Make Mistakes

Mistakes are a crucial part of the learning process for any subject you are learning. However, it is so easy to get caught up in your feelings or let your ego get in the way when you make a mistake. When learning a new language, a child will butcher words and phrases because they are trying to figure out how to communicate.  When they are corrected, many of them just note the correction, try again, and move on.  As easy as this sounds, accepting that you are going to make mistakes and being corrected can be hard for many adults, including myself.

I have to remind myself that the tinge of embarrassment that I feel when I make a mistake is an ego problem. I know that I prefer to be corrected than continue to say something wrong.  My favorite phrase now is “Embrace the mistake.” This phrase was partly inspired by Kathryn Schulz, writer for the New York Times and a self-proclaimed wrongologist. During her TEDtalk she asked the question, “What if; instead we embraced the wrongness as the thing that most helps us connect with the people around us?” It is a powerful question and I highly recommend checking out her speech to learn more.

Stay Curious

Children are very curious about why something looks a certain way and if they can interact with what they come in contact with. Curiosity allows them to learn with all of their available senses. Reinvigorating our curiosity as adults opens up a new world in the environment that we are currently in. Familiar objects become interesting again because they have a different name in the language we are learning. By staying curious and open to receiving information from many sources, you are allowing yourself to enjoy the process.

Socialize

It is always sweet to see a child run into a playground and start playing with children they have never met before. In that moment, you see people come together for a common purpose – to have fun! The bonus is that they learn about new people, their environment and themselves.

Interacting with people that speak the language you are learning, or who are also learning the language, are great ways to expand your horizons.  You might find out about different language resources, get a speaking partner and/or make new friends. The possibilities and benefits are endless.

Hopefully, this post has inspired you to let your inner child come out while you are learning a new language. It can be so freeing to let go of your ego and I encourage you to give it a try. I would love to hear about any methods you are using to learn a language. Feel free to let me know in the comments or by sending me a message.

Þakka þér fyrir að lesa og sjáumst fljótlega! (Thank you for reading and see you soon!)

The post The Child’s Approach to Learning a New Language appeared first on All Things Iceland.

They Are Challenging, But Not Impossible

Similar to learning Icelandic, boxing class is quite difficult and it takes a decent amount of consistency until you see noticeable progress. I was excited about taking my first boxing class, but I quickly learned that I was in over my head.  I stumbled through the exercises huffing and puffing, and I couldn’t wait for the hour to be up. After surviving this class, I immediately thought, “Why am I doing this to myself?!” However, when the DOMS subsided, I found myself wanting to do more. This class tests my limits, which made me curious about how much my body is capable of doing.

Although my Icelandic language learning journey has not been as physically challenging as boxing, my mental limits have been tested in a very similar way. My first encounter with the language was exhausting. All of the words looked confusing and I stumbled through the pronunciations, even with a lot of assistance from Gunnar. Similar to my reaction to boxing, I thought, “Why am I doing this to myself?!” It was easy to feel like learning the language would be impossible. However, with persistence and many hours of studying, the words didn’t sound or look so foreign after a while. I started to believe that I can learn Icelandic!  The challenge became exciting and it continues to drive me to learn more.

I Am Building Muscle

Boxing and learning a language build up your physical and mental muscles. I am using the word “muscle” loosely here because the brain is not a muscle. However, you can train your brain to be capable of doing more, just like you can train your body.

In the beginning of my language-learning journey, I would study Icelandic words for many hours during the week. Sometimes, I would experience what I call “brain pain,” a subtle headache due to all of the new information that I was absorbing. Learning 10 words a day on Memrise used to feel like a lot, but over time I was able to learn up to 30 words in one sitting! Trying to learn so many words at one time would not have been possible in the beginning of my journey, but consistent practice built up my brain “muscle” capacity.

Since starting boxing two months ago, I am seeing a similar change in my muscles. I can do more push ups, squats, lunges, plank holds, and jump rope longer because I have consistently increased my muscle capacity.  My mental focus has also increased, which has definitely helped with my pursuit to learn Icelandic because my study sessions are more efficient.

The Boxing Class is Taught in Icelandic

Ok, I know what you are thinking, “Of course boxing will help you to learn Icelandic if it is taught in the language!” While I also assumed that, the reality is that I might learn one or two words in each class. My main focus is on catching my breath in between exercises and making it through the hour.

I think the combination of language learning and exercise is a powerful way to keep the mind and body fit. If you are in a position to take an exercise class in the language you are learning, I highly recommend it. You will be building up your vocabulary, even if slowly, and doing something healthy for your body.

It is Always Worth the Effort

The exhaustion that I feel after an intense boxing class, or when I learn Icelandic for hours at a time, periodically makes me question why I continue to do either one of these activities. But after getting some rest, I always feel like it was worth the effort that I put in. Being able to form sentences correctly in Icelandic or striking a punching bag with more power than before, makes me proud that I have pushed myself in a healthy and productive way.

Your language learning and/or fitness journey is going to be different than mine but I believe that pushing your limits and getting outside of your comfort zone will greatly increase your chances of seeing progress. As Robin Sharma once said “Consistency is the DNA of mastery.” I encourage you to be persistent, consistent and resilient as you learn any language or hobby, for the journey is long but the rewards along the way are great.

Would you like to learn Icelandic or have you already started on your language journey?  Check out my Language Learning Resources page for a list of mostly free and useful Icelandic language resources. Good luck and happy learning!

Þakka þér fyrir að lesa og sjáumst fljótlega! (Thank you for reading and see you soon!)

The post How Boxing is Helping Me to Learn Icelandic appeared first on All Things Iceland.

1. Write Down Your Language Learning Goals and have a Deadline

This is a super simple step that many people overlook because they, including myself, assume that the goals in our head are good enough. However, it is powerful to write out what you want and doing so can improve your odds of achieving said goals. It is important to keep in mind that your goals need to be specific and must have a deadline. There is nothing wrong with having an overarching language learning goal that you want to achieve.  The only issue is that many people only have that goal and neglect to break it down into smaller steps, or micro goals, that can be completed along the way.  Finishing small feats can turn into big progress, and that is great for keeping yourself motivated.

Example of a vague goal: I want to be fluent in Spanish by the end of the year.

While fluency in a language might be your ultimate goal, it is difficult to track the progress of your journey if you are not more specific about what you want to accomplish and when. Below I have better defined the overall goal and I provided two examples of smaller language learning goals that will help you achieve it.

More specific overall goal: I want to be able to read and understand an entire newspaper written in Spanish without needing to translate any words by December 31st, 2017

Micro goals:

• Learn one new Spanish word every day
  • This is a super simple task that must be completed every 24 hours, and is great for a beginner or intermediate language learner.  It might seem small but over time you will amass many words.  The amount of words you learn daily is totally up to you, but I think that keeping the goals super simple means that they are not only easy to achieve but they are also easy to exceed.  Tim Ferriss’ video on Goal Setting: Rig the Game So You Can WIn It is what inspired me to create very simple tasks that are easy to complete. I use programs, like Memrise, to track the amount of words I have learned for Icelandic. I find that the amount of words I learn daily changes but I can easily achieve learning at least one, new word every day.

• Read at least one new article written in Spanish 3 times a week and learn the words that I don’t know in the article
  • This micro goal works directly on your overall goal but now you have tasks each week to complete in order to achieve it. Over the course of a year, if you stick to the schedule, you would have read 156 articles written in Spanish, and you would have learned many new words that are found in newspapers.

Whether you create micro goals like the ones I mentioned above or make your own, it is important that you write them down and act on them. I suggest starting with five micro goals and reassessing after two months if you want to alter them in any way. Remember that simple is best.

2. Create a Language Learning Schedule and Stick to it!

I know that organizing and scheduling strikes fear into the hearts of many because it seems like an arduous task, but I assure you that it can be a quick and painless process.  By using a free schedule management program, like Google Calendar, you can set up months of language learning in 5 to 10 minutes. The repeat function on the calendar is so useful because I can schedule a micro goal like, Speak with Gunnar for at least 15 minutes in Icelandic,  each week for the rest of the year in less than a minute! I also set up an alert so I am reminded 10 minutes before I am supposed to start my task.

After setting up your calendar, the next step is to stick to it. I know it is easier said than done and I have struggled at times with sticking to my schedule. However, if I find myself missing at least two scheduled learning times during the week, then I know that I need to reassess my schedule or my attitude. Some weeks will be busier than others ,so it is essential that you are realistic with your scheduling.  If you are just starting out, I suggest setting aside small blocks of time each week that you dedicate to studying your language and increase the time as you get accustomed to the new schedule.

In regards to attitude, if it feels like a chore to do the task then maybe it is time to change the task or reassess why you are learning the language in the first place. Think of what motivated you to set out on this journey and use that to re energize your efforts.

Consistency is the key to success when it comes to reaching your language learning goals. Every day won’t be super exciting but enjoying the process and seeing your progress will make it easier to stick with it.

3. Have An Accountability Buddy

It is one thing to mention to someone that you want to complete a specific language learning goal, but it is a different story when you choose someone to keep you accountable for completing that task. An accountability buddy is a person that will check in with you to see how your progress toward your goals is coming along. It helps if the person is knowledgeable about the topic or has gone through a similar process, but mainly you need a person that will check in with you to see if you are making headway.

Whether they are celebrating when you reach a milestone or they are talking through why you have stalled in a particular area, it is really powerful to know that you have someone that is in your corner and is holding you accountable. It is best to share your micro goals with them and schedule regular check in times. You can check in every couple of weeks or every month but I recommend not going longer than a month between check in times. Regular assessments of your progress give you the power to change something if it is not working or to challenge yourself by increasing your efforts.

via GIPHY

4. Find a Speaking Partner(s)

Speaking in a new language can feel like a daunting task and, as I mentioned in my “Is that Me Talking” post, it might seem really strange to hear these new sounds coming out of your mouth.  However, if one of your language learning goals is to be able to speak fluently in your target language, then you have to practice it. I still struggle with speaking at times because I think way too much before I speak, but a little bit of practice has been building up my confidence and is familiarizing my brain with thinking in Icelandic.

When choosing a speaking partner, it is absolutely necessary to pair up with someone that is fluent in the language you are learning. Because learning to speak a new language can be a very challenging and frustrating process for anyone, I recommend having a speaking partner that is patient and committed to speaking with you on a regular basis. You might find that you like having more than one speaking partner. Do whatever works best for you. This person can be your speaking partner and accountability buddy, but I like having different people for each role.

Here is a micro goal example that you can use for scheduling time with your speaking partner.

• Speak only Spanish for 15 minutes each week with a speaking partner
  • Setting a specific amount of time each week that you have to speak in the language you are learning forces you to train your brain to think in it and work on listening comprehension. Plus, you get a chance to use some or all of the new words that you have been learning each day.

5. Have Fun!

Learning a new language can be a ton of fun, especially if you find activities that you already enjoy now and you integrate the language you are learning into them. Below is a short list of some activities that I do in Icelandic that keep me entertained and motivated to reach my language learning goals.

• Watch movies
• Listen to music
• Read books
• Workout classes
• Talk to my life partner
• Cook new recipes

The Internet has made so many resources available that a quick search can get you access to language learning materials that entertain and educate. Feel free to be as creative as you want when it comes to learning. Remember, it is your journey so personalize it to fit your individual needs and wants.

I hope my top 5 tips help you smash your language learning goals in 2017 and beyond. Check out my language learning resource page for websites and tools that I have found to be really helpful for learning Icelandic. Also, I would love to hear any tips or resources you are using to smash your language learning goals, so feel free to let me know about them in the comment section.

Þakka þér fyrir að lesa og sjáumst fljótlega! (Thank you for reading and see you soon!)

The post Top 5 Ways to Smash Your Language Learning Goals in 2017 appeared first on All Things Iceland.

Today is special not only because it is Icelandic Language Day (Dagur íslenskrar tungu) but also because it is when I officially launched the blog last year! This day holds a special place in my heart and to celebrate I am listening to some epic Icelandic folk music below.  

Now that I have serenaded you with harmonious tunes from Vikings, hopefully you will forgive me for being absent for so long. Life has been quite hectic the last 8 months, which resulted in me putting my language journey on hold, but I’m happy to announce that I’m back!  Keep an eye out for new posts and an update on where I have been.

Þakka þér fyrir að lesa og sjáumst fljótlega (Thank you for reading and see you soon)!

The post Happy Icelandic Language Day!!!!!! appeared first on All Things Iceland.

The Incident

On the fateful evening, my partner and I ventured out on icy roads to attend an intimate performance in, Akranes, a town outside of Reykjavík. There were approximately 15 people in attendance and it was evident from the conversations taking place that almost everyone, if not the whole group, spoke Icelandic fluently. On previous trips, I felt uncomfortable knowing that I was the only one in the room that didn’t know the language, but this time was different. I had learned 1300 Icelandic words before the trip and instead of feeling left out, I looked at this event as an opportunity to figure out more of what was being said. This was my way of making learning Icelandic seem somewhat fun.  struggled to comprehend everything, but hearing a familiar word or phrase kept me captivated.

At one point during the performance, a comment was directed toward me. The person that made the comment had been speaking in Icelandic for all of the event. However, they switched over to English to let me know that my partner would translate everything being said into English for me. This comment would not have bothered me on previous visits because I had been less knowledgeable about Icelandic. My ignorance about the language in the past had shielded me from feeling any shame when I encountered situations where I was the odd one out. On this trip, I knew a lot more than ever before, but still not enough to communicate well. Yes, translation would have been helpful but I didn’t want it pointed out to a room full of strangers that I didn’t fully understand.

Learning Icelandic Words for Months Wasn’t Nearly Enough

In the moment the announcement was made, I felt mortified and embarrassed that everyone in the room knew that I didn’t know the language. I could feel a room full of people looking in my direction. What might have been only five seconds felt like an eternity of turmoil. My body temperature started rising and my skin was tingling. If I were a lighter complexion, I am sure that my face would have been visibly beet red. Like waves crashing up against the shore, my internal struggle was turbulent, intense and unwavering. I wanted to run out of the room and find a space where I could release my emotions safely and alone, but that wasn’t an option. Even though, I was able to squeeze out a half smile, half grimace when the comment was said, I found myself clenching my jaw in an effort to hold back tears from filling up in my eyes.

I believe that this comment was meant to reassure me that I wouldn’t be left out from understanding what was being said. Unfortunately, instead of feeling included, I felt isolated and alone. I knew that learning Icelandic would be a challenge but I didn’t anticipate this feeling. To my surprise, this comment became a defining moment on my trip and a very memorable experience as I continue on my journey toward fluency.

Reflection

I reflected on this incident for the remainder of my trip. My insecurity about not knowing enough Icelandic stayed with me like a heavy rain cloud hovering over my head. Whenever I heard Icelandic, which was quite often, I questioned whether I would ever fully understand the language or speak fluently. Maybe I have bitten off more than I can chew! Maybe learning Icelandic was just too hard.

As similar thoughts filled my mind, I struggled to keep a positive outlook. I had underestimated how difficult this journey would be and I now understand how emotionally attached I am to succeeding. It was also hard to admit that I thought I was much further along than I am. It can be jarring when you come to the realization that you have only taken a few steps on your journey out of the many thousands necessary to reach your destination.

Looking on the Bright Side

After talking out my feelings with several people and allowing myself to take a break from studying, I feel happy in knowing that I definitely want to continue learning Icelandic. I have decided to look at this incident as a hard lesson learned on my pursuit to fluency. I am grateful that it happened because it is forcing me to re-evaluate my mindset and study habits. At the time, I thought I knew more than I did and I was hoping that others wouldn’t find out that I was mostly faking it until I made it. This exaggerated reality set me up for unrealistic expectations that came crashing down with just one sentence. I felt down but definitely not out!

In upcoming posts, I will expand upon the methods I am using to better manage my expectations around how long it will take me to learn Icelandic and share some techniques that I have picked up since my trip that are getting me closer to reaching fluency.

Þakka þér fyrir að lesa og sjáumst fljótlega (Thank you for reading and see you soon)!

The post Learning Icelandic: A Hard Lesson on my Path to Fluency appeared first on All Things Iceland.

First Impression

During my first visit, I was overwhelmed with this foreign place, because I was taking in so much at once. I was hearing Icelandic constantly, meeting my partner’s family for the first time, and we were always busy stuffing our faces with delicious holiday treats. It was a lovely assault on my senses and a fantastic time, but I was only able to absorb so much. This time around I get to build on my previous experiences.

Even though, I am returning with a familiarity of the landscape and language, I now have a better understanding that I am only touching the tip of the iceberg when it comes to communicating in Icelandic and understanding the culture. Five months of studying has brought me leaps and bounds ahead of where I was when I first started, but there is still a ton more to learn.

Swimming in a Sea of Emotions

I knew that starting this blog would be a challenging way of holding myself accountable to becoming a polyglot, but I underestimated the pressure I would feel to succeed. As the days draw closer to my trip, I am flooded with emotions ranging from giddiness to intense nervousness.

I have announced to the world that I am learning Icelandic and now I am going to a country where everyone speaks the language! I thought that knowing more than 1300 words would give me comfort, but I am still limited when it comes to having basic conversations. Questions and doubts have started to flood my mind and I find myself asking, “Will the people I attempt to speak to be disappointed that I have to constantly say, ‘Ég tala bara smá Íslensku’ (I only speak a little Icelandic) or ‘Ég skil ekki’ (I don’t understand)?” I want to do well and feel like my studying was not in vain, but I find myself struggling with coming to terms with my limited knowledge.

Jumping in Feet First, Eyes Open

I am sharing my raw feelings about this trip because I realize that they are a part of the process. The journey wouldn’t be realistic or interesting if I didn’t share the times when doubt creeps in or when I feel challenged. These times don’t feel good but acknowledging them takes away their power and encourages me to keep pushing toward my goal.

Am I going to screw up by mispronouncing words or phrases while on my trip? Will there be times when I will have no idea what a conversation is about because I can only recognize a couple of words in a sentence? I am fairly certain that the answer to both of these questions is a resounding YES. However, I feel that the most important question is, will I allow a few bumps in the road to deter me from giving my best effort and keep me from using this unique opportunity to build on my language learning experience? I can honestly say ABSOLUTELY NOT!

The dive might be a little scary, but I think that once I have settled in that I will find that the water feels just fine.

Þakka þér fyrir að lesa og sjáumst fljótlega (Thank you for reading and see you soon)!

The post No Sleep 'Til Iceland appeared first on All Things Iceland.

Make Sure You Have the Time

Before I seriously decided to become a polyglot, I had to take a long, hard look at my schedule to see if taking on this endeavor was feasible for my current lifestyle.  When this awesome idea popped into my head, I wanted to start doing it immediately. Thankfully, I took a moment to think about if I were able to give this new activity the attention, time, and dedication it requires.  After doing what I call a “calendar audit,” I was happy to find that my pursuit of polyglotism wouldn’t greatly interfere with the other activities that are important to my survival and fulfillment in life.  However, I knew that my path toward this goal would be unique.

I read about a polyglot that is able to dedicate at least 10-15 hours of studying a week to the language he/she is learning.  I would love to dedicate that much time to my studies each week, but that is just not humanly possible for me at the moment, unless I severely cut down on sleeping! It was important for me to come to terms with the fact that the amount of study time is going to vary for each person.  I also try to keep in mind that being consistent with studying and valuing quality over quantity have and will continue to serve me well.

Create a Physical Schedule

It is one thing to say or think that you want to set aside time for studying a language, but actions speak louder than words. It is important to designate a certain time in your schedule that is dedicated to your study time. Technological advances have allowed for us to have digital calendars, notes, and emails that remind us when an event that we have scheduled is coming up.  Whether you have a paper or digital calendar is up to you, but it is imperative that you have one that it is visible and easily accessible.  With all of the distractions in our daily lives, this simple action is a healthy reminder that studying a new language is important enough for you to carve out time for it in your schedule.

I encourage you to go a step further when it comes to holding yourself accountable to your studies. Ask a friend or relative that you trust to check in to see if you are sticking to your schedule.  This person isn’t meant to nag or give you an unreasonably hard time, but it is good to have an outside source that is invested in your success occasionally ask if you have been keeping your commitment to studying. There will be times when your schedule changes unexpectedly but is it worth it to start out with a set plan.   

Be Flexible

The often insightful John Lennon once sang, “Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans.” I really enjoy organizing my schedule and I used to have a hard time when unexpected events occurred that would throw everything off track.  Over the years, life has taught me to loosen my rigid mindset and be more open to being flexible. This has saved me from feeling unnecessarily frustrated and has kept me feeling sane when I suddenly have to switch direction mid-stream.

In the last five months of my journey, I have experienced several occasions, ranging from personal to professional, that interfered with my study time. There has not been one week that has looked the same, but that is ok.  Embracing flexibility has allowed me to deal with unexpected circumstances that come up and then reassess my schedule to see how I can get back on track.

These three tips have not only helped me organize myself to fit learning a language into my life in a realistic way, they have also assisted me in keeping track of my progress.  Five months have passed by so quickly. However, because I have my schedule to look back on, I can also use it as a reference for future scheduling to maximize my learning time.

I hope you found this information helpful and I would love to hear how you juggle scheduling language-learning time with all your other responsibilities in life.

Þakka þér fyrir að lesa og sjáumst fljótlega (Thank you for reading and see you soon)!

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The post 3 Tips for Scheduling Language-Learning Time appeared first on All Things Iceland.

To give you a bit of history about my experience with this phenomenon, I have to take you waaaay back to my days in college.  One evening at school, I was hanging out with an Icelandic friend in his apartment and the discussion some how shifted over to Old Norse sagas. He proudly told me that since written Icelandic hadn’t changed much from the 13th century that most Icelandic people today can read the ancient texts. This sparked my interest and I asked if I could see an example of written Icelandic.  He pulled out a book that included some sagas, and to my surprise I was completely dumbfounded by what I saw on the pages.  I laughed a bit, turned to him, and asked him if the text in the book was a real language and not gibberish.  He chuckled and said that the language is indeed real.  To make matters worse, I attempted to read the text and, even with his help, failed miserably.  At that point in my life I assumed that I would never have an interest in learning Icelandic and gladly gave my friend back his strange book.

Never Say Never

Fast-forward about 8 years and I am head over heels in love with my Icelandic partner.  The once strange sounding language is still quite foreign to me but, like my newfound love, I see it as a new beginning.  Instead of thinking, “Why learn Icelandic?” I started to think, “Why NOT learn Icelandic?”

I felt like I had all the enthusiasm in the world to learn the language but I had no idea where to start. In fact, I wasn’t even sure if many resources were available outside of the country! My partner thought that a good way to get my feet wet was to learn the alphabet and read children’s books that he read when he was little. As I fumbled through the words and started to pick up something of a rhythm, my awareness shifted from the words on the page to the sound coming out of my mouth.  Was that me speaking in Icelandic?!?! My brain was telling me yes but I seriously couldn’t believe it.  It sounded as if someone else was speaking but the sound was projecting out of my body!  I was excited but also weirded out.  

Practicing the words and sounds in Icelandic that do not exist in the English language has opened me up to a whole new experience that I didn’t know was possible.  Who would think that your own voice could sound so foreign to you?!  I am about four months into studying and there are still times when I am surprised by the sound of a new word that I have just learned, but I have mostly adjusted to my “other” voice. Well, that is unless a micro-sized Icelandic person that has secretly been occupying my body comes to the surface and confirms my original suspicion.  

Building Confidence with Familiarity

Starting out with learning the Icelandic alphabet and reading children’s books was a great suggestion, because it helped me to become familiar with simple words and sentences in the language.  The repetition of phrases in the books and the simple storylines allowed for me to start practicing pronunciation without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated.  The confidence that you build by familiarizing yourself with simple text makes it easier to stay enthusiastic about learning.  Reading children’s books might feel like a small achievement in the beginning, but all of your hard work is building a foundation of understanding that is leading you down the path toward fluency.

I’d love to hear if you have experienced something similar.  Feel free to comment below!

Þakka þér fyrir að lesa og sjáumst fljótlega! (Thank you for reading and see you soon!)

Image courtesy of Master isolated images at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The post Is that me talking?! appeared first on All Things Iceland.

The Back Story

From as long as I can remember, I have expressed a love and appreciation for languages.  As a child growing up in New York City, I was exposed to a multitude of languages, dialects, cultural culinary delights and diverse people from around the world.  Living in such a diverse city can be a rich and rewarding experience, but it can also be overwhelming.  I literally wanted to learn about all of the languages that I heard on the train, at school or in local shops, but the thought of taking on such a task was daunting, so I shied away from it. Like many of my peers in High school, I took the required language courses (Spanish in my case) for a couple of years and walked away knowing only basic phrases or simple rules to conjugate verbs.  My Spanish speaking neighbors, who I have known my entire life, didn’t sound as foreign after I took my required language classes, but I still couldn’t have a basic conversation with them in their native tongue.  This frustrated me, but instead of trying to delve into studying languages on a deeper level or exploring different learning methods, I put my dream of becoming a polyglot on hold.

Purpose?

The purpose of this blog is to rekindle that dream and chronicle my journey from a newly planted monolingual seedling to a fully blossomed polyglot. Even though, I have basic knowledge of Spanish, have dabbled in Arabic and Swedish, and now have delved head first into Icelandic, I feel that I am a complete novice in the polyglot world.  What I currently lack in knowledge and experience, I make up for in enthusiasm and dedication to achieving my goals. This has and will continue to be a journey full of surprises, mistakes, frustrations, triumphs, language acquisition and striving to be completely open to the learning process. My hope is that in sharing my journey that it will inspire, enlighten, engage and entertain those that are interested in following along.

Who will find this useful?

Ultimately, this blog is about knowledge exchange, sharing resources and enjoying the journey.  All are welcome to read and comment on the posts, but I think that the people who will get the most value out of the blog are described below:

• A monolingual speaker that is considering becoming a polyglot or a person who is curious about the process of becoming one, might find it interesting to read about someone that has begun their language learning adventure
• A newly planted language learning seedling, like myself, might be able to relate to the experiences that are chronicled here and feel comfort in knowing that they are not the only ones on this journey
• Fully blossomed polyglots might enjoy reminiscing about the beginning of their journey and might even pick up some new resources or fun facts to share.

The “Start”

Within the last year I have been fortunate enough to visit Iceland twice – once in the winter (December 2013 to January 2014) and once in the summer (a couple of weeks in June of 2014). Before my first visit, I put a bit of effort into learning some basic phrases and that effort was rewarded with praise from my Icelandic hosts.  Pronouncing words correctly made me feel quite accomplished, and when I returned to New York City I said to myself that I would expand upon my knowledge by sticking to a strict learning schedule.  Well, that didn’t happen and as the months passed by most of what I had learned slipped away from my memory.  To my dismay, by the end of May 2014 I felt like I was back at square one in the language learning process.

My trip in June of 2014 ended up being the turning point. During the couple of weeks that I stayed in the country I attended several parties with my partner.  Everyone, except me, spoke in Icelandic for the majority of the time and I realized how left out I felt.  I didn’t mind that they were speaking in their native tongue, but I was upset at myself for not putting more effort into learning the language so I could understand what was being said.  It was like an internal fire had been lit and I returned home with a voracious hunger to learn Icelandic.

For the last 4 months, I have been diligently studying Icelandic without following a set course or curriculum.  After reading blogs about learning Icelandic and searching the internet, I found that Icelandic doesn’t have as many online or in print resources as more widely spoken languages (e.g. Spanish, French, Arabic and German), but useful resources do exist!  So far, I have been able to gather links, books and videos online that have assisted me in becoming familiar with the language. Click here to check out some of the resources that I have found for the current language that I am studying (suggestions are welcome!).

I feel fortunate that my partner is a native Icelandic speaker because I can ask him questions, practice pronunciation and improve my colloquial conversation skills. Having a speaking partner is an invaluable resource when trying to gain fluency, and I encourage all budding polyglots to find a native speaker of the language they are trying to learn and communicate with that person on a fairly regular basis. I’m not implying that your life partner needs to  be a native speaker of the language that you want to learn but it certainly does help a lot.

Let the Blogging Begin

Every week this blog will be updated with posts that touch upon my learning experience, share fun facts about the language I am currently learning, feature reviews of language learning resources, and include any other language related topics that come up.  I look forward to sharing this journey with you and I hope you find it useful.  Thanks for reading!

Gleðilegan Dag íslenskrar tungu og sjáumst fljótlega!

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