Thursday 5 January 2017

23 more ideas for posts


  1. Remember to forget
  2. Repeat ‘The 100’
  3. Review what you’ve done
  4. Reward yourself
  5. Search for authentic, genuine material
  6. Seek inspiration
  7. Set up a revolving calendar of 30 days
  8. Speak to yourself
  9. Spend an hour in total daily
  10. Switch to long-term memory
  11. Systemise what you do (“Have a system”)
  12. Take charge
  13. Tally your hours
  14. Tinker with the language daily
  15. Train in English as a skill
  16. Try stuff out
  17. Tweak to improve (kaizen)
  18. Understand habits
  19. Use your technical knowledge (“[it] is often the key that unlocks the gate of language learning” Kato Lomb)
  20. Utilize your environment
  21. Visit yourself from the future
  22. Weigh up the advice of polyglots and others
  23. Work with phrases, not words

Wednesday 4 January 2017

Process language in quantity

A language is something that you need to get used to. You can't simply learn the rules and components once, and then expect to be able to use them. You need to put in a lot of practice to internalize everything.

Hours and hours. Volume. Volumes.

And so quantity is what you'll require. Figure out a way that suits that allows you to spend a lot of time enjoyably with the language(s) that you've set your heart on.

Do so heartily. With gusto.


Tuesday 3 January 2017

Polyglots perpetuate a dysfunctional outlook

I don't know . . .

All these polyglots doing their thing in public view . . .

Spreading their mirth and enthusiasm about the place (YouTube, Twitter and the general blogosphere) . . .

I feel that they may very well be achieving the opposite effect of what they intend. I mean, how is the ordinary man in the street likely to interpret it? That one is supposed to be a nerd or hyper-effusive in order to learn another language. That would seem to be a real risk that they a running.

No, you don't need to go to town about learning a language or two. It's the most natural and normal thing in the world. No need to dress it up in fancy colors. No need to shovel that language 'medicine' down with a spoonful of sugar.



You don't need to window-dress up the whole business as if it needs to be sold, as if it is inherently boring, hard work, or distasteful in some way.