As promised in my recent review of the Polyglot Conference in New York City, here (drumroll) is a short film about my visit.
I’ve long wanted to try my hand at vlogging. There’s still a lot to learn, but, once I’d bought a new camera (on the same trip), I started shooting at once.
“Howtogetfluent at the Polyglot Conference” is the main video I’ve got lined up from the Conference. The other (next up) is a quirky and, erm, locally-themed, three-minute romp featuring more than thirty languages with more participants still.
Shooting footage was a great way to get talking to people at the Conference and a big thanks to all those who didn’t run a mile when they saw me coming (nobody did that, believe it or not 🙂 ).
Since returning to rainy London, it’s also been a source of immense pleasure to review and edit all the material. It transported me back to those special (and sunny) days in mid October.
I hope it will also bring back great memories for those of you who were there.
I hope even more that it will convey the vibe to those of you who weren’t and maybe encourage you to attend a “polyglot” event for the first time.
Remember, to feel at home you don’t have to speak multiple languages. It’s enough to be an enthusiastic learner of one.
Enjoy the vlog and do let me know what you think in the comments!
I enjoyed the video ‘live’ interviews. Great. I may attend some day. I would have loved to see more of the sessions, or a program view, types of books for sale, and something of costs, etc.
Is the main purpose to be encouraged to continue language learning? As a ‘social responsibility’?
Hi Jeanne, thanks for your feedback. Yes, the Conference feels like a real community. I didn’t see Elena’s post, though I admire her work generally. The Polyglot Conference are posting the talks up on their Youtube channel almost daily at the moment (they had a professional film crew there), so you can catch up in your own time. I think I mentioned nearly all the talks in my review. The speakers and agenda list are still up at polyglotconference.com The registration fee (early bird) was $150 (plus travel, accommodation and food costs).
I want to add that I am very enthused now after reading your two follow-ups about the Polyglot Conferences. I feel I belong. to a group. Community that Elena Mutonono was posting about recently in her FB page, “Opted Out!”
Thanks. The fee is very reasonable. The ambiance and enthusiasm wonderful. I may attend at some point. Currently, I can’t seem to fix on one language so I am reading a Paulo Choelo or Rumi quote a day in German, French, and Spanish. And listening now and then to songs in Kiswahili and Wolof- all languages I tried, some of them fairly successfully- to communicate in over the years.
I love the challenge and the process gives me ideas for teaching English.
Nice to belong to communities of like-minded people.