0:00:18.540,0:00:22.210 I believe that one question [br]that all polyglots asked themselves 0:00:22.230,0:00:24.720 at the beginning [br]of their own language journey 0:00:24.720,0:00:28.150 or later on [br]throughout their language journey is: 0:00:28.150,0:00:31.090 "What is the best method [br]to learn a language", right? 0:00:31.090,0:00:37.730 We are all trying to find the best method [br]or the most effective or fastest method 0:00:37.730,0:00:41.260 to achieve our goals[br]and to learn more and more languages. 0:00:41.260,0:00:44.620 I believe there is [br]a very simple answer to that question. 0:00:44.620,0:00:46.720 I believe all of you[br]have your own answers. 0:00:46.720,0:00:49.030 Let's see if you agree with mine. 0:00:49.030,0:00:51.766 I believe that the answer[br]to that question is 0:00:51.890,0:00:55.800 that you have to find a way[br]to learn the language by yourself. 0:00:57.100,0:01:00.520 I will give you just a few examples[br]of well known polyglots 0:01:00.520,0:01:02.620 who have that story. 0:01:03.630,0:01:04.980 For example, these ones. 0:01:04.980,0:01:06.486 I'm sure you know many of them 0:01:06.633,0:01:09.500 many of them are here [br]with us today. 0:01:09.500,0:01:13.460 These people claim that [br]they were very bad at languages at school. 0:01:13.560,0:01:16.940 they didn't do very well,[br]they were the untalented ones. 0:01:16.940,0:01:20.120 And everybody told them[br]"You're never going to learn a language." 0:01:20.120,0:01:23.010 "Don't even try.[br]You don't have the language gene." 0:01:23.010,0:01:24.120 "It will not work." 0:01:24.170,0:01:27.010 And they really [br]were not very good at languages, 0:01:27.010,0:01:29.680 but something changed later on. 0:01:29.680,0:01:33.710 And that was the mere fact[br]that they started to learn the languages 0:01:33.710,0:01:34.710 by themselves. 0:01:34.870,0:01:38.220 Not the same way as in school.[br]In a different way. 0:01:38.670,0:01:42.010 And suddenly they speak[br]several languages fluently today, right? 0:01:42.010,0:01:45.720 So there must be a way to learn it[br]even for the untalented people. 0:01:48.070,0:01:52.950 I believe what's learning by yourself[br]actually means is that, 0:01:52.950,0:01:56.730 it doesn't really matter[br]what method you use to learn the language. 0:01:57.010,0:02:01.130 I believe there really many possible ways[br]how to achieve the goal 0:02:01.130,0:02:03.370 and there is not[br]one single perfect method. 0:02:03.370,0:02:05.840 And many polyglots [br]at the conference, 0:02:05.880,0:02:08.310 at the gathering[br]repeat that again and again. 0:02:08.310,0:02:11.020 There is not one single method[br]that will work for everyone 0:02:11.030,0:02:13.480 so you need to figure out your own way. 0:02:13.480,0:02:15.930 And for me language learning[br]is like a little puzzle 0:02:15.930,0:02:19.110 where you can put[br]several different pieces together. 0:02:19.110,0:02:24.870 And if it works for you,[br]if it's based on some common pillars, 0:02:24.870,0:02:26.980 then it's going to work out. 0:02:27.190,0:02:29.690 I believe there are four pillars[br]to do that. 0:02:29.690,0:02:33.550 The first one is that[br]learning should be fun. 0:02:34.240,0:02:37.090 By that I want to say that[br]you have to find a way 0:02:37.090,0:02:40.090 which is a little bit amusing to you[br]a little bit enjoyable 0:02:40.090,0:02:42.900 it cannot be just the drilling[br]just something really boring 0:02:42.900,0:02:45.210 because you wouldn't stick with it[br]for very long. 0:02:45.390,0:02:48.790 So, each and every one of us [br]learns the language in different ways, 0:02:48.950,0:02:52.840 but we're all having fun with it[br]in a way, right? 0:02:52.900,0:02:57.440 So, having fun for me[br]is really the first pillar, 0:02:57.770,0:03:01.800 the first requirement[br]of learning a language effectively. 0:03:01.800,0:03:04.880 The second one is[br]that if you want to learn a language 0:03:04.880,0:03:06.960 you need to spend[br]a lot of time with it, 0:03:06.960,0:03:09.270 it doesn't come[br]overnight we all know it, right? 0:03:09.270,0:03:13.010 You need to read a lot of texts,[br]listen to a lot of recordings, 0:03:13.010,0:03:15.330 podcasts, watch series, etc... 0:03:15.330,0:03:18.050 Talk to a lot of people[br]does take a lot of time 0:03:18.050,0:03:22.060 it doesn't just come like that.[br]So, whatever method you apply 0:03:22.270,0:03:24.230 if you make sure that it's fun 0:03:24.320,0:03:27.590 and you do a lot of it,[br]you're going to succeed. 0:03:28.070,0:03:31.070 And not only[br]do you have to do a lot of it, 0:03:31.200,0:03:34.570 it's also very important, [br]that you do it every day 0:03:34.980,0:03:36.760 in little bits and pieces.[br] 0:03:36.760,0:03:39.250 And this is what also [br]all these polyglot say 0:03:39.250,0:03:43.320 they work on their languages every day [br]maybe ten, fifteen, twenty minutes 0:03:43.360,0:03:46.270 but it's regular and it's intensive,[br]because otherwise 0:03:46.270,0:03:49.270 the languages are just not learned [br]by themselves, right? 0:03:50.000,0:03:52.450 And the final pillar[br]that I find very important 0:03:53.060,0:03:55.490 and that I'm going to[br]concentrate on today 0:03:55.490,0:03:58.490 is that[br]in order to learn a language well 0:03:58.650,0:04:00.970 you need to have a certain system 0:04:01.220,0:04:03.000 or a plan[br]how to achieve that. 0:04:03.000,0:04:05.270 You need to know[br]how to get from this point 0:04:05.270,0:04:08.176 where I am right now, [br]where I don't speak the language at all 0:04:08.403,0:04:11.060 to the point[br]where I speak the language fluently. 0:04:11.060,0:04:15.160 By system I also mean[br]realizing what you actually need. 0:04:15.390,0:04:19.860 "Do I want to speak the language?" [br]then I probably need to practice speaking 0:04:19.860,0:04:22.860 I cannot just do[br]the comfortable exercises 0:04:22.860,0:04:24.400 and games with the language.[br] 0:04:24.400,0:04:28.250 I really need to speak[br]in order to speak well, right? 0:04:28.790,0:04:32.820 So I believe this is kind of the recipe[br]in order to learn a language 0:04:33.370,0:04:35.820 and I'm sure that all of you[br]no matter what methods 0:04:35.860,0:04:38.750 you have used to learn the languages[br]that you speak today 0:04:38.750,0:04:41.590 will agree that you did something[br]that was fun for you. 0:04:41.590,0:04:43.820 If it wasn't funny,[br]you tried another method 0:04:43.820,0:04:46.190 and then you found the method[br]that worked for you 0:04:46.190,0:04:48.320 and that was why language learning is fun 0:04:48.320,0:04:50.210 and why we all love it, right? 0:04:50.210,0:04:53.330 Then you did a lot of it[br]You did frequently and possibly, 0:04:53.330,0:04:56.410 probably with a system, [br]because you have all achieved fluency 0:04:56.410,0:04:58.220 in some of the languages. 0:04:58.310,0:05:02.070 Now I will share with you briefly[br]my own language story 0:05:02.080,0:05:05.070 and how I realized[br]this amazing thing 0:05:05.440,0:05:07.260 that I can learn languages by myself 0:05:07.260,0:05:11.640 and that it's so much more effective[br]than being taught a language. 0:05:11.890,0:05:16.620 This is the university I studied at[br]in Bratislava, Slovakia, where I'm from 0:05:16.710,0:05:19.740 and I studied these two languages:[br]English and German 0:05:19.770,0:05:22.180 in order to become[br]a translator and interpreter. 0:05:22.180,0:05:25.340 And when I was learning [br]these two languages 0:05:25.340,0:05:28.660 I was learning them the old way,[br]the traditional way at school 0:05:28.660,0:05:31.740 and I thought it was the only way[br]to learn a language, 0:05:31.740,0:05:35.500 because I was brought up like that.[br]So, I went to classes 0:05:35.500,0:05:37.930 and you know[br]I did all the homework, etc... 0:05:37.930,0:05:40.650 and I did work a little bit[br]on those languages by myself, 0:05:40.650,0:05:44.130 but I thought that it is most important[br]that I take the lessons. 0:05:44.130,0:05:47.130 With German[br]it was actually quite funny, because 0:05:47.130,0:05:48.550 when I was fourteen 0:05:48.560,0:05:51.650 and we were deciding at school[br]what language we will have 0:05:51.650,0:05:54.020 as the second one,[br]we had three options: 0:05:54.020,0:05:57.470 German, Russian and French.[br]And as a class 0:05:57.470,0:06:00.010 we had to decide what two languages 0:06:00.010,0:06:02.520 we will be able to take,[br]because we couldn't open 0:06:02.520,0:06:04.210 all three languages. 0:06:04.210,0:06:06.700 And we had [br]really really passionate discussions 0:06:06.700,0:06:08.270 about what is the best language 0:06:08.270,0:06:11.300 that we should learn,[br]which one will be the most useful, 0:06:11.300,0:06:14.810 which is the most difficult,[br]which teacher is less strict 0:06:14.820,0:06:17.680 than the other one, etc...[br]We discussed it all the time 0:06:17.680,0:06:21.180 and I remember also being passionate[br]I really wanted to learn German 0:06:21.180,0:06:24.010 I thought that was for me [br]the most useful one, 0:06:24.010,0:06:25.570 because I wanted to become [br]an interpreter 0:06:25.590,0:06:28.750 and working with English and German[br]is like a very good combination 0:06:28.750,0:06:30.950 in Slovakia, so I was fighting for German 0:06:31.630,0:06:34.730 but then, it's funny because today[br]when I think of it 0:06:34.740,0:06:37.010 when I think about [br]how I thought about it 0:06:37.010,0:06:39.780 I really thought this was my[br]only chance to learn a language. 0:06:39.970,0:06:43.140 I either pick that German[br]or I will have to learn French or Russian 0:06:43.140,0:06:46.220 I will never be able[br]to speak German fluently. 0:06:46.300,0:06:48.570 Today I happen to speak [br]all three of them, 0:06:48.570,0:06:50.970 but no one told me[br]at that time that you can learn 0:06:50.970,0:06:53.240 a language by yourself later on[br]if you want to. 0:06:53.240,0:06:54.730 I wish someone had[br]told me that, 0:06:54.750,0:06:56.490 [br]I didn't know it at the time. 0:06:56.670,0:06:58.320 The breakthrough moment came 0:06:58.630,0:07:01.720 when I wanted to learn Spanish[br]at the university. 0:07:01.720,0:07:04.720 I took a class, because I thought[br]it was the only way, right? 0:07:05.260,0:07:10.190 And this class was just hopeless.[br]It was really not good. 0:07:10.430,0:07:14.070 I'm sorry to say so, but the teacher's[br]level of Spanish was not very good 0:07:14.070,0:07:17.910 and I could say that as a total beginner.[br]We were too many people in the class, 0:07:17.910,0:07:21.340 we had meetings once a week,[br]very little homework, 0:07:21.340,0:07:24.290 and after a few lessons I understood[br]this is not going to work. 0:07:24.290,0:07:26.760 So, I did an experiment 0:07:26.760,0:07:30.000 I was like, oh I'm going to try to learn[br]the language by myself 0:07:30.000,0:07:33.820 I'll see how that goes.[br]But the book was just so boring, you know 0:07:33.840,0:07:37.420 and the texts were like,[br]I don't want to read about Jorge 0:07:37.420,0:07:40.530 doing this and that [br]this is just so boring. 0:07:40.530,0:07:45.700 So, I took another book: Harry Potter,[br]my very absolutely favorite book 0:07:45.700,0:07:49.210 when I was a kid, I read it [br]in Slovak and English several times, 0:07:49.320,0:07:54.340 so I just got it in Spanish as an e-book[br]and an audiobook 0:07:54.340,0:07:58.090 and I started a very simple habit.[br]Before going to sleep, 0:07:58.090,0:08:04.110 I would listen and read Harry Potter[br]for twenty minutes a day, every day 0:08:04.220,0:08:07.190 and it was really interesting [br]at the beginning, because 0:08:07.190,0:08:10.240 I understood like three words[br]at the beginning, you know which? 0:08:10.250,0:08:13.490 Harry, Hermione, Dumbledore. 0:08:13.780,0:08:16.510 And it was actually,[br]it was a little bit depressing 0:08:16.510,0:08:19.580 and I was like: "OK this is the language [br]I'm going to know, 0:08:19.580,0:08:22.870 I'm going to understand one day, [br]but right now I understand the names 0:08:22.870,0:08:24.210 like yeah that's cool..." 0:08:24.210,0:08:26.920 But then I kept on reading[br]and listening every single day 0:08:26.920,0:08:30.430 and after a few weeks [br]we could say just a few weeks 0:08:30.430,0:08:33.430 a few days actually,[br]I started to notice a difference. 0:08:33.430,0:08:36.220 Suddenly I understood like [br]Harry asked that, 0:08:36.220,0:08:39.851 or Hermione was curious,[br]you know, or Ron didn't know 0:08:39.851,0:08:42.721 or whatever.[br]I mean I knew the context of the book, 0:08:42.735,0:08:44.795 I love the book[br]it was really fun for me, 0:08:44.795,0:08:47.475 so it started to make sense[br]like little bits and pieces. 0:08:47.475,0:08:50.155 And these chunks of the language [br]that I understood 0:08:50.155,0:08:53.735 started to get bigger and bigger[br]and it was just amazing to see that 0:08:53.735,0:08:55.885 when I was like [br]in the half of the book 0:08:55.885,0:08:58.285 I could already read it pretty fluently. 0:08:58.285,0:09:00.725 It was not the only thing[br]I was doing with Spanish, 0:09:00.725,0:09:03.905 I was also taking some classes[br]with a tutor, I had at tandem with a 0:09:03.905,0:09:07.745 Mexican friend and[br]I was doing some grammar exercises, etc... 0:09:07.745,0:09:12.265 But, this was the revolutionary method [br]for me, where I realized 0:09:12.265,0:09:14.925 that it really is possible to [br]learn a language yourself 0:09:15.205,0:09:19.305 and I was just so so happy about it[br]I couldn't believe it. 0:09:19.445,0:09:25.515 So then I spent two years learning Spanish[br]up to a level where I felt very fluent 0:09:25.515,0:09:28.835 and confident, and I wanted to see[br]if the same thing can happen 0:09:28.835,0:09:31.725 with another language.[br]So I took Polish. 0:09:31.865,0:09:35.355 And I spend another two years [br]learning Polish totally by myself 0:09:35.475,0:09:38.475 so I didn't go to classes, [br]I didn't take offcial courses 0:09:39.205,0:09:42.525 and I learned Polish up to a level[br]where I actually got to interpret 0:09:42.525,0:09:47.075 the Polish president, former president [br]talking to the Slovak first lady 0:09:47.075,0:09:51.665 at an official event.[br]So I was able to teach myself 0:09:51.665,0:09:54.115 that language,[br]I was really really happy about it. 0:09:54.115,0:09:58.095 And then just to cut long story short,[br]I then continued at my university 0:09:58.095,0:10:01.095 and during my PhD. studies,[br]and I learnt French 0:10:01.095,0:10:04.085 and again took about two years[br]to learn it by myself. 0:10:04.085,0:10:08.035 Esperanto, you don't need two years [br]for esperanto, I needed like two months. 0:10:08.035,0:10:11.085 With all the other languages[br]this is just the language for free, 0:10:11.085,0:10:13.225 and I definitely recommend you[br]to try it out, 0:10:13.225,0:10:16.045 because it's just linguistically[br]really really interesting. 0:10:16.045,0:10:19.705 And then I did the same for Russian,[br]which I'm working on right now, I'm 0:10:19.705,0:10:21.765 at the beginning of my[br]second year, so I'm 0:10:21.765,0:10:24.815 going to keep improving my Russian[br]for one more year. 0:10:24.815,0:10:27.715 And I also took two years[br]of the Slovak sign language classes. 0:10:27.715,0:10:33.377 But this is the only language[br]that I did not teach myself, 0:10:33.377,0:10:36.587 because there are no materials[br]for the Slovak sign language. 0:10:36.587,0:10:40.377 I had to take classes with a teacher.[br]But all the other languages 0:10:41.877,0:10:46.637 all the other languages[br]I kind of taught myself 0:10:46.637,0:10:50.977 and I felt really happy about it, [br]like, this is revolutionary. 0:10:50.977,0:10:52.967 Why didn't they tell me that at school? 0:10:52.967,0:10:55.407 How is it possible that [br]no one tells the children: 0:10:55.407,0:10:57.940 "You can learn languages, [br]if you really want to, 0:10:57.940,0:10:59.920 but there are some things[br]you need to do." 0:10:59.920,0:11:03.020 It's like: "No, you take the classes[br]or you didn't take German... 0:11:03.020,0:11:04.740 ...so sorry, too bad for you." 0:11:06.050,0:11:10.470 Now, I believe that learning a language[br]by yourself truly honestly 0:11:10.470,0:11:13.170 is the most effective way[br]you can learn a language. 0:11:13.170,0:11:15.670 It may work for other people[br]to just take the classes 0:11:15.670,0:11:18.980 but I think it's actually a minority.[br]For most people, 0:11:18.980,0:11:23.800 I really believe,[br]it does work if you learn by yourself, but 0:11:23.800,0:11:27.770 I think learning a language by yourself[br]is very simple, 0:11:27.770,0:11:31.660 but it's not easy. [br]It's definitely not easy, right? 0:11:31.660,0:11:35.790 It takes a lot of time,[br]a lot of energy, a lot of self-discipline 0:11:35.790,0:11:39.410 and that is mainly because of[br]missing four things. 0:11:39.410,0:11:43.690 Four elements.[br]First of all, there is no teacher... 0:11:43.690,0:11:47.060 There is no one to[br]kind of explain the stuff to you, 0:11:47.060,0:11:50.240 No one to tell you,[br]why in French you don't pronounce 0:11:50.240,0:11:53.620 the last letter,[br]or why you've just learned 0:11:53.620,0:11:56.350 that this is the "Ghe" sound in Russian 0:11:56.350,0:11:58.790 but сегодня is "sevodnya"[br]and not "segodnya". 0:11:58.790,0:12:02.030 It's like why? You want to know[br]why, just doesn't make sense 0:12:02.030,0:12:05.140 but there is no one to explain[br]you need to figure it out yourself. 0:12:05.140,0:12:07.590 Secondly, there is no guide.[br] 0:12:07.590,0:12:12.390 There is no one to tell you[br]what you're supposed to learn next. 0:12:12.390,0:12:15.960 And when is the best time for you[br]to learn about the subjunctive in Spanish. 0:12:15.960,0:12:19.560 So, it's like you also need to figure out[br]yourself and plan your learning 0:12:19.560,0:12:21.120 by yourself. 0:12:21.120,0:12:24.750 And then, no one is checking.[br]You may be learning, or 0:12:24.750,0:12:28.530 you may skip a few days, weeks, months,[br]nothing happens, right? 0:12:28.530,0:12:33.180 The world keeps revolving,[br]everyone's happy, no one dies, so... 0:12:33.180,0:12:36.620 it's totally up to you and your[br]own self-discipline to keep learning, 0:12:36.620,0:12:39.980 because you want to, because[br]you have some good motivation, etc... 0:12:39.980,0:12:43.590 But no one checks on you[br]and so it's very very difficult. 0:12:43.590,0:12:49.810 And finally, there is no prescribed system[br]you don't know how to continue 0:12:49.810,0:12:52.790 with what, you don't know what to do,[br]actually. 0:12:52.790,0:12:56.180 You're not very well organized,[br]if you're starting to learn a language. 0:12:56.180,0:12:59.570 And I believe, these are the four [br]pitfalls, or the four reasons 0:12:59.570,0:13:02.340 why many people [br]don't succeed in language learning. 0:13:02.340,0:13:06.150 It may sound, and when I tell people[br]learn the language by yourself 0:13:06.150,0:13:09.470 they say: "yeah, but it's impossible,[br]I tried it and it didn't work" 0:13:09.480,0:13:12.750 So, I believe that learning a language [br]is very simple. 0:13:12.750,0:13:16.460 I think honestly there are these four [br]principles I told you at the beginning: 0:13:16.460,0:13:20.180 "Do something that is fun, [br]do a lot of it, do it frequently 0:13:20.180,0:13:23.990 and find a system in it, so that[br]you can keep doing it for a long time", 0:13:23.990,0:13:26.470 and you'll achieve the fluency [br]you strived for. 0:13:26.470,0:13:30.980 But with these four pitfalls[br]it really isn't that simple. 0:13:32.080,0:13:36.670 Now, I'm a person who loves to[br]solve problems and deal with challenges, 0:13:36.670,0:13:39.070 so I tried to find a solution[br]for this one: 0:13:39.275,0:13:42.275 for helping people[br]to learn languages by themselves, 0:13:42.275,0:13:46.075 because I really, honestly want to [br]help people discover 0:13:46.075,0:13:49.075 the amazing world [br]of learning languages by yourselves. 0:13:49.850,0:13:54.940 And so, my approach, my solution for that[br]is what I call "Language Mentoring". 0:13:54.940,0:13:58.600 I don't teach people languages, [br]but I help them learn them. 0:13:58.600,0:14:03.600 One of the projects I did this summer[br]was called; "In the Same Boat" 0:14:03.600,0:14:07.330 and it was a language mentoring project[br]for English teachers 0:14:07.390,0:14:10.390 in order to help them[br]improve their English. 0:14:11.310,0:14:16.320 I called it "In the Same Boat," because[br]I believe there is never a point 0:14:16.470,0:14:18.720 in our language learning,[br]where we can say: "OK, 0:14:18.720,0:14:22.440 I'm done, I've achieved the level,[br]good to go for the rest of my life 0:14:22.440,0:14:25.470 there's nothing more to improve."[br]I don't want to work 0:14:25.470,0:14:28.750 with such people who believe so.[br]It's like: "I'm a professional teacher 0:14:28.750,0:14:31.180 I don't have to improve anything."[br]I wanted to work 0:14:31.180,0:14:34.510 with teachers, who understand that,[br]it doesn't matter how long 0:14:34.510,0:14:37.810 You've been learning a language,[br]You always need to improve something. 0:14:37.810,0:14:41.290 You always need to keep on working,[br]there's always room for improvement. 0:14:41.290,0:14:44.400 And so, this the name suggested[br]that teachers are kind of 0:14:44.400,0:14:47.950 in the same boat with their students.[br]They're just on a different level, 0:14:47.950,0:14:51.300 but they're still learners and they[br]should be working on their English. 0:14:51.450,0:14:54.210 Why did I pick [br]to work with English teachers? 0:14:54.350,0:14:57.680 I know the community very well,[br]English teachers from many conferences 0:14:57.680,0:15:01.690 that I attend, and I know that they really[br]want to improve in their English, but 0:15:01.690,0:15:06.670 they don't know how. They keep teaching,[br]the present tense is all over again 0:15:06.780,0:15:11.100 all the time, but there is no [br]real possibilities for them to improve 0:15:11.100,0:15:15.240 their own level of the of the language.[br]So, I devised this program 0:15:15.240,0:15:19.990 for them and I helped them fight these [br]four pitfalls, the four problems. 0:15:20.005,0:15:24.400 They had no teacher, but we worked [br]with tutors, so they basically found 0:15:24.400,0:15:28.480 native speakers to talk to, online[br]or in real life, in order to practice 0:15:28.480,0:15:30.690 their speaking, etc...[br]to ask something. 0:15:30.690,0:15:34.260 They didn't have a guide,[br]but this is what my role was, to support 0:15:34.260,0:15:39.390 them in their language improvement,[br]and they didn't have any check before, 0:15:39.390,0:15:44.170 but we worked with a log book.[br]That means a diary, where everybody wrote 0:15:44.170,0:15:47.350 what they did for their English,[br]and how it helped them 0:15:47.350,0:15:51.980 and we inspired each other with how much[br]time we spent with learning English. 0:15:52.310,0:15:57.610 And while they didn't have a system [br]at the beginning, they found priorities. 0:15:57.610,0:16:01.380 This is what I want to tell you about,[br]what I'm going to concentrate on. 0:16:01.380,0:16:04.810 Priorities in language learning are a[br]really powerful tool. 0:16:05.360,0:16:08.680 And that all leads to a [br]great improvement, which is exactly 0:16:08.680,0:16:12.320 what happened to the English teachers[br]and other groups that I have worked with. 0:16:12.320,0:16:14.420 So, what are these priorities? 0:16:15.440,0:16:19.660 When we talk about priorities, [br]I basically talk about seven areas that 0:16:19.660,0:16:24.630 I think people can concentrate on in their[br]language learning, on all possible stages. 0:16:24.780,0:16:28.540 And that's the typical four, [br]reading, writing, listening, speaking, 0:16:28.800,0:16:31.860 and then specifically grammar,[br]vocabulary and pronunciation. 0:16:33.440,0:16:37.580 When I talk about setting priorities,[br]this doesn't mean that you only do 0:16:37.580,0:16:42.060 a certain thing for a certain period [br]of time, but that you prioritize it 0:16:42.060,0:16:46.950 that means you concentrate on it.[br]These are the main seven areas 0:16:46.950,0:16:50.360 but you can also decide to concentrate[br]on something else, such as 0:16:50.360,0:16:53.710 a specific type of a vocabulary, when [br]we're talking about English: 0:16:53.710,0:16:56.640 Business English, Legal English,[br]Professional English, etc... 0:16:56.680,0:17:00.150 Or you can pick to work on your idioms, [br]phrasal verbs, the subjunctive, 0:17:00.150,0:17:02.810 or, let's say, separable verbs in German,[br]etc... 0:17:02.810,0:17:06.600 So it can be a specific part of grammar,[br]a specific part of vocabulary 0:17:06.600,0:17:10.200 or a specific way of expressing something [br]in speaking, etc... 0:17:10.470,0:17:13.470 But you set yourself priorities. [br] 0:17:13.975,0:17:19.255 Not only do you do that,[br]you also set yourself SMART goals. 0:17:19.255,0:17:21.595 I believe many of you know[br]what SMART goals are. 0:17:21.595,0:17:26.135 They are used in business and elsewhere[br]it's not something I would come up with. 0:17:26.135,0:17:30.465 Basically, if you want to set a goal[br]for yourself, which can be attainable, 0:17:30.465,0:17:35.990 it's best if the goal is specific, [br]so it's not like I want to learn English, 0:17:35.990,0:17:37.830 but I want to improve this and that.[br] 0:17:38.405,0:17:42.315 Should be measurable, that means you know[br]what the situation was at the beginning, 0:17:42.315,0:17:44.565 and what the situation is at the end.[br] 0:17:44.565,0:17:48.915 Should be ambitious, which means that you[br]don't want to learn one new word a day, 0:17:48.915,0:17:51.275 you want to stretch yourself[br]a little bit more. 0:17:51.380,0:17:54.580 But at the same time you want to[br]stay with your feet on the ground, 0:17:54.600,0:17:56.340 you want to stay realistic.[br] 0:17:56.470,0:18:00.160 and finally, a good goal should be[br]time bound. 0:18:00.330,0:18:03.570 And this is a very important point.[br]This is actually my philosophy 0:18:03.570,0:18:07.030 about how I go about learning languages.[br] 0:18:07.160,0:18:09.720 So let's get to the practical example. 0:18:09.740,0:18:14.590 If you want to learn a language from[br]scratch, you need to pick two to three 0:18:14.590,0:18:19.050 priorities that you will concentrate on[br]the first period of your learning. 0:18:19.050,0:18:21.130 Which may be two or three months.[br] 0:18:21.470,0:18:25.760 It's really up to you, but I suggest that[br]two or three months is the best period. 0:18:25.920,0:18:29.050 Let's say you are starting with[br]a language, I'm not talking now 0:18:29.050,0:18:31.060 about the teachers,[br]who are vary advanced. 0:18:31.130,0:18:34.670 But let's imagine, that someone [br]is starting with a language from scratch. 0:18:34.670,0:18:37.720 I believe that the best priority is to [br]choose, but this is again, 0:18:37.720,0:18:40.370 just my suggestion...[br]You can adopt it yourselves... 0:18:40.400,0:18:44.920 is you do a lot of listening, because[br]you really need to get a lot of input 0:18:44.920,0:18:47.880 in the language, so that you know,[br]what the language is about. 0:18:47.880,0:18:51.210 You want to probably practice[br]your pronunciation, because the language 0:18:51.210,0:18:54.940 is very new to you, so you want to [br]make sure that you can copy those sounds 0:18:54.940,0:18:58.010 and you can sound a little bit like[br]the native, 0:18:58.905,0:19:00.825 so that the people understand you. 0:19:00.825,0:19:03.115 And then you also need some material[br]to work with, 0:19:03.115,0:19:05.495 so you probably want to[br]concentrate on vocabulary. 0:19:05.630,0:19:08.210 Again, this is just a suggestion,[br]it can be different. 0:19:08.320,0:19:11.320 It actually should be different [br]for everyone. 0:19:11.320,0:19:14.420 So you concentrate on these[br]three things for two months 0:19:14.420,0:19:17.770 And of course it doesn't mean[br]that you don't do anything else, 0:19:17.770,0:19:20.680 You also do other things:[br]you read a little, do some grammar, 0:19:20.680,0:19:22.180 You do some speaking, etc... 0:19:22.180,0:19:24.550 But these are your priorities.[br] 0:19:24.690,0:19:29.480 You always want to make sure that[br]you don't forget about these three things. 0:19:29.560,0:19:32.560 I will tell you later why this is very [br]important. 0:19:32.690,0:19:35.600 Let's say the next three months you pick[br]other priorities. 0:19:35.600,0:19:38.790 Some of them may be the same, [br]maybe all of them will be the same, 0:19:38.790,0:19:40.870 maybe you change some or all of them.[br] 0:19:40.950,0:19:43.260 So let's say you really want to[br]start speaking. 0:19:43.320,0:19:46.820 I believe after two months this is a [br]very good time to start speaking. 0:19:47.200,0:19:51.150 And so, you practice a lot of speaking[br]even though it's on a very simple level, 0:19:51.150,0:19:54.240 and then vocabulary[br]and listening as the third priority. 0:19:54.510,0:19:57.290 They also go in the order, [br]so speaking is the number one 0:19:57.320,0:20:00.000 And then listening, in this case [br]would be number three. 0:20:00.000,0:20:03.190 And you do the same thing[br]for another period of two or three months. 0:20:03.190,0:20:06.560 And maybe now you want to introduce[br]grammar and look a little bit more 0:20:06.560,0:20:09.100 into grammar [br]and concentrate on it in this period. 0:20:09.240,0:20:13.210 And then in another three months, let's [br]say, you really want to start to write. 0:20:13.455,0:20:17.695 And also you introduce writing,[br]you still practice speaking, vocabulary. 0:20:17.695,0:20:23.185 If you notice, speaking is repeated[br]in three of them in very high positions 0:20:23.205,0:20:26.645 This is for me, this is very important to[br]me, because I really, for me 0:20:26.645,0:20:29.885 in order to learn a language[br]I need to be able to speak it fluently. 0:20:29.885,0:20:32.615 It's not OK if I can just read it, if I[br]can listen to it, 0:20:32.615,0:20:34.895 I really need to speak it. 0:20:34.895,0:20:39.165 So, this is what the setting of [br]the priorities could look like for you, 0:20:39.257,0:20:43.197 if you work with this time bound[br]periods of learning a language. 0:20:43.197,0:20:48.067 So, your goal is not to just speak French[br]one day, but you say: "OK for these two 0:20:48.067,0:20:50.837 or three months I'm going to concentrate[br]on this and that." 0:20:50.837,0:20:52.227 Why is this good? [br] 0:20:52.227,0:20:55.987 There are a few benefits of setting [br]these priorities like that. 0:20:55.987,0:20:59.347 First of all, you give a structure[br]to your learning. 0:20:59.540,0:21:02.940 And this is something that many people[br]tell me they still struggle with. 0:21:02.940,0:21:06.990 If you prioritize like this,[br]according to the areas, 0:21:06.990,0:21:11.910 you provide a structure to your learning,[br]a system that you can easily follow. 0:21:12.010,0:21:16.380 So you know, that at the beginning you [br]are going to concentrate on these 0:21:16.380,0:21:18.810 three areas and then you move on to[br]the other one, 0:21:18.810,0:21:21.230 you concentrate on that other areas,[br]etc... 0:21:21.230,0:21:25.720 and you know what you're doing and[br]which stage what you're concentrating on. 0:21:26.930,0:21:33.610 A second very important point is that you [br]really see improvement when you do this. 0:21:33.790,0:21:37.920 And I think this is the best point because[br]when people try to learn a language 0:21:37.920,0:21:41.040 by doing everything at once,[br]they do a little bit of reading, 0:21:41.040,0:21:43.720 a little bit of listening,[br]a little bit of speaking... 0:21:43.720,0:21:45.740 and they never see the result in anything. 0:21:45.740,0:21:49.930 It takes ages, it takes like one year[br]for them to really see a difference. 0:21:49.930,0:21:53.990 While, if you concentrate on that certain[br]period, like let's say listening now, 0:21:53.990,0:21:58.780 you will notice a difference after two [br]months, believe me. It's just incredible, 0:21:58.780,0:22:01.780 that you just put in a lot of [br]listening hours, 0:22:01.840,0:22:04.920 and suddenly you understand so much better[br]than at the beginning. 0:22:04.920,0:22:10.310 This I believe is really really rewarding,[br]because it's just an amazing feeling 0:22:10.310,0:22:13.690 you can really feel the difference,[br]whereas if you just continue with 0:22:13.690,0:22:18.780 a little bit on all the areas, then[br]you're not going to have that feeling. 0:22:18.780,0:22:22.440 And this is very motivational, so it will [br]make you keep on learning, and 0:22:22.440,0:22:25.440 improve something else later on. 0:22:26.180,0:22:28.660 The third reason is also very important.[br] 0:22:28.947,0:22:34.787 It makes us not forget, that language [br]learning is not just fun, right? 0:22:34.787,0:22:38.275 I mean, there are a lot of activities,[br]that we enjoy totally... 0:22:38.275,0:22:41.535 it's really like we can't wait[br]to do something, like I don't know... 0:22:41.535,0:22:45.475 Duolingo exercise,[br]or watch a movie, watch a series, etc... 0:22:45.500,0:22:49.730 but then language learning is sometimes [br]about things we don't want to do that much 0:22:49.730,0:22:54.320 We are not really in favor of doing[br]let's say: grammar drills, etc... 0:22:54.320,0:22:56.510 But at some points they're important.[br] 0:22:56.510,0:22:59.050 If you have your priorities in [br]your language learning, 0:22:59.050,0:23:00.710 you don't forget about that. 0:23:00.710,0:23:05.800 you don't forget about the learning time[br]and you don't do just the playtime. 0:23:06.520,0:23:13.130 And finally, you're not scared to go out[br]of your comfort zone. 0:23:13.770,0:23:16.340 You see this kittie over here?[br]This is how we all look 0:23:16.340,0:23:19.580 when we're trying to speak[br]our language for the first time, right? 0:23:19.890,0:23:23.450 Really scared, because it's way out[br]of our comfort zone. 0:23:23.640,0:23:27.840 And we are so scared, because we [br]don't have much to talk about, 0:23:27.840,0:23:30.570 then very little vocabulary, or we are[br]very limited, 0:23:30.570,0:23:33.280 it's very intimidating to speak[br]with a native speaker 0:23:33.280,0:23:37.080 but if you tell yourself:[br]"OK, why am I learning this language?" 0:23:37.080,0:23:40.310 "Do I just want to be able to read it? [br]No, I want to speak it." 0:23:40.310,0:23:44.430 Speaking is my number one priority in [br]this period, so I need to make sure 0:23:44.430,0:23:49.940 I schedule a session with a tutor, [br]for example, or I practice some self talk 0:23:49.940,0:23:53.510 or, I don't know,[br]meet with some foreigners, etc... 0:23:53.510,0:23:57.180 So you it reminds you[br]that you need to push yourself 0:23:57.180,0:24:01.520 and put yourself in these rather [br]uncomfortable situations, in order to 0:24:01.520,0:24:04.590 make sure that you achieve the goals[br]that you set for yourselves. 0:24:04.590,0:24:07.690 If you never set any goals, [br]and any priorities for yourselves, 0:24:07.690,0:24:10.290 then there is a huge risk that you [br]will just say: 0:24:10.290,0:24:12.960 "OK, I'm going to learn, so I'm going[br]to watch a series." 0:24:12.970,0:24:15.230 "I'm learning, it's cool, it's fine." 0:24:15.230,0:24:19.560 So, I believe these are the four reasons[br]why we really should prioritize 0:24:19.560,0:24:22.520 in our language learning, [br]we shouldn't do everything at once, 0:24:22.520,0:24:25.240 we should have a system,[br]we should have a plan for that, 0:24:25.240,0:24:28.440 because it gives us a structure,[br]we really see an improvement in it, 0:24:28.440,0:24:31.440 we don't forget about the[br]"not so fun" activities, 0:24:31.440,0:24:35.320 and it pushes us to go out[br]of our comfort zone. 0:24:35.640,0:24:40.960 Getting back to the program that I [br]told you about, it really worked amazingly 0:24:40.960,0:24:45.590 with the English teachers, it was so[br]amazing to see the English teachers 0:24:45.590,0:24:51.330 mostly from Slovakia, one from abroad in [br]an online course to improve their English 0:24:51.330,0:24:53.690 so much, like they totally fell in love[br]with it. 0:24:53.690,0:24:57.720 They started to spend a lot of time[br]with it, concentrating on the 0:24:57.720,0:25:01.460 priorities they set for themselves. So[br]many decided to improve their speaking, 0:25:01.460,0:25:03.960 many listening, vocabulary, etc... 0:25:03.960,0:25:07.600 And then we just met at the end of the[br]course some of us in Bratislava, 0:25:07.600,0:25:12.120 and had a very nice day together, [br]but they were all so excited about it. 0:25:12.120,0:25:15.760 Like "oh my God, language learning is fun [br]again, it's amazing because I see 0:25:15.760,0:25:20.600 I've improved so much in the two months,[br]it was really amazing!" 0:25:20.600,0:25:24.140 One of them said and I really like this,[br]it was one of the questionnaires. 0:25:24.140,0:25:27.670 "I've realized that my attitude towards[br]English was wrong the whole years, 0:25:27.670,0:25:32.230 when I wanted to improve my English,[br]I was trying to concentrate on everything, 0:25:32.230,0:25:35.070 and I was lost because I didn't know[br]how to find the system. 0:25:35.070,0:25:38.250 Thanks to concentrating on three [br]priorities I have found my lost 0:25:38.250,0:25:40.580 motivation and started to like [br]English again." 0:25:40.580,0:25:44.850 And what is best about it, is that they[br]are now infectiously spreading this 0:25:44.850,0:25:48.020 enthusiasm for language learning[br]and independent language learning 0:25:48.020,0:25:52.910 to their students. [br]So this was actually my mission, to make 0:25:52.910,0:25:56.880 the teachers love learning a language,[br]not just teach it, but also learn it 0:25:56.890,0:26:01.120 themselves, and then try to find ways[br]how to how to motivate the students 0:26:01.120,0:26:03.600 to do just the same,[br]because the lessons are cool, 0:26:03.600,0:26:06.090 they can be very good,[br]but if you don't do anything, 0:26:06.090,0:26:08.810 besides the lessons at school, or in a [br]language school, 0:26:08.810,0:26:10.910 it will probably not work. 0:26:10.910,0:26:15.080 And then all of them basically agreed,[br]that they improved in something. 0:26:15.080,0:26:19.420 And they always mentioned specific areas [br]that they concentrated on, 0:26:19.420,0:26:22.500 so it's easier to watch a movie, [br]or particularly my vocabulary 0:26:22.500,0:26:27.710 I feel my speaking and vocabulary have [br]greatly benefited, especially in vocabulary 0:26:27.710,0:26:29.360 and listening, etc...[br] 0:26:29.360,0:26:34.750 I believe, this was really the secret to[br]improving in a language even on a 0:26:34.750,0:26:38.400 quite advanced level, because these [br]are all people that have been trying 0:26:38.400,0:26:41.400 to learn English, they were not lazy or [br]anything, they just didn't know 0:26:41.400,0:26:43.820 how to do it, and when I showed them[br]the system, 0:26:43.820,0:26:47.810 I showed them the priorities,[br]they loved it, they adopted it right away 0:26:47.810,0:26:50.830 and then they kept doing it [br]for two months. 0:26:52.070,0:26:56.510 I did the same thing with a hundred [br]students at the Comenius University, 0:26:56.510,0:27:00.180 and some of you maybe have seen my[br]Berlin talk from the Polyglot Gathering 0:27:00.180,0:27:03.740 where I talked about that experiment,[br]and it was very interesting, 0:27:03.760,0:27:07.560 because I took a class of about [br]hundred students, I put them all 0:27:07.560,0:27:10.470 in one room, and I told them, [br]these are all students of 0:27:10.470,0:27:13.280 translation and interpreting,[br]and I told them: 0:27:13.280,0:27:16.340 "Guys, I'll tell you something. [br]I studied this, I know 0:27:16.340,0:27:21.050 about this university, it is not going to[br]teach you the language, OK? 0:27:21.050,0:27:25.620 I know you all came here picking whatever[br]combination: Italian, Polish, English, 0:27:25.620,0:27:28.660 German, etc... and you think[br]this is a language school for free, 0:27:28.660,0:27:29.970 but it doesn't work.[br] 0:27:29.970,0:27:36.220 You need to start learning yourselves, so[br]let's find ways how it's fun 0:27:36.220,0:27:39.220 for each of us in a different way [br]and let's learn together. 0:27:39.480,0:27:43.020 And it was just absolutely fascinating[br]what happened in two months, 0:27:43.020,0:27:49.140 because they started coming to me after a[br]month even after a few like six weeks 0:27:49.140,0:27:52.716 and they said like: "Lydia, this is[br]incredible I understand so much more 0:27:52.717,0:27:55.630 from Russian, I feel I've improved in 0:27:55.630,0:27:58.720 six weeks more than in the previous[br]three years, how is this possible?" 0:27:58.720,0:28:02.340 and I told them well, you prioritized[br]and you concentrated on one thing 0:28:02.340,0:28:06.640 and you kept doing a lot of it, [br]in a fun way, this is very very crucial. 0:28:06.640,0:28:10.070 They all picked their materials[br]themselves, I did not impose 0:28:10.070,0:28:14.010 anything on them. In fact, [br]in this group of a hundred students 0:28:14.010,0:28:17.450 we had thirteen different languages[br]that they improved, I don't speak 0:28:17.450,0:28:22.170 eight of them at all, so they picked the[br]materials themselves, because they picked 0:28:22.170,0:28:25.320 something that they liked. [br]And then they worked with it every day, 0:28:25.320,0:28:28.790 intensively, in a systematic way[br]and it worked just amazingly.[br] 0:28:28.790,0:28:35.080 Actually, the associate professor from the[br]Spanish department came to our meeting 0:28:35.080,0:28:37.460 at the end, and he said: [br]"Some of the students, 0:28:37.460,0:28:40.900 who took part in language mentoring[br]program had their final exams today, 0:28:40.900,0:28:44.350 and I can tell you, that we the teachers[br]have really seen the difference. 0:28:44.360,0:28:47.170 The students from the program[br]achieved the huge improvement 0:28:47.170,0:28:49.620 in their Spanish. [br]My colleagues didn't understand 0:28:49.620,0:28:51.580 how that was possible [br]in just two months, 0:28:51.590,0:28:53.540 but I knew it was because they [br]attended your program. 0:28:53.540,0:28:56.790 And this is because they concentrated [br]on speaking, so some of the students 0:28:56.790,0:29:00.080 we analyze their needs at the beginning,[br]and some of the students are like: 0:29:00.080,0:29:03.820 "I've been learning Spanish or German[br]for so many years, but I'm just afraid 0:29:03.820,0:29:07.090 of speaking, so I made them speak.[br]I mean is this your priority, 0:29:07.090,0:29:11.690 then you need to practice speaking, it[br]will just not improve itself without you 0:29:11.690,0:29:15.810 actually putting yourself out there [br]outside of your comfort zone. 0:29:16.670,0:29:21.030 So, this is basically the message,[br]I wanted to share with you 0:29:21.195,0:29:24.685 the priorities in your language learning,[br]I believe are really powerful, 0:29:24.685,0:29:28.955 and for me it is a way[br]how to structure my learning 0:29:28.955,0:29:32.745 and how to make sure that I concentrate on[br]a certain thing at a certain period 0:29:32.745,0:29:35.935 of time, again it doesn't mean you don't[br]do anything else, 0:29:35.935,0:29:38.505 It doesn't mean, here I won't [br]read anything, 0:29:38.505,0:29:41.555 I want to work with grammar, or anything[br]else, 0:29:41.555,0:29:44.355 but it means that these are my[br]three priorities. 0:29:44.355,0:29:48.385 And I have to make sure that I[br]include this in my learning agenda 0:29:48.385,0:29:52.785 and then I know I will see an[br]improvement in it in two or three months. 0:29:52.807,0:29:55.047 Right now as I told you [br]I'm learning Russian 0:29:55.047,0:29:57.857 and I didn't introduce reading[br]like intensive reading 0:29:57.857,0:30:02.977 until about eighth month into my [br]language learning, so 0:30:02.977,0:30:07.077 when I started, I started in September and[br]when I started reading in Russian 0:30:07.080,0:30:10.070 in April this year, I felt like a [br]first grader 0:30:10.070,0:30:15.140 One letter after another, because of the[br]Cyrillic took me ages 0:30:15.140,0:30:18.600 and some people would say like: [br]"Haven't you been learning Russian 0:30:18.605,0:30:21.795 for like eight months?" so yeah,[br]but reading was not my priority. 0:30:21.795,0:30:26.120 I didn't really prioritize it, I didn't [br]concentrate on it, so now, 0:30:26.120,0:30:30.040 I'm going to read intensively for two[br]months, and we'll see where it gets me, 0:30:30.040,0:30:34.430 and it got me into a really great stage,[br]where I read the books like almost like 0:30:34.430,0:30:38.420 Slovak books, I don't really think about[br]it very much, it's very fluent 0:30:38.420,0:30:43.220 because I put a lot of practice [br]of reading into those two months. 0:30:43.220,0:30:46.190 So that's basically all [br]I wanted to share with you. 0:30:46.580,0:30:49.900 and I would like to answer[br]any questions that you might have 0:30:49.900,0:30:53.650 or welcome any comments that you[br]might have.Thank you. 0:31:31.790,0:31:34.070 Thank you, I will briefly [br]repeat the question: 0:31:34.070,0:31:36.690 "Is it a good method as [br]Anthony Lauder suggested 0:31:36.690,0:31:41.470 in is talk to repeat songs,[br]to sign with the singers in songs 0:31:41.470,0:31:44.200 and do it at the beginning stage[br]of the learning?" 0:31:44.200,0:31:46.900 The answer is "Yes, if it's fun for you." 0:31:46.900,0:31:48.430 Whatever is fun for you. 0:31:48.430,0:31:52.970 And this is the best thing, there is not[br]a universal way of saying 0:31:52.970,0:31:55.270 "Yes, this is what you should be[br]doing at the beginning 0:31:55.270,0:31:59.130 and not this." It's not true, if you like[br]it, do it by all means and do a lot of it 0:31:59.130,0:32:01.650 and do it every day, it's going to help[br]you for sure. 0:32:01.650,0:32:04.680 There are other methods,[br]which will just not work, I mean for me 0:32:04.680,0:32:08.230 maybe that would not work, because my [br]singing is not that good let's say 0:32:08.230,0:32:11.360 So, it really needs to be fun,[br]and if it's fun it's going to work 0:32:11.360,0:32:13.670 There's four hundred of us, right? 0:32:13.670,0:32:16.960 Ask anyone how they learn a [br]language and they will give you 0:32:16.960,0:32:18.450 a totally different answer. 0:32:18.450,0:32:20.250 And mostly, [br]which is also interesting 0:32:20.250,0:32:23.630 they will even give you a[br]different answer for every language. 0:32:23.860,0:32:26.570 So, very few of us [br]have a certain way 0:32:26.570,0:32:30.310 how we learn the language all the time,[br]we experiment with trying these methods 0:32:30.310,0:32:33.130 and etc... [br]and it all works, because it's fun, 0:32:33.130,0:32:34.490 because we enjoy it.[br] 0:32:34.490,0:32:35.610 Thank you. 0:32:36.220,0:32:40.470 Question2: "I'm sorry, this is excellent![br]the idea of thinking about system 0:32:40.470,0:32:44.680 is very good, but this is a room[br]that has a whole lot of students 0:32:44.680,0:32:47.680 seeing even me here as a student,[br]and then there is reality 0:32:47.680,0:32:54.730 of work, and for fun work is [br]fun, young people prioritize fun, but 0:32:54.730,0:32:59.220 You have had one thing in your system,[br]there is goal to do something usually 0:32:59.220,0:33:03.480 now you may say I am very excited in [br]Polish and fluent, tomorrow they want you 0:33:03.480,0:33:07.090 to go and learn Hungarian or Hindi [br]or something like this [indistinct] 0:33:58.530,0:34:02.580 Thank you, I agree with you, and I think [br]that you can actually put this 0:34:02.580,0:34:06.049 into the system, so if you realize that[br]it's your goal you need to do it 0:34:06.049,0:34:09.829 and there is no fun way how to do it,[br]there are just, let's say the boring ways 0:34:09.829,0:34:12.919 then you put it into your structure [br]and you make sure you do it 0:34:12.919,0:34:14.599 this is what I was trying to say 0:34:14.599,0:34:18.170 but I believe, like for me personally,[br]there are a lot of activities that 0:34:18.170,0:34:22.110 I didn't enjoy doing, but I kind of found [br]a way how to make it a little bit of fun 0:34:22.110,0:34:27.670 But even if you put something like history[br]dates that we have to learn at school 0:34:27.670,0:34:32.350 if you put it into Anki, it could be so [br]much more fun, it may be boring to learn it 0:34:32.350,0:34:35.670 and memorize it, but then you find a way[br]how to make it a little bit 0:34:35.670,0:34:38.710 more interesting.[br]By fun I don't mean fun like 0:34:38.710,0:34:41.080 you're laughing out loud, and you can't [br]stop, 0:34:41.080,0:34:45.961 you just cannot keep on learning,[br]because it's so funny you have to laugh 0:34:45.961,0:34:48.871 By that, I mean you find a way[br]which is a little bit enjoyable 0:34:48.871,0:34:51.731 and I think we all can in our [br]language learning find a way 0:34:51.731,0:34:54.061 how to make even those things[br]which are unpleasant 0:34:54.061,0:34:56.201 how to make them [br]a little bit more enjoyable. 0:34:57.931,0:35:00.381 Any the other questions or comments?[br]yes. 0:35:01.210,0:35:04.110 Question 3: "Is there a point in [br]the language mastery, 0:35:04.110,0:35:07.270 when you would stop using this,[br]for example. 0:35:07.270,0:35:12.600 C1, C2 do you keep doing this[br]for your English for example?" 0:35:12.600,0:35:15.590 Thank you very much,[br]"So is there a point in language mastery 0:35:15.590,0:35:19.330 that I stopped this[br]and for example C2, right?" 0:35:20.460,0:35:25.740 Well, the way I see language learning is[br]I decide to work on something intensively 0:35:25.740,0:35:28.150 and I don't work on other languages[br]at that time, 0:35:28.150,0:35:30.940 so I always work on[br]one language, one time 0:35:30.940,0:35:34.260 and I make sure that I[br]prioritize what I need to improve, 0:35:34.260,0:35:38.870 but yes I've been doing this for English,[br]for I've been learning it now for 0:35:38.870,0:35:43.590 about twelve years, so I make sure that[br]when I want to improve 0:35:43.590,0:35:47.020 in that certain period, I decide OK [br]now this summer I'm going to spend 0:35:47.020,0:35:49.660 on improving my English I[br]really need to improve idioms, 0:35:49.660,0:35:52.230 so I take a book of idioms[br]and I find a system how to 0:35:52.230,0:35:55.290 go through it systematically,[br]I think you can do it on any level 0:35:55.290,0:35:58.260 even if on C2 if you decide[br]you want to improve, but of course, 0:35:58.260,0:36:01.760 people normally, I mean especially people[br]who learn a lot of languages 0:36:01.760,0:36:05.960 they then concentrate on the languages[br]they don't have on a fluent level 0:36:05.960,0:36:10.060 they want to bring it there, right?[br]So, I believe if you choose 0:36:10.060,0:36:13.720 it can be done on any level, really, [br]but it depends on you 0:36:13.720,0:36:16.250 how much time you want[br]to spend with that language. 0:36:18.980,0:36:21.980 Question 4: [indistinct] 0:36:37.170,0:36:41.810 Sure, you could do exactly the same thing[br]but let's say I wouldn't suggest 0:36:41.810,0:36:44.410 that you do three priorities[br]for all of your languages 0:36:44.410,0:36:46.570 if you're learning several [br]at the same time, 0:36:46.570,0:36:49.680 so let's say you just want to,[br]at that period, you just want to 0:36:49.680,0:36:52.640 improve listening, in the your [br]one language let's say German 0:36:52.640,0:36:54.960 and you want to work[br]on your vocabulary in your Russian 0:36:54.960,0:36:56.110 or whatever, 0:36:56.160,0:36:59.300 and because we have limited time,[br]I believe this is the problem for 0:36:59.300,0:37:02.570 many people who are trying to learn[br]many languages at the same time 0:37:02.570,0:37:06.040 you probably don't have more time[br]than if you were learning one language 0:37:06.040,0:37:08.880 this is why I always [br]only learn one if it's possible, 0:37:08.880,0:37:13.110 or if I have to learn two[br]or I have to keep up two languages 0:37:13.110,0:37:17.110 then I give eighty percent[br]to my major language 0:37:17.110,0:37:20.090 and then twenty percent [br]to keeping another language 0:37:20.090,0:37:25.390 but I believe this you can very well do[br]for a combination of languages, 0:37:25.390,0:37:28.560 because you are going to feel[br]improvement in your listening skills 0:37:28.560,0:37:31.200 in German and your vocabulary in Russian,[br]for example. 0:37:33.120,0:37:35.630 Any the other questions? 0:37:36.270,0:37:37.110 Yes.[br] 0:37:37.560,0:37:39.320 Question 5: [br]"What exactly did you do 0:37:39.320,0:37:41.070 to improve your reading in Russian?"[br] 0:37:41.910,0:37:46.060 What I do to improve my reading[br]in Russian: I read a lot. 0:37:46.060,0:37:52.870 I went to Russia for two weeks to also[br]practice my speaking skills to the maximum 0:37:52.870,0:37:55.050 and I bought a lot of books in Russian. 0:37:55.050,0:37:58.230 Which are translations of books [br]that I'm interested in personally 0:37:58.230,0:38:01.030 I really had wanted to [br]read them for a long time. 0:38:01.030,0:38:06.920 So, it's not just this is a Russian author[br]so I want to read that as the original 0:38:06.920,0:38:11.240 but I like to read translations of [br]self development literature, 0:38:11.240,0:38:14.670 which I'm interested in[br]and then I read that massively 0:38:14.670,0:38:18.340 like every day I wake up and I do[br]like five pages or something. 0:38:18.340,0:38:21.260 This is what I like to do when [br]I concentrate on my reading. 0:38:21.260,0:38:27.190 And it helps a lot it just flows after a [br]few days, that's why it's so motivating. 0:38:30.350,0:38:34.440 OK, so if there are no other [br]questions, let me just 0:38:34.440,0:38:37.340 tell you about my website which I have:[br]languagementoring.com 0:38:37.340,0:38:40.140 You can find me there, or find [br]more information about me, 0:38:40.140,0:38:42.430 feel free to contact me,[br]if you wish 0:38:42.689,0:38:44.849 and thank you for attention!