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

  • I’m learning….
  • About
  • Mentoring
  • Russian Course
  • German Course
  • Recommended resources

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.

Advice for a career as a translator: a pro shares her story

By Dr Popkins 4 Comments

One of the most popular posts on Howtogetfluent is my overview of a career in interpreting.  I'm delighted that translator pro Karen Rutland has agreed to be interviewed for this new, companion piece offering advice for a career as a translator, which I think will be just as useful.  This also follows on nicely from last week's look at translation as a language learning method. … [Read more...]

How do you become an interpreter? What is working as an interpreter like?

By Dr Popkins Leave a Comment

Is there any more powerful a display of language learning mastery than the magic of an interpreter in full flow? If you’ve recently started learning language and are appreciative of the sheer scale of the task ahead, it may seem like an unattainable goal. If you’re already skilled in one or more foreign languages and thinking about a language career, you may be … [Read more...]

Language Show Live – a review

By Dr Popkins Leave a Comment

Language Show Live is a kind of "trade fair meets educational event" which styles itself as "Europe's leading annual event for people passionate about languages".  I attended for the first time in 2013.  Again in 2014, the event took place one Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the middle of October.  The venue: the historic Olympia Exhibition Centre  in London's West Kensington … [Read more...]

Copyright © 2025 Privacy policies/cookie policies and affiliate disclaimer