The 2017 Polyglot Conference will be held at the Harpa concert hall and conference center in Reykjavík this year! When I first learned about the Polyglot Conference in 2015, I was stoked. This blog had already been up and running for about a year and I was looking forward to attending an event that brought together budding and fully blossomed polyglots. The cherry on top was that the conference was to be held in my hometown – New York City! Sadly, I never made it to the event in 2015, but it will be different this year.
What is the purpose of the 2017 Polyglot Conference?
According to their website, the Polyglot Conference,
“…will bring together language enthusiasts from around the world, allowing them to meet other language enthusiasts and focus on language in a way that most of us are unable to do in our daily lives.
The conference consists of two days of language talks on diverse subjects such as the latest research into polyglots and polyglottery, workplace applications of polyglot skills, language families or individual languages, linguistics, new learning resources and techniques, and language themes relating to the history and culture of the host city.
At the Polyglot Conference you will be able to speak in numerous foreign languages if you are so inclined. You can meet professionals and entrepreneurs and get the support needed to advance your own language-learning. You can enjoy the company of others who share your linguistic interests. In off hours, we invite you to enjoy and learn about Iceland, a fascinating country between the European and North American continents.”
It certainly sounds like a great opportunity for language enthusiasts from all over the world to connect, exchange knowledge and forge new relationships. Check out the speakers and topics on the conference’s agenda.
Why did you not attend the Polyglot Conference in 2015?
Ultimately, self-doubt and my ego kept me from attending the conference that year. Up to that point, I had dabbled in Spanish, Arabic, Swedish and Icelandic, but I wasn’t fluent in any of them, so I kept letting the idea creep in that I didn’t belong at the conference. My original excitement about the event was replaced with dread. I thought that I would look like a fool showing up to a conference filled with people that can speak several languages and I can only speak one fluently. I decided that I would attend the conference another year when I was “ready.” The idea that we have to be 100% ready to do something has held many people, including myself, back from achieving their goals and living their lives to the fullest.
Fast forward to present day, and I am still not fluent in another language. I have learned a lot more Icelandic and I feel like I will achieve my goal of speaking it fluently, if I keep working toward it. Whenever I feel discouraged, I think of the mantra that Massy Arias, my favorite fitness guru on Instagram, says, “Progress not perfection.” My mind and heart are open to learning and exchanging knowledge with like-minded people. The amount of languages I speak doesn’t define me but my passion and dedication to learning and evolving does.
The Magic of Iceland
I am incredibly fortunate that the polyglot conference is, again, being held in a city that I live in. Reykjavík has a vibrant city center and beautiful landscape that will capture your nature loving heart. By the time of the conference, there will be a little over 8 hours of daylight, which means that you have some time in the day to do fun activities, like walk on a glacier. There are also plenty of darker hours that increase the chance of the Northern Lights being visible! Don’t miss out on a opportunity to connect with fellow language enthusiasts and explore a fantastic country. I hope to see you at the polyglot conference!
Þakka þér fyrir að lesa og sjáumst fljótlega! (Thank you for reading and see you soon!)
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