Category: Language Learning
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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