How can we learn a language when we're stuck at home in the crisis? This week's post begins with a quick catch-up on my life here in "semi-lockdown" London. Then, let's think about how to learn languages at home during the coronavirus crisis. I'll give you some top tips from time management and across all four language learning skills. If you want it visual, the vid embedded at … [Read more...]
Why learn a minority language?
Why learn a minority language? In the final post in the series on learning minority, lessor used or endangered languages, let's look at the rewards on offer. Throughout the series, I've drawn heavily on my own experience as a learner of Welsh and Basque but I'm talking to you, dear minority language learner or would-be learner, whatever the lingo! In the first … [Read more...]
The most advanced Russian exam? Guy aces the TRKI 4th certificate (interview)
Here's the latest a series of interviews with successful candidates for the most advanced Russian exam, the TRKI 4th Certificate. The Тест по русскому языку как иностранному Четвертый сертификационный уровень (ТРКИ-4), as it's known in Russian, is the top exam for Russian as a foreign language. The exam guidelines are set by the Russian Ministry of Education. The level is … [Read more...]
Learning minority languages: overcoming negative attitudes
The off-putting attitudes of others don't help us language learners at the best of times. What are the particular negative attitudes you might encounter as a learner of a minority, lesser-used or endangered language and how can you overcome them? This is the latest in our learning minority languages series. Now, I'm not suggesting for a moment that the discouraging … [Read more...]
Transform your German by Easter?
Are you a German learner who's been learning the language for a while and who's covered a lot of the basics? Are you ready to take focussed action to power yourself up as an "independent user" of the language between now and Easter? Over in the Howtogetfluent Email Club, I've been talking to quite a few of you who've reached German "upper beginner" level (A2 on the Common … [Read more...]
Have you got the fluency mindset?
One of the biggest differences between successful language learners and those who give up before they get fluent is attitude. We all need to check our fluency mindset now and again, just to make sure we're not turning into our own worst enemies. Here are seven mindset shifts for language learning success. 1. From "learning a language" to "mastering the next stage". … [Read more...]
Minority language dialects: a challenge for learners?
If you've heard that your minority language has a variety of dialects, which one should you learn? How should you respond if you hear that there are lots of dialects and that "some native speakers can't even understand each other"? What does the "standardisation" of a language even mean? In this, the fourth post in the series on learning minority languages, let's … [Read more...]
From 2019 to 2020
As 2019 draws to a close and a 2020 is about to begin, let's step back, take stock of a year of our language learning together and a year of language blogging and vlogging here at Howtogetfluent. Let's look ahead too, to our plans and hopes for the coming year and - as a new decade begins - beyond (preview/review vlog at the bottom of this post). My language learning and … [Read more...]
How to find minority language native speakers
Let's face it, if you're learning a minority language your main problem may not be the grammar and vocab but finding some native speakers to practise with. This post will get you clued up to maximise your chances of a great experience using your "lesser used" minority or indigenous language on the ground with some real, live native speakers. It's the second in a series on … [Read more...]
Sound more fluent: nine tricks
I favour a long, slow game in language learning, but I'm still up for a good short cut. If, that is, it's actually effective. Here are nine quick fixes to help you sound more fluent in any foreign language, however you feel inside. Let's put a spring in your step when you're speaking! You may not be ready to pull into the fluency fast lane, but you could hitch a lift for … [Read more...]