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Motivational Quotes for Language Learners
Language learning is generally a long journey. A bit like getting fit or learning a musical instrument. There’s no quick fix. So, we all need some motivation from time to time. Here are 5 of my favourite motivational quotes which can actually be applied to any type of goal, not just language learning. Perhaps there’s something here for you: 1. Slow progress is better than no progress (Author Unknown) We’ve all been there. You have the best intentions to work on your vocabulary or watch that Spanish film and then the week gets away from you and nothing has been…
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How to Reach Your Goals : 4 Important Questions
Everyone has goals. I truly believe that. Even if people don’t openly express them, they are there, deep down. Find a new job, earn more money, lose weight, learn how to play the piano, get fit, read more books, learn a language. But somehow, we don’t always reach the goal or we give up along the way. So, what can we do? As a coach, people come to me with various issues but ultimately behind them all is normally the desire to achieve or change something. After all that’s what coaching is about, to enable and encourage positive change. Once…
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Talking about Summer – Staycations & Caravans
Some things haven’t changed this summer: it’s August, it’s 35 degrees and my office at home has no air conditioning. However, one thing is different: it’s really quiet. We live very close to Frankfurt airport, one of the biggest airports in the world. Normally, there would be a constant stream of planes from 5am to 11pm but at the moment it’s strangely peaceful. Due to Corona, like most of the people I’ve spoken to recently, I won’t be flying anywhere this summer either. This has brought up some interesting conversations about holidays, summer and also some confusion regarding summer English…
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Corona Talk (English Version and Quiz)
I posted the German version of this article a couple of weeks ago and now here’s the English version. Don’t forget to do the quiz at the end! Corona has not just changed life as we know it, it’s also changing our language. Something that’s not only happening to the English language, I’ve noticed changes here in Germany too. A recent conversation with Birgit Kasimirski, a journalist, translator and language nerd like me, led us to collaborate on an article together about this topic and create a short quiz to “Test your Corona Language”. I’ve lived in Germany for more…
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Corona Talk
Corona has not just changed life as we know it, it’s also changing our language. Something that’s not only happening to the English language, I’ve noticed changes here in Germany too. A recent conversation with Birgit Kasimirski, a journalist, translator and language nerd like me, led us to collaborate on an article together about this topic and create a short quiz to “Test your Corona English”. The current version is only available in German but I will be translating it and posting an English version very soon. Article by Rebecca Deacon and Birgit Kasimirski Fakt ist: Corona verändert wie wir…
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What is “fluent” English?
Looking for a new job? In these uncertain times it might not seem like the best time to be moving to a new employer. However, some people have been given no choice or perhaps this unprecedented situation has provided people with exciting new opportunities. This is a repost from 2018 but the information is still totally relelvant and helpful for anyone who is searching for a new job but worried about their English skills. CV and interview coaching is one of the most popular packages I offer, so if you need some support, don’t be shy to get in touch…
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What can I learn in 10 minutes a day?
It’s a couple of years since I wrote this post but the “10 minute” question has frequently come up in client (remote) meetings over the last few weeks, so I thought it might be worth reposting. A lot of people have started projects during lockdown such as yoga, cooking, woodwork and interestingly (for me at least) some are learning a new language. Resources showing us how to do all these things are endless but often the question remains, how much time do I really need to invest? Maybe this post will help you decide. via Is “10 Minutes A Day”…
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Favourite German Sausage Sayings
Where would Germany be without the sausage? The wurst is omnipresent here from street festivals to Saturdays at the football, from Christmas markets to your average takeaway stand serving the slightly bizarre, currywurst (chopped up sausage with ketchup and curry powder!). If sausage disappeared from German lifestyle there would be a big empty section in the supermarket and a certain level of hysteria among the non-vegetarian/vegan section of the population i.e. most Germans and my husband! Apparently, there are around 1500 different types of sausage in Germany. That’s a lot of wurst! Of course, the wurst has also made its…
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5 Great Reasons to Improve your English
Happy English Language Day! Yes, it seems everything has its day these days and the English language is no exception. April the 23rd was introduced as English Language Day by the United Nations to “celebrate multilinguism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization”. And why this date in particular? Well, it turns out that April the 23rd is Shakespeare’s date of birth AND death. Really. He was apparently born on this day in 1564 (although accurate records don’t exist) and died 52 years later on the 23rd of April…
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Groundhog Day – Life in Lockdown
Week three of lockdown and life is no longer as we know it. “We’re not in Kansas anymore Toto.” Speaking to people over the last couple of weeks, one question seems to come up a lot: “What day is it today?” We’ve all been thrown out of our usual routines and somehow every day seems to be blending into the next. There’s no going out to work, to the gym, to a cafe, to meet family or friends, to the pub. We’re all still trying to do these things in a remote way but there’s just one problem. It all…
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Duolingo Challenge: Volunteers needed!
So, maybe you’re already tired of people telling you about all the great ways you can spend your time in isolation right now. Get fit, start knitting, declutter your house, sew your own face mask, count your toilet rolls…. Learning a language is something people would often like to do but never find the time to do. Along with getting fit and learning to play a musical instrument, it’s normally in the top 3 of most desired skills. So, if it’s been on your bucket list for a while, this could be your chance! Maybe you fancy starting a new…
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The Swahili Swerve: How to start speaking a new language in 15 minutes!
Sounds like a dance move or an exotic cocktail but in fact, the Swahili Swerve is what I call my recent “abrupt change of direction” in my language learning journey. I’d been plodding along quite nicely this year. I brushed up my Spanish to use at a wedding in March, my Polish teacher was here again over the summer so I ploughed on with “the terribly difficult Polish language” (his words, not mine) in preparation for my trip to Warsaw in November. But then all of a sudden, out of the blue, I’m sitting in a jeep at Kilimanjaro airport…
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Should I Do a Language Certificate Exam?
A question I often hear from my clients. Considering that most of my clients are German and the Germans love having certificates, not a big surprise. But also, not an easy question to answer. Of course, sometimes there is a necessity for a certificate. Universities often require a TOEFL certificate from foreign students. But for the average language learner like me who doesn’t need a certificate for higher education, is it worth the time and effort? On a cold, rainy Sunday back in December I got up early to take a train to Stuttgart to spend my day taking the…
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Setting New Goals for 2019
So, here we are at the beginning of a new year, looking ahead at what we want to achieve and once again, I’m making a new list of goals. You may remember I did the same last year. I had 9 goals on my list and here’s how I got on: Despite those 3 flops, I’m pretty happy with what I achieved. So, I decided to make a list again, consider what went right and what went wrong last year and make a few adjustments to my strategy. My list for 2019 turned out to be very “language learning” dominant,…
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The Polish Project: Learning Polish in 24 hours!
I have been busy. Not writing posts (yes, it’s been a while) but I’ve been working hard, catching up with family, travelling, doing my tax returns (wow I’m becoming really German), getting ready for Christmas ….the list is endless. So, what about my language learning? When I am supposed to find time to do that? Tricky. According to a lot of books and websites out there, I have nothing to worry about. They are all happy to tell (sell) you a system. “Learn a language in 24 hours!”, “Learn while you sleep!” Funny you never see many books out there…
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