Have you ever thought of learning an African language or, if you're African, another one? At last year's Polyglot Gathering I met French international voluntary exchange association employee and podcaster Julia Martin and I was thrilled when she agreed to share her story about how she came to learn Swahili. It's a fascinating language, widespread in east Africa and, as we'll … [Read more...]
Viennese slices: first impressions of the Austrian capital
Grüß Gott aus Wien! It’s my first time in Vienna, the second station in my “three capitals” trip to Central Europe. Here are my impressions (with an update in the form of a short vlog from Schloss Belvedere, down at the bottom of the post). I arrived from Berlin on Wednesday, by train. It would have been quicker, and about a third cheaper, to fly. I enjoy train journeys so … [Read more...]
Language learner’s update (May 2018)
I haven't done an update on my own language learning is going since my review of 2017-18 in late December. It's time to catch up. I also want to flag up what's been going on the site....and what's coming up. Back in Germany I'm writing this from Berlin at the start of a twelve day period in the German "Sprachraum". I'm here to celebrate the joint 50th birthday of three … [Read more...]
Learning Icelandic: 30 day focus
How much progress can you make learning a new langauge for thirty minutes a day for a month and how should you go about it? That's what I'm set to explore in a new mini project: an Icelandic 30 day focus. Why Icelandic? The superficial answer. The immediate spur is that this year's Polyglot Conference is taking place in the Icelandic capital, Reykjavík, 27th to 29th … [Read more...]
Language learner’s update (May 2017)
Hello from Bratislava, capital of Slovakia. I landed in central Europe from London yesterday for this year's Polyglot Gathering. There's just time for an update about how my various long term language learning projects are going. There's also some news about one or two things I've got going on "below the radar". Why do you care? Well, I hope you'll be encouraged in your own … [Read more...]
Ten reasons to learn Welsh
This is for you if you're thinking of learning Cymraeg - the Welsh language - yourself or just interested in finding out more about it. Even if the language you're eying up isn't Welsh, this post my well help you get clear on your underlying "whys". It's an important step when you're thinking of taking on a new lingo. Clarity of purpose will help keep you going along the … [Read more...]
Basque Intensive! 6: the inside view (video)
Now I'm back from my trip to Singapore and Indonesia, I've finally managed to complete the first of two further videos in my "Basque Intensive!" series. As regular readers will know, I'm learning the Basque language. This is an ancient but very much a living language among about 750,000 people in the Basque Country (on both the French and Spanish sides of the western end of … [Read more...]
“Minimmersion” Indonesia 8: Prambanan, the Sultan’s palace and departure
After my five-day project to learn some basic Indonesian came to an end, I had almost two days left in Yogyakarta on the island of Java to explore. The highlights were the Prambanan temple, the sultan's palace and Berinharja market. Here's my final "on the road" report and video. The Prambanan temple On Saturday morning I went on the back of a motor bike to the Hindu … [Read more...]
“Minimmersion” Indonesian 7: Day 5 (video) – my last class and unforgettable Borobudur
My five-day Indonesian course came to an all-too early end today (Friday) with my final class with Anggun, the teacher who taught me on Tuesday. We were working on the numbers, prices and telling the time, all stuff you need right from the start. After the lesson I was asked to fill out an evaluation form and I took some photos with Johan and Totok (my other two teachers - … [Read more...]
“Minimmersion” Indonesian 6: Day 4 (video) language, rain and the Tugu.
Today was the last day but one of my five days' studying Indonesian on the island of Java. It was sweltering hot and sunny when I arrived for class but they don't call this the rainy season for nothing, as I discovered on my journey back to the hotel. The lesson went well, with Johan, my co-ordinator, who also taught me on Monday, back as my teacher. After an early … [Read more...]