150 Years of Through the Looking-Glass

150 Years of Through the Looking-Glass

Tuesday, 15 December 2020

Book Review: The Myth of Experence and 'Range'

 I've put a review on Goodreads but in short, this is well written and not like a lot of the MBA Casebook approaches we see in the Business section today. There is another book called 'Range' that is a good companion piece to this.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3632747716

Sunday, 8 November 2020

Language Coaching for French

 I got my B1 exam in German so that is really good and my two teachers did a good job in getting me ready for the exam and improving from beginner to Intermediate. I'm going to take it slower getting to B2 because the Covid restrictions mean travelling to and from Germany is likely to be quarantine at both ends and also that companies aren't hiring.

I'm targeting smaller companies as they are less bureaucratic and stand a better chance of wanting to grow and improve. Larger companies, like large animals, need a lot of food each day to remain the same size and they are not good at evading predators.

I'm going to refresh my French and see if I can get it to A2 level by the end of the year or the beginning of next year. As I worked in Paris for a while I have a hazy knowledge of it but I don't know where the gaps are. A2 will make me refresh the vocab and the grammar so I am a well functioning French speaker.

I learned a lot while studying for B1 so I am helping a friend by doing the A2 at the same as he is doing it so I can coach him and have a language buddy to talk about progress. I've outlined a process that we think makes sense and I'll catch up with him once a week.

I believe that the massive input of Comprehensible Input is the key to language acquisition. There is still a need for speaking but it means that the bulk of the learning time should be spent on listening and reading and building up vocabulary. I've got a DELF A2 book I am working through, the See it and Say It book for French and also the online Keep Talking French and using them to prod me along for the next 4 weeks. Let's see how that goes.

I'm studying Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to get a diploma from the Institue of Counselling so I need to make sure I schedule and focus on the right work at the right time. No pressure!




Thursday, 17 September 2020

Language learning in German

 i'm learning German and I'm intermediate and taking a B1 exam in Freiburg in Germany. While I am learning it I've also looked at how we learn it. You have to do the structured parts - vocab + grammar and free reading and speaking to increase your understanding. I've looked at beginners books in technology such as AI and the poetry and prose of Bertold Brecht. The goal is to pass the exam but have a broader view of German culture and identify the key to the language that will be a catalyst for further learning.

Friday, 17 July 2020

Google Analytics Qualification


Project Management, Sales & Marketing are all about creating a narrative. Tools like Google Analytics help you fine-tune that narrative.

I've got the Google Analytics Individual Qualification during my COVID sabbatical. It fits with my interest in data visualisation and psychology of the client and the company interests.

https://skillshop.exceedlms.com/student/award/54900566

Thanks