How to get fluent, with Dr Popkins

How to learn a foreign language. Methods, matrials and stories to help you maximise your effectiveness on the road to fluency

  • I’m learning….
  • About
  • Russian Course
  • German Course
  • Recommended resources
  • New Year, New Language Summit

In-depth explorations, actionable tips and inspiring conversations for language learners who REALLY want to get fluent…..plus a little bit of fun along the way.

Language learning as an infinite game

By Dr Popkins Leave a Comment

If you’re serious about starting a language, or about moving up a level, it helps to have clearly defined goals. And regular readers of the blog might remember that I like to distinguish between vision goals and path goals. A vision goal is your ultimate aim in the language. Your path goals are the shorter-term staging posts along the way to that personal “promised … [Read more...]

Christmas YouTube videos to stay engaged with your language

By Dr Popkins Leave a Comment

Dr Popkins standing beside a Christmas tree at the London Basque Society festive meal, community hall in background

At this busy time of year, I have to admit that the regular daily focussed language study sessions that are usually central to my language learning life have rather fallen by the wayside.  You know the story: work, life, seasonal festivities ramping up.  However busy I get, though, I do keep listening to my languages: German, Basque and … [Read more...]

What Angkor Wat can teach you about learning a language

By Dr Popkins Leave a Comment

Earlier this summer, I stood in the pre-dawn dark with a crowd of fellow travellers, waiting for the sun to rise over Angkor Wat. It was the highlight of a month-long trip through Southeast Asia—a trip that began with a two-week work stint in Singapore and Hong Kong (I’m a lawyer by day), followed by time off in Vietnam and Cambodia. But Angkor Wat wasn’t just a visual … [Read more...]

Good Friday in 20+ European languages — and a tip for smarter vocab learning

By Dr Popkins Leave a Comment

What does Good Friday mean in English? This post first answers that question. Then we'll briefly explain how diving a bit deeper into this or other words help us remember our foreign language vocabulary better. Then, scroll down and you'll find how to say Good Friday in 20+ European languages and find that most languages name the day in one of three ways. But, there are some … [Read more...]

Talking to yourself to learn a language?

By Dr Popkins 2 Comments

Language learner talking to herself

Is talking to yourself a useful technique to help you learn a language? Many successful learners swear by it and, done right, it offers four clear benefits. First, self-talk (as the technique is also called) builds up confidence (by removing performance pressure). Second, it lets you focus entirely on your own voice (so you can pay attention to accuracy). Third, it's a … [Read more...]

Next Page »

Copyright © 2026 Privacy policies/cookie policies and affiliate disclaimer