A key to success in language learning is don't be afraid. Jump in and have a go! That's just what a great bunch of language enthusiasts did at the Polyglot Gathering in Berlin when I challenged them to practise their German pronunciation. The result? A new fun video, the "Howtogetfluent.com German pronunciation challenge". You can dive straight in by clicking on the … [Read more...]
Singapore’s languages: “smash and grab” (video)
I've made a video to share my impressions of the languages, sights, sounds (and tastes) of Singapore with you. It's what I've called a "smash and grab": a quick raid on the linguistic landscape of this cultural melting pot. To jump straight in to the film, scroll down to the bottom of this introductory post. I just had a few days in Singapore before and after my … [Read more...]
How important is reading for learning a foreign language?
How important is reading for learning a foreign language? Here's my take. I've also made a video on the same topic (link at the bottom of this post). If your main goal is to learn as efficiently as possible to converse in a language, you may well wonder why you should bother with reading. Reasons to doubt the value of reading to learn a language After all, most language, for … [Read more...]
Basque Intensive! 7: out and about (video)
Bilbao and Iruñea: these are two of the major Basque cities I visit the final video in my Basque Intensive! series. The film is for you if want a taste of this fascinating part of the world and its rich culture.... As regular readers will know, I've been learning the Basque language for several years now. I recently spent a whole month in the Basque Country. It's a … [Read more...]
The Goldlist Method explained (how to remember vocabulary)
What is the goldlist method and how can you use it to remember vocabulary? How to remember the words is a key question all language learners ask themselves in the early and intermediate stages. You can generally communicate and understand a lot without correct grammar, but if you don't have enough words, even "Tarzan-style" speech is going to be a struggle. This article is all … [Read more...]
Improving intermediate to advanced writing skills in a foreign language: Operation Write Russian Right
This post is about improving your intermediate to advanced writing skills, about how you might use language exams as a constructive learning tool and about being a committed language learner, in for the long haul, through thick and thin. Oh, and I get to launch my next language learning project. Ding, ding, back in the ring! In the middle, brandishing gloves and … [Read more...]
Zwischen den Jahren: language learning together from the old year to the new
Hello from a frosty and foggy London! If you celebrate the "Western" Christmas, I hope you had a great time. I love the decorations, the traditional, rather heavy British Christmas dinner (turkey, roast potatoes, all the "trimmings"). Now it's 29th December and I've finished the turkey but the cake and mince pies are still going strong. We're in that strange no man's … [Read more...]
Why learn Welsh? Ten reasons
Why learn Welsh in 2025? This is for you if you're thinking of learning Cymraeg - the Welsh language - yourself or just interested in finding out more about it. Even if the language you're eyeing up isn't Welsh, this post my well help you get clear on your underlying "whys". It's an important step when you're thinking of taking on a new lingo. Clarity of purpose will help … [Read more...]
Basque Intensive! 6: the inside view (video)
Now I'm back from my trip to Singapore and Indonesia, I've finally managed to complete the first of two further videos in my "Basque Intensive!" series. As regular readers will know, I'm learning the Basque language. This is an ancient but very much a living language among about 750,000 people in the Basque Country (on both the French and Spanish sides of the western end of … [Read more...]
In Thessaloniki at the Polyglot Conference (review and video)
The long flight back from Singapore at the end of my "Minimmersion" Indonesian language project in Indonesia gave me time to get stuck into editing footage from the Polyglot Conference in Thessaloniki, Greece, from where my wonderful trip kicked off thee weeks ago. My Conference vlog is now ready (link at the bottom of this post). This vlog is for you if you weren't there … [Read more...]