This is a post about books in translation, and about a question that doesn’t really need an answer: why is it important to read lots of translated books? I’m giving you eight answers – useful for foreign language learners and for literature geeks alike.
Wiktor (Vic) Kostrzewski (MA, DELTA) is an author, translator, editor and project manage based in London. When he works, he thinks about languages, education, books, EdTech and teachers. When he doesn’t work, he probably trains for his next triathlon or drinks his next coffee.
BRAVE Learning (formerly known as 16 Kinds) is a lifelong learning and productivity blog. If you enjoy these posts, please check out one of my books and courses.
My recent publications, and my archive, is now all available on my new project: PUNK LEARNING. Hope to see you there!
One of the greatest joys of language learning is being able to read. Being bilingual means twice as many stories, twice as much joy – from reading in two languages. But the day-to-day practice of this is a bit more complicated. So what does your reading look like, polyglots? And what could it look like?
Wiktor (Vic) Kostrzewski (MA, DELTA) is an author, translator, editor and project manage based in London. When he works, he thinks about languages, education, books, EdTech and teachers. When he doesn’t work, he probably trains for his next triathlon or drinks his next coffee.
BRAVE Learning (formerly known as 16 Kinds) is a lifelong learning and productivity blog. If you enjoy these posts, please check out one of my books and courses.
My recent publications, and my archive, is now all available on my new project: PUNK LEARNING. Hope to see you there!
I didn’t learn English only for holidays and work. These are the most popular motivations for foreign language learning – but mine was slightly different. Tonight I’m thinking about two women and their contributions to literature; both of them inspire me to think about learners of languages in a new perspective.
Wiktor (Vic) Kostrzewski (MA, DELTA) is an author, translator, editor and project manage based in London. When he works, he thinks about languages, education, books, EdTech and teachers. When he doesn’t work, he probably trains for his next triathlon or drinks his next coffee.
BRAVE Learning (formerly known as 16 Kinds) is a lifelong learning and productivity blog. If you enjoy these posts, please check out one of my books and courses.
My recent publications, and my archive, is now all available on my new project: PUNK LEARNING. Hope to see you there!
Two women are making the headlines today. And they have more in common than you think. Both deserve the recognition they’re given, and both make the news in a way which makes me really happy. Here’s why Alice Munro and Malala Yousafzai matter to me.
1. They stand for things I believe in
Alice Munro is the master of the short story. For over 50 years now, her readers have been turning into fans and observers, one story at a time. This kind of writing is something I enjoy myself – and it’s great to see it being honoured by the Nobel committee.
Malala’s quest is for education, and for equal access to it. This is what got her in trouble – and this is what she continued to fight for. The only weapon worth possessing is the one between your ears: Malala knows this and wants everybody to experience this equally.
2. They perfected the long run and they owned the decisive moment
This year’s Nobel prize in literature went to a person with over 40 years’ worth of writing experience. This is a track record which daunts and inspires me. I can only imagine how Alice Munro felt as she wrote another story, sketched out one more plot twist or one more idea. 40 years of such work requires commitment and the ultimate awareness of the long run – till one becomes the best in the world.
For Malala, the work may have just begun. In her case, the event which could have ended her project – the bus shooting – became a turning point. This was when everyone started paying attention. Now here’s something I hope I won’t have to imagine – but it does make me think: will I be able to spot the decisive moments, will I turn back or press on when my (infinitely smaller) adversities come my way? Will I ride my wave?
3. Their power is not like your power
It’s about watching, thinking, writing down a sentence or two, telling one story and then starting another. It’s about other people. And humility. And doing your own thing, no matter what.
It’s not about pressing big red buttons, writing a super-promoted 800-page bestseller for the film rights, yelling the loudest.
It’s probably about how you deal with obscurity and failure. Or cruelty and hostility, even.
This fascinates me more than I can say in a short post like this. This other kind of power: a more introverted, more observant kind.
4. How you can connect
There’s a great initiative happening tomorrow – campaigning for equal education access for girls. Go spread the word.
Wiktor (Vic) Kostrzewski (MA, DELTA) is an author, translator, editor and project manage based in London. When he works, he thinks about languages, education, books, EdTech and teachers. When he doesn’t work, he probably trains for his next triathlon or drinks his next coffee.
BRAVE Learning (formerly known as 16 Kinds) is a lifelong learning and productivity blog. If you enjoy these posts, please check out one of my books and courses.
My recent publications, and my archive, is now all available on my new project: PUNK LEARNING. Hope to see you there!
I’m on a mission to find out how affordable language learning could get. I’ve taken up some exciting challenges (and a crazy one about French). Today I’m returning to a question of learning materials: how much does price influence quality for language learning aids?
Wiktor (Vic) Kostrzewski (MA, DELTA) is an author, translator, editor and project manage based in London. When he works, he thinks about languages, education, books, EdTech and teachers. When he doesn’t work, he probably trains for his next triathlon or drinks his next coffee.
BRAVE Learning (formerly known as 16 Kinds) is a lifelong learning and productivity blog. If you enjoy these posts, please check out one of my books and courses.
My recent publications, and my archive, is now all available on my new project: PUNK LEARNING. Hope to see you there!
This is a shorter post, but lots of food for thought in one quick update. Plus, there’s a free book in it for you! Read on and leave a comment to win it.
Wiktor (Vic) Kostrzewski (MA, DELTA) is an author, translator, editor and project manage based in London. When he works, he thinks about languages, education, books, EdTech and teachers. When he doesn’t work, he probably trains for his next triathlon or drinks his next coffee.
BRAVE Learning (formerly known as 16 Kinds) is a lifelong learning and productivity blog. If you enjoy these posts, please check out one of my books and courses.
My recent publications, and my archive, is now all available on my new project: PUNK LEARNING. Hope to see you there!
This is a post about books in translation, and about a question that doesn’t really need an answer: why is it important to read lots of translated books? I’m giving you eight answers – useful for foreign language learners and for literature geeks alike. 
