B2 — with four strategies to cross the most common plateau in French learning.

8 min readUpdated September 2026Read →
FrenchVocabularyDELF

DELF B2: The Vocabulary Bands Every Candidate Should Know

How DELF B2 examiners test nuance over recognition — vocabulary expectations by skill and theme, and how to close the gaps efficiently before exam day.

9 min readUpdated September 2026Read →
FrenchAbroadTEF/TCF

TEF vs TCF Canada: Which French Test Should You Take in 2026?

Both are accepted identically by IRCC, but the format, retake rules, and result speeds differ. How to pick the test that fits your timeline — with links to the official canada.ca score charts.

9 min readUpdated September 2026Read →
GermanExamsGoethe

Goethe Exam Guide: Every Level from A1 to C2 Explained (2026)

Which Goethe-Zertifikat do you need? Every level from A1 to C2 explained — format, modular structure, scoring, what each level lets you do in Germany, and how to prepare.

12 min readUpdated September 2026Read →
GermanSchool & curriculumIB

IB German B & Ab Initio: The Complete Guide to Scoring a 7

Full breakdown of Paper 1, Paper 2, the Individual Oral, the five prescribed themes, HL vs SL, and the vocabulary strategy that separates a 6 from a 7 — covering both Language B and ab initio.

14 min readUpdated September 2026Read →
GermanGrammar

The German Cases: Nominative, Accusative, Dative & Genitive Explained

Full declension tables for definite and indefinite articles, when each case is triggered, the two-way prepositions, adjective endings, and exactly where case accuracy earns marks in Goethe, IB and IGCSE.

11 min readUpdated September 2026Read →
GermanHow to learn

German B1 to B2: What Actually Changes and How to Cross the Plateau

The specific vocabulary, grammar structures, and communicative competence that separate B1 from B2 — with four strategies to cross the most common plateau in German learning.

8 min readUpdated September 2026Read →
GermanVocabularyGoethe

Goethe B2: The Vocabulary Bands Every Candidate Should Know

How Goethe B2 examiners test nuance over recognition — vocabulary expectations by module and theme, and how to close the gaps efficiently before exam day.

9 min readUpdated September 2026Read →
KoreanBeginner

Learn Hangul: Read the Korean Alphabet in One Day (with Chart & Quiz)

Learn to read Hangul in a day. A simple step-by-step guide to all 24 Korean letters, how syllable blocks work, a printable chart and a free quiz.

10 min readUpdated September 2026Read →
ChineseExamsHSK

HSK 2.0 vs HSK 3.0: Which Should You Study For in 2026?

HSK is moving from 6 to 9 levels. What changed, how old and new levels compare, and how to choose the right study materials for your exam date.

10 min readUpdated September 2026Read →
SpanishGrammar

How to Learn Spanish Grammar Without Memorising Rules

What acquisition research says about explicit vs implicit grammar learning — and why the vocabulary-first approach consistently outperforms rule memorisation for lasting fluency.

8 min readUpdated July 2026Read →
SpanishExamsIGCSE

IGCSE Spanish Listening Paper (0530): Complete Strategy & Practice Guide

Question-by-question breakdown of Paper 1 — the six question sets, distractor trap patterns Cambridge uses in select-two questions, and an 8-week preparation timeline.

9 min readUpdated July 2026Read →
SpanishSchool & curriculumIB

IB Spanish Written Assignment: Complete Guide to Full Marks (HL)

Four criteria, text type selection guide, the 500-word process, and how to upgrade Criterion A from 6 to 9 with targeted vocabulary substitution.

10 min readUpdated July 2026Read →
SpanishExamsDELE

DELE A2 Exam: Complete Guide 2026 — Structure, Pass Rules & Preparation

All four DELE A2 components, the grouped pass system explained, and a 12-week preparation timeline for the most widely taken entry-level Spanish proficiency diploma.

8 min readUpdated July 2026Read →
SpanishGrammar

The Spanish Subjunctive: When to Use It and How to Stop Guessing

The four semantic categories that explain every subjunctive trigger, present and imperfect formation tables, and exactly where it appears in IGCSE and IB assessment criteria.

9 min readUpdated July 2026Read →
SpanishExamsIGCSE

IGCSE Spanish Reading Paper (0530): Question-by-Question Strategy

Six question groups broken down — the near-synonym vocabulary trap in Group 4, the distractor pattern in Group 5 matching, and time allocation for all 40 marks.

8 min readUpdated July 2026Read →
SpanishGrammarIGCSE

How to Write a Formal Letter in Spanish: IGCSE & IB Exam Guide

Layout, salutation options, formal connector banks, closing formulas, and the register mistakes that cost exam marks — with a formal email comparison.

7 min readUpdated July 2026Read →
SpanishSchool & curriculumA-Level

Cambridge A-Level Spanish (9719): Exam Structure, Assessment & A* Tips

Full breakdown of CAIE A-Level Spanish — three papers, essay and translation assessment, speaking criteria, five topic areas, and the vocabulary depth top candidates demonstrate.

11 min readUpdated July 2026Read →
SpanishHow to learn

Spanish B1 to B2: What Actually Changes and How to Cross the Plateau

The specific vocabulary, grammar structures, and communicative competence that separate B1 from B2 — with four strategies to cross the most common plateau in Spanish learning.

7 min readUpdated July 2026Read →
SpanishSchool & curriculumIB

IB Spanish Individual Oral: How to Score 7/7 — Complete Guide

Five criteria fully explained, the 3-layer 2-minute presentation framework, discussion interactive strategies, and the HL-only Criterion D and E that most candidates under-prepare for.

10 min readUpdated July 2026Read →
SpanishExamsIGCSE

Cambridge IGCSE Spanish (0530) from 2028: Complete Exam Guide & A* Tips

The new paper pattern, marks distribution, assessment objectives, and skill-by-skill tips — with toggle buttons for each of the four papers. Written in clear, simple English.

11 min readUpdated June 2026Read →
SpanishExamsIGCSE

IGCSE Spanish Writing & Speaking Papers: 2028 Mark Scheme & A* Guide

A deep dive into Paper 4 (Writing) and Paper 3 (Speaking) for the 2028–2030 syllabus: the new mark scheme, band descriptors, and exactly what separates an A* from an A.

10 min readUpdated June 2026Read →
SpanishExamsDELE

DELE Exam: Complete Guide 2026 — Levels, Structure, Pass Rules & Tips

Everything about the official Instituto Cervantes Spanish proficiency diploma: all six levels, how grading actually works, registration dates, the CCSE link for citizenship, and how to choose the right level.

9 min readUpdated June 2026Read →
SpanishSchool & curriculumIGCSE

Cambridge IGCSE Spanish 0530: Your Complete Guide (2026)

Five topic areas, four papers, assessment objectives, grade pathways, and the vocabulary strategy that separates A* from B — everything in one place.

12 min readUpdated June 2026Read →
SpanishExamsIGCSE

IGCSE Spanish: Papers, Marks & Criteria — Complete Assessment Breakdown

Every question group, band descriptor, and assessment objective across all four papers — the mark-scheme guide serious IGCSE candidates need.

10 min readUpdated June 2026Read →
SpanishExamsIGCSE

Mastering IGCSE Spanish Paper 4 Writing — Complete Question-by-Question Guide

Full breakdown of all three writing tasks: form-filling, directed writing, and extended writing — with mark schemes, band descriptors, grammar requirements, and A* strategy.

11 min readUpdated June 2026Read →
SpanishSchool & curriculumIB

IB Spanish B & Ab Initio: The Complete Guide to Scoring a 7

Full exam breakdown, assessment criteria, HL vs SL differences, prescribed themes, vocabulary strategy, and expert tips — everything in one place with a toggle between Spanish B and Ab Initio.

14 min readUpdated June 2025Read →
SpanishTravel & phrases

The regional vocabulary you won't find in a textbook

From Rioplatense "vos" to Andalusian dropped consonants — Spanish varies wildly. Here's what matters for learners.

5 min readUpdated June 2025Read →
SpanishVocabularyIB

How to prepare your IB Spanish vocabulary by topic area

IB examiners reward precise vocabulary use. We break down the five core topic areas and what to prioritise.

6 min readUpdated June 2025Read →
SpanishHow to learn

Input vs output: what science says about building fluency

Stephen Krashen's comprehensible input hypothesis reshaped how linguists think about acquisition. Here's the practical takeaway.

8 min readUpdated June 2025Read →
SpanishVocabularyDELE

DELE B2: the vocabulary bands every candidate should know

DELE B2 examiners test nuance, not just recognition. We map the vocabulary expectations and how to close the gaps efficiently.

5 min readUpdated June 2025Read →
SpanishVocabularyIGCSE

IGCSE Spanish themes: a vocabulary planner

IGCSE demands confident, thematic vocabulary. This guide maps all five topic areas to concrete word lists and study priorities.

6 min readUpdated June 2025Read →
SpanishHow to learn

The problem with spaced repetition apps

SRS tools like Anki are powerful — but they're only as good as the cards inside them. Here's the gap most learners miss.

4 min readUpdated June 2025Read →
SpanishHow to learn

Reading Spanish literature as a B1 learner

Short stories, graded readers, and the one novel most B1 learners can actually finish. A practical reading guide.

5 min readUpdated June 2025Read →
SpanishHow to learn

Why vocabulary is the foundation of every language skill

Reading, listening, speaking, writing — every skill relies on knowing words. We explore the research behind vocabulary-first learning and why it produces faster, more durable results than grammar-heavy methods.

7 min readUpdated May 2025Read →