Kerstin Cable's Blog, page 6

#clearthelist April 2020: Should I Stop Learning Chinese?

Hello and welcome to another blog post in the Clear The List series, the monthly language learning round-up about language learning goals and progress.

What can I say. Itâs been two months rather than one month since my last update. Thatâs less than 100 days, and still the world has turned upside down for many of us.

Earlier this week, my husband stated that one âcorona dayâ is about 6 days in the real world. Do you feel like this too?

What Happened in February and March 2020?

Back in...

Tips to Improve Your Vocab Memory

Do any of these describe your relationship with vocabulary?

I keep forgetting new words. I donât like using lists, flashcards, etc. I feel like Iâm not making progress because I donât know enough words.

When it comes to language learning, vocabulary is a different kind of monster. Instead of jumping out to scare you (like grammar), it hides until you figure out the right trick to help you learn. The most frustrating part is that what works for someone else might not work as well for you.

But...

#clearthelist February 2020: Slow and Steady (ç¼“æ ¢ç¨³å®š)

Welcome to #clearthelist, my monthly update on my language learning goals and progress. This month itâs going to be a pretty speedy update because January was pretty full of good stuff!

Fluent Language Updates

The biggest project I worked on in January was Your Solid Vocab Memory, my new online course about learning and remembering vocabulary. Weâre running a live round right now with group calls and a pop-up forum - great way to light a ðunder everyone's ð.

On the Fluent Show, there were so...

#clearthelist January 2020: The Big Plan for 2020

Welcome to #clearthelist, my monthly update on my language learning goals and progress.

This monthâs update is a little different from the usual fare because itâs the start of a new year! I will be going deeper into my progress with the Chinese language, and have chosen to record my update as a podcast this time.

You can listen to the show right here:

Fluent Language Updates

At the end of November, my life here at Fluent Language entered an intensive phase with the launch of the new...

9 of the Best Podcasts for Learning English

What would you do if you could easily understand spoken English?

Would you finally watch your favourite films or TV series without worrying so much about subtitles? Maybe youâd be able to travel without feeling anxious or even study abroad in an English-speaking country. Imagine just being able to order a beer at the pub with some new friends, buy a big slice of New York pizza, or attend a BBQ on a beach in Australia.

There are lots of ways understanding English could help you achieve your...

How to Learn a Language at Christmas (Even If You Don't Celebrate Christmas)

With just a few days to go until the Christmas holiday, chances are you might be feeling busy right now. When youâve got gifts to wrap and trees to light, how can you keep learning languages?

Donât worry, itâs not impossible. In this podcast and article, Iâve got handy tips for you to keep you in touch with any language - no matter if itâs Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or Pagan Yule season.

You can also find this podcast by searching âFluent Showâ on ð apple podcasts ðSpotify ð¶Overcast ð»...

Language League: Learn Languages With Us!

As I am going to be leading the Fluent German Retreat during my usual check-in time for #clearthelist, I have decided to post a blog article telling a bit of my story instead. This is in celebration of the launch of a new programme for language learners. I have dreamt about this programme, Iâve made plans, Iâve annoyed my friends by talking about it. Finally itâs hereâ

Itâs about combining language learning insights with a smart, welcoming community of learners.

Iâll be explaining more below,...

The Best Language Learning Tools for Autumn/Winter 2019

Have you ever googled "the best tools for learning a language?"

Oh, you were doing that just now?

Lucky you found us, because in this blog article I've got the best tools of the season all lined up for you.

What Makes The Top Tools?

Top tools are curated by me (Kerstin Cable) together with my co-host Lindsay Williams, and we have been doing this honorable job for a few years now! Every 6 months, we list the most interesting and useful language learning resources we've seen online and offline.

...

Clear the List November 2019: No-English Lessons as a Beginner?!

Clear the List November 2019: No-English Lessons at My Level?!

Hello and welcome to another blog post in the Clear The List series, the monthly language learning round-up about language learning goals and progress.

Thatâs right - NOVEMBER goals! October was a very interesting month for my language learning as I tried out something I had never tried before. Exciting stuff!

This check-in is part of the #clearthelist round-up hosted by Shannon Kennedy and Lindsay Williams.

What Happened in October?

I was busy signing up part...October?

Iprogress.ThatâLevel?!Hello

Brilliant German TV Shows and Movies to Turn Up Your Language Immersion

Ever since I started teaching myself languages, television has played a big role in my study routine. Itâs not always the place where I actively learn a language through deliberate practice. Still, the ongoing exposure to my target languageâs culture and sound keep me interested and allow me to test my learning progress by switching subtitles on and off.

And since I am a German teacher who also shares a home with a sporadic German learner, our cosy nights on the coach often feature TV shows i...