Essential German to Celebrate St Martin's Day in November
Have you heard about Martinstag (St Martin’s Day)? It’s a great way to celebrate as the autumn season begins in Germany, so you can talk to your German friends about the St Martin’s lanterns, bonfires, and songs.
This article gives you lots of vocab, recipe ideas and inspiration to learn more about Martinstag in Germany.
Full of candy, scared and spooked, disguised as a creature of the night…that's Halloween. The festival is very popular in the English speaking world.
But have you heard about Martinstag (St Martin’s Day)? It’s a great way to celebrate as the autumn season begins in Germany, so you can talk to your German friends about the St Martin’s lanterns, bonfires, and songs.
What is St Martin's Day?
St Martin’s Day is (you guessed it from the name) a religious feast inspired by the story of St Martin of Tours.
Here’s the story of St Martin:
Martin is riding along a path on a cold November night. He comes across a beggar by the roadside and even though he's got nothing on him, he decides to help the poor man out by ripping his cloak in two and sharing it.
Well, this is the version of the story that I remember from Kindergarten anyway. If you read up on it on Wikipedia, the tale becomes a LOT more religious. Religious references aside, what the feast day celebrates today is the value of generosity and sharing with those in need.
Essential German for St Martin's Day
If you love learning German with stories, I recommend German Uncovered, my super comprehensive course loved by German learners all over the world. It was created in collaboration with StoryLearning, and will help you learn German in context without having to cram and rote learn.
Martinstag - St Martin’s Day
der Umzug, die Parade - procession
die Laterne - lantern
eine Laterne basteln - to make your own lantern
basteln - crafting
leuchten - to shine, to glow
das Licht - light
das Martinsfeuer - bonfire to celebrate the day
die Sterne - the stars
der Soldat - soldier
der Bettler - beggar
teilen - to share
Need ideas for remembering vocabulary better? Click here to read how to get great vocab memory.
How Germans Celebrate St Martin's Day
Danke an laterne-basteln.de
St Martin's Day is celebrated in Germany around 11 November. It’s particularly common in the Rhineland.
Many children celebrate by carrying little lanterns (often homemade), and following a procession with music, warm drinks, and sweet treats. Sometimes, the procession is led by a "St Martin" wearing a red coat and riding a horse. Often they are accompanied by a local band playing the famous St Martin's songs.
My own rural German background includes happy memories of lanterns, songs, and a big Martinsfeuer (bonfire) at the end, where people would gather and enjoy seasonal treats. For the adults, I’m pretty sure there was some warm Glühwein (mulled wine) involved.
Martin’s parade (photo via mexicanosenalemania.de)
Read on to find out what sweet treats are in store if you attend a Martinsumzug (St Martin’s Day parade) yourself. And if you spot someone you’d love to chat to 😍, don’t miss my tips for how to flirt in German.
If you want to celebrate St Martin's Day too, you can build little lanterns, sing a song with the children (or with your mates!) or bake a lovely Weckmann (recipe below).
St Martin's Day Songs
The easiest song to learn is "Laterne, Laterne", with its three lines of lyrics.
Laterne, Laterne
Sonne, Mond und Sterne
Brenne auf mein Licht, Brenne auf mein Licht
Aber nur meine liebe Laterne nicht!
(Lantern, Sun, Moon and Stars. Let my light burn brightly, but not my dear lantern!)
Other great songs for this season include "Ich geh' mit meiner Laterne" and "St Martin". You’ll hear these played at processions, bonfires and sung in Kindergarten.
What to Eat on St Martin's Day in Germany
St Martin’s Day is a feast day, so there are plenty of sweet treats to be had.
Look out for these St Martin’s Treats in German Bakeries in November:
Weckmänner are pastries made with sweet dough. They come in the shape of a person, often with raisins for the eyes. The little guy also comes with a clay pipe.
The word Weckmann combines Weck (Southern German word for a bun) and Mann (man). You’ll also hear them called Stutenkerl in some parts of Germany.
Martinsbrezel are sweet dough pretzels covered in sugar.
Glühwein is mulled wine. The wine (often high quality local wine) is heated up with spices and sugar to create a comforting winter drink. If you’re not into drinking alcohol, there’s often a sober version available (look out for words like Punsch and Kinderwein).
Here is a Weckmann recipe in German, with thanks to the website chefkoch.de. How much do you understand?
Zutaten
1 Kilo Mehl, 1 Würfel Hefe, 150 Gramm Zucker, 90 Gramm Butter, 1 Teelöffel Salz und 500ml warme Milch.
Anleitung
Zuerst das Mehl, die Hefe und 125ml Milch vermischen und 10 Minuten gehen lassen.
Butter, Zucker, Salz und restliche Milch auflösen und alles mit dem gegangenen Teig verrühren. Aus dem Teig Weckmänner formen und 10 Minuten gehen lassen.
Mit Milch bestreichen und 15-20 Minuten bei 220 Grad backen.
Quick Q&A About St Martin's Day
Speedy questions, speedy answers!
What do you do on St Martin’s Day?
On St Martin’s Day (11 November), many people in Europe celebrate with seasonal foods, processions, and bonfires.
In Germany, children often craft lanterns and sing songs at local processions.
Why is St Martin’s Day celebrated?
St Martin’s Day commemorates St Martin of Tours, known for sharing his red cloak with a freezing beggar during a snow storm. St Martin stands for generosity and charity.
How long has St Martin’s Day been celebrated?
St Martin’s Day, also known as Old Halloween or Martinmas, has history going back over 1500 years. It falls on the end of harvest season and was celebrated throughout the Middle Ages, and all over Europe.
Where to Learn German for St Martin's Day
If you love learning German with stories, I recommend German Uncovered, my super comprehensive course loved by German learners all over the world.
It was created in collaboration with StoryLearning, and will help you learn German in context without having to cram and rote learn.
Here are some more handy links for German learners:
My full German learning resource list for all levels
Little-known facts about speaking German to level up your pronunciation skills
Hope you enjoyed this article - have a great St Martin’s Day, wherever you are celebrating! 🏮
How to Learn Multiple Languages At The Same Time
It's the dream of many language learners...to study more than one language at the same time and start speaking in more languages within just a year, or maybe even in months. But is this realistic? And what about rules like "don't study languages from the same family"?
In this episode of the podcast, Lindsay and I looked deep into the topic and shared our own experience and best tips. Some of those rules out there didn't hold up!
Is it possible to learn multiple languages at the same time?
Well of course!
In this article, I have collected some solid tips to help you stay sane and make progress even if you are learning more than one language.
And if you want to know how to structure your journey to learning multiple languages, discover the short Multilingual Power-Up online course today!
5 Tips For Learning Multiple Languages At The Same Time
These tips are based on our own experiences over 20+ years of teaching and learning languages, and include our verdicts on the internet's most common "rules".
DO Make Peace With Slower Language Progress
It's undeniable. When you're splitting your time between several languages, you'll save a lot of time by cutting out the worry. The key is to build and maintain a schedule, to build that habit, so you can focus on action instead of worrying about how much progress you're making.
-> Read more about building successful slow language routines herd
Remember that the best way to make progress in language learning is to concentrate on how you spend your time well. The idea of "saving time" itself can be contentious. If you're learning languages because you love them, it's unlikely you'll ever be finished.
DO Commit To Some Kind of Study Schedule
Having a set schedule saves time that you may spend deciding, also saves energy. It comes to decision fatigue.
I wrote about decision fatigue in the Language Habit Toolkit:
At a certain point in the day, > > > > > decision fatigue> > > > > sets in. This term, coined by psychologists studying irrational behaviour in humans, describes the many unhelpful actions you many start to take when you’re tired of all that thinking. It can lead to a loss of willpower, and even a loss of perspective on the choices that people do make.
In a multi-language situation, decision fatigue can zap your energy when you need it most. Take control by following the language habit system so you never have to think "Should I focus on this one or that one now?"
This doesn't have to be elaborate or complicated - for example, I’ve done “French Thursday” for example, using one day a week to take a break from looking at the Welsh language and instead study French.
DO Use Multilingual Resources
If your languages are at different levels, try studying one language through another, for example through buying from local language publishers, using Glossika, Clozemaster, or the awesome Yabla software. And don't forget that vocabulary can be a lot more fun and creative than just rote learning from a list: here are my easy tips for learning vocabulary.
DO Use Your Environment
Sometimes, just being in a different environment can help you gain more focus on specific target languags. Lindsay has done this in the past, for example studying Japanese every time she drove. Try moving around in your home or selecting a favourite café or walking route for interaction with a specific language.
DO or maybe DON'T Start 2 At The Same Time
It's definitely more demanding to start two brand new languages at the same time, so be aware that a project like this would require a lot of time and some support.
Polyglot Luca Lampariello has written about this, recommending learners build a language core. It essentially means moving past the levels where you’re still wondering how to string sentences together or make questions.
BUT - does that mean it's impossible to do? Heck no!
It is an ambitious undertaking, but it's definitely not impossible. We found that the key to starting more than one language at once is to stay realistic and confident, and to set very clear goals about the purpose of learning each language.
For example, you may study one language to become "travel fluent" for a trip, but another one because you want to add it to your life for good. With a project as big as language learning, it's important to make sure that your goals are solid.
DO OR DO Choose Languages From The Same Language Family
Here's another debate from the internet: Should you learn languages that are closely related? Or is that confusing?
Or should you choose two completely different languages?
Either way, we found no evidence that you would be likely to "do it wrong". Building confidence and working at different levels in different languages is beneficial, and you can definitely mix an "easy language" with a "hard language".
But ultimately, language choice should not be about easy vs. hard. It should be about which language you WANT TO learn right now, what you will enjoy the most.
Watch my in-depth video about language choices here
And when it comes to confusing and forgetting the vocabulary, our experience says that this will happen no matter what you do.
Either way you do it, it's definitely a DO. Just give this a go, consider what you are most interested in, and trust that good planning, consistent tracking, and regular reviews will guide you through.
DO Relish The Challenge For Your Brain
Keeping several languages active can have better study results than switching around. Beyond that, it's also bound to give you a wonderful feeling of hard work and reward, and will challenge your brain.
Benny Lewis has a good anecdote about this. Here he describes an experience of progressing and improving in both Spanish and Italian:
"At first, I was indeed producing a kind of “espaliano” when trying to speak either, but forcing myself to speak Spanish constantly every day, while also doing the same for Italian while I was learning and improving it meant that I learned how to compartmentalise each language in my head.")
The Fluent Show: Podcast About Learning Languages
Listen to the full episode including news & updates, or skip to 21:45 to go straight to our tips.
Finally…
Learning languages gets easier with each language you tackle, and a lot of this is related to your improved learning skills and confidence.
Abraham Lincoln said “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe", and in the same vein it's helpful to spend some time and energy on learning how to learn productively.
So, How Many Languages Do You Speak? 😝
Have you tackled more than language at once? What are the strategies you are using to avoid mixing them up?
Want more details and a Multilingual Power-Up?
Check out the Multilingual Power-Up online course to learn just how easy it can be to learn two or even more languages at the same time!
How to Maintain a Language While Starting a New One
You've climbed the hill of your first foreign language. Your confidence is growing, and you're beginning to think about learning the next language.
How can you keep an older language fresh while starting on a new one? Do you have to worry about forgetting everything you've learnt within weeks?
Read this article to find out how to plan for success in multiple languages.
You've climbed the hill of your first foreign language, maybe finding yourself at level A2 basecamp or even up on the plateau of endless conversations. Maybe you've even ascended further, building your language home and living near the peak for many years.
And now, you're beginning to think about learning the next language. Maybe you've got a trip coming up or you're simply feeling the curiosity.
It's time to learn a new language! The only question is:
How can you keep your other language fresh while starting on a new one?
Do you have to worry about forgetting everything you've learnt within weeks?
If you want practical guidance about learning more languages, don't miss my handy video course Multilingual Power-Up. It’s packed with tips & insights that will make your life easier!
Want to hear more from the Fluent Show podcast? Click Play to listen to the podcast episode:
First of all, Would I Recommend Learning a Language While Maintaining Another?
It’s always a matter of taste, but my personal opinion is YES. It gets easier to learn your 2nd, 3rd, 4th language because you know yourself and you know languages.
In linguistics, this is called metalinguistic awareness. Your brain has become aware of structures and vocabulary, you already know some language, and you are able to transfer a little bit of that over to the next one.
In addition to this, you now have the psychological advantages of more positive self-talk, reduced self-doubt, increased self-efficacy.
You'll spend less time wondering if you have what it takes because you already know. This is a huge advantage.
Read more about these skills in my blog article about what gets easier after learning 10 languages
Next, it's time to consider how to get the most out of studying both languages.
What Can You Do When Words Pop Into Your Brain in the Wrong Language?
I’ve found that the more languages you want to keep active at the same time before they become so ingrained that speaking is just automatic, the more interference you experience.
Language interference happens whenever you learn new languages, even when you are adding your first ever foreign language. It happens to adults and children, and is a natural part of the process.
For a good insight into this, check out my course Multilingual Power-Up.
You can get
- phonological interference (essentially an accent),
- grammatical interference (word order, pronouns, tense, mood..), * . lexical interference (usually when you borrow words and put them into the 2nd language, like Denglisch or Engrish or English).
Then there’s ‘unintentional code switching’ which is the interference you experience when saying a word in the wrong language. Usually code switching is considered intentional but unintentional occurrences have been studied too.
We lose speaking fluency more readily especially when there wasn’t much speaking before, so you may find that a language is easy to re-learn on Duolingo but almost impossible to speak.
Focus on the skills you want to maintain
When you’re thinking about adding languages and maintaining older ones, it’s important to think not just about the level, but about what you actively want to DO with the language.
Rather than thinking “I want to maintain my French at level B1”, consider what you need the language for and what you want to be able to do at the drop of a hat. So the question is not just keeping it fresh, but HOW you keep it fresh.
Consider listening, speaking, reading and writing, and where you see yourself functioning. As discussed in my podcast about re-learning a language you've forgotten (click here to listen), you will still have literacy and structural understanding, but vocab seems to go more quickly.
Consider your goals in the new language
Are you dabbling, enjoying following your curiosity? This is common for a lot of polyglots.
Or are you considering a language with a serious purpose of functioning in the country?
Your goals in the new language affect how much time you are spending with it, and time really matters here!
So before diving into a project of learning 4 languages at the same time, consider whether you want to go deep and acquire any of them to a very high level, or you are happy veering to the other side of the road now and then.
Conclusions About Learning Multiple Languages
- You can’t just forget a language, but in order to keep it fresh you need to engage in maintenance activities and accept a learning curve when you immerse again
- Learning more languages, even at the same time, is awesome
- But don’t expect miracles, consider your goals and limitations
- Interference is normal
Ready to add a new language?
If you want more practical guidance about learning more languages, don't miss my handy video course Multilingual Power-Up
The 5 Golden Rules of Adult Language Learning
Ever heard that only children can learn languages really well? That they’re like sponges…and wondered where that leaves you as a language learner over the age of five? I’ve got you today! Check out these language learning truths, and let's explore some realistic ways of making language learning work for you - at any age
Ever heard that you should be language learning like a child?
"Kids are like a language sponge" is a belief continued in the media. The mantra goes like this: Little kids are like a language sponge, they pick up any word and phrase you throw at them and will learn a language very easily.
And the myth goes on to claim that adults have missed the boat. They are starting way too late to ever reach any respectable level of expertise in a foreign language, and they'll definitely never sound like a native speaker.
Why? Because science.
This myth is about as widespread as it is infuriating. For examples, see the headlines on this article about babies and sound, or this inevitable product selling you on an invented cut-off age of seven years.
Adult Learners Can Learn A Foreign Language Quickly And Easily
In this article, I won't dwell on the volumes of research that have been done on human brains, language acquisition, speech therapy, ageing, and so forth. In a very tiny nutshell: Learning anything is harder when you're an adult, and the best evidence for any critical period is in the area of accent development (27 page ref to knock yourself out with at this URL).
There's a great selection of research on the topic, and for a primer check out the sources listed in Becoming Fluent: How Cognitive Science Can Help Adults Learn a Foreign Language. The book is an awesome collection of helpful information, and was a fabulous resource for me as I was writing this article.
For today, I'd ask you to forget about anything you've ever heard about the childlike brain. Open your mind, and let's explore some realistic ways of making language learning work for you - at any age.
1. Analyse and Repeat Patterns
Adults can learn languages in a deliberate way. The structure of practicing new sentences is one of these keys - analyse, understand, apply, repeat.
There is no need to cram your way through grammar books as you learn a new language. It's totally possible to speak when you haven't even touched on any grammar yet. I did it in Icelandic last week, and I have helped my own German students to do this from the start.
But the key to using grammar to your advantage is in using it to answer your questions. I talk about this in my course Crack the Grammar Code.
Next time you hear someone say a sentence in your target language, repeat it and try saying something different with the same structure. If you're talking to a native, get them to give you more examples with that structure. If you're learning by yourself, consult a grammar book or text book.
What you are doing now is learning a pattern or chunk of language (like a child), and at the same time satisfying your curiosity by discovering the rule behind it (like an adult).
👉 Check out Crack the Grammar Code
2. Set Goals and Track Your Progress
Goals! Projects! Missions! Whatever you call them, they are the lifeblood of sticking with where you are at as a language learner. Since you are a busy person, being accountable for your own time is one of the best ways of feeling both accomplished and efficient.
Tracking your progress is not only a good way of structuring how you learn. It will also help you combat the dangers of motivation loss. The longer you stick with what you've already studied, the easier it will be to keep going. In other words: It's easier to break a 2-day streak than to break a 2-month streak.
Tracking can work in many different ways. It can be as simple as keeping up with habit streaks on apps. Or it can be a flexible and thorough system like the Language Habit Toolkit..
The Language Habit Toolkit is a set of resources designed to help adult learners set meaningful goals, get motivated and stay a lot more organized than most other learners will ever be. Learn more here.
3. Move On From Setbacks
I like to tell my learners that even the brightest student won't remember a new word immediately, and instead needs to encounter it up to 15 times before it truly sticks. Anyone who has experienced that cold sweaty feeling of forgetting words mid-conversation Knows what a language setback feels like.
But there is no reason to give up at that point. Remember progress tracking? The small wall you are hitting today is a result of the long way that you have come so far. You would never have dreamed of that wall back at the beginning.
Moving on from setbacks is largely a challenge to your mindset. Remember that language learning is not a straightforward line. In fact, it doesn't even have an end point. You just go along the path every single day and become a little better with each step.
For a bit of positive thinking "in a bottle", my pre-made set of affirmations will be a great resource to check out. Remember that at any age, you're just getting started.
4. Know And Respond To Your Learning Style
It's impossible to predict your success based on superficial facts: Your age or your native language are practically useless in helping you figure out how to learn German vocabulary faster. Neither will your star sign, for that matter.
However, the more you understand your own preferences and habits, the easier it becomes for you to learn a language successfully.
Being aware of your social learning style can go a long way to helping you create a language learning routine that you'll enjoy for a long time. For example, the difference between extroverts and introverts shows in how they practice, read and speak languages.
Knowing the time of day when you're at your best, or recognising signs that you are tired and need to rest, are other important factors.
And don't forget the ongoing debate about learning styles. Even if the classic "visual-auditory-kinetic" styles are no longer supported in research, it's worth finding out how you best process new information. As Edutopia puts it:
It is critical to not classify students as being specific types of learners nor as having an innate or fixed type of intelligence.
Find a style that you enjoy, that doesn't zap your energy, and that helps you set habits. And if that means speaking comes on day 100, so be it.
On that note..
5. Build Great Habits
If you want to get a better handle about how to build winning habits, start with how you make habits stick in other areas of your life. For example, some people stay fit by scheduling regular workout times, while others need accountability and love tracking their runs online. I recommend you start digging into this with help from [episode 179 of the Fluent Show podcast], in which I have collected my best tips on how to learn a language every day.
Conclusion
So this article actually started out over seven years ago, when I was first blogging about the many myths in language learning. I've always been bothered by this kid-language-sponge idea because it does nothing to help adult learners progress.
If you have the opportunity to expose your kids to other languages, go for it. They will do awesome.
But more importantly, do not ever believe that you are over the hill.
Here's how I finished my article in 2013.
Start thinking about this one from the other point of view: If little kids can do it, then anyone can.
I still believe the exact same thing.
Learn More About This Topic Here
How to Speak More Fluently by Building Good Conversation Habits
Ever hit a wall in conversation when trying to speak another language? Discover the different ways that you can handle that wall. Knowing how to handle a conversation breaker means knowing how to keep things flowing, and it’s the only way for you to approach fluency.
No matter if you are new to language learning or you're a certified multilingualist, I bet you know the conversational wall. It's that feeling where you just don’t know how to say something. It could be a missing word, and sometimes you can’t find words for what you’re even trying to say.
The wall creates that awkward moment with your conversation partner, where you just stall the whole thing. You’re running on empty, grasping around for words, and in fact you’re feeling like an idiot. How frustrating it is for an articulate adult to fail when it comes to saying stupid basic things like “I don’t like boiled potatoes” or whatever. How far you have to go!
In today’s blog article, I want to introduce you to the different ways that you can handle that wall. Knowing how to handle a conversation breaker means knowing how to keep things flowing, and it’s the only way for you to approach fluency.
What You Have Tried Before to Get Fluent in a Language
The following three options might all feel pretty familiar and perhaps even helpful to you if you run into one of those walls. But are they really the best way of dealing with the problem?
You’ve Hit More Language Books
Many people who are new to language learning feel like their only way of dealing with the wall is to give up trying to have the conversation and return to the books. The logic is that if you don’t know how to say everything, you obviously haven’t studied enough yet. But in reality, this is a sign that your learning mindset needs a breath of fresh air.
A student once told me “I’ve always been used to excelling at the things I put my mind to. Law exams, university grades, that all didn’t feel so hard to me. So why can’t I ace this language!?”. As his language coach, it’s my duty to remind him of several trap doors that he’s opening up with that kind of thinking.
Firstly, believing that first time mastery is the only way to be a good language learner is a way of closing a door to true growth in your own mind. And moreover, it’s important to recognise that language learning is not only graded by what you remember and express correctly. Creativity, flexibility and conversational confidence play a huge part in fluency and form part of the learning experience.
The key is to understand that you’re not failing when you run into a wall. You are actually succeeding at discovering your skills. Keep on exploring.
You’ve Tried to Change the Topic
Changing the topic may help you save face, hide that panic and manoeuvre your conversation back onto safer ground. Overall, it’s a pretty solid option and one you can try if you are feeling particularly embarrassed. Remember that everyone loves to talk about themselves, so your sneaky way back from the conversation wall is to put the focus back on the person you are talking to. With a little bit of luck, they may even say exactly what you were thinking - and they’ll show you how to express it in your target language.
If this is a good option, why isn’t it the best one? The answer is simple. How many times are you going to change topic before you realize you still haven’t said what you need to say?
You’ve Tried to Look Up Words in Google Translate
The part of you that considers herself a solid and obedient learner will want to do this. The part of you that wants to demonstrate that you are truly accomplished will want to do this. The easy way out of not knowing something is to look it up. Of course! And yet I urge you to consider the negative effects of looking up words every single time.
First of all, your smartphone battery isn’t going to last forever. Secondly, it’s not actually all that polite to keep your conversation partner waiting while you whip out a phone and start googling for an answer. They’re right there! They might just be dying to help you. And thirdly, you’re training your brain to know where to look, but not to remember anything that you are learning. Neither your brain nor your mind will thank you for relying on a lazier way of thinking.
So with all those kind-of-okay options ruled out, what could be the way a truly fluent learner approaches the conversation wall? From my observations in lessons and in my own language learning experiences, it comes down to a few significant shifts in attitude. Remember that Growth Mindset I’m so very fond of? Here is where you use it. Here is where you show your head who’s boss!
Here's How to Be More Fluent in Conversation
Step 1: Walk through the Awkwardness
If you’re a perfectionist or someone who holds themselves to high standards you’re not going to like this option at all. A way through? You mean I’m telling you that you should admit when you don’t know something and sit there all awkwardly looking like an idiot? Yes. That is exactly what I am telling you to do. There are so many learning benefits from finding your way through that awkwardness. First of all, you’ll quickly realise that missing a word in foreign language conversation is a pretty common thing.
My friend Lindsay recently told me about British nursery rhyme We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. In the story, the brave bear hunters encounter all kinds of obstacles. Mud, snowstorms, rivers, everything is in the way. There’s no way under it. There’s no way over it. So they decide to go the only way that they can: through it!
When you are facing your own linguistic obstacles, remember that you can’t go over or under. You’ve got to get through it. That awkward moment when you feel restricted and stupid because you don’t know how to say what’s on your mind? That’s normal. Just notice it’s happening, take a breath and continue to Step 2.
Ideal Step 2: Accept the Challenge
The idea of accepting a challenge sounds like this is a big thing, but I assure you that this is an attitude shift that will become your best new habit within a matter of hours. So you don’t know a word. So someone’s looking at you and waiting for you to say something and you don’t know how. So WHAT! What can you do next? How are you going to go from awkward to outspoken?
Ideal Step 3: Describe What You Want to Say
Okay, here is where you flex your real fluency muscles. A confident foreign language speaker is not intimidated by gaps in her vocabulary. Instead, she will embrace the learning opportunity and look for a way around the gap. The first step to take is to prepare a set of useful fillers in your target language. These filler lines should become as comfortable to you as hello and thank you. You will need them for ever and ever - trust me, I’m so fluent in English and words still fail me on a regular basis.
Good filler expressions include the following:
“I don’t know how to say, but I mean a thing that…"
“Help me out here…how do you say…?"
“You know, it is a little like…"
The key component in a good filler line is that they all allow you to describe the thing you are trying to express. No matter if it’s a noun, verb or expression you are searching for, the key to fluency is in opening yourself up to learning the word from your conversation partner.
It’s absolutely essential to remember that these moments of hitting the wall are where you really show your skills in language learning. Not because you are measured by how many times you encounter the wall, but by how many times you get through it, over it or under it. This is the way that you will have confident conversations in weeks, not years.
So are you ready to start having truly fluent conversations?
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