Hi from Thessaloniki where I’ve arrived for the 4th Polyglot Conference. Look out for more later on the site on that, as I’ll be blogging and vlogging like last year and the year before. I’ll be straight on from here to Singapore with work. A second leg to Hong Kong was cancelled at short notice, so I’ll have a spare week in South East Asia. So, just time to duck and dive with an unexpected “mini” language project….in (for me) a brand new language. I won’t be in Singapore and I won’t be in Hong Kong…this language is a biggie…. Look out for an announcement here soon.
But now, before I hit the streets for a second day’s sightseeing, here’s a new video in the BasqueIntenvsive! series. If you’re a regular to the site, you’ll know that I’m learning Basque and I recently spent a full month in the Basque Country (northern Spain) on an intensive language course (here’s my first vlog and a half-way and end-of-course diary roundups).
Before I set off, I recorded a brief call with Joseba, a native Basque speaker who’s one of my regular on-line Basque language partners. A week after I got back from the course, we recorded another call, just to compare. To see it, click on the YouTube below.
There’s nothing spectacular about my conversation with Joseba. As regular readers will be well aware, I’m in no language genius, just keen and determined. There are people out these who have got to a higher level of Basque much more quickly. I envy them their gifts and respect their hard work too.
The joy for us all, though, should be changing what we can (optimising our methods and mindset) to make the very best of who we are.
For me, logging your language progress is part of that optimising process. It helps creates a sort of accountability (if you share – even with just one other person). Language learning is a very subjective thing and you soon forget how far you’ve come, as you set your sights on the next stage. It’s good to compare where you were with where you are now, before hitting the road again.
Here then is the latest conversation:
Click here to see the blog post with that pre-course clip for a sense of how far I’ve come. Since I arrived in Thessaloniki, I’ve already made contact with one other Basque learner, whom I’m looking forward to meeting at the opening reception tonight. There are other learners of “minoritised” languages I hope to speak to too. Are you learning Basque or another less common language? Set me know your experiences in the comments section below or drop me a line via email (address under the About tab).
Look out for my announcement about my mini project. As I said, it certainly won’t be a lesser-used language though….and no, it isn’t Chinese…. 😉
Next in series: SIX – the inside view of the language school (vlog with student interviews)
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