What are the elements to success when you’re learning a foreign language? In this post, it’s time to pull together some of the threads that have emerged from telling my own language learning story in the “Dr Popkins Method?” series. I’ve got fluent in French, Welsh, Russian and German and make good progress with several other languages, mainly thanks to independent study as an … [Read more...]
“Dr Popkins Method?” Keeping going at language learning
If your methods are good, or even just ok, keeping going at language learning may be the most important ingredient of all when you want to get fluent. ln a recent post, I looked at the things that fill me with enthusiasm about learning a language. But what about when enthusiasm starts to wane? It's time to move from language learning carrots to things that may work more like … [Read more...]
“Dr Popkins Method?” Excited by fluency
In this post, I’m sharing some of the sources of inspiration and excitement that have helped me over the years to get fluent in new languages. Some are thrilling, others quite low-key satisfactions. They are the some of the bright flares and softer streetlights that could light up your path and see you excited by fluency itself (to say nothing of all the great things you … [Read more...]
“Dr Popkins Method?” How I got fluent in German
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...]
“Dr Popkins Method?” How I learned Russian
This is the story of how I got fluent in Russian. It's post number four in my new “Dr Popkins Method?” series of articles. I got the idea for the series when I was down in Tenerife with some of my fellow language learners and teachers, bloggers and vloggers. They challenged me to help you better by sharing more my language learning journey. If you prefer video, you can … [Read more...]
How I learned Welsh…and you can too
This is the story of how I got fluent in Welsh. It's the third post in my new “Dr Popkins Method?” series of articles. There posts are very much my personal history....but I'm sure you'll already see instructive parallels - or contrasts - with your own experience. That should already help you get a realistic take on this large - but not insurmountable - undertaking. At the end … [Read more...]
“Dr Popkins Method?” Getting fluent in French
This is the first time I've blogged about French. I tell the story of how I managed to get reasonably fluent in the language. It’s the second post in my new "Dr Popkins Method?" series of articles. If you prefer video, you can scroll straight to the bottom for the link to the companion vlog about my experiences learning French and Welsh. This post follows the same plan but … [Read more...]
Is there a “Dr Popkins Method” to get fluent?
In April I paid my first visit to Tenerife. The reason: to take part in a workshop with fellow language teachers, bloggers and vloggers. We spent four days in a beautiful villa near Los Christianos in the south of the island. We also did a day trip up to La Laguna, the original capital of the island and to the beautiful hills and coastline around. During the workshop, … [Read more...]