Reading can play an extremely helpful role in your attempts to get fluent in a foreign language…and it's hugely valuable even if your main aim is to speak well. Those were messages with which we kicked off a series of posts on reading. We've looked at the different types of reading ("intensive", "extensive", reading for "gist" and skimming for info). Today, three more foreign … [Read more...]
Learning Japanese: Month Six update
I'm now over well over half way through my learning Japanese in nine months project. Now, I'm not foolhardy enough to try to learn the whole language in nine months. After all, I'm only setting aside thirty minutes a day, seven days a week of focussed study. No! The aim is simply to get as far as I can within these constraints. My reason to learn some basic Japanese now? A trip … [Read more...]
Two simple methods to “embrace effort” in reading and listening practice
Today's post looks at two simple methods you can use to get more active when practising the "passive" skills of listening and reading…. Look on it as a bit of resistance training. I first explored some ideals to help us "embrace effort", as I put it, over on the YouTube channel a few months ago. In short, what it's all about is putting a bit of grit in the oyster. Now, … [Read more...]
Course launch: Ready to take your German “into intermediate” with Dr P?
Just a quick announcement this week aimed at those of you who already have a good grounding in German and are ready for focussed action to move decisively onwards and upwards. Today enrolment has started (strictly till Friday 28th July only) on my new mentored self-study course. It's a ten-week on-line programme called "Focus for Fluency Into Intermediate German". FEB 20 … [Read more...]
Polyglot Gathering daily vlogs 2019
The 2019 Polyglot Gathering: whoooosh! It's been....and gone. I'm now back in London. My week in Bratislava seemed to be over more or less right after it began. It was the sixth Gathering, the third one in the Slovak capital. I've reviewed them all and vlogged the last three. Last year and the year before I pumped out the daily vlogs overnight during the event. This year … [Read more...]