This was the second Polyglot Gathering in Bratislava and the biggest ever. If you don't know about the Polyglot Gathering, you must be new to the site. I've attended (and reviewed) all five (the first three were in Berlin). In short: it's a five-day event of talks, socialising and evening events run by enthusiastic volunteers for anybody who's into learning one language or … [Read more...]
Polyglot Gathering 2018: the daily vlogs
Ahoj from the Polyglot Gathering 2018 in Bratislava. The Gathering has recently finished and I've been daily vlogging. All five vlogs are now out, beginning with the Polyglot Gathering opening evening on Wednesday right up to the closing ceremony and beyond on Sunday, the last day. Needless to say, I've had a great time. It's the people who make it and thanks to all of … [Read more...]
Northern Highlights. From the Polyglot Conference in Reyjkavík (review and vlog)
The Polyglot Conference is an annual two-day event "for everybody who loves languages". I've long wanted to go to Iceland, so I was thrilled when the organisers Richard Simcott and Alex Rawlings announced in Thessaloniki at the end of the fourth Conference that the next one would be in Reykjavík. Here's a sketch of how it was for me this time in the world's northernmost capital … [Read more...]
A day at London’s Language Show (review and vlog)
If you enjoy large events that attract language lovers of all stripes, London's annual Language Show (also known as Language Show Live) is well worth a visit. I love the vibe and always come away enthused by inspiring conversations and with a new contact or three. I've made a fun, informal vlog once again. It's a way to remember the event and give you a flavour of what's on … [Read more...]
A new language record! (video from the Polyglot Gathering)
The Polyglot Gathering in Bratislava last summer brought together one must have been one of the most multilingual audiences of all time. What better place to attempt to break the record for the greatest number of languages spoken under one roof? Four days of celebration of language and language learning were coming to an end. We all packed into the main lecture theatre to … [Read more...]
Alpha to omega: learning the Greek alphabet (video)
How hard is it to learn the Greek alphabet? I shot this short, fun video introducing all twenty-four letters at the Polyglot Conference in Thessaloniki. The truth is, you should never let a strange writing system put you off! It's true that completely different systems such as the Chinese present a challenge. It's a challenge many have overcome with … [Read more...]
The fourth Polyglot Gathering, reviewed
For me, the delightful tone of the Fourth Polyglot Gathering was set several days before it began. I arrived in Bratislava and was met by Michal, the owner of the apartment that was my temporary home for my first visit to the Slovak capital. He was carrying what I took to be a set of golf equipment or maybe fishing rods. It turned out to be a fujara. As you may well have … [Read more...]
Bratislava Live! Five daily vlogs from the Polyglot Gathering 2017
Hello from Slovakia's lovely capital city. The fourth annual Polyglot Gathering, a meeting for language lovers of all hues, has moved here for the first time to a new venue: Bratislava's Economics University. I've covered each previous Gathering (from Berlin) extensively on the site....last year I vlogged from there for the first time. This year I'm trying my hand at daily … [Read more...]
German pronunciation challenge! (video)
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...]
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...]