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, I’ve made plans, I’ve annoyed my friends by talking about it. Finally it’s here…
It’s about combining language learning insights with a smart, welcoming community of learners.
I’ll be explaining more below, but first allow me to tell you a story about why this means so much to me.
Think back to the late 90s...Destiny's Child were the best thing in music and mobile phones didn't have on-screen keyboards yet.
Back to my indie kid days...
via GIPHY
As a teenager, I was a little off-beat. I dyed my hair bright red and sat in my room for hours listening to indie bands. I lived in a village counting 1000 inhabitants, so I have to admit it was a fairly lonely time. I was desperate to talk about those bands, and knew precisely one other kid on my school who cared. So I did what anyone would have done in 1999: I fired up my parent’s computer, blocked the entire household’s phone calls by going on the internet, and typed band names into AskJeeves. There was a tiny handful of fan pages, which I devoured. (If you want to know why my English is so good, I think late 90s internet has a role to play.) One day I found a website that looked different. It was an online forum, a community for fans of my favourite band Belle & Sebastian. Exciting! I joined the forum that day and started to post to discuss song lyrics and tour dates. Soon, the community started to become part of my life. I discovered the magic of connecting over a shared obsession. This was much more than just a music fan discussion board. It was a place to share the heartbreak of a one-sided crush, just as much as the incredible joy when we discovered we LOVED the new album. This incredible online community became a firm part of my life. When I set off on a bus trip around the UK to see Belle & Sebastian in 2003, I had friends in four different cities. I even remember the thread I posted telling everyone I was moving to England. I used to dream of moving to the UK, and these wonderful people in my corner made it happen. The trust and friendships I created with these Internet forum people has endured. One of them was my wedding photographer, another was the DJ, and a third met me with a hug when I volunteered at a Welsh festival this year. These people get me, and just like you language learners they are my tribe. Can you imagine what it would be like to have such a tribe right here in the language learning world?
I’m not talking about a challenge or a language exchange community where the focus is on how much vocab you can cram into the shortest possible time, or whether you get to wear the hyper polyglot crown (I do not care about that). Finding a true community of people who get you is the most priceless experience you can have on the internet. It’s not just social media or a single course.
Join a group of like-minded people, and the results you dream of will become a reality.
I care so much about the online language community, and I think about my Fluent Fam every time I write an article and record a podcast.
I have been dreaming about creating a positive, friendly space for language learners to hang out. A community where you come for the languages and stay for the people.
And what better way to start this community than by doing it with my best language friends...
Today, I am so excited to tell you that I am getting together with Lindsay Williams and Shannon Kennedy to bring you..
Lindsay and Shannon are two of my best friends in this language learning world and I could not think of better partners for this new project. Between us we have decades of experience learning over 17 languages in a whole manner of ways. You name it, one of us has probably tried it! Learning multiple languages, studying individual languages to high levels, getting qualifications in languages- we've been busy.
When you join Language League, you are welcomed by new friends. This is your space for asking the awkward questions and sharing what’s going on, no matter if you’re having a bad day or a good day. It’s what friends are for!
But we won’t just talk about our feelings.
We are solid language teachers and we know exactly what it’s like to learn a language by yourself. So Language League gives you the training that actually moves the needle when it comes to language learning: smart insights that you can’t just get through googling. These are well-researched and thorough lessons that give you an edge.
Language League is opening its doors for you today and you are invited to join.
I hope you’ll decide to join us in Language League…I can’t wait to chat to you!