What we should be doing when trying to "level up" our foreign language abilities effectively at the advanced level? This is topical again for me after I took an advanced German exam a few months ago, because I'm a month into a three-month project: to improve my Russian and take an advanced Russian exam. If you're interested in levelling up your language … [Read more...]
Six tips for keeping going with your language learning (and an update on my Basque)
You may be several months - or years - into learning a language and it still feels like you're a long way from fluency. You may even be wondering whether you're making any progress at all. If so, welcome to the club! I've been learning Basque two and a half years now. In the last few months, there's been a real feeling of progress, but it's still slow and I was trudging … [Read more...]
Language progress when you’re seconded “in the field”: some solid advice
In this brief video interview, full-time student of German and Russian (and budding polyglot) Harry Ness tells us about how he's trying to make the most of his extended period working and studying in Germany. Whether you're a student looking forward to your "year abroad" or already in the world of work and preparing for an extended secondment, Harry's to-the-point tips are for … [Read more...]
Why learn Russian? 10 reasons
Why learn Russian? When I started learning Russian as a young graduate student of history, achieving fluency seemed an unattainable dream. Now I've been functionally fluent for years but I'm working hard to try to up my game at the advanced level. My flawed, stumbling efforts leave me ever more humbled before this immense language. Challenging though the process often is, … [Read more...]
How to prepare for the Goethe Institut C1 German exam: what I did
In a previous post I told you about Project revive my German and my new three-month goal: passing the Goethe Institute C1 German exam. The pass mark is 60%. Here's the good news: I got 85.5%. A result! Now I'm sharing what I did to develop my advanced reading, writing, speaking and reading skills before the exam. I stress the importance of exam technique at the end, … [Read more...]
At Language Show Live: a vlog
Now my intensive German preparation for the C1 Goethe Institut exam is behind me, I've finally been able to sit down and finish editing my vlog from Language Show Live (link at the end). The Show is a huge language teaching and learning fair-meets-educational event held once a year at the Olympia Conference Centre in Kensington, west London. This was the third year in a … [Read more...]
Logging your language learning (and an update on Project revive my German)
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...]