How to get fluent, with Dr Popkins

How to learn a foreign language. Methods, matrials and stories to help you maximise your effectiveness on the road to fluency

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In-depth explorations, actionable tips and inspiring conversations for language learners who REALLY want to get fluent…..plus a little bit of fun along the way.

“Dr Popkins Method?” How I got fluent in German

By Dr Popkins 3 Comments

To help you better in your language learning, I’m sharing my own story in the "Dr Popkins Method?" series.  I’ve told the story of how I got fluent in French, Welsh and Russian. Now, let’s look at how to learn German.....or, at least, how I've done it.  This post covers roughly the same German ground - but in more detail - as the second half of the vlog linked at the bottom of … [Read more...]

How to prepare for the Goethe Institut C1 German exam: what I did

By Dr Popkins 40 Comments

Goethe Institut German exam

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)

By Dr Popkins Leave a Comment

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

By Dr Popkins 2 Comments

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...]

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