And then a great darkness fell across the land. And mighty earthquakes did shake the World. And pestilence and a plague of locusts descended. And there was great wailing and gnashing of teeth. Or, in other words, despite no small amount of sweat and toil, I've failed my Russian exam. But don't worry, this post isn't all about me wailing and wallowing. It's intended to … [Read more...]
Project Advanced Russian or steppe-ing up for the TRKI 3rd Certificate
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...]
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...]
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...]
Learning Basque in Add1Challenge 5, final report.
It's already over a month since the end of Add1Challenge 5, the on-line 90-day language study group in which I participated as a Basque learner this spring (following on from my time in Add1Challenge 4, last summer). This report may be late, but at least it's timely. The next Add1Challenge, no 8, begins on 1 June. I've just sent off my video application. [Update since this … [Read more...]
Back in an on-line language learning group or “Carry on Basque” as Add1Challenge 5 kicks off
The Add1Challenge on-line language learning club is back and I'm in. The commitment to regular study in round 4 of Brian Kwong's initiative was a great way to give structure to my Basque studies during last summer's break in my night classes at the London Basque Society. Reporting back daily, weekly and monthly to my study group helped with motivation. It was also … [Read more...]