Review: Entertaining and useful
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 21, 2012
This is a great little book for a number of reasons. The author takes us on an enjoyable and informative recounting of his globetrotting adventures, whilst detailing the numerous frustrations and eventual successes he experienced in getting to grips with the languages of the countries he visited. Just for starters, apart from the language side, I've learned of at least two destinations I am now determined to visit, which I had never heard of prior to reading this book.Whilst Breaking Through to Fluency is not a language teaching/learning book in the traditional sense (it isn't a phrasebook and provides no grammar or vocabulary etc exercises)it does contain valuable insights into learning a new language. Two very significant points he makes amongst others are the importance of verbs and the value of taking the plunge and engaging in conversation with native speakers, whenever and wherever possible.As an English as a Foreign Language teacher myself, as well as being someone who does not pick up new languages very naturally, I can readily relate to the points Joshua Smith covers. It's a quick, entertaining and helpful read, and if you follow the advice he gives you should find yourself on a faster road to mastery of your chosen language, as well as setting your sights on some places to visit that could well be new to you.