Kerstin Cable's Blog, page 26
November 12, 2015
How This Slow Language Learning Routine Might Beat Language Hacking
Usually I write on Fluent based on my teacher experiences more than my learner experiences. But today, the tables are turned. I'm excited to be sharing my current Welsh study routine, which is one based on two concepts: Learning thoroughly and staying disciplined. It's not the fastest or the one that squeezes study time out of every moment in my life. Instead, here's what works for me and keeps me liking the language I'm learning.
My Welsh Study ToolkitHere are my starting materials:
Say S...
November 9, 2015
Podcast Episode 26: Language Careers, Language Events, Language Inspiration
In this episode, Lindsay and Kerstin discuss a good bunch of topics around the topic of language learning in person.
This episode is brought to you with support from Other Cats to Whip, a cute French book that you can buy for 10% off using the code FLUENT.
What was language learning like before the internet?What’s so great about an event like the Language Show?Our ideas for Langathon and Language Speed DatingLanguage and Careers: What’s out there beyond Teaching and Translating?Lindsay’s passio...November 3, 2015
14 Quick Tech-Fuelled Ideas for Starting to Learn a New Language
In today's guest post, I've got a submission from Suzy St George, a regular writer for Take Lessons. She originally contacted me after reading my Duolingo review and went on to write this post offering a pretty good overview of language learning resources.
Over to Suzy:
I’ll admit it: I’m one of those people who took a full two years of Spanish classes in high school, along with an additional semester in college, coasting by and memorizing vocabulary words just to earn an A on the final. After...
October 26, 2015
Language Show Live: What's New In Language Learning?
Last weekend I made my way down to Southern England to hang out with Lindsay and visit the Language Show Live in big London. Lindsay and I visited the big exhibition and ran into a whole bunch of other language bloggers, friends and people from the language learning world. If you couldn't make it, here are my impressions of the show.
What is it?The Language Show Live is Britain's biggest language-focused event, a sort of trade show about all things language with talks and taster sessions mix...
October 22, 2015
A Complete Review of the HelloTalk Language Exchange App
Übung macht den Meister.
C'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron.
Usus magister est optimus.
Man, does every language have a proverb meaning practice makes perfect?
Practice is one of the key principles of learning, and probably one of the most demanding ones.
One of the most helpful way to practice your skills in language learning is to speak the language you're studying. No matter if you've just begun or were fluent 3 weeks ago, if you don't keep using that language it's likely to get pret...
October 20, 2015
How Becoming a Musician Can Improve Your Languages: Shannon Kennedy from Eurolinguiste on the Podcast
Take just 2 minutes and win prizes by telling us about you in our Creative Language Learning Podcast Listener Survey.
In Episode 25, I enjoyed a conversation with Shannon Kennedy. Shannon writes the travel, language and life blog Eurolinguiste. She's a musician. And knows seven languages.
During the course of this interview I took the neatest notes I have ever written. My guest Shannon Kennedy just has that effect on you. She's calm, considered and very experienced in language learning.
You'll...
October 12, 2015
5 Chinese Learning Resources You’re Going to Love
Eyes to the East, everyone, today's blog post is all about Chinese learning! I'm not yet trying my hand (and brain) with this approach, so to help you guys if you're interested in Chinese, I brought in an expert in the form of language blogger Teddy Nee. You might remember him from his previous article on Fluent, comparing English to Chinese on the world stage.
Today Teddy will be sharing his top 5 Resources for Learning Chinese. Enjoy his recommendations:
“China” is a word that we frequentl...
October 8, 2015
12 Ideas For Making the Perfect Language Learning App
As a language writer, it's part of my job to look out for new trends and developments in language learning. There are so many new apps released every day, and the language learning market is huge.
What makes a good language learning app? Lanuage learning with an app only is a tall order for anyone, learner or teacher, and different users will look for different results. The following list is based on what I believe makes a good language learning experience, regardless of what the marketing...
October 5, 2015
Podcast Episode 24: European Day of Languages Live!
Welcome to our first ever LIVE episode of the Creative Language Learning Podcast! In episode 24, we treat you to a piece of the European Day of Languages broadcast which was the first time ever that Lindsay and I tried something like this.
There was so much going on:
Music!Live comments!A Revival of the Languages vs. Dialects Debate!Reports on Log Sawing in Germany!Chat about our Grandparents!European Language Charts!Instead of the Creative Language Learning Podcast tips, this episode feature...
October 1, 2015
Achieve More With a Language Test (No Matter If You Need It Or Not)
Ahh, welcome to autumn! It’s the season of rain and leaves and Hallowe’en. We’re entering the final stretch of the year.
If you feel a little caught out by how quickly 2015 is disappearing then you may need to bring the focus back to your study routine. Have you ever considered prepping for a language test?
Language tests can add to your routines and make you a much better language learner. At the end of this article, you'll find a handy list of popular tests and exams in a whole bunch of lang...
