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 … [Read more...]
How to prepare for an advanced language exam. Lessons from my Goethe-Institut C1 success
In a previous post I told you about Project revive my German and my new three-month goal: passing an advanced German exam (Goethe Institute C1). 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 … [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 … [Read more...]