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 but of fun along the way.

German listening practice on steroids (neglected technique)

By Gareth Leave a Comment

Getting good German listening practice is essential if you want to get fluent. Even if you “know” lots of words and grammar, can read, write and even say quite a lot, listening often seems to lag behind.  It’s really frustrating when you still can’t understand your favourite shows or movies.  How embarrassing in a live conversation when you can’t catch the responses to your … [Read more...]

Does learning foreign languages get easier with experience?

By Gareth Leave a Comment

Does learning foreign languages get easier with experience? In today's post, I'll draw on my own experience learning Welsh, Russian, German and French to a fairly advanced level, Basque to intermediate and several other languages to lower levels, particularly (most recently) Japanese. It's a nuanced picture, of course. let's look together at different aspects of the language … [Read more...]

Shadowing for language learning: what and how?

By Gareth Leave a Comment

Shadowing is a deceptively simple, little-known language learning technique. You take a native audio recording, with a transcript and you speak along at as close to the same time as you can. That's it.  Shadowing is sometimes recommended to trainee conference interpreters, which suggests that it's a well-serious method, worth closer investigation. In this article we'll look at … [Read more...]

Do these key causes explain YOUR foreign accent?

By Gareth Leave a Comment

Worried about your foreign accent or just want to tune it up a bit?  You're in the right place! This is the first of a series on sounding good in you your target language.  I'm calling it Pronunciation Plus! We all want to make sure that a thick foreign accent does not get in the way of good communication. It's really important to win the confidence of your … [Read more...]

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