As I look back over my latest period of focussed German practice and study - "Project revive my German" - I'm struck by the value of logging my efforts. Here's a brief overview of what I did, how it helped me and how logging could help you too in your own learning. First set your goal and your routine My logging was in the service of progress towards a clear goal: … [Read more...]
“Core Vocabulary” – a second vlog from the Polyglot Conference, New York City
Here's the second vlog from the Polyglot Conference in New York City. This time, the clue's in the title and I share the vlog with you as a bit of multilingual fun. Thanks to the fifty conference-goers who took part. They spoke thirty-six languages. There would have been quite a few more (languages and people), had not various contributions, erm, failed to record. I … [Read more...]
Vlogging the Polyglot Conference
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 … [Read more...]
“With my people”: in New York City for the third Polyglot Conference
Thanks to the choice of venue for this year's Polyglot Conference (an international gathering of over 400 language learning enthusiasts), I finally got chance to pay a second visit to New York City. Here are some personal impressions from my own distinct route through this great metropolis and an overview of what went on at the Conference. A Basque welcome: "ongi etorri New … [Read more...]
Project revive my German: three lessons for your language learning
That's it, I'm doing an advanced German exam in Berlin just about two months from now. There's no turning back. I'm booked: test; flight; time off from the office. When you're trying to level up your skills, get into the zone, the zone of "proximal development". In other words, the best thing is to stretch yourself, but not too much. In this post I explain how I settled on … [Read more...]