Gareth Popkins - Fluent in three decades? The joys of life-long language learning [EN] - PG 2017

[@Janmakarta]

Thank you so much for this inspiring and entertaining talk, Gareth. As someone on the wrong side of sixty I often feel at a disadvantage compared to all the brilliant young people out there in the language learning sphere - until I realise how very rewarding all those years of learning have been and still are. I did French at university, still maintain contact through evening classes and enjoy both the language and culture more than ever before. Forty years ago I moved to Germany and have been fluent for many years now - still an immense source of pleasure; sometimes I have to remind myself that I have the privilege of speaking another language every single day. I also started Danish several years ago after a visit to Copenhagen and really love trying to improve, even if it's a bit stop and go. And lastly I recently revived my interest in Welsh - fifty years after doing one of the first BBC radio courses - and was amazed how much I could remember. This motivated me immensely and I feel really inspired to become fluent. So I endorse all your remarks wholeheartedly - and an additional thank you to the lovely lady at the end who said learning languages kept her feeling young. She's so right!

[@polyglotdreams]

Thank you Gareth, I enjoyed it. I also see that we have many shared views on foreign language acquisition.

[@LiamPorterFilms]

Great presentation - the speaker looks great for his age presuming he was in his 20s in the 80s

[@Howtogetfluent]

Ha, ha, thanks, Foogafoog. Yes, I was that age in the 80s. Born 1967 but still smiling :)

[@polyronin]

Excellent presentation, thank you! It reminded me of a Chinese saying a friend once said to me: 欲速则不达, which roughly translates as 'Make haste slowly'.

[@alwayslearning7672]

Polyamory is better than Polygamy with languages!He he...great humour Gareth and great talk!

[@RonaldMcPaul]

*Native level zero accent mastery in 48 seconds!!*